View from the Top Spring 2012

Spring 2013

Inside:

Short takes on and around the Hill

The Power of Girls’ Education Four-Year Follow Project:

Class of 2009

: bob james Bridging the Gap

volunteer Profile

Annual Giving 2012-13

Bridging; verb, 1. to make (a way) by a bridge.

For 62 combined years, Sisters Ramona and Katherine Jean “made a way” for thousands of young women to expand their minds, to grow their voice, and to develop as women who lead in their local and global communities.

What do you have in common with Sisters Ramona and Katherine Jean?

Each one of you “make a way” for these young women by being philanthropic partners with us in their education.

Today we invite you to pay tribute to Sister Ramona and Sister Katherine Jean by making a gift in their honor to the Flintridge Fund.

(Read their biographies on page 25.)

Each gift you give in their honor will be used to make a way by Bridging the Gap between the cost of educating our young women every year and what tuition alone covers.

Use the enclosed envelope for your gift, or visit www.fsha.org/onlinegiving to make a secure gift or pledge online.

Thank you!

The Flintridge Fund, our annual giving program, is a way you can give back to FSHA. From scholarships to athletics, from technology to the arts, from books to retreats, annual giving provides for a vibrant holistic educational atmosphere for every young woman. Choose to apply your gift to any of these areas.

Questions? Contact Althea Little, Director of the Flintridge Fund: 626.685.8391 or alittle@fsha.org.

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Letter from the President Glimpses: Short takes on and around the Hill

Inside Back Cover:

25 Distinguished Alumna Awards: Sr. Ramona Bascom, O.P. ’52 and

Sr. Katherine Jean Cowan, O.P. ’59

On the Cover:

Katy Sadler: 39 Years of Selfless Service

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21 Alumnae Class Notes Portrait of a Graduate: 22

Board of Directors: Bob Harper, Chair

The Power of an All-Girls Education 12 16 TOLOGS Who Found Their Voices Through the Written Word

20 A Letter from the Alumnae

A Four-Year Follow Project

26 TOLOG Family Tree: The Illig Clan 27 Career Day 2013 28 Alumnae Gatherings Marsha Berger Swan ’56: 30

Gratitude for a Home on the Hill

Faculty Profile: Kelly Tramontin

A testament to the power of an allgirls educational experience: Board of Directors alumnae members from left to right: Juli Goodwin Roginson ‘87, Leslie Kawai ‘80, Darla Vessadini Longo ‘75 and (seated) Kristin Friese Gannon ‘85

Association President

MEMBERS

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

S. Gloria Marie Jones, O.P. Congregational Prioress

Robert Harper, Chair S. Carolyn McCormack, O.P. President

S. Diane Briden Becker, O.P. Vicaress General S. Reina Perea, O.P., Councilor S. Carolyn Marie Monahan, O.P. Councilor S. Alicia Lucy, O.P., Councilor

Peter Conti, M.D. Michael Davitt Robert Edwards Kristin Friese Gannon ‘85 Ann Holmquist John Hrovat S. Gloria Marie Jones, O.P. Leslie Kawai ‘80

Christopher LaBonge John Laco Paul Locker Darla Vessadini Longo ‘75 Robert Malchione Steven Mann Barbara Marshall Juli Goodwin Roginson ‘87 Keith Sharp S. Johnellen Turner, O.P. Allan Villegas

Our Mission:

Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy, a Catholic, Dominican, collegepreparatory school, educates young women for a life of faith, integrity and truth.

Seeking truth. Serving others.

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A Letter

from the President

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ery dear friends,

As I write to you, the sounds of the fountain and the scent of orange blossoms from the citrus trees fill the patio space and flow through the open door into my office. It is springtime and our hilltop is opening every corner to receive the new life and energy that is pushing through—it is energizing and invigorating!

This springtime energy is at work across our campus. Our Congregation’s leadership team visited Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy as a part of their commitment to FSHA as a sponsored school of the Dominican Sisters of Mission San

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Jose. It was a wonderful two day visit. The Sisters were introduced on TV at student announcements, visited classes, and participated in wide and varied meetings across campus that drew them together with students, teachers, staff, alumnae and parents. Later that afternoon, the Board of Directors gathered for their meeting and the Sisters shared insights about the Academy. Clearly, they were captured by our young women and the animated spirit they bring to FSHA. Equally, they were impressed with the growth they experienced at the school: the laptop program woven together with the educational technology that is lifting our curriculum, course by course; the faculty’s commitment to curriculum mapping; the much-appreciated Block Schedule; the newly developed teacher evaluation program; and our on-

FLINTRID GE SACRED HEART ACADEMY

Of What Surrounds Me Mary Oliver

Whatever it is I am saying, I always need a leaf or a flower, if not an entire field. As for sky, I am so wildly in love with each day’s invention, cool blue or cat gray or full of the ships of clouds, I simply can’t say whatever it is I am saying without at least one skyful. That leaves water, a creek or a well, river or ocean, it has to be there. For the heart to be there. For the pen to be poised. For the idea to come.

That said, how good it is for us to focus this current issue of the View from the Top on all girls’ education. From the View’s dynamic cover, highlighting alumnae members of the Board of Directors, to the many and varied stories of alumnae news and life on the Hill, a beautiful picture of women’s education at FSHA is portrayed as spirited and alive. This is a reality to celebrate!

going plans to engage Department Chairs in more effective ways across the academic program. We were able to discuss our future plans with candor and confidence, acknowledging that while “challenges are the road to opportunity,” our infrastructure is strong and our commitment stronger. It was a significant, dynamic meeting. We can celebrate, with gratitude, the gift of our religious Congregation’s support of our mission on the Hill.

Our Master Plan and Capital Campaign projects continue to keep us busy. I invite you to log on to our website, www.fsha. org/masterplan, to see the plans and read about our progress.

This is a dynamic moment in Flintridge Sacred Heart’s history and we are eager that you all know and support our efforts.

We have been through a rigorous admissions season with a strong pool of candidates and the requirement to accept a smaller Class of 2017. While we deeply regret we were not able to accept more students, we are intent upon following the enrollment requirements of the City of La Cañada Flintridge as we move forward with our Master Plan project.

Our entering freshman class includes 28 young women who are legacy students, seven of whom are daughters of FSHA alumnae. We are proud to continue educating generations of young women.

Finally, we look forward to reporting on our annual Gala, to be held on campus Saturday evening, May 4, 2013. This year, the Distinguished Alumna Award will be given to two very special graduates of FSHA: Sisters Ramona Bascom O.P. ’52 and Katherine Jean Cowan O.P. ‘59 who need no introduction to any of us! That same evening, we will honor Katy Sadler, AP for Student Affairs, who is retiring after 39 years. What a record-breaking celebration this will be. We hope to have many alumnae present as we honor these three women, whose lives are lovingly woven throughout the tapestry of FSHA’s life these past 40 years and more! ”For the heart to be there. For the pen to be poised. For the idea to come.” May you too know the inspiration that Mary Oliver offers to us. May the beauty of this glorious season of springtime fill each of you with new life and energy for all you are called to do. Please know that the prayers of your Dominican Sisters continue to support you each and every day.

A grateful,

Sister Carolyn McCormack, O.P. President

To read more about FSHA’s Master Plan, please visit www.fsha.org/masterplan

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FSHA’s Dance Teacher Wins Prestigious Grant

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horeographer/dancer, writer and actor Liz Hoefner Adamis was one of three Los Angeles artists chosen to participate in the Margaret Jenkins Dance Company’s CHIME (Choreographers in Mentorship Exchange) Program for 2013, a mentorship program for professional choreographers. Adamis, who is FSHA’s dance teacher and Saltatrix moderator, is one of only nine artists nationwide to be accepted into the program.

Adamis will be working with Nancy Keystone, the founder of L.A.’s Critical Mass Performance Group, on a new piece, while also observing Nancy’s rehearsals for the upcoming Ameryka and Alcestis. After working with her mentor and meeting with the other winners, Adamis will showcase her newest piece in December 2014.

That dance, as yet unnamed, will include FSHA alumnae Lindsey Lollie ‘08 and Sarri Sanchez ‘01.

As her dancers know, Adamis has been an accomplished choreographer and dancer in her own right for more than 18 years. She has performed extensively throughout the L.A. area as well as in New York City and abroad. Adamis holds a Master of Fine Arts in Dance and Choreography from the California Institute of the Arts.

“I am thrilled and honored that I received this grant the first year in which I applied for it,” Adamis says. “It is a big deal in the dance community in the United States.”

Academic Decathlon and Speech & Debate Team Up to Break School Records

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aturday, February 2, was a fruitful day for two of FSHA’s prominent extracurricular academic groups – the Speech & Debate Team, and Academic Decathlon.

At the SCDL Spring Varsity Tournament in Arcadia, the Speech portion of FSHA’s Speech & Debate Team racked up the most cumulative points among similarly sized schools, winning First Place Sweepstakes in the Small School Division – a first in FSHA history. The group participating included 15 boarding students, many of whom were competing for the first time.

That same day, FSHA’s Academic Decathlon team racked up a total of 46 medals — the most individual medals ever won by the team. For the first time, both of FSHA’s competition teams — Division II and Division III — performed well enough to place in the top three. Division II finished in third place out of 10 teams, and Division III finished in second place out of 12 teams.

There were, of course, outstanding individual efforts that led to both groups’ achievements. For the Speech team, Yaqi Zhang ‘16 won first place in General Interpretation, and Rachel Koo ‘14 won second place in General Platform.

Additionally, Dani Chavez ’14 also took fifth place in Impromptu Speaking out of more than 80 students from powerhouses like Gabrielino and San Marino.

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For Academic Decathlon, Ashley Wells ‘15, Nina Sarian ‘13 and Jessie Lorrimer ‘13 were each awarded six medals, while Katherine Russell ‘13 and Lillian Widen ‘15 earned five apiece. Katherine achieved the highest point total on the Division II team, and Loretta Koch ‘15 scored the most points on the Division III team.

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Melene Agakanian ‘13 (on the left) and Elizabeth participate in a hands-on activity.

Veritas Scholars

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mong the Class of 2016, eight girls were selected for the honor of being named Veritas Scholars. These freshmen received a merit scholarship as a recognition of their outstanding and consistent accomplishments in the areas of academics, entrance-exam results, co-curricular activities or service to the school and community. The merit scholarships are renewable each year based on the student’s continued satisfactory grades, effort and conduct. We are pleased to report that the Veritas Scholars for the 2012-2013 year are: Sarah Burrola, Sara Collins, Laura DiPietro, Nicole Linden, Clare Lund, Allison Pieroni, Kirsten Polzin and Breanna Ryan. We are proud of these young women and all that they bring to the FSHA community.

Librarian Shakes Up the Stacks

librarians who outlined what a college freshman ought to know in terms of research,” Murphy says. The result? Partnerships between the Library and various departments on campus wherein she works directly with teachers in developing assignments or addresses entire classes on the proper use of resources and asking critical questions. “The biggest part of this project right now is planning an interdisciplinary junior research project – covering English, religious studies and history – that will reach all of the students in the fall,” she says. Murphy’s already evaluating possible new academic databases to help that goal.

So far, Tologs are taking the lessons to heart. “Our 9th and 10th graders stump me all the time with very complicated research needs,” Murphy says.

“When students have complicated research needs, it means they are asking deeper questions.”

These efforts are part of a larger quest that also gets back to the more basic functions of the Library – new and old. Murphy is working on creating a “Culture of Reading” by revamping the print collection with new nonfiction and young adult books, and by promoting titles (as well as teachers’ favorites) on the new Library blog and Facebook page. “I’m trying to make the connection between recreational reading and academic achievement.

Research has shown that the former greatly improves the latter,” she says.

“Plus, I think schools with strong reading cultures are stronger schools.”

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ome of the changes are easy to spot, such as the new library blog and the beanbag chairs that dot the floor.

Others are more subtle and found only in students’ papers, which are now more complete with thorough citations and research.

That’s the goal of librarian Nora Murphy, who has instituted a number of changes in the Library since starting at FSHA in August 2011. The most wide-ranging of these is a four-year plan to bring students up to speed on preparing collegelevel papers. “I was inspired by a session I attended at a professional conference, which was run by university-level

Students themselves are working on that – there’s a new Library Advisory Board, a group of Tologs who keep Murphy up-to-date on what her patrons want and need. It was through their endeavors that the beanbag chairs came about, as one way to make the Library more inviting for those interested in curling up with a book. “So far, they’ve been right on!” Murphy says. In the future? Maybe some sofas or loveseats to keep that love for reading growing.

“When students have complicated research needs, it means they are asking deeper questions.” glimpses

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Hall of Fame Inducts Two Alumnae

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ongratulations to Jessica Reyes ‘00 and Jillian Davis ‘03!

They were inducted into FSHA’s Hall of Fame on the evening of Saturday, February 9, as part of the annual Hall of Fame Mass and Dinner.

Reyes played soccer for four years at FSHA — where she is still the all-time leading scorer with 80 goals and 35 assists — and was named FSHA Senior Class Athlete of the Year. She continued playing soccer at Colorado College, where she is tied for 15th in career points and scored four goals in a 2001 game against Harvard.

Davis played volleyball for four years at FSHA before moving on to UC-Berkeley and the USA Volleyball Team. At Cal, Davis set the school all-time dig record (at 1,810) and the school singlematch dig record with 33 against Stanford in 2004.

Both inductees were joined by their families and other members of their graduating class.

Signing Day 2013

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en Tologs — the most in FSHA history — participated in Signing Day on Wednesday, February 6. From left: Sumner Hanula, Wellesley College, soccer/softball; Kelly Jacobs, LMU, softball; Hailey James, Cal Poly Pomona, soccer; Claire Kostelnik, St. Mary’s College

of Maryland, soccer; Krista Meaglia, Northeastern, soccer; Kayla Mills, USC, soccer; Kendall Sandoval, UNLV, soccer; Miranda Saldivar, Swarthmore, soccer; Sarah Teegarden, Wake Forest, soccer; and Savannah Viola, New Mexico, soccer.

FLINTRID GE SACRED HEART ACADEMY

TOP: From left, Jenny Jordan ’13 as Judy, Nichola Marick ’13 as Violet and Gracie Raymond ’13 as Doralee in FSHA’s fall production of “9 to 5: The Musical.”

RIGHT: A full chorus of dancers and singers, seen here in the opening title number of the show, provided support.

Student Mission Committee Promotes Dominican Charism

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ver the past three years, many changes have taken place in FSHA’s Campus Ministry program. The biggest of these is probably the Student Mission Committee, which was created this past year as an offshoot of the Board’s Mission Committee and FSHA’s commitment to better integrating the Dominican mission throughout our entire campus community.

The Student Mission Committee has 15 members, of which six are seniors. Membership was determined by the Campus Minister Kelley Dawson, who invited students to apply. The application required several essays as well as a demonstration of leadership and a commitment to understanding the Dominican charism and the Dominican order.

During the summer, some of the girls were able to attend the Annual Dominican Preaching Conference, which draws students from other Dominican schools throughout the United States. They shared what they learned during FSHA’s Veritas Week, which is

held in the fall and explores the meaning of being a Dominican school. In April, the committee plans to commemorate St. Catherine of Siena Feast Day. Members of the committee have also introduced a “Dominican Minute” every Friday on the school’s morning video announcements in which the girls focus on a piece of the Dominican charism.

“It is a young committee in its formation,” Dawson says. “The fact that it is percolating is a testament to the growing desire of FSHA to have our mission more evident not just to the outside, but also to ourselves.”

This is just one of many efforts that Dawson has undertaken as Campus Minister since she came to FSHA in 2010. Others include a new focus for the Campus Ministry Leadership Team, formerly known as the LIFE Team; broadening Christian service opportunities; and campus events such as last year’s Vocation Assembly. At the end of this school year, Dawson will leave the Hill to begin a Master in Divinity program at the University of Notre Dame. While her presence will be missed, she leaves behind a deep Dominican legacy.

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FSHA boarding students:

FSHA, to make sure they can learn alongside native English speakers.

“What might be obvious for an English (speaker) is not obvious for them because they’re struggling with the words you’re saying,” explained Miller. “So I think it makes me a better teacher because you have to be much more thoughtful about your word choice.”

She noted that the boarding students bring a global perspective to classroom discussions, such as first-hand experience from the Chinese students of the one-baby policy in China. “I think it brings a lot of awareness to all our students,” said Miller.

‘A positive effect all around’ This story is reprinted with permission from The Tidings and appeared in The Tidings on January 11, 2013.

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n weekday mornings, teenage girls from ten nations make their way toward the steps ascending to their high school on the hill: Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy in La Cañada Flintridge. There, the 56 boarding students join 355 “day students” at the only all-girls’ Catholic day and boarding school in Southern California, established 81 years ago by the Dominican Sisters of Mission San Jose.

“The gift today of this amazing program is that, in a world that grows smaller each day, and as national boundaries are fading into each other, these girls have the opportunity to meet and become friends, and study and learn about life and their cultures together,” observed Dominican Sister Carolyn McCormack, FSHA president.

And, when the boarders cross the bridge after school back to their rooms in a wing of the administration building, they share their home-awayfrom-home with the Dominican Sisters, whose convent is in another section of the mission-style edifice.

“I don’t think there’s any boarding school today where kids go to school and live with 10 Sisters,” smiled Sister McCormack. “Living with these young women, the Sisters have the opportunity to eat in the same dining room and pass each other in the halls. There’s a lovely rapport that grows with our girls — and when the girls are not here, it’s quiet and lonely.

“I think one of the signatures of Flintridge Sacred Heart that we see when the girls graduate is this confidence that they have,” she added. “They have found their voice, they have been well-prepared and they step out of high school into universities and colleges around the world.”

A global perspective “The beauty of the boarding students is they bring a different flavor to the classroom,” said Leslie Miller, who has taught chemistry and physics at FSHA for seven years. “Some of the students are incredibly industrious and have a lot of perseverance when they’re learning.”

All international students whose first language is not English must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language as their entrance exam to

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FSHA’s international student boarders this year hail from Canada, China, Hong Kong, India, Mexico, Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam and the United States. “When the school first opened, it had a really wide variety of girls [from the local region and beyond] — there weren’t as many internationals as you would have thought in the very beginning,” said Martha Lem, director of boarding students. Early on, she noted, the school had a lot of boarders from South America, followed by many from Mexico, and then a surge of girls from Asia.

Lem regards the residence halls made up of 23 rooms on two floors as “holy ground,” where nearly 100 Dominican Sisters have walked the floors since the school opened to educate young women and prepare them for an integrated life of study, prayer, service and community, predicated on the Dominican motto of “Veritas” (truth).

When the boarders first arrive at FSHA, there’s a bit of an adjustment period, according to Lem. “The girls come with the attitude that they’re going to be independent, and then they get here and they see it’s much like home,” she said. “It’s going to be controlled, there are study halls and they still have adults looking over them. Rules are sometimes hard to get used to, and we keep explaining that this is a boarding program [with adults supervising] 50-60 students.”

Lem comes in on Sunday night and sleeps in one of the spacious boarding rooms until she leaves the residence on Friday afternoons.

She watches over the boarders with motherly concern, caring for the teenagers when they are sick and corresponding with their parents.

“It’s taking care of them 24/7,” Lem noted. And yet, she added, “I think when they leave is when they realize just how great it was here.”

‘Everybody helps each other’ “I wanted to go to boarding school and my parents said it had to be ‘all-girls’ and ‘Catholic,’” said sophomore Jane Chetty, born in Japan to Catholic parents from India who currently reside in Hong Kong. “We basically just Googled [those key words], and Flintridge Sacred Heart was one of the first schools that came up.

“I really like the close community,” said Chetty, who started at FSHA as a 9th grader. “Being together with so many girls, it makes me feel really comfortable. I can fulfill all my potential here — at school, with the teachers and my friends, who really encourage me to do my best.”

Nayoon Kim, a junior from Korea who started as a 9th grader, said her mom and her aunt — who lives in La Cañada Flintridge — looked around for a boarding school for international students and were happy to find FSHA’s 41-acre campus in the nearby San Rafael Hills.

“When I first came here, I was excited,” said Kim. “I missed Korea and my family, but later, I didn’t feel lonely. Friends, teachers and Mrs. Lem helped me get along with other people and feel familiar with school and the culture.”

FLINTRID GE SACRED HEART ACADEMY

Margaret Lee, a senior from Taiwan who, as the newly-elected ASB treasurer, is the first boarder ever to be elected to school-wide office, said her parents looked through books of boarding schools and liked the idea of an all-girls’ school.

“Generally, I didn’t like the idea because I had never gone to an allgirls’ school in my life, but once I came here I loved the community,” said Lee. “Everybody helps each other. Instead of just competing with each other, it feels like we’re all striving for success. Instead of individual success, it’s more like group success.”

Lee says she gets a lot more opportunities to do extracurricular activities, which are not available to her friends in Taiwan, where school is 100 percent academics.

“Here I get to do sports. I get to swim and play water polo. I think it’s more beneficial. It also takes off a lot of my stress from school work,” said Lee, who has also participated on FSHA’s Academic Decathlon team. She plans to attend college in the U.S. (as do many of the boarders), hopes to major in biology and — with her background in two cultures — would like to study international relations.

popped into her family’s head to send her away for better educational opportunities, FSHA seemed like the obvious choice.

“The school has a great sense of community, which is something incredible and very different from my old school,” said Arellano. “It’s a tight sisterhood, and it’s a great community of people who are all supporting each other and are all willing to help each other and be there for anything.”

Over Thanksgiving break, Arellano visited her roommate from last year, who lives in Cabo San Lucas.

“This is a different boarding school, being that the majority of the students are day students, and most boarding schools are the other way around with the majority of the students living on campus,” commented Arellano.

“It does provide a different atmosphere, a different experience, but it’s a great thing to be one part of the school community and secondly, a part of the boarding community, where 50 girls get to live with each other and your best friend lives next door.”

Andrea Arellano, a senior who transferred from her local public high school in Oakdale (in central California), said when the idea

Grandparents Day

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here is nothing like the warm relationship between grandparents and their granddaughters! That was evident on February 6 when 227 grandparents joined 143 of their granddaughters for Grandparents Day on the Hill. The grandparents gathered in the Auditorium for an arts presentation showing off our dancers, musicians, choir and ComedySportz team.

The visual arts were on display in the Student Activities Center where our guests gathered for lunch with their granddaughters after visiting them in their classes. It was a day filled with love.

A new Grandparents Group is forming which will focus on more frequent interactions with our young women on campus. If you are interested, please contact Charlotte Saydah at csaydah@fsha.org.

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Katy Sadler:

39 Years of Selfless Service

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n the fall of 1974, Sr. Ramona hired a teacher named Katy Sadler to helm the United States History and American Government classes. Over the next 39 years, she taught and served as class moderator, LIFE moderator, student council moderator, Kairos director and – most recently – Assistant Principal for Student Affairs. At the close of the 2012-13 school year, Sadler will retire from her full-time role and take on a new one that’s part-time, working closely with Director of Alumnae & Parent Relations Elizabeth Toms to reach out to FSHA alumnae across the country.

“I am so excited to work with Katy in her new role,” Toms says. “She has an impeccable memory and can recall names of alumnae and what made each of them special while they were students here.

Traveling to an alumnae reunion with her is like traveling with a rock star.”

Born in Birmingham, Ala., Sadler graduated from college with a bachelor’s degree in U.S. history and a California Life Credential in History and English. All three of her daughters are FSHA graduates, and she now has three granddaughters who are attending or have graduated from FSHA – with another starting in the fall.

Throughout her 39 years at FSHA, Sadler interacted with thousands of Tologs, many of whom have publicly expressed their gratitude for the many roles she played during their high-school years. “She was so supportive of me as a LIFEr, my educational advisor when we started the Amnesty International Club, and such a wonderful teacher!” says Sharon Francis ’89. “Hers are huge carnival-size jumbo shoes to fill there on the Hill. I’m glad she is going to stick

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profiles

around to pass on her wisdom to the next generation.”

To hear Sadler speak of her time at FSHA is to hear her say that “Flintridge has always been more than an occupation. In so many ways, it has enriched my life spiritually, intellectually and socially. It has helped shape the woman I am today,” she says. “Hopefully, I have been able to give that to the thousands of graduates I have known.”

And as the following testimonies attest, she has done exactly that: Carolyn Stoutt Leavitt ’90 Congratulations to you, Mrs. Sadler! I learned so much from your leadership. I will never forget your wisdom, patience and kindness.

Best wishes!

Vivian Maria Rivera ’09 Wow! It is truly the end of an era! Mrs. Sadler is the rock of FSHA. So blessed to have had her during my time at Sacred Heart!

Jane Gallagher Sweeney ’98 There’s not a better teacher or leader out there. She made such a difference in so many lives...

Margarita Penichet Orsi ’82 Mrs. Sadler was an inspiration to me as a teacher/student mentor and as an example of what an independent, intelligent, compassionate and determined woman in the 21st century should be.

Current and past parents, as well as alumnae, are invited to join us on Saturday, June 8, for a Retirement Celebration in honor of Katy Sadler. Please contact Julie Swayze at jswayze@fsha.org for more information.

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BOARD PROFILE

: Bob Harper, Chair

A Strong Commitment to Mission

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n Irish/Canadian by birth, an Angeleno by youth and a committed Catholic leader, Bob Harper brings passion and a twinkle in the eye to his new role as Chair of the Board at Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy. It was a long road that led him to the Hill – Harper retired in 2006 after 28 years in human resources at PricewaterhouseCoopers, but earlier in his professional life, he also served as a theology teacher and guidance counselor at St. Ignatius College Preparatory in San Francisco.

Harper now lives in La Cañada Flintridge with his wife, Joan.

They married in 1983 and raised three children – two sons, Brendan and Matt; and a daughter, Kathleen, who graduated from FSHA in 2008.

“Kathleen was our third child after two sons who were larger than life,” Harper recounts. “She was more reserved and adored her brothers. During 8th grade, she developed an interest in swimming and started at the Rose Bowl Aquatics Center. When she became a student at FSHA, the water polo coach asked her to join the team, and she ended up playing varsity all four years. That allowed her to hang out with upperclassmen and they took her under their wings. That was a big moment in time for her. I think it was because of that experience that she started to blossom and it helped her form her identity. It was meaningful for us to see that growth.”

Harper’s deeper commitment to FSHA didn’t truly begin until after Kathleen’s graduation. “As parents, we came to events.

We weren’t leaders, but were involved,” he says. “And after Kathleen’s graduation, we kept coming because we were invited! I particularly loved coming up the Hill to join the Sisters at Tuesday morning Mass and morning prayer at the Chapel.” In 2009, Sister Carolyn asked Harper to serve on the Board.

This is not Harper’s first foray into Catholic service. After his Irish immigrant parents moved his family from Toronto to Alhambra, Harper attended St. Therese School and La Salle High School.

Following his graduation from Loyola Marymount, he joined the Jesuit Volunteer Corps. It was through that organization that he served in the wilds of Alaska, teaching and working as a dorm proctor to senior high boys. It was after this tour that he spent four years at St. Ignatius.

During his tenure on FSHA’s board, Bob has chaired the Human Resources Committee and served on the Mission Committee, the Executive Committee, the Leadership Gift Committee and

Strategic Planning Committee. He became chair of the Board in January 2013.

His time at PricewaterhouseCoopers, as well as his Master’s in Business Administration from UCBerkeley, gives Harper a practical view of his new role. “The work of the Board is two-fold: first to ensure that the mission is carried out (this is the most important), and secondly, to ensure that resources of the school are preserved and developed resulting in financial stability,” he says.

“These two things happen through our own philanthropy as board members and by providing strategic direction, fiduciary oversight and policy review in partnership with the Members.

“I believe the responsibility of the chair is to be a servant to the rest of the Board, to continue to attract talented and professional individuals who are committed to the mission and to lead and direct Board members to contribute their gifts.

“I am struck by the extraordinary depth and breadth of the skills, commitment and professionalism of the Board. There are representatives from every constituency – current parents, past parents, alumnae, religious, friends and benefactors including many different professional backgrounds. Each member contributes to the work of the Board and helps to carry out its mission.”

Harper already has one big fan. “Bob is a strong leader who cares deeply for the mission of FSHA,” Sr. Carolyn reports. “I am delighted to partner with him to lead our Board.”

“I am struck by the extraordinary depth and breadth of the skills, commitment and professionalism of the Board.”

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I believe in women’s colleges. I believe in girls’ schools. With all that I’m going to tell you tonight, I need to state at the front – as a true researcher, as an academic scholar – that my bias is this: I drank the Kool-Aid. I believe it is the right thing to do.

Over the generations, the Dominican Sisters of Mission San Jose and their lay colleagues have offered an educational environment that has empowered and challenged young women to explore their gifts individually and in community, to expand their minds, to voice their opinions and to grow in their faith. The impact has reverberated through thousands of lives. In this story, through poetry and testimony, we celebrate the power of an all-girls education here on the Hill.

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n January 19, Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy hosted Avis Hinkson, Ed.D., Dean of Barnard College, an affiliate of Columbia University, to speak on the importance of all-girls education in the 21st century. She spoke to a full house in the Lounge of the Administration Building. The following are excerpts from her remarks that evening.

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So I will attempt to speak tonight to the relevance of women’s colleges and girls’ schools from the point of view that I believe it is an issue of choice on one hand, and intentionality on the other. On the college level, we acknowledge that there are state schools, independent schools, small liberal arts colleges, large universities, vocational education, and the list goes on and on. So why is it uncomfortable to add singlesex education to that list? It is simply a matter of choice, and the student and the family get to make that choice. I don’t understand why there would be any concern that a type of education is no longer relevant as long as there are people asking for it and continuing to express interest in it. And the same is true for girls’ schools.

I think the relevance is that choice is part of the American way. Choice is part of our history of education in these United States. But what are you choosing when you say you want to go to a girls’ school or a women’s college? And that is where I move from choice to intentionality.

In some ways, the intentionality is even more important.

Because when a girl goes into an all-girls school or when a woman goes into a women’s college, what is she getting that is going to be different in some significant and tangible way than in another environment?

This is the space where the research needs to be brought to the forefront. The book that I point to all the time is Taking Women Seriously: Lessons and Legacies for Educating the Majority, written by M.E. Tidball and published in 1999. In the research she and her colleagues did, she identifies six characteristics of a women’s college: • Involving the total collegiate experience in the education of women. It is not just a subset of the experience, but the total experience.

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have a responsibility to someone other than yourself. Living that out on a daily basis is what is instilled at a women’s college and a girl’s school.

So I offer this list because I think the commitment that is found at women’s colleges and girls’ schools makes the experience unique, more tangible and something that provides a foundation for our girls to build upon in future years.

Avis Hinkson, Ed.D., was appointed Dean of the College at Barnard College beginning February 14, 2011. In that capacity she serves as an advocate for students and oversees the Offices of the Dean of Studies, Admissions and Financial Aid, Registrar, Residential Life, Student Life, and Health Services.

Hinkson came to Barnard with nearly 30 years of experience in higher education. She holds a B.A. in psychology from Barnard College, an M.A. from Teachers College, Columbia University, and an Ed.D. from the University of Pennsylvania.

• Ensuring women the opportunity to study in all fields, especially those that have been unwelcoming to women in the past. Look at the number of women at Barnard who are majoring in math and statistics as compared to co-ed schools, and we see that the number is drastically different because they feel comfortable in those classes.

• Ensuring that there is a critical mass of female role models.

And I think it is important not to just have female role models, but to have female role models who are conscious of their responsibility to groom the next generation of women.

• Demonstrating the principal of networking: helping our young women to understand the value of building relationships that will have impact, not just on friendships, but also on their careers and their future life.

• Creating a place and a time for developing deep and lasting friendships. This is where I distinguish networking from friendships. When girls come together in girls’ schools and women’s colleges, life-long friendships are developed. I always like to tell my girls at Barnard that the criterion is: Who are the women who are going to stand with you in difficult moments as well the happy ones? Those are the kinds of friendships I am concerned about our students making.

Lynn Schnieders Robone ‘82 in her

• And lastly, part of the ethos is encouraging the generosity interior design firm home office. of women on behalf of others. It isn’t just service to the community in a broad and global sense, but coming from a community that says you have a responsibility to your sister. You

I went to Barnard really holding onto the words of a recruiter that there was something different and special that was going to be cultivated in me when I came into this community. And that sense of cultivating something special is the exact point I brought to bear on my doctoral dissertation when I asked, “What are the components of a women’s college experience that cultivate leaders?” The research of Tidball and other colleagues talks about high-achieving women as an outcome of women’s education, but for me, the leadership development was such a key component. After doing qualitative interviews with graduates of women’s colleges, I came away with a sense that a community conducive to leadership development is what is special about a women’s college. And when I say that, it is really about a place where setting high goals for women is the norm; a place where the expectations of success are high; and the role models are not just female.

Female role models are critical and wonderful, and their variety gives you the opportunity to see the range of ways in which leadership and career growth manifest themselves. One of my concerns is that our girls need not think that there is only one way to be a leader.

They need to be clear that they should be who they are, and that who they are is good enough. Their leadership should come out of who they are.

Those female role models are important, but I also think the men who choose to be on the faculty or staff at girls’ schools and women’s colleges are also critical because they are male role models who are speaking to our girls, to say, “From me, you will hear, ‘You can do it,’ as opposed to ‘You can’t do it.’” That too is important for the leadership development of the community of women in women’s colleges.

And lastly, it is important that their peers are not just friends and not just a network, but that the balance of challenge and support are there. Their friends in classes, their peers, are there to say, “I support you, I’m willing to come alongside you, I’ll serve on your committee, I’m willing to partner with you and I’m also willing to ask you the tough questions.”

The research question is whether the women’s college experience is initiation into leadership, or confirmation. From my research, I believe – at the level of a women’s college – it is really a critical confirmation.

When I talk with alumnae, they say, “I heard before that there was something different about me, that there was something unique, that there were leadership capabilities. But when I got to college, having that confirmed by a community outside of my home community was powerful. In some ways, I took my home community for granted.

But when this next place said, ‘Yes, I see it too,’ all of a sudden it flourished at a different level.”

That, to me, speaks to the importance of all-girls schools. Because I need to be sure that our girls are having that first experience

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“Going to an all-girls school literally meant you got to play all the parts. Everywhere you looked there was another female achieving great things: in athletics; in student government; in academics. You couldn’t miss it, and that mentoring is significant. We expected to be successful because we saw success and it looked just like us.”

- Juli Goodwin Roginson‘87

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How an all-girls school has impacted my life

By Kristin Friese Gannon ‘85

M

y four years at Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy had a very positive impact on my life and shaped me greatly as a person. I formed friendships that are some of my most important relationships in my life today.

As I know my fellow alums can attest to, Flintridge Sacred Heart developed us into confident, intelligent, spiritual and strong young women. Those years were filled with many milestones of achievement from excelling in AP classes, to leading the school through ASB, to acting in plays and dance concerts, to bringing sports teams to championships. There was a real sense of competition given all of the bright students, but a sense of ease that we were all in it together.

The teachers and school leadership made us believe we could achieve anything and everything. I so clearly remember the Presidential debate of 1984: Siouxsie Jennett ’85 as Walter Mondale and Ellen Nichols Kliavkoff ’85 as Ronald Reagan hotly debated the political issues of our day and made us all believe these two would be running for president one day! Or, at a minimum, would be leading their colleges and businesses in the near future.

I think all-girls schools and FSHA especially instilled in us a real confidence other schools cannot rival. I was so incredibly prepared for college. Going from classes of 20 at Flintridge Sacred Heart to my first economics class at Berkeley with more than 300 students, I felt prepared and confident and not at all intimidated.

This strength and fearlessness has continued with me through my career, graduate school and everyday challenges of life.

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of someone saying to them that they are a leader, that someone sees the potential in them. I really see the role of an all-girls school as the place where you are taking girls and cultivating a seed in them. To say that what is already in you will grow, will blossom, will develop into so much more, but we see it now.

With girls’ schools, we see girls walk away feeling valued, and as I have spoken with many of you tonight, you say that your daughter has been at FSHA a year – and she has changed. She comes home different. She’s not as shy as she was before. It’s because she is feeling valued. Because she is feeling that big dreams are being cultivated in her. She knows that her needs are being addressed as an intentional goal, not just as a happenstance.

The cultivation of women that are going to be high-achieving and leaders can’t be by chance. They have to be in an environment that looks them in the eye every day and says, “Yes, I see it.” It goes back to the earliest moments when girls are told that friendships matter, that their community building matters.

And that all happens at a girls’ school.

Tonight, as I spend time with you here at Flintridge Sacred Heart and I hear Sister Carolyn talk about your mission and your commitment to young women, I would offer to you the encouragement to continue to say that you know that girls are important. You know that what you are pouring into them and the investment you are making in them is crucial.

While we do most certainly live in a co-ed world, why wouldn’t we wish to set time aside to have the single-sex experience that strengthens and grooms characteristics in our girls so as they move out into a co-ed world, they are even more prepared to face the challenges that most certainly are ahead of them?

“Who am I?”

By Madeleine Togneri ‘13

Untie my shoes of judgment, dear society.

Give me the freedom to be The unrestrained version.

My shadow will have the confidence to shout, And voice her opinion with determined debates.

To live for me All without the ties of judgment.

For my shadow is the real me, The girl that expresses herself for all she is.

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Confidence comes from knowing who you are

By Anna Liebelt ’12 (Texas Christian University ’16) Mirrors are always truthful and honest; your eyes, however, are not always as objective.

Looking in the mirror several times a day, I know I can be my worst critic. Did I eat too much for my last meal? Do I look bloated as a result? Do my legs look too big in what I am wearing?

My mirror checks have a huge effect on my mood and confidence the rest of the day. They decide how comfortable I am going to feel around others, especially my friends. They also determine what clothes I want to wear and how I am going to act.

Going to an all-girls school has definitely helped me relax about my appearance. I can wake up in the morning and head to school without doing a full body examination, and it’s surprising how much time that saves me.

“My Thoughts in My Place”

By Biannca Smissen ‘14

Here I am sitting on my Rock.

It is giant and my favorite place to sit outside.

I am able to listen to all the thoughts in my head.

I hear the sound of energetic birds chirping A new thought runs through my head.

I wonder how can such a small thing generate so much noice?

This reminds me that small things have power too.

T hey have an opinion that they are trying to voice in this big world.

As I sit back and close my eyes, I hear leaves falling.

I realize that I am only able to hear that when I am concentrated.

Their falls are so peaceful and quiet, only meant to be heard by focused people.

I am reminded that we need to listen to people calling out for help.

We need to be conscious to those around us to hear them trying to speak.

I remain laid back on my rock as I hear the noise of a breeze.

Not only do I hear it, but I feel it too.

Its unexpectedness sends shivers down my spine.

This reminds me of how quickly gossip spreads.

O nce it is out, it travels like a breeze and hits the person.

They are left cold and lonely, not knowing who to trust.

My Rock is my place.

As I sit on it, I come to realizations.

Here on my rock I am able to spend time Lynn Schnieders Robone ‘82 in her thinking to myself. interior design firm home office.

I connect nature to those around me.

I am reminded to be open-minded and to be considerate of people around me.

Knowing that almost none of the girls here put on a layer of thick foundation or heavy eyeliner to go to school helps me be sure of the “me” that woke up 10 minutes before leaving for school. After all, who do we have to impress here?

Thinking about all this led me to some questions: What if we didn’t have mirrors? What if we lived our entire lives never knowing how we really look? How would we judge ourselves?

In a century controlled by mass media and its interpretation of beauty and value, this idea is hard to imagine. We would no longer have Victoria’s Secret models to compare ourselves to or Rachel McAdams to envy.

Without my body to determine my self-confidence, I would have to resort to my character. I’d evaluate myself based on who I actually am, who I am not, and who I want to be.

With this new outlook, the world could easily change for the better. Instead of all the money spent on makeup to conceal my flaws and clothes that will make my waistline look smaller, more important things in the world could be addressed with the energy that was used before in conceit.

I know that perfection, especially in appearance, can never be reached; with this understanding, I no longer obsess over flawless skin or perfectly arched eyebrows.

I’ve learned that true confidence comes when I look my worst and still can walk with my head up. It is this selfassuredness that will help me stay true to myself and my values, not my appearance.

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Anonymous

By Lara Repko’12

A woman writes because inside her heart is a candle, burning, and it longs, hungers, desires for nourishing embellishment, for a hope or a dream or something whatever it is similar to being alive. A woman stout, lean, thick, thin writes because when a woman writes a woman learns of the candle and her mouth, her lips curved into an ever-present O exude life into the candle; a sort of strength burning brighter in wispy flames. Wick and wax and words – a fire burning inside a woman writes when pen is sword and anonymity is the enemy. A woman writes in summer when long woolen days are comfy. A woman writes in winter’s bones colliding cold. A woman writes when a woman has a voice no longer, when the man has stolen it away.

A woman writes inside her head, a woman writes when she is empty. A woman writes because there is a voice inside her that will not be still. A woman writes because bleeding is not good enough.

God’s Love

By Sr. Katherine Jean Cowan ‘59 When sabled nights are nudged across the skies And silvered morns dissolve to gold-graced days, We wonder-watch—‘mid whispered whys— And praise our God who paints with colored sprays.

In this His world, no matter where we stand— By mountain heights, held stiff against the storm Or throbbing seas whose waters wash the sand— We have but hints that God would freely form Our lives by leading us, at His expense, To loving oneness with Himself. Our call To serve is then not cause but consequence Of this relationship. O Lord, our All, Accept the humbled hearts we offer You Today; tomorrow draw us nearer You.

Writing requires a special kind of creativity. It’s half putting a puzzle together and half wordsmithing, not to mention the inspiration and elbow grease it takes to flesh out your subject in the first place. Despite these challenges, a number of Tologs have chosen to spend their professional lives writing and editing books and publications across the country. As the alumnae on these pages can attest, it’s not necessarily an easy lifestyle – but it’s one that has helped them refine and express their own views.

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henever I find myself wondering if my contribution is enough or whether it is a futile endeavor, I remind myself of Edmund Burke’s wise words: ‘Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could do only a little,’” says Allison Kleine Hegan ’05, an author whose first book will be released this summer.

Jessica Nevins ’89, an aspiring author, says she gives the characters in her novels the opportunity to say things that she wasn’t courageous enough to say earlier in life. “They definitely helped me work through things,” she says.

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Naturally, writing is an ongoing process – and one that requires a lot of dedication. “Your voice changes throughout your lifetime.

I had such a different writing style at 20 than I do now,” says Alisha Gomez Berman ’97, managing editor of two newspapers.

“Work your bum off in whatever you have going for you and take opportunities that present themselves,” adds Natalie Wheeler ’08, a newspaper reporter in Pendleton, Ore. And of course, each Tolog credited their time on the Hill with giving them the boost they needed to tackle this difficult profession. “I’m pretty sure no one leaves FSHA without being

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His Meal & Ours Look back; by every means at your command Return and sit awhile within the Room And grasp the nuanced tones and understand The dreadful pain and love; but don’t presume

To stay—and should you fear you might remain, Don’t go at all: That Upper Room is meant Just as a resting place in which we gain The truth that we’re the Eucharist event Today. We wash another’s feet; we break Our bread and spill our wine and taste the stings Of loneliness and feel the friend forsake Our side and know the loss of earthly things.

Alisha Gomez Berman ’97

Within these deeds we’re freed to celebrate The living, loving meal we co-create.

Managing Editor for Coastline Pilot and Huntington Beach Independent Long Beach

a bit of an overachiever – and that’s definitely not a bad thing,” says Sarah Yang ’07, a web editor in New York City. “I went to college knowing that I wanted to be a journalist, and there wasn’t a question in my mind that I would be able to pull it off.”

“Literature is a belief system for me. Writing is the way I hold onto and understand experience.”

– Jan Ellison ’83

News and NBC Universal at iVillage, which helped me get my first job.

What was the path you took?

I first took journalism with Mrs. Thompson at FSHA. I wrote for the newspaper and tried to become the editor, but didn’t get the job.

But I hung in there and kept taking journalism classes at PCC and eventually Cal State Long Beach, where I graduated with a journalism degree. I’ve always loved to write and tell a story, and I thought journalism was a way to make a living while doing that.

What inspires you?

Other writers inspire me. There’s nothing like reading an amazing story in the newspaper or a magazine, or even a book. It just stays with you and you don’t forget it. I hope to be that kind of writer someday.

What inspires you?

New York is such a vibrant, busy and unique place with so many different people and neighborhoods. I’m also inspired by the stories of my friends, who are all off doing great things out of college.

Where do you hope to take your career?

I’m still figuring that out, but I hope to be an author at some point in my life. I also see myself running a magazine or the editorial content for a website.

Sarah Yang ’07

Where do you hope to take your career?

I’d love to stay in online journalism because it’s so exciting and ever-changing. Working online really challenges you to be innovative because you’re always experimenting with new strategies and techniques.

What was the path you took?

I’ve wanted to be a journalist since I was little, but I think I just wanted to be on TV! As I got older, my interest in journalism matured, and it became more about writing, reporting and telling a story. I went to NYU as a print journalism major, and it all took off from there. I interned at the New York Daily

How did your writing develop when you were at FSHA? I took Mrs. Thompson’s journalism class in high school and wrote for the Veritas Shield.

Her class was a great introduction to writing and reporting. We had a lot of fun, and we got to do a lot of exciting things like visit the Los Angeles Times. It fueled the little journalism nerd in me.

How did your writing develop when you were at FSHA? I wrote a poem for the annual poetry book and, of course, took the newspaper class.

And I remember delving further into some of the books we read throughout my time there. Reading is one of the best ways to develop your style as a writer.

Assistant Web Editor for House Beautiful New York City

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Natalie Wheeler ’08 Reporter at East Oregonian Pendleton, Ore.

What was the path you took?

I didn’t get into journalism until I wrote for the college newspaper my junior year, and I was hooked. The summer after that, I got an internship writing for E! News.

I loved the rhythm of the work – I never got bored. After graduating, I settled into an internship at the East Oregonian, a regional, rural newspaper in the Northwest, and soon after took a full-time reporting position with the paper.

Allison Kleine Hegan ’05

Author of upcoming book on endangered species (Summer 2013) Monrovia What was the path you took?

Like most writers, I don’t write just for writing’s sake. It’s more about expressing knowledge, thoughts and emotions about those things that inspire me. For as long as I can remember, I have had a deep passion and concern for conservation and wildlife.

Through writing, I find that I can easily and coherently share my passion with others.

Roseanne Flores Medlock ’01 Information science professional Newport Beach

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What was the path you took?

I fell in love with reading as a child. Then, in 6th grade, I produced a class newspaper.

After learning an enormous amount from Mrs. Karen Thompson, I went on to serve as editor of my college’s newspaper and literary magazine.

What inspires you?

Having been in the business for roughly a decade, I’ve been fortunate enough to work with a host of talented reporters and writers whose ethics and desire make our profession greater than it ever has been. It’s incredibly

What inspires you?

I’m inspired by issues that boom with importance, humble lives with fantastic tales.

Where do you hope to take your career?

I often worry about the changing newspaper industry. Truly, I would be happy with a variety of outcomes as long as I could continue to tell stories. My pipe dream is to one day become a war correspondent and publish some of my poetry.

What inspires you?

The complexities and diversity found in nature inspire me every day. The diversity of life on this earth enriches the quality of our lives in ways that are often beyond our best description and exceed our narrow human comprehension.

Where do you hope to take your career?

Ideally, I want to be a conservation and wildlife correspondent. I don’t necessarily have to work for CNN or National Geographic (although it would be nice!), but rather, I want to be working in the field, making sure I am relaying the most reliable information to encourage involvement in the movement.

How did your writing develop when you were at FSHA? All the English teachers at FSHA were instrumental in my journey to becoming a better writer, but I have to credit Mr. Bernstein with

stimulating. The art of being able to write— even for cut-and-dry news stories—involves an intense, invaluable collaborative process among colleagues.

Where do you hope to take your career?

Currently, I’m earning a master’s in library and information science while working for an information-skills solutions provider; school coursework includes writing a dissertation, and an article I wrote with a colleague has been accepted for publication in a refereed journal.

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How did your writing develop when you were at FSHA? Maureen Grady’s cozy creative writing sessions filled with tea and love and unconditional support sparked something in me during high school. I was a horrible student in high school, and the FSHA teachers who conveyed passion to me had a lasting effect on my writing.

challenging me the most. I’ve never been great with comma usage or split infinitives, but Mr. Bernstein helped me think more critically. He pushed me to express myself more fully and to analyze every line.

Jessica Nevins ’89 Author San Juan Capistrano

What was the path you took?

When I got laid off from my job about a year and a half ago, I decided to do what I loved. At the time, I had been writing on a part-time basis. When I lost my job, I thought, “Now’s the time to really get out there and do what I love.” I’ve been working on two different fiction series that I’m shopping with publishers and agents.

What inspires you?

It’s definitely story. This has happened to me since I was little – I’ll get a scene downloaded into my head, and all of a sudden, it’s running and I can’t stop it. The characters are in dialogue and the scene is moving, and it’s “AHHH! I have to write this down! This is great!” Plus, one of the biggest inspirations I’ve had from the beginning is music. If I’m having one of those days where nothing’s flowing, I’ll get in my car and just crank up the stereo. Sure enough, there’s always one song in that mix that will trigger something, and all of a sudden, everything lines up.

How did your writing develop when you were at FSHA? Mrs. Thompson taught me so much. She supervised me as I worked as editor of FSHA’s Veritas Shield and Verité, and advised me when I founded the Young Writers’ Society.

How did your writing develop when you were at FSHA? Sometimes, in geometry class, I was actually writing. My math grades were poor, but my creativity was at its height! When I got into AP English with Sister Katherine Jean, it changed my life. She was relentless and wouldn’t let up, but it made me the writer I am today. Something that I thought was great, she would say, “No, you need to push harder. Where’s your depth? Where are you going?” I didn’t even get that in college – someone who says, “You’ve got this greatness in you, and I’m going to push it out of you!”

Where do you hope to take your career?

Ultimately, everyone would love a best-seller, but there’s a different reason why I want that. When you get to that level, you’ve reached hundreds of thousands of people. My characters go through some hard times, but they come out better people, and I hope that’ll bring joy and inspiration to readers. I want the person to really connect to the story and know that whatever they’re up against, they can achieve.

Jan Ellison ’83 Author Portola Valley

What was the path you took?

It was somewhat circuitous. After graduating with a history degree, I wrote scattered bits for a couple years while traveling and living overseas, and then I put the writing aside for seven years while I worked full-time for a financial software startup. When I left that job, I took a night class in creative writing, and I’ve been writing since then – in between raising kids, building houses and living the rest of life. My first novel, which will be published by Random House, took me eight years to write. I am in the final editing stages with my editor, and I expect the novel to be out in 2015.

What inspires you?

The past. Everyday life.

Where do you hope to take your career?

I took a break from writing the novel I just sold and, for a year and a half, I wrote 400 pages of another novel. I also have a halffinished collection of short stories. Those two projects ought to keep me busy for the rest of the decade.

How did your writing develop when you were at FSHA? I remember writing a lot for Sr. Katherine Jean in English class, and also for Mrs. Sadler in AP US History. That class with Katy Sadler was probably where I first really learned to organize my ideas into words, sentences, paragraphs.

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Greetings

Alumnae Association Board

from the Alumnae Association President Dear fellow Tologs, As FSHA alumnae, we are empowered by the education we received on the Hill. Oftentimes, we don’t recognize the impact of the experiences and the impressions left upon us by our community until much later in life. There is no doubt that few us of had the full appreciation of the dedication to our future and the sacrifices our parents made to afford us the opportunity to have this rich and powerful education. I certainly didn’t.

PRESIDENT

In fact, I haven’t been able to fully articulate to my parents even today the value I have realized throughout my life and my gratitude for being a Flintridge Sacred Heart graduate. (Maybe this is my opportunity.) I have been empowered and emboldened by this distinctive educational experience, and I am incredibly grateful for it.

Alumnae Community Council

As alumnae, we should feel a responsibility to give back to our FSHA community, to extend our legacy, to enrich the opportunities of the girls who come after us and will be the leaders of our community in the days ahead of us. I want to share with you the importance of giving to the Flintridge Fund, and the opportunity that exists to make a meaningful difference by investing in FSHA. I defer to the words of Kristen Schwarz ’02 below.

With deep gratitude for my Flintridge education, Sarah Sima McCann ’96 President of the FSHA Alumnae Association

Dear fellow alumnae and families, Did you know that what each student pays for in tuition at FSHA actually does not cover what it costs to send her to school for the academic year? The Flintridge Fund covers the $4,000 gap in tuition and the actual value of the FSHA education and experience for each student. What would it have meant for you if that gap hadn’t been covered by the generosity of others while you were a student?

I encourage you to be part of the solution in bridging this gap. I give because I know my contribution is a sustainable gift to our community that ripples beyond our time on the Hill. I could not be prouder to be part of this FSHA family!

I invite you to share this information with your fellow alumnae and others so that we may continue to bridge this gap and invest in a cause that is near and dear to all of us.

I challenge us to reach our collective alumnae goal of $215,000. Currently, we are only at 3.81% participation, far below our brother- and sister-school counterparts. The FSHA Alumnae Association Board has pledged 100% participation – I hope you will be part of this pledge with us!

Please join me in investing in our school and these remarkable young women by providing them with the Sacred Heart experience that was and continues to be responsible for whom we are and our accomplishments.

A gift at any level makes a difference! Simply donate online at fsha.org/onlinegiving.

Sincerely, Kristen E. Schwarz ‘02 Development Council Chair of the FSHA Alumnae Association

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Sarah Sima McCann ‘96

SECRETARY Domenica Piumetti ‘95

Christine Longo Navarro ’82, Chair Melanie Hitchcock Frey ‘86 Brandy Middleton ‘00 Paula Capriccio Orlandini ‘71 Barbara Russ Bone ‘71 Domenica Piumetti ‘95

COMMUNICATIONS COUNCIL Melissa Majich Keeslar ’02, Chair Kelly LaRussa Kepner ‘01 Brandy Middleton ‘00 Lauren Partma ‘02 Molly Weber ‘00 Nicole Yonai ‘02

DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL Kristen Schwarz ’02, Chair Deirdre Foley Cascelli ‘84 Paula Capriccio Orlandini ‘71

REUNIONS Trish Burghardt Sarbaum ’87, Chair Nicole DeVanon ‘05 Erin McGann Maloney ‘89

Student Community Council Camille Barbaro Spina ’87, Chair Whitney Karm DeJardin ‘87 Natalee Harrison Ray ’02 (SARC) Jennifer Ricchiazzi Richard ‘92 Carrie Boyle Saks ‘90 Marisa Spinella ‘09 Carol Kellogg Toogood ‘80

Parliamentarian Annette Ricchiazzi Blain ‘90

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Eugenia Azcárraga Casas-Bernard ’50 Mexico City, Mexico I have been married for 56 years to the same guy I knew when I was at Flintridge, and I have six children and 25 grandchildren. It is very nice to hear news from Flintridge!

Margaret Davis Martin ’64 Mobile, Ala. I’m impressed with all of the alumnae events that occur. Good for you, organizers! Is there any information about a reunion for the Class of 1964? Next year will mark 50 years since I graduated from FSHA, and I would love to see my classmates again.

Julie Vogel ’81 South Pasadena I was nominated (for the third year in a row) for Excellence in Commercial Costume Design at the 2013 Annual CDG Awards (Costume Designers Guild). The commercial is “Dos Equis: Most Interesting Man in the World.” I have been working on the campaign for eight years now – it’s my baby. I was not the trophy winner this year, but it is such an honor to be recognized as one of the top three commercial designers of 2012! My fabulous boyfriend and I had an amazing time at the event, a gala held at the Beverly Hilton.

Katherine Marquardt Betian ‘94 Oceanside I am living in Oceanside with my husband of seven years, who is a contract IT specialist at Camp Pendleton. I have been performing in musicals at a local theatre and also work at the theatre as a production manager, handling all the marketing and contracts.

I still freelance as a makeup artist and esthetician for TV, film and private clients.

Hello to the Class of 1994!

Nicole DeVanon ‘05 Glendale I am very excited and relieved to have passed the bar exam!

Susan Keller Reischl ’72 Long Beach Six of us made it to a reunion far from Flintridge. We met at Port Townsend, Wash., in early August 2012, and the trip was organized by Dea McKibben-Perry ’72 who lives in Washington along with Ann Hansen Benedict ’72. Joan Gosly ’72 made it from Madrid, Spain; Regina Burillo De La Mora ’72 traveled from Mexico City, Mexico; and Barbara Smith ‘72 came from the Boston area. I represented California! We had such a great time that we thought we would meet in two years at Barbara’s place in Maine. We missed all who could not make it, but here’s hoping for 2014!

Calendar of Events Kei Obori Terasaki ‘88 Osaka, Japan I am now the mother of three children, and I am very busy everyday!

April 2013 Student Art Show 4/29-5/3

May 2013 Pops Concert 5/3 Gala 5/4 Farewell Mass & Alumnae Induction 5/16 Class of 2013 Time Capsule Picnic 5/28

June 2013 Graduation 6/2 Retirement Celebration for Katy Sadler 6/8 Alumnae Association Summer Social and Board Meeting 6/19

Left to right: Susan Keller Reischl, Dea McKibben-Perry, Barbara Smith, Joan Gosly, Ann Hansen Benedict and Regina Burillo De La Mora.

Alumnae Class Notes

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Nearly four years ago, the Class of 2009 graduated from FSHA and headed off to colleges across the world. We started following seven of those Tologs to see where life took them, and now – as they stand at the cusp of graduating yet again – we check back in one last time to see how they feel about one big era of their lives coming to an end…while another prepares to begin.

Holly Hunt

Sam Norton: “I am in my last semester at UCBerkeley, graduating in May with a bachelor’s degree in Political Economy. I plan on spending the summer months working for a travel company in Barcelona (where I studied abroad for a semester my junior year) and then coming back to work in healthcare consulting with Triage Consulting Group in San Francisco. I do have plans to pursue a graduate degree; I just want to have some work experience and solidify my study plans first.

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Alumnae News

“In terms of wrapping up college, I’m not quite sure how I feel about graduating, but it’s somewhat similar to how I felt when I graduated from high school. Bittersweet in the sense that I am both ready to move on and start a new chapter, while also sad that this experience is coming to a close.

I think it may be a bit more unsettling this time around (as compared to high school) because there is much more of a sense of the unknown now. When graduating from high school, the natural trajectory for me was college; now, there is no designated stepping stone, and life can take a variety of different forms and directions. Work?

Travel? Grad school? Move to a new city?

All of the above? It’s a great opportunity that I’m excited to take head on, but I’ll admit that it’ a real struggle to continue to learn about yourself, what you like, where you want to be, what you’re good at, what you want to do, etc. It’ll continue to be a learning experience even though I’ll no longer be in a classroom.”

took full advantage of her four years at Brown University, launching a new peer-advising organization and taking one whole semester for independent economics research. But she didn’t stay in one place, either – one summer was spent researching at the University of Washington’s business school, while another saw her interning in Hong Kong. After graduation over Memorial Day Weekend, Hunt will be on the move again, and this time, back to Los Angeles.

“I’m excited to come home and catch up with my old friends – and to thaw out after this cold Rhode Island winter,” she says. In the fall, she’ll begin working as a junior management consultant at Boston Consulting Group in downtown Los Angeles. “Consulting will provide me the opportunity to keep learning and experiencing new and interesting problems, while also affording me the chance to work for charitable organizations like the Gates Foundation,” Hunt says.

“FSHA put me in a good position to be unafraid and to successfully vie for jobs at predominantly male organizations.”

FLINTRID GE SACRED HEART ACADEMY

June,” says Pip Harragan , who is receiving a degree in design from UC Davis. “But I don’t really know what my plans are yet.” She says she’s hoping to parlay her degree into an internship – hopefully, one in L.A. – for an interior design firm or something similar, but her dream would be to use those skills for a local sports team like the Lakers or the Galaxy. “Things are so up in the air for me, but all the uncertainty is part of life,” Harragan says. “I’ll take it one step at a time and see where I end up.”

“I am so excited about graduating in

In September, Sunny Kim will graduate from the Boston University School of Management with dual degrees in operations management and finance.

While looking for jobs, she’s continuing to bolster her educational credentials through obtaining a Six Sigma Green Belt certificate.

“I am looking for more opportunities to learn in the United States,” she says.

“After working for two to three years, I am planning to study for an MBA.” The outlook isn’t too scary – she says she can go home to Korea to work for her parents’ firm, but would prefer to stay in the U.S. for now.

“Senior year has flown by,” says

In her last quarter at Santa Clara University,

Marlise Knechtle, a publicrelations major at USC. At the moment, she’s working in media communications for an online cosmetics retailer and plans to continue in a similar field after graduation.

Her plans? Living in West Los Angeles and commuting downtown for a newly accepted job at the staffing-services company Insight Global. “I look forward to catching up with all of my FSHA friends this summer before we all go out into the working world!” she says.

Mary Knauf has already been making her way back up the Hill – this spring, she began working as an assistant coach for FSHA’s JV softball team. She’ll soon graduate from Loyola Marymount with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and see where life takes her. “After I graduate, my goal is to get a couple of part-time jobs and move into an apartment with a friend for the next year,” she says, adding that she wants to make some money and live on her own before grad school. (One college activity she’ll continue is cohosting a show on LMU’s radio station, KXLU.) She says that she’s up to the challenge: “FSHA made me comfortable with who I am and confident in my view of the world, two qualities that I believe are essential in getting through the dreaded ‘unknown’ that is life after college.”

Erin Hartwig has a fairly light course load, which has opened up her schedule for a high-powered internship. “The Hoffman Agency is a global, independent PR firm whose clients are in the high-tech sector,” says Hartwig, a double major in marketing and economics. She says she’ll continue her internship there through graduation and the summer while also applying for full-time positions in the Bay Area. “I also plan on eventually going back to school for a master’s in communications or PR, or an MBA, so I will be studying for the GRE and take it by the time I graduate,” she says.

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Nicole Charky ’06

embryonic-like stem cells). It’s been a lot of fun to learn about and really delve into a project.

I’m in a smaller lab which has given me a lot more flexibility to design my own projects.

Montrose I recently joined The Los Angeles Times Community News where I work as a web producer managing 818 Now, 626 Now, Burbank Leader, Glendale News-Press, La Cañada Valley Sun and Pasadena Sun.

Analiese DiConti ‘06 Los Angeles I graduated from MIT last June. Since then, I’ve been working as a Retinoblastoma researcher at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.

I’ve been working on a project that is based around induced pluripotent stem cell technology (reprogramming adult cells to

And for the big news: I’m going to medical school! I got into Keck/USC and I start in August. I am extremely excited that I got in (I only found out in the last month that I was going to med school at all—since only 40% of applicants get in, it was getting a bit hairy). So I will be staying in the area and very happy to do so. My boyfriend, Jon, just graduated with his Ph.D. from MIT and is moving to L.A. also, which will be very nice, although he was vying for me to go to one of the Texas med schools.

I saw pictures from graduation and it looked like a beautiful ceremony as always! It made me miss being up on the Hill!

Alesandra Lozano ’08 Washington, D.C. I graduated from George Washington University in Washington, D.C. this past May. I got a job offer on graduation day – while walking down the runway at commencement!

I am still living in D.C. and working as the Political Manager at the Victory Fund & Institute, which seeks to elect LGBT candidates to every level of government.

Alumnae News

Grad’s Nonprofit Goes Big

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Marissa Dykes ’07, Kathryn Poet ’07 and Daniela Dykes ’09 came by campus while home for Christmas.

Two Tologs Help South Pasadena Win Rose Parade Awards

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Alumnae News

ancer warrior Gloria Borges ’00 and her nonprofit organization The WunderGlo Foundation have undertaken a new venture: The Wunder Project. As with Borges’ charity, the project targets colon cancer, for which she is currently undergoing treatment. (Borges was diagnosed with Stage IV colon cancer in September 2010.)

The aim of The Wunder Project is to raise $250 million toward curing the disease, and such a lofty goal has already attracted quite a bit of attention – Borges has appeared on NBC’s TODAY and been interviewed in Shape Magazine. To learn more, visit thewunderproject.org.

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or the past two years, the South Pasadena Tournament of Roses Float has received awards – in 2013, “Sailing the Sea of Knowledge” (pictured) won the Founders’ Trophy for Most Beautiful Float Built & Decorated by Volunteers from a Community or Organization, and in 2012, “When Life Gives You Lemons” picked up the Fantasy Trophy. And that’s thanks to Janet Shaw Madrigal ‘82 and Julie Shaw Smith ’63, who were the float’s head decorators those two years.

FLINTRID GE SACRED HEART ACADEMY

The 81-year history of Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy is filled with many memorable people who have made a tremendous positive impact on the young women who have been educated on the Hill. We are honored to recognize two such women this year as our Distinguished Alumnae. Each one, in her own unique way, has molded the history of FSHA and the lives of many graduates.

Sr. Ramona Bascom, O.P. ’52

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orn in Pasadena, Sr. Ramona Bascom spent 10 formative years in Avalon on Santa Catalina Island before coming to FSHA in August 1949 as a boarding student. Upon her graduation in 1952 at age 16, she went to work for Union Bank until she was old enough to join the Dominican order. “It was easy for me to join an order after my experience as a boarder. I had already learned to live as part of a community,” she says.

Sr. Ramona returned to FSHA in 1962, and for six years, she taught junior English, religion, journalism and yearbook, and she advised the Guadalupe Club. She was also assistant principal from 1965-1968. Sr. Ramona returned to FSHA as principal in 1970, serving until 1983. During her tenure, the size of the student body grew from 130 girls to 280, and the Mothers’ Guild and Gala were started. For eight years after that, she worked at Sacred Heart in Los Angeles before returning one more time to FSHA to serve as principal from 19912002. In her second term as principal, she and Sr. Katherine Jean oversaw the first capital campaign, which resulted in the Student Activities Center. She also worked on strengthening curriculum, student recruitment and athletics. Throughout she taught English, including AP English Language. “I love to teach,” she says, “and I miss it and the students.”

Sr Ramona earned her MA in English from Holy Names College and her M.Ed in counseling from Loyola Marymount. In May 2005, she celebrated her Golden Jubilee as a Dominican Sister. She continues to work and influence young people through the Catholic community at Stanford University.

Sr. Katherine Jean Cowan, O.P. ’59

S

r. Katherine Jean Cowan, O.P. ’59 grew up in Glendale as an only child. She started as a student at FSHA in August 1955, which was one of the first classes to include day students.

She attended FSHA for all four years of high school – three as a day student, and as a boarder during her senior year. Sister earned her MA in English from Holy Names College and her MA in theology from St. Mary’s Moraga. Sr. KJ came back to FSHA in 1965 and taught freshman and junior English and freshmen religion, and she supervised the eight girls in Cottage 5. After a six-year break, she returned in 1973 and remained at FSHA until 2003, teaching English and religion. She served as English department chair, assistant principal and prioress, and in 1984, she became Administrator/President. After 32 years at FSHA, Sr. KJ took a sabbatical year, and in August 2004, she accepted the position of Dean of Queen of the Holy Rosary, the Sisters’ formation college at the Motherhouse in Mission San Jose.

On May 29, 2011, she celebrated both her Golden Jubilee and her birthday. A gifted poet and a strong teacher, she has inspired many young women. “I recall with fondness having Sr. Katherine Jean as my senior-year English teacher. She had such a proper way of speaking and could articulate her thoughts so well,” says Sheila Bellomo Myers ’87. “I also recall Sr. Katherine Jean’s presence around the boarding hall. She had an innate way of providing great perspective when resolving conflicts between residents.”

Speaking of both Srs. Ramona and Katherine Jean, Dawn Miralle-Fong ’94 says, “Both of you were my English teachers at FSHA! Thank you for making me earn those grades. I truly appreciate the work in both your classes!”

Srs. Carolyn McCormack and Celeste Marie Botello have had the opportunity to build on the work that Srs. Katherine Jean and Ramona had done at Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy. Sister Carolyn commented, “In their extensive tenure at FSHA, Sisters Ramona and Katherine Jean brought their personal love of FSHA as alumnae as well as their commitment as Dominican Sisters, to the mission of the school. Their combined contributions as leaders, teachers, Sisters and friends are precious gifts that are held in the memory of those families, faculty, staff and young women whom they served. Their presence will always be remembered with great affection. It has been a privilege to build upon their work.”

For their exemplary service and commitment to their alma mater over the course of 30 and 32 years, respectively, we are thrilled to honor both Sr. Ramona and Sr. Katherine Jean with the Distinguished Alumna Award.

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Marianne (Farrell ’46) Heydorff & Leo Heydorff

Victor & Joanne (Farrell ’46) Illig

Children

Children

Leanne Heydorff Starr ’72 (Douglas)

Stephen Heydorff (Lynette)

Leslie Illig Garza ’73 (Mark)

Mary Jo Illig Ingles (Jose)

Lea SnyderRodgers ’92

Marisol Ingles Garcia ‘93

Katherine Illig Schneider ‘78 (Charles)

Michaela Bush ’81

Rita Illig Liebelt ‘76 (Klaus)

Megan Liebelt ‘06

Anna Liebelt ‘12

Georgia Gray Rodgers Marianne Farrell ‘46

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Children

Linda Illig Zambrano ‘81

Mary Illig O’Rourke ‘86

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win sisters Joanne and Marianne Farrell graduated from Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy in 1946.

Joanne married Victor Illig and started a connection to Flintridge Sacred Heart that has brought 14 members of the extended Illig/Farrell/ Heydorff clan to the Hill – including, most recently, a new alumna in Anna Liebelt ’12.

Among many of the clan who remain involved with FSHA is Rita Illig Liebelt ’76 (mother of Anna and Megan ’06), who has previously served on the Board of Directors.

“I had such a growing, wonderful experience at FSHA,” she says. “It is much more than just a high school.

I experienced Dominican charism for four years. It was very present. When you marry single-sex education with the Dominican charism – that is powerful.”

Joanne Farrell ‘46

Megan Liebelt ‘06 and Anna Liebelt ‘12 Ed and Marjorie Illig with their three daughters: Michaela ‘81, Rita ‘76 and Katherine ‘78.

Joseph & Cecile Illig

Children

Gretchen Illig Willison (Bruce)

Farrell Heydorff ‘00

Ed & Marjorie Illig

We continue our celebration of the many wonderful families who have made the decision to send multiple daughters to Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy.

FLINTRID GE SACRED HEART ACADEMY

Student Alumnae Relations Council with Alumnae Association Board leadership

“Be who God meant you to be and you will set the world on fire.”

- Catherine of Siena, O.P.

By Camille Barbaro Spina ‘87 Student Alumnae Community Chair

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n February 20, the FSHA Alumnae Association brought home 28 very talented and successful graduates for Career Day 2013. These alumnae returned to the Hill to share their posthigh school professional experiences with our junior and senior classes.

This was an amazing networking opportunity for the alumnae and for the students as they had the chance to listen to and speak with women who have pursued careers in a variety of fields. From law, fashion design and social service to public relations, physiology and business ownership, this group of professionals shared their knowledge, successes and failures in hopes of giving current students an understanding of what could lie ahead when they leave FSHA and enter the working world.

The alumnae formed four panels where each alumna presented their story and then engaged with the students in a question and answer period. Over 200 girls were able to attend three of the panels and then the whole group met for a closing presentation

by Jillian Davis ’03. Davis, who transitioned from commercial real estate to acting, totally captured the attention of the students and sent them off in high energy after a thoughtful and funny presentation.

We are grateful for the following graduates who made this a rousing success. Their biographies can be found at www.fsha.org/alumnae. You can also find a link to the FSHA LinkedIn group from the alumnae page on our website. We encourage our alumnae to join.

Arts & Entertainment Panel (above) Jessica Nevins ’89 – writer/artist Kara Smith ’99 & Brit Smith ’01 – fashion designers; founders/directors of Elkin Roxanne Majich ’07 – entertainment/music management; Red Light Management Alexis Scott ’00 – fashion stylist; Scott Rose Lindsay Davis Reid ’00 – interior designer; Lindsay Reid, LLC Nicole Yonai ’02 – executive chef; Thyme Café & Market & SusieCakes Bakery

Education & Social Service Panel (above) Amy Brewster Parrott’76 – director of individual & planned gifts; Zoological Society of San Diego Carol Kellogg-Toogood’80 – college professor/attorney; Pasadena City College/self-employed Sharon Francis’89 – CEO, Channel Islands Social Services Jennifer Lee’00 – school psychologist; Monrovia Unified School District Molly Weber’00 – attorney; Girardi & Keese Kristen Schwarz’02 – attorney; DBS Law Group Madeline Murphy’03 – USC graduate student; MFT/School Counseling (continued on back cover)

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The annual Alumnae Basketball Game tipped off in the Gym on January 2, bringing together recent grads with the current varsity team for a game played in good fun. The alumnae team prevailed. There was also a soccer team reunion on Crane Field on December 26, 2012.

Grads Gather in San Francisco

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fabulous time was had by all at the Bay Area Alumnae Gathering at The Press Club in San Francisco on Friday, January 25. The San Francisco chapter of the Alumnae Association welcomed 30 alumnae and two of their guests, joining former president Sr. Katherine Jean Cowan ’59, Assistant Principal Katy Sadler, Chief Development Officer Margaret Kean and Director of Alumnae Relations Elizabeth Toms for a fun evening with good friends and good food. Many who came to a local event for the first time were delighted to know they had so many fellow Tologs in the area.

This is just the most recent of the annual gatherings, which vary in location all over the Bay Area. Keep an eye out for next year’s get-together!

Jenna Gulick ‘13 with parents Douglas and Belen Gulick

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alumnae gatherings

FLINTRID GE SACRED HEART ACADEMY

Alumnae Reunion Cocktail Party

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n Saturday, March 2, 118 alumnae along with husbands and significant others — as well as FSHA faculty and staff — gathered in the Lounge for the annual Alumnae Reunion Cocktail Party. It was a huge success! Our very own Tolog, Nicole Yonai ’02, and her team at Swiss Chard — including her sisters, Lauren ’06 and Catherine ’09 — catered the event. These ladies welcomed us with a delicious spread of hors d’oeuvres and desserts.

We honored the Classes of 1968, 1973, 1978, 1983, 1988, 1993, 1998 and 2003, which celebrated significant reunion years. Commemorating 45 years, the Class of 1968 not only enjoyed reuniting at the cocktail party, but also spent that day together touring the school and having lunch in Pasadena.

Stacey McElderry Armato ’98 organized a picnic on Crane Field at midday with a food truck available (bottom right), and more than 20 alumnae from that class got the chance to meet each other’s’ families with lots of room for kids to play.

Young Alumnae Reconnect with FSHA Over the Holidays

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very year, many Tologs converge on FSHA over the Christmas holiday season, and the end of 2012 (along with the beginning of 2013) was no different.

The big event took place on Boxing Day, December 26, with the Young Alumnae Reunion at Villa Sorriso in Old Town Pasadena. Members of the Classes of 2004-2012 joined with the Alumnae Association Board as well as Sr. Celeste to eat, drink and be merry. Winning the informal class competition was the Class of 2010 (top left) with 15 members attending.

Before heading back to their college campuses, recent FSHA grads and members of the Alumnae Board stopped by the Gym for the yearly Senior Class College Assembly (bottom left) on Tuesday, January 8. Alumnae joined members of the Class of 2013 in small groups to talk about the college experience...and maybe even put in a plug for their own schools! alumnae gatherings

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MOTHER DOLOROSA SOCIETY MEMBER

: Marsha Berger Swan ’56

Gratitude for a Home on the Hill

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ister Benigna is my favorite memory!” recalls Marsha Berger Swan ’56. A day student who started at Flintridge Sacred Heart in the 8th grade, Swan spent five years on the Hill. When she was in the 10th grade, her family moved to the San Fernando Valley, so she became a boarding student all the way through graduation. “Sister B was a dear, sweet, wonderful woman, and I’m not sure how she put up with all of us. I learned so much from her – and not just academics.”

One of the biggest things ended up being the enduring strength of Swan’s connection to the Hill.

“Sister Benigna would tell us, ‘In the years to come, you girls will come back to Flintridge and it will be like coming home,’” she says. “At that time, we were only thinking of leaving the Hill and having a ‘real’ life. We just couldn’t imagine going back.”

As Sister Benigna predicted, Swan has returned to the Hill many times over the years. “In 2005, my two daughters and I toured Flintridge and had a wonderful time. They had heard so many good things from me over the years, so we roamed the halls and rooms, and I shared all kinds of stories about our class, roommates, etc.,” she says. “When I walk through the front doors, I am home again. Sister Benigna was right – she always was.”

Swan also returned to the Hill for her 50th reunion in 2006, where she touted her marriage and family as her greatest accomplishments. On June 14, 1958 – two years following graduation – Swan married her childhood sweetheart, Jon. “We met in the second grade,” Swan reports. “My family had just moved to Burbank, and I was sitting in front of our home wondering if there were any other kids in the area.

Jon came across the street and said, ‘Hi. I’m Jon Swan and I’ll be your friend.’ We’ve been friends ever since.” They will celebrate their 55th wedding anniversary this year.

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The Swans became members of the Mother Dolorosa Society in 2012. Swan shared that over the years, they had given small gifts to both St. Mary’s College in Moraga, which Jon attended, and to Flintridge Sacred Heart. They were having a trust drawn up when Jon asked his wife whether she would like to “give a lump sum to the schools that gave us so much.” She said yes, and so FSHA was added to their bequest.

“We are so pleased to be able to do this for both schools,” Swan says. “FSHA has always been home to me, and I’m glad we can give back something through our estate plans.”

“Marsha and Jon’s support through their bequest means so much to us,” says President Sister Carolyn McCormack, O.P. “To have our alumnae remember us so fondly and to generously provide for other young women who will attend FSHA in the future is the highest praise we can receive. We are truly grateful.”

“When I walk through the front doors, I am home again.

Sister Benigna was right – she always was.”

FLINTRID GE SACRED HEART ACADEMY

The mother dolorosa Society THE MOTHER DOLOROSA SOCIETY MEMBERS Anonymous

Investing and Inspiring You don’t have to choose between providing for your loved ones and supporting Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy.

Hazel and Carl Rauch William Martin Todd Olga Smahel Barnes ‘45 Donna Bender ‘67 Cornelia Grandin

Through our gift-planning program, we can help you support your passions and create the kind of gift you’ve always wanted to make – even if you never thought it was possible.

Celia A. Leaver Yvonne Smith Lefkowitz ‘55 Lois Longo Barbara Marshall

Mother Dolorosa was one of the three founding Dominican Sisters of Mission San Jose who started Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy in 1931. Due to her leadership and the lasting regard in which she is held, we are delighted to name this group of school supporters after her.

Joann McGarty ‘47 Alexandra Swanson McKay ‘57 Nicolina Montoya Carrie (Black ‘85) and Michael Oransky Emily Freedman Ramazzotti ‘58 Angela Fresquez Sayre ‘00 Mary Box Schuck ‘35 and Carl Schuck Cynthia Silverman Deborah and William Spathelf Jon and Marsha Berger Swan ‘56 Patricia Traviss ‘49

Names in bold: gift realized

The generous alumnae, friends and parents who have chosen to remember Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy in their estate plans are a special group. The Mother Dolorosa Society honors philanthropic and dedicated individuals who are creating a legacy here at FSHA through planned gifts that will have a lasting and positive impact on hundreds of young women for years to come.

A bequest is one of the easiest gifts to make. With the help of an advisor, you can include language in your Will or Trust specifying a gift to be made to family, friends or Flintridge Sacred Heart as part of your estate plan.

The following types of commitments qualify you for membership in the Mother Dolorosa Society: • A bequest provision in your Will or revocable trust • A life-income gift that names FSHA as a reminder beneficiary, such as a charitable remainder trust • A charitable lead trust that provides income to FSHA for a donor’s lifetime or a term of years • A gift or assignment of qualified retirement plan assets, such as an IRA, 401(k) or 403 (b) • A gift of life insurance Planned gifts provide the resources that create extraordinary opportunities for young women and preserve FSHA’s future.

Thank You

For more information, please visit www.fsha.org/ plannedgiving or contact Chief Development Officer Margaret Kean at 626-685-8389, or mkean@fsha.org.

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In Memoriam The Flintridge Sacred Heart Community remembers the following alumnae, friends and family members and asks you to keep them and their family in your thoughts and prayers.

Catherine Phillips Ballenger ’35 Hilary Scoggins Caffrey ‘71 Mary Grace Bell Clark ‘35 Tony Boland Miller ’45 Ruth Briggs-Wiggin Reid ‘37 Michelle Chavez Spelman ’81 William F. Girouard Hugo Montes Edith Piczek Richard A. Schaub

iew from the Top is designed by McGregor Creative, Inc. and is published twice a year by the Development Office and is distributed to alumnae, past and current families, and those who have shown continued support for Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy and its mission. For comments and suggestions, or to receive a copy of View from the Top, please email vwolf@fsha.org.

Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.

Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy is accredited by the Western Catholic Education Association (WCEA), California Association of Independent Schools (CAIS) and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). The Academy is a member of the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), the National Catholic Education Association (NCEA), and others.

Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy is a California 501 (c) 3, non-profit corporation governed by a 26-member Board of Directors made up of religious and lay individuals. FSHA engages in fundraising from foundations, corporations and individuals associated with the school. A growing endowment provides firm financial footing for the school whose annual budget is enhanced by voluntary contributions.

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:Kelly faculty Profile

Tramontin

Bringing a Fun Attitude to Religious Studies

Freshmen new to FSHA have one big thing in common with their religion teacher: youth. Kelly Tramontin is a 2005 graduate of Loyola Marymount University who began teaching at FSHA almost immediately after earning her Master of Arts in Theological Studies from the same institution in 2009. (They also tend to share a love of fashion – Tramontin is well known for her forward sense of style and towering high heels.)

Her true interest in the Church began when she was a high schooler herself, at Peninsula High School in Rancho Palos Verdes. She spent much of her time in the youth ministry program at the local Catholic church as well as in Protestant Bible study sessions. “I was very ecumenical even then,” Tramontin says. She discovered her love of the Scripture at an evening Bible study on the four-source hypothesis of the four Gospels.

“Studying Scripture in college was an easy choice, and I try to convey my passion and excitement to my girls every day,” she adds.

What are some of the unique assignments you’ve given to your students?

When studying the Passion narrative, the girls decorated wooden crosses to answer the question: “What is my cross?” It was meant to represent a struggle, burden or roadblock that they had in their lives. They were then asked to write a reflection answering “Who is my Simon or Veronica?”

This was the first year I did this project and I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I was blown away. The crosses were beautiful—the girls really took the project to another level. The reflections, however, were the best part.

I was so thankful that they were able to open up and reveal something so personal.

My favorite project was the Family Oral Tradition project we did in conjunction with our Old Testament unit. The phenomenon of oral tradition is a huge part of understanding the Scriptures. The history, beliefs and identity of a people are contained within these stories, so I wanted the girls to see the connection between storytelling and a family’s identity. The girls documented a story from their oldest family member and retold it in a new and creative way. The stories we heard were fantastic! My favorite was from one freshman’s grandmother about her boyfriend (now husband) and their courtship. On Grandparents Day, we were able to hear the story firsthand when she joined her granddaughter in class.

What is Girlfriend Theology?

Girlfriend Theology is the process of shared storytelling for girls. Studies have shown that girls learn best when they make connections between the subject matter and real-life experiences. That’s what’s really happening when I finish a lecture and see a raised hand, and the girl asks, “Can I tell a story?” What might seem like a “Why aren’t you listening?” moment is really the girl making a strong connection with the subject matter. Girlfriend Theology allows girls to bond with one another, make theological connections and see God in the everyday through the sharing of stories. This year, we were fortunate enough to have some female members of our faculty and staff participate, who all shared stories from

While Tramontin teaches the somewhat dry-sounding “Introduction to Catholic Christianity and Personal Spirituality” and “Morality and Ethics,” she’s also a shepherd every year for approximately 100 young women who are starting the brand-new experience of high school. Homework is as much about individual exploration as it is about studying the history of the Church.

their adolescence with the girls. They then shared similar experiences, thoughts on the meaning of the story and where they saw God at work. Girlfriend Theology has quickly become one of their favorite elements of freshman religion.

How has the 1:1 Laptop Program changed your classroom?

I n lots of ways! The girls have blogs, make video reflections, create “glogs,” participate in discussion boards, manage a Tumblr page and collaborate on projects using Google Docs.

Our next project is going to be a smartphone interactive poster that uses QR (quick response) codes and the website SoundCloud. The laptop program has completely changed the way I teach, the way the girls learn and the way we look at education. Thanks to Evernote, Google Docs and our class webpage, I almost never use a copier anymore. We have a class blog, Religion4Freshies (religion4freshies.blogspot.com), and a class webpage, Ethics4Freshies (sites.google.com/site/ ethics4freshies), with all of our information.

hat changes do you see in your freshmen over the W course of their first year at FSHA?

When the school year starts, they’re all so quiet. I walk into the

classroom and they’re all sitting at their desks, silent, staring at me. But something happens around the third week of school—I have to tell them to be quiet. With time, they have eased into their setting and become more comfortable, more confident in themselves. The first-semester freshmen retreat title really says it all: “Bloom Where You’re Planted.” The girls have taken root in their new setting and begun to flourish. They start to figure out who they are and who they want to be. It’s fitting, really. The theme of the second-semester retreat is “Imago Dei” (Made in the Image of God). I think they begin to see God in themselves and each other.

FLINTRIDGE SACRED HEART ACADEMY

Seeking truth. Serving others.

440 St. Katherine Drive La Cañada Flintridge, California 91011 www.fsha.org

Parents of Alumnae: If your daughter no longer maintains a permanent address at your home, please notify the Alumnae Office of her new mailing address.

Phone: 626.685.8400 Email: alumnae@fsha.org

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Business & Technology Panel (top right) Shannon Morzov ’94 – creative content producer; Hurwitz Creative Nicole Romano ’01 – insurance sales; State Farm Insurance Agency Natalee Ray ’02 – pharmaceutical sales; Pfizer Pharmaceuticals Barbara Vessadini Emmons’85 – commercial real estate broker; CBRE Caitlin Bogert Upton ’00 – product manager; Entertainment Partners Amy Boyle ’86 – accountant/controller; The Cimarron Group Rita Illig Liebelt ’76 – commercial general contractor; President, Illig Construction Company Kelly LaRussa Kepner ’01 – owner/founder; Haute House Public Relations

Health & Sciences Panel (bottom right) Karen Pindroh Kelly’92 – physiologist; The Department of Warfighter Performance for the Naval Health Research Center Dana Fabbri Negroe’91 – dietitian; Pomona Unified School District Bridgette Klaus’94 – auditory verbal specialist for the deaf; “Let’s Talk About It” – Verbal Therapy Erin Siefke Schmidt’93 – registered nurse; Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles Lili C. Kudo’89 – scientist/entrepreneur; NeuroInDx, Inc.

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