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Barbara Rogers, RSCJ Front Outer Cover

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a vocation of

Courage & Confidence

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Honoring 34 years of service to Newton Country Day School

The great state of Rhode Island has produced many wonderful things, including its finest gift to us: Barbara Rogers. The Rogers family embodies unwavering faith and a commitment to good deeds. Their values of family, education, and a strong work ethic were instilled in Sister Rogers from a young age, and each was built upon the foundation of a deep faith in God. Sister Rogers’ curiosity and determination guided her through her years at Elmhurst Academy and Manhattanville College. In 1977, her calling in life led her to enter the Society of the Religious of the Sacred Heart. Following ministries in Rome and Kenya, Sister Rogers began her career in education within the Network of Sacred Heart Schools. She served at Sacred Heart schools in Washington D.C., Princeton, and Miami while also earning her MBA from Yale University. These experiences strengthened her love for God, which she channeled to Newton Country Day School of the Sacred Heart in 1988. Sister Rogers identified the School’s needs and challenges and enacted a plan to invigorate the School and its community. Cherishing the fortitude of foundresses Saint Madeleine Sophie and Saint Rose Philippine, Sister Rogers championed the transformation of Newton Country Day over her 34 years of leadership. When Saint Madeleine Sophie was asked what spirit she would wish to characterize the members of the Religious of the Sacred Heart, she responded: Generosity. Sister Rogers is the fulfillment of this wish with her life’s vocation of humility, empathy, and encouragement, all amplified by the spirit of generosity. She is a cornerstone of our community, embodying the service and leadership modeled by Saint Madeleine Sophie. For over three decades, Sister Rogers’ commitment to Sacred Heart education has touched the lives of many. Thousands of students, parents, caregivers, faculty, staff, family, friends, and the Religious of the Sacred Heart have been graced by her astuteness, her zeal, and her faith. We celebrate Sister Rogers’ years of steadfast leadership at Newton Country Day School of the Sacred Heart with profound gratitude and immense joy. During her years at Newton Country Day, Sister Rogers shared spiritual wisdom through her monthly letters to the community. Just as we cherish the letters from the founding Mothers, we invite you to delve into this collection of letters to witness Sister Rogers’ unwavering commitment to Sacred Heart education.

December 1988:

Welcoming Our New Headmistress

1989–1990

Class of 1990

1990–1991

Class of 1991

1991–1992

Class of 1992

1992–1993

Class of 1993

1993–1994

Class of 1994

1994–1995

Class of 1995

1995–1996

Class of 1996

1996–1997

From From the the Headmistress Headmistress From the Headmistress

Barbara Barbara Rogers, Rogers, RSC] RSC] Barbara Rogers, RSC]

March, March, 1997 1997 March, 1997

Dear Dear Alumnae, Alumnae, Parents, Parents, and and Friends Friends of of Sacred Sacred Heart, Heart,

Dear Alumnae, Parents, and Friends of Sacred Heart,

This year the school is involved in its evaluation by the New England Association

Thisyear yearthethe school is involved in its evaluation byEngland the New England Association This school is involved in its evaluation by the New Association of Schools and Colleges. 1958, this school has through of Colleges. SinceSince 1958, this school gone through a vigorous of Schools Schoolsand and Colleges. Since 1958, thishas school has gone gone through aa vigorous vigorous processofof ofselfself self study every ten years. years. This is followed followed by aaa visit visit from team of of process study every ten years. This is This followed by a visit from team from of process study every ten is by aa team educators from other independent schoolsschools in New England. We will be welcoming educators from other independent in New England. We will be welcoming educators from other independent schools in New England. We will be welcoming the visiting team in October. the visiting visiting team team in in October. October. the

Our consistent effort is to review, revise, and strengthen our program. I would Ourtoconsistent consistent effort is to review, review,ourselves. revise, In and strengthen our program. program. would like think we areeffort alwayis s evaluating a larger sense though, the real II would Our to revise, and strengthen our like to think we are alway s evaluating ourselves. In a larger sense though, the real real measure of our school is not in our self evaluation but in the lives of our graduates. like to think we are alway s evaluating ourselves. In a larger sense though, the

measure of our school is not in our self evaluation but in the lives of our graduates.

measure of of ourtheschool is ofnot our self evaluation in the lives of our graduates. The measure strength thein school is contained in thebut stories in this magazine, It is an Honor to Serve. How proud we are of our students, our faculty, The measure measure of of the the strength strength of of the the school school is is contained contained in in the the stories stories in in this this The and of our alumnae. magazine, It magazine, It is is an an Honor Honor to to Serve. Serve. How How proud proud we we are are of of our our students, students, our our faculty, faculty, Whenever I meet with alumnae I am filled with great tenderness for our girls here and of our alumnae. and of our alumnae.

in the school. They are with us for, at most eight years, but go on to be our alumnae their whole lives. I look at them and imagine and pray for great the kind of women they Whenever Whenever II meet meet with with alumnae alumnae II am am filled filled with with great tenderness tenderness for for our our girls girls here here will be in their forties, fifties, and into their eighties and nineties. Our go mission is be our alumnae in the the school. school. They They are are with with us us for, for, at at most most eight eight years, years, but but on to to in go on be our alumnae to prepare them for the demands of adulthood.

their their whole whole lives. lives. II look look at at them them and and imagine imagine and and pray pray for for the the kind kind of of women women they they Please pray for our forties, girls as we pray for youinto in your lives. More than anything weOur mission is will be in their fifties, and their eighties and nineties. will be in their forties, fifties, and into their eighties and nineties. Our mission is prayprepare that theythem will be of courageof and confidence, inspiration and integrity, to forwomen the demands demands adulthood. to prepare them for the of adulthood. as so many of our alumnae model for them.

Please pray for our girls as we pray for you in your lives. More than anything we pray pray that that they they will will be be women women of of courage courage and and confidence, confidence, inspiration inspiration and and integrity, integrity, as so many of our alumnae model for them. as so many of our alumnae model for them.

Please pray for our girls as we pray for you in your lives. More than anything we Sincerely,

Sincerely,

Sincerely, Sister Barbara Rogers Headmistress

Sister Barbara Rogers Headmistress Headmistress

Barbara Rogers Winter 1997 2Sister --� Tres Bien Magazine

Class of 1997 Dear Parents, The construction of our new soccer field offers an opportunity for meditation. The field is between conservation land and rock. In our planning we knew well the issues of the federally protected wetlands, but the extent of rock, stones and shale surprised us. Initially, there was some thought we should make the field smaller and leave the rock as it is. Another school of thought was that we should blast it. Heavy equipment was used to break down some of the rock, and move some of the stone to other locations. We were determined not to settle for something less than we had planned. The rock now stands as an architectural feature, subdrains have been installed honoring the vagaries of the shale and the stone is being used to shore up the slope leading to the field. In the end, the field is the size we had intended it to be and we have a marvelous promontory. I have thought of the message God is sending in our discovery of the rock. One lesson is that the unexpected will always occur. Inevitably there are setbacks along the path we choose. We can move some obstacles, but sometime we must step back and create a new path rather than beat our heads against rock. As the year begins it is our work as parents and teachers to assist our girls as they handle obstacles they encounter. Helping our girls seek advice and learn to be measured in their response is a sacred trust. This field reminds us to face the truth of what is before us, to imagine creative solutions, and to work patiently toward their resolution. Of course, after three weeks of rain in June and the challenges of our topography, the field is behind schedule. Once completed we will delight in the product. During the fall I am sure I will see you on the upper field. I assure you that the words of the psalm “God is my rock and my salvation” have new meaning for me. Sincerely,

Sister Barbara Rogers Headmistress

1997–1998

Class of 1998

1998–1999 April, 1999 Dear Parents, “The great illusion of leadership is to think that others can be led out of the desert by someone who has never been there.” Henri Nouwen During Lent we reflect on the Gospel, the life of Jesus. These stories of Jesus remind us of the power of the Incarnation. Jesus was like us. He was not play acting at being a human being, pulling out his God powers whenever it was comfortable for him. Rather, the stories of Jesus demonstrate that he suffered as we suffer, had trouble with his family as we have troubles with our families, experienced joy and friendship as we experience joy and friendship. He was both exalted as a conquering hero and condemned to death by a government that sanctioned capital punishment. This man Jesus knew the full range of human experience. Nouwen makes reference to the desert. The story of Jesus spending forty days in the desert provides us with a metaphor for the struggle of Jesus to assume his role as leader. Though he was tempted, he did not abuse the powers God had given him for his own ends or to advance himself, rather the desert experience strenghthened Jesus to pursue his life’s mission. He faced his demons; he was tempted to be self-seeking, and to gain fame and human success. Even in the midst of his suffering, his exhaustion and his hunger he did not abuse the gifts God had given him. He came into a sense of his own identity in this time of trial. To truly understand the Incarnation means that we believe that Jesus did not know it was going to turn out all right in the end, that he didn’t know the Resurrection was a certainty. It helps me to think about Jesus knowing what it is like to be human. Jesus’ mother was troubled by his ministry. His government oppressed him, the leaders of his religious congregation sought to imprison him and his two best friends betrayed him. Despite all he had done to heal and help others, he was unjustly accused and no one came to his defense. He healed the sick, fed the hungry, brought the dead to life and expelled demons. For this he was executed. As we observe the Triduum, Holy Thursday, Good Friday and the Holy Saturday Vigil, we recall thousands of years of our Judeo-Christian tradition. The narratives of the Old and New Testament recount our family history, celebrating the fullness of all human experience. Let us ask ourselves how our own life choices might be told by the next generation, and marvel at God’s grace at work in all of us. How blessed we are to have a leader, Jesus, who has been in the desert before us, and leads us to God. Alleluia. Sincerely,

Sister Barbara Rogers Headmistress

Class of 1999 May, 1999 Dear Parents, The tragic events in Littleton ensure that school safety is on everyone’s mind. We make every effort to create a safe environment for our girls including locking outside doors and asking all visitors to check in with the receptionist. Feeling secure enables the girls to really learn. At a deeper level though, where does safety really reside? I believe our own safety comes from our ability to recognize and solve problems. Having confidence in our own judgment, and the capacity to listen to our instincts about a situation as it develops is essential. In speaking to our girls during Chapel last week we spoke of the importance of seeking help and knowing when you need to find people who can help you. Real security comes from knowing that all of us make mistakes and that taking responsibility for our actions leads to growth and confidence. Our hope for our girls is that we strengthen and reinforce their capacity to tolerate difference, to sort out the seriousness of a situation, and to be able to distance themselves from trouble. As parents and teachers we need to listen carefully to their conversation, sifting through it for meaning. We want them to trust their own instincts and to question behaviors they observe as inappropriate and unsafe. We want our girls to be carefully attuned to the dynamics of any situation in which they find themselves, at an unchaperoned party, in a movie theater, at lunch when someone is excluded or isolated. The attentiveness of the adults in their lives who listen to them, know them, models for the girls and calls them to be their best selves. Having the courage to walk away from unhealthy or unwholesome situations and the compassion to engage and assist a person in trouble will keep our girls safe wherever life may lead them. Ideally our relationships with God and others develop this courage and compassion. As our foundress, St. Madeleine Sophie Barat said, “The heart’s best security is trust in God alone.” As God has His eyes on us, so we have our eyes on our girls. Sincerely,

Sister Barbara Rogers Headmistress

1999–2000 November, 1999 Dear Parents, New stationary heralds the beginning of our celebration of two hundred years of Sacred Heart education. Founded in Paris on November 21, 1800 the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (R.S.C.J. in French) are beginning a year of celebration. Madeleine Sophie Barat (1779–1865) had an education typically reserved to boys in the late eighteenth century. She was clear that strong studies must characterize our schools. She was equally clear that education to faith and strong formation in character were primary aspects of our education. Today in 44 countries thousands of Sacred Heart educators continue to give life to this mission. St. Madeleine Sophie Barat had a single insight; when we experience God’s love we can transform the world. Her vision, based on her strong contemplative life, was to form young women who would give glory to God by their lives of service to their families, to their communities and to the world. The growth of Sacred Heart education was such that by the mid-nineteenth century a Bishop in Mexico wrote that “Whenever there is a work of charity I look around for a Sacred Heart Alumna to lead it.” That legacy is a proud one. At our traditional Alumnae Mass on November 21 we will begin our year of celebration of the Bicentennial. A calendar of activities is enclosed. St. Madeleine Sophie’s personal motto, “Courage and Confidence,” is a phrase used regularly here at the school. We are faithful to the vision of St. Madeleine Sophie when our girls become women of “courage and confidence.” I ask you to join with all of us in the school and the Society of the Sacred Heart to pray that God’s grace will fill our work so the girls we educate today will become women who transform the world. Sincerely,

Sister Barbara Rogers Headmistress

Class of 2000

2000–2001 November, 2000 Dear Parents, “Fifty years ago the Divine Heart of Jesus laid the foundations of our little Society. Oh, how small an instrument He used! Other institutes have had a founder or a foundress. Ours differs from them all in this: its Founder is the Heart of Jesus Himself. From the beginning this little Society has been the butt of the persecutions of hell, the demon has risen up against it. He wished to stifle it before it could fight against Him, but its divine Founder upheld and strengthened it. Every religious order studies the spirit of its founder; the measure of its perfection depends upon the conformity of its members with Him... We must study the Sacred Heart of Jesus, His teachings, His virtues. ‘Learn of me that I am meek and humble of Heart.’ Let us enter into the double end of our Society, which is our own salvation and the salvation of others by the practice of zeal, and by the love of Him who has loved us so much, and to whom alone be glory, praise, benediction, and thanksgiving forever.” Madeleine Sophie Barat November 21, 1850 St. Madeleine Sophie’s exhortation to us on this 200th anniversary would be much the same: “Study the Sacred Heart of Jesus.” In looking closely at the life of Jesus, we see his love of the suffering and the poor, his call to justice, his desire to heal. We see his insight into hypocrites, his impatience with the obtuse, and his caution in dealing with those who despised him. Purity of heart characterizes Jesus; may purity of heart characterize us. The essential aim of the Society of the Sacred Heart is to make known the love of the Heart of Jesus. Saint Madeleine Sophie’s insight was that when we experience God’s love for us we can transform the world. We participate in building God’s kingdom through our relationships and our actions on behalf of others. Events in the Middle East underscore the need for reconciliation, economic justice and peacemaking. Our work is directed to girls who will become leaders in this effort. In this year of celebration and this month of Thanksgiving let us be filled with praise for Him who loves us so dearly. Sincerely,

Sister Barbara Rogers Headmistress

Class of 2001 January, 2001 Dear Parents, “Cases like this require prayer.” Mark 9:29 In preparing for Mass on Christmas Eve I read through the intention book outside the chapel. Someone had written begging God to let her brother know how much she loves him and that God is with him. I was filled with reverence for the gift that the writer of the intention possesses, an understanding of the power of prayer. The writer clearly understood that it would be the grace of God that would touch her brother. Earlier that same week a friend who had been facing an uncertain diagnosis told me that she felt that she had been carried through this time supported by the prayers of her family and friends. What a treasure it is to discover the power of prayer. I fully believe that one of the most precious legacies we can give to our children is the consolation of daily prayer. I am always heartened when the girls tell me that despite the time pressures of their daily life that they continue the practice of praying before they go to bed. Sometimes they apologize for the content of this prayer, but I hasten to assure them it is not a bad thing to pray for help on something as seemingly insignificant as a math test. Anything that helps inculcate the habit of turning to God in our need is good. The practice of leaning on God in times of uncertainty helps us acknowledge the limits of our humanity. When we come to understand that much of life is beyond our control, and in fact, is in the hands of God, we begin to experience serenity. Some years ago I had a teacher who said that the great work of Catholic education in our land of plenty is to help our girls understand their need for God. For most of us it is the trials of life which teach us this difficult lesson. Such difficulties are not to be wished on anyone; however, most of us have experienced the transformative power of the suffering which turns us to God. Rather than becoming depressed and ashamed of the troubles and disappointments in our life we might consider reawakening our childlike dependence on the goodness of God. Whatever in our life requires prayer, a wounded relationship, a loved one struggling with addiction, illness, financial reverses or a broken relationship, we might consider it an occasion of grace. Rather than trying to work on this problem alone we might try another approach. During this New Year we might practice turning over our problems to God. Some of the troubles which confront us in our personal life, in our workplace, in our city, in our country and in the world may seem overwhelming, yet if like the student who wrote in the intention book we can call on God’s power, we come to know the great peace that comes with a close relationship to God. Cases like this do indeed require prayer, let us pray. Sincerely,

Sister Barbara Rogers Headmistress

2001–2002 Academic year 2002 September, 2001 Dear Parents, “Who is my neighbor?” Luke 10:29 In response to the lawyer’s question, “Who is my neighbor?”, Jesus told the story of the Good Samaritan. What is now for us a familiar story was at the time of Jesus a highly controversial fable. The Samaritan, despised and reviled by the Jews, goes to the aid of a man beaten by robbers and left by the side of the road. Priests and Levites, highly respected members of the community, passed by the beaten man. It was the person who knew rejection who saw the need of the victim. Over the centuries the Good Samaritan has come to embody self-sacrifice and attentiveness to the neighbor. What we discover in the story is that both the Samaritan and the victim are our neighbors. In our culture much attention is given to self-fulfillment, self-actualization and self-discovery. In our hearts what we know is that happiness comes not from a spa day, plastic surgery, a new diet, or a better exercise program, but rather from the extension of ourselves to others. When we seek our happiness through self-absorption we are left dissatisfied. In extending ourselves we discover true happiness. This year we’ll be focusing on Goal III, “Schools of the Sacred Heart commit themselves to educate to a social awareness which impels to action.” This Goal calls us to study carefully the root causes of injustice, and to take action on behalf of those who are poor, oppressed and in need. Goal III challenges us not to be like the priests and Levites in the story who were busy about their own affairs. This Goal challenges us not to value efficiency, convenience, and self-indulgence, but rather attentiveness, generosity, compassion. These virtues impel us out of self-absorption to contemplation and intervention on behalf of the other. Goal III challenges us, as does the story of the Good Samaritan to be truly counter-cultural. It calls us to stand in opposition to the prevailing values of the world in which we live. This Goal calls us not to find ourselves but to lose ourselves. The insight of all the great religious traditions is that it is in being of service that we will find true happiness. This Goal calls us to examine our own priorities, our own desires, and our own direction. Most of us live in a world of plenty. The events in the world, in our country, and in our city remind us of our privilege. The essence of the Sacred Heart education is to see the world through the lens of a Savior who came as a servant so that we participate in the transformation of this world, by losing ourselves in the service of others. As we begin this year may our gaze be outward rather than inward, our actions focused for the good of our neighbor rather than ourselves, and may we see our neighbor in every face we meet. I shall pray that the example of Jesus as servant is before us throughout the year. Sincerely,

Sister Barbara Rogers Headmistress

Class of 2002 October, 2001 Dear Parents, “The Lord is my Shepherd I shall not want. Though I walk in the valley of darkness I will fear no evil.” Psalm 23 With each day new stories of the tragedy of September 11 emerge. The newspaper, the radio and the stories our friends and families tell underline the depth of loss we are experiencing. While images of death and destruction seem to dominate our national imagination, I am drawn to reflect on the story told by several survivors. They describe walking down the stairs, in smoke and darkness, holding hands with strangers and reciting the twenty third psalm, “The Lord is my Shepherd I shall not want…” In the midst of calamity it was the word of God that calmed, guided, consoled and saved. As these survivors were making their way down to safety, they describe seeing firefighters, laden with oxygen tanks, ascending the stairs, moving away from safety toward danger. One of the witnesses described the firefighters as looking resolute. The word of God gave them courage. As the events of September 11th were unfolding we were all in the sunken garden for our first all school gathering. I was keenly aware of the sorrow that would descend on so many of our families. How grateful I was to be able to lead our community in prayer, and to invite them to turn to God in the days to come. It is inspiring to see so many of our students and faculty in chapel throughout these days of uncertainty. How thankful I am for my own parents and for the habit of prayer they inculcated in me. It was that same kind of training and practice that sustained those walking down the stairs of the World Trade Center; it is the habit of prayer that is consoling so many of us. May prayer, the lifting of the mind and heart to God, support and strengthen each one of us in the days ahead. Sincerely,

Sister Barbara Rogers Headmistress

2002–2003 September 2002 Dear Parents, God’s Grandeur By Gerard Manley Hopkins The world is charged with the grandeur of God. It will flame out, like shining from shook foil; It gathers to greatness, like the ooze of oil Crushed. Why do men then now not reck his rod? Generations have trod, have trod, have trod; And all is seared with trade; bleared, smeared with toil; And wears man’s smudge and shares man’s smell: the soil Is bare now, nor can foot feel, being shod. And for all this, nature is never spent; There lives the dearest freshness deep down things; And though the last lights off the black West went Oh, morning, at the brown brink eastward, springs – Because the Holy Ghost over the bent World broods with warm breast and with ah! bright wings. It is the tradition in Catholic schools to begin the academic year with the Mass of the Holy Spirit. In Christian theology the Holy Spirit (the Holy Ghost) is the manifestation of God’s wisdom. We believe that God dwells with and guides us in the person of the Holy Spirit. The Gifts of the Holy Spirit, wisdom, understanding, knowledge, counsel, piety, fortitude, awe in God’s presence enable us to have insight, to gain perspective so as to make decisions that reflect our deepest values. This year we celebrate the Mass of the Holy Spirit on September 11th the first anniversary of the devastating attack on our country. We will gather as a school community to pray for the dead, for all those who continue to grieve, for our nation and for the world. As we pause in remembering the horrors of last September 11th, we will also remember the extraordinary courage and generosity of so many. In his poem “God’s Grandeur”, Hopkins reminds us that although God created a beautiful world we human beings leave it marred. Nature “wears man’s smudge.” Ground Zero bears grim testimony to this truth. Yet, we are reminded that God’s power can make all things new. This renewing power of God requires our cooperation. It requires that we do not despair but that we hope. The work of education is always the work of hope. So we pray that the Holy Spirit will renew the face of the earth beginning with each of us. Sincerely,

Sister Barbara Rogers Headmistress

Class of 2003 April 2003 Dear Parents, May the light of Christ, rising in glory, dispel the darkness of our hearts and minds… This is the night when Jesus Christ broke the chains of death and rose triumphant from the grave… The power of this holy night dispels all evil, washes guilt away, restores lost innocence, brings mourners joy; it casts out hatred, brings us peace, and humbles earthly pride. Easter Vigil Blessing of the Fire As I write the weight of war hangs heavily over our world. Whatever our politics, all of us are filled with anxiety for the suffering of our service men and women in battle, in captivity, and the families of those in mourning. There is dread as we consider the heavy cost in human life. That this happens during the penitential season of Lent is deeply moving. The Church calls us to alms giving, penance, and prayer during this holy season. Cast by some as a war between good and evil, most of us know that the motivations are more complex than that. Lent unfolds in the daily struggle of our lives, in our heightened sensitivity to the needs of others (alms giving), in our desire to act more responsibility in the choices that we make (penance), and the recognition of our tremendous need for God (prayer). We yearn for the return of joy. We yearn for God to make himself known. We yearn to be delivered from this profound disorder in our world. I am always struck that it is in this sacred part of the world, the land of Abraham and Jesus, that there is such profound trouble. For thousands of years we have been unable to hear the call to peace. Our hope in Jesus is a hope that is endlessly renewed; that Jesus comes again into our world whenever there is true justice and true peace. In our own small way as we anticipate the Resurrection, may we during this Lenten season choose peace in our family life, peace in our workplace, and peace in our civic lives. May we work to listen closely, consider the other’s point of view, and assume good will from all people we encounter. It is in our actions that we let the light of Christ dispel the darkness of our hearts and minds. Sincerely,

Sister Barbara Rogers Headmistress

2003–2004 November 2003 Dear Parents, When Jesus entered Capernaum, a centurion approached him and appealed to him, saying, “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, suffering dreadfully.” He said to him, “I will come and cure him.” The centurion said in reply, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; only say the word and my servant will be healed. For I too am a person subject to authority, with soldiers subject to me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come here,’ and he comes…” When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, “Amen, I say to you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith.” Matthew 8 One of the most moving places I have ever been is the American cemetery in Normandy. Row upon row of crosses with intermittent stars of David fill the eye. In perfectly ordered rows with immaculately manicured lawns, thousands of men and women who have given their lives for our country are buried. Like the centurion in the Gospel, these soldiers understood their work as service to their country, not killing. Like the centurion they recognized legitimate authority and gave “the last full measure of devotion.” At Normandy we honor the dead of World War II. Today American servicemen and servicewomen are at risk in several parts of the world. Our obligation as a nation to support freedom and fight injustice is being met by thousands of people who have enlisted in the armed services. As we honor those who have served their country during Veterans’ Day, I am mindful of all who hunger and thirst for justice. When we celebrate Thanksgiving our prayers need to be filled with gratitude to all who serve our country. Humanitarian workers who seek to ease the suffering of the people of Afghanistan and Iraq are very much in our prayers. May the girls in our care understand the privilege and the responsibility that it is to be an American. May we work to instill in them a sense of selfless service and devotion to the ideals of liberty. I will pray that as your family gathers at Thanksgiving it is a time for the celebration of the great ideals of this country, which God has so richly blessed. And, like the centurion, may all of us recognize the power of Jesus to heal and to make whole. In thanksgiving,

Sister Barbara Rogers Headmistress

Class of 2004 May 2004 Dear Parents, Mother and child. Is there a more powerful archetype in all of history? The central bond of life is embodied in this image. During a recent visit to New York I raced through the Metropolitan Museum’s current exhibit “Byzantium: Faith and Power 1261–1557.” A fourteenth century icon, almost four feet tall and thirty inches wide, stopped me. On loan from an Orthodox monastery in Turkey, it is among the most stunning pieces I have ever seen. Mary and the baby Jesus are in the center. Jesus is reaching up to grab his mother’s mantle. Jesus’ head is stretched back and Mary has a hint of a smile, an unusual emotion in an icon. Surrounding this are ten scenes from the life of Jesus, many of which include his mother. It is a vibrant and engaging panel. The gold colors transport us into the mystery of the life of Christ. When I moved to the back of the panel a crucifixion scene startled me. Mary and the disciple John stand at the foot of the cross. Mary is clad in the same mantle, and her face is filled with distress. Strikingly, her shoes are bright red, matching the blood from the cross. Steeped in the suffering of Jesus, Mary has been with Him since the beginning. During this month of May, when the Church honors Mary, and our country honors mothers, this is a stark yet joy-filled picture of the fidelity of one mother to her child. The story of Mary’s journey with her son mirrors the experience of so many mothers. Caregivers, mothers are charged with both the growth and development of their children only to relinquish that role as their success becomes clear. During this month we pray particularly that mothers are filled with the grace to do the endless work required to raise children who are capable of assuming responsibility for their own lives. I encourage you to pray for one another in this most holy task. I encourage you as well, to go to New York and see this stunning collection of icons, which reveal to us the extraordinary mystery of the Orthodox tradition. It is a magnificent display of the power of faith to sustain and nourish mothers in their noble vocation. Sincerely,

Sister Barbara Rogers Headmistress

2004–2005 September 2004 Dear Parents, In 1880 a Convent had been opened in the historic center of American culture, Boston, where, according to the Foundresses, “the work of the Religious is facilitated by the Bostonians’ innate love of study and ambition to excel in things intellectual…. Devotion to the Sacred Heart is striking deep root and working transformation in these young people….” Second Sowing Margaret Williams, RSCJ (1942) Right from the beginning, our school has recognized that the route to excellence is in the combination of a lively intellectual life and a desire to draw the hearts of our girls toward God. Devotion to the Sacred Heart is a way of understanding the full personhood of Jesus Christ. This devotion to the Sacred Heart has at its root a love for the heart of each child. That devotion calls each of us to view one another as a sacred heart, a full person who is created for a purpose. The work of our school, the daily work of the adults in our school community, is to come to know each of the girls entrusted to our care. Our knowledge of them allows us to draw out from them that which is best. Viewing each child as called to a noble purpose fosters in the adult community a marvelous sense of responsibility and awe. Each class, each activity, each interaction is designed to foster the full personhood of each girl. What a holy task this is! Inspired by two centuries of Sacred Heart education throughout the world, and now 125 years here in Boston, this work is endlessly demanding and engaging. Rooted in grace, our work is always fidelity to this mission, creating an atmosphere in which our girls experience God’s love. The power that fuels the “ambition to excel in things intellectual…” and assures “that devotion to the Sacred Heart is striking deep root…” necessarily creates a community that is self-critical and passionate about re-imagining and reviewing how we can improve. This anniversary year is the perfect one for us to focus on Goal IV, “The building of community as a Christian value.” Ambitious as we are to excel in wisdom and grace, we need the encouragement, challenge and example of one another to be faithful to our history. I invite you to join with us in building up our school community and in prayer that God will continue to grace this great school. I can’t wait to see you all. Sincerely,

Sister Barbara Rogers Headmistress

Class of 2005 November 2004 Dear Parents, I am leaving things as completely as though I were about to die, since it is almost certain that I shall not return to France nor see you, dear children, and my many loved ones again in this life. This is why I feel justified in confidently repeating St. Peter’s question: “Lord, we have left all things. What, then, shall we have?” Ah, the reward I ask is the great and ineffable consolation of learning that you are all fervent in the love of God and that with His grace you are doing good and acquiring the solid piety which will win happiness for you both in this world and in the next. To the Children of Grenoble. Philippine Duchesne, RSCJ Bordeaux, February 15, 1818 Our 125th anniversary year invites us to recall our roots. From her childhood, Philippine Duchesne had a passionate desire to follow God’s plan for her life. The daughter of an investment banker, Philippine so burned with love for God that she left all she had loved in Grenoble to journey to St. Louis to make known the love of the Heart of Christ. Recognized for opening the first free school west of the Mississippi, Philippine was canonized by the Church in 1988. Her zeal was fueled by her life of prayer. Philippine had a thirst to be in the presence of God. The stories of her willingness to sacrifice and accept privation and sickness make the contemporary reader shudder. November is the month of remembrance of those who have died. We are called to prayers of petition and thanksgiving for the lives of those who have gone before us. Whether it is a beloved parent, child or great saint we are deeply united in the communion of saints. Philippine stands as an extraordinary example of a woman whose clarity of vision compelled her to set aside all that was comfortable in the interest of a greater good. Her letter to the children she left in France as she came to the Louisiana Purchase defines the essential work of Sacred Heart education: That each girl leaves us with a relationship with God rooted in personal prayer, that she is intent on choosing goodness, and she knows that God relies on her to do some great work in transforming the world. During this month I shall pray that all of us can be like Philippine: strong, determined, and prayerful. Happy Thanksgiving,

Sister Barbara Rogers Headmistress

2005–2006 November 2005 Dear Parents, “Teach us to number our days aright that we may gain wisdom of heart.” Psalm 90:12 The Communion of Saints, the belief in our enduring relationship with all those living and dead who place their faith in Jesus, is celebrated on November 1st and 2nd on the Feast of All Saints and the Feast of All Souls. On All Saints Day we recommit ourselves to follow the example of holiness offered to us in the lives of the saints. For many of us, the finest examples of personal holiness are not confined solely to those men and women canonized by the Church. Some of us are privileged to get glimpses of sanctity in the lives of self-sacrifice, courage, and generosity of our parents, grandparents, relatives and friends, both living and dead. Those of us who have lost a beloved relative or friend experience the Communion of Saints in the deep longing and the personal connection we still feel despite their physical absence. The approaching holidays of Thanksgiving and Christmas make us mindful of those whose place at the table is empty. In November, on the Feast of All Souls, the Church consoles us for these losses and calls us to pray with and for those who have died. This prayer revivifies our intimacy with our beloved dead and focuses our attention on our own mortality. This reflection on the brevity of our lives challenges us to make the best use of our time and talent. The psalmist reminds us that wisdom of heart is achieved by the acknowledgement that our days are numbered. Awareness and acceptance of our own mortality enables us to age gracefully. This attitude sharply contrasts with the prevailing cultural norm that markets products and procedures to keep us looking forever young. The Feasts of All Saints and All Souls call us to establish personal priorities that transcend our consumerist culture. These celebrations provide a needed corrective to the denial of death so prevalent in our society. This month may we ask God to deepen our knowledge of what is important, the call to holiness and our reliance on God’s grace. Let us ask those who have gone before us to keep us attentive to the gift of life that is given to each of us each day, and may the souls of the faithful departed rest in peace. Amen. Sincerely,

Sister Barbara Rogers Headmistress

Class of 2006 March 2006 Dear Parents, “If today you hear His voice, harden not your hearts.” Psalm 95:8 I love my Blackberry. The radio is always loud when I’m driving. I don’t have an IPOD only because I don’t like being cut off from even more noise. I can sleep with the light on, the radio going, and people chatting. Clearly, I like distractions. As Lent begins I know that I am called to greater quiet. I need to set aside some of these distractions to be more focused, more disciplined, and more productive. Many of you will identify with my desire for increased productivity. But of course, that’s not the point of Lent. The point of Lent is to quiet ourselves so that we may hear more clearly God’s invitations to us. Our busyness is often avoidance of that which is most important, hearing the real need of those who surround us and the needs of the world. My invitation to you is to turn down the volume of the daily demands that engage our energies. The Church in its wisdom places Lent at the time of spring, the time of new beginnings. I ask you, with me, to try to step away from the delightful distractions around us, to become more still. God’s call to us comes daily. Staying fully engaged in a conversation, and choosing not to answer the phone immediately can be a route to real attentiveness. We have so many ways to keep constantly in touch and connected. It is disheartening, however, to recognize one’s own capacity to have a cell phone conversation while in the company of a good friend. Who are we expecting to hear from? Lent offers us an invitation to slow down and hear from the One from whom we really yearn to hear. The phrase “harden not your hearts” seems to be an indictment of our resistance to God’s invitation. Our real prayer needs to be that we will really believe that hearing God’s voice will only lead to our good. Whatever it is we want God to do in our lives, let us really come to know that God wants goodness even more than we do. Let us pray for one another during this Lent that we can hear and feel God’s call in our lives. Sincerely,

Sister Barbara Rogers Headmistress

2006–2007 September 2006 Dear Parents, Praise the Lord! ...He determines the number of the stars, he gives to all of them their names. Psalm 147:1, 4 As the above quotation from the Psalms makes clear, human beings have, from earliest times, been fascinated with the heavens. Not content with merely admiring them from afar our ancestors gave names to the stars, the planets and to the various constellations. Many of us recall learning these names in our elementary school science classes. Memorizing the order of the planets gave us a sense of understanding the limits of the known universe. It is not surprising that so many shared my consternation at the decision to remove Pluto from its status as a planet. Major newspapers all over the world editorialized on this shift. The impact of this decision was felt in virtually every quarter of society. Astronomers, educators and even Disney animators have had to rethink once familiar categories. The reassigning of Pluto is a metaphor that challenges us to understand more deeply God’s continuing revelation of the universe. We all yearn for certainty and we cling to the notion that truth is static and unchanging. Yet our human experience tells us that we must learn to dwell in ambiguity. Embracing uncertainty allows us to let go of familiar categories and opens our minds to an unfolding universe. The shift in thinking about Pluto is an invitation to welcome new ideas. The intellectual life draws sustenance from the realization that knowledge is always just beyond our grasp. The extraordinary explosion of knowledge which characterizes our time animates our appreciation for the Holy Spirit. Scientists tell us that there may well be more planets named and more changes in our lexicon of the cosmos. It is exciting to imagine that the certainties we hold on to may need to be adjusted, updated, or shifted dramatically. Whether new knowledge comes to us from astronomers, biologists, mathematicians, artists or engineers it calls us to celebrate those who work assiduously to understand and communicate reality. Rather than resent or fear new knowledge, my hope is that each one of us embraces a future filled with exhilarating discovery. As we enter this new school year, a year in which we begin our NEASC Self-Study for reaccreditation and our Self-Study of the Sacred Heart Commission on Goals, we will focus on Goal II “a deep respect for intellectual values.” It is my prayer that our girls and faculty will experience the excitement of learning. May our girls join the generations of women of the Sacred Heart who are always fully engaged in discovering, interpreting, and serving God’s plan. I look forward to welcoming you next week. Sincerely,

Sister Barbara Rogers Headmistress

Class of 2007 March 2007 Dear Parents, Thus says the Lord: If you remove from your midst oppression, false accusation and malicious speech; If you bestow your bread on the hungry and satisfy the afflicted; Then light shall rise for you in the darkness, and the gloom shall become for yu like midday; Then the Lord will guide you always and give you plenty even on the parched land. He will renew your strength and you will be like a watered garden, like a spring whose water never fails. The ancient ruins shall be rebuilt for your sake, and the foundations from ages past you shall raise up; “Repairer of the breach,” they shall call you, “Restorer of ruined homesteads.” Isaiah 58:9–14 Isaiah provides a wonderful blueprint for action during Lent. Imagine if we really act for justice, use the power of speech only for good, and respond to the needs of the poor. Lent highlights the invitation always before us to unite ourselves more closely with God. It is a good moment to bring you up to date on our communal commitment to “restore the ruined homesteads” of our neighbors on the Gulf Coast. Eighteen months ago we committed ourselves to Habit for Humanity’s program of sponsoring a building of a house. We understood this project would take us years to complete. Our fundraising has touched every aspect of the life of the school. Parents, faculty, students and alumnae have embraced this Raise the Roof project. By the end of February more than $30,000 has been raised. I want to let you know that Habitat has revised its program because of the massive regulatory issues that obtain in this country. Rather than build the houses off-site, Habitat has determined that all the houses will be built in the local community. While Habitat’s plan has changed our commitment continues. My thanks to so many of you who have taken this project to heart. I hope that during these forty days of Lent our energy for this will be reinvigorated. Throughout these weeks of school and vacation, may our speech be marked by charity, the plight of the poor touch us in ways that fosters greater generosity, and all of us experience renewal of spirit as we draw closer to the Lord who guides us always. Sincerely,

Sister Barbara Rogers Headmistress

2007–2008 August 2007 Dear Parents, “Hope in God, be courageous, let your heart be strong.” Psalm 27 Wait Until Next Year, Doris Kearns Goodwin’s lovely memoir of her childhood devotion to the Brooklyn Dodgers, highlights the importance of hope. Growing up in post-war Rockville Centre, New York, Goodwin came of age in an era colored by idealism and the conviction that the American value of justice for all would triumph. The success of Jackie Robinson, Goodwin’s favorite player, vindicates her stubborn conviction that her losing team would someday win the World Series. “Wait until next year” is the perfect phrase to keep in mind in August. As summer draws to a close parents, students and teachers turn their attention to the new academic year. Now is the time to let go of past disappointments and to envision all the possibility the year to come holds. The school year, like the various sports seasons, allows us to re-imagine ourselves annually. In August, rested and renewed by summer relaxation, we rediscover our enthusiasm for becoming our best selves. Reading Goodwin’s reflection on her girlhood reminded me of the importance of wasting time. In Wait Until Next Year, Doris spends endless hours listening to the Dodgers on the radio, keeping a meticulous score book and hotly debating the merits of the Dodgers with her Yankees and Giants fan friends. Neither of these activities was designed to strengthen her resume or advance her career. Rather, they interrupted the schedule of everyday life and created a world fueled by hope and loyalty alone. In this world, Goodwin escapes the worry of her mother’s poor health and makes an enduring connection with her father’s resiliency and strength. My prayer is that during August that you have some time to waste, some time to read, some time to delight in the Red Sox or, perhaps, your favorite team, who will wait until next year. Sincerely,

Sister Barbara Rogers Headmistress

Class of 2008 Back to School – Upper School, September 20, 2007 Good evening and welcome. By long tradition, and because it is the truth, I begin these remarks with the rhetorical question: ‘What is the state of the school?’ And the answer, yet again, is: ‘Never better.’ In every way the school is stronger than when we met a year ago, from our superb faculty, the strength of our mission, and the clarity with which we share a commitment to put it into action each day. We have the largest admissions pool that we have ever had, we have the greatest yield from those who were accepted than we have ever had, and so we have today, the largest school we have ever had in our 127 year history. People ask: ‘How big are you going to get?’ We have reached the anticipated target that the school set some years ago, a bit ahead of schedule. We like to do things fast. We expect to remain a small school, a small school wherein each child is known by faculty. So that is our most sacred obligation — to know each of your girls. I will tell you as well that the school has never been in better shape financially. It is fair to say that I am engaged in planning the next five to ten years of strengthening our program; strengthening our faculty salaries; increasing the best use of our current physical resources, both land and building; and planning for the next stage of the development for our facility. So there is lots to do, all of which will legitimize me being here next year, and the next year, and the next year — to say: ‘Never better.’ All of that is great, but it is never about money or buildings, or even dreams — it is about the essential dream of who each of these girls will become. Our girls need to know that their voices are heard and put in context. So, we want to be a school where we hear the voices of the girls who see something that we don’t see. It is easy to tell a story about something that happened 140 years ago. It is not so easy at your dinner table or in our Community Center, but it fundamentally is what our job is — to hear what each one has to say, to hear its truth, the way her heart may need to be opened. And that is our work. My prayer for all of us gathered here tonight in this holy place out of love for the girls you bring to us that each one of us will see each girl before us in her strengths, in her weaknesses, and know that our sacred obligation is to make her independent and whole. Ultimately the holiness of our lives is the fullness of ourselves. So that each one of us comes to that moment when we stand before God and give an account of how we did with what we were given. So this is great work. A Sacred Heart education I believe is one of the more cherished elements of our society. I really believe that because it really does say: ‘We will love each person as God loves her. We will call her to be her best and fullest self. And we will prepare her not just for Harvard, but for Heaven. Sincerely,

Sister Barbara Rogers Headmistress

2008–2009

Class of 2009 November 2008 Dear Parents, Glory be to God for dappled things… Gerard Manley Hopkins At first pass it seems as if the poet is praising God simply for the variety in creation. Look around you, Hopkins urges, see how God improvises on a theme. Such creativity is marvelous indeed. New Englanders delight in the poet’s words as we look around at the splendor of God’s artistry. Yet, if we reflect more deeply on Hopkins’ hymn of praise, we realize the poet is not simply lauding loveliness. Rather, he is expressing gratitude for things dappled, brindled, speckled, things that are somehow not perfect. It is the “coupled-coloured” sky that interests Hopkins, not the clear perfect halcyon hue of summer. Don’t hold but for perfection, the poet seems to say, appreciate what you have, and who you have, warts and all. Worries about the economic crisis tempt all of us to focus on what we have lost, and what is at risk. Anxiety can obscure our perspective so it is essential that we step back and approach Thanksgiving truly grateful for our blessings. I was reminded of the power of cultivating a grateful heart in an exchange I had with a parent who stopped to chat one morning several weeks ago. Knowing that he is a finance professional I asked solicitously: “How is your world?” His response inspired and instructed me: “My world, Sister Rogers? My world is my wife and my children. My world is great!” I could only respond “Glory be to God.” Happy Thanksgiving,

Sister Barbara Rogers Headmistress

2008–2009 March 2009 Dear Parents, Then the Lord said, “Go outside and stand on the mountain before the Lord; the Lord will be passing by.” A strong and heavy wind was rending the mountains and crushing rocks before the Lord-but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake-but the Lord was not in the earthquake After the earthquake there was fire-but the Lord was not in the fire. After the fire there was a tiny whispering sound. When he heard this, Elijah hid his face in his cloak and went and stood at the entrance of the cave. A voice said to him, “Elijah, why are you here?” 1 Kings, 19:11–13 This passage from scripture is an important one for us to consider during Lent. Constantly attuned to the high winds and earthquakes of life, we plug ourselves in to Ipods, radios, TV, traffic…noise surrounds us. Its din distracts us from attending to our deepest yearning, our desire for authentic relationships with God and with those we love. Relationships require time and attention. How might we use this holy season of Lent to develop a deeper friendship with God and with others? One way might be to make the decision to turn off the gadgets and sensory intrusions that attract us and keep us from listening. During this holy season, the girls, faculty, and you are invited to the Chapel each weekday morning at 7:40 for ten minutes of quiet prayer. We read the gospel of the day, sit in prayerful silence and conclude by praying together the Our Father. Listening to God’s word surrounded by the lively sounds of the school day beginning is delightful. I am filled with compassion for our girls who race from study to sports to dance to outside activities all too often with a cell phone, conscious that at any moment they may be interrupted. For what are they listening? I know each of us wants to be attuned to God’s invitation to us. Perhaps during this Lent we will choose to have a conversation rather than send a text, that we will turn off the radio and talk in carpool, that we will remove the ear-buds and listen to the sounds of spring emerging. A Washington Post article highlighted a girl who texted more than 6,000 text messages a month. She is not alone. Despite our guidelines regarding cell phone use, some of our girls are texting all over the country as well as to home many times during the course of the day, even during class. Please help our girls learn to be focused and attentive to the task of study by not texting or calling them during the day. It is my contention that texting during the day not only distracts the girls from the focus that they need but also creates anxiety; what if she misses a text? Truly, there are few emergencies that require immediate contact. Let us help our girls learn the joy of being still, quiet, and focused. This will help them not simply to learn to be attentive to their classes but will also open them to hearing the deeper calls of service to others and open the space for God to make himself known to them. May our Lenten practice be one of choosing quiet, prayer, and alertness so we may hear God’s message of love which comes to us in the silence of our hearts. Sincerely,

Sister Barbara Rogers Headmistress

2009–2010 August 2009 Dear Alumnae, Teach us to number our days aright that we may gain wisdom of heart.

Psalm 90

Reading on the beach on a glorious Saturday morning I looked up to see more than 60 very fit young men and women jogging in a column into the ocean. In training to become Navy SEALS, they spent several hours in drills in heavy seas in Narragansett Bay. Watching their skillful maneuvers, I was inspired by their vitality and by the obvious pleasure they experienced in fulfilling their demanding role. The contrast between the leisure of those of us on the beach and the intense work of the trainees has stayed with me. Each of them had volunteered for a program that demanded strength, commitment, mental acuity and raw physical courage. If they successfully complete this training they may well become the front line of our country’s conflicts. A recent NPR story contrasted the media coverage of Michael Jackson’s death with the absence of coverage of the death of Lt. Brian Bradshaw who was killed in action in Afghanistan the same day Jackson died. Lt. Bradshaw, 24, demonstrated “an unusually strong pull toward public service…” having been an altar boy, camp counselor, emergency responder, and ROTC college student. An Army Ranger, Lt. Bradshaw “could have gone to the Peace Corps as easily as he went into the Army…” The reports noted that the lieutenant had packed more living into his twenty-four years than some people do in a long lifetime. Surely, Lt. Bradshaw had numbered his days aright. Numbering our days aright means that we are aware that our time here is limited. None of us knows what the exact length of our lives will be. What we do know is that God gives us each day and invites us to recognize the graces offered in every moment and in every encounter. When we number our days aright, we respond with alacrity to those who need our attention and care. This is the awareness that gives wisdom to the heart. Much as we may regret leaving the beach and moving back into our busy schedules, we are also filled with gratitude for the adventure of the new year that stretches out before us. What new relationships will develop? What goals will be accomplished? What new work will be created? What disappointments and setbacks will be experienced? We do not know the answers to these questions. But we do know that wherever the new year takes us, God will be with us in it all. Mindful of this, let us approach our new school year with zeal, generosity, and joy. Sincerely,

Sister Barbara Rogers Headmistress

Class of 2010 December 2009 Dear Parents, and from His fullness have we all received — grace upon grace. John 1:16 The irony of Advent and its message of delighting in the anticipation of the 25th of December is not lost on those of us who feel responsible for making Christmas happen. For us, the early weeks of December are all about getting things done. We love lists and we feel satisfaction each time we draw a line signifying the completion of yet another task. Rather than take time to savor the beauty of what the feast of Christ’s birth reveals about God’s lavish love, we fill our days with worry about finding the perfect gift, or with anxiety about how we might provide for everyone who expects something from us. With so much to accomplish we smile wryly as we listen to Scripture readings telling us to slow down. We nod dutifully at the concept of waiting in joyful hope as we race frantically to the next sale. Yet as John’s Gospel reminds us, Christmas is about God’s giving and our receiving. It is no accident that on Christmas morning, at the very moment we may be congratulating ourselves for all we have accomplished, Scripture brings us up short; “…and from His fullness have we all received — grace upon grace.” The feast of the Incarnation is the gift that Jesus is to us. The birth of Jesus, God’s embrace of human nature, is the fact of history that changed everything. This realization is what gives us pause, leading us to ask in the words of the ancient carol, “What wondrous love is this, oh my soul?” The readings of Advent rightly challenge us to reflect on all we have received and the privileges we enjoy; freedom, education, and human rights. All of this, our very life itself, is the pure gift of God. May this realization fill our Christmas and the coming year with the gratitude and the delight of a child on Christmas morning. With prayers for a holy Advent,

Sister Barbara Rogers Headmistress

2010–2011 October 2010 Dear Parents, “I say to you that many will come from east and west, and recline at the table with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven…” Matthew 8:11 There can be no doubt about Jesus’ interest in dinner parties. Again and again, the Gospels recount the meals Jesus shared with His contemporaries. Perhaps it was His talent as a raconteur that made people eager to host this itinerant preacher. Or, perhaps it was curiosity about His healing power that drew people to seek Jesus out as a dinner guest. Some onlookers criticized Jesus for dining out so frequently. He was labeled by some as being a glutton and a drunkard. Meals and the conversations that take place at them were central to Jesus’ ministry. His first miracle took place in the context of a wedding banquet. Later, in response to the hunger of the crowd following Him, Jesus multiplied the loaves and the fishes. His final exchange with His apostles took place at a meal. In the Eucharist Jesus continues to nourish all who seek the bread of life. Because they included people from all levels of society, Jesus’ meals outraged those who were invested in their own prestige. Every meal Jesus ate in His public life served as a metaphor for the Kingdom of God, the place where everyone, especially the poor, was welcome. It is then a privilege for us at Newton Country Day to continue Jesus’ work of bringing together people from all walks of life to share a meal. Four times this year students from the Upper School will prepare and share a meal here at the school with the elderly men and women who have experienced homelessness. This initiative, which we are calling “Sophie’s Place”, will give our students the opportunity to deepen their awareness of the sacredness of each human life and of our serious responsibility to transform the world. It is our hope that the work of Sophie’s Place will expand to include our parents and alumnae. Doubtless the guests at Sophie’s Place and our girls who will work with them will experience the joy felt by those who dined with Jesus. I know that I can count on your support and prayers for this new work. Sincerely,

Sister Barbara Rogers Headmistress

Class of 2011 April 2011 Dear Parents, Thus says God, the Lord, I, the Lord, have called you for the victory of justice, I have grasped you by the hand; I formed you, and set you as a covenant of the people, a light for the nations, To open the eyes of the blind, to bring out prisoners from confinement, and from the dungeon, those who live in darkness. Isaiah 42:7 This year the liturgical calendar places Easter as late as possible in April. Holy Week this year coincides with the Marathon. This scripture passage is the first reading for the Monday of Holy Week. Training for a marathon requires months of preparation. Decisions about diet, rest, running a variety of distances are made with an eye to the demands of 26.2 miles. The call to follow Christ is a call to a marathon. God promises that He has called us all for “the victory of justice,” the triumph of goodness. We are created for the purpose of being a light for nations. He gives us a very clear formula of charity, freedom, and seeing clearly. This regimen is the way to follow Him. Our training includes prayer, reflection, and action. It requires contemplative attentiveness to each person we meet and a strong identification with the suffering of the world. None of these is easy; each requires commitment and the grace of God. The road of Lent which we travel this April reminds us that this is the journey to which we are called. May it be a reminder to all of us that the victory of justice, the salvation of the world depends on our consistent and determined desire to follow Christ knowing that He accompanies us. Sincerely,

Sister Barbara Rogers Headmistress

2011–2012 December 2011 Dear Parents, “God’s work is not showy, and it is never done suddenly; wait and pray and be patient and remember the thing that God cares about is that you should be a saint.” Janet Erskine Stuart, RSCJ 1857 – 1914 The spirit in the school lightens as Advent begins. Returning to the beautifully decorated school, the girls comment on how much they love seeing the Christmas lights as they come in the driveway in the morning. The days are punctuated by the various rehearsals of music, singing and dance as the school prepares for our Vespers services on December 20th and 22nd. The atmosphere is one of preparation and anticipation. It was a long tradition in Sacred Heart lower school to prepare for Advent carefully. A class would agree to try to be more patient with another, or to stop unkindness or gossip. Each of the little girls was given a china lamb set some distance from the Crèche. As Advent moved forward the girls brought their lamb closer to the crib as they tried to improve in the “practice” that the class had chosen. Occasionally, a child might move her lamb backwards when she recognized her failure to grow in the agreed upon practice. Ideally, by the end of Advent, each lamb was close to the feet of the crib. Often alumnae speak of that preparation during Advent as being instrumental in their spiritual lives. The habit of reflecting on areas for our own growth and making determined effort to improve is at the heart of the spiritual journey of each one of us. Heightened during this Advent season, all of us are invited to move more closely toward God. The invitation of Advent is that we will slow down, wait, learn patience, and make daily decisions to allow God’s grace to work in us. All of us are moving toward Christ. My hope for our girls is that the discipline and hard work required to create our beautiful Vespers services will stay with them throughout their lives. The hours of learning words, music and dance are done with the knowledge that the whole school is united in this common task. In the last twenty years Vespers has become a highpoint in the life of our school. Parents love it, girls are thrilled by it and alumnae return to be part of it. What is the it? It is a sign and symbol of our desire to give glory to God who has made Himself one with us. The richness of the Vespers service grows from the wholeheartedness with which each one, children, faculty and families, come with a great desire to experience beauty, peace and the worship of the God who wants only one thing, for us to live in Him. May your Advent be filled with the virtues you most need. Let us pray for one another on this pilgrimage. Sincerely,

Sister Barbara Rogers Headmistress

Class of 2012 April 2012 Dear Parents, We’ve come this far by faith Leaning on the Lord Trusting His Holy word He never failed me yet Oh Can’t Turn Around We’ve come this far by faith… – Carlton Pearson During the last week of spring break I had the privilege of attending funerals for two women whose presence long graced the life of our school. Patricia White Harrington P ’77, member of our first lay Board of Trustees, mother of six, and President of the Children of Mary, was well known for her intellectual vitality, and her thoughtful and unswerving commitment to her Catholic faith. A 1946 graduate of Radcliffe College, Pat brought intelligence, generosity, and love of our mission to her role as trustee. This love of the mission was shared by Sister Jean Ford ’44. Jean, who grew up in Chestnut Hill, entered the Society of the Sacred Heart in 1948. She was the last Reverend Mother here at Newton, presiding over a turbulent time of change in the Church, in religious life and in the school. The years 1966–1970 brought upheaval and the loss of cherished traditions which sparked upset among the alumnae. Sister Ford faced the task of navigating the stormy waters with equanimity. Placing her trust in the Lord she responded lovingly and evenly to the dissent that swirled around her. A woman of wisdom and freedom, Jean Ford embodied what it means to be a Religious of the Sacred Heart. While they lived lives very different from one another, Pat Harrington and Jean Ford modeled discipleship. Undaunted by challenges, unfazed by controversy, both women moved through troubled times in the Church and in society with their eyes fixed on the Lord. They came far by faith. We are grateful for the many blessings their lives and the lives of so many of our past parents, Religious of the Sacred Heart, and alumnae have brought to the school. On Sunday we begin the journey of Holy Week. We walk with Jesus through “the valley of the shadow of death,” and emerge to stand joyful with Him at the empty tomb. May the example of His integrity and courage inspire us to lean on Him as we travel our own road to heaven. Happy Easter,

Sister Barbara Rogers Headmistress

2012–2013 March 2013 Dear Parents, The Church is not an institution devised and built at table, but a living reality. She lives along the course of time by transforming herself, like any living being, yet her nature remains the same. At her heart is Christ. Romano Guardini It is no accident that Pope Benedict XVI announced his resignation as Lent began. Long observed as a penitential season, the forty days lead to the Triduum of Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday, culminating in the Resurrection. Several articles about the resignation of the Pope Emeritus speculate that he knew his decision would be a dramatic moment in the history of the Church. He chose the timing knowing that “lent” means “spring”, the time of the renewal of the earth. The Church faces this historical moment during the very liturgical season that we, the Church, the body of Christ, are in deepening our connection to Christ. Each of us is invited to prayer, self-examination and good works in hope of personal transformation. During these weeks the media will continue to focus on the upcoming conclave in Rome awaiting the election of the next Pontiff. Called by Benedict XVI to act as “an orchestra” as they discern the needs of the Church, the responsibility of the cardinals in the conclave is weight indeed. During these weeks each of us is reminded to focus on our need for refreshing our relationship with God, facing our weakness and renewing our dependence on the grace of God. Ideally, the practice of prayer and good works renews our best selves. The opening quotation was used by Pope Benedict XVI as he said farewell to the College of Cardinals highlighting that the Church, as an institution, as the Body of Christ, as the people of God, is the heart of Christ in the world. May we be that to one another, and may the conclave elect a man filled with a Christ-filled heart. Happy Easter,

Sister Barbara Rogers Headmistress

Class of 2013 May 2013 Dear Parents, By this blessing accept This bell into your service. May its voice Direct our hearts toward you And prompt us…to experience the presence of Christ, Listen to your word, Offer you our prayers, And both in joy and in sorrow Be friends to one another. Service of the Blessing of the Bell On April 25th the entire community of the school gathered with parents of the Class of 2013 to celebrate the blessing of the new bell. Father Kevin O’Leary, Rector of the Cathedral of the Holy Cross, presided over the Blessing of the Bell liturgy supported by the singing of our Schola Cantorum and the Faculty Ensemble as well as a brass quartet. Following the ceremony all present enjoyed a goûter of vanilla and chocolate cupcakes each decorated with a candy bell. It was a festive and joyful afternoon that provided a much needed antidote to the sadness and anxiety all of us experienced in the wake of the awful events of Marathon Monday. In the prayers over the bell, Father O’Leary reminded us of our responsibility to be generous friends to one another in joy and in sorrow. Like you, I have been inspired by the outpouring of love in action that marked the work of first responders, compassionate bystanders and the citizens of greater Boston who disregarding their own safety rushed to help their suffering neighbors. The marvelous growth of One Fund Boston continues to bear witness to the triumph of goodness over evil. Here at school we have worked to quell the anxiety of the girls by gathering in prayer, in advisory conversations and maintaining a focus in moving forward by encouraging them to work to create a better world. As we delight in the glories of May, let us pray that the sound of our new bell will lift our hearts and help us hear Christ’s reassuring greeting: “Peace be with you.” Sincerely,

Sister Barbara Rogers Headmistress

2013–2014 February 2014 Dear Parents, No human soul can be perfectly understood by another. There are depths in the human soul that with the best will in the world cannot be made known to another. We have our great solitary life with Him. He knows all the trials, perplexities, all the hidden moments of our inmost life… Janet Erskine Stuart, RSCJ 1857 – 1914 Who among us does not yearn to be known and understood? Understanding and acceptance are among our deepest desires. This month we are assaulted by the marketing of the trinkets of true love... cards, candy, flowers, jewelry… Who hasn’t felt the pressure of sending the appropriate mark of where a relationship stands? It is no accident we have our retreats for Upper School girls this month. Grades 9-11 leave school and go off to new places to pray, share, and have time together and alone. This sacred time apart is respite from the daily pressures of study and intense activity. It is time to slow down, open our eyes to the lives of classmates we think we know or want to get to know. It is time to listen to the Gospel, consider God’s action in our lives. It is time to feel God’s grace surrounding us. It is an occasion to remember God’s love for us, for the girls to grow in loving themselves, calling them to be more loving to their classmates and family. All of our work is centered on this central belief, that God loves us as we are, that we are each sacred to His heart and He needs us to make Him known in the world. What better Valentine? Sincerely,

Sister Barbara Rogers Headmistress

Class of 2014 April 2014 Dear Parents, While they were eating, Jesus took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and giving it to His disciples said, “Take and eat; this is my body.” Matthew 26:26 Not long ago I was part of a small group having lunch with Cardinal O’Malley. A young man asked: “What advice do you give to couples about to be married?” The Cardinal paused, recognizing the seriousness of the question, then replied in words like this: “Remember that your table at home is your altar. The table is the place your family is formed; it is where your children learn who they are, where each one grows into the family identity…” From our own experience we know the family table is where we gather to be fed and to feed one another. It is where we talk, make plans, argue, air grievances…it is refuge often but hardly heaven. The connection from our family table to Holy Thursday is easy to see when we look at the context of the Last Supper. The scene is the gathering of Jesus and those closest to Him on the holy night of Passover. But everything is falling apart, on the edge of chaos. Judas has made the deal to betray Jesus, and Jesus knows it. The apostles look at each other with suspicion. Following dinner they will fall asleep even though Jesus has asked them to keep Him company. He will be arrested, and Peter, His lieutenant, will betray Him over and over again. In the midst of this drama, knowing well the flaws of His followers, worried about what is to come, Jesus quiets them, invites them to eat the bread and drink the wine, His body and blood, the fullness of His person. At His most vulnerable moment, He sees the need of His people, and pours Himself into them…and into us. We come to the Eucharist with all our flaws, as we come to the family table. What we discover is the sustenance of love and the joy of forgiveness and acceptance. Our participation in the Eucharist builds our identity as Christians, bonds the community in the faith, and calls us to be the face of Christ in the world. May we come to Easter filled with awe at God’s real presence among us and gratitude for our faith received at the table. May we respond generously to all in need of sustenance from us. Sincerely,

Sister Barbara Rogers Headmistress P.S. Here is a favorite poem about the kitchen table. (poem at: poetryfoundation.org/poems/49622/ perhaps-the-world-ends-here)

2014–2015 July 2014 Dear Parents, Reverend William Neenan, S.J., a dear friend of the School and of the Society of the Sacred Heart, died this week at Roberts House, his community on the Boston College campus. We mourn the loss of this good man. A Trustee of our school for many years he last visited the school in May to celebrate the Feast of Saint Madeleine Sophie with the RSCJ in the Boston area. He had a great love of the Society of the Sacred Heart and many friends within our ranks. His fine mind, gifts as a raconteur and genuine regard for each person he met made him a favorite of thousands of Boston College alumni and family. Stories about Father Neenan abound. My favorite memory of Father Neenan took place on a Holy Thursday many years ago. The whole school, much smaller then, had prepared together throughout Lent for Holy Week. We followed a program of prayer, good works, and study of scripture concluding with Mass on Holy Thursday morning. Holy Thursday arrived with much excitement in the school. The priest scheduled to preside called to say he was unable to attend. I called Father Neenan, then Academic Dean at Boston College, “Bill, I am sorry to bother you but we need a priest.” Bill: “When?” BR: “Now.” Bill: “I’ll be right there.” The Mass was a beautiful celebration of the institution of the Eucharist. In the 1815 Constitutions of the Society of the Sacred Heart there is an admonition to all religious to respond to need “with alacrity, with joy, with love…” William Neenan, S.J. modeled that readiness to be of service throughout the 35 years that I knew him. What a man. What a priest. Happy are those who have died in the Lord, Let them rest From their labors for their good deeds go with them. Sincerely,

Sister Barbara Rogers Headmistress

Class of 2015 February 2015 Dear Parents, Go into the whole world and tell the good news. Mark 16:15 One of the great jewels of the Society of the Sacred Heart is our internationality. Our members live and work in forty-one countries. Our girls experience this richness through their participation in our Sacred Heart exchange program. More than twenty of our girls will travel across the world to live for several weeks with families whose daughters attend our schools. This year students from Seville, Barcelona, Lille and Dublin have returned home. We currently have girls from Melbourne, Sydney, Santiago, Rome, Vienna and London visiting. The success of the exchange relies on the adventurers among us who want to experience another culture and the generosity of parents willing to open their homes. Girls grow in confidence as they take the risk of entering into another setting: Goal V in action! I hope you and your daughter will begin to think about exchange and the opportunity it offers. My thanks to all of our families who participate. Greatest thanks to Miss Noel, who is the backbone of this program. She is committed to placing girls in appropriate settings and has made many contacts with colleagues throughout the world. The program runs on her passion for the mission and for creating a genuine global community among Sacred Heart girls. Sincerely,

Sister Barbara Rogers Headmistress

2015–2016 October 2015 Dear Parents, Let us remember the Golden Rule: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” This Rule points us in a clear direction. Let us treat others with the same passion and compassion with which we want to be treated. Let us seek for others the same possibilities which we seek ourselves. In a word, if we want security, let us give security; if we want life, let us give life; if we want opportunities, let us provide opportunities. The yardstick we use for others will be the yard stick which time will use for us. The Golden Rule also reminds us of our responsibility to protect and defend human life at every stage of its development. Pope Francis to Congress Thanks to the generosity of Congressman Lynch and so many of you, I had the joy of being present in Congress for the Holy Father’s address (click here for full transcript). His words and his witness inspire and challenge all of us to deepen our commitment to living an authentic Christian life. A striking moment in his remarks came after he discussed the plight of refugees and migrants throughout the world; he reminded Congress of the Golden Rule. It was as if the Pope was saying to Congress “This isn’t just me, or the Catholic Church saying this. Don’t dismiss this; this is what it means to be human. This is for every one of us.” Care for those in need is not some lofty religious principle. It is a call to act with basic human decency. It was sobering to be reminded that the pursuit of the common good needs to be the impetus for all personal and political action. Francis urges us to adopt a person-focused approach to solving problems; when we consider the need of the person before us, ideology must take a back seat. He held up in warm and inviting language Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King, Jr., Dorothy Day and Thomas Merton as examples of the richness of our history. I almost leapt out of my seat in the gallery when Pope Francis referred to Dorothy Day, a woman I have long admired. Chicago born and life-long New Yorker, Dorothy Day led a bohemian life working as a journalist and social activist before she converted to Catholicism. In discovering Christ she took to heart giving food to the hungry, drink to the thirsty, welcome to the stranger, clothes to the naked, care of the sick and comforting the imprisoned. There was a fierceness in her that stood up to injustices. To the end of her life she labored tirelessly on behalf of the oppressed. In listening to Pope Francis in person and seeing him on television, I thought of an incident in Dorothy Day’s life. There was much talk of her good works. Many referred to her as a saint. This made her furious: “Don’t call me a saint! I don’t want to be dismissed so easily.” In our admiration of Francis let’s resist the temptation to put him on a pedestal. I hope I can hear his message and his call for me, for us, to do more for the common good. Sincerely,

Sister Barbara Rogers Headmistress

Class of 2016 May 2016 Dear Parents, This month’s letter is taken from Cardinal Seán O’Malley’s homily at the dedication of the Wellness Center. I have edited the text slightly. “It is a great joy to be here on such a happy occasion as we dedicate this new Wellness Center. In my own family, so many of the O’Malley women studied at different schools of the Religious of the Sacred Heart. Six of my cousins went to Carrollton School of the Sacred Heart in Miami…I have seen up close the wonderful Catholic education that these young women here receive. We are so grateful to have the presence of the Religious of the Sacred Heart in this institution here in the archdiocese of Boston. “The Gospel tells us today that the crowds were astonished at Jesus’ teaching. He taught them with authority. I am fascinated by the contrast that we find in the Gospel between the crowd and the community. The crowd is often a collection of individuals, each with his or her own personal agenda and interests as opposed to the community that shares a vision, an ideal, and a sense of belonging. The crowd in the Gospel often pushes people away from God, whereas the community draws them closer to the Lord. Jesus did not come so that we would be astonished by his teachings. He didn’t come so that we would become his admirers. He came to form disciples in a community pulling in the same direction. “Together we are all to build the house on the solid rock of God’s work. In the Gospel, we see an example of the crowd and community in the case of Zacharias, the tax collector, who wanted to see Jesus. The crowd pushed him away so he had to climb a tree to catch a glimpse the Lord. Then there was the blind beggar who called out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me,” but the crowd silenced him and pushed him away. However, we see people who are members of community look for ways to draw people closer to the Lord. “Catholic education nurtures faith and prayer in a sense of mission to perform the works of mercy and to live social Gospel of the Church that recognizes the precious gift of every human being and proclaims our connectedness to God and to one another. Catholic education helps us discover how much God loves us and discover who we are, why we are here, and what we have to do with our lives. Today we celebrate the mission and the ministry of the Religious of the Sacred Heart that sponsors the ministry of this extraordinary Catholic school where young women are not just astonished by Christ’s teaching but are invited to the arduous task of discipleship with the mission to make this planet a better place for all of us and to give Glory to God, our Creator and our Savior.” I hope to see you all on Sunday at the Wellness Center’s Open House, as we celebrate our community and this wonderful new facility. Sincerely,

Sister Barbara Rogers Headmistress

2016–2017

Class of 2017 July 2016 Dear Parents, e hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they W are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness… July 4, 1776 These stirring words, published on a hot July day in 1776, continue to inspire and challenge us 240 years later. In this time of racial tension, economic inequality, political upheaval in Europe, the horror of terrorism and 65 million refugees in the world, it is tempting to ignore the turmoil that surrounds us but may not touch us. But the central idea of America relies on the participation of the people as its foundation. Democracy works because the people have the right to free speech and the right to vote. We are each responsible for the state of the union. During this glorious summer and into the fall, I hope you will discuss with your children the pressing issues of our country. An educated citizenry is essential. Sharing your understanding of what free speech for everyone means, the role of government in caring for the elderly and sick, the importance of public education, your view of taxation, etc. will be enlightening for them. Families contribute to the state of the nation by forming young people as committed, compassionate, and thoughtful citizens. We need the idealism you hold out to your children as a defense against the cynicism about the country that is so prevalent. May the 4th of July be a day of pride and reflection on the dreams of our great nation. Sincerely,

Sister Barbara Rogers Headmistress

2016–2017 February 2017 Dear Parents, I will go to the altar of God the God who gives joy to my youth. Psalm 43:4 One of the delights of this year is observing all the good emerging from the completion of the Martin Center. It was obvious from August 25, the first day of try-outs for volleyball, soccer, crew, cross-country and field hockey. The center of gravity moved down the hill that afternoon as the Upper School girls made the Martin Center theirs. My office faces the Martin Center; I love watching the groups of Middle and Upper School girls race to classes in dance, wellness and religion during the day. Giggles, shrieks and chatter fill the air as they go and return in all weather, usually without coats. Last week, I asked a group of Middle School girls how they liked having class at the Martin Center. We love it! The fresh air is great! It’s good for us! Do you think about wearing coats? It’s not very far! We are fast! Girls and their teachers love the classroom used for religion and wellness classes. It is so peaceful in that space! I wish we had those chairs everywhere! I feel better coming back up the hill! Crowds of Upper School girls go down the hill to workout at the end of the day. Sign-ups for classes in spinning, yoga and TRX are available through Google docs. All girls using the equipment are trained by Ms. Caroline Earle, the Fitness Director. Some choose to follow a training plan created with Ms. Earle who learns each girl’s personal goals. The TRX system is in full use and the erg room is available for crew and Upper School girls. Dance team is a winter sport making good use of the dance studio. As one senior noted, None of my friends at other independent schools can believe that all of us get to use the fitness room and that the trainer gives us classes. At their schools everything is for the varsity teams. Bringing squash to the campus (the team was at B.U. for many years) and having two basketball/volleyball courts has shortened the day, allowing a third Middle School skills team time using the original gym. More girls are participating and they are getting home earlier. For parents, it is simpler to park and to come here to watch squash matches. Families welcome the convenience and comfort of viewing Middle and Upper School basketball games, sometimes concurrently. All of our girls are directly benefiting from this wonderful building. They are stronger, better trained and more confident, energetic and joyful. How better to give glory to God, than the full development of the bodies, hearts and minds He gives us! Thank you to all our benefactors who responded with great generosity to this need. Sincerely,

Sister Barbara Rogers Headmistress

2017–2018 September 2017 Dear Parents, In 1880 a Convent had been opened in the historic center of American culture, Boston, where, according to the Foundress, “the work of the Religious is facilitated by the Bostonians’ innate love of study and ambition to excel in things intellectual… Devotion to the Sacred Heart is striking deep root and working transformation in these young people…” Second Sowing Margaret Williams, RSCJ (1942) Right from the beginning, our school has recognized that the route to excellence is the combination of a lively intellectual life and a desire to draw the hearts of our girls toward God. Devotion to the Sacred Heart is a way of understanding the full personhood of Jesus Christ. This devotion to the Sacred Heart has at its root a love for the heart of each child. That devotion calls each of us to view one another as a sacred heart, a full person who is created by God for a purpose. The work of our school, the daily task of the adults in our school community, is to come to know each of the girls entrusted to our care. Our knowledge of them allows us to draw out from them their innate goodness. Viewing each child as called to a noble purpose fosters in the adult community a marvelous sense of responsibility and awe. Each class, each activity, each interaction is designed to foster the full personhood of each girl. What a holy task it is! Inspired by two centuries of Sacred Heart education in the United States, and 137 years here in Boston, this work is endlessly demanding and engaging. Rooted in grace, our work is always fidelity to this mission, creating an atmosphere in which our girls experience God’s love. The power that fuels the “ambition to excel in things intellectual…” and assures “that devotion to the Sacred Heart is striking deep root…” necessarily creates a community that is self-critical and passionate about re-imagining and reviewing how we can improve. This year is the perfect one for us to focus on Goal IV, “The building of community as a Christian value.” Ambitious as we are to excel in wisdom and grace, we need the encouragement, challenge, and example of one another to be faithful to our history. I invite you to join with us in building up our school community and in prayer that God will continue to grace this great school. I can’t wait to see you all. Sincerely,

Sister Barbara Rogers Headmistress

Class of 2018 December 2017 Dear Parents, Ye suffering and afflicted, open your hearts to hope, for the Savior is about to be born. – from the Advent Novena Syria, Puerto Rico, Houston and Nigeria are a few of the world situations which cry out to heaven for consolation. Awareness of and response to the needs of our broken world is a serious call to all believers. Here at the School, our service opportunities during Advent offer a response to calls for help. Works of mercy are essential to the life of faith. Through our participation in wrapping toys for St. Patrick’s Parish in Lawrence, volunteering at Christmas in the City, and collecting food and gifts for families at Harbor Point, we extend God’s compassion to those in need of hope. These tangible activities are important, but they are not enough. The mystery of the Incarnation which we contemplate during Advent challenges us to acknowledge our solidarity with the poor. Awareness of our own fragility moves us to dependence on God. The need to open our hearts to hope acknowledges that the temptation to cynicism, self-satisfaction and despair is ever present. It is in our experience of hardship and weakness that we begin to know our need of God. When we witness someone in trouble, our capacity to reach out and help is informed by our own experience of weakness. When our response to the suffering of others is there but for the grace of God go I we know our own need. In these weeks of preparation for Christmas we are invited to reflect on the areas of our own lives where we need the healing presence of Jesus. Let’s pray that during this Advent we renew our dependence on God. Merry Christmas,

Sister Barbara Rogers Headmistress

2018–2019

Class of 2019 October 2018 Dear Alumnae, Families, and Friends of Sacred Heart, How delighted Saint Philippine Duchesne would be to see this gathering. She knows that the reason we are here is to support her great desire to make God’s love known in the world. Saint Philippine Duchesne embarked on a treacherous journey to the New World to bring the love of Christ to the poor. She paved the way for the underserved to learn about Christ’s teachings by establishing the first free school west of the Mississippi River. We are thrilled with the remarkable response to the 200th Celebration Gala. The overwhelming participation from all of you demonstrates your love for the mission of the School. Current and future girls in our school will benefit from your outpouring of support. I offer a special thanks to our dedicated committee, volunteers, faculty and staff for their tireless efforts in planning this incredible evening. The success of our celebration assures the opportunity for promising young girls to benefit from a Sacred Heart education. Our work is serious and joyful: to invite all of our girls to become women of faith, courage, and confidence as they navigate today’s world with compassion and understanding. Every dollar raised will be used for tuition assistance. The vision of Saint Philippine Duchesne continues to shape the hearts and minds of all of us. Sincerely,

Sister Barbara Rogers Headmistress

2018–2019 October 2019 Dear Alumnae, Families, and Friends of Sacred Heart, Last year we joyously celebrated the 200th anniversary of Sacred Heart education in the United States. We honored the legacy of St. Rose Philippine Duchesne, as well as reflected upon how far education for girls has come since 1818. Through our recent reaccreditation process with both NEASC and SHCOG, we were required to assess all the programs we offer to our girls. Two glowing reports from the visiting committees made it clear that our school is stronger than ever. However, we are never satisfied, and this is the perfect moment to consider what’s next. As we closed out the year of celebration of the Feast of Philippine, I wrote to the faculty: “What other methods of teaching would help prepare our girls for an ever-changing world?” A study group was created to explore and imagine what we can be in 2025. This team is leading the faulty in what we are calling The Future of Learning. Through on-site visits, conferences, readings, and discussion, the team will lead the faculty to discover what might inspire and challenge us to reach even greater heights. Eighty-eight faculty have already visited a wide variety of institutions, ranging from other independent schools to innovative programs at Harvard, MIT, and RISD to companies including WGBH and Google. The Future of Learning initiative has been funded by Jon and Pat Baker, who have remained committed to the school since the graduation of their daughters in 1987 and 1990. We so appreciate their generosity, and we are excited to see what lies ahead. May Philippine, an adventurer and risk-taker, be with us on this journey to becoming more. We will share our progress on The Future of Learning in next year’s issue of the magazine. The focus of this issue of Très Bien is the arts. Our visual and performing arts programs are flourishing. A stroll around the school at this time of year highlights the extent of our commitment to the arts: one can see colorful and creative student work on the walls, listen to the sounds of voices and instruments preparing for Vespers, and watch dancers of all levels in the movement studio. Every Middle School girl studies music, art, and dance — all year, every year, while the Upper School girls flock to our many arts electives. In these pages you will read about the artistic accomplishments of our current students, as well as learn about some of our alumnae who have made the arts central to their careers and lives. I hope that you enjoy this glimpse into the arts at Newton Country Day. Sincerely,

Sister Barbara Rogers Headmistress

2019–2020 July 31, 2020 Dear Parents, Yesterday, we celebrated the graduation of the Class of 2020. I am attaching the stream of the ceremony. It was a beautiful day highlighted with speeches by three of the graduates and Kate Merchant Snyder ’88, Mayor of Portland, Maine. We began last year celebrating 100 years since women earned the vote. Who imagined the virus? Or that we would watch George Floyd, a black man, killed in front of our eyes? Local, state, and federal governments need strong leadership. How proud we are of Kate’s willingness to be of service to the biggest city in Maine. In June, I appointed a task force to work on every element of opening the 2020–2021 academic year. As of today, we plan to open for on-campus learning on August 31st. Your daughter will be oncampus for two of the four days that week. Our goal is to open the school as safely as possible. We will continue to monitor the most current data regarding COVID-19 in the Commonwealth and may alter our plans accordingly. The school will look different this fall and I am sure that you and your daughter have questions. I include a comprehensive list of FAQs for your review. We have scheduled meetings for parents on August 5th at 5 p.m. (Middle School) and August 6th at 5 p.m. (Upper School). Zoom credentials will be sent out 24 hours before each call. In the midst of preparation for the academic year, we continue to engage the issues raised throughout the country and within our school to become an anti-racist institution. There is much to be done. We have had two listening sessions to which all alumnae were invited. We will engage with our faculty, staff, parents and our girls. As promised in March, I keep a candle lighted in our chapel in front of our patron St. Joseph, protector of families. I pray in thanksgiving for the work of our great faculty and staff, and your commitment to our mission, to make known the love of the heart of Jesus. I am eager to see your girls!

Sister Barbara Rogers Headmistress

Class of 2020

Class of 2020 October, 2020 Dear Parents, As I write this letter I can hear the sound of our girls gathered on the North Terrace, happily engaged in calculus class. The balmy weather and the creativity of our teachers has opened up a plethora of outdoor locations that serve as temporary classrooms. Being outdoors and enforcing social distancing make it possible for the girls and their teachers to converse easily. This innovation has enhanced strengthening the bond among the girls and between the girls and their teachers. We are most grateful for the work of the summer, the gift of this most temperate fall, and the alacrity with which our girls have responded to all of the constraints imposed by needing to follow the COVID protocols. We dearly hope that our luck will continue to hold and that we will be able to realize our plan of maintaining in-person instruction through November 24th, the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. You will note in the calendar sent out last week that distance learning will take place from November 30th until Christmas Vacation, which begins on December 18th at noon. Distance learning will resume for two weeks from January 11th to January 22nd. In-person learning will begin on January 25th. Family Conferences with your daughter’s teachers will take place during the week of December 8th. Information regarding Family Conference sign up will be forthcoming in Newton Notes. The calendar allows for one additional week of vacation in January. This accommodation ensures sufficient time for faculty and students to recharge after an extraordinarily taxing first term. We hope this schedule gives both our faculty and families who are traveling this Christmas the ability to quarantine both before and after the holiday. Spring Vacation begins at the end of the academic day on Thursday, March 11th. Classes will resume on Monday, March 29th. Information about re-entry from both vacations will be communicated at a later date. Let’s hope that the spring will bring news of an effective vaccine, warm weather, and the easing of restrictions on gatherings. The loss of opportunities to meet with parents, and the difficulty of planning activities to build community has been deeply disappointing. We are grateful for your offers of support and words of appreciation. It is a joy having the girls here each day; however, as we approach moving to distance learning, we are confident that our investment in technology, the time spent last summer adapting our courses to the distance learning platform, and the opportunity to work in person with the girls this fall, will ensure the highest quality learning experience which has always been the hallmark of Sacred Heart education. Sincerely,

Sister Barbara Rogers Headmistress

2020–2021 Ash Wednesday 2021 The Cure at Troy So hope for a great sea-change On the far side of revenge. Believe that a further shore Is reachable from here. Believe in miracles. And cures and healing wells. Seamus Heaney Dear Parents, In his 2004 visit to Newton Country Day School, Nobel Prize winning poet, Seamus Heaney, spoke to the girls about literature’s role in helping create perspective and hope. It is a message worth returning to in these challenging times. As teachers and parents, we share the responsibility of helping our children look beyond the limits of life during COVID to the “further shore” and the promise of a cure made possible by medical research. Our lives, and our personal histories of facing and surmounting the set-backs, loss, disappointments and crises of the past give us our own “healing wells” of experience and insight from which we may draw the wisdom to guide our children. They need the assurance that, in the words of the medieval saint and mystic, Julian of Norwich, “all will be well, and all manner of things will be well.” A year ago, few of us needed such assurance. We were, for the most part, unaware of how utterly life as we had known it was about to change. We had come to the last weeks of February having celebrated Honors Convocation, the success of the the ninth and tenth grade retreats and the return of the Juniors from KAIROS. We were looking forward to the Auction and to March vacation. It has been a long twelve months since then. The advent of Distance Learning, the reconfiguration of the curriculum, the modification of the schedule, the alteration of instructional space and the installment of technology occupied all of last spring and summer. This work enabled NCDS to joyfully welcome back the girls to full time, in-person learning from September to Thanksgiving. The unseasonably warm autumn allowed teachers to move their classes outdoors to take advantage of our beautiful grounds. For the Middle School, the opportunity to be outdoors in recent weeks has been extended by fresh snowfall. Watching the girls sliding down the back hill on their improvised sleds and listening to their gleeful laughter is an antidote to winter gloom. This year Ash Wednesday takes on a deeper significance. The blessing of ashes and for those who wear them, comes with a heightened awareness of our shared vulnerability and an urgent reminder of the need to “love our neighbor as ourselves.” Throughout Lent, the school’s health team, psychologists, Dr. Suzanne Donnellan, Dr. Crystal Mims and school nurse, Mrs. Christine Chalvire, in consultation with Riverside Crisis Center and Massachusetts General Hospital, will offer a series of announcements and workshops designed to promote emotional resiliency and help the girls develop skills in self-care. Along with these resources for the girls, the school will be offering opportunities for parents to learn techniques to help the girls manage anxiety. In addition to the above measures, the Campus Ministry team under the leadership of Mrs. Sara Milone and with the assistance of Father Terry DeVino, S.J. will continue to offer parents the Wednesday evening Examen, and the recently launched Parent Book Chat. Campus Ministry

Class of 2021 has arranged for the girls to receive the sacrament of reconciliation and opportunities for pastoral conversations on Thursdays in Lent. Planning for KAIROS, and for the retreats for grades nine and ten is underway. I know you join me in thanking the faculty for undertaking the complex tasks of not only providing strong academic instruction but also working to support the spiritual and emotional, physical and social development of the students. Many of you have written to offer help in promoting the building of community among the girls. Thank you for your creativity. On February 22nd, the school will launch the celebration of “One Hundred Days for the Class of 2021.” Designed to highlight the personalities and the accomplishments of the graduating Seniors, the “One Hundred Days Celebration” will allow the school community to thank the Class of 2021 for their many contributions to the life of the school. I look forward to seeing you at our annual Tres Bien Auction on March 6th. The endless imagination and tireless efforts of the Auction Committee continue to delight and surprise me. The school is blessed to enjoy such talent and generosity. As we begin our Lenten journey let us pray that we may come to Easter with a renewed awareness of the love of the heart of Jesus animating and supporting us through these challenging times.

Sister Barbara Rogers Headmistress

2021–2022 July 30, 2021 Dear Parents, I hope this summer has allowed time for rest and reconnecting for you and your family. Our outlook for the 2021–2022 school year continues to be one of optimism. As of today, our plan/hope for the fall remains as it was at the end of May: • The Middle School will return to its home on the third floor of the school. • All students will be on campus for in-person learning with classroom teachers. • The Martin Center, Arches Gym, Library, Dining Hall will return to their intended purposes. • Girls will change classes and mix with groups throughout the day. • We will continue to utilize our beautiful campus for outdoor learning. It is important for us to know how many members of our community have received the COVID-19 vaccine. If your child has received the vaccine, please upload documentation of this into her Magnus Health account, which you can now access via the Veracross Parent Portal. We encourage students to receive a COVID vaccination as soon as it is available to them. Each year we focus on one of the Goals of the Sacred Heart Schools. For the upcoming year we will concentrate on Goal IV: the Building of Community. September programming is designed so girls, faculty, and parents have ample opportunities to come to know one another. We will continue to monitor guidance regarding the safe opening of schools and will provide updates as soon as they are available. One of our summer projects was the refinishing of the Chapel floor. As I spent time in the Chapel this morning, I was reminded of St. Madeleine Sophie’s words “nothing is too good for the Chapel and nothing is too good for the children.” It will be wonderful when our girls and faculty gather in the center of our school; our Chapel.

Sister Barbara Rogers Headmistress

Class of 2022 Spring 2022 Dear Parents, Alumnae, Faculty, Staff and Friends of Newton Country Day, Since 1800 the Society of the Sacred Heart has offered an education distinguished by its emphasis on providing each student with the experience of being loved by God. This experience comes with the expectation that students of the Sacred Heart will put this love of God into action in how they live their lives. For nearly two centuries the primary responsibility of implementing Saint Madeleine Sophie’s vision was undertaken by the Religious of the Sacred Heart. Beginning in the late 1970’s, following the spirit of the reforms of the Second Vatican Council, the Society of the Sacred Heart recognized the importance of collaboration in overseeing Sacred Heart Schools. In 1984 John Noonan P’86’91 became the first lay Chair of the Board of Trustees who was followed by Jack Joyce Px’87’91, Michael Ryan P’96, Kevin Phelan HA, P’94’96’98, Terry Carleton P’99, and Chris Kelly P’05’07’12’16. Chris joined the Board in 2006, and assumed the position of Chair in 2016. Having led the building of the Martin Center and shepherding the School through the challenges of COVID, Chris announced that he was stepping down. The School is grateful to Chris, and all current and former trustees, for their generous, dedicated and wise leadership. Succeeding Chris as Chair of the Board of Trustees is Maura T. Murphy ’99. Maura’s election marks a watershed moment in the life of the school. Nominated by Trustee Ellen Harrington ’77, seconded by Trustee Elizabeth Morey Blecharczyk ’01, and ratified by the Board, Maura is the first alumna to Chair the Board. A 2003 graduate of the College of the Holy Cross, Maura received her MBA from Boston College. Maura is a Portfolio Manager at Liberty Mutual Investments, and is on the board of Catholic Charities. May the school continue to be led by those who embrace the mission: to make known the love of the Heart of Jesus. Sincerely,

Sister Barbara Rogers Headmistress

2022–2023

Class of 2023 October, 2022 “Joy is the infallible sign of the presence of God.” – Rev. Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, S.J. Dear Alumnae, Families, and Friends of Sacred Heart, As you read through this edition of Très Bien and look at the photographs of life at Newton Country Day School, you see the joy that Pierre Teilhard de Chardin wisely identified as an infallible indication of the presence of God. Each day the halls of the school fill with the sounds of the girls excitedly sharing their delight in discovery and in being together. Whether it is engaging in research; rehearsing for the fall musical, Mary Poppins; or competing in athletics, it is joy that characterizes the background music at 785 Centre Street. After nearly three years of restrictions, the school has resumed the traditions dear to the heart of our girls. The impact of social distancing, quarantine, and Zoom classes continues to have an effect. It is clear that Goal V, personal growth in an atmosphere of wise freedom, is the appropriate focus for the transition to post-pandemic learning. Responding to the challenge to improve mental and physical wellness, Newton has developed a curriculum designed to bolster resilience in each student. The support of our donors makes it possible for the school to continue to respond to the ever-evolving needs of the girls. An outstanding example of this generosity is the establishment of the Sheehan Scholars by Maureen Cortelli Sheehan ’51 and her husband Jerry. We are deeply grateful to Maureen and Jerry for this transformative gift that provides tuition assistance for members of the Class of 2026. They, like all of our benefactors and friends, make it possible for the school to continue to carry out the vision of Saint Madeleine Sophie Barat; to make known the love of the heart of Jesus. May the wellspring of the heart of Jesus continue to inspire our teachers, girls and families! With gratitude and prayers,

Sister Barbara Rogers Headmistress

2022–2023 And from Christ’s fullness have we all received, grace upon grace.

John 1:16

Dear Parents, Alumnae and Friends of Newton Country Day, In the Fall of 2025, NCDS will celebrate the school’s move from Commonwealth Avenue in Boston to Centre Street in Newton. Founded in 1880, the school first opened on Chester Square in what is now the South End. In 1907, to accommodate growing enrollment, the Society of the Sacred Heart purchased four brownstones at 260–266 Commonwealth Avenue in the Back Bay. In the ensuing decades the school’s student body continued to increase, necessitating a third move to the Towle Estate at 785 Centre Street in Newton in 1925. This location provided a new academic building and the opportunity to develop athletic fields. The move began an era of rapid development of NCDS’s academic, artistic, and athletic offerings. The addition of the North Wing (2001), the acquisition of Daly Rink with access to the Charles River (2005), the construction of the Library (2007) and the completion of the Kathleen R. Martin Wellness Center (2016) have allowed the school to provide a program that supports the full development of what the New England Association of Schools and Colleges characterized as “a rigorous, nurturing and individualized program that prepares the girls for future success through intellectual, aesthetic, physical, spiritual and service opportunities.” Throughout its history, the school has been blessed by its ability to attract families who share Saint Madeleine Sophie’s belief in the transformative power of God’s love. The fruitful lives of graduates and their impact on society speak to the formative influence of Sacred Heart education. Without the work of generations of trustees, faculty, staff, and members of the Society of the Sacred Heart, none of the past successes would have been possible. Their skills and dedication to Saint Madeleine Sophie’s vision continue to give life to the mission of Sacred Heart education. As I write to you today, I am in my 34th year as Head of Newton. To say that I have had a deeply rewarding tenure at NCDS would be a vast understatement; but after much prayer and reflection I have decided that it is approaching time for me to step aside and transition to Head Emerita. Institutions like NCDS are greater than the whole of their parts including their leaders. Regardless of who is at the helm, there is still much work to navigate; work that will build on what the school community has accomplished already. Ensuring that a Sacred Heart education is available to students of every socioeconomic situation continues to be the priority of the school. Through your generosity, the school has grown its endowment from $220,000 in 1990 to its current level of $50 million. More than ever, the world needs the service of Sacred Heart graduates; women whose courage, confidence, compassion and innovative leadership create solutions to challenges facing our world. I look forward to continuing to work with each of you to celebrate all that has been accomplished since 1880 and to affirm that the best is yet to be.

Sister Barbara Rogers Headmistress

“A woman cannot remain neutral in the world — She too is set for the fall and resurrection of many.” ST. MADELEINE SOPHIE BARAT

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Romans 8:38