Let’s Branch Out
The Willow Connelly School of the Holy Child, Potomac, Maryland
February/March 2022
Getting to Know Mr. Stoyanoff By Emily Murphy ‘22 and Nadia Green ‘22 Holy Child recently welcomed Mr. Stoyanoff as our new Head of Upper School. The Willow surveyed the student body for questions they might have for Mr. Stoyanoff. We met with him to ask him these questions and learn his responses. Before Holy Child Q: You have worked in education for years, both as a teacher and manager. What made you want to work in education and what do you find most rewarding about it? A: “At my high school graduation, my English teacher came up to me and told me I would make a great teacher. That moment planted the seed in my head that I wanted to work in education.” Q: Where did you attend school? A: “I went to college at Monmouth College and attended grad school at the University of Illinois” Q: What was your favorite subject in school and why? A: “My favorite subject has always been science. I actually started teaching as a biology teacher.” Q: How did you hear about Holy Child? A: “My wife and I have lived in Texas and Arkansas, and we have always wanted to move to the East Coast. I heard about Holy Child on LinkedIn and was immediately interested.” Working at Holy Child Q: What about Holy Child’s students stands out to you? A: “The sense of community that I see here captivates me. The students are more unified than those in other schools I have worked at.”
Issue One
Welcome Back to The Willow! By Pilar Arrendel ‘22
Q: What do you think is the biggest challenge currently facing Holy Child? A: “While there are some things I would like to see change, I do not consider them necessarily to be “challenges.” I think the students would benefit from more STEM and business activities. I would also like to see an annual publication to display Holy Child’s arts program. These students are so incredibly talented, and I want people outside of the school to see that.” Q: What characteristics would you like to see in a Holy Child graduate in 5-years’ time and how do those differ from what you see today? A: “I would like for the students to have more experience in business and STEM before they go to college, especially considering that most of them will use that knowledge in their future education and work. As a school, I would like to emphasize to our girls the importance of resilience. While I absolutely consider the students to be resilient, I think that focusing on that virtue in their education could be greatly beneficial in their lives.”
Q: So, we were very impressed with your Harry Potter Halloween costume. What is your Hogwarts house? A: “I am a Slytherin.” Q: What is your astrological sign? A: “I am a Virgo.” Q: What are your favorite movies? A: “My favorite movies are Star Wars, Indiana Jones, and Harry Potter!” Q: What kind of music do you listen to? A: “I almost exclusively listen to classic rock.” Q: What is your favorite food? A: “That’s a tough one, but my favorite food is probably pizza.” Q: What is your preferred condiment? A: “I like anything but ranch. I mostly use Tabasco sauce.” Q: Finally, is there anything you want to tell the Holy Child Students? A: “Yes. If there is any change the students want to see, please do not hesitate to talk to me or Ms. McCarthy. We are here to help you all have the best educational experience possible. And if you want to talk, my door is always open.”
We are happy to announce the return of The Willow, the Holy Child student newspaper. Students began publishing The Willow in the early 1960s, shortly after our school’s founding, but the paper has appeared only sporadically in the recent past. The Willow is a student-run publication where we can report on and discuss issues important to us. Our newspaper is called The Willow because there were two willow trees on campus. Students loved the willow trees and they became a place for people to come together. We hope that the “new” Willow will serve a similar purpose. We hope that you read, enjoy, and talk about this issue of our newspaper. We plan on publishing a second issue in May, with a more frequent publication schedule next year. If you are interested in working on The Willow and being part of what’s to come, please contact our Editors-in-Chief (Caroline Timothy, Kendall Schuler, or Hogan Bingel) or our faculty advisor (Mr. Huey-Burns).
“Celebrating Our Differences”: Why Talking About Diversity Matters By Nyla Choudry ‘23 Holy Child has had a profound effect on me and on so many others. Our sense of community makes our school special and it has helped me grow, learn, and develop as a person in ways that I never could have imagined. However, this wonderful sense of community can result in our overlooking the differences that make each member of our community unique. We sometimes act as if everyone needs to be the same for our community to be tightly knit. I think that we, as a school, can and should do more to celebrate our differences and make everyone feel included. If students don’t feel included, then we need to change how we address issues related to diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice (DEIJ). People sometimes make statements that are insensitive to those who differ from them. They may not realize the impact that their comments have but those who are affected feel it acutely. I find that I am forced to brush off how I feel when someone-- intentionally or unintentionally--
says something insensitive. I am limited in my ability to speak out because I feel that others just won’t “get it.” I am constantly sweeping the remains of my anguish into a box called ‘accept,’ bottling the sorrow into a container called ‘there’s nothing you can do about it,’ and I am forced to fight the pain and try to move on. Some might argue that we should not focus on DEIJ; that it is enough to discuss these issues occasionally in History or English class. For people like me, however, these issues are central to our everyday lives. We need to change how we talk about this topic. We should not restate platitudes but dive deeper and seek to understand one another on a level of mutual respect and unwavering empathy. This can happen only if we give prominence to the stories of those who for so long have been marginalized. We can’t change the past but we can recognize that discrimination still exists. We can seek solutions only if we acknowledge this reality. It could be argued that our school does a good job of creating inclusivity, but
conversations I’ve had with other students and faculty suggest that we could be doing more. We need to embrace the discomfort that we sometimes feel when talking about DEIJ. This discomfort is real, but we need to learn how to address issues confidently, with less discomfort, and more understanding. It’s very hard to achieve this goal, but we need to persist. We need to be active rather than passive in addressing DEIJ issues. Last year, I had the opportunity to participate in several national and international dialogues on issues of racism and equity. These conversations helped me see the world other than through my American identity. I know that we could do better if only we would listen when others speak about their experiences. I’ll end with a quote from Audre Lorde that I think encapsulates my message: “It is not our differences that divide us. It is our inability to recognize, accept, and celebrate those differences.” Of course, this is only the beginning. We need to start listening, learning, and understanding before we can change the way we act.
Nyla Choudry ‘23, wearing her traditional dress
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The Willow
Issue One
Ms. Claiborne’s Commitment to Social Justice Leads Her to Holy Child By Eulalia Esquenet ’23 and Isabella Aguirre ’24 Ms. Claiborne is Holy Child’s new Head of Diversity. Her path to Holy Child took some interesting and unexpected turns. We wanted to get to know her better and to learn why she thinks diversity education is so important to our school. Ms. Claiborne was raised in a religious household, which led to her teaching at schools with religious identities. Initially, Ms. Claiborne did not want to focus on diversity programs and she concentrated instead on issues of social justice and equity. She built schools and libraries in Africa and worked with organizations to prepare teachers to travel to impoverished communities in the United States. Later, she became a teacher at a Quaker school. A group of students at that school asked her-- the only full-time teacher of color-to help them celebrate Black History Month. She took up the challenge, which led to her becoming increasingly involved in issues relating to diversity. She realized that she had the ability to help people come together. Ms. Claiborne chooses not to view her work at Holy Child as “just” involving diversity, equity, and inclusion, where she would solely teach about racism and sexism. Instead, she sees her role as helping “people understand other people, so that our community can be better.” This makes her feel close to her roots in promoting social equity and community building. Ms. Claiborne thinks that we should abandon the idea of “hero syndrome.” She explains that this means that we must stop waiting for some “hero” to swoop down and create change. She believes that “creating belonging” is everyone’s responsibility and that we all carry the burden of really being inclusive. Ms. Claiborne points out that some people might say “everyone is welcome,” but then see someone who does not fit the norm and marginalize them. She challenges everyone in our community to ask: “What is [my] individual contribution to this feeling of inclusivity?” In her view, if you don’t have a good answer to this question, you should “reach out to someone you don’t normally talk to, get to know someone for real, listen to something you don’t agree with, or respond to a disagreement with love, kindness, and empathy.” Ms. Claiborne views diversity as bringing together a wide range of individuals who look and think differently. She says that equity and inclusion can consist of “printing things in multiple languages or reading and understanding ideas from multiple perspectives.” Ms. Claiborne believes that, although we live in a country that offers many opportunities, we sometimes struggle to make those opportunities available to everyone. She adds that “the more we think about equity and inclusion, the closer we are to fulfilling our destiny as a democracy.” Ms. Claiborne notes that students can participate in opportunities such as the Baltimore Student Leadership Conference, the National Association of Independent Schools People of Color Conference, and The Model Organization of American States. In addition, anyone can join the Diversity Committee. Despite all these wonderful options, Ms. Claiborne wants to see more students create their own opportunities. She believes that more students should be active in projects related to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and she asks you to join her in this mission of furthering love and acceptance at our school.
“The more we think about equity and inclusion, the closer we are to fulfilling our destiny as a democracy.”
“If Only” By Resse Kim ‘23 Our school experiences usually are wonderful, opening our minds to new ideas and new possibilities. Sometimes, however, the school environment can be more damaging than beneficial. As kids, we hear many adults say that the purpose of school is to expand our minds and deepen our thinking. For students, though, it sometimes feels as if the whole purpose of school is to get good grades so that we can get into “better” colleges. We work hard for the grades, but not always for the learning that grades are supposed to represent. We spend our days (and nights) working on assignments and preparing for exams. We must choose between keeping up our grades and having time to rest our minds and bodies. Usually, we choose to keep up our grades. This leads to stress. This issue is not unique to Holy Child. If anything, our school does better than most at helping us cope. Our teachers try hard to see us as individuals, with our unique skills and challenges. Still, we can feel so overwhelmed that our mental health suffers. We lose our sense of excitement and we spend less time doing what makes us happy. The balance between the positive and negative effects of our school experience sometimes feels off. Adding to the stress is a feeling that hard work does not always produce good results. Test grades often indicate how well students memorized information, not how well they understood the lesson. Students cram the night before and memorize facts. In this process, little information is absorbed and understood. When test day comes, we spit out all that was stuffed into our brains the night before and, when the test is handed in, all that information slips out. With so much pressure on grades, many of us tie our worth and value to how well we do on a test. We dedicate hours of our lives to studying and still do not perform well. This leads to distorted views because we sometimes think that we are only as good as our last test when-- in reality-- people have different strengths. Some of us may be able to recite the Preamble to the Constitution, while others can make their imaginations come to life with color or sound or movement. Grades do not always reflect a student’s potential or what they can contribute to the world. Rather, grades are an indication of how well they adapted to the system. Some kids can handle stress better than others, but most of us will stumble at some point. If only adults did not place the weight of the world on kids’ shoulders. If only it was accepted that one cannot perform at one’s best every day. If only there was less focus on grades and more on the quality of understanding. If only….
Reflection piece by Mia Hugo ‘22
“You Can Do This”
“I created this painting originally as a reaction piece to the Laurie Anderson exhibit in the Hirshhorn Museum, but it eventually became an outlet for how I personally feel towards high school, especially during these times. High school can be incredibly stressful and expectations can feel extreme. Next to that, we’re growing up and starting to experience the world differently. We’re witnessing emotions (stress, anger, etc.) we’ve never truly felt before, and it can be overwhelming and exhausting. My intention for this piece is to have other students be able to relate to it, and see that we’re all in the same boat.” - Mia Hugo ‘22
By Ms. Karanian and Ms. Kelleher We know that you’re stressed: school, sports, community service, obligations to family and friends. Oh, and there’s been this “pandemic thing” going around. All of us on the facuty and staff will do everything that we can to support you. If things start to feel overwhelming, please speak with someone in the counseling department, or another member of the faculty or staff. In the meantime, here are some ideas for managing stress day-to-day. We suggest that you try some of these and see what works for you. Get Plenty of Sleep This is a tough one, given everything that you have going on. Try to eliminate those “time sucks” that might cut into your sleep. Spend a little less time on the phone or social media; watch a little less TV. Try to get schoolwork done during free periods and study halls. Add up all those minutes and spend them with your pillow. (Try to disconnect from your screens at least 30 minutes before you go to bed, and make sure your room is dark, quiet, and comfortable.) Get Enough Exercise Even a little bit goes a long way. You don’t have to run a marathon every other day. Twenty minutes walking around your neighborhood will help settle your mind. Breath. Sounds simple, but deep, slow breaths have a calming effect. Get organized Sometimes easier said than done, but using planners, making lists, keeping your papers and books organized helps a lot. Few things are as stress-inducing as not being able to find something that you need. Visualize It works for world-class athletes, why not for you? Students at Holy Child tend to focus on results. That’s good, as we need goals to stay motivated. But it also can lead to stress. Close your eyes, clear your mind, visualize acing that math test, nailing your dance performance, scoring a crucial goal. That, by itself, won’t get you there, but it will help moderate the stress that otherwise would stand in your way.
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Issue One
The Survey is in: Three Terrific Holy Child Classes By Nora Lowe ‘22
AP Psychology with Mr. Hatton
World History I with Mr. Lewin
The Willow conducted a survey that asked, “What classes would students at Holy Child recommend to other students?” Although there are many great classes at our school, and students should pursue their interests, a few classes emerged as favorites. One class is AP Psychology, taught by Mr. Hatton. This is a course that students can take as juniors or seniors. It introduces students to the study of behavior and mental processes, while providing a challenging curriculum that aims to prepare students for the AP exam in the spring. “I love how the brain works, how we change our behavior in groups, how our eyes process an image, and why a smell jogs a memory,” Mr. Hatton explains. He adds that the class is “very contemporary and mutable and keeps me on my toes.” His students know Mr. Hatton to be a dynamic and interactive teacher who makes any material understandable to his students, and they flourish in return. Another popular course is World History, taught by Mr. Lewin. World History is a freshman class that allows students to explore other cultures, changing their perspectives as they learn about other worldviews. While acknowledging the difficulty of this course, Mr. Lewin says he “always tries to keep in mind what is appropriate for ninth-grade minds” when helping students fully grasp the concepts presented to them. “I try to find parallels with what is already familiar to students, such as teaching the concept of Hindu dharma through the story of Zac Efron’s character in High School
Musical.” Mr. Lewin emphasizes the importance of keeping students engaged in the learning process – a concept that has evidently made his class a grade-wide favorite. Dr. Deutsch’s Finding Christ in Scripture is also a popular class at Holy Child. The class introduces Catholicism, along with both the Old and New Testaments. The revelation of God and scripture are key concepts in this course. The first unit taught is a personal favorite for Dr. Deutsch, as it “deals with what revelation is per se and how humans access it.” He finds that students tend to be “very engaged with questions about these topics because they are so fundamental.” When asked about the class from a theological standpoint, Dr. Deutsch points out that “Many misunderstandings concerning theology’s place as an academic discipline are cleared up,” which causes “students who come to class with reservations to discover that they had no reason to fear.” Epiphanies create new realms of faith for students as they begin to understand theology and revelation on a deeper level in what is, for many, the first religion class at Holy Child. Dr. Deutsch allows students to immerse themselves in religious exploration and discovery, which helps them succeed in this course and in life. We recommend students consider these options as they think about their schedules for next year.
Finding Christ in Scripture with Dr. Deutsch
An Insider Spotlight on Holy Child Clubs
By Lila Cox ‘24 and Brooke Briscuso ‘24
The Families4Families club is an established club popular among schools in The 2021-2022 school year clubs have our area. Holy Child’s branch of this club lots of exciting plans for Holy Child! is run by Bergin Russell and Annie Lee. Students involved in these clubs hope The club collaborates with the program to have a positive impact not only at our Girls on the Rise, which provides food and school but on a national and global level. other needed resources for underprivileged To give you a better idea of some of the women and girls in Southwest D.C. Bergin clubs available on campus, we asked and Annie’s motivation for the club began some of the club presidents to share their last year, at the height of the pandemic, personal experiences and to describe what because they recognized that many in our they hope to achieve this year and beyond. area struggle with food insecurity, and Kylie Squier is the President of the Girl they wanted to encourage change. Bergin Up club. She wants to give our community says that she wanted to “help people who a platform to support and advocate for [had] lost their jobs and could not afford girls everywhere. Kylie feels very strongly to feed their families.” During this school about women’s equality, and she wants to year, Families4Families has already had lift other women and “give each a voice.” two successful grocery “drops,” where In the months ahead, you can expect a participants collect and distribute food. special trivia night, scavenger hunts, a Bergin and Annie encourage all volunteers “new mothers” drive to provide essentials to get involved, as participation is not for expectant mothers, a feminine products limited to club members. Bergin explains, drive, and activities surrounding Women’s “People can get involved through buying History Month in March. Along with bake groceries, coming to the drop, driving to sales and tag days, the club also plan to the drop zone, or finding donors.” The club heighten awareness by hosting regular open sends a school-wide email before each and honest conversations in a safe space. drop with a sign-up link. When asked for When asked what motivated her to start one word to describe the club, Annie used the club, Kylie responded, “I grew up in the word “rewarding,” explaining that the a very female-dominated family. Growing club’s service to struggling families in D.C. up around strong females made me want to is a direct way of helping locally and is, encourage women in any way that I can. I overall, a gratifying experience. The most found the best way was to start a club where rewarding part of being heavily involved girls felt safe and could help lift each other in the club is actively seeing where all up.” Kylie’s words accurately reflect the donations of food and products go. Bergin club and its mission. If you’re looking for and Annie pointed out that it’s also a fun an environment that allows girls to connect way to do service! Finally, the Saving Souls club was and work toward diminishing women’s struggles everywhere, then Girl Up may be started by three seniors, Caroline Timothy, Bridget Connolly, and Nora Lowe. The for you.
club works with the prison ministry, The Order of Malta Federal Association, to help prisoners across the country connect with the outside world. During club meetings, especially around the holidays, club members write heartfelt letters with the goal of making the prisoners’ days better. Caroline explains, “Our whole idea was to make them feel like there are people out there who care and see them for more than their mistakes.” Bridget shared that her grandfather had been writing letters to prisoners for some time, and she realized how great an impact the letters had. Saving Souls is an amazing club for anyone looking to make connections with people who usually are ignored and to do their part to improve someone’s life through a small act of kindness. This article highlights only a few of the fascinating clubs at Holy Child. Hopefully, after hearing about some of the individuals and the missions behind these clubs, you have a newfound inspiration to be involved in our school community. If
you are interested in learning about clubs, please check out our school website or reach out to Mrs. McCarthy. If there’s not already a club that speaks to your passion, look into starting a new club! All you need to start a club is willing students, goals, and of course, a teacher moderator. Get motivated, Tigers!
Club Fair 2021-22
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Issue One
“Actions, Not Words”: Service to the Community Defines Us By Elena Bou ‘23 Community service is an essential part of the Holy Child curriculum. It contributes to our growth as students and as people. The school requires that students in each grade level complete a specified number of service hours. Students in their junior year must fulfill the requirement by serving at a single organization that directly serves a vulnerable or impoverished population. While the junior year service requirement can be intimidating, it also can be rewarding. It allows us to develop meaningful relationships with the people the organization serves and with other volunteers. This solidifies the connection between our faith-based learning and our communities. For my service, I volunteer at a program called Loaves and Fishes that provides hot meals to the residents of the Washington, DC neighborhood where the program is located. We prepare the food in the community kitchen and serve it in the large common room. I can talk to the people we are serving and the other community volunteers and get to know them and their families. For the holidays, the program also provides essential items, such as sleeping bags, blankets, and jackets, to the impoverished residents of this neighborhood. We package the items and distribute them to those in need. I have been volunteering with Loaves and Fishes for the last couple of years.
The program is very meaningful to me because my late grandfather was one of its founding supporters. He always said that “everyone deserves to have a hot meal with friends.” My entire family volunteers there whenever possible. This is a way for me to carry on my grandfather’s legacy by continuing to serve the community that was so important to him, and which has become so important to me. It can be a tough decision to choose a specific organization to spend time with. There are many different resources available to Holy Child students, and there is an organization for everyone. When deciding where to serve, it may be helpful to consider: How much time are you willing to put in? Junior and senior years are busy. Although you should prioritize community service, you also will need to balance that with your other obligations. What are you interested in? What cause or issue is important to you? Do some research to find an organization that interests you. What are your strengths? For example, some students choose to tutor kids, while others may get involved in sports or physical fitness. If you are having trouble deciding where to volunteer, you can talk to Ms. Akalegbere or check out Veracross for options. Most counties even have a
volunteer website with opportunities available. Although it can appear to be a burden when you have a lot of things competing for your attention, Holy Child’s service requirement sets us apart from other schools. We learn to develop a passion for service. Most importantly, we build relationships with those we serve, learn about ourselves, and strengthen our relationship with God.
A recent Holy Child service project
Getting to Know and Appreciate The Essential Members of Our Community By Jasmine Velazquez ’23 and Coco Lynch ’23 When students arrive at Holy Child, the floors are clean, the carpets are vacuumed, and the trash has been taken out. Most people don’t think about these things. How did the school get this way? Who fixed the clogged sink and cleaned up your mess? At Holy Child, the faculty and staff are well-appreciated. The members of the janitorial, groundskeeping, and maintenance staff, however, go without enough daily recognition. We interviewed some of these essential members of our community to get to know them and to understand their experiences at Holy Child. We conducted these interviews in Spanish, with the help of Profesora Castelluccio, and we translated what the interviewees told us for the purpose of this article. We often see Señor Hector Orozco’s friendly face around the school. He is the grounds supervisor and he has been working at Holy Child for about six years. Señor Orozco said that his workday depends on what tasks must be completed, such as setting up for an event. Outside of his job, Señor Orozco enjoys watching football, soccer, and movies and going out to eat at restaurants with family and friends. His favorite restaurants are Guapos, Mi Rancho, and Senor Tequila. He told us that he is a fan of the Dallas Cowboys (which was not a surprise, as he typically wears a Cowboys baseball cap), but that he is also a big fan of the Green Bay Packers. Señor Orozco is always smiling. He laughed joyfully throughout the interview. He told us that he enjoys telling jokes and making others laugh. He said that students can understand what he does when they see the newly potted or planted flowers outside, the lack of trash, and the green grass lining the campus. Señor Javier Guzman has been working at Holy Child for 32 years and is currently the supervisor of the maintenance crew. His typical day includes arriving early in the morning, opening all the doors, turning on the
(Left to Right) Javier Guzman, Marly Tejada, Hector Orozco, Salvador Orozco, Frederico Gonzalez
lights, and ensuring everything has been organized. He then tells his staff their jobs for the day and the events for which they must prepare. He enjoys many activities in his free time, such as playing soccer, cycling, and going to the gym. He spends much of his time with his family, going out to restaurants, movie theaters, and concerts (Spanish pop and jazz are his favorite genres). Señor Guzman would like Holy Child students to recognize that the team works hard to make sure that each of them has a good day, whether it be by making sure the floors are cleaned, the chairs are set out for Mass, or anything else that needs to be done. Like Señor Orozco, Señor Guzman
enjoys making jokes and laughing with people. He is truly a hardworking and kind person. When you see him in the hallways, say “hello,” as he loves being greeted by friendly faces. Hopefully, students and faculty now know these members of our community a little better. Next time you arrive at school and see the clean halls or freshly mowed lawn, think about the janitorial, groundskeeping, and maintenance staff and all the hard work that goes into making your day safe and fun. The school wouldn’t function without them, and they truly are the backbone of the Holy Child community.
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The Willow
Issue One
An Editorial: The Great Sweatshirt Debate De By The Editorial Board (authored by Pamela Von Seelen ‘22)
A Response From Dean McCarthy Dear Editors:
For years, the “Sweatshirt Debate” has been a hot topic among Holy Child students. We are allowed options for other parts of the uniform: a navy or a white polo shirt, pants or a skirt. But we have no options when it comes to sweatshirts. This year, students have two options for our winter uniform: the gray sweatshirt with blue lettering or the navy sweater. The sweatshirt is extremely uncomfortable. It is stiff, heavy, and not very warm. The sweater is very hot and itchy, a good option for Mass but, on all other days, not a popular choice. The Tiger Shop offers a variety of “official” Holy Child sweatshirts, but we are not allowed to wear them as part of the uniform. As the weather has turned colder, the question remains: With so many “official” Holy Child sweatshirts sold at the Tiger Shop, why are we only allowed two uncomfortable choices? Many of the sweatshirts available in the Tiger Shop are more comfortable than the gray sweatshirts, and they all say “Holy Child” on them. Because there are many Holy Child sweatshirts, many of which are very similar, it’s confusing as to which ones are Examples of sweatshirts sold in the Tiger Shop and online that are not permitted approved as part of the uniform and by the dresscode. which ones are not. All Holy Child sweatshirts allow us to express pride in our school, and the team sweatshirts encourage bonding among team members. It’s also ironic that one can wear a worn-out gray sweatshirt without a problem but cannot wear a crisp, new sweatshirt in a different style without risking a demerit. Finally, the school permits exceptions to the uniform policy all the time, such as our frequent “tag days.” Modifying the sweatshirt policy would be a relatively minor variation. The Editorial Board deeply respects our Holy Child traditions and the administration’s efforts to maintain those traditions. We believe, however, that it’s time for the sweatshirt policy to change. We welcome a dialogue with the administration on this issue.
I appreciate your honesty, openness, and bravery in advocating for a modification of Holy Child’s uniform policy to allow greater variety in sweatshirt options. I welcome a dialogue on this issue, to see whether a thoughtful and intentional change to the uniform policy makes sense. I also appreciate the opportunity to explain why the uniform policy exists in its current form. The policy keeps our students’ appearance neat and consistent. Our school is a community and our students, by wearing either the “standard” sweatshirt or the navy sweater, demonstrate that they appreciate their membership in that community. Visitors to our campus see our students presenting themselves and our school in the best possible light. I understand that students who are members of sports teams would like to wear their athletic apparel as part of the uniform. However, because not all students are members of sports teams and because some students cannot afford to purchase team gear, we decided not to allow those sweatshirts as part of the uniform. Again, I love that you are expressing your opinion and pressing for changes that you want to see. I look forward to our discussion. Go Tigers! Dean McCarthy
Its All For Show: Singers, Dancers, and Instrumentalists Soar at Holy Child By Whitney Donohue ‘24 and Megan DeMarse ’24 After a year interrupted by the pandemic, the dancers, musicians and actors at Holy Child are back to rehearsing together in-person and preparing for live performances. This year, the Holy Child dance program has seen some new and exciting changes. These provide students with more opportunities to expand their skills and increase the visibility of dance at Holy Child. This fall, Holy Child welcomed our new dance instructor, Mr. Justin Dominic. A brand-new class, Intermediate Dance Ensemble, has been added to the curriculum, which gives students with past dance experience an opportunity to expand their skills. This year, there will also be more performance opportunities for dancers, including the Dance Concert, Evening of the Arts, and the spring musical, A Chorus Line. Students in the beginner dance class, Dance Foundations, have been focusing on hip-hop, learning the basics of this style and researching its history. Dancers in the Intermediate Dance Ensemble have been working on improving their skills in ballet, modern, and jazz styles of
dance. In addition to movement classes, the dancers also studied dance history and influential choreographers. The Advanced Dance Ensemble has been taking ballet, jazz, and modern classes, as well as learning new styles, such as salsa, and rehearsing choreography for upcoming performances. The advanced dancers have had the opportunity to choreograph their own dances in groups, which they will perform at the Sister Thea Bowman LeadHERship Conference later this year, to the accompaniment of the Vocal Ensemble’s performance. Musicals are an opportunity for students to demonstrate their astounding talents to the Holy Child community. The musicals performed this year were Little Women and Matilda Junior, and students have started rehearsing for A Chorus Line, which will be performed this spring. Ms. Fager thought that the plays went “extremely well,” although she hopes that, soon, the cast and audience members won’t have to wear masks. She especially wants to recognize the seniors for “making it a great year” and the art department team for all their efforts.
Dance teacher Mr. Dominic and Director of Visual and Performing Arts Ms. Fager Upcoming Performances Please check the school calendar, as the dates for these performances may change. Sister Thea Bowman LeadHERship Conference The Advanced Dance Ensemble and the Vocal Ensemble will perform together for this event, presenting a pop medley featuring original student choreography by the dancers. Upper School Musical The singers, dancers, actors, and technical crew of the Upper School musical will present A Chorus Line on the Holy Child stage.
Evening of the Arts This celebration of the visual and performing arts at Holy Child will feature performances by our dancers, actors and musicians, along with visual artwork. Dance Concert Students from Upper School and Middle School dance classes will be performing in this concert, held to showcase the dance students’ progress and talent.
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Issue One
Let’s Get to Know the New Theater Teachers By Elizabeth Sims ‘23 Holy Child welcomed two new Theater teachers this year, Ms. Nardi and Ms. Bouvier. We took this opportunity to get to know them better. Q: Why did you want to work at Holy Child? Ms. Nardi: “I went to school for acting and musical theater. I did lots of auditions pre-pandemic. I wanted to perform on stage, and I always knew that I wanted to teach and share [my knowledge] with others. At the start of the pandemic, I received an offer to teach here. I am extremely excited and happy to teach alongside other wonderful teachers in the art department.” Ms. Bouvier: “I went to a Catholic school where there was no theater teacher. I always wanted to teach what I know-- lighting, stage managing, [and other technical aspects of theater]-- and I especially wanted to give back to the community.” Q: Could you describe your prior work in theater? Ms. Nardi: “I was part of a murder mystery theater group. I have done a lot of musicals in New England. I am a part time dance teacher, teaching young kids. I also help assist, choreograph, and give support to my community theater.” Ms. Bouvier: “I worked at a school in Massachusetts, where I focused on lighting. I helped the Opera Theater of St. Louis with props and I was a touring stage manager for Strike Time Dance.” Q: What has been your favorite memory at Holy Child so far? Ms. Nardi: “I have been here since March, so not a lot of time, but I loved getting together with the acting class and making it even better with new ideas and exercises.”
Q: Are you excited for the upcoming musical, A Chorus Line? Anything you’re nervous about? Ms. Nardi: “I’m getting excited, not nervous, but anxious and anticipating what’s to come.” Ms. Bouvier: “I am absolutely excited, and I have already been working on it for about a month. I am excited because we have new members of the theater department; a new team.” Q: Could you describe your teaching style? Ms. Nardi: “My teaching style is upbeat, and I have an unorthodox organization. I do follow a schedule, but every class is more like a task we need to do. It is also very interactive and joyful.” Ms. Bouvier: “My teaching style is focused on collaboration and creating an environment in which it is safe and okay to make mistakes but also focus on learning and utilizing new tools.” Q: What are you currently reading/watching for enjoyment? Ms. Nardi: “I am reading one act plays, and I am in the middle of watching Golden Girls, I think it’s so cute!” Ms. Bouvier: “I just finished Wanda Vision and I am reading 12 Jays at Christmas, by Donna Andrews, which is a Christmas murder mystery.”
Ms. Bouvier: “I like watching girls progress and become skilled over time. I especially loved the last night of the Little Women musical, when I asked the lighting and tech crew if they wanted to be alone, without my assistance, and they excitedly said ‘yes.’ They did a great job, and I am very proud of them.”
Tigers Are Cold Weather Animals
By Gracie Cardwell ‘23
A little over a year ago, Holy Child and other schools had to cancel their winter sports seasons. Winter sports at Holy Child have returned and the Tigers are off to a great start! The 2021-2022 season has brought many stirring victories and a few hard-fought defeats across the five teams: Junior Varsity and Varsity Basketball, Varsity Swim, Varsity Ice Hockey and Varsity Equestrian. Junior Varsity Basketball: The team, led by Captains Maria Terminiello and Mary Collins, is a mix of freshmen, sophomores, and juniors. They are working hard to perfect their skills under new head coach, Jillian Bennett. The season started with a win at Holy Cross and the Tigers continued their success by handily beating St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes and Episcopal. Down a few players, the team stumbled against a talented O’Connell squad, and they headed into Winter Break with a 3-1 record. The new year is looking bright and the Tigers should be a top contender in league play. Varsity Basketball: The team is led by Head Coach Ready, Assistant Coach Kelly, and Captains Gia Lynch, Maggie O’Boyle, and Riley Peake. Gia and Maggie commented on their team’s strengths: “We share the ball well, constantly looking for the open player on the court. We think we score well in transition or out of our half-court offense.” The team has sharp shooters and big rebounders. With six sophomores to round out the roster, the experience of the veteran players has been key to the early success. Jaeda Wilson has led the team in scoring, while Lenora Nkangwen and Danielle Foster have cleaned up on the boards. Kelly Holcomb has brought a remarkable work ethic and baseline jumper, while Kendra Mason and Kisa Lilly have proven to be defensive specialists who have hit huge shots when needed! The Tigers’ first league game took place on January 6 and they have won three out of their five league games. We expect more wins as the members of the team build chemistry and develop familiarity with each other. Equestrian: Team captain, senior Mia Hugo, continues to lead the equestrians through their year-round season. Corinna Bou commented on the difficulties of a sport that involves animals: “The logistics that have to take place before the event, like coordinating the movement of another living thing, are extremely difficult. The sport is also quite dangerous, with potential injuries to humans and horses.” Still, Corinna says that the fun outweighs the risk of injury, and she hopes that more students will consider joining the team.
Varsity Swim: Coaches Reni Moshos and Jake Ball guide the swim program. Despite being down in numbers due to sickness to start the season, the team has performed well. Jamie Anderson has continued to excel in the 200 IM and the 100 Free, while Emma Flickinger has dominated in the Backstroke. The 200-medley relay team with Jamie Anderson, Alexis Gentile, Emma Flickinger and Ella Urgo took home a win in a recent meet. On Friday, January 21st, the swim team made their way to Stone Ridge to compete in the ISL championship meet. The team, starting in dead last, ended the meet in 6th place out of 14 teams. There were many highlights, including the third-place finish for the 200-free relay team of Alexis Gentile, Jamie Anderson, Emma Flickinger and Pamela von Seelen. Seven swimmers recorded best times at the meet and Emma Flickinger set a new school record in the 500 free! The swim team has worked incredibly hard this season, leading Coach Ready to call this “the best swim season we have had in many years.” Way to go, Tiger swimmers! Hockey: Under new head coach Olivia Michalewicz, the Ice Tigers are 2-2. After taking losses to two very talented teams, Stone Ridge and Visitation, the Tigers had big wins over St. John’s and Holton-Arms. Greer Coughlan leads the team in goals with thirteen and Libby Flannery has added four. Kim Kirkpatrick has one goal and two assists on the season, while goalie Jules Rudzki has collected more than seventy saves.
community is excited to support these winter athletes. There is no doubt the Tigers will bring pride to Holy Child as they face competitors in the equestrian ring, on the court, in the pool, and on the ice this winter season.
(From left to right) Senior Ice Hockey Team Members: Molly M, Corinne E, Charlotte M, and Laura G.
Holy Child’s Athletics’ Twitter account has additional information on team schedules and game results. With necessary health precautions, the entire Holy Child
(From left to right) Senior Swim Team Members: Abi S, Jamie A, Emma F, Pamela V, Kendall S, Kitty W, and Ella U.
(From left to right) Winter Track Team Members: Eulalia E ‘23, Pilar A ‘22, and Lucia L ‘22. Absent from photo: Zoe Linkins ’25
The Willow
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Issue One
Staff of The Willow 2022 Senior Editors Caroline Timothy Kendall Schuler
Co- Editor-in-Chief
Pilar Arrendell
Associate Editor (Photos and Art)
Hogan Bingel
Co- Editor-in-Chief
Co- Editor-in-Chief
Nadia Green
Nora Lowe
Associate Editor (Technical)
Associate Editor (Features)
Technical Advisor Ms. Hill
Laura Groh
Jamie Anderson
Editor (Production)
Editor (Articles)
Pamela Grace Von Seleen
Isabel Payro
Associate Editor (Sports)
Editor-at-Large
Faculty Advisor Mr. Huey- Burns
Content/Production Staff
Elena Bou; Gracie Cardwell; Nyla Choudry; Caroline Covell; Caroline Page; Nela Sahady, Coco Lynch; Elizabeth Sims; Jasmine Velasquez; Renee Carlson; Eulalia Esquenet; Isabella Aguirre; Brooke Briscuso; Lila Cox; Whitney Donohue; Megan Demarse; Reese Kim; Emily Murphy
The Willow
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T h e B a c k Pa g e
Let’s Rewind!
Brown and BSU
From 2003 Lesley [the President of the Black Student Union] is hopeful that Holy Child will become even more diverse in the future. “I would like to see diversity in a lot of ways, not just race...diversity is big umbrella with different categories.” But as far as her part in increasing diversity, Lesley feels that that is not the BSU’s aim. “I want our school to be active in diversity conferences. I don’t know how we recruit minorities; I’m not part of that. But diversity conferences need our input that’s what I’m concerned about.” Whatever Holy Child’s actual demographics are, it’s heartening to know that people in our community are still concerned about embracing all types of diversity.
Early Spring Must Haves From 2003 And, of course, there are purses! Purses are my number one pleasure in life, and this summer there are great bags everywhere, so it will be hard to control myself. This year the purses are fresh in vivid hues. Ladylike handbags are back, so put away those slouchy hobo bags from last year. These bags are great in both leather and cloth. I have my eye on a pink leather Anne Klein cargo bag and a black and white stripped Kate Spade, but I am sure I will add more to that list as it gets closer to spring! The spring preview looks so promising; I cannot wait to see the rest of the new looks. I have decided not to buy one more article of winter clothing so I can really save up for a new array of summer frocks and sandals; I suggest you do the same!
Poetry Corner A Red Sweatshirt By Elizabeth Sims ‘23 A red sweatshirt is left on the bus In row 22. It's an extra small, with a penny in the left pocket And an eraser in the right. The cloth is squished between the seat and the side of the metal wall. It tries to hide from the driver But it is spotted The careless hands grab it but drop it when shouts are heard. The red sweatshirt is left under the seat on a bus In row 21. It’s an extra small, with a ripped zipper And a chocolate stain on the left sleeve. The cloth is hidden under the seat and is forgotten for the night. It will be found the next day But no one moves it. The red sweatshirt is lost under the plastic seats. It will be lost under the bottoms of every age for years Until it disappears
Ms. Urgo ‘88 (center) from a 1988 issue of The Willow
Issue One