FALL 2023
VOLUME 1
DUCHESNE DISPATCH QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER HOUSE LEADERSHIP 2023-24
LETTER FROM OUR HOUSE PRESIDENT
PRESIDENT: GREER TALTY VICE PRESIDENT: ROSIE GRAZIANO HISTORIAN: LUCY PETHERBRIDGE JUNIOR REP: GIULIANA POPOFF SOPHOMORE REP: MORGAN MATHY FRESHMEN REP: MORGAN FITZGERALD
Hi I’m Greer Talty and I am the president of House Duchesne. I have the honor in leading the members in challenges, bonding activities, and service projects! The house program is one of my favorite Woodlands traditions because of the friendships and memories that form within the different houses. I am so grateful to be a leader and supporter in these students’ lives, and hope to stay one. As I graduate this spring, my hope is to keep these goals, especially goal 3, close to my heart and live my life according to “a social awareness which impels to action.”
HOUSE MAKE UP Seniors 9 Adults 12
Juniors 9
Freshmen 5 Sophomores 5
HOUSE CHALLENGES OF 2023 House challenges are a fun and festive part of Woodlands. As a house, we love to bring enthusiastic participation in these challenges. As of this new school year, we have had many exciting competitions: The weekly Wednesday challenges, as well as the Rock Paper Scissors and Volleyball Tournaments. Using our bonding and skills, we won the Rock Paper Scissors Challenge. Throughout the bracket, our new member, Morgan Fitzgerald (Freshman), won the challenge for us. As of now, we are not in first place. That does not discourage from still being a happy and lively house in every challenge!
House Duchesne does not worry about the losses but rather the positive atmosphere we embody! The people in our house express goal three, so they are put into our house! We have gained many new students and adults this school year to house Duchesne! To our new Duchesne members of the 2023-24 school year-- Mae Fitzgerald, Morgan Fitzgerald, Katherine Foster, Katherine Marlowe, Allison Rodriguez, Ellery Schindler, Talia Sevim, Evelyn Twohig, Scott Mowery, Tara Ryan, and Nikki Bonamarte -- we are so happy you have joined our house! Go, Duchesne!!
GOAL THREE: A SOCIAL AWARENESS WHICH IMPELS TO ACTION
NOVEMBER 2023
VOLUME 1
OUR HOUSE MOTHER: ROSE PHILIPPINE DUCHESNE Rose Phillippine Duchesne is well-known at Woodlands Academy and the Sacred Heart Network. St. Rose Philippine Duchesne, a missionary who established the first convents of the Society of the Sacred Heart in the United States, was born on August 29, 1769, in Grenoble, France, and passed away on November 18, 1852, in St. Charles, Missouri. She was canonized on July 3, 1988, and her feast day is November 18. Mother Duchesne studied to become a missionary for 14 years. In 1815, she established the first Sacred Heart convent in Paris. As the amazing woman she is, she brought Sacred Heart education to the new world! Saint Rose Philippine Duchesne is someone we look up to every day for her hard work, generosity, and kindness! As a house, we are so lucky to have such an empowering saint to represent and look up to!
GETTING TO KNOW GOAL 3
MEET MR. COFFEY - OUR HEAD OF HOUSE
This goal, centered on God, embodies the act of service and social awareness with justice and compassion, as well as, serving others with a sign of genuine love. This means that as students of the Sacred Heart, we will use our most empathetic and most honest selves to dictate situations. As a house, Duchesne members care for one another, serve, and are active in loving one another in our day-to-day lives! Like Mother Duchesne, we strive to practice this goal every day.
What is your favorite part of our House Program? “The best part of the House Program is being able to hang out during community time; to relax, share treats, and catch up.” Who is in your family? “My Queen, Jessie. Sons Charlie and Theo, and little Eleanore. Five cats: Belle, Bartleby, Penny Pie, Loki, and Ahkbah.” Why do you do what you do? “Woodlands Academy may not be a perfect place, but it is a magical place! I do what I do to be a part of the sparkle and glitter that makes our school so special. “ What is your favorite thing about WA? “Woodlands is a creature of chaos: Every year it transforms into something recognizable but profoundly different. I love to witness and experience the metamorphosis year to year.”
ALUMNA SPOTLIGHT
1.) How have you continued using your house's values after high school? “I continue to use courage and humility throughout my day to day life. I have experienced a lot of change and new beginnings in my life the past six months and the best way I have been able to live and grow through those events is with courage and humility.” - Mags 2.) How did the house program enhance your high school experience? “The house program gave me not only the opportunity to lean in to my leadership capabilities, but also the ability to grow and create more friendships across grade levels. It was very empowering and special to be able to be so involved in the beginning of a new chapter at Woodlands.” 3.) What college do you go to, and what major? “I attend Wake Forest University and am my major is currently undeclared.” 4.) Do you have any advice for the seniors this year? “Take advantage of every opportunity and soak in every moment. It goes by faster than you can imagine. Say yes to everything and spend as much time adventuring with your friends and family as possible.” MAGDELENE ROEMER (FORMER HOUSE DUCHESNE PRESIDENT)
5.) Any extracurricular in college? “I am slowly getting more involved on campus in some outdoor pursuits and adventure clubs as well as mental health advocacy groups/clubs and soon Greek life.”
6.) What do you miss most about WA? “I miss a lot about and at Woodlands, but mostly being with my best friends every day and all of the teachers I no longer get to talk to on a day to day basis. “ 7. What was your favorite activity that House Duchesne has done? “My favorite activity House Duchesne has done was our first holiday gift exchange. I loved seeing everyone having fun, laughing, smiling and getting to know each other better!”
“DO NOT LOOK BACK TO THE PAST, NOR FORWARD TO THE FUTURE. CLAIM ONLY THE PRESENT, FOR IT HOLDS GOD’S WILL.” -RPD