Cachet
Spring 2020
Full STEAM Ahead How a Key Curricular Approach Keeps Us Honest to Our Mission
As we move forward in our campus expansion process (see pages 14-15 for more details), here is a glimpse from campus long ago. Pictured above is our now Tudor Meeting Room in 1957. Pictured on the right, Julia Amadio, Lisa Quinn, Eva Keating, Cathy Ameche, Kemper Ryan, Franca Palumbo, Abby Boyle, and Jeff Clarke of the class of 1970 keep their noses to the books.
CACHET | Spring 2020
CONTENTS Departments A Message from Tom Lengel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Admissions Corner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Around School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-13 Alumni . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19-33
Features Full STEAM Ahead . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-8 Faculty Profile: Judy Wankmiller Cassidy ’59 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-13 Campus Expansion Update . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14-15 Family Profile: The South Family . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Alumni in Action: Elizabeth Langran ’84 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Head of School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Thomas G. Lengel Associate Head of School, Director of Middle School. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Diane Hren Director of Institutional Advancement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Emily McAlpin Rauch Director of Alumni and Constituent Relations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tina Abate Director of Communications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Elise Baker Assistant Director of Communications. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jessica Ferrarelli Parents’ Liaison. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Katie Storrer Director of Leadership Giving. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lauren Ainsworth Director of Leadership and Planned Giving. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sr. Mary Broderick, SHCJ Advancement Assistant. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mary Rafferty Petroni ’98 Editor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Elise Baker Writers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tina Abate, Lauren Ainsworth, Elise Baker, Christine Dymek, Jessica Ferrarelli, Thomas G. Lengel, Emily McAlpin Rauch Photographers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tina Abate, Elise Baker, Jessica Ferrarelli Graphic Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Marlo Hall: Down the Hall Design
Cachet is published twice annually for alumni, parents, and friends of Holy Child School at Rosemont. Letters and commentary: Elise Baker at 610-922-1025 or ebaker@HolyChildRosemont.org
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A MESSAGE FROM TOM LENGEL Thomas G. Lengel P’12
Dear Parents and Friends, “Ready, Fire, Aim!” That was the approach that some schools have taken in the last 10-15 years to the introduction and use of technology. There are too many examples of well-intentioned Boards or well-intentioned donors who purchased laptops for teachers and students so they could claim to have a 1:1 technology program. You can imagine the return on investment that occurred when teachers were given a device in June and told to use it the following September, with the expectation that it would be fully integrated by Back to School Night! Not surprisingly, Holy Child School at Rosemont, as in all things, was much more deliberate and intentional in growing and developing its instructional technology program. We were one of the first schools in the area to hire (20 years ago!) an Instructional Technology Specialist-who turned out to be Robin Beaver, now our Director of Technology–to help teachers learn how to use technology to support and enhance teaching and learning, rather than to drive it. And we evolved: from a Middle School computer lab, to laptops on a cart accessible to all classes, to the 1:1 program we introduced 10 years ago in Middle School. There is no doubt that our deliberate pace and training of faculty along the way has been foundational to the successful implementation of our technology program. We are taking a very similar approach to creating and introducing a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math) program at Holy Child School at Rosemont. STEAM is a “hot” topic (I couldn’t resist!) in education, but will it prove to be another fad like new math or whole language? Or does it have staying power? Schools of course have ALWAYS taught science, art, and math, and to its credit, Holy Child has been in the forefront with its technology program. As you will read in these pages, we are taking deliberate and methodical steps to define and implement a STEAM program here. We see a successful STEAM program not as a “new approach or addition,” but more as the natural evolution and extension of the way we have always taught: to engage children in genuine exploration and discovery as Cornelia Connelly did; to integrate their learning rather than break it into silos (think of the integrated language arts block in Lower School; and the combination of language arts and social studies in grades 5 and 7;) and to get them excited about learning through hands-on instruction. We have thus carved out a unique space or approach–one that is both forward-looking and simultaneously deliberate and intentional in its planning and implementation: “Ready, Aim, Fire!” D Sincerely,
Thomas G. Lengel P’12 Head of School
P.S. Subsequent to when I wrote this letter, the world has changed, dramatically, and the Governor of Pennsylvania announced two days ago that all schools are now closed for the remainder of the year. As I wrote to our parents recently, as challenging as these times are, I believe that our School will weather them better than most, because we are a strong school community, and a faith based one. Both of those are key assets during any time of uncertainty and anxiety. Oremus pro invicem. (Let us pray for one another.)
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ADMISSIONS CORNER
Preparing Holy Child Students for the Future by
Teaching How to Think, Not What to Think Christine Dymek Director of Admissions and Marketing
What is the advantage of a Holy Child School at Rosemont education? Residing in an area that boasts some of the most reputable public school options in the nation, this, above all others, is the question I most frequently hear from parents who are considering investing in their child’s education. Most often exploring the school at the recommendation of a friend or family member, they are aware of the Holy Child mission and philosophy; the uniquely open approach to loving and nurturing our students in a homelike environment where children feel safe and supported. These parents understand the value of—and are often intentionally seeking—a faith-based education with a steady commitment to service and strength of community. So after reinforcing those points, I speak to an outcome of a Holy Child education that typically triggers the first “aha” moment of their visit: We teach children how to think, not what to think. And how do we do that? In a number of ways both large and small. At Holy Child, teachers are not bound by standardized testing, large class sizes, and uniform curriculum. We are fortunate to have options to dig deeper into any one subject, vary our delivery methods, and allow children the freedom of physical and intellectual exploration. Our outstanding faculty sparks curiosity and encourages questions; we want children to wonder the “why” behind a lesson, to think critically and creatively, to understand the strength of collaboration and the value of dialogue (both with classmates and teachers).
This approach is most strongly reflected in our commitment to STEAM education, which we are excited to highlight in this issue of Cachet. By engaging students around the subjects of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math, teachers across all divisions are inspiring learning and encouraging students to think more broadly about real-world problems. And the excitement is undeniable— just walk through the Lower School hallway on one of our five Genius Hour mornings. The classrooms are joyfully littered with yarn, glue, cardboard, Popsicle sticks, and straws with groups of children bent over their projects or dashing between classrooms to gather supplies. Better yet, listen as they explain their creation. They never cease to amaze me with their out-of-the box solutions, global awareness, empathy, and articulation. At Holy Child, we are truly raising the innovators, educators, leaders, and learners of the 21st century and ultimately preparing our children for success in fields most poised for growth. D
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Full STEAM Ahead:
How a Key Curricular Approach Keeps Us Honest to Our Mission
A functioning catapult, a city-wide dome that protects communities from tsunamis, an original astronaut suit. These are not the latest items on Shark Tank or NASA endeavors. They’re inventions of Holy Child School at Rosemont students during a recent Genius Hour, a designated passion project event we have five times a year that is part of our larger STEAM program. STEAM, which is a curricular approach integrating Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics, is essential to the curriculum that Holy Child School at Rosemont offers. Our integration of STEAM helps us deliver on our promise to provide an intellectually challenging and creative program of study and to continue to foster a school community where “Happy Children Learn Better.”
Reaching Across Curriculum STEAM fits seamlessly into many curricular areas. In our Innovation Station in Lower School or our Media, Arts, Design (MAD) Lab in Middle School, Holy Child students are encouraged to take what they’re learning and create a dynamic finished product. “STEAM helps our student to see how interconnected their learning really is and it also allows them to dive deeper into topics because they see
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their understanding across-the-board rather than in just one isolated incident,” said Kate Logan, Grades 1-5 Science Teacher, who runs the Innovation Station along with Grades 1-5 Art Teacher Tina Riviello P’20. Tina Riviello’s Gnome House Project in second grade is a prime example of how multiple subject areas come into play within one assignment. During the project, each student was tasked with building a home for a gnome with specific needs, i.e. a blind gnome or one with nine kids. The children researched how to meet the needs of the gnome they were assigned, brainstormed what elements their particular house required, and then spent weeks dreaming, sawing, gluing, sculpting, decorating, and building. And they never wanted to stop. Said Tina Riviello about the process, “There was a lot of measuring and figuring out details, but there was also an empathy piece because they were building it for a specific gnome with specific needs. They were all very engaged in trying to solve the problems that arose. Not one child wanted to be finished.” In Early Childhood and Lower School, we are intentional about being “low-tech” and as students reach Middle School, the technology at their fingertips increases in complexity. In Early Childhood, STEAM takes the form of observation stations in science,
Two second graders AROUND help each otherSCHOOL in completing their Gnome House, a STEAM project that assisted them in utilizing creativity and building empathy.
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cross-curricular art projects in response to literature, tinkering in our outdoor Mud Kitchen, and revamping an old picnic table through woodworking, sanding, and painting. By Middle School, students are using our laser cutters, designing their own virtual reality environments, and creating functioning technological devices like motors and robots. Our belief that our students should experience the full blessing of childhood also informs some of our projects which have a playful element to them as well as being educational. Our sixth grade made “Operation” type board games to play with their second grade buddies, some students crafted paper airplane launchers using Arduinos (a prototyping platform) and motors, and another group is going to be designing and prototyping PEZ dispensers. “The students benefit in the obvious ways through STEAM because they learn to be proficient in video production, learn logic through coding, and they get exposed to technologies that make them tech leaders in high school,” said Joe Savitsky who teaches Middle School Technology and runs the MAD Lab alongside Pat Mangan who works in Technology Support. “In less obvious ways, tech is a benefit in how the students learn collaboration and teamwork. It also provides a voice and a leadership opportunity for those who might not stand out in the typical academic classroom or on the playing fields.”
Developing and Celebrating the Whole Person Character development is always paramount at Holy Child and STEAM allows key traits to be nurtured in our students. “They are learning resilience and commitment, while being inventive and gaining new skills,” said Tina Riviello. “Moreover, aspects of STEAM projects touch on several of the Holy Child goals—learning and personal growth especially—but also caring and friendship because of the collaborative way that the children encourage and inspire each other.” Tina and Kate, in their STEAM classes and in the STEAM and Maker extracurricular clubs, recognize that the autonomy of the projects allows each child to shine, but that the teamwork element is also present when students help their neighbors troubleshoot, or provide insight into how they overcame a project issue. “STEAM invites collaboration,” said Kate Logan. “It’s about creating camaraderie and celebrating each other, but also about opening communication systems. Students are not only talking to their teachers but they’re sharing what they are doing and presenting their ideas to each other.” After our students participate in Genius Hours, they not only are able to share their projects, but also to practice their public speaking and presentation skills in front of the whole Lower School division. These communication skills are honed and grown as students progress through Middle School. These sharing opportunities foster community by allowing peers to learn about what make their fellow classmates tick and sharing in their peers’ accomplishments and individuality.
“
I love STEAM because there are so many possibilities. The creativity is endless. The design is endless.
”
—Harmon Hacke, Grade 2
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“
Aspects of STEAM projects touch on several of the Holy Child goals—learning and personal growth especially—but also caring and friendship because of the collaborative way that the children encourage and inspire
” each other.
— Tina Riviello P’20, Grades 1-5 Art Teacher and Co-Leader of our Innovation Station
Nurturing Passions and Inciting Engagement
At Holy Child, STEAM projects take many forms. CLOCKWISE FROM OPPOSITE LEFT: A student uses a mini-saw in the Innovation Station; a first grader does some calculations during an after school STEAM Club project; PreKindergarten puts the finishing touches on an old picnic table they refurbished by hand; a third grader sews up his animal for a handmade animal habitat; seventh grade girls complete a circuit in our MAD (Media, Arts, Design) Lab.
“STEAM is helping me prepare for my dream of being an inventor because I am getting more practice at building things and am building up my imagination,” said Lucas Scott who is in sixth grade. Enthusiasm and engagement are the by-product of students’ permission to exercise creativity, and this often results in them going above and beyond the initial project requirements. Harmon Hacke, an avid lover of STEAM and a second grader, sees how empowered he is to persevere. “I love STEAM because there are so many possibilities. The creativity is endless. The design is endless. In STEAM there is no way to rage. You just never give up. Even if I’m building a robot and fail many times, I just keep going.” Our students have the awareness to see how engagement and grit result from STEAM projects, and so do their teachers. Kate Logan’s fifth graders have asked to work on their hurricane-proof houses during recess because they’re enjoying the process so much. “I mean, every teacher’s dream is to have students want to continue their learning,” shared Kate. While some projects have parameters, events such as Genius Hour allow for the unique interests and talents of students to shine. You’ll see students sculpting, or creating fashion pieces, researching cures or solutions to world problems. In essence, you see a little bit of their heart. Second grader Kate Buchakjian is known amongst her classmates for one of her interests, “I love doing projects about my passion, space. I really want to be an astronomer or astronaut. I like to look at the stars every night and get out my telescope.” For Kate and many other students, STEAM is the catalyst for being a passionate lifelong learner, while delving into topics they care about.
Creating Lifelong Learners “One of my goals as a teacher is to show the kids that STEAM is a transferable skill and trait,” said Kate Logan. “It’s a lot about teaching them to take what we’re doing in the classroom and applying that outside of school. When they’re at home and they’re bored, rather than going on a device or watching TV, they can find some materials
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A SMALL GLIMPSE OF SOME STEAM PROJECTS THIS YEAR: D Gnome House Project D Braille Name Plates D Dream Houses D Handmade Nativity Sets D Jesse Tree 3D Printer Ornaments D Dinosaur Fossil Excavations D Hand-sewn Animals in a Handmade Habitat D Hurricane-Proof Homes D Prototyped PEZ Dispensers D Paper Airplane Launchers D Refurbished Furniture D After-School STEAM & Maker Clubs First grade girls work on creating lifelike hands complete with joints to better understand how the human body works.
and create something.” In a world where it’s easy to default to using devices during idle times, STEAM offers a promising alternative. Kids can tinker, innovate, and invent at home, nearly as much as they can in our Innovation Station or MAD Lab, not only because they’ve been coached in the cognitive skills that are helpful to STEAM, but also because many of the materials are found at home: egg cartons, boxes, recycled items, and basic art supplies. When a student runs into difficulty, they simply employ the grit they’ve been nurturing in school—a trait that is valuable not only in youth, but throughout their lifetime. Tina Riviello’s approach is to tell the children to try out two solutions before they approach her for help, which assists them in becoming critical thinkers and fostering independence. Lucas Scott sees this at play when he’s inventing, “STEAM teaches you perseverance and creativity because you have to be creative to think up new ideas and when those ideas fail, you have to persevere for them to work.” Current students, by the time they reach college, are going to enter career fields that are more STEAM-centered than past generations. The habit of being lifelong students equipped with out of the box problem solving, creativity, and grit will be invaluable. Amy Cordes, parent of second grader Makayla, sees the value of this in her daughter’s experience. “I’ve noticed that the gratification Makayla gets from this particular kind of problem solving is so much more than ‘Yay, correct answer!’ but an ‘I figured this out by cause and effect—now I know why this works.’ And personally, I think that is
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D Robotics Club: First Lego League Robot Challenge Game
where our future is headed. The demand for technological solutions grows everyday and because of that, there is an increase of attention required in these fields. The process is challenging, but ultimately makes for a more fulfilled life...helping others. There couldn’t be a better way for children to develop positive internal growth, which in return makes them happy human beings.”
Keeping the Eyes on the Mission Over 150 years ago, Cornelia Connelly set the tone for the schools her sisters instituted. They were to assist children in “meeting the wants of the age,” they were to emphasize the arts, and they were to ultimately be happy, productive learning environments. Enter the Innovation Station, the MAD Lab, our art rooms, a classroom during Genius Hour and you will see engaged builders and dreamers sketching out plans, rifling through recycled items, talking their classmates’ ears off about their ideas. STEAM at most schools is probably a favorite amongst students and parents alike, but STEAM at Holy Child works because it supports an already robust program that couples academics and values. STEAM dovetails with our mission to equip students for the future, to emphasize and nurture character, and to graduate students who are catalysts in their future schools, homes, and societies. Most importantly, it is fostering a personal sense of the joy of achievement. Just ask our second grade STEAM fan, Harmon, “I feel so happy when I create a rare achievement in STEAM.” D
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Student Achievements JUNIOR VARSITY FOOTBALL
JUNIOR VARSITY A GIRLS’ BASKETBALL
Congratulations to our undefeated JV football team on winning the championship title in the Catholic Academy League this season.
Congratulations to our undefeated JV A girls’ basketball team on winning the championship title in the Catholic Academy League this season.
Holy Child Service Learning Program 2019-2020 Highlights: A SMALL GLIMPSE OF SOME STEAM PROJECTS THIS YEAR:
350+
D Gnome HouseCOLLECTED Project SOCKS FOR SOCKS OF LOVE D Braille Name Plates SERVICE PROJECT AND DONATED TO THE D Dream Houses
HOMELESS
D Handmade Nativity Sets
$486
D Jesse Tree 3D Printer Ornaments D Dinosaur Fossil Excavations D Hand-sewn Animals in a
85+
HOLY CHILD COMMUNITY MEMBERS VOLUNTEERED AT SEVEN OFF-SITE ORGANIZATIONS AND PARTICIPATED IN SERVICE ACTIVITIES AT SCHOOL ON OUR FAMILY DAY OF SERVICE
Handmade Habitat BY PREKINDERGARTEN AND RAISED D Hurricane-Proof DONATEDHomes TO ALEX’S LEMONADE STAND D Prototyped PEZ Dispensers THROUGH THEIR FOUR-DAY LEMONADE SALE D Paper Airplane Launchers D Refurbished Furniture
1,575
D After-School STEAM & Maker Clubs
D Robotics Club: First Lego League Robot Challenge Game
337
POUNDS OF HALLOWEEN CANDY COLLECTED AND DELIVERED TO ST. LUKE’S GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH
BOOKS DONATED TO REACH OUT AND READ
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Hallmarks of
Holy Child
A student adds her handmade ornament (made in our STEAM lab) to a Jesse Tree during the Grade 4 prayer service.
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Grade 2 poses for a photo after receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
Grade 1 Ugly Pumpkin Play
Dr. Seuss, Queen Elizabeth, Elvis Presley, oh my! Grade 3 dresses as well-known historical figures during their annual Biography Bash. Grade 5 enjoys their trip to Camp Mason, their first Middle School overnight field trip where they build community.
Kindergarten’s “Soccer with Dads”
Grade 7 leads carnival games to raise money for charity during Service Day. PreKindergarten’s Highland Orchards Trip
Our grade 8 Advent Angels purchase and wrap presents for the Sisters at New Sharon.
Halloween is always a favorite in Young Falcons!
Grade 6 Echo Hill Trip
Falcons watch as Bryn Mawr firefighters spray the fire hose during their Fire Prevention Week visit.
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A Conversation with
Judy Wankmiller Cassidy ’59 P’85’86’90’93 As six-year-old Judy Wankmiller arrived at her new school, she had no idea she was embarking on one of the biggest adventures of her life. Beside her, her Bronx-born and raised parents Al and Emily Wankmiller stood shocked as they watched Mother Mary Elizabeth, SHCJ warmly greeting each child with a kiss on each cheek. This new school already appeared to them like a second home for their children. “My parents just felt so good dropping my siblings and me off at Holy Child, and I know people still feel good about dropping their children off,” said Judy Cassidy. “We’ve gone from Mother Mary Elizabeth at drop-off to Harold Simmons.” What the Wankmillers didn’t know was that Holy Child would remain a second home for Judy throughout seven decades of her life. That September day in 1950 marked the first of nearly 10,000 morning arrivals at Holy Child School at Rosemont for Judy Cassidy. Her experience as a student under the nurturing guidance of Holy Child Sisters was the inspiration for Judy’s own teaching philosophy. In fact, Mother Mary Constance, SHCJ and her fellow sisters inspired young Judy so much that she would don her handmade habit and ride around on her tricycle after school, mirroring the nuns who
picked up students each morning in the school’s Ford Country Squire station wagon. When Judy started teaching at Holy Child as one of the school’s first lay teachers, some of those same Sisters were now her colleagues. In the 2020-2021 school year, Mrs. Cassidy will continue to teach, but in a different capacity. And while she is looking forward to serving as a part-time first grade assistant, vacating her position of 44 years as a second grade teacher will be bittersweet. “Being able to teach religion and prepare the children for the sacraments is really the hardest part to give up,” shared Judy. “It’s the looks on their faces that always inspire me. They take religion so seriously. It’s an attitude that they grow into—the seriousness about something that is so intangible but that you realize they’re beginning to really understand.” A lifelong practitioner and advocate of “Actions Not Words,” Judy loves seeing her lessons put into practice. “When you notice the change in the way they treat each other, you can see examples of them trying to do exactly what you’ve taught,” said Judy.
A LITTLE MORE ABOUT MRS. CASSIDY: FAVORITE CORNELIA CONNELLY QUOTE: “Confidence begets confidence.” AND “Be yourself, only make that self all that God wants it to be.”
FAVORITE SCHOOL EVENT: Country Fair (now Homecoming/Fall Festival), Alumni Reunions, and of course First Holy Communion PHRASE YOUR STUDENTS KNOW YOU FOR: “Mamma Mia!”
BUCKET LIST ITEM: Travel to Italy, Ireland, and so
many U.S. locations
HIDDEN TALENT: Sewing HOBBIES: Cooking, going to the movies, anything involving Brigantine, NJ
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Mrs. Cassidy also treasures when alumni return to Holy Child and is always impressed by what memories they have from second grade—whether it’s their First Reconciliation lambs or their selfpublished stories that she’s still kept in her classroom. Judy views these alum visits and her tenure at Holy Child as a blessing. “Being here long enough to appreciate the grownup that they become has been something special. I’ve had the privilege of being able to see them grow up and become the kind of adults I prayed they would.” Judy’s influence on the Holy Child community naturally flows from the way she views her role as a teacher. “I’ve always felt that I need to be the advocate for every one of the children that I teach. I believe in meeting them at their own level, trying to make each child leave every day feeling as though something good has happened that day and that they did something they could be proud of.” Added Judy, “You can make those children feel so much better for a whole year of their life. That’s a wonderful gift. It’s not just a job. It is a vocation. We as teachers really are lucky.” It is estimated that over 1,200 students have passed through the
door of Mrs. Cassidy’s second grade classroom. Judy is happy that despite leaving full-time teaching, she’ll still be involved. “It’s been a really terrific run, and my greatest gratitude is the fact that I can stay here,” said Judy. “I’m so grateful that I will still be able to contribute something meaningful to the children and the School.” Going part time will also allow Judy to spend more quality time with her husband Denny, who has supported her for over 50 years, and their four alum children and nine grandchildren. While Judy could never have anticipated spending over 40 years in second grade at Holy Child, the school’s tug on her heart is no surprise. Upon graduating from Immaculata College, she received job offers from both Haverford Township and her beloved alma mater. When Judy approached Al Wankmiller with her decision, he wanted to be sure his daughter had considered her offers thoroughly. “My father asked, ‘Are you really, really sure?’ And I replied, ‘It’s all I’ve ever wanted to do.’” Lucky for Holy Child, it still is. D
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Meeting the Wants of the Age: OUR CAMPUS EXPANSION
These are exciting times for our Holy Child School at Rosemont community. We are committed to “meeting the wants of the age” as our Society of the Holy Child foundress Cornelia Connelly urged, and with our campus expansion we are fulfilling that commitment. The experience of being a community member at Holy Child School at Rosemont will be enhanced with the creation of:
WHAT’S NEXT?
• • • • • •
D Groundbreaking for Campus Expansion Fall 2020
a renovated Kindergarten suite the Fitzgerald Performing Arts and Athletic Center a regulation sized turf field a new Middle School outdoor activity area an Environmental Education space expanded parking
D Completion of renovated Kindergarten Suite Summer 2020
It is with gratitude that we thank all of our volunteers for their efforts thus far. For more information on the campus expansion and The Campaign for Holy Child, please contact Emily McAlpin Rauch at 610-922-1021 and at erauch@HolyChildRosemont.org.
CAMPUS EXPANSION MULTI-PURPOSE TURF FIELD EXPANDED PARKING LOT MIDDLE SCHOOL OUTDOOR ACTIVITY SPACE & ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AREA PERFORMING ARTS & ATHLETICS ADDITION KINDERGARTEN & LIBRARY RENOVATION
HOLY CHILD SCHOOL AT ROSEMONT CAMPUS EXPANSION THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2020
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“ Remember that it is not sufficient to have begun well; you must also persevere with courage and finish with resolution. ”
—Cornelia Connelly
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Who Contributes to The Holy Child Fund? PARTICIPATION Past Parents 22%
Your Donations at Work A Tradition of Giving Holy Child School at Rosemont is rooted in a deep history of giving back. The Holy Child Fund is our annual giving program that is the cornerstone of our culture of philanthropy. Our tradition of giving started with our foundress, Cornelia Connelly, who said, “Generosity, Generosity, Generosity must be the beginning and ending of our life.� Cornelia Connelly was a pioneer in education and believed that happy children learn best. The Holy Child Fund enables us to uphold our vision of Nurturing Excellence in a Joyful Catholic
Alumni 30%
Friends (all other donors) 4%
Trustees 4%
Faculty/Staff 10%
Parents 21%
Grandparents 9%
DOLLARS Friends (all other donors) Past Parents 7% 16% Alumni 9% Faculty/Staff 2%
Parents
Trustees 22% Trustees Alumni
percent of trustees, faculty, and staff supporting the school.
Friends
Parents 36%
A Tradition of Excellence competitive programming, more innovation, and more dedicated
History of the Annual Fund
teachers so that our students can meet their full intellectual potential. Your gifts help us thrive by empowering our faculty
1979
members to explore new ideas through professional development opportunities and creative collaboration. Most importantly, your support inspires our students in and out of the classroom.
1989
$17,615 $65,185 $147,614
1999
$220,205
2009
In 2019, for the sixth consecutive year in a row, we raised more money than the year prior.
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Faculty/Staff Grandparents
Grandparents 8%
Community. This tradition of giving continues today with 100
Contributing to The Holy Child Fund enables us to offer more
Past Parents
$319,172
2019 0
100,000
200,000
300,000
400,000
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New basketball uniforms for 80 athletes
$8,000
Giving Circles
$19K Financial aid awarded for the 2019-2020 school year
Holy Child Circle $50,000 and above
$800K
Cornelia Connelly Circle $25,000 and above
Circle of Excellence $5,000 and above
$16K
Spring Play
Holy Child School at Rosemont invites you to join one of our giving circles. Holy Child’s donors are recognized at the following levels:
Circle of Achievement $10,000 and above
Approximate amount spent on books each year (including library, classroom, and online subscriptions)
Homecoming
$12K
$35K
Professional Development opportunities
annually to maintain our beautiful campus
$45K
$1,500
Tudor Circle $2,500 and above Founders Circle $1949 and above Millennium Circle $1,000 and above Falcon Circle $500 and above Homecoming Circle $100 and above Cornelia Connelly Loyalty Society The Cornelia Connelly Loyalty Society recognizes donors who have made gifts to The Holy Child Fund for 5, 10, and 20+ consecutive years. We honor their extraordinary support and generosity that has benefitted generations of Holy Child students.
3D printer and materials
$1,800
Robotics kits
Ways to Give All gifts to The Holy Child Fund are considered charitable donations and are fully tax-deductible.
TO MAKE A GIFT TO THE HOLY CHILD FUND: D U se the enclosed envelope to mail your contribution D G o to www.HolyChildRosemont.org/support/ donate to give safely online D T ransfer stock or Mutual Funds directly to Holy Child (see website for more information) D F ind us on Venmo: @HolyChildRosemont Over 1,000 companies will match your gift to The Holy Child Fund. Please visit our online giving pages to see if you or your spouse’s employer is a matching gift company.
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AROUND SCHOOL
The South Family:
WHY WE ARE A HOLY CHILD FAMILY For Lauren and Pat South, finding Holy Child School at Rosemont seemed like fate. “We ran into four families in one week who all brought up Holy Child,” said Lauren. Raised outside of Pittsburgh, the Souths were not familiar with the Main Line private school landscape and were looking for a place to send their daughter Meg for Kindergarten. “The person who most swayed me had older children,” added Lauren. “This mother was an interior designer and shared, ‘I’ve gone to a lot of schools, I know a lot of people, and I’ve never heard one person say a negative comment about that school.’” She insisted that Lauren and Pat look at Holy Child. The rest is history. Now with daughters Meg and Julia in grades 7 and 4, the Souths are a veteran Holy Child family and are deeply involved in the community. Lauren, who is co-owner of Barton South Communications (a marketing and branding firm), is a past Parents’ Auxiliary President, former Holy Child Shops Chair, and was instrumental in helping us navigate our Holy Child School at Rosemont rebranding in 2015. Pat, who is managing director and co-founder of SRS Capital Advisors, serves on our Investments Committee and has coached our Lower School girls’ basketball for six years. The Souths appreciate how Holy Child offers opportunities for the varying interests of children. “Meg loves math. She went into school thinking she wasn’t great at math, and in seventh grade it’s one of her favorite classes,” said Lauren. Julia, who is in fourth grade, never misses an opportunity to join the variety of extracurriculars that the education here affords. “There are so many things about school that Julia loves.” explained Lauren. “She’s the first one to say, ‘Sign me up!’ She loves her academics, but she certainly loves the wealth of activities that are available here.”
kids are thriving. “ Our You can’t argue with that because that’s all any parent wants for their children.
”
The Souths are happy with how well the girls are doing and how they can find their niche at school. “I love at Holy Child that children don’t have to be sporty, or social, or nerdy, or any of that. They can be a little of all of it. And it’s OK. It’s actually celebrated,” shared Lauren. As Meg approaches the end of her seventh grade year, the Souths are also able to see some of the outcomes of her education. These Holy Child outcomes do not come as a surprise to the Souths.
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“We heard all about the strong Holy Child culture of friendship and respect, and how well prepared all of the graduates were for the future,” said Pat. “The number one striking characteristic that comes out of Holy Child is a level of confidence that I don’t see all the time in other kids of their same ages,” said Lauren. She values how the students communicate with adults at ease, are articulate, and take risks in their learning.
Lauren views Holy Child’s urge to try without fear of failure as a hallmark of a Holy Child education and hopes that her daughters take this mindset with them after graduation. “I want them to continue to be courageous and take risks, and I feel that Holy Child does a really great job at preparing them to take smart risks.” Pat added, “We value the fact that our daughters have/are growing up with an amazing combination of self-confidence, joy, and respect for others, all of which comes from the strong culture at the school. The school has really delivered on what they promised.” Lauren has now become one of the parents whom she met 10 years ago on her school search, encouraging prospective parents to explore the Holy Child community. “I always say, ‘You must look at this school. It is so warm and welcoming and your kids will thrive.’” Added Lauren, “Our kids are thriving. You can’t argue with that because that’s all any parent wants for their children.” D
ALUMNI IN ACTION
Dr. Elizabeth Langran ’84 PROFESSOR OF EDUCATION
Fresh from a Peace Corps assignment in Morocco in 1998, Elizabeth Langran began teaching in a 1:1 laptop school on Long Island where each student and teacher had a device. It was baptism by fire. A laptop was placed in her hands, and she was sent forth to teach. “I didn’t really know what to do with it,” shared Elizabeth. “I didn’t even know how to turn it off. I became really interested in technology because it was clearly on the horizon. I saw a lot of bad uses of technology, and I wanted to figure out how we could do it right. That’s how I ended up where I am.” What initially was an obstacle for Elizabeth became a lifelong passion and career. Elizabeth received her Ph.D. in Instructional Technology from the University of Virginia with a certificate in International Leadership in Educational Technology. Now an education professor at Marymount University in Arlington, VA, Elizabeth focuses on her “main area of expertise and joy”—educational technology—which prepares current and future teachers to integrate technology into their classrooms. “I want to make sure that my students really believe that all children can learn and that they’re teaching to their whole classroom,” said Elizabeth. She believes that technology can help teachers to reach every child. “One of the ways that we look at technology is how to support the diversity of learners in the classroom. It’s about giving teachers the tools they will need in their classrooms.”
“
Holy Child did a really good job of cultivating a spirit of service and teaching that service is a normal part of the Catholic identity.
”
While being a university professor in itself is a huge undertaking, teaching is just one facet of Elizabeth’s job. She’s about to begin her tenure as president of the international Society for Information Technology and Teacher Education (SITE); she’s working on a book with a sociology colleague; she’s assisting her department with a new Ed.D. program; she’s creating a set of guidelines on how to ethically integrate artificial intelligence into the classroom and to
explore its implications; and ARLINGTON, VA that’s just a partial list. One of Elizabeth’s favorite projects speaks to her dedication to service. She supports a teacher training program with the Arlington Academy of Hope in Uganda, which was founded by two Ugandans who established themselves in Arlington, Virginia and wanted to give back to their home country. Elizabeth co-leads the visits to Uganda with a Marymount colleague where Marymount graduate students and veteran teachers from the greater D.C. area provide teacher training to teachers throughout the Bududa district. The hope is that the schools in this Ugandan district can raise their test scores and that the children can have better opportunities. “It’s a pretty incredible experience,” recounted Elizabeth. “The kids are so excited to be in school and the teachers love them so much.” On her most recent visit to Holy Child School at Rosemont, which she attended with siblings Irene ’82 and Tom ’86, Elizabeth was able to tour and reflect on her experience. “I just kept thinking that this is the kind of education that every child deserves,” said Elizabeth. It was at Holy Child, where she began her study of both French and Latin, which then prepared her to continue French and begin Spanish in high school at Merion Mercy Academy. “The support of languages that I received at both Holy Child and in high school really enabled me to do a lot of the work that I do,” said Elizabeth who used her language skills during a four-year USID (United States Agency for International Development) project in Senegal, in working with a university in Nicaragua, and during her graduate studies when she spent time in Barcelona. Holy Child’s academics impacted Elizabeth’s career, but another aspect impacted her heart. “Holy Child did a really good job of cultivating a spirit of service and teaching that service is a normal part of the Catholic identity. I don’t think that happens in every Catholic school, and it really enabled me to connect Catholic identity with service.” Elizabeth’s parents Robert and Eleanor Langran, who remained connected to our Holy Child community long after their children graduated, were also very influential in Elizabeth gaining her service perspective. “They sacrificed a lot to send us to Holy Child because they believed we would get not only a good Catholic education, but one that also valued service too.” In her work with the Peace Corps in Morocco, in collaborating with the Arlington Academy of Hope in Uganda, in preparing teachers to meet the needs of their students, and in many other ways, Elizabeth has taken this spirit of service to various corners of the world and has certainly followed Cornelia Connelly’s urge to, “Be generous and of great heart.” D Holy Child School at Rosemont | Spring 2020 | CACHET
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ALUMNI
HOMECOMING
2019
Lorna Petrizzo ’19 and Lauren Kailis ’18
Laura Wallon ’18 and Thalia D’Elia ’18
Max Barton ’19, Jack Swalley ’19, Tripp Adams ’19, and Adrian Caldwell ’19 Lauren Rischitelli ’19, Kendall Carson ’19, Eliana Okala ’19, and Mariel O’Leary ’19
Aidan Boyle ’18, Josiah Ketchum ’18, and Spanish teacher Peggy Stephens
Kristin Strid Dische ’86, Paul Strid ’89, and Kris Flick Strid ’59 Matthew Donatucci ’17, Head of School Tom Lengel P’12, Daniel Curran ’17, Edward Trumpbour ’16, and Patrick Traynor ’17
Alumnae vs. Varsity/JV Field Hockey Game
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Ashley Wingfield ’17, Sydney Worrell ’17, and Ciara Dasher ’17
ALUMNI
REUNION
2019
Former Head of School Sr. Mary Broderick, SHCJ and Jen Greshock Raker ’84
Class of 1969 at their 50th Reunion Sunday Brunch: Alec Arader, Frank Sherry, Florence Lane Bazhaw, John Clarke, and Dennis Boylan
Jay Greytok ’79 and Head of School Tom Lengel P’12
Class of 1959: Judy Wankmiller Cassidy, Anne Kaier, Ed Kaier, and Helen Meeks Horstmann
Class of 1969: John Finegan, Florence Lane Bazhaw, Alec Arader, Frank Sherry, and Dennis Boylan Class of 1994: Brad McMahon, Joanne Pettit Robinson, Paul Wood, Katie Manno Pagliaro, and Kevin Boylan
Class of 1994 Parents: BACK ROW: Martin Marshall, Paula and Ron Washko, Helen and Mario Gambescia. MIDDLE ROW: Janet Marshall, Tim Creedon, Jeanne and George Wood. FRONT ROW: Jim and Anne Marie Pettit, Janet Creedon, and Joanne Boylan.
Director of Lower School Jeanne Marie Blair P’96’99’04, Elizabeth Blair Jankowski ’99, Katie Manno Pagliaro ’94, and Justin Pagliaro
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VISIT WITH SANTA
Santa Claus made his 13th annual visit to Holy Child on December 8 to share the Christmas spirit with alumni, past parents, faculty, and friends.
Pictured here with Santa is Lauren Arena Gribben ’01 with daughter Penelope, sons Garrett and Parker, and husband Josh.
London Ali, daughter of Persia Ali ’96, enjoys her moment with Santa.
Bunny LeStrange Hill ’66, her husband Alex, and their grandchildren enjoy the annual visit with Santa.
The Manno sisters and their families share the spotlight with Santa: Jim Miller, Justin Pagliaro with Luca, Lilly, Maddy, and James with Mollie Manno Miller ’99, Katie Manno Pagliaro ’94 with Finn.
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Annabel and Sabina, daughters of Holly and Gerry Berry ’92, share their Christmas wishes with Santa.
ALUMNI
1975
CLASS NOTES 1956 Patty Farren Erickson currently resides in Hershey’s Mill in West Chester, PA. She has 14 grandchildren who are living in Boston, Stanford, and, locally, Yardley and Malvern. She is busy watching field hockey, lacrosse, and boys’ basketball at Great Valley. Also, Patty never misses a Villanova basketball game.
Judy Wankmiller Cassidy ’59 celebrated granddaughter Emilia’s First Holy Communion with husband Denny Cassidy; children Denny Cassidy ’85, Jen Cassidy Buckland ’86, Matt Cassidy ’90, and Tricia Cassidy DeLisi ’93; their spouses; and Judy and Denny’s grandchildren.
1957
1962
Chuck Lombardi met Tom Meeks ’57 and his wife Kaye for lunch in Richmond, VA on October 2, 2019. Chuck was in the area for a reunion of his former military unit: U.S. Navy Mobile Construction Battalion Ten, one of many Navy Seabee units that served in Vietnam. Chuck, Tom, and Kaye last got together, along with Tina Rigterink ’57, at their 60th reunion in 2017.
Ellen Campbell Paulish and husband DJ Dr. Dan Paulish got to spin some tunes on Thanksgiving for two dinner seatings at the Salvation Army in Fort Lauderdale, FL. Both sets of kids visited – one before and one after the holiday. It was a joyful start to the Christmas season for Ellen and her family.
1959 Anne Kaier wrote an essay that was featured in the book, About Us, which is a collection of The New York Times personal essays and reflections focused on disability.
1967
A group of Holy Child alumni got together in Key Largo, FL in January 2020: Noel McInerney McKinny ’75, Tom Masterson ’67, Claudia Masterson Kiernan ’75, Sharon Fischer Kennedy ’75, and Jody McGraw Masterson (’73 Rosemont Senior School).
1976 Babette Casey Schubert is a senior banker at Bank of America’s Cleveland, OH office. Babette and her husband, Paul, are currently remodeling their family home on Lake Okauchee, WI. Their daughter, Liz, got engaged in Italy in the fall of 2019. Their son, Tom, is working full-time in supply chain management at TJX, and he is in a band called Tipling Rock. Their son, Paul Jr., produces “deep house” music, and their son, Joe, is a junior at St. Paul’s School in Concord, NH.
Members of the Class of 1967 enjoyed reminiscing at their Rosemont Senior School Class of 1971 reunion. BACK: Ann Marie Eads Lees, Martha O’Neal Teeter, and Tish Fuller Jacques. FRONT: Bobbie Castner Bailey, Susan Collins, Teresa Zinni Gruener, and Barbara Clarke.
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ALUMNI
1982
1984
Aimee Kiely Weise traveled with her team from Merion Golf Club to Nairn, Scotland in September 2019 to play a tournament called the Women’s International Team Challenge at The Nairn Golf Club in the Scottish Highlands. It was the first time that Team Merion had won overseas. Also on her team was current Holy Child parent Erin Cook.
Dan Keating is the head lacrosse coach and the assistant for Student Activities and Transportation at St. Joseph’s Preparatory School.
1993 David Bennett ’84, founder of David C. Bennett Architects (www.dcbarchitects.com), is celebrating 10 years of designing timeless homes. His most recent project is located in Stone Harbor, NJ where the feel of the Caribbean and the Florida panhandle is key to the design.
Aimee Kiely Weise ’82 (center) and Merion Golf Club teammates
1983 David Boreanaz was featured in Parade magazine in October 2019 (https://parade. com/937801/nicolepajer/david-boreanazseal-team/). David currently stars as Jason Hayes on the hit TV series SEAL Team and also serves as executive producer. Erik Strid, CEO of Concentus Wealth Advisors, launched his new book, Exploring, Replacing an Outdated Paradigm for the Retirement Years, in October 2019. His book focuses on navigating 30 years of retirement after the age of 65.
Elizabeth Langran is a professor at Marymount University in Arlington, VA. See Elizabeth’s Alumni in Action feature on page 19 for more information.
Lauren Keleher Lashinger and husband Joe proudly welcomed their son, Leo Michael, to the family on September 23, 2019. Leo joins big brother, Joey ’27, and big sister, Mia ’30, who are both enjoying their early years at Holy Child. Lauren is a founding director for the Stella & Dot Family of Brands. The Lashinger Family currently resides in Newtown Square, PA.
Megan Naughton Peart is teaching second grade in Lancaster, PA. She has two children, a sophomore and a senior in high school.
Lauren Keleher Lashinger ’93 with husband Joe and children Joey ’27, Mia ’30, and Leo Michael
1995 Megan Naughton Peart ’84
The Shields family visited Croatia in the summer of 2019: Kevin ’89, Mindy, Penny, Cameron, Casey, Dave ’86, Bob, Mary K, Liam ’21, Teri, Chris ’83, Kate, Reid ’19, Patch ’19. Not pictured: Kathleen Shields Anderson ’93.
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1990
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Joe Mallon, after graduating from St. Joseph’s Preparatory School, went on to graduate with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in acting from NYU Tisch School and received his Master of Fine Arts from the University of South Carolina. He has been a professional theater actor since 2003. Presently, you can see him at The Ford Theater in Washington D.C. playing Nathan Detroit in Guys and Dolls. (The production has been rescheduled for spring 2021.) In 2017, Joe married Amanda Forstrom.
ALUMNI
1998
Joe Mallon ’95 and wife Amanda Forstrom
Sean McCloskey is the Director of Business Development at Envative’s Philadelphia sales office, which opened in January 2020.
Dan Kain ’95 and Jack Gardner ’95 chased a big winter swell in San Diego, CA during a January 2020 visit. They caught up with Jack’s brother Andrew Gardner ’00 while there. It was a great week of waves in SoCal!
1996 Whitney Deas Bordogna and her husband, Ray, welcomed their first daughter, Avery Marguerite, on September 28, 2019. The family resides in Villanova, PA. They are happy as can be with their new addition.
JP Dunphy ’01 performed as Mr. Harry Wormwood in Media Theater’s Production of Matilda the Musical in October 2019. (The production has been rescheduled for spring 2021). Current grade 4 student, Chloe Tomaszewski ’24, also performed in the production as Hortensia.
Brian Gambescia ’98 married Alicia Rossi on August 10, 2019 at Everly at Railroad in Tuckahoe, NJ. Pictured are Kurt Batten, Aileen Gambescia ’94, Stephen Gambescia, Alicia, Brian, Helen, and Mario Gambescia.
Kit Zipf married Jenna Rein on October 25, 2019 in Idaho Springs, CO. They reside in Denver, CO. Kit is a pilot for Southwest Airlines and is also serving in the Marine Corps Reserves out of Pensacola, FL. His wife runs her own business, The Intern Hustle. Kit’s niece and nephew, Elizabeth ’29 and James ’31, are current Holy Child students and were in the wedding party. Mary Rafferty Petroni ’98 with mother Ann Rafferty and children and current students Madalyn ’24 and Louis ’27. Mary is currently the Advancement Assistant at Holy Child School at Rosemont. Mary and Ann both worked together at Holy Child this past fall when Ann served as a long-term substitute teacher and liturgist.
2001
Kit Zipf ’01 and wife Jenna Rein
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ALUMNI
2002
Jimmy Finegan ’04 married Alyssa Rutigliano on December 31, 2019. Pictured here are TR Moser, Katie Finegan Moser ’98, Jim Finegan ’68, Tricia Finegan, Jimmy and Alyssa, Annie Finegan ’07, Robert Finegan ’10, Liz Finegan McKee ’01, Gerard McKee, and current Holy Child students Teddy ’28 and Gracie ’29 Moser.
Lauren Manning married Timothy Plain on October 5, 2019 at Saint John the Evangelist Church in Philadelphia, PA. Lauren’s sister, Kelly Manning ’10, was her maid of honor.
2005 Lauren Manning ’02 and husband Timothy Plain.
Emily Walsh Irving and her husband, Chris, welcomed a beautiful baby boy, John “Jack” William Irving, on January 7, 2020. Emily and Jack are doing well and appreciate the Holy Child family’s prayers and well wishes!
Courtenay Devlin Baker has been working as a clinical research specialist at The New Balance Foundation Obesity Prevention Center at Boston Children’s Hospital for the past four years. Courtenay, her husband James, and daughter Nora Leigh, welcomed daughter Claire Elizabeth on April 26, 2019. They will be moving to Burlington, VT in the summer of 2020 where James will be opening a start-up endodontics practice.
2004 Katherine Del Raso ’04 married Christopher Brolley on April 6, 2019 at the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul in Philadelphia, PA. A reception followed at the Union League of Philadelphia. Holy Child alumni in attendance included Katherine’s siblings, J.D. Del Raso ’00, Marianna Del Raso ’05, and friends Kaitlin Brennan Barra ’04, Brendan Lawrence ’04, Elizabeth Carnall Cupo ’04, and Kristin Battaglini ’04.
Courtenay Devlin Baker ’05 with husband James and daughters Nora Leigh and Claire Elizabeth.
Rob Pina is pursuing a master’s degree in clinical psychology/clinical counseling at Arcadia University.
2006
Sara Rivers ’06 married RJ Walsh on September 14, 2019 at the Elmwood Park Zoo in Norristown, PA.
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ALUMNI
2007
science and coaching soccer at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic High School in Atlanta, GA.
Ginny Hamilton visited Holy Child in December 2019 and spoke to the grade 7 students about her research regarding the HIV virus and her experience with the Peace Corps in Namibia, South Africa.
2011 Karla Cortes graduated from Drexel University with a degree in entertainment and arts management with a concentration in performing arts and a certificate of writing. While attending Drexel, she had the opportunity to work in Dublin, Ireland at a music licensing firm for three months. She also worked for a music and film licensing platform called Gnarles in Berlin, Germany. Olivia Pina is pursuing a master’s degree in religious studies at the University of Chicago.
Ginny Hamilton ’07
2009 Kristen Hinckley currently works as an education policy researcher at the Ministry of Education in Peru.
Kristen Hinckley ’09
2010 Katie Schneider earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Stanford University. She is currently in a program called ACE (Alliance for Catholic Education) through the University of Notre Dame. ACE places teachers in under-resourced Catholic schools across the country. Katie is pursuing her master’s degree in education from Notre Dame while teaching high school math and
2012 Anne Marie Crinnion, a senior at Harvard University where she studies psychology and linguistics, had her first crossword puzzle published in The Wall Street Journal (Chill Out: Monday, December 23). Mia Latran is a senior at Villanova University where she is enrolled in an international social justice documentary course. Last year, Mia traveled with her classmates to Singida, Tanzania for over two weeks to learn about the global water crisis and its impact on the rural communities. She and her classmates are using the footage they captured during their trip to create a 20-minute documentary about this crisis.
Barbara Boylan ’12 poses in her studio at George Washington University’s Corcoran School of Art with two of six of her 72” x 40” paintings, which she will exhibit in April 2020 at Corcoran as her senior project. Barbara will graduate in May 2020 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts and a minor in classics. She has been recognized as the Outstanding BFA in Fine Arts student of her graduating class.
2013
Marion Boyd ’13, a junior at the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, is studying abroad this spring semester in London, England. Marion is also working toward a minor in music industry at the Thornton School of Music.
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ALUMNI
Claire Elizabeth Baker April 26, 2019
Raleigh Thomas Herr April 26, 2019
Griffin Michael McKee May 2, 2019
Courtenay Devlin Baker ’05 and James
Ashley Colen Herr ’96 and Ben
Liz Finegan McKee ’01 and Gerard
BIRTHS June Marie Rafferty August 29, 2019 Matt Rafferty ’01 and Christine
Grace Lally Gilroy September 9, 2019
Katie Alburger Christopher ’95 and Dave
Cassidy Aileen Blair September 19, 2019
Leo Michael Lashinger September 23, 2019
Patrick Blair ’96 and Carolyn
Lauren Keleher Lashinger ’93 and Joe
Caroline Keating Gilroy ’05 and Gregory
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Madeleine Anne Christopher September 9, 2019
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ALUMNI
Sophie Leigh Sabatino September 25, 2019
Avery Marguerite Bordogna September 28, 2019
William Graves Blair October 18, 2019
Whitney Deas Bordogna ’96 and Ray
Anne Carson Blair ’95 and Andrew
Mary Lauren Magargee Sabatino ’03 and Derek
BIRTHS
Eloise Maeve Connelly October 3, 2019 Dan Connelly ’95 and Jordan
Hazzard Wells Hollomon October 16, 2019 Paige Colen Hollomon ’01 and Hiram
John William Irving January 7, 2020 Henry Squadrito November 5, 2019
Caroline Elizabeth Harrison November 7, 2019
James Squadrito ’02 and Michelle
Lindsay Donatiello Harrison ’00 and Bryan
Emily Walsh Irving ’02 and Chris
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ALUMNI
Ryan Crenny was in Rome for his fall of 2019 semester for an internship working for the Augustinians. He worked for Father Joe Farrell, the vicar general of the worldwide Augustinian Order, revising and updating the Augustinian website. He also did a project filming the Pope’s summer residence, the Apostolic Palace of Castel Gandolfo. While there, Ryan had a private tour of St. Peter’s Basilica and the Sistine Chapel.
Ryan Crenny ’13
Chris Eldridge is a junior at Trinity College in Hartford, CT majoring in urban studies and minoring in film studies. He is loving Trinity and his brothers and sisters in his coed fraternity in Saint Anthony’s Hall. Julia Goldschmidt, a junior at the University of Notre Dame, is studying abroad this spring semester in London, England through the London Global Gateway program for Notre Dame. She is in the Kennedy Scholars Program, which provides an opportunity to undertake an independent research project which will lead to a senior thesis. She is participating in a small seminar in which scholars examine research methodologies, visit centers of research and culture, and formulate their senior thesis concepts. Julia also has an internship at Notre Dame Roman Catholic Girls’ School, a secondary school in the heart of London. She is working
as a teacher’s assistant in the subjects of English, music, art, and religious education, as well as tutoring students with learning differences and students for whom English is an additional language. In addition, she is the campus ministry student minister for her program. She works closely with the program chaplain and the director of student affairs to plan masses, community service, and other faith and fellowship events.
Julia Goldschmidt ’13
Condolences Brian Ameche - January 30, 2020 - brother of Catherine Ameche Cappelletti ’70 Kathryn Blair - August 24, 2019 - grandmother of Patrick Blair ’96, Elizabeth Blair Jankowski ’99, and Peter Blair ’04 Christopher E. Blake - December 4, 2019 - brother of Ned Blake ’68 (dec.), Jack Blake ’70, and Tracy Blake De Vlieger ’73 Lewis W. Bluemle, M.D - August 13, 2019 - father of Lauren Bluemle ’74, Susan Bluemle ’78, and Amy Bluemle ’84 Charles William Dilley - September 8, 2019 - husband of Robin Daily Dilley ’83 Robert Williams Langran - August 20, 2019 - father of Irene Langran ’82, Elizabeth Langran ’84, and Thomas Langran ’86 Theresa Lang Lee - December 16, 2019 - grandmother of Gregory Carroll ’96 and Stephen Carroll ’06 Dorothy Lengel - January 25, 2020 - grandmother of Andrew Lengel ’12 Anna Maniscalco - August 15, 2019 - grandmother of Kara Maniscalco ’15 Brian Hart McConaghy - October 7, 2019 - brother of Christopher McConaghy ’85 William C. McConaghy - August 26, 2019 - father of Christopher McConaghy ’85 Francis G. McFadden - November 9, 2019 - grandfather of Liam Janschka ’19 Regina A. Mitchell - February 3, 2020 - mother of Diane Mitchell Hefford ’77 and Aileen Mitchell Magee ’79 Marilyn Murphy - January, 17, 2020 - grandmother of Lexi Suydam ’11 Richard A. Scott - December 15, 2019 - father of Stacie Scott Karas ’68
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ALUMNI
MaryKate Neff was named to the USA Field Hockey U-21 National Team. In October 2019, she was honored as the Ivy League Defensive Player of the Week and picked as the GPT Athlete of the Week presented by Coach USA. In November 2019, MaryKate and her field hockey team won the 2019 Ivy League Championship and competed in the NCAA Field Hockey Tournament. MaryKate is a junior at Princeton University. Julianna Tornetta and the Princeton Tigers field hockey team won the 2019 Ivy League championship and competed in the NCAA Field Hockey Tournament in November 2019. In December 2019, Julianna was named to the Longstreth/NFCHA second team AllAmerican squad. She was also named firstteam All-Ivy in November for the third time. Julianna is a junior at Princeton University.
2015 Lauren Curran competed in the NCAA Field Hockey Tournament in November 2019. Lauren is a freshman at Boston College.
2016 Abby Butler returned to Holy Child in November 2019 to visit First Grade Teacher Lynn Gosnell. Abby is a senior at the Academy of Notre Dame.
Riley Gillin, Meghan Mitchell, and Vivi Trumpbour sign their National Letters of Intent at the Academy of Notre Dame in November 2019.
Abby Butler ’16 and First Grade Teacher Lynn Gosnell
Members of the Class of 2013 studying abroad with their respective college programs reconnect in London: Tess Phillips (University of Notre Dame), Colin Browning (University of Wisconsin), and Ryan Loftus (George Washington University).
2014 Sara Jane Quigley competed in the NCAA Field Hockey Tournament in November 2019. She was featured in an article in The Daily Orange in October 2019. Sara Jane is a sophomore at Syracuse University.
Riley Gillin is a senior at the Academy of Notre Dame where she plays basketball, lacrosse, and field hockey. She is the captain of the basketball team and was honored with the Basketball Excellence Award by the Markward Club in January 2020. Riley has committed to play lacrosse at the University of Delaware in the fall of 2020.
Members of the Class of 2016 attend the Academy of Notre Dame’s Winter Ball: Lauren Gunn, Ginna DeCarlo, Will Keane, Grace McHugh, Abby Butler, and Ryan Rischitelli.
Ginna DeCarlo was on stage crew in the Academy of Notre Dame’s production of Mamma Mia! in November 2019. Ginna is a member of the varsity tennis team at Notre Dame.
Lindsay Goldschmidt performed as Sophie Sheridan in the Academy of Notre Dame’s production of Mamma Mia! in November 2019. Lindsay is a Student Council senior homeroom representative, and in October 2019, she was inducted into Notre Dame’s National Honor Society. She also earned distinguished honors for the fall 2019 semester. Lindsay was recognized as a Gold Key winner at the regional level of the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards in January and has been awarded a National Silver medal for her moving short story, “Eden.” Her story was one of 320,000 pieces submitted nationwide to the Art and Writing awards last fall. Lauren Gunn performed as Donna Sheridan in the Academy of Notre Dame’s production of Mamma Mia! in November 2019. Lauren is a Student Council senior homeroom representative at Notre Dame, and she earned distinguished honors for the fall 2019 semester.
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ALUMNI
Holy Child alumni and Mamma Mia! cast and crew members pose after an Academy of Notre Dame Theatre performance: Lauren Gunn ’16, Lindsay Goldschmidt ’16, Ginna DeCarlo ’16, Sophie Sheffer ’16, Kelly McGlinn ’18, and Nicole Gunn ’18. Not pictured: Lorna Petrizzo ’19.
Will Keane won the PIAA District 12 3A individual boys golf title in October 2019. He also received All-Catholic first team recognition for golf. Will is a senior at St. Joseph’s Preparatory School. Grace McHugh is a Student Council senior homeroom representative at the Academy of Notre Dame. She earned honors for the fall 2019 semester at Notre Dame. Meghan Mitchell was inducted into the Academy of Notre Dame’s National Honor Society in October 2019. Meghan is a senior at Notre Dame where she is co-captain of the field hockey team. She earned distinguished honors for the fall 2019 semester. In November 2019, she was selected to play in the PhilaFH Senior All-Star game where she scored for Team Freedom. She also was named to the 2019 All-Main Line Field Hockey second team, as well as the 2019 Keith Waldman—OPA/NFHCA High School National Academic Squad. Meghan will play field hockey at Villanova University in the fall of 2020.
honors for the fall 2019 semester at Notre Dame. Sophie performed in the ensemble in Notre Dame’s production of Mamma Mia! in November 2019. Vivienne Trumpbour was recognized as a National Merit Commended Scholar at the Academy of Notre Dame. Vivi is a Student Council senior homeroom representative and a member of the field hockey team at Notre Dame. She earned distinguished honors for the fall 2019 semester. In November 2019, she was selected to play in the PhilaFH Senior All-Star game. She was named to the 2019 All-Main Line field hockey first team, as well as the 2019 Keith Waldman — OPA/NFHCA High School National Academic Squad. She will go on to play field hockey at Georgetown University in the fall of 2020. Joseph Wilbur has committed to row crew for the University of Pennsylvania in the fall of 2020. Joseph is a senior at LaSalle College High School.
Ryan Rischitelli is a Student Council senior homeroom representative at the Academy of Notre Dame. Caroline Shannon was recognized as a National Merit Commended Scholar, is captain of the cross country team, and named MVP of the cross country team at The Agnes Irwin School.
Members of the Class of 2017 Grace Wolter, Ella MacFarlane, Julia Szela, Sydney Worrell, and Ashley Wingfield pose with their Academy of Notre Dame class rings.
Sophie Sheffer is a Student Council senior homeroom representative at the Academy of Notre Dame. She earned distinguished
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CACHET | Spring 2020 | Holy Child School at Rosemont
Joseph Wilbur ’16 with mother Martha Wilbur and brothers Jonathan ’20 and John ’22.
2017 Patrick Traynor received All-Catholic second team recognition for golf. Patrick is a junior at Malvern Preparatory School. Grace Wolter was inducted into the Academy of Notre Dame’s National Honor Society in October 2019. She earned distinguished honors for the fall 2019 semester at Notre Dame. In August 2019, Grace and her crew team took home the gold at the Royal Canadian Henley Regatta in St. Catharines, Ontario as members of their club team at Conshohocken Rowing Center. Grace is a junior at Notre Dame. Emma Woodcock is a junior at Villa Maria Academy. She is an honors student who enjoys being involved in leadership and athletics. She is co-captain of Villa’s softball
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team and a new member of their track and field team, where she throws shot put, discus, and weight. Emma recently broke the school record throwing the weight in the Ocean Breeze Invitational in Staten Island, NY. Aside from softball and track and field, she continues to enjoy participating in community service on her own and as part of the Youth Advisory Board for IMPACT. Emma has started her college search. She hopes to play softball and study sports management. Sydney Worrell was inducted into the Academy of Notre Dame’s National Honor Society in October 2019. Sydney is a junior at Notre Dame, where she earned distinguished honors for the fall 2019 semester. She was named to the 2019 Keith Waldman—OPA/ NFHCA High School National Academic Squad for field hockey.
Lucy Shannon earned honors at The Agnes Irwin School for the fall of 2019. Farrah Sheffer was inducted into the Global Citizen Scholars program at the Academy of Notre Dame. Farrah is a sophomore at Notre Dame, where she earned honors for the fall 2019 semester. Carrie Ann Teti performed as Young Eponine in Friends’ Central’s production of Les Miserables in October 2019.
Daniela Flores ’19 celebrated her Quinceañera with friends and Holy Child classmates Kendall Carson ’19, Mariel O’ Leary ’19, and Liam Janschka ’19 in November 2019.
2019
Lorna Petrizzo was selected as a member of the All-Catholic Chorus, which performed at the Kimmel Center and at various Archdiocesan events. Lorna, a freshman at the Academy of Notre Dame, performed in the ensemble in Notre Dame’s production of Mamma Mia! in November 2019. Lorna achieved distinguished honors for the fall 2019 semester at Notre Dame. She is also a member of the handbell choir and a lector at St. Thomas of Villanova Parish.
Members of the Class of 2019 reunited at Holy Child High School night as they represented their respective high schools: Jamia Nelson (The Agnes Irwin School), Kendall Carson (Archbishop John Carroll High School), Davis Peterson (St. Joseph’s Preparatory School), Max Barton (St. Joseph’s Preparatory School), Tripp Adams (LaSalle College High School), Brian Kim (The Haverford School), Reid Shields (Archmere Academy), Lorna Petrizzo (Academy of Notre Dame), and Maia Salas (Academy of Notre Dame).
Maia Salas, a freshman at the Academy of Notre Dame, achieved distinguished honor roll for the first semester of the 2019-2020 school year. She is a member of the Indoor Track Team, JV Mathletes Club, Student Ambassadors, and the Model UN Club. Maia was awarded first place at the PA Junior Academy of Science Regional 1A Competition for her Save Water, Stay Green Project.
2018 Patrick Casey was voted the captain of the cross country team for the 2020-2021 season at St. Joseph’s Preparatory School. He also received All-Catholic recognition for cross country and swimming. Nicole Gunn was an assistant costume designer in the Academy of Notre Dame’s production of Mamma Mia! in November 2019. Kelly McGlinn is a Student Council sophomore homeroom representative at the Academy of Notre Dame. She achieved distinguished honors for the fall 2019 semester. Kelly performed in the ensemble in Notre Dame’s production of Mamma Mia! in November 2019. Kelly is a member of the varsity tennis team at Notre Dame. Phoebe Phillips was inducted into the STEM Scholars of Excellence program at the Academy of Notre Dame. Phoebe is a Student Council sophomore homeroom representative at Notre Dame, and she achieved distinguished honors for the fall 2019 semester.
Adrian Caldwell, a freshman at Friends Select, was a cast member in the school’s performance of Metamorphoses in November 2019. Eliana Okala has been selected to participate in the Easterns Swimming and Diving Regional Competition to be held at Franklin and Marshall College. Easterns is the premier prep school swimming and diving meet in the country. Eliana was also awarded the Most Improved Tennis Player this past fall. She is a freshman at The Agnes Irwin School.
Eliana Okala ’19
Holy Child School at Rosemont | Spring 2020 | CACHET
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CAMPUS EXPANSION
MULTI-PURPOSE TURF FIELD EXPANDED PARKING LOT MIDDLE SCHOOL OUTDOOR ACTIVITY SPACE & ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AREA PERFORMING ARTS & ATHLETICS ADDITION KINDERGARTEN & LIBRARY RENOVATION
HOLY CHILD SCHOOL AT ROSEMONT CAMPUS EXPANSION THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2020
We’re excited to share some information on our Campus Expansion. Learn more details inside this issue of Cachet!