The Gates - Spring 2026

560 Sproul Road, Villanova, PA 19085 cnewbert@ndapa.org & mrinaldi@ndapa.org Spring 2026 Issue #3

Letter From the Editors Dear Readers, We can hardly believe that we are in the final stretch of the school year. Emotions are running high as the school year comes to a close; whether that be anticipation for summer, sadness that this chapter is coming to a close, or anxiety for upcoming APs and finals. At this time, we would like to thank everyone who has participated and contributed to the newspaper this year. Your hard work and dedication help make this newspaper what it is.

This issue features a wide range of articles, including a reflection on the Phillies season, a reflection on the Spring Sports banquet, a crossword puzzle (on where some of our seniors will attend college!), and a collection of occasional papers. Occasional papers are informal essays that reflect on a specific moment throughout the semester. These moments can be small and seemingly insignificant, or a big deal, such as an eighteenth birthday. The purpose is to reflect on this moment, and to hopefully acquire a newfound understanding of what the moment meant to you. It feels fitting as the year winds to a close to include some of these papers, which reflect on meaningful events throughout the seniors’ last semester.

Thank you for taking the time to read this third issue of The Gates!

With Gratitude Calleigh Newbert and Meredith Rinaldi

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Spring 2026 Reflection on New Chapters

By Ella Bidez ‘26

I made a pact with myself that I wouldnʼt be sad at all during senior year. I wouldnʼt cry at spirit day or mother-daughter – I wouldn't let myself mourn a year that was barely even starting.

Yet, I find myself sad that one thing in my life is “endingˮ.

Iʼve never really felt any kinship or closeness with pretty much anything at ND. I found myself researching country stances or making overly complex Google Sheets about the allies of the Republic of Slovenia instead of doing things with friends. Winter breaks were spent prepping for events with overly complex acronyms like ILMUNC or HMUN. If you couldnʼt guess, the thing that I found myself missing the most is Model UN. Unsurprisingly, I find myself missing the club where students forgo their weekends in order to spend time in a conference room debating the intricacies of nuclear disarmament in space or COVID19 vaccine distribution. MUN is one of the reasons Iʼm even here at ND. After I got my first taste of MUN at the 2023 edition of HMUN, I was hooked. That same year I tried to sign up for any and every conference that was offered, even if it meant I had to go to LaSalle where in the women's restroom, they have many signs that say “Boys will be boys, but LaSalle boys will be gentlemenˮ. As soon as the spring of my freshman year came, I had my heart set on becoming a leader.

That goal was accomplished in junior year, where, alongside my other junior and senior leaders, I put on the first edition of NDMUN. While that day might have been one of the most chaotic days of my life (only topped by NDMUN II, I loved it. This past weekend was the annual collegiate conference. We ventured up to balmy New Haven to debate at YMUN, where twenty odd countries were represented.

The Gates - Staff Editors in Chief: Calleigh Newbert ‘26 and Meredith RInaldi ‘26 Staff Writers for Issue #3 Meredith Rinaldi ‘26, Calleigh Newbert ‘26, Ella Bidez ‘26, Maria Tufaro ‘26, Creighton Czajkowski ‘27, Mia DeAngelo ‘27 Newspaper Games Contributor: Ella Bidez ‘26

Email cnewbert@ndapa.org or mrinaldi@ndapa.org for Gates features or to participate in the paper!

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Spring 2026

Reflection on New Chapters, Continued The overnight conferences are stressful for every delegate, but especially so for the twelve leaders. So much so, that sometimes we overlook the experience that we are having because we are trying so hard to keep track of our small groups or countless committee sessions.

This year, I decided that I was going to try and actually get the full overnight MUN experience. I was in an amazing committee Lobster Wars crisis committee), a good roommate situation (my ducklings), and pretty good food options. But, as I was up there counting down the minutes of each committee session because they seemed never-ending, something hit me.

It was committee session 3, and I was sitting through another moderated caucus on how we should resolve the ongoing crisis, a dispute between 1 French fishermen, 2 Brazilian fishermen, and 3) sentient AI killer lobsters. I keep glancing at my watch, letting my mind wander to the other tasks at hand.

Had I checked in with my small group? Yes. What am I doing for lunch? I donʼt know, Bridget will probably figure it out. Eventually, I ran out of my laundry list of questions to ask myself and was thinking about the future. I was thinking about how I didnʼt want to do another MUN; I can always do one next year.

That thought didnʼt fully hit me until the final committee session on Sunday. I was sitting in a classroom in the William L. Harkness Hall at Yale, dressed not in WBA but in a lobster onesie when I finally realized that this is it. This is the last time I will be a delegate. It's the last time I will hold a placard, motion for moderated caucuses, anything. I felt tears begin to prick at the corners of my eyes. This huge part of my life was coming to an end, rather anticlimactically.

I wonʼt bore you with the details of the crazy way we left YMUN 52, but it kept me busy until we were back on the bus heading back to ND. The further we got from New Haven, the further I felt myself getting from this part of my life that consumed most of my thoughts from November 2022 to January 2026. Not to sound dramatic, but it felt like a hole was forming in my chest that could only be filled with someone hitting a gavel against a desk, shouting “decorum delegatesˮ in front of a room of 300 hungry, sleep-deprived teenagers who haven't seen the sun in 72 hours.

I hate breaking promises, but on Sunday I did. On Sunday, I felt sad for the first time in senior year. I met some of my favorite people because of MUN or because of the expansive network MUN has. MUN gave me Ellie and Bridget and Ceci and Maya and Ava and Grace and Soledad and so many more people and experiences that I never would have had before.

Without MUN, I wouldnʼt know how to deal with borderline misogynistic 15-year-olds or how to navigate a hospital in a foreign country. While not all of those are normal MUN experiences, they were mine.

So Iʼm sorry, past Ella. Iʼm sorry for feeling sad and maybe letting some tears fall as we drove past the snow-covered trees on the Connecticut and New York border. Iʼm sorry for breaking my promise to you, but Iʼd break it a thousand times over if it meant you would have the same experiences I did.

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Spring 2026

Philly Sports and Community

By Mia DeAngelo ‘27 In the colder months, you will notice that we all come together for the Super Bowl (at least in some form). This year, the excitement level has increased to a new level as the possibility of another deep Philadelphia Eagles playoff run becomes more and more real. All the Kelly Green hoodies and “GO BIRDSˮ chants get a little louder than in the previous years.

Fans of Philadelphia Eagles football were entertained with many memorable moments during the 2019 NFL season. The memory of all the great plays on defense and clutch plays on offense brings back memories of each week, displaying how much passion and heart the Eagles have shown throughout the year.

The Eagles were able to demonstrate their ability to overcome tough matchups and win close games because of how loyal Philadelphia fans are as a whole. Even though the Eagles scare their fans the majority of the time, It is about so much more than winning. It is about the passion the Philadelphia area and the surrounding areas have for the team. Even though the season didn't end as we hoped, the Philadelphia Eagles unified the community.

The Eagles provide an opportunity for coming together in family and friendship. Communities can enjoy traditional gameday foods such as wings and snacks while discussing what they have in common, the Eagles. Whether that is talking about halftimes, commercials, plays, or the next season, they provide the ability to bond and connect with one another.

The big takeaway for me during this football season was the sense of community among everyone. At school, people were sharing their opinions of how the season could have gone differently. It is amazing how much a football season becomes a part of your life, and it provides a reason to look forward to having something fun to do during the long, cold weeks of winter.

Sports are not just about championships. They're about loyalty to your team and coming back to watch week after week. While the Eagles didn't win it all this year, their season has given their fans an opportunity to be reminded of why we continue to cheer for them, regardless!

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Spring 2026

Roommates and Tinder Dating

By Calleigh Newbert ‘26 Growing up, my fears included heights, snakes, and aggressive salesmen at the mall. Things that occurred naturally in the world we live in, but that can be avoided with caution and conscientiousness. Nevertheless, becoming an adult means facing challenges that are more difficult to run from. The college application process fostered fear in an inevitable process from which I had only heard horror stories: finding and choosing a dorm-mate.

In her freshman year at Drexel, my mom had the misfortune of sharing a room with Shannon; Shannon the chronic smoker, the loud snorer, and the incense-burning homebody. My older brother had Jared, who refused to shower for weeks at a time, left his laundry strewn across the room, and stayed out each night until early morning. For my friend Michaela, it was Carol, for Charlotte, it was Abby, and for Sammy, Erin.

But these stories become exaggerated over time, and I prefer solid, empirical facts. At the University of Florida, first-year students in the honors college are required to live in the Honors Village dorms for their first academic year. Considering a target enrollment of 725 freshmen in the program and an approximate gender breakdown of 54.7% female to 45.3% male, this creates a pool of around 396 roommates to choose from. Then comes the more subjective aspects of roommate selection: when do they sleep? What is their social life? How clean do they keep a room? What sort of first impression do they give off on their social media? That eliminates about another 50% of girls, leaving a total of 198 girls. Only 99 pairs. And between February 6th and March 15th, my mission was to find the “perfectˮ person for me.

Thinking about it, finding a roommate in the modern age is not too dissimilar to online dating.

Quick judgment on appearance and first impression. So my search for the perfect partner became a game of swiping right and left. First, I curated my Instagram to include the perfect pictures, captions, and humor to enthrall any suitors. Posting these on a Florida commitment page, I created the facade of the ideal roommate: sleeping from 11 PM to 8 AM, out on the weekend and in on weekdays, and adventurous enough to get immersed in all sorts of college hijinks. Then came the strategy: compiling a list of 50 girls of interest I could reach out to with my proposal, and draw them in with a tantalizing hook: “I am Calleigh from Philadelphia, and I believe that you would be the perfect roommate for me!ˮ Next is the juggling of prospects: jumping between artificial, surface-level conversation, gauging personality, and whittling down my list to a few top contenders with the excuse that I “am currently seeing other people.ˮ With the influx of girls to talk to, a sudden dry spell in a conversation or lack of chemistry would quickly drive away my motivation to stay committed, and it soon seemed that my list had been narrowed down to just three: Fiona, Allie, and Sydney.

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Spring 2026

Roommates and Tinder Dating, Continued Finally, I settled the matter of a roommate over planned calls and coffee dates, where I got to know the girls who best suited my personality. When Sydney began to reciprocate my interest by asking about potential dorm renting and decoration, I built up the courage to make our title official. And with the submission of a dorm pairing request on the housing portal, Sydney and I were officially off the market.

Nevertheless, in the rapid pursuit of my perfect person, I find myself realizing that the way I presented myself online was far different than my authentic self. With the fast-paced, dopamine-driven nature of the internet, it feels as if making connections in the current day means having enough followers on a social media account, pretty photos to share, and the presentation of a girl who is both popular and personable. Therefore, the pressure of the roommate search became less contingent on whether I was liked by others than on whether they approved of the superficial person I had created for them. Even in my personal life, a heavy emphasis on maintaining certain appearances on social media seems to hinder the authenticity of relationships in the real world.

Now, as my friendship develops with Sydney, it feels as if we have both begun to peel back our preconceived notions of one another to find a real connection. In a joking moment, I confessed to her that I had grown up in a Star Wars-obsessed family, and she opened up to me about her own secret passion for the franchise. We both wish we could run a marathon, but struggle with the discipline to do so. We both prefer a quiet night at home, but feel obligated to constantly be busy due to the environment around us doing the same. Through those moments of vulnerability, I have only come to appreciate her more.

In the face of adult challenges, I still feel the urge to run from the inevitable. Yet by running from our real selves, we face the greater risk of putting ourselves in situations of dishonesty and discomfort. I recognize my luck in meeting someone whose genuine self clicks well with my personality; however, my experiences reflect how many freshman dorm-mate horror stories may stem from the inability of people to be authentic when stepping into a new chapter of their lives. It is impossible to reshape ourselves to fit a mold of perfection without losing some aspect of our individuality. Perhaps in these last two months of school, we can learn to use change not as a means of reinventing ourselves, but to embrace the authenticity that brings us closer to true fulfillment.

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Spring 2026

Returning to Little Women

By Maria Tufaro ‘26 Over the past 4 months, I have read five books, plays, and collections of poetry: A Room With A View, Hamlet, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, An American Sunrise, and Little Women. Well, sort of.

Little Women is my favorite novel; when I read it first as a fourth grader, I immediately fell in love with the quaint home, sisterly bonds, and sweet, though tragic, story. This story has grown with me for the past 8 years, and I have gained access to new perspectives each time I have gone back to read it.

10-year-old me did not pick up on the conflict of social status, financial burden, or family loyalty. All I knew the first time I read this was that it made me feel good. It reminded me of my own family in ways I could not express, and it made me feel mature in a way that was beyond what lip gloss or a Starbucks cup could do.

I have spent my entire life being an avid reader. This was taught to me by my older brother as I raced to keep up with his ever-growing bookshelf and stacks of check-outs from the library. We grew up exchanging novels, and would sit next to each other in the living room for hours each night, tearing through the stories in front of us. When we were gifted Kindles, our tastes in reading diverged as we could access nearly any book that we hoped for. I was no longer limited to the endless Wheel of Time saga, and he never again picked up one of my historical fictions featuring a fiery heroine. Instead, I began to read what I knew as “the classicsˮ.

These were not just the standard, longstanding works of literature that you would usually think of. To me, classics were the books that my parents knew and loved. They kept a bookshelf in their own room; if I found a title on this shelf, I knew that it was something worth reading. Looking back, it was no surprise that the first one I chose to download on my Kindle was Little Women, considering the coveted place it took on the top shelf closest to my Momʼs reach. Though subtle, I knew this was the best indicator of a bookʼs significance, and I was right.

Fast forward to December of 2025. 16 days before my first college decision would be released, I was panicking. What if I had chosen the wrong school to apply to in the early action round? What if this was the beginning of a long season of outright rejection? What if I forgot to submit something? There was no moment when my mind was completely at peace, so I decided to focus on things that would bring me even a fragment of comfort. I swam as many times as I could each week, studied to my breaking point on every test, and, most importantly, put Little Women on my bedside table to reread. Throughout high school, I have had less and less time to read, and the time I have reading for my own pleasure has dwindled to the last minutes before bed each night. Iʼve found that there is a strategy to choosing what I fill this time with to make falling asleep an easy process, and in this period of uncertainty and anxiety, I knew that what I read needed to be something familiar and soothing. Little Women seemed like the most appropriate choice - not only had I written a supplemental essay for Notre Dame on this book, but I also needed the refuge of the Marchsʼ simple home. However, this is where my plan fell off.

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Spring 2026

Returning to Little Women, Continued As I said before, finding time to read has been increasingly difficult throughout high school, and this year the problem has become exponentially worse. I am still reading a lot, but my book of choice, comfort, and friendship has slipped out of reach as each day has become more consumed by the demands of school.

When I got into Notre Dame, I thought that my anxiety about school would fade away. Until I sat down in my bed last week and realized it had been four months, and Little Women was still sitting on my bedside table unfinished, I was unaware of how wrong I could be. I thought that, as a second-semester senior, I had it all under control. My applications were in, my grades were good, and I was finally giving myself the “freedomˮ that I had seen so many of my classmates take since freshman year. I never allowed myself a level of freedom that took away my guilt for hanging out with friends when an essay was due the next week, or kept me calm enough to watch TV on a weeknight. This time last month, I would have told you that I had completely let go of those feelings and instead embraced enjoying the end of high school. But when I saw this book sitting on my nightstand, the bookmark still less than halfway through the pages, I knew that I was wrong.

It hit me suddenly. As hard as I might try, I am still obsessed with school - doing well, being the best, making it look effortless. It is just who I am, and in trying to take away the stress of school, I actually made it worse for myself. It may have felt like freedom to let myself go to a hockey game with friends on a random Thursday night, but I didnʼt read Little Women that night when I was finishing my presentation for science fair. It may have felt like freedom when I didnʼt study for hours before a physics test, but I didnʼt read Little Women that night as I sat in bed thinking about how I had failed myself. It may have felt like freedom when I let myself say yes to everything I was invited to, but I didnʼt read Little Women that night because the exhaustion pulled me in before I had even reached my pillow.

So, I am making a promise to myself for the end of senior year. I want to actually enjoy the freedom that the end of senior year has to offer, not the false sense of freedom that I thought I had. For the past 4 years, I have worked hard to get myself to where I am. That hard work has paid off, but that doesnʼt mean that I can stop meeting my expectations. When I tried to let those standards for myself go, I found that I had less freedom. Instead, I am going to keep pushing myself. Assignments turned in on time (dramatic irony), grades reflecting the work I put in, and caring about doing well just for my own sake. I will still have fun, as I always have, and there may still be days that are not as focused as they would have been two years ago.

However, I am going to prioritize being able to read Little Women, because that is who I am.

Join Us!

Reach out to cnewbert@ndapa.org or mrinaldi@ndapa.org with ideas, articles, and photography for our future issues!

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Spring 2026

Winter Sports Ceremony

By Creighton Czajkowski ‘27 On February 12th 2026, Notre Dame celebrated its winter athletes, recognizing not only their talent but also their resilience, leadership, and unwavering sisterhood throughout the season. The ceremony highlighted not only statistics and records, but also the relationships and dedication that shaped the season. All of the girls who were a part of these winter teams had a strong impact on eachother and reflected many of Notre Dameʼs core values while engaging in the season's activities. The teams mentioned included: Indoor Track and Field, Upper School Basketball and Irish Swim and Dive.

The Indoor Track season this year was very difficult due to the weather, but that never prevented the team from trying their best. Everyone showed resilience that never wavered while also maintaining an incredible joy for the sport and teammates.

There were three awards given out by coaches John Luke Pileggi and Nick Vechik to the girls who showed dedication, sportsmanship and pride. The JV Award went to Desteny Uruchima. Uruchima was noticed for her hardwork and her willingness to listen when given feedback. Coach Pileggi also mentioned her 25% improvement throughout the season and how incredible that is, as she had no running experience in the past. The next award was given to Gabby Mekwunye for Most Improved.

Mekwunye was a first time thrower who was said to be very committed, reliable, and excited for the season! Throughout the season her throw got progressively farther and she kept putting in the work to get better, and by the end of the season she had gained two feet and set the indoor freshman record for Notre Dame. The Coaches award was received by Molly OʼSullivan.

OʼSullivan was recognized for her gritty and aggressive hard work on the track, while also balancing fun and seriousness at the most important times. The Indoor Track Team had an overall great season with many improvements that showed the sisterhood at Notre Dame.

Building on the success of the Indoor Track team, the Upper School Basketball team also delivered an outstanding season that is still not over. All of the members of this team have set the standard for excellence. This team has had a rollercoaster of a season that they have come back from and have been doing amazing. It is the third year they have been given the title of Inter-Ac Champions, which has not been done in 30 years. Riley Davis and Emma Anthony were recognized for their incredible achievements this season. Davis reached 1000 points in 3 seasons and Anthony had 100 threepointers in 2 seasons at Notre Dame.

Three girls were recognized for their leadership and strong impact during the season. The JV Award went to Kiera Kane for her leadership, determination, and work ethic. Kane was a great role model for the team because of her positive attitude going into every practice and game. Emma Anthony was presented the Coaches award for her confidence, strong execution, and her optimistic response to adjustments. Emma Rocheleau was recognized for her loving character and heart that brings the team together. Rocheleau was also acknowledged for being a strong role model on the team for everyone. This team will continue to play in the playoffs with a strong bond on and off the court.

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Spring 2026

Winter Sports Ceremony, Continued The Final team acknowledged was the Swim and Dive team. This group of 32 athletes has a strong bond built on dedication, resilience, and pride in and out of the water. This season they got second place in the Inter-Ac which and third place in the National Catholic Meet, which mark some of the most significant accomplishments in the programʼs 26-year history. Once again, three students were noticed for their skill and sisterhood. The most valuable player award was given to two of the very special seniors on the Swim and Dive team. Gabi Abruzzo and Kaitlyn Kolessar were recognized for their outstanding accomplishments. Abruzzo, a five-year varsity swimmer, earned All Mainline, All Delco, All Inter-Ac, and All American honors. She also holds three school records and remained undefeated in the 100-meter race this season. Kolessar, a seven-year varsity swimmer, also has also received the titles of All Mainline, All Delco, All Inter-Ac, and All American. She also holds two school records. Kolessar and Abruzzo will be continuing their swimming careers at the D1 level, and we hope to see their strong impact continue. The Coaches Award was granted to Morgan McComb for her reliability and support to everyone. The Swim and Dive teamʼs success this season reflects the dedication each swimmer had that shaped the great season.

In addition to all the sports teams being recognized for their outstanding seasons, Reese Milone was celebrated for signing her commitment letter to continue her academic and athletic career at Princeton University for field hockey! Milone has worked hard on and off the field to accomplish this incredible achievement.

Overall, this winter season showcased not only athletic excellence but also character and unity that define Notre Dame athletics. Each team demonstrated resilience, leadership, and pride, setting a standard for seasons to come. The impact each team made on each other reflects just how bright the future is for Notre Dameʼs athletics.

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Spring 2026

Success Out of ND

By Meredith RInaldi ‘26 Attorney Meredith Rinaldi, representing the Plaintiff, Bo Bridger, in a comparative negligence case, where the plaintiff was suing her doctor, Dr. John Colter, for being negligent in his duties. This was my last mock trial competition for my high school career, where I was set to cross two witnesses and present the closing argument. I walked into the courtroom confident: I anticipated every possible objection and had crafted witty replies to each of them. I prepared our witnesses well, I painted a picture of an incapacitated plaintiff who could not even attend her own trial, and I depicted the medical practice as negligent beyond a preponderance of the evidence. Nothing could rattle me; I knew the case inside and out, and I had a response for everything.

After my closing statement, I took a deep breath. I was confident we had won; we were far superior to the other team. The jury, composed of real lawyers, walked out of the courtroom to confer on the verdict.

When the jury came back, it was time to hear comments about our performance. Any victory I had felt previously was gone. I no longer felt confident in my case, my performance, or even my seemingly unwavering passion of being a lawyer.

Even though I learned a day later that Notre Dame had won 30 against our competitor, at that moment, with those comments, I did not feel this victory. The jury would only talk directly to our competitors, a team made up of almost entirely men. When the jury walked out of the courtroom to go on with their day, the male jury members only shook the hands of the lawyers on the other side and barely looked at the Notre Dame team. Looking back, a handshake is not a big deal, and it does not mean anything about my performance or the outcome of the case; however, it shook me back to the reality of how life beyond Notre Dame will be.

This case, something I had been preparing for since November, the minutes of victory after I finished my closing argument, all crashed down when I questioned if this is what my life as a lawyer would look like. It brought me back to a conversation I had with my dad when I was brainstorming what I wanted my closing argument to look like. What lasting message I hope to leave the jury with? Did I want to provoke anger with the jury with how the doctor breached the standard of care, or did I want to invoke sympathy for the plaintiff who would never have an ordinary life? My dad told me to watch real lawyersʼ closing arguments on medical malpractice cases similar to mine. I showed him a video of a closing I found; I asked my dad if this was a good one. He said watch one a man did. I got so angry and immediately questioned why. He said women are more timid, and this will cause their argument to be weaker.

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Spring 2026

Success Out of ND, Continued

Attending Notre Dame these past four years, I have been taught that I can do anything. This education, and the all-girls environment, have caused me to apply for and branch out for opportunities I probably would not have otherwise done. In the context of school opportunities, I never had to compete with a man for an opportunity or contest, so this mock trial competition caused me to reflect on how different my college experience will be, going back into a co-ed environment.

On March 19, I attended Beyond the Gates. I was able to hear from Notre Dame alumnae who went to all different schools, had all different experiences, and had all different career paths.

One aspect of each of their stories was the same, though. Each of the panelists had an experience where they were the only woman in their position, were underestimated because they were women, or were talked down upon because they were women. Again, their response to these situations was the same across the panel: they had all had the belief instilled in them that they can be the loudest in the room, and they can shoot for whatever position or opportunity they desire. Some of the women even discussed how their stubbornness to never back down created change in their workplace environment. All of the women traced this lesson back to their all-girls education at Notre Dame. From not feeling confident in myself a couple of weeks ago as I head into college, to now hearing several successful Notre Dame alumnae discuss how they navigate these tough situations, I realize I will be just fine.

Join Us!

Reach out to cnewbert@ndapa.org or mrinaldi@ndapa.org with ideas, articles, and photography for our future issues!

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ND Commits Crossword - Ella Bidez ‘26

Spring 2026