Mes Amis - Winter 2021

THE MAGAZINE OF FOREST RIDGE SCHOOL

e r e h e r e w u o y h s i W s g n i t e e Gr RIDGE FROM

THE

Re-envisioning WINTER 2021

LEARNING IN 2020

Inside This Issue

......

2 Coming Full Circle

10 Thinking Bigger: How COVID-19 is Redfining Community and Reimagining Education

15 Picture This: Snapshots of Life on the Ridge During the COVID-19 Pandemic

...........................

2

Coming Full Circle

4

Faculty Spotlight: Beyond the Ridge

6

At Forest Ridge, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Matters

9

Beyond the Kitchen : Cultivating a Love of Learning Through Food Education

10

Thinking Bigger: How COVID-19 is Redfining Community and Reimagining Education

15

Picture This: Snapshots of Life on the Ridge During the COVID-19 Pandemic

20

Ten After Ten…Plus One More

23

Back Where I Belong

24

Meet a Woman Who Can: 2020 Distinguished Alumna, Julie Peterson Genjac ‘99

25

Sue Magan: 2020 Honorary Alumna

...........................

THE MAGAZINE FOR THE FOREST RIDGE COMMUNITY

Head of School Mary Rose Guerin

Director of Institutional Advancement Casey Hall O’Rourke ’90

Editors

Julie Lundgren, Honorary Alumna, Director of Development and Alumnae Relations Erika Reinitz White ’04, Director of Marketing

Contributors

Claire Allen Dr. Erika Lorenzana Del Villar Julie Lundgren Joanna Manning Hanna McCauley Marisa Mendoza Casey Hall O’Rourke ’90 Zarina Parpia ’99 Dr. Maritza Tavarez-Brown Erika Reinitz White ’04

Design

Brin Hamilton

Printing

Litho Craft, Inc. If you wish to send a letter to the editor, update your information or contribute a written piece for consideration, please contact Erika Reinitz White ’04, Director of Marketing, at ewhite@forestridge. org.

As we look back, I am struck by how much we’ve learned, how we’ve grown and how we’ve supported one another. In this issue of Mes Amis, you will read about our quick and successful pivot to Digital Distance Learning. You will gain insight into the new opportunities that have emerged for Forest Ridge and our ability to capture and build on them into the future.

And above all, you will bear witness to the inspiring ways that our community has banded together and built strong systems of support for our students, even as we remain physically apart. While 2020 has been a year like no other, Forest Ridge’s Sacred Heart spirit is alive and well, anchoring us to our mission and propelling us into the future.

Forest Ridge provides an educational experience that fosters agile thinking, innovative problem solving and authentic leadership.

W

e have watched our world change dramatically this year, and it goes without saying that Forest Ridge certainly has been impacted.

March 2020 marked the beginning of a new adventure for us – one that has made us rethink the traditional modalities of education and has required us to push ourselves in ways we’ve never imagined. We have had to adapt to our circumstances, re-invent our students’ daily experiences and rethink many of our operations, all while ensuring that we continue to provide our students a world class school program, firmly rooted in the timeless tradition of Sacred Heart education. What we have been able to accomplish together over the last eight months is nothing short of extraordinary and I could not be more proud of this community.

Forest Ridge provides an educational experience that fosters agile thinking, innovative problem solving and authentic leadership. We build lessons that stretch our students’ thinking and require them to be nimble, creative and solution-oriented. It is no wonder that in March, when Washington Governor Jay Inslee mandated the closing of all Washington State school campuses, our entire school community embraced the challenge and rose to the occasion of digital learning.

FORE S T R I D G E . O R G

I thank each and every one of you for the role you have played in our past and your continued engagement in Forest Ridge’s future. I am so proud of who we are and the work we continue to do. I ask you now, and always, for your continued prayers and support of Forest Ridge. Together, we will ensure a bright future for this community.

With Gratitude,

Mary Rose Guerin Head of School

MES AMIS W INTE R 2021 | 1

The 2020 House Party on the Ridge in the Forest Ridge Schafer Gymnasium.

Coming Full Circle

By Julie Lundgren

Back in the 1960s, the idea of school fundraising through auctions was just taking root in Seattle. Sr. Virginia McMonagle ’39, the Mistress General of Forest Ridge School at our Interlaken Campus in Seattle, was deeply involved in making plans to move to the Sr. McMonagle preparing for the Somerset campus auction to fundraise for the move to in Bellevue, and the Bellevue campus. fundraising was at the top of her mind. Sr. McMonagle turned to the many wonderful mothers who volunteered at the school for some advice.

Alice Martin McHugh ’35, mother of Sheila McHugh Magnano ’63, Maureen McHugh Martinelli ’65 (dec.) and Mud McHugh ’70, suggested that Sr. McMonagle hold an auction. Alice had attended the inaugural and wildly successful PONCHO (Patrons of NW Cultural, Civic and Charitable Organization) auction and she believed Forest Ridge could benefit by using this same model to fundraise for the new campus.

Rose Scalzo, mother of Marlene Scalzo Miller ’62 and 2 | M E S A M I S W I N T ER 2 0 2 1

Debora Scalzo Centioli ’75, and Joan Doherty Brumley ’56, mother of Megan Nolan Kaye ’79, co-chaired the first Forest Ridge Auction in 1965.

After months of planning, the gym came alive as the night unfolded, overflowing with spirted supporters, who raised funds for the new Bellevue campus. Many remember that evening with great fondness including the delicious fare served by restaurateur Victor Rosellini and his brother-in-law Chef John Poggetti, father of Joanne Poggetti ’69.

Volunteer mothers getting the registration ready for the

Forest Ridge made history on big night! that memorable night. The school became the first independent school to hold an auction fundraiser, as well as started a longstanding tradition and industry in the Northwest. Fifty-one years later, Forest Ridge is still holding auctions to support its mission of educating young women on its 19-acre Bellevue campus. Last year, after 15 years of hosting the auction at local hotels and venues, the auction came back “home” to campus. And, to complete the

F O RE STRIDGE .O RG

One of the first auctions on the Seattle campus, circa 1967.

Luke Liu, Mary Rose Guerin, Daisy Xiong, Wei Wei Li, Nora Y. ’22, Amy Tao and Linda Li

Student volunteers (left to right): Lucy H. ’21,Cindy N. ’21, Lenise T. ’22, Leila K. ’23, Lily M. ’22 and RJ Q. ’20

Auction Co-Chairs JK Schatzman and Georgia Forchuk

circle, the caterer was Classic Catering, owned by Victor Rosellini’s great-nephew, Ken Moriarty, and alumna Mud McHugh ’70.

The House Party on the Ridge on February 29, 2020, was the last gathering of our community before the COVID-19 pandemic hit the Seattle area, postponing all future events. And what an evening it was! A canopy of lights created a party mood while parents, alumnae, faculty and staff came together in support of girls’ education. Students volunteered in many ways throughout the evening, good cheer was in abundance and people gave generously. Its success was felt all the way around, with requests to repeat the fun next year— in the gym.

No one could have guessed that circumstances beyond our control would make a live auction in February 2021 impossible. For now, and for everyone’s health, Forest Ridge had to make the difficult decision to suspend the auction this year.

FORE S T R I D G E . O R G

Jason and Polly Thompson

Left to right: Samantha Totton ’09, Flat Philippine, Vicki Taylor Napoleone ’75, Mary Jenneskens ’76, Zoe Otis ’13 and Kim Gerard McLaren ’76

MES AMIS W INTE R 2021 | 3

Faculty Spotlight : Beyond the Ridge

Elizabeth Matlick

Christine Witcher

Forest Ridge teachers Elizabeth Matlick and Christine Witcher knew there had to be a better way to provide timely feedback that would help students learn and track their progress. In 2015, Elizabeth won the Startup Weekend Edu Competition and began to lay the foundation for a revolutionary tool that would become Floop.

Floop is a web platform that helps teachers give meaningful feedback faster while teaching students how to use feedback to deepen their learning. In 2017, Elizabeth partnered with 4 | M E S A M I S W I N T ER 2 0 2 1

Christine Witcher, a fellow faculty member, to build the initial prototype.

The following year, they teamed up with Melanie Kong, an engineering teacher at Tesla STEM in Redmond, and merged their efforts. Today, Christine and Melanie are working to take Floop to the next level. Floop has become an integral tool at Forest Ridge, from math and humanities to art and design classes. To learn more about Floop Edu, visit www.oopedu.com.

F O RE STRIDGE .O RG

Corina Jung Rahmig ’98, High School Science Department Chair and Academic Dean, is living her best life. “I’ve always loved goats for their curiosity, independence and friendly disposition. As a vegan and animal-rights supporter, I hoped to adopt animals to start our little hobby farm,” Corina shared. Today, her farm includes a herd of four goats and a chicken coop filled with rescue chickens. “I have to get up earlier to clean the barn, but it’s worth it. I always leave extra time for goat kisses (yes, they love to kiss!) and runs around the pasture,” laughed Corina.

Corina is also an ultrarunner who enjoys running distances longer than a marathon.”I grew up hating running. The mile I ran in PE class was the longest I’d run for most of my life,” Corina admitted. However, as a first-year teacher wanting to connect with her new colleagues, Corina signed up to run a marathon with Team in Training. She loved the challenge and continued to run. On weekends, Corina often runs 10-20 miles in the Issaquah Alps, Cascades or Mount Rainier National Park. “I love the peace that I feel after spending several hours running through the forest, listening to the birds sing and being alone with my thoughts,” Corina shared.

Ron Mallory Mallory, conductor of the Forest Ridge handbell choirs and art teacher, is a prolific music composer with over 150 handbell titles in print, as well as music for vocal choir, piano and other ensembles. In 2013, the Forest Ridge Advanced Handbell students were interested in playing Mariah Carey’s 1994 hit “All I Want for Christmas Is You.” At the time, there was no published handbell arrangement for this song. Ron recalled, “I put one together myself, and playing through initial drafts with the students helped to refine the sound of the final version.” The piece was first performed at the 2013 Forest Ridge Holiday Concert, after which Ron decided to send it to his publisher for consideration. The publisher was skeptical, as handbell choirs typically perform in churches, and pop music is not usually on the playlist. However, to everyone’s surprise, including Ron’s, it became a huge seller. There are now videos on YouTube of handbell choirs around the US, Europe and Asia performing Ron’s arrangement—and it all started at Forest Ridge! As Ron told his students, “How many schools can say that they have started a worldwide handbell trend?”

FORE S T R I D G E . O R G

MES AMIS W INTE R 2021 | 5

At Forest Ridge, DEI Matters

By Dr. Erika Lorenzana Del Villar, Associate Chair, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee

Building community has always been at the heart of the Forest Ridge experience. From designing a rigorous and globally integrated academic program for young women to providing opportunities for social and emotional growth, Forest Ridge has long been committed to cultivating strong, genuine and purposeful relationships as it carries out its holistic program.

As we find ourselves engulfed in a global pandemic— learning and working from the confines of our own spaces—while simultaneously having to breathe through the intensifying national pain brought about by racial injustice, the Forest Ridge mantra of “relationships come first” has never felt more apropos.

More than ever, we need to nurture meaningful and supportive ties with each other, and to ensure the existence of an open and inclusive community that celebrates diversity, functions equitably and stands for justice.

The Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Committee at Forest Ridge, led by Dr. Maritza Tavarez-Brown of the high school Science Department, has taken on this goal.

The committee is currently engaged in developing a program of DEI activities and learning opportunities for

6 | M E S A M I S W I N T ER 2 0 2 1

the 2020-21 school year for students, parents, faculty, staff and alumnae. The committee’s areas of focus include, but are not limited to:

•

Integrating the school’s DEI strategy and standards with the social-emotional curriculum of the student Advisory Program.

•

Designing an inclusive and multicultural curriculum cognizant of varied perspectives and muted histories.

•

A parent education series on topics of diversity, equity and inclusion.

•

Regular professional development/DEI training for faculty and staff.

All these, however, are not simply reactions to the issues of the day. They have been rooted in the Forest Ridge Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Action Plan devised by a working group of faculty and staff in 2018.

Our 2018 DEI Action Plan—rooted in the Sacred Heart Goals and Criteria, the Forest Ridge DEI Statement and the NWAIS Commitment to Care Standards—was envisioned as a three-year program guided by six goals. The goals (outlined in the following box) reflect

F O RE STRIDGE .O RG

the School’s commitment to enhance the student experience at Forest Ridge by:

•

Designing inclusive and equitable programmatic opportunities.

•

Investing in, and providing resources for, DEI work across the Forest Ridge community.

To push the work forward, the position of DEI Coordinator was officially created in 2019, filled by Dr. Tavarez-Brown. Throughout the 2019-20 school year, Forest Ridge witnessed the growth of the Black Student Union, together with the creation of more student affinity spaces in the high school such as Nuestra Vida LatinX Club. We saw a strengthened partnership with Rainier Scholars, a local non-profit organization that offers a pathway to college graduation for hardworking, low-income students of color, and DEI-themed advisory activities such as the 9th grade experience workshops and 7th and 8th grade Advisory seminars on race and identity.

Simultaneously, faculty and staff were also provided professional development opportunities. They attended the National Association of Independent School’s People of Color Conference (PoCC) and received inservice training on topics such as inclusive language and grading for equity. They joined DEI book reads and virtual conversations about systemic racism and antiracist practices. These advances in our DEI work paved the way for Forest Ridge to receive grants from the Fulcrum Foundation for two consecutive years, with this year’s grant funding the implementation of the Action Plan through the 2020-21 school year.

FOREST RIDGE DEI ACTION PLAN GOALS Goal 1: Understand and enhance the student experience (all other goals are designed to support this goal).

Goal 2: Dedicate FTE (instructor hours) to a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion lead with connection to the academic administrative team.

Goal 3: Commit to ongoing diversity, equity and inclusion education and training for faculty and staff and parents around the themes of: cultural competency, supporting racial and economic inclusion, gender and identity, and neurodiversity.

Goal 4: Ensure curriculum is inclusive and represents diverse perspectives.

Goal 5: Develop a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Framework to guide and inform the community’s work.

Goal 6: Work to recruit and hire a more diverse faculty and staff.

We have seen great strides in integrating diversity, equity and inclusion in the work we do at Forest Ridge.

But there are goals yet to be met and opportunities to be seized. In order to more effectively understand our students’ educational experience and respond to their needs, the DEI Committee intends to:

•

Collect and analyze new data from students that will influence programmatic decisions.

•

Develop a framework that intersects socialemotional learning (SEL) standards and antiracist practices to inform programming from grades 5-12.

•

Develop more affinity spaces in both the middle school and high school.

At the beginning of the current school year, Dr. Erika Lorenzana Del Villar of the Social Studies and Religion Departments joined Dr. Tavarez-Brown to work more closely on these aspects of our DEI work, especially in the middle school. The DEI Committee has also begun

FORE S T R I D G E . O R G

MES AMIS W INTE R 2021 | 7

Social Emotional Learning (SEL) & Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI)

Framework

Self Awareness & SEL Individual can identify their emotions, personal assets, areas for growth, and potential external resources and supports.

Understanding how individual action impacts others in our community

Social Awareness & SEL Individuals can take the perspective of and empathize with others from diverse backgrounds and cultures.

Action: Skill building - Activities around equity & - Advisory social justice Affinity Social Groups Understanding Understanding Identities Understanding how social forces the formation of & Relating to One Identity shape social identities our own identity Another

Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Creating an inclusive and equitable learning climate that: - Allows every student to thrive - Values and celebrates the unique experiences that each individual brings - Is supported by curriculum and professional development opporunities

The SEL & DEI Framework intersects social-emotional learning standards and antiracist programming and will be used to inform curriculum for grades 5-12.

and goals are deeply integrated into every aspect of Forest Ridge’s long-term strategic plan, in both the academic program and administrative and operational matters. We want DEI at Forest Ridge to not just be the responsibility of a handful of committee members, but rather to become everyone’s work, at every level.

envisioning what DEI/SEL integration might look like for specific grade levels with the aim of launching some activities in Advisory or community times before the end of the year.

As the 2018 DEI Action Plan enters the end of its initial three-year cycle, we reflect on priorities, opportunities and innovative measures related to our DEI work.

The DEI Committee will work closely with Head of School Mary Rose Guerin, other administrators and the Board of Trustees to ensure that the DEI strategy

8 | M E S A M I S W I N T ER 2 0 2 1

Cultivating a community that celebrates diversity by being inclusive and equitable should be seen as a worthwhile and noble investment by every single member of Forest Ridge. It is our investment in a future where our students can successfully and compassionately engage—and thrive—in a multicultural and interconnected world. It is only when every member of this Sacred Heart community commits to respecting and empowering all people that our relationships become more meaningful and our community, much stronger.

For questions, concerns or ways to get involved, please contact Dr. Maritza Tavarez-Brown at mtavarez@forestridge.org and/or Dr. Erika Del Villar at edelvillar@forestridge.org.

F O RE STRIDGE .O RG

•

Continued to lead hands-on online cooking classes for four weeks as part of the Summer Experience program.

•

Led an online class, “Life in the Garden,” for the English Immersion Summer Program to help students overseas explore food and gardening topics.

•

Developed a flagship virtual “Chefs in the Garden” course for the 5th graders.

•

Ran twice-weekly, middle school enrichment cooking classes.

•

Brought the “Food Matters” class for high schoolers fully online.

Beyond the Kitchen: Cultivating a Love of Learning Through Food Education

By Marisa Mendoza, FRidge Sous Chef

FRidge Chef Ron Askew and Sous Chef Marisa Mendoza are passionate about how we grow, eat and learn. They’re active advocates of the slow food movement, but you’ll see here how they’re quick to adapt to changing needs at the school.

But their innovation doesn’t stop there. Ron, Marisa and the rest of the FRidge team also spent over 300 hours restoring the soil of our 19-acre campus by spreading wood chips and compost throughout all landscaped areas, including around the residential life building.

They cleared large sections of forgotten land near the lower parking lot with plans to transform the area into more interactive and educational outdoor spaces.

Ron and Marisa’s primary role at Forest Ridge is to provide delicious food to the Forest Ridge community.

But over the past five years, they have also been building a robust food program outside of the kitchen.

When Forest Ridge went digital last spring, Ron and Marisa creatively continued to offer their FRidge food courses by putting together cooking kits and sending them to the students’ homes, so that students could all cook together on screen. Despite our campus closure due to quarantine, Ron, Marisa and the FRidge staff also:

FORE S T R I D G E . O R G

Throughout the year, Ron and Marisa continue to cultivate the school gardens, tend the honeybees, nurture the orchard and document everything along the way. They’ve created a series of cooking and gardening videos and photos that they use to support their classes and enrich the community with fun and informative content.

While they love teaching elective cooking classes, both chefs look forward to getting back into the kitchen and serving breakfast, lunch and dinner to the wonderful Forest Ridge community.

MES AMIS W INTE R 2021 | 9

Thinking Bigger How COVID-19 is redefining community and reimagining education

By Joanna Manning

..... .....

“What do we really want to become?” This was the question that Head of School Mary Rose Guerin felt compelled to ask herself when COVID-19 forced school closures across the country in the spring of 2020, changing the face of education in the process.

While Forest Ridge was able to pivot quickly to a digital learning environment and continue delivering on the Sacred Heart mission, Mary Rose quickly recognized that this temporary shift could offer the School an opportunity to radically reimagine what a truly global education could be.

“I've really been thinking about how elements of what's happening in schools right now will stay with us forever, and thinking about what pieces we want to embrace because they will actually enhance who we are,” she said.

The COVID-19 crisis helped reaffirm Forest Ridge’s values. As faculty and staff worked tirelessly to establish new norms and procedures for an online environment in March, everything extraneous had to be stripped away.

When the essential elements of the School’s mission came into focus, it was clear that relationships were still the heart of a Forest Ridge education.

“We know that students learn best when they feel seen,” said Courtney Caldwell, Director of Teaching and Learning and middle school faculty member. “They learn best when they feel understood and when they have connections with their teachers and classmates.”

To that end, the faculty designed a curriculum that would provide predominantly synchronous learning opportunities so that classes would continue to meet each day as they would on campus. They also kept the Advisory Program intact as a way for students to connect one-on-one with teachers while also providing them time to be together in a more relaxed environment.

10 | M E S A M I S W I N TER 2 0 2 1

F O RE STRIDGE .O RG

Madison W. ’22 appreciated having this time to “hang out” with her classmates as they waited for their weekly check-in with their advisor. “Advisory is a free space to talk about those normal, everyday things that you might talk about in the hallways. That helped us to still feel connected. I found that really beneficial,” she said.

Though the physical separation presented challenges to community building, it also offered unexpected benefits. Courtney found that the new opportunities for individual check-ins helped her identify students who needed help, both academic and emotional. And students who had once been reluctant to speak out or to seek help in person found it easier to do so online.

“Because we had check-in times, built in office hours and Advisory, we were really able to communicate about students we saw struggling. I had more one-onone conversations with students than I've had, maybe ever,” she said.

Throughout the shift to online learning, teachers were constantly refining their teaching and assessment methods, often reaching out to students and parents alike for feedback. During one memorable fishbowl session, a high-school student complimented the faculty for demonstrating a growth mindset, which views challenges and missteps as opportunities to learn.

“We use that language with them all of the time,” Courtney said. “To hear them reflect that back to us was such a good lesson. Yes, they’ve heard our lectures about the importance of having a growth mindset, but they pay way more attention to what we do than what we say.”

Behind the scenes, faculty continued to show evidence of this growth mindset. Courtney saw an increase in collegiality and cooperation among faculty as they tackled the challenges of learning to teach online.

“There was a willingness to be vulnerable,” she said. “We’ve spent 20 years having answers, but suddenly, we needed to ask each other for help.”

There was a willingness to be vulnerable,” she said. “We’ve spent 20 years having answers, but suddenly, we needed to ask each other for help.

Online groups popped up on social media and other platforms as venues for teachers to exchange ideas and best practices, which Caldwell said has been “really powerful.” And since professional development conferences moved online, Forest Ridge was able to approve every request for training. All told, Forest Ridge faculty have spent 4,500 hours over the summer honing their skills in preparation for the fall term.

Expanding the borders of community When COVID-19 proved to be more intractable than first imagined, Forest Ridge leadership began to make long-term plans for remote education. Mary Rose wanted to tap into the existing Network of Sacred Heart Schools to create an even more robust online program that could also accommodate international students who could not return to the United States.

“We’ve really been looking at how to integrate a hybrid model of education that would allow our students to have more access to a wider group of kids with whom to learn, different teachers and more classes,” Mary Rose said.

Forest Ridge partnered with Woodlands Academy of the Sacred Heart in Lake Forest, Illinois, to form the Sacred Heart Global Academy. High school students from both institutions can take advantage of an expanded slate of classes while also having an opportunity to learn synchronously with their international student counterparts.

Accommodating learners from all over the world requires some scheduling flexibility with a more collegelike schedule. Madison W. ’22 said that while it’s a bit unconventional to end school at 2:00 p.m. only to return at 5:30 p.m. on some days, this small shift has paid dividends in maintaining her relationships with her Chinese peers and expanding her network of friends.

FORE S T R I D G E . O R G

MES AMIS W INTE R 2021 | 11

Sacred Heart Global Academy Provides Robust Mission-Driven Online Offerings This summer, with COVID-19 shutdowns continuing both locally and globally, educators at Forest Ridge had to once again re-imagine online learning for students in a way that remained true to the School’s mission. At the same time, figuring out how to create a meaningful experience for our international students who have been unable to return to campus from their home countries was at the forefront of many teachers’ minds. To answer this call, educators at Forest Ridge and Woodlands Academy of the Sacred Heart in Lake Forest, Illinois, worked together to create the Sacred Heart Global Academy.

“This unprecedented time has given us the opportunity to be creative, collaborative, and at the forefront of educational programming,” said Courtney Caldwell, Director of Teaching and Learning at Forest Ridge. “Sacred Heart Global Academy teachers have created four courses that will not only challenge students academically, but will allow them to explore their own and others’ cultures, make connections with other learners and develop increased independence. We are committed to supporting and including all of our students into our communities and are excited to continue building this program in the future.”

Sacred Heart Global Academy courses are currently available only to students of Forest Ridge and Woodlands Academy.

Over time, though, both schools hope to grow the program to include more course offerings open to Sacred Heart students across the country and around the globe.

12 | M E S A M I S W I N TER 2 0 2 1

She has made friends with a Rwandan student in one of her online classes, a connection she says she certainly would not have made in a conventional school setting.

“I think hybrid education might be the way of the future,” Mary Rose said of the new partnership. “We talk about being a global institution and being globally minded. Now our kids can actually study with students from other places in the world.”

An emphasis on global engagement has long been a part of the Forest Ridge culture. In years past, the campus has hosted an English immersion program for international students during the summer, a program that COVID-19 disrupted this year. Rather than feel stymied by the obstacle, Director of International Enrollment Rosanne Tomich saw an opportunity.

Rosanne oversaw a pilot program that enabled students at a Sacred Heart school in Japan to participate in an abbreviated online version of the course. Even after the

We talk about being a global institution and being globally minded.

Now our kids can actually study with students from other places in the world.

F O RE STRIDGE .O RG

We are looking at creating a community that is not only engaging for our students but also for the wider community.

community,” Mary Rose said. Now that our School spans the entire globe, we want to position ourselves as a beacon to the entire community.”

Forest Ridge teachers are instrumental in helping students understand their place in this ever-shrinking world. Madison W. ’22 recalls being in her sophomore history class when it seemed that everything they were learning about became a current event. From economic collapse to civil unrest, history was unfolding in real time. She credits her teachers with inspiring her to connect her learning to real life. pandemic, this program could be offered year-round online with a residency during the summer, serving even more students than the traditional program ever did.

“We’re even looking at ways to offer online English instruction to the families of our international students, since that is something that has been of interest in the past,” Mary Rose said.

“I’m trying to be more globally aware,” she said. “It’s really eye-opening to see how connected the world is and how everyone faces similar challenges.”

Mary Rose feels confident that Forest Ridge graduates will be ready to face those challenges. COVID-19 has taught them to become more resilient and to face the future with skill, compassion and heart.

Though COVID-19 has presented many challenges, it has also forced schools out of a pattern of complacency and routine. Technology is breaking down barriers and opening up opportunities along with creative problem solving that provides innovative solutions.

As the shift to remote learning was taking place, Mary Rose knew that technology could enhance who we are as a community. Alumnae can be more involved in engagement. Families that live some distance from campus can be more involved in school life. Students can form vital connections even from afar. They can learn and lead in a global environment.

“We are looking at creating a community that is not only engaging for our students but also for the wider

FORE S T R I D G E . O R G

MES AMIS W INTE R 2021 | 13

You play a vital philanthropic role at Forest Ridge.

Whether you are a parent, alumna or friend, and whether you make a large or a small gift, your support allows Forest Ridge to invest in key elements of its educational experience. Your contribution provides critical support for:

In light of the global pandemic, Forest Ridge will suspend our annual auction, making your Forest Ridge Fund gift even more valuable. In these unprecedented times, our focus continues to be on our incredible community – you – to partner with us in providing the best education for all students. To give, visit our website at www.forestridge.org/giving, or use the enclosed remit envelope.

I give to Forest Ridge in thanks for the superior education I received. My teachers cared about my learning, encouraging me to develop my critical learning skills and ability to advocate for myself. Today I work in a male dominated field, and I feel every bit as empowered as they do. I know my allgirls’ education prepared me to be resilient, to embrace challenges and to develop my faith. This is why I chose to give back to my alma mater, not only in service, but also financially. Won’t you join me?

Thank you for your support and for making a difference for Forest Ridge!

Emerald Piedad ‘97 Alumnae Board President

•

Recruitment and retention of excellent faculty and staff.

• • • •

Enhanced academic programming.

Technology to support learning.

Campus maintenance and increased PPE. Tuition assistance for girls who could otherwise not attend Forest Ridge.

FORE GI N TER 2 0 2 1 14 | SMTERSI D G AE M. IO S RW

| RG MES AMIS FWOINTE R 2021 .O 14 RE STRIDGE

Picture This ..............

..............

This past spring, due to COVID-19 Stay At Home orders, all traditional on-campus activities and celebrations were cancelled. Our faculty and staff, though, were quick to find ways that the community could still safely celebrate important traditions and celebrations like 8th grade Promotion and Senior Graduation in socially distant ways.

8th Grade Promotion

Avani Desai ’19 and Lily Desai ’19 celebrate with sister Bella ’24.

Phoebe ’24 with parents John and Casey Hall O’Rourke ’90.

The Kassam Family, including sisters Jasmine ’28 and Zaheera ’25, celebrates the promotion of Aleesa ’24.

FORE S T R I D G E . O R G

MES AMIS W INTE R 2021 | 15

Class of 2020 Graduation

Kimberley Banyadith ’20 receives her diploma and flowers in a drive-thru graduation ceremony.

Class of 2020 Matriculation Aberystwyth University American University Boston University Citadel Military College of South Carolina Clark Atlanta University Emory University George Washington University Georgia Institute of Technology Loyola Marymount University Mount Holyoke College New York University Ohio State University Pomona College Rhode Island School of Design Santa Clara University School of the Art Institute of Chicago Scripps College Skidmore College Smith College Stanford University University of Miami University of Oregon University of Portland (2) University of Rochester University of San Francisco University of Southern California University of Washington, Seattle (6) Villanova University Western Washington University

16 | M E S A M I S W I N TER 2 0 2 1

Koko Uyeda ’20 celebrates her graduation with her parents Bill Uyeda (Trustee) and Marcia Burkey.

Rohini Achal ’20 celebrates with her parents during the outdoor graduation celebration.

F O RE STRIDGE .O RG

Caption

The Quiban Family, including Regina ’14 and Rayme ’15, celebrate the graduation of RJ ’20.

Rozella Kim ’20 walks through campus after graduating.

College Board Welcomes Nikki Danos, Forest Ridge College Counselor, as Trustee Nikki Danos, College Counselor, has been elected to the College Board as a regional Trustee.

“The newly elected members are leaders within the academic, counseling, and admissions and enrollment communities and bring invaluable experience and expertise, especially during a time that continues to challenge and change our work and institutions,” said Ronné P.Turner, newly elected Chair of the Board of Trustees.

Francesca Feider-Blazer ’20 celebrates her graduation with sisters Estelle ’15 and Chiara ’17.

Each year, the College Board helps more than seven million students prepare for a successful transition to college through programs and services in college readiness and college success—including the SAT® and the Advanced Placement Program®.

Ikram Faroug ’20, joined by her mother, celebrates after graduating.

FORE S T R I D G E . O R G

MES AMIS W INTE R 2021 | 17

8 th grade drama students gather to take a ďŹ nal, socially distanced bow on campus.

Building Community Despite COVID-19 Although our students were not on campus for traditional, in-person classes this fall, students were able to come to campus for outdoor activities and experiences with their grade level. After months of quarantine at home, these moments of community were a much-needed bright spot during the COVID-19 pandemic.

High school students carve pumpkins during on-campus community time.

Students pick up supplies for digital learning.

5th graders get to know each other on campus.

18 | M E S A M I S W I N TER 2 0 2 1

New additions to campus – health screening stations and hand sanitizer at every entrance and in every room on campus.

Students spend time together on campus while staying 6 feet apart.

Ms. Koning gathers with students in the Bear House.

Students stopped at the teaching gardens during a campus scavenger hunt.

F O RE STRIDGE .O RG

New 5th grade students get to know each other during community time.

Middle school students complete an art project during their on-campus community time.

5th grade students work together to complete a campus scavenger hunt.

Middle school students practice staying socially distanced as they arrive to campus.

Teachers enjoy time seeing their students in-person during community time.

Student receives her health screening as she arrives on campus.

FORE S T R I D G E . O R G

Seniors spent time on campus creating their frosh’s hats for Frosh Days.

High school students prepare to take the SAT on campus.

MES AMIS WINTE R 2021 | 19

Ten After Ten...

Plus One More

.....

Al Bossert chose to join the Navy and enlisted as an electronics technician.

Following a year and a half of school in Great Lakes, IL, she received orders to the USS Mount Whitney, a ship forward deployed out of Gaeta, Italy. In her four years onboard, she has attained the rank of Petty Officer 2nd Class while working on a variety of radios and electronic equipment and managing to visit 19 different countries. She has gained a reputation as an expert technician and enjoys teaching others. She spends her free time lifting weights, running, exploring as many corners of the world as she can and trying as much wine as possible while she is in Europe.

Hannah Brown graduated in 2015 from Worcester Polytechnic Institute,

where she majored in mechanical engineering with a minor in theater. Since 2016, she has worked at Physik Instrumente in Hopkinton, Massachusetts, initially as an electromechanical technician and now as a manufacturing test engineer where she tests and troubleshoots precision motion control systems that are used in electron microscopy, optics and photonics and electronics manufacturing. In January 2019, she started working out and training at her local “ninja gym,” which combines elements of obstacle courses and parkour, and since then has been enjoying staying active, participating in local competitions and even traveling to North Carolina in February to compete in the National Ninja League Finals. She is also active in several Boston-area community theaters, rows with a recreational crew team on the Charles River and gets outside to hike, snowboard and kayak as much as possible.

Taylor Delaney is in her third year of medical school to become a Doctor

of Osteopathy. After graduating from Chapman University with a B.S. in biology and a minor in psychology, she has been spending her time in Arizona, California and Washington. She still keeps in touch with her exchange student, Emiko Baker, and even visited Emiko in New Zealand a few years ago. Taylor is looking forward to applying for residency next year to become a pediatrician or family doctor and establishing roots in a new city.

20 | M E S A M I S W I N TER 2 0 2 1

F O RE STRIDGE .O RG

Grace Lacy-Hansell

attended Georgetown University, where she majored in political economy with a minor in fine art. Following graduation, she moved to New York City to work for a global strategic and financial communications firm before deciding to pursue graduate school. Last year, Grace earned her M.A. from the University of Chicago, where she studied social policy with a specialization in poverty and inequality studies. While earning her master’s, she worked for the Chicago Foundation for Women to increase economic security, access to healthcare and freedom from gender-based violence. Grace is currently back in the PNW, where she runs a freelance communications business while looking for opportunities to continue to learn and make a positive impact. In her free time, Grace enjoys oil painting, traveling and snuggling dogs. She credits much of who she is today to the transformative education and friendships she gained from Forest Ridge.

Nikita Jejurikar

is currently a resident physician at New York University Langone Medical Center in Manhattan, New York. She graduated from Georgetown University in Washington, DC, in 2015 with a major in healthcare management and policy. After college, Nikita worked at LEK, a strategy consulting firm in New York City that helps healthcare and medical technology companies make business-critical decisions. She then returned home to Seattle for medical school at University of Washington School of Medicine and received her MD in the spring of 2020. Nikita, along with her husband Naman and goldendoodle puppy Coco, moved to New York City during the pandemic to work as a resident physician in Internal Medicine at NYU. As Nikita pursues further training in cardiology, she continues to work on solving healthcare disparities through her clinical care as well as through her health policy and technology research. Nikita and her two sisters Neha ‘09 and Nivu ‘14 are all Forest Ridge lifers.

Annie Lundgren has been selling and dancing her way through the last ten

years. After graduating from Loyola Marymount University, Annie started her sales career at PitchBook (acquired by Morningstar in 2016) where she recently celebrated her five-year work anniversary. She acquired her real estate license last December and purchased a condo in Capitol Hill in January. Annie has continued dancing, discovering a love for Latin ballroom, particularly salsa. Not only does Annie perform with various dance groups, but she also teaches dance to both kids and adults. Annie joined the Alumnae Board this year and is excited to get involved, give back and make new Forest Ridge friends.

Tori Madison has been taking the hospitality world by storm since leaving

Washington State University in 2015. She became Hilton Worldwide’s “Employee of the Year,” as well as one of their top salespeople. After four years with hotels, she stepped into a new role as an operation manager for one of the top REALTORS in the state, and is in the process of obtaining her real estate license to help her clients even more.

FORE S T R I D G E . O R G

MES AMIS W INTE R 2021 | 21

Haley Meier left the Northwest for Texas Christian University, where she

graduated with a B.S. in movement science in 2015. While working at a physical therapy clinic, Haley completed a wilderness EMT program in Leavenworth, WA, and earned her certification. After working at NW Ambulance Service, in 2017 she moved to Fargo, ND. Haley worked as an EMT at FM Ambulance where she also went to paramedic school, graduating in 2019. She met her fiancé Nick, a Fargo police officer, on a 911 call, and they are planning their wedding for May 2021 in Elfin Cove, Alaska.

Nick and Haley are in the process of relocating to Montana, where they will both be working with the Missoula County Sheriff’s Department. They both love the outdoors, so relocating to be closer to family will also be full of hiking, camping and fly fishing.

Priyanka Nadkarni

attended Chapman University in Southern California where she studied sociology with an emphasis in social work. Afterward, she began working as a therapeutic classroom teacher at Childhaven, a nonprofit that works to alleviate child trauma such as abuse, neglect and community violence. She then attended graduate school at Seattle University, where she earned her master’s in social work. Priyanka now works at Sound, a community mental health agency, as a child and family therapist. In the past few years, she has cultivated a passion for dance, specifically Latin styles such as salsa and bachata. She joined a ladies’ dance team and even had the opportunity to compete. Additionally, Priyanka received two yoga certifications and has integrated the yogic and mindfulness philosophy into her therapeutic practice.

Anne Szeliski graduated from Whitman College in 2015 with a degree in

theater and a focus in stage management. After college, Anne explored the country as a freelance stage manager for theaters in Chicago, Connecticut, Alaska and Seattle. While in Alaska, she worked on three world-premiere productions, including an original indigenous play and one about the explorer Sir John Franklin’s lost expedition in the 1840s. Continuing her love of theater and textile arts, Anne moved to Los Angeles to follow her dream of becoming a costume designer in early 2019.

Since then, she has worked for various companies such as the Geffen Playhouse and The Industry while pursuing a degree in fashion production and tailoring at LATTC. Following her studies, she plans to join the union for Film and TV custom-made costumers. Anne makes all of her own clothes.

Shanti Williams

studied secondary education with a minor in business administration at Concordia University in Portland, OR. After graduating from Concordia in 2015, Shanti fulfilled her lifelong dream of becoming a teacher and earned her Oregon teaching license. Shanti now calls Oregon home. She worked in center support and as a teacher at the childcare center Knowledge Beginnings before landing a job as a teaching assistant and middle school basketball coach at one of the top K-12 private schools in Oregon, where she has been working for almost four years. A fun fact is that Shanti co-teaches with another Forest Ridge alumna and loves working alongside a Sacred Heart sister. Shanti is in the process of applying for a teaching program at Portland State University to become a special education teacher.

22 | M E S A M I S W I N TER 2 0 2 1

F O RE STRIDGE .O RG

Zarina Parpia ‘99 and Eric Bone at the Columbia Gorge.

Back Where I Belong By: Zarina Parpia ’99

I would have never guessed that I would become a high school teacher, and at my old alma mater at that. But here I am, in my second year of teaching business electives at Forest Ridge. It is an identity shift for me, and a welcome one. Working closely with teenagers who hold so much potential is rewarding. I appreciate that I have a hand in supporting girls in becoming “Women Who Can.”

I take a lot of delight in returning back to Forest Ridge.

Business and personal finance are areas of interest for me, and I love imparting knowledge and experience to the girls. We conduct business simulations, create tools in Excel, and make mock-investments in the stock market, all while the students tackle the vagaries of life as a teenager. It reminds me to be kind to myself, and to appreciate my younger self as well.

Zarina Parpia ‘99

While I was at Forest Ridge, the motto was “Giving Girls Their Voices,” and looking back, the school did give me mine. I spoke up during class. I asked questions, not afraid of being mocked or looked down on. Sometimes I acted out, talked out of turn, arrived late to class and did other unruly things. But I also respected my teachers and my classmates. I worked hard, took school seriously even while having a lot of fun and went to college with a solid work ethic. I majored in international relations at the University of Pennsylvania and it was relatively easy due to the preparation I’d received.

FORE S T R I D G E . O R G

Forest Ridge today has a lot of similarities with the Forest Ridge of 20-plus years ago. It is still a tightknit community of students and caring teachers with a focus on relevant learning, but it has also adapted with the times. The focus has broadened to take in the whole world and students today are so connected. The internet has changed us all in ways overt and subtle, and that naturally changes the way teaching and learning happens.

Along with teaching business, I’m an Advisor to the junior class and I support our Head of School in the strategic plan that she and her team are crafting in order to ensure a strong future for the school. I am grateful that as a student, alumna and teacher, Forest Ridge has always been a place where I feel connected, part of something larger than myself and at home. I want to make sure that’s true for everyone, present and future.

MES AMIS W INTE R 2021 | 23

Meet a Woman Who Can :

2020 Distinguished Alumna, Julie Peterson Genjac ‘99 Last year, the Forest Ridge Alumnae Board voted Julie Peterson Genjac ’99 its 2020 Distinguished Alumna. This decision, according to former Alumnae Board President Samantha Totton ’09, was based in part on Julie’s remarkable journey to become one of Financial Planning Magazine’s Top Women in Asset Management in 2019.

The Forest Ridge community of friends and teachers, small class sizes and valuable life skills changed Julie’s life. “The message I received was ‘the sky is the limit,’” says Julie. She felt intellectually challenged and emotionally supported in equal measure. Forest Ridge fostered her confidence to undertake any challenge that life presented to her.

By the time she enrolled in Forest Ridge as an 8th grader, Julie had already spent her Christmas money on a babysitting class, and by her senior year, one of her clients, impressed with her ability to run a babysitting business while enrolled at Forest Ridge, offered her an internship in financial planning. At the age of 22, while still finishing her economics degree at the University of Washington, Julie had bought her first house with her own earnings. She then began her career in financial services.

These days, as the Managing Director of Applied Insights for Hartford Funds, the self-proclaimed “queen of efficiency” has a passion for leadership coaching, and helps firms reach their goals by assessing their strengths and breaking down their areas for improvement into bite-size targets. “It’s an approach that is universal to organizations, retirement savings or even personal habits,” she says. “Small changes at the margins can have a big impact over time. Simplicity is okay.

24 | M E S A M I S W I N TER 2 0 2 1

You don’t have to approach every challenge with an overhaul.”

“Julie is undoubtedly an accomplished professional,” notes Financial Planning Magazine. “But more importantly, she has approached her professional success with more than just an eye on the bottom line.

She is driven by teaching others.”

“Julie’s openness and warmth make others feel welcome and free to be themselves. After hearing about her passion, even as a child, her keen business sense and how she has translated her skills into a successful financial career, I knew she embodied the portrait of a Forest Ridge graduate,” adds Samantha Totton ’09.

Julie acknowledges that she didn’t achieve her success all on her own. She credits the strong support of her family, parents Dianna and Scott Peterson, and husband, Nedim Genjac, along with her excellent educational foundation, for giving her the confidence to believe in herself and to know the sky really is the limit.

Julie’s Top 5 Financial Literacy Skills Every High School Student Should Master Before College

.....

• An understanding of the types of investment vehicles - stocks, bonds, cash, etc.

• The power of your credit score - it can open doors if it is strong, and close doors if it’s weak.

• Using credit cards wisely - avoid the trap of opening a new card to save 10% on your purchases.

• Every dollar matters when it comes to savings pay yourself before you pay for other things.

• Time is on your side when you are young - understand how compounding over time impacts your financial future.

F O RE STRIDGE .O RG

The seventies brought much change to Forest Ridge. In 1971, the School moved to the then modern Somerset campus which had no formal theater. No problem – Sue turned the school gymnasium into a stage. Using makeshift lighting, bleachers for seating and the renaming of “stage left” and “stage right” to “Visitors” and “Home,” Sue made her productions work. She also produced plays with the young men from O’Dea High School. “I was never challenged in casting our girls in male roles, but you can imagine how exciting it was for our girls to now share the stage.”

Finally, the Lee Theatre, a proper theater space, was built on campus in 1982. Sue and her students reveled in the luxury of a spacious stage, perfected acoustics, professional lighting, dressing rooms and real theater seating. “Godspell” was the inaugural play.

Sue Magan

2020 Honorary Alumna

Sue’s influence as a teacher left an indelible mark on her students. Alumnae remember taking stern direction and developing resiliency as they were pushed out of their comfort zones to project to “dear old deaf Aunt Jenny who sits in the back row.” Sue recalls that “girls who were fiercely academic, shy or suffered from slight stage fright, would suddenly be seen in a whole new light after singing, dancing and acting, giving them a new, strong footing where they were once feeling uncertain or even insecure.”

By Julie Lundgren

Sue Magan has a devoted following among Forest Ridge alumnae. For 39 years, until her retirement in 2002, Sue taught music and drama and even started a catering operation, Ed-U-Caterers, to provide lunch options for the students who otherwise left campus for lunch. Because of her strong presence in our community and devotion to Sacred Heart values, the Alumnae Board and the Alumnae Office voted to make Sue an Honorary Alumna of Forest Ridge School.

As a graduate of all-girls education from kindergarten through college, she could relate to Forest Ridge. In 1963, soon after arriving to Seattle from New York City, Sue found a position teaching music before taking over the Drama Department for the entire school – kindergarten through the fourth academic.

Sue recalls staging the “Music Man” as her first musical at Forest Ridge, followed by other well-loved classics such as “My Fair Lady.” “You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown” was her most popular production, garnering invitations to perform at Catholic schools in Seattle and for the UW and WSU Drama Departments. With the creative backing of Srs. Schadewald and Kramer, who built and painted scenery, and the accompaniment of the talented Trudy Pival, Sue produced ten plays a year.

FORE S T R I D G E . O R G

Sue was larger, and louder, than life. She provided a place for all girls. It didn’t matter their skill level; everyone was on equal footing and everyone had opportunities. ~ Karen Swanson Dugan ’76

Asked what advice Sue has for Forest Ridge students today, she says, “Every generation of our students has faced challenges and it is safe to say that we can proudly look back upon the manner in which we have risen to meet them. What I would tell the young ladies of Forest Ridge today is what I told them every year that I had the pleasure to teach…be of stout heart!”

Thank you, Sue, for your unwavering devotion to Forest Ridge School. We are proud to make you an Honorary Alumna.

MES AMIS W INTE R 2021 | 25

Class Notes ..............

..............

1950’s

2000’s

Sharon Carey LeeMaster ’53 shares that she is retired from philanthropic consulting due to COVID. She and her husband have moved to a senior assisted living facility near San Diego State University where they enjoy warmer weather and the many amenities of their new home.

Emily Abrash deGarcía ’04 and her husband welcomed a little boy, Miguel Ángel Emmanuel García Abrash, on September 19 of last year. We were blessed to have Kellie (Ferguson) White '04 and her husband come visit when he was just a couple weeks old!

Mary Hennes Brown ’57 recently published a memoir of her time spent in India in 1964-65 gathering material for her MA degree in Asian Studies. Mary’s lifelong interest in India grew from her family’s stay in Calcutta followed by a two-year grant from the East-West Center in Honolulu that brought her back there. Mary built a career as an analyst at the CIA in DC where she has lived since 1966.

Lindsey Otta Zachary ’07 and her husband Andrew welcomed their son Quentin on February 12, 2020.

1980’s Laura Bell Hammarlund ’84 shares, “earlier this year I switched from the arts world to healthcare, having taken a position as Major Gifts Officer for the Virginia Mason Foundation. I’m grateful to have landed at an institution that’s at the forefront of treatment, research and providing overall quality healthcare to its patient community.”

Kerry Christianson ’86 writes, “My husband and I sailed south last September, from Port Townsend, WA to Alameda, CA. We are safely tucked into Alameda Marina for the time being. I found a job in November helping to get a new online association up and running.

We're getting close to going live - hopefully by May. I get to work from home/boat most days, which makes life that much easier. I also get to hang out occasionally with Sr. Sandy Schadewald and Sr. Kathy Buschman who live nearby!

26 | M E S A M I S W I N TER 2 0 2 1

2010’s Amanda Klug ’10 writes, “It has been 12 years since Ane Rodal (left) came from our Sacred Heart School in Mexico City on exchange to Forest Ridge. She and I remain great friends and do our best to see each other often. Last year our families vacationed together in La Paz, Mexico for the winter holidays.”

F O RE STRIDGE .O RG

Haley Meier ’11 got engaged to Nick Andrew on October 16, 2020.

Chanel Fargo ’12 got engaged to Colby Stevens on July 4, 2019.

Demi Carson ’12 married Ryan Frazier on September 5, 2020 and Rachel Perna ’12 was her bridesmaid.

Avani ’19 and Lily Desai ’19, ’19 and Ellie McConkey ’19 enjoyed a chance Forest Ridge reunion with Tom and Annie Koning who were visiting their son at Gonzaga in the fall.

Claire Ficca ’14 married David Bryant on May 26, 2019.

FORE S T R I D G E . O R G

Keep in Touch .....

Have you moved or updated your email addresses? Have a class note to share?

Please email Julie Lundgren, Director of Development and Alumnae Relations at jlundgren@forestridge.org with address updates, email changes and class note submissions. You can also keep up to date on alumnae news through our Facebook page (facebook.com/forestridgealum) or on Instagram (@forestridgealumnae).

MES AMIS WINTE R 2020 | 27

In Memoriam Friends Tom Abbott, husband of Mary Rockwell Abbott ’70, on April 8, 2020.

Rebecca Virginia (Ginny) Beyer, mother of Becky Beyer Canterberry ’70, Jean Beyer McCourt ’72 and grandmother to Caroline Beyer ’08, on July 8, 2020.

Brian Gregory Edwards, son of Deena Nyberg Edwards ’69, on September 2, 2019.

A Lasting Legacy at Forest Ridge By: Marie Bone ‘70

Ginny Beyer passed away this year, preceded by her husband John who died in 2017. Ginny and John were active members of the Forest Ridge community. As we offer our condolences to the Beyer family, we are grateful for all they did to build up our school at a time when Forest Ridge was making the move from Seattle to Bellevue. In December 1965, John and Ginny brought their daughter, Becky ’70, to an interview at Forest Ridge. Upon her Caroline Beyer ‘08 and John Beyer

admission, Sr. Virginia McMonagle quickly recruited John

saying, “Now John, I would like to have your advice about a piece of property in Bellevue.”

With that, John became a part of the newly formed Board of Advisors Sr. McMonagle convened.

She sought their help navigating enormous challenges including earthquake damage, dramatic post Vatican II changes and social upheaval on every front. After the Beyer’s youngest daughter, Jean, graduated in 1972, John stayed on as a trustee until Forest Ridge was well established on Somerset. Also notable was Ginny’s legendary hospitality that served the School and her daughters’ classmates generously. To the Beyer’s delight, their granddaughter, Caroline Beyer ’08, M.D. followed the family tradition by attending Forest Ridge.

28 | M E S A M I S W I N TER 2 0 2 1

F O RE STRIDGE .O RG

Eternal rest grant unto them , O Lord, and let perpetual light g shine upon them .

May the souls off all the faithful f f departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

Robert H. “Bob” Gilmore, father of Carol Gilmore Sauter ’73 and Gina Gilmore Purdy ’78, and grandfather of Mary Colleen Sauter ’11, on December 14, 2019.

Jewelyn Carvalho Impett ‘56 (Manhatanville), mother of Mary Frances Impett Del Duca ‘79 and Clare Impett Gallagher ‘81, on June 8, 2020.

Ann Saberhagen O’Neil, mother of Suzy Oneil Barry ’78, Julie O’Neil ’82 and mother-in-law to Janet Jenkins O’Neil ’76, on August 9, 2020.

Margarita Ema Rojo, mother of Gina Rojo ’85, on February 28, 2020.

Aagot “Kate” Rosellini, mother of Sandy Rosellini Ochoa ’61 and Mary Ann Rosellini Flynn ’65, and grandmother of Jacquie Ochoa Rosellini, Ana Maria Ochoa Rosellini ’87 and Yvonne Ochoa Rosellini ’92, on January 22, 2020.

Rosemary Scalzo, mother of Marlene Scalzo Miller ’62 and Deborah Scalzo Centioli ’75 and grandmother of Chrissey Miller ‘88, on May 4, 2020.

Jean Marie Stuart, mother of Sharon Stuart Ingham ’69 and Diane Stuart Youngberg ’73, on March 2, 2018.

Sharon McConnell Westin ‘52, mother of Michele Westin Sweet ‘80, on December 10, 2020.

Alumnae: Patty Barrett Geraghty ’56, mother of Katie Geraghty ’80 and grandmother of Mykaila Ostrom ’11, on August 22, 2020.

M’Liss Frandsen Hawley ’75 on November 14, 2019.

Mary Scott Hillgren ’69, sister of Nancy Scott Jackson ’70, on February 24, 2020.

Frances Lowman Mather ’53 on July 27, 2020.

Patricia Sanders ’57, sister of Peggy Sanders Skow ’54 and Betty Sanders ’59, on November 4, 2020.

Margot McIlvaine Washburn ’53, sister of Beth McIlvaine Benedetti ’49, on March 5, 2020.

FORE S T R I D G E . O R G

MES AMIS WINTE W INTE R 2021 | 29

Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage PAID Seattle, WA Permit No. 6781

FOREST RIDGE SCHOOL OF THE SACRED HEART 4800 139TH AVENUE SE, BELLEVUE, WA 98006-3015 WWW.FORESTRIDGE.ORG

Save the Date Forest Ridge Alumnae Reunion June 4-5, 2021 All alumnae are invited as we celebrate milestone years ending in 0, 1, 5 & 6

While we hope for an in-person Reunion in 2021, we will be prepared for a Zoom reunion too. One way or another, we will find a way to celebrate you!

Watch for more info in the coming months.

If you have any questions, please email Julie Lundgren, Director of Development & Alumnae Relations, at jlundgren@forestridge.org.