29 minute read
Alumnae Educator Spotlight
Math Specialist, Far Hills Country Day School | BS, Drew University | EdM, Harvard University Graduate School of Education
To say education was an important part of Natalie Malseed Sturgeon’s upbringing is an understatement. The daughter of two professors at the University of Pennsylvania, Natalie loved spending time in their labs and classrooms and even helped “grade” exams.
During her time as an undergrad at Drew, Natalie was introduced to a wide range of subjects. She explains, “I was required to take a variety of courses in different disciplines, and I was fascinated by my Intro to Psychology course. I had intended to major in biology and minor in chemistry, but I discovered their Neuroscience track was the perfect blend of biology and psychology. Harvard was just starting their Mind, Brain, and Education program when I was looking to attend graduate school, and it seemed like the ideal fit for me.”
From a young age, Natalie coached basketball summer leagues and camps and found that the teaching aspect of coaching is what resonated with her. After interning in a research lab one summer in college, she realized that the human interaction aspect was the favorite part of her job.
Currently a Math Specialist at Far Hills Country Day School in New Jersey, Natalie says there are many students who do not see themselves as “math people” and feel they never will be. “Helping them understand how the brain works, how capable it is of learning new things, then watching students develop into confident mathematical thinkers is one of the greatest things I witness,” Natalie says.
Natalie shares that she learned many valuable lessons during her time at Notre Dame, including the value of hard work, resilience, and being true to yourself. “The wonderful teachers I had over my four years at Notre Dame have been an inspiration to me and helped to shape who I am and how I teach,” she says.
Natalie credits her parents for lighting the education spark of interest in her life, while also noting the incredible teachers she had in her formative years. Mrs. Sajeski and Ms. Monck greatly impacted Natalie’s math and science education, while Mrs. Suppa and Mr. Small sparked her love of literature. She also fondly recalls French class with Mmes Alexander, O’Grady, and Napier, while her decision to minor in political science stemmed from classes with Mrs. Connor and Sr. Nancy. “Knowing what strong influences teachers have had on my life makes me acutely aware of how important each and every interaction with a student is,” Natalie shares.
On her toughest days at work, Natalie finds herself going back to religion class with Mrs. Shelvin who spoke about sacramental moments, moments of grace that happen if you are open to them. “I think we can get so caught up in our work that we forget that there is a higher calling. That idea has helped ground me once again in what truly matters,” Natalie explains.
Photo by Becky Bedrosian Photography
Alumnae Educators Return to the Academy
Notre Dame is fortunate to have a number of alumnae serving as faculty and staff members. The five alumnae below reflect on the similarities and differences between Notre Dame today and the ND of the past during their time as students, and they share what they enjoy most about working at their alma mater.
Joan Sammartino Turner ’77, JD
SOCIAL STUDIES DEPARTMENT CHAIR “Most notable difference is the size of both the student body and campus buildings. My graduating Class of 1977 had 50 students. Cuvilly only had eight classrooms (no second floor), St. Julie wasn't built yet, nor (obviously!) Connelly or Harron. We did not use North Campus – it was a barn (Religion Center) – but we did use the BascomeTrexler building (it didn't have that name – we just called it the Math Center) for Art and Math.
“While buildings change, the thing that remains the same are the students and faculty and the close relationships that are built. I see students in the halls or in my classes who remind me of girls from 40 years ago – not just in looks but in spirit, excitement, and joy! My colleagues have the same care and concern as my teachers did. They are passionate about their subject matter and academic growth, but they also care for the girls' emotional and spiritual growth. They always have the best interest of the students in mind and are available to support their needs.” Joan also shares, “One of the most emotional times is watching the graduates walk down the path to the Mansion patio as so many have done before them.”
What does Joan enjoy most about working at Notre
Dame? “The relationships with the students and colleagues. We care for each other like family.”
Kate Small Rupertus ’93
ART TEACHER “Physically, ND is very different from when I was a student. There was no Harron hallway, no Aimee Willard gym, no Harron library, no Connelly Art center, and no Riley STEM Center. I had my chemistry classes in a lab that is now the backroom to the cafeteria, my art classes were in what is now the facilities center, math was in the cottage that now houses offices, English class was in the mansion dining room and the library is now the religion classrooms. Something that has not changed though is that now, just as then, the classes are taught by individuals who care tremendously about their students and want to do whatever is needed (inside or outside the box!) to make each student’s learning experience a successful one.”
What does Kate love most about teaching at ND?
“Most definitely my students! They are so engaged, passionate, and fun to work with!”
Suzanne Moran ’07
SOCIAL STUDIES TEACHER “When I was here as a student, the Sisters of Notre Dame were a major presence. They lived on campus, some taught classes, and all were active in the life of the school. Going to classes in the Mansion meant entering their home; you could even smell them cooking dinner in the afternoons. Having teachers like Sr Anne MacDonald and Sr Nancy Bonshock left a lasting impression on me. Sr Nancy is actually one of the reasons why I am a teacher; she showed me how powerful this role can be. It was a very different experience having the sisters here, and I miss them. However, some things are very much the same. Many of the faculty that taught me are still here today – Joan [Turner], chair of my department, was my history teacher in Middle School. I still remember her lesson on John Locke vividly; she's one of the reasons I became interested in history as a student. Many departments have at least one faculty member that was one of my teachers, and that's a special connection that I value.
What does Suzanne enjoy most about working
at Notre Dame? “I love having so much in common with my students. Although I graduated in 2007, they have a lot of the same teachers, take a lot of the same classes, and engage in the same traditions (like Spirit Day - go yellow class!). Being able to connect with my students over these shared experiences is really valuable.”
Chief Innovation Officer & Executive Director, Future of the Profession Initiative, University of Pennsylvania Law School | Lecturer in Law, University of Pennsylvania | Law School | BA, Pennsylvania State University | JD, University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School
Jen Burns Leonard practiced law for over 10 years and now holds a number of positions at Penn Law, but she admits that she initially pursued a law degree “without knowing much about what lawyers really do. I didn’t have lawyers in my family, so my main exposure was from watching Law & Order and studying To Kill a Mockingbird in Mr. Small’s American Literature class. Popular culture always portrayed lawyers as seeking the truth, advocating for justice. These are all admirable dimensions of legal work, and I had the privilege of working with many lawyers who embodied the ideal lawyer.”
However, when Jen takes a good look at her family, she sees “that education was the throughline all along. My Dad was a Philadelphia public school teacher for 40 years, my Mom spent her career working at Bryn Mawr College, and my aunt was the director of a childcare center. Amy Lazor Miguel ’97 and I would turn my basement into a classroom and pretend to be schoolteachers.”
Jen came to discover her true passion: “helping developing learners—whether they are three years old or 30 years old—find their path and grow their skills.” So, she started pursuing a Master’s degree in education at night while working as a lawyer during the day.
Jen now serves as Chief Innovation Officer & Executive Director of the Future of the Profession Initiative at Penn Law, but she is also a Professor. She shares, “The incredible educators who helped shape me during my ND years continue to inspire my work as an educator … Every teacher I had the privilege to know was exceptional. From project-based learning to individualized learning plans to scaffolded learning environments where we felt challenged and supported, I draw from their example every day.”
Jen is inspired daily by her students. She explains, “Our students are brilliant, eager to change the world for good, and excited about the many ways the legal profession is changing to be healthier, more innovative, and inclusive. On days when I feel tired or not at my best, 10 minutes with a student over coffee or after class will lift my spirits and push me to be even better.”
Education is also always changing, but the values and dynamics remain the same, especially at schools like Notre Dame. At a recent gathering, Jen shares, “We were talking about the virtues of attending an all-girls’ school. I recalled that, when I got to college, one of my female professors encouraged the women in the class to participate in equal measure with the men. It never occurred to me until that moment not to participate equally. Notre Dame recognized that the world is complex and presents young women with many challenges. But the educational philosophy Notre Dame promotes helped us grow stronger to meet those challenges head-on instead of lowering our hands and quieting our voices.”
Kara Schultheis Brown ’08
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF UPPER SCHOOL ADMISSIONS “Notre Dame is the same community it was when I was a student. There may be some new faces; however, the energy, spirit, and community are still very much alive within the gates. My ND friends and I always looked forward to going to school, and that same enthusiasm from students is still present. Students are still laughing, skipping up and down hallways, smiling (even behind masks), and being their goofy selves. The faculty and staff are still incredibly supportive, engaged, and motivated to see students succeed.
“While a lot is still the same, Notre Dame is physically different. The campus is even more beautiful compared to when I was a student, which I didn't think was possible. Another big difference is that there are more opportunities and resources offered to students. Since I was a student, the academic, extracurricular, and athletic opportunities, resources, and offerings have expanded and grown tremendously. Honestly, sometimes I wish I could take some of the classes that are now offered.”
What does Kara love most about working at ND?
“The community (Coco included)! This wonderful community is warm, welcoming, supportive, and fun, celebrating each other’s successes and supporting each other through challenges.”
Julia Tully ’08
DIRECTOR OF CAMPUS MINISTRY “What stands out to me as feeling the same is the experience the girls are having. While there are updated facilities and new faculty faces, the girls are still getting to know each other, plotting fun Advent Angel surprises, and growing into women who want to make a difference in the world. They know that they're cared for by their teachers, and the feeling of fun and camaraderie in the hallway is the same.”
What does Julia enjoy about working at her alma
mater? “I love watching students grow and find a sense of passion! I have gotten to watch students push themselves out of their comfort zones to lead Kairos or speak at Community Prayer, and I love getting to give students a space to share themselves with our school community. When a student comes into my office to chat about a meaningful service experience or an idea for something new, I love to see her energy.”
Kelly Phelan Ciminera ’06
Principal, Ss Colman-John Neumann School | BS, Mount St. Mary’s University | Elementary Administrators Development Program, Archdiocese of Philadelphia | Pursuing Master’s Degree at Immaculata University
Some people know from a very young age that they were destined to work in education - whether due to a love of working with children, a passion for learning, or someone recognizing a unique gift within. For Kelly Phelan Ciminera ’06, it was all of those things and more. “I have wanted to be a teacher ever since I was seven years old. I loved my first and second grade teacher, Mrs. Judge, and I always wanted to be just like her. I absolutely love kids and I love to help them learn and succeed.”
Kelly has had a number of role models who have encouraged her to pursue that voice inside telling her that the classroom was where she was meant to be. “While I was a student at Notre Dame, I knew I wanted to be in education. My teachers continued to help my love of education flourish. They gave me opportunities to visit an elementary school on Career Day and helped me to find a college that was known for a wonderful education program. ND always believed in me.”
Kelly taught 2nd grade for four years and 1st grade for six years at Sacred Heart in Manoa. A mom of one of her students told her that one day she would be a principal. Kelly shares, “Quite frankly, I thought she was crazy! But that never left my mind or my heart. As my career continued, it was something that deep down I had always wanted to achieve.”
In the summer of 2020, Kelly was ready for that next step. “I became the principal at Ss. Colman John Neumann School on July 1, 2020, right in the middle of the pandemic!” Despite the challenges brought on by COVID-19, Kelly says, “It was one of the best years of my life. My favorite part of being a principal is that I get to have an impact on hundreds of students and families.”
Thanks in part due to her time at Notre Dame, Kelly felt well prepared for college, career, and beyond. “ND prepared me for life more than I could have imagined or expected. I was so prepared for college that it was evident in all of my classes,” Kelly shares. “The teachers at ND were amazing; they helped me realize that education was where I was meant to be. I had some very special teachers – from Mr. Small to Mrs. Suppa to Mrs. Sajeski to Madame Alexander. Each one inspired me and gave me ideas to bring to my own classroom. The teachers and classmates became like family. They truly cared about each and every girl and that made a huge impact.”
Elisa Oliver ’11
Statistics Teacher & 12th Grade Level Chair, KIPP DuBois Charter School | National Curriculum & Assessment Writer, KIPP Foundation | AP Statistics Reader, The College Board BA, Duke University | MSEd, Johns Hopkins University School of Education
Like many college freshmen, Elisa Oliver was unsure what she wanted to study. That was until a friend convinced her to take Intro to Public Policy, and from that point on, Oliver was hooked.
Elisa received her bachelor’s degree in public policy with a double minor in education and Spanish from Duke University. She is now a statistics teacher at KIPP DuBois Collegiate Academy.
Early in her public policy study days, Elisa was focusing on a case study on public and charter schools and found herself deeply, and emotionally, invested in the work of policy decisions within the public school system. While at Notre Dame, Elisa shares that she was always drawn to the education world. Her interest began with tutoring classmates in the writing center and spending her community service hours teaching CCD at her parish.
What Elisa enjoys most about working in education is that the work is fresh every single day - that each day is dynamic and fluid based on the knowledge and experience her students bring to the classroom.
One of the greatest gifts Elisa was given was an introduction to Zaretta Hammond’s work on Culturally Responsive Teaching and The Brain. “Creating a classroom that is a community of learners where students bring as much wisdom and insight to the classroom as I do has made my classroom such a dynamic space that I am excited to enter every day,” Elisa explains.
Elisa shares that Notre Dame had an influence on her decision to enter the education field. She explains that at the beginning of each school year, she begins with a hopes and fears activity. The activity gives students the space to share their hopes for the course and classroom environment, while sharing their fears of math and how they overall view themselves as a learner. “Every year when I talk about my hopes for our class I share about the most beautiful classroom environment I have ever been a part of as a student in Mrs. Gleason’s AP Physics class. Every time my own classroom hits that special sauce of rigorous content and deep community, I think of how lucky I was to have experienced that so often at Notre Dame,” Elisa says.
What has stuck with Elisa since her days at Notre Dame are the faith, optimism, and persistence of St. Julie. “I try to offer those around me (myself included) a reminder that God is good and a better world is possible, in fact, it’s guaranteed as long as we pray with our feet and keep our hearts as wide as the world,” she says.
AROUND NOTRE DAME
The Academy of Notre Dame de Namur welcomed 11 new faculty and staff members for the 2021-2022 academic year. Joining new Head of School Dr. Laura Hotchkiss were faculty members Jeremy Creighton, mathematics; Christina DeAngelo, chemistry; Liliana Hernandez, Spanish; B. Alan Horn, mathematics; Heather Newman, mathematics; Toni Griffin, mathematics; Chrissy Keffer, religion; and Martin Lopez, religion. New staff members at ND included David Teasdale, Director of Operations, Elizabeth Winter, Digital Marketing Manager; and Wendy Rivera, Operations.
MAIN LINE STUDENTS OF THE WEEK
Olivia Friess ’22 was named Main Line Student of the Week for the week of October 25, 2021. Olivia started the Environmental Club at Notre Dame, was a leader on the school’s recent mural project (“Every Person is a New Door to a Different World”), is an involved member of Notre Dame’s Diversity Club, is a Global Citizen Scholar, and is a member of the JV tennis team.
Jordyn Williams ’22 was named Main Line Student of the Week for the week of December 6, 2021. Williams is the president of ND’s Chapter of the National Honor Society and is an active Student Council Representative for the Class of 2022. She is a leader of the Upper School tutoring program and helped start the Middle School tutoring club. Williams also represented Notre Dame at the National Coalition of Girls Schools “Girls’ School Advantage” event.
Financial Literacy at ND Design Thinking
The finance class at ND learned what it takes to balance a budget while competing in the National Fall Financial Literacy Challenge. All students who participated received a Financial Literacy certificate and multiple students placed in the top 25! Students in the “Design Thinking” course started the year off by building Rube Goldberg machines which are complex, multi-step machines that complete a simple task.
STUDENT OF THE MONTH
Audrey Ciarmoli ’27
Congratulations to 7th grader Audrey Ciarmoli, Toscana Student of the Month for December! Audrey is the first ND student to be honored as Student of the Month in the Newtown Square Friends & Neighbors and Marple Friends & Neighbors magazines. A member of the National Junior Honor Society and Student Council, Audrey also volunteers at her church, St. John Neumann, helping with the Parish Religious Education Program (PREP) camp, which welcomes children of all abilities, including those with developmental, intellectual, sensory, physical or behavioral disabilities.
National Honor Society and National Junior Honor Society
On November 3, 2021, 52 students were inducted into the National Honor Society, and 30 students were inducted into the National Junior Honor Society. Notre Dame NHS Chapter President Jordyn Williams ’22 said in her speech to the inductees, “You’ve entered a lifelong sisterhood of scholarship that welcomes you with open arms.”
Notre Dame Named Apple Distinguished School for a Second Time
Last fall, Notre Dame was once again selected as an Apple Distinguished School for 2021-2024, a three-year designation, for its continuous innovation in learning, teaching, and the school environment. Head of School Dr. Laura Hotchkiss said that she has “great pride in the work of our students and faculty for their creativity and passion for the education of our girls! Congratulations to the team for this recognition.”
Notre Dame was first designated as an Apple Distinguished School in 2018-2021. In order to be considered for the designation, a primary or secondary school must be a one-to-one Apple device school and teachers must have their Apple teacher certification, meaning they have had a certain amount of training in Apple products or programs.
Shining a Light on Women in STEM
Notre Dame celebrates and emphasizes the importance of women in STEM fields every day. On November 8, 2021, Notre Dame joined the rest of the nation in celebrating education and careers in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, with a particular focus on women breaking the STEM glass ceiling.
According to the National Coalition of Girls’ Schools (NCGS), all-girls’ schools are leading the way in closing the gender gap in STEM. “Graduates of girls’ schools report greater confidence than co educated peers in their ability to use technical science skills; understand scientific concepts; generate a research question; explain study results; and determine appropriate data collection,” shared NCGS.
Notre Dame STEM Department Chair Kathleen McTiernan started her career in cancer research but felt isolated and wanted to interact more with people in the science world. McTiernan, who also teaches Middle School science, says that her experience with her own science teachers when she was a student, ignited her passion to “light the spark in students,” and said that a day like National STEM Day “gives the girls a chance to see what women can do.”
Varsity Mathletes’ Success!
The Notre Dame Varsity Mathletes Team finished first in the December contest! All team members exerted wonderful efforts in preparing. Special congrats to the top scoring ND students in the December contest: Ellie Pinto ’23, Lindsay McBride ’23, and
Rebecca Jackson ’23.
Notre Dame is thrilled to announce that 10 members of the Class of 2022 have been recognized by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. Kyleigh Calvert, Claire Chaplin, Olivia Friess, Brooke Husar, Kelly McGlinn, Abigail Rowley, Paige Shelton, Samantha Smoot, Natalie Stuart, and Andrea Wat have been named National Merit Commended Students based on their 2020 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) scores.
Student Diversity Leadership Conference
Last fall, Notre Dame once again participated in the annual NAIS People of Color Conference (PoCC) and Student Diversity Leadership Conference (SDLC), which took place from Nov. 29 - Dec. 3. Adjuke Heyburn ’22, Sophia Bramley ’24, Audrey Gonzalez ’24, Ava Barrera ’24, Kyla Payne ’25, and Deborah Bundor ’24, participated in the week-long conference. "My biggest takeaway was that every human is different but there is always something in life that will bring us together. We can all relate to each other in some way. All you have to do is see some things from different perspectives," shared Deborah Bundor ’24.
Campus Ministry and Student Council Induction
In September, Notre Dame held its Induction Ceremony for both Campus Ministry and Student Council. “We recognize their leadership as a commitment to help others use their gifts and talents, to empower others to work as a team for a common cause and the greater good,” shared Dr. Hotchkiss.
Denim Day
This year, the pink and denim fundraiser set a new record with over $3,400 raised for breastcancer.org!
Global Citizen Scholars Mural
The Class of 2022 Global Citizen Scholars created this mural focusing on the theme of empathy throughout the 2020-2021 school year.
CHRISTMAS SPIRIT AT ND
Advent Angels
Advent Angels is a time-honored tradition at the Academy of Notre Dame during the week leading up to Christmas break!
Christmas Concert
On December 9, 2021, Notre Dame kicked off the holiday season with a beautiful Middle and Upper School Christmas Concert.
Mother-Daughter Christmas Luncheon
On Saturday, December 4, 2021, Notre Dame held its cherished tradition, the Mother-Daughter Luncheon and Holiday Shopping Event. Students and their special guests enjoyed a day of quality time at the Springfield Country Club.
Dance Company West Chester University Dance Festival
The Upper School Dance Company was selected to perform at the West Chester University 14th Annual Winter Dance Festival.
HOLIDAY SERVICE
ND Raises Over $3,000 for CHOP
On Friday, December 10, 2021, students ended the week with a pajama day and bake sale hosted by the Sunflowers and Smiles club. Over $3,000 was raised for Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia!
Bringing Christmas to Migrant Workers in FL
ND Spanish classes and the Spanish Club participated in the annual Christmas project with the Sisters of Notre Dame ministry, writing cards in Spanish to migrant workers in Florida who are helped by Sr. Ann Kendrick, SND and her ministry, the Hope CommUnity Center. The cards were then distributed at the Center’s annual Christmas Party. Many students voluntarily contributed one dollar or more with the cards they made. Both the cards and donations were sent the week before Christmas.
Uplifting Christmas Ornaments
A new club has been brought to Notre Dame, and its main priority is to end the stigma around mental health - the Bring Change to Mind (BC2M) Club. BC2M is a national organization founded by Glenn Close in 2009, with the goal of ending the stigma around mental health. The club gives teens the platform to share their voices and raise awareness around mental health.
During the holiday season, the club created Christmas ornaments displaying positive messages to support anyone who passes by. Madeline Evans ’23 started the club at ND because she believes mental health is just as important as physical health and that there needs to be more done for the community. “I have people in my personal life who have struggled, and I want to do as much as I can as a member of society to end the stigma and raise more awareness around mental health issues. Our goals as a club are to have difficult conversations and to do activities that will uplift the students at Notre Dame,” Madeline shared.
Facebook Holiday Ceramics Auction Raises Funds for Women in Need
ND ceramics students generously donated their hand-crafted ceramic holiday plates and platters for the annual online auction to benefit Women of Hope, Notre Dame’s monthly service initiative that provides home-cooked meals and fellowship to the ladies who call WOH home. In total, over $1,000 was raised!
Bags to Mats Club Completes First Mat
The Bags to Mats club got some help from the 8th grade religion class to complete their first full mat! The next step is to add handles for easy transport. The mats made will be donated to Angels in Motion, a Philadelphiabased organization dedicated to helping those suffering addiction. The club is now working on two mats and is always accepting donations of clean plastic bags.
From December 6-10, Notre Dame’s Student Government accepted monetary donations for Laurel House, a comprehensive domestic violence agency that offers an array of services to support individuals and families impacted by domestic violence. In total, the ND community raised over $1,000 to help those affected by domestic violence.
ACHIEVEMENTS ACHIEVEMENTS
VOLLEYBALL
ND Volleyball Wins 8th Consecutive PAISAA Championship Title
The Notre Dame Volleyball team won its eighth consecutive Pennsylvania Independent School Athletic Association (PAISAA) Championship on Friday, November 5, 2021. The Irish defeated Agnes Irwin 3-1 in the championship game at Germantown Academy with scores of 25-18, 25-21, 24-26, and 25-17. The Irish finished their season at 17-5.
“For the four of us to leave Notre Dame with the program’s eighth consecutive PAISAA championship was the most important thing on our agenda,” said senior Maddie O’Meara, who had 33 assists and seven aces in the win. “The Inter-Ac was important too, and we let that slip through our fingers; this one, we just started out much stronger and kept our energy consistent throughout the sets. We didn’t know what would happen, but we just wanted to give our best, and that’s what we got.”
CROSS COUNTRY
Notre Dame Cross Country Crowned Inter-Ac League Champions
It came down to the wire for ND Cross Country on Monday, October 18, 2021, at Belmont Plateau. The Varsity Cross Country team defeated Penn Charter in an exciting Championship meet winning by just one second - to take home the 2021 Inter-Ac crown!
Four ND runners placed in the top 10, with Therese Trainer ’23 (19:50.20) in 2nd, Kyleigh Calvert ’22 (20:50.40) in 6th, Maura Brady ’23 (20:54.40) in 7th, and Caroline Stevenson ’22 (21:06.30) in 9th.
Senior Caroline Stevenson said that throughout the season the team saw a dramatic amount of personal bests made, which proved to them that their hard work was paying off. “In a sport like cross country, speed only matters when the person has determination and grit. As a teammate, I can easily say that all girls on the team strongly represent these characteristics,” said Stevenson. “No one was racing for themselves that day. We wanted something bigger. We wanted to win the title as a team and we wanted to come back to ND as Inter-Ac champions,” said Calvert.
SOCCER
A Historic Season for Soccer
It was a season to remember for our Upper School Soccer team. Reaching the final of the PAISAA championship for the 1st time in the program's history, a finishing record of 16-5-2, and going unbeaten in nonleague play was a great accomplishment. The PAISAA final went the way of Springside Chestnut Hill, by a score of 1-0 in a tight and well-played final. SCH scored the only goal of the game midway through the first half. Irish's goalkeeper, freshman Sophie Hall, pulled off some superb saves to keep SCH at bay. When the final whistle sounded, the Irish, although disappointed with the result, showed great spirit and should be more than proud of what they achieved this season.
Notre Dame Fall 2021 Signing Day
Congratulations to the senior athletes who made a verbal commitment to compete in their respective sports at the Division I collegiate level next year!
Ashley Kolessar UCLA
SWIMMING
Caroline Doyle St. Louis University
FIELD HOCKEY
Madison Frank Georgetown University
FIELD HOCKEY
Evelyn O’Neill Villanova University
FIELD HOCKEY
Natalie Stuart University of Richmond
SWIMMING
Maeve McErlane
DePaul University
BASKETBALL
Emma Steel Lehigh University
FIELD HOCKEY
ATHLETES OF THE WEEK
Saylor Milone ’24 was named Main Line Athlete of the Week for the week of October 11, 2021. The forward for the ND field hockey team scored 19 goals in the team’s first 10 games. As a freshman, Milone received second team All Main Line honors, and this year, Milone received first team All-Delco honors. Head Coach Adele Williams said, “Saylor is a very poised player, whose calmness on the ball, great speed, and outstanding stick skills, especially in 1v1 situations, creates scoring opportunities for both her and her teammates.”
Maddie O’Meara ’22 was named Main Line Athlete of the Week for the week of December 20, 2021. O’Meara is a setter and co-captain for the Irish volleyball team. A first team All Inter-Ac and honorable mention All-Delco selection, O’Meara helped send the Irish to their 8th consecutive PAISAA girls’ volleyball title, leading the team in assists and aces. Head volleyball coach Mike Sheridan said, “Maddie was coolest when the pressure was the greatest, not only with her setting, but also with her serving and defense. Her consistency in setting a variety of balls allowed strong attacks from all front row hitters. She truly was the engine that made the offense go.”
ND Senior Recognized for Achievements Both On and Off the Field
Notre Dame senior Madison Frank was named a school level winner of the Heisman High School Scholarship in recognition of outstanding achievements in academics, athletics, and community service. The program honors the nation’s most accomplished, communityminded high school senior athletes.
