Très Bien Fall 2025

TR È S BIEN

Newton Country Day School of the Sacred Heart Fall 2025

Goals and Criteria of Sacred Heart Schools

Schools of the Sacred Heart commit themselves to educate to:

GOAL I: a personal and active faith in God

GOAL II: a deep respect for intellectual values

GOAL III: a social awareness which impels to action

GOAL IV: the building of community as a Christian value

GOAL V: personal growth in an atmosphere of wise freedom

ATHLETICS

Correspondence and Change of Address Newton Country Day School 785 Centre Street Newton, MA 02458 (617) 244-4246 alumnae@newtonSH.org

HEAD OF SCHOOL

Jessica Hooper P ’28

ASSOCIATE HEAD OF SCHOOL FOR STRATEGY & MISSION

Nicole Noel

ASSOCIATE HEAD OF SCHOOL FOR ACADEMICS

Melissa Bleakney-Dalton

CHIEF ADVANCEMENT OFFICER

Lisa Winick

ANNUAL FUND DIRECTOR & GIFT OFFICER

Kay McMahon

CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

Kym Gaissl

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

Casey Young P ’21 ’24

DIRECTOR OF ENROLLMENT MANAGEMENT

Clare Martin

EDITOR

Tina Lim P ’30

Director of Marketing and Communications

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS AND PHOTOGRAPHERS

Laura Kelly

Digital Communications Specialist

Abby Woodworth

Digital Communications Associate

Melissa Bleakney-Dalton, Melissa Davenport P ’29, Corey Everly, Elizabeth Gallagher ’99, Fiona Jobson ’25, Clare Martin, Kay McMahon, Christina Medor, Sara Milone P ’29 ’32, Crystal Mims, Catherine Roy ’09, Deborah Tully

Adam Richins Photography www.adamrichins.com

LAYOUT AND DESIGN

Graphic Details, Inc.

PRINTER

Journeyman Press

Très Bien is produced annually by Newton Country Day School of the Sacred Heart. We welcome article topics, news, and photos from the Newton Country Day community. Content may be edited for length.

From the Head of School

Dear Newton Country Day Community,

Reflecting on my first year serving as Head of School, so many images of joy are stirred by my heart. Each week brought a new delight and moment of appreciation for the transformative power of a Newton Country Day School of the Sacred Heart education. Blue/Silver Induction, Senior Christmas, Congé, the Festival of the Arts, Homecoming, athletic events, and class trips all surface in the exercise. And, while those certainly point to the highlights, what I have come to appreciate fully is the joy that fills the hallways each and every day at Newton Country Day.

Newton Country Day students are known, loved, and cherished beyond measure. They foster relationships with caring adults who believe in their capacity. They form friendships so deep with their peers that the word “sisterhood” feels like the only term that can fully capture the bond. It is not only through relationships with others that joy is cultivated. Our students also come to discover what matters most to them. They grow in recognition of their gifts, embrace their purpose, and find joy in the discovery of who they are and who they are called to be.

Committed to monitoring and meeting the needs of our students, this past year we participated in Stanford University’s Challenge Success study to better understand our students’ experiences compared to their peers in other all-girls institutions. The study helped us identify both areas for growth and opportunities to strengthen the support we provide. Perhaps most significantly, it affirmed the many ways Newton Country Day leads the way in fostering the success and well-being of young women in their educational pursuits. Read more about the results of our study in Raising Her Voice (page 6).

Our students practice Courage as the path to Confidence. This issue of Très Bien tells that story. Courage is evident each time an athlete takes the field, an artist steps on stage, or a student raises her hand to contribute thoughtfully in class. Confidence emerges along the way, visible in the lives of alumnae highlighted in this issue. The journeys of Mary Thompson ’81 (page 69), Rochelle Williams-Belizaire ’00 (page 70), and Hillary Ashton ’89 (page 72) reflect the enduring strength of a Sacred Heart education.

This year will mark a centennial milestone with Bold Vision, Bright Future, an event that honors the Religious of the Sacred Heart, trustees, and school leaders whose choices have shaped Newton Country Day and advanced the educational experience of our students. As we celebrate the past, we also look to the future with excitement, launching a strategic planning process that will invite our community to dream boldly, imagine freely, and articulate a shared vision for what lies ahead.

Curiosity has always been at the heart of Sacred Heart education. It is the spark that drives Courage and the companion that shapes Confidence. As we celebrate the bold choices of the past and chart the course for our bright future, may we lean into curiosity: asking big questions, embracing new possibilities, and opening ourselves to the joy of discovery.

In Courage & Confidence,

Jessica Hooper P ’28 Head of School

Installation Mass of the Holy Spirit

On Tuesday, September 10, 2024, Newton Country Day celebrated the installation of Jessica Hooper as our 31st Head of School at the annual Mass of the Holy Spirit. We were honored to have His Eminence Seán Cardinal O’Malley, Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Boston, celebrate the Liturgy along with Rev. Robert Kickham, priest in residence at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross.

Top Right: His Eminence Seán Cardinal O’Malley (right) and Rev. Robert Kickham (left); Bottom Right: Sacred Heart Provincial Sr. Suzanne Cooke, RSCJ (left), 31st Head of School Jessica Hooper P ’28 (center), and Newton Country Day Board Chair Maura Murphy ’99 (right).

Students

15 daughters of alumnae

Tuition Assistance

32%

29%

370 students receive tuition assistance

identify as students of color

63%

identify as Catholic

46 sets of sisters attending

$5+ million allocated to tuition assistance

100% college matriculation average class size

11

Percentage of school leadership that identify as female Faculty & Staff 92%

Percentage of faculty/staff that identify as female 70%

Percentage of faculty that hold advanced degrees 90%

8 alumnae work here

Athletics

38 sports teams

76 coaches

AROUND CAMPUS

Raising Her Voice

Insights from the Challenge Success Survey

by Deborah Tully, Head of Middle School

In an era where data shapes nearly every facet of our world, making administrative educational decisions without it is like navigating without a compass, especially when we overlook one of the richest sources of insight: the voices of our students. In 2024, Newton Country Day students in grades 6–12, in partnership with the International Coalition of Girls Schools (ICGS), completed the Challenge Success survey conducted through the Stanford University Graduate School of Education. Appropriately titled Raising Her Voice, the survey aimed to better understand the student experience at school and at home through the lens of our students’ voices, and to establish comparative benchmarks with other girls’ independent schools in North America. Students in our Upper School also completed the survey in 2019, before the COVID-19 global pandemic. The high response rate of 97% across the different Upper School sittings of the survey enabled better benchmarking, facilitating trend analysis and the evaluation of any changes or interventions undertaken between the two sittings of the survey.

THE POWER OF FEELING SUPPORTED

One area that the Challenge Success survey explores is students’ experience of feeling supported at school. A supportive school

environment is essential for students’ academic success and personal growth; it promotes a sense of belonging, encourages confidence, and helps students to know they are seen, heard, and valued. When students know they have teachers and peers who care about their well-being, they are more likely to thrive both academically and socially. The majority of our students, regardless of racial or ethnic background,

engaged, and willing to participate fully in school life. An environment where belonging is central to the school experience encourages students to express themselves authentically. As noted by the research staff at Challenge Success, there is a direct correlation between a student’s sense of belonging and their level of academic engagement. Comparing the Upper School results from the two

indicated that they have a trusted adult and a trusted peer to reach out to if they have a personal problem. As a testament to the strength of our Advising Program, this trend generally increases each year with 96% of our seniors indicating they have a trusted adult they can reach out to. Impressively, our students indicate a higher level of community support at school when compared with our peer ICGS institutions.

BELONGING AS THE FOUNDATION FOR ENGAGEMENT

Belonging is a cornerstone of a positive school experience. When students feel that they belong, they are more confident,

sittings of the survey, there has been a 59% increase in students indicating that they are “fully engaged” at school and a 24% reduction in students indicating that they are just “doing school.” This positive increase also correlates to our school’s thoughtful changes to the daily schedule, reducing the number of periods per day and increasing curricular opportunities for students to participate in experiential learning opportunities and project-based learning. Our Middle School students were eight percentage points more likely to indicate that they are “purposefully engaged” or “fully engaged” at school when compared to their ICGS Middle School counterparts.

ENGAGEMENT BEGINS WITH AGENCY

The Challenge Success survey also measured students’ Agentic Engagement, which includes aspects of student agency, advocacy, and voice. Our students display a higher frequency in asking questions in class (78%) when compared with ICGS peer students (58%). Student engagement and student interest go hand-in-hand. Students value interactive teaching methods such as discussions, group projects, and hands-on activities that make the material more relevant and interesting. As part of the survey, students were given the opportunity to express their thoughts on what makes classes interesting. For students in both Middle and Upper School, classes that incorporated projects, hands-on and interactive modes of learning topped the list.

BRINGING LEARNING TO LIFE ACROSS THE CURRICULUM

Research clearly shows that students achieve more positive learning outcomes when experiential pedagogies are employed, alongside cross-curricular and interdisciplinary learning opportunities both inside and outside the classroom. Current research, in tandem with our students’ voices, drive many of the pedagogical initiatives our school has implemented in the last few years. These initiatives include, but are not limited to, the Voyagers and Explorers Programs in our Middle School, the Capstone Project for our Grade 8 students, the multitude of cross-curricular learning experiences and hands-on projects in both Middle and Upper School divisions, the Experiential Learning Day in both Middle and Upper School, fully integrated humanities courses in the Upper School, and the Minimester program in the Upper School (see page 13)

AREAS FOR GROWTH IN SUPPORTING STUDENT BALANCE

While the Challenge Success survey certainly highlighted some notable areas of strength in our program, there are areas

in which the data points toward a need for further thought, reflection, and action. Simply put, our students are not getting the recommended hours of sleep each night for their age group. This problem is not unique to our students, but is prevalent across our peer institutions. Students feel the pressure of their academic responsibilities; when asked what changes they would recommend to our school, students indicated they would prefer a reduced workload. Compared with students in peer ICGS schools, our students have slightly more homework on weeknights (10–15 minutes additional) but have notably less homework on weekends (up to 30–40 minutes less). In the process of doing homework, our students are often engaged in other activities, with approximately 38% of Upper School and 23% of Middle School students engaged on social media sites while doing homework. The distraction of devices and the use of social media are concerns not isolated to our institution. The challenges of lack of sleep, potential work overload, and dependency on devices appear to be interconnected and worth further attention.

The results of the Challenge Success survey show encouraging growth in our students’ academic engagement and indicate a positive sense of belonging and support from the school community. At the same time, the data underscores the need to partner more intentionally with families to improve student sleep habits, ensure manageable out-of-school workload, and promote healthy, balanced use of devices. Newton Country Day remains committed to meeting these challenges to help our students succeed.

96%

of seniors report they have a trusted adult they can reach out to

FLIGHT BY TILDIE LUCIBELLO ’29

Tildie Lucibello ’29 recently displayed her Grade 8 Capstone Project in the library on campus. Now in its third year as part of the Grade 8 curriculum, the Capstone Project is a yearlong independent study that connects academia, service, and the Goals of Sacred Heart schools. Lucibello’s project, titled Flight, is an art installation that visualizes student responses to the Newton Country Day 2024 Challenge Success Survey. One of the questions in the survey asks, “How much pressure do you feel to do well in school?”

The mobile installation features 346 paper cranes, each representing a student response. The three white cranes represent students who answered “none;” the 17 peach cranes represent “a little;” the 55 pink represent “sometimes;” the 125 red represent “often;” and the 146 maroon represent “always.”

AROUND CAMPUS

Senior Reflections

LUDOVICA MELODIA ’25

TATIYANA ORREGODUPREE ’25

“A little while ago, I found a book that I wrote in fifth grade, in my first year at Newton Country Day. It’s called Charlie and Veronica, written in Italian, and it’s the story of a princess, Veronica, who decides that she doesn’t want to live the palace life anymore; she wants to be an engineer. Veronica defies her role as a future queen, instead building a robot named Charlie and launching her ultrasuccessful engineering career.

“Looking back, I see how Newton Country Day School gave me the perspective of a world-changer, even only a few months into the fifth grade. It wasn’t ‘weird’ for a girl to like math, or be fascinated by robots, or to raise her hand in class and ask any question that came to her mind.

“Eight years ago, I wrote Charlie and Veronica and learned to ask big questions. Now I am about to enter college as an engineering and philosophy major at Northeastern University. Eight years ago, I looked at the seniors, who seemed so strong and confident, and dreamt of a time when I could be just like them. Now, in my senior year, I am the Upper School student body President. Eight years ago, I walked into this building with two sisters. Now, I have sixty-two. This community has been here to help me through my moments of struggle, and to celebrate my greatest accomplishments.”

At the start of her senior year at Newton Country Day, Tatiyana Orrego-Dupree ’25 was invited to speak at the Catholic Schools Foundation’s 35th Annual Building Minds Scholarship Fund Gala. The event brought together nearly 1,000 guests in support of providing low-income students with access to a life-changing Catholic education. Each year, the gala raises over $5 million to support 4,000 students.

Orrego-Dupree, who received CSF’s GO Scholarship in 2016, took the stage to share how access to a Catholic education has shaped both her own life and her family’s future. “The Catholic Schools Foundation has given me opportunities I never could have imagined. Thanks to CSF, I discovered my passion for learning and have achieved success I never thought possible.”

She closed her speech with a powerful message to the audience, saying: “If you remember anything about my story, please remember that a Catholic education truly changes everything.” At Newton Country Day’s Commencement this past June, Orrego-Dupree became the first in her family to graduate from high school and will go on to attend her dream school, Boston College.

Photo credit: John Gilooly

AROUND CAMPUS Hearts in Action

Newton Country Day Launches New Service Immersion Program

by Sara Milone P ’29 ’32, Director of Mission & Ministry

This year, our school launched a transformative Service Immersion Program, an initiative that provides faith-based experiences (Goal I) that deepen understanding of social injustice and inspire a lifelong commitment to service (Goal III), and promote the flourishing of community grounded in human dignity (Goal IV). Like the summer service opportunities typically offered by the Sacred Heart Network, the aim of the program is to move beyond traditional models of service to one that cultivates relational encounter. This year’s two inaugural programs set a powerful foundation for the future growth of service immersions at Newton Country Day.

ROMERO CENTER URBAN CHALLENGE: TRANSFORMING PERSPECTIVE THROUGH ENCOUNTER

A group of seven rising Grade 11 students stepped into the powerful legacy of St. Oscar Romero through the Romero Center Urban Challenge in Camden, New Jersey. Rooted in Catholic Social Teaching and the call to serve the marginalized, the weeklong program challenged participants to understand urban poverty through personal encounter, service, and faith.

This experience invited students to encounter poverty not as a distant issue,

but as a sacred meeting with Christ in the lives, stories, and dignity of those on the margins. Whether serving meals or listening to stories in local nursing homes, students deepened their empathy and understanding of the daily hardship and hope many Camden families face.

BOSTON, CITY OF CHAMPIONS: SERVICE, SPORT, AND SPIRITUALITY

Additionally, a group of rising Grade 8 and 9 students explored the vibrant intersection of social justice and sport

in the heart of Boston. Students learned how athletics can function as a bridge across societal divides and serve those in need. Conversations with public health officials and community leaders added depth, connecting physical activity to mental, spiritual, and communal well-being.

Students also met with representatives from the Boston Red Sox and MS4MS and learned about how organizations can advocate for equity and prioritize their responsibility to give back to the community.

A NEW TRADITION OF IMPACT

The launch of the Service Immersion Program reflects Newton Country Day’s ongoing commitment to the holistic formation of young women who not only understand injustice but are moved to respond with courage, compassion, and faith. We are eager to expand and deepen service immersion opportunities in the future, ensuring that more students can step beyond their comfort zones and into meaningful, faith-filled encounters to become a living example of the love of the heart of Jesus in the world.

The Service Immersion Program is funded in part by the new Mission & Ministry fund. If you are interested in learning more or supporting our service programs, please contact Sara Milone P ’29 ’32, Director of Mission and Ministry, at smilone@newtonSH.org.

Grade 11 students volunteering at STARS Adult Medical Day Care Center.

Participants joined local teens in a workout at Carter Park Crossfit in Chelsea, MA.

AROUND CAMPUS

Community & Belonging Programming

Welcome (back!) Susie Ramirez ’99 P ’31, our new

Director of Community and Belonging

When considering the many roles within our Newton Country Day community, it’s common to imagine someone holding one or two over a lifetime—a student becomes an alumna; an alumna returns as a parent, passing the torch to her own daughter. This year, Susie Ramirez ’99 P ’31 has taken on not just her third, but her fourth role in the community. She first joined in 1993 as a Grade 7 student. Upon her graduation in 1999, she became an alumna. In the fall of 2024, she returned once more—this time as a parent—when her daughter, Carmen ’31, entered Grade 6. Then, in January 2025, we were proud to welcome her back to campus fulltime as our new Director of Community and Belonging.

With over 20 years of experience spanning private, international, charter, and public education, Ramirez has consistently championed students and families, living out Goal III: a social awareness which impels to action. Her extensive experience has shaped her into a compassionate leader who values every individual’s contributions to the school community while holding herself and others to high standards of integrity.

In her new role at her own alma mater, Ramirez is deeply committed to Goal IV: the building of community as a Christian value . In her first months, Ramirez deepened student engagement

and leadership through meaningful initiatives across the Middle and Upper Schools. One highlight was the launch of an Alumni Spotlight, which featured a campus-wide visit from fellow alumna Anita Handy ’98. The day was filled with performances, community building, and a reflection on taking a leap of faith and following one’s passion. Throughout the year, Ramirez hosted We Belong! assemblies, which celebrate Heritage Months and provide Social Emotional Learning opportunities for Middle Schoolers. In the Upper School, she helped reestablish PRISM council to provide Affinity Group leaders opportunities to collaborate and practice leadership skills to build community in their Affinity Groups.

Reflecting on the year, Ramirez shared: “What has brought me the most joy is connecting with students and supporting them as they bring their visions to life, especially with BSU’s Cultural Fair and chapel service as well as ASIA’s AAPI Heritage Month Fair. Watching students take agency, plan, and execute large-scale community programming has been incredibly rewarding!

“As I look ahead, I hope to continue to be someone students see as a trusted adult: someone who celebrates their joy and stands beside them in times of

challenge. I’m especially eager to grow our partnerships with alums, creating more opportunities for our girls to see themselves as future leaders, social change agents, and women of Courage and Confidence.”

Community & Belonging at Newton Country Day

Cultural holidays and events are celebrated throughout the school year with a variety of performances, presentations, and festivities, often produced and driven by our studentled Affinity Groups. Whether it’s a student presentation at announcements, a visual display in the library or on hallway walls, or a vibrant all-school celebration, the Newton Country Day community enjoys sharing sights, sounds, and tastes of cultures around the world.

left) The Middle School Affinity Group hosted their annual Community Meal, where students brought foods of significance to their cultures and/or families.

(Bottom left) During Black History Month, alumna Anita Handy ’98 came back to campus to share about her love for dance at Middle School chapel and Upper School assembly, as well as serving as a guest choreographer for our Grades 5 & 6 dance class.

New Role Expands Academic Support Program

This fall, science teacher Lindsey Tonge transitions to a brand-new role as Academic Support Coordinator. Tonge holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry from the College of the Holy Cross and a Master’s Degree in Biophysical Chemistry from Yale University. After joining the Newton Country Day community in 2023 as a science teacher, Tonge began her pursuit of a professional certificate in Learning Differences and Neurodiversity at Landmark College, specializing in Executive Functioning. During the past year, Tonge has been working in the Academic Center, helping to support students with learning differences. She has been a go-to resource for Newton Country Day teachers seeking help in providing accommodations that benefit students.

The new, full-time position of Academic Support Coordinator will unify and

enhance the Academic Support program in Grades 5–12 by:

• Expanding learning support offerings utilizing evidence-based practices

• Streamlining communication and onboarding to the Learning Center program

• Ensuring a smooth transition for students in the Learning Center program from year to year, especially across school divisions

• Providing executive functioning skill support to students

• Coaching teachers to help them appropriately accommodate student learning

• Offering workshops to all students who aim to improve their academic skills

“I am so excited to take on this new role as Academic Support Coordinator to help all students reach their fullest potential,”

Tonge said. “Many students will, at some point in their journey through Newton Country Day, find themselves struggling with note taking, study strategies, test taking strategies, time management, or other related academic skills. My hope is that the Learning Center will be a place where all students can come for help and support.”

Lindsey Tonge, Academic Support Coordinator

(Top

Building Community through Admissions

by Clare Martin, Director of Enrollment Management

Each year, we welcome approximately 70 new students to Newton Country Day. This year, the newest members of our community come from over 20 different cities and towns, as well as New York, New Jersey, England, and Australia. The group includes 13 siblings, three sets of twins, and six daughters of Sacred Heart alumnae. But how did they get here? What made them choose Newton Country Day?

Newton Country Day offers many events for prospective families, all designed to demonstrate what makes our school unique. Events range from Prospective

Parent Coffees and Curriculum Night to the school’s annual Open House. Get to Know Newton Workshops in Engineering and Art are offered in February, and accepted students are invited for a shadow day and a family welcome reception in the spring.

The Admission Office recently launched a Student Ambassador Program, which has a selective process

New Courses Bring Computing and Robotics to Life

by Laura Kelly

STEM faculty recognize that course offerings must evolve to match how quickly today’s students acquire new technology skills. To build on these skills early and further integrate them into the curriculum, Newton Country Day is piloting two new courses: Physical Computing and Robotics and Competitive Computing, both led by Computer Science Department Chair Martha Haddad P ’22.

Physical Computing and Robotics will provide hands-on opportunities for students in Grades 5 and 6 to experiment with tools like LEGO® robotics sets, Sphero robots, and Micro:bits to develop foundational computing skills that they

can apply in future projects. “We wanted to make it interactive,” says Haddad. “It’s fun to create something visual, but even more fun to see the connection between coding and your creation’s physical movement.” This course will also prepare students for the new Upper School

involving an application and interview. Throughout the year, the ambassadors send cards to applicants and attend admission events, school fairs, and school visits.

“I love being a member of this team, because I want to share my knowledge and perspective with others,” says Ambassador Tessa Venanzi ’26.

The admission experience involves so much more than just the Admission Office. It’s the interaction with our Student Ambassadors, as well as the faculty and current families. Every member of the school community is really part of the admission team. As one incoming student wrote recently:

“I am so excited to join Newton Country Day. You all made me feel so welcome, and I’m looking forward to next year!”

Competitive Computing course, which will focus on physical computing and ethical hacking, with a goal of developing a school robotics team.

During a recent field trip to Boston Dynamics, female engineers spoke with students about how experiences with robotics in their early years shaped their paths. They emphasized how experimenting with robots, especially for girls, can spark a lasting interest in the field. “Tinkering is an important skill that, historically, girls have not been encouraged to lean into,” Haddad explains. These courses aim to nurture that spirit of experimentation and give students the tools, confidence, and curiosity to pave a path for themselves in robotics.

Upper School Engineering Design and AP Computer Science students at Boston Dynamics.

Interdisciplinary Immersion: The Grade 10 Minimester

by Melissa Bleakney-Dalton, Associate Head of School for Academics / Head of Upper School

The Grade 10 experience at Newton Country Day leverages key leaps in cognitive development, as students experience an enhanced capacity for abstract and interdisciplinary thinking. Along with gains in executive functioning, these newfound abilities position students to thrive in rigorous, experiential learning. Opportunities such as Global Studies, an interdisciplinary approach to the humanities, and the Sacred Heart Exchange program have long harnessed new abilities as they develop. This year, the Grade 10 team piloted the March Minimester, a new and innovative addition to the curriculum that further supports students in their journey toward academic maturity.

The March Minimester presented five intensive, weeklong deep dives characterized by active learning across academic subjects with meaningful connections to the Grade 10 curriculum and a focus on the 1940s and 1950s:

• Beyond Black and White: Exploring Film, Propaganda, and Social Change

• Consumers and Culture: Unpacking US Politics, Culture, and Capitalism

• Science and Cooking: The Intersection of Chemistry, Nutrition, and Culinary Creativity

• The Green Revolution: Industrial Agriculture and the Environmental Movement

• The Origins of Modern Dance: Martha Graham and Her Legacy

The Beyond Black and White course focused on films from the decades surrounding World War II, building understanding of how film serves as a rhetorical tool, a reflection of social issues, and a means for social change. Films such as Don’t Be a Sucker, The Great Dictator, Crossfire, and Singin’ in the Rain helped students refine their contextual analysis skills. In the culminating experience, the students applied what they learned to Casablanca exploring the compositional, artistic, and rhetorical elements of film to both represent and influence the time and place in which it was created.

In Science and Cooking, students applied physical science, health and wellness, and mathematics through a combination of direct instruction and inquiry-based methods to investigate

macromolecules and their transformations during cooking.

Mathematical concepts ranging from logarithms to geometry came to life as students calculated molecular quantities from nutrition labels, adjusted acidity levels, and created edible structures. The culminating activity presented groups with the challenge of applying their learning to invent an appealing dip or sauce, which called students to consider polarity, emulsion, color, texture, and food-safe technique.

Regarding her time in the Consumers and Culture course, Sophia Zaphiris ’27 reflected, “The course was really eyeopening in a number of ways, and it provided me with a new perspective on how the U.S. operates in the world and how our position in the world is changing.” Colette Tate ’27, who explored art, dance, music, history, and science in The Origins of Modern Dance, said of her experience, “I learned all about expressionism through dance, poetry, and music. I was able to learn about the revolution of modernity and see Martha Graham’s legacy.”

The March Minimester’s immersive and experiential pedagogy facilitates highly engaged learning. Student agency, collaboration, and interdisciplinary inquiry—hallmarks of Sacred Heart education—foster a sense of purpose and cognitive flexibility, essential skills for addressing the complex challenges of the modern world.

Students observe the effects of heat and acid on milk proteins while making ricotta cheese during a lab in Science and Cooking.

AROUND CAMPUS

Empowering Wellness A Holistic Approach to Health at Newton Country Day

by Crystal Mims and Catherine Roy ’09

At Newton Country Day, health and wellness education is not an add-on; it is a core part of our mission to develop confident, compassionate, and self-aware young women. Through a thoughtfully designed and developmentally aligned curriculum from grades five through twelve, we devote dedicated class time each year to help students understand and care for their physical, emotional, and social well-being. Our comprehensive program equips students with tools to make informed, values-based decisions in an increasingly complex world. With a focus on self-awareness, resilience, and lifelong habits of health, we create a safe space where students can explore and strengthen their understanding of themselves and others.

Each grade level experience builds on the last, fostering personal growth and social responsibility. In the Middle School years, students explore topics such as hygiene, nutrition, sleep, emotional regulation, and digital well-being, laying a strong foundation for healthy choices. In the Upper School, our curriculum expands to meet the evolving needs of adolescents and young adults, addressing real-world issues and preparing students for life beyond our campus.

Some highlights from this year’s Upper School programming include:

• Substance Use Prevention in Grade 9: Through engaging, evidence-based lessons and peer conversations, students examine the science of substance use, peer pressure, and the importance of healthy boundaries.

• Build-a-Bowl Challenge in Grade 10 : In partnership with the school’s dining hall, students design and market nutritious, student-approved meals, combining lessons in nutrition, collaboration, and creative problem-solving.

• CPR Certification in Grade 11 : Students participate in American Heart Association-certified CPR training, gaining critical lifesaving skills and a deeper understanding of community care.

• New Freedoms in Grade 12 : Partnering with Belmont Hill, seniors explore the emotional and practical realities of life after high school, from managing independence to advocating for mental health support in college.

Our program is grounded in the Goals and Criteria of Sacred Heart education, integrating intellectual growth, personal integrity, and social awareness. Whether students are reflecting on their digital habits, practicing mindfulness, or leading wellness initiatives, they are encouraged to act with empathy, courage, and intention.

In a world that often sends mixed messages about health and identity, Newton Country Day offers students a clear, compassionate framework for living well. We are proud to dedicate time, space, and expertise to the lifelong well-being of our students, helping them not only thrive today, but carry a deep sense of care and confidence into the future.

Students participate in CPR Certification class.

Meet the Wellness Team

The Newton Country Day wellness team is a dynamic group of health professionals dedicated to providing a wide range of support and resources to our school community.

& Wellness Curriculum Coordinator

DR. CRYSTAL MIMS, PSY.D Director of Student Support

MS. CATHERINE ROY ’09, MS, RD, LDN Health

MS. ALEXA MORAN ’05, MSN, RN, CPNP-AC School Nurse

DR. CARA COLE, DHPE, ATC, LAT Athletic Trainer

MS. MONICA MASCOLO, LCSW Middle School Counselor

AROUND CAMPUS

Students Explore Careers with Enhanced Senior Project

by Laura Kelly

The Class of 2025 brought creativity, curiosity, and purpose to this year’s Senior Project, culminating in two dynamic symposiums, one for families and one for the Upper School, that showcased the depth of their research and career exploration. 60 seniors completed passion projects or internships throughout the month of May, gaining firsthand insight into industries ranging from law to agriculture to public health, and presented their findings to families, faculty, and the entire Upper School.

Laura Baines-Walsh, history teacher and Director of Senior Project, attributes the project’s success to several new approaches taken during the process, including an alumnae panel at the project’s kickoff. Several recent alumnae, including Sophia He ’23, Gigi Wagner ’23, Isabella Adarme ’24, Virginia Floyd ’24, Kaelaea Severino ’24, as well as Newton Country Day staff members Susie Ramirez ’99 P ’31 and Elizabeth Gallagher ’99, spoke to the class about their Senior Project experiences and how they framed their college and career trajectories. They collectively remarked that the project offered them an invaluable gift: the opportunity to explore careers early and to discover which industries truly interested them. “Hearing from alumnae helped the students choose personal and purposeful projects. They saw how useful the project is in planning your future,” says Baines-Walsh.

The Senior Project was also integrated into the Grade 12 Seminar, allowing students to use additional class time to brainstorm, research, and learn about

“[The Senior Project] opened students’ eyes to big issues that are right on our doorstep.”

–

Laura Baines-Walsh, history teacher and Director of Senior Project

Alumnae return to campus to speak with the Class of 2025 about their Senior Project experiences.

(Left to right) Susie Ramirez ’99, Beth Gallagher ’99, Gigi Wagner ’23, Sophia He ’23, Isabella Adarme ’24, Virginia Floyd ’24, Kaelea Severino ’24

Ellie Schlichtmann ’25 discusses “Pain and the Brain: Interdisciplinary Chronic Pain Research” from her time at the Center for Health Outcomes and Interdisciplinary Research at Massachusetts General Hospital.

stepping into a professional work environment. Students took an IKIGAI test, a career-guidance tool that encourages introspection and generates a detailed report on personality traits, passions, and their alignment with potential career paths. Through discussions about their test results with advisors, students learned how Senior Project connects to the Sacred Heart Goals and were prompted to consider what the world needs, what their gifts are, and how these things can overlap to make the world a better place.

A new requirement was added to Senior Project for the Class of 2025: submitting weekly journal entries documenting their learning and the challenges they noticed their industry must navigate. “The students took those very seriously,” Baines-Walsh shares. “They were really engaging with their projects. They opened students’ eyes to big issues that are right on our doorstep, like poverty and challenges in the education system. Our students felt a sense of urgency to act on the inequality they saw.”

Several students worked with Newton Country Day alumnae and reflected on their mentors’ success and passion for their work. Caroline Koenig ’25 interned for Erin Kelley Banta ’05, the Co-Founder and CEO of Pepper Home, a custom furniture and interior design business that prioritizes sustainable manufacturing. Koenig wrote: “One of the best parts about working with Erin has been learning about her journey. She started as a student at Newton Country Day and is now running her own successful company. Knowing that she was once in my position and has built something so successful is truly inspiring. It reminds me that I am surrounded by talented and driven women, and that kind of environment motivates me to aim higher as I start college.”

For the first time, the entire Upper School was invited to one of the two culminating Senior Project Symposiums.

“Inviting ninth through eleventh graders gave those students the chance to start dreaming for themselves and what their projects might be,” Baines-Walsh remarks. For the seniors, presenting to their peers provided a unique leadership opportunity. “They showed what it looks like to speak with authority and what a polished Newton Country Day graduate looks like,” Baines-Walsh reflects. “It’s really important for the eleventh graders to see the possibilities of projects and the journey they will embark on in a year.”

Senior Project stands as a meaningful bridge between high school and a professional career. With its deeper integration into the school day, clear connection to the Sacred Heart Goals, and expanded Upper School involvement, students have an opportunity to discern the next phase of their lives with intention. More than ever, they recognize Senior Project’s lasting impact. “Students recognized this was not simply a box to check,” says Baines-Walsh. “They understood that this project is something truly special.”

Head of School Jessica Hooper P ’28 talks with Alex Bradley ’25, who researched how marketing and communication strategies can help patients overcome a fear of dental care.

Sabrina Pierre-Louis ’25 presents the findings of her internship with Habitat for Humanity.

Sophia Beaver ’25, who interned with the Middlesex County District Attorney’s Office, educates listeners on the key role that policy plays in victim advocacy.

Performing Arts Students Shine through Original Compositions and Arrangements

by Laura Kelly

Student interest in composing and arranging has grown rapidly within the Performing Arts department in recent years. Recognizing that the creation of original work offers artists a new way to grow and learn, Performing Arts faculty members Melissa Davenport P ’29, Brandon Hagan, and Corey Everly have embraced this teaching opportunity, adapting lesson plans and developing new courses to provide time and resources for students eager to cultivate their creative voices.

“It’s one of the best ways for our students to understand all of the aspects that go into making a dance piece,” says Davenport, the Performing and Visual Arts Department Chair. Her Honors Dance Composition course, now in its third year, gives students immense freedom and introduces them to new aspects of building a performance such as lighting and costume design. “We encourage them to discover something new in every part of the process. It’s magical to watch them learn to trust themselves and their ideas,” Davenport explains. “It is a great way to live out all of the Goals, trust your gifts that God has given you, and to understand that what you are expressing matters.”

Hagan, who teaches instrumental music, revealed that the school’s “cohort years” during the pandemic provided with him new teaching opportunities that shaped how he approaches teaching the instrumental ensembles post-pandemic. “That time allowed me to go further in the music curriculum than I had before, to the point where students would write their own music using digital composition software,” he shares. This new area of the curriculum struck a chord with Elsa Cressotti ’25, an eight-year veteran of the instrumental music program in the

percussion section. “Elsa came out of this period wanting to continue writing and composing,” he explains.

In her junior year, Cressotti worked closely with Hagan on an original arrangement of “Again” from Your Lie In April, composed by Yokoyama Masura. When it came time to prepare for Festival of the Arts during her senior year, Cressotti approached Hagan with a nearly finished version of her second original arrangement, “Across the Violet Sky,” originally composed by Evan Call. “Elsa’s passion, talent, and commitment to this craft has generated widespread interest in composing and arranging,” Hagan shares. “This is a direction the music department will take going forward.”

Everly, Director of Music, shares that this interest has also been expressed by singers in Schola Cantorum, Chorale, and Heartbeats a cappella. “Years,” an original piece written and performed by Chorale in 2024, made waves in the choral music department. During her time as the committee head of

Heartbeats, Eleanor Allen ’25 created an original arrangement of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” that will become an event piece for Chorale and Schola Cantorum. “Cultivating student voice and agency through this process is a big focus of the program now. It’s important that the music we sing speaks to the time that we are living in now,” he explains. “Years from now, people can look back at what students were creating in 2025 and understand what it was like to exist in this time period.”

The Performing Arts faculty members agree; students grow most when they focus on the creative process rather than the final product. Through composing and arranging, students learn to shift their mentality away from preparing existing pieces for a single performance and towards creating original work that expresses their individuality and artistic vision.

(Left) Annalise Kretsedemas ’25 performing her original dance “You Don’t Love Me” at Festival of the Arts 2025; (Right) Elsa Cressotti ’25 playing the timpani during Festival of the Arts 2024.

AROUND CAMPUS Center Stage

The Evolution of the Theatre Program at Newton Country Day

Corey Everly and Melissa Davenport sat down to discuss one of their favorite topics!

Everly: In what ways have you witnessed the theatre program develop over the last few years?

Davenport: When you and I sat down together to discuss our collective goals for the program, we focused on keeping education at the forefront of our decisions. Process is the most important part of any project-based learning activity. We aim to give our students the most pre-professional experience by keeping the focus on the process. You know my motto: if you have a great process, you will have a great product!

Another notable area of growth is that students now actively seek out the opportunity to work behind the scenes in technical theatre roles. But I think the biggest development may be the impact of the student leadership program. It’s been such an awesome success, and I’m very proud of our students that have trained and served as Assistant Directors, Dance Captains, and Stage Managers.

Everly: Absolutely. When I came to Newton Country Day four years ago, I was blown away by the poise and leadership evident in the students. It was clear to me from my early days as a faculty member the way that the Goals and Criteria could be illustrated, realized, and taught through the power of theatre.

I also saw a real need to instill in the students an understanding of a theatre organizational chart, production calendars, and basic stagecraft. As we rooted our rehearsals and process in this framework, our students became naturally inquisitive about envisioning themselves in leadership roles.

Speaking of envisioning, how do you envision the future of the theatre program?

Davenport: Where to begin? I love to dream! I hope to continue bringing in local guest artists to work directly with our students. This year we co-hosted a workshop with Roxbury Latin School and brought in two guest teachers from The Boston Conservatory at Berklee. It was a fantastic and inspiring day.

But I’m thrilled that we are already achieving one of the goals that we both feel passionate about, which is reinstituting the Upper School acting elective! Will you share a bit about the new Acting Workshop course you will be leading and how you foresee it advancing our theatre program?

Everly: It is really exciting to bring this back to our course offerings after a long hiatus. The “workshop” atmosphere centers the idea of being works in progress. To explore acting in this way is to really allow all impulses, creative and otherwise, to flow through and to find one’s voice. I often like to ask the question, “Who has the voice and how are they using it?” By exploring a scene this way, students learn about empathy, community, and storytelling. It is my hope that the Acting Workshop course allows for student-led and directed theatre opportunities, allowing students to curate, write, act, and direct their own theatre pieces, facilitating student voice and agency in our theatre program. The study of theatre teaches us what is true, good, and beautiful in the world and it remains a powerful lever in educating our students to Courage and Confidence.

Corey Everly, Director of Music and Theatre

Melissa Davenport P ’29, Chair of Performing and Visual Arts

AROUND CAMPUS

Goal III in (Sustainable) Action

by Fiona Jobson ’25

The Society of the Sacred Heart has always held environmental stewardship at the core of its mission. Goal III, Criterion 4 states that all members of the school community accept accountability for the care of God’s creation, practice effective stewardship of the earth’s resources and work to alleviate the climate crisis. The Upper School Environmental Committee heeds this call through outreach events, waste management strategies, and community discussion, continually integrating environmental sustainability into all aspects of life at Newton Country Day. Founded in 2004 by Elaine Purcell ’05 and Jillian Rothwell Wishman ’05, the Environmental Committee introduced the idea of weaving environmentalism into everyday life at the school. “At the time, the word ‘sustainability’ wasn’t in vogue the same way it is today,” Wishman explains. She grew up visiting multi-generational farms as part of her family’s agri-business, which inspired her to take action and pave the way for a more sustainable future at Newton Country Day. The committee implemented a school-wide recycling system, providing bins in every classroom and reducing paper waste during a time when classwork relied heavily on printed materials. This everyday practice solidified environmentalism at our school as a tradition, not a trend.

In recent years, the committee has evolved to meet the current needs of the world amidst the climate crisis and worked to identify two primary goals for their efforts: to educate and empower the community to make sustainable choices, and to restructure systemic practices in

the school. With a focus on everyday action, the committee’s initiatives included community-wide education about sustainable lifestyle choices through informative and creative skits, videos, infographics, and announcements. They also joined forces with the Gardening and Service Committees to show the community that making small changes, such as using eco-friendly self-care items and reusable container wraps, can make a difference. This involvement and education of the school community created a continual dialogue about sustainability, which opened the door to large-scale institutional change. The committee began reaching out to expand sustainability efforts as a united force, resulting in the implementation of a school-wide composting program which diverts the school’s food waste from landfills to reduce greenhouse gases.

interdisciplinary learning as a step in the right direction. In the Engineering Design course, students examine how aspects of modern society impact the environment and evaluate technologies that aim to counteract climate change. Interdisciplinary courses like the new Minimester about political science bridge core material, like the politics of international resources, with societal concerns, such as the growing dependence on copper (see page 13).

In considering how sustainability efforts can be reflected in course curriculum, Nicki Noel, Associate Head of School for Strategy and Mission, returns to the crux of the Environmental Committee’s efforts, asking, “How do we make it easier for people to make the right choice?” Noel cites experiential and project-based,

Critical consciousness about our impact on the earth is vital to a well-rounded education, and the Sacred Heart Goals prompt us to take action. Modeling sustainability in an optimistic light through an environmentally-conscious curriculum and school-wide practices will inspire the next generation of Newton Country Day women committed to protecting our environment.

Scan the QR code to learn more about sustainability on campus and in school curriculum.

Engineering Design teacher Genevieve Fein incorporates sustainable practices and environmental awareness into her course.

Environmental Committee members sell studentmade candles and sugar scrubs in a joint event with the Service and Gardening committees.

AROUND CAMPUS

Sharing the Sisterhood with Brother Schools

Throughout the school year, students in both the Middle and Upper Schools are invited to service projects and social events organized with our brother schools. The list below highlights a few of the opportunities offered to Newton Country Day students this past academic year.

• Roxbury Latin Trivia Night (Grades 9 & 10)

• Newton Country Day & Belmont Hill Ice Skating Social (Grades 9 & 10)

• Newton Country Day Semi-Formal (Grades 11 & 12)

• Grades 7 & 8 Social at Belmont Hill

• Grade 8 Service Activity with St. Sebastian’s

• Belmont Hill Semi-Formal (Grades 9 & 10)

• Xaverian Brothers Semi-Formal (Grades 9 & 10)

• Newton Country Day Prom (Grades 11 & 12)

• Sneaker Ball at Fessenden (Grades 5 & 6)

• Venture Volunteers Community Service with Roxbury Latin (Grade 9)

• Newton Country Day Semi-Formal (Grades 9 & 10)

Top: Grade 9 Venture Volunteers with Roxbury Latin; Top Middle: Newton Country Day Prom; Bottom Middle: Grade 8 Service Activity with St. Sebastian’s; Bottom: Grades 9 & 10 Semi-Formal

AROUND CAMPUS

Awards

Science and Engineering

MASSACHUSETTS MIDDLE SCHOOL STATE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING FAIR

All four projects who represented Newton Country Day School received recognition at the state level:

SECOND PLACE AWARD AND JUNIOR INNOVATORS CHALLENGE AWARD

Maggie Cronin ’29, Molly Papazian ’29, and Abby Terino ’29: “Lacrosse Luminescence”

SECOND PLACE AWARD

Madison Li ’29 and Evelin Teamey ’29: “Catch the Waste, Keep it Safe”

THIRD PLACE AWARD

Frances Bride ’30 and Charlotte Mitchell ’30: “The Very Hungry Caterpillar”

Computer Science

HONORABLE MENTION

Elizabeth Cedrone ’30, Emory Hassell ’30, and Jessalyn Lisek ’30: “Can Hair Hang On?”

MASSACHUSETTS SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING FAIR – REGION V

One project was recognized at the state level: HONORABLE MENTION

Meah Cavallo ’28 and Clare Hooper ’28: “Hydration Nation: Comparing the Effectiveness of Dermatologist Approved and Not Approved Moisturizers”

National

This year, from over 3,700 national applicants and 1,233 awardees, nine Newton Country Day students were selected to receive National Center for Women & Information Technology’s (NCWIT) Award for Aspirations in Computing (AiC) across multiple award categories in Massachusetts. Since first participating in the program in 2017, Newton Country Day has earned 77 NCWIT awards.

MASSACHUSETTS

AFFILIATE AWARD

Grace Grant ’26

Giselle Montoute ’25

Maggie Sullivan ’25

Lily Terino ’25

MASSACHUSETTS

AFFILIATE AWARD HONORABLE MENTION

Lane Carroll ’26

Johanna Jané-Leonardis ’27

Catherine Li ’27

Sophia Yang ’27

AFFILIATE AWARD RISING STAR

Adiya Hopkins ’28

COLLEGE BOARD AP ® COMPUTER SCIENCE FEMALE DIVERSITY AWARD

For the third consecutive year, Newton Country Day earned the College Board AP ® Computer Science Female Diversity Award for achieving high female representation in AP Computer Science A.

Latin Exam

GOLD MEDAL, SUMMA CUM LAUDE

Erin Bourque ’27

Gemma Brucato ’30

Madison Li ’29

Emily Pierce ’30

SILVER MEDAL, MAXIMA CUM LAUDE

Olwen Davis ’30

Caitlin Figlioli ’29

Annie Gruber ’30

Emory Hassell ’30

Lizzy Kfoury ’25

Valerie Luxieo ’28

Mati Melodia ’27

Eila Murray ’28

Jordan Rich ’28

MAGNA CUM LAUDE

Elizabeth Cedrone ’30

National French Exam

PLATINUM MEDAL

Zoey Bekarian ’29

GOLD MEDAL

Arianna Adarme ’28

Brenda Borges ’26

Izzy Lucibello ’26

Mati Melodia ’27

Alessia Velutini ’27

Tessa Venanzi ’26

SILVER MEDAL

Ginger Biederman ’26

Helen Carey ’27

Samantha Cho ’29

Caitlin Cunjak ’27

Meredith Huber ’25

Sarah Li ’28

Abigail Louissaint ’28

Lexi Pierce ’28

Emma Wulff ’28

Gabby Zhang ’26

BRONZE MEDAL

Mia Binggeli ’28

Teia DeGeorge ’25

Alexa Ende ’28

Kaileigh Ferrero ’26

Madeline Kelly ’29

Brooke McGillivray ’28

Larissa Naccour ’27

Emily Schumacher ’28

Madeline Sidhom ’29

Sophie Weber ’28

National Spanish Exam

GOLD MEDAL

Lexi Borcherding ’29

Tildie Lucibello ’29

Regina Qu ’29

SILVER MEDAL

Gigi Cincotti ’29

Gracie Goodman ’27

Abby Hirsch ’27

Johanna Jané-Leonardis ’27

Ruari Montague ’29

Sabrina Pierre-Louis ’25

Lexi Schuldt ’30

Sophie Tournet ’26

Elita Wang ’28

BRONZE MEDAL

Flora Colbert ’25

Sabrina Dacey ’29

Isabelle DeLeo ’29

Sochi Egwim ’25

Kate Fradette ’30

Bridget Gavin ’26

Julia Hirsch ’25

Natasha Jané-Leonardis ’30

Izzy Lichtenstein ’29

Regan Montague ’27

Casandra Ortiz Gonzalez ’28

Evelin Teamey ’29

Sydney Young ’28

HONORABLE MENTION

Mariamawit Afework ’27

Nora Augst ’28

Sofia Ayala ’26

Phoebe Bui ’27

Anna Busby ’26

Lane Carroll ’26

Mary Carroll ’27

Christiana Catrickes ’30

Rebecca Chen ’28

Elaina Collins ’28

Rielley Cronican ’26

Betsy Dunphy ’28

Aaira Dutt ’29

Tiana Egwim ’27

Eloise Ewing ’30

Kesbine Exantus ’26

Emily Falahee ’28

Jael Farmer ’28

Makayla Rodrigues ’26

Chrysanthi Grover ’25

Ana Horgan ’27

Caroline Kavey ’27

Elizabeth Keefe ’27

HONORABLE MENTION

Lila Allen ’27

Gabriella Andrews ’28

Maddy Borders ’30

Nettie Bourque ’29

Frances Bride ’30

Caroline Burns ’26

Sloane Brzezinski ’26

Lindsey Fiske ’26

Katelyn Hanson ’26

Caroline Hoenscheid ’28

Jessi Huang ’26

Sandy Kario ’26

Mallory Kilcoyne ’27

Elizabeth Klein ’30

Iris Liao ’26

Madeleine Milone ’29

Giselle Montoute ’25

Maeve Parcell ’30

Maddie Prucher ’28

Taylor Santaniello ’25

Emily Schwartz ’30

Cecilia Shapiro ’30

Emilia Sickler ’30

Lyla Viviano ’30

Lilly Weigold ’27

Sophia Zaphiris ’27

Daphne Koenig ’29

Avery Liljedahl ’28

Zayde Martinez ’27

Finlay McCormick ’25

Julia McMullen ’27

Ava Merrill ’29

Charlotte Mitchell ’30

Kylie Mitchell ’27

Marie Mulroy ’25

Lulu Nardone ’29

Amelia O’Brien ’26

Macie Palm ’30

Taylor Rich ’29

Aislin Roache ’30

Isabella Romeo ’27

Milena Rufo ’30

Bella Salamone ’29

Sophie Sidhom ’27

Caroline Stilwell ’29

Charlotte Sullivan ’29

May Sullivan ’27

Annika Teamey ’28

Brooklyn Torres ’29

Delaina Vidal ’29

Lucy Willett ’29

Dina Zahos ’25

National Merit Scholarship Program

In recognition of their exceptional academic promise, Julia Hirsch ’25 and Ludovica Melodia ’25 were named Commended Students in the 2025 National Merit Scholarship Program. The National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC), screens around 1.3 million program entrants each year and about 34,000 of the highest scoring students are designated Commended Students in recognition of their exceptional performance on the preliminary SAT/ National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test.

Art and Writing

SCHOLASTIC ART & WRITING AWARDS

Newton Country Day students were recognized with 51 writing awards, the third highest school total for the state of Massachusetts.

WRITING AWARDS

GOLD KEY

Eleanor Allen ’25

“Janus’s Key” (Poetry)

Elsa Cressotti ’25

“Day 402” (Science Fiction)

Grace Grant ’26

“Brought to Justice” (Critical Essay)

Jordan Rich ’28

“Soul of Soil” (Poetry)

Ellie Schlichtmann ’25

“Angel of the Battlefield:

Clara Barton” (Critical Essay)

Jane Schwartz ’27

“Joy” (Personal Essay)

SILVER KEY

Phoebe Bui ’27

“Waking Up” (Poetry)

Ella Christian ’27

“Captain Tory” (Flash Fiction)

Gigi Cincotti ’29

“Right Path” (Short Story)

Lucy Cooney ’26

“When Do We Know That We’ve Grown Up?” (Poetry)

Sochi Egwim ’25

“Her Laugh” (Personal Essay)

Abigail Goodman ’25

“To the Creator Who Walks the Earth at Dawn and Dusk” (Poetry)

“unfurling” (Poetry)

Abby Hirsch ’27

“Legend of the Cove” (Short Story)

Lucy Jordan ’26

“Nazi Propaganda” (Critical Essay)

Caroline Kavey ’27

“Backseat Driver” (Personal Essay)

“My Grandmother and Her Sunglasses” (Personal Essay)

Abigail Louissaint ’28

“Rainbow” (Poetry)

Izzy Lucibello ’26

“Women and Insanity in Victorian England” (Critical Essay)

Jane Schwartz ’27

“It’s Only a Nightmare” (Science Fiction)

Avery Spalding ’25

“30,000” (Personal Essay)

Unforeseen Within the Ordinary (Senior Writing Portfolio)

Carmen Walters ’26

“Memory” (Personal Essay)

HONORABLE

MENTION

Sofia Ayala ’26

“How to be the Youngest” (Flash Fiction)

Sloane Brzezinski ’26

“Facism in Italian Education” (Critical Essay)

Ella Christian ’27

“Child Marriage: America’s Hidden Crisis” (Journalism)

“Ottoman Imperialism and Protestant Reformation” (Critical Essay)

Elsa Cressotti ’25

“Those of No Importance” (Poetry)

Maggie Crowley ’25

“The moon was so consuming” (Poetry)

Kaileigh Ferrero ’26

“Little Will” (Flash Fiction)

Abigail Goodman ’25

“His Name Was Icarus Once” (Flash Fiction)

Avery Grover ’25

Roots: Veins of Trees (Senior Writing Portfolio)

Meredith Huber ’25

“Broken Ground” (Science Fiction)

Nora Joyce ’25

“The Forgotten Miles” (Personal Essay)

Tildie Lucibello ’29

“Aisle After Aisle” (Short Story)

Katherine Mackey ’26

“Women’s Efforts in World War I” (Critical Essay)

Zayde Martinez ’27

“A Tale of Cyclopes and Humans” (Short Story)

Out by Flora Colbert ’25

’26

Finlay McCormick ’25

“Bound with an Obi” (Critical Essay)

“The Red-Stained Silver Screen” (Critical Essay)

Eila Murray ’28

“The Depths of December” (Poetry)

Reaching

Reconciliation by Gabby Zhang

Reflection on Voting by Valerie Luxieo ’28

Elizabeth Ouimet ’29

Chapter Fourteen: “Rebirth” (Novel Writing)

Jordan Rich ’28

“The Tortured Mathematician” (Poetry)

Isabella Romeo ’27

“Small Actions, Large Impacts” (Critical Essay)

Sam Ryan ’26

“World War I and Women’s Suffrage in Britain” (Critical Essay)

Jane Schwartz ’27

“You Will be Clashin’ if you Wear Fast Fashion” (Journalism)

Lily Souza ’25

“They are Drowning Too” (Senior Writing Portfolio)

Avery Spalding ’25

“Cats and Rabbits” (Poetry)

“Outgrowing” (Poetry)

“Theme for Ships and Storms” (Poetry)

Sophia Zaphiris ’27

“Justice” (Short Story)

ART

AWARDS

GOLD KEY

Flora Colbert ’25

Reaching Out

Valerie Luxieo ’28

Breath of the Earth

Fragile Futures

Reflection on Voting

Roots of Wonder

SILVER KEY

Flora Colbert ’25

Birth of Eve

Valerie Luxieo ’28

Prayer

HONORABLE MENTION

Valerie Luxieo ’28

The Stars

Gabby Zhang ’26

Reconciliation

Selected Writing Award Winners

Gold Key in Poetry

JANUS’S KEY

by Eleanor Allen ’25

there are those that crave the power of Zeus’s mighty arm, and others still who may desire Aphroditie’s charm. some may wish for Apollo’s flame or Artemis’s aim, or one might want to rule the sea by Posidon’s great decree. I do not crave Dionysus’s gourd or Ares’s fiery sword, I do not want Medusa’s head on Athena’s shield of dread. instead I wish for Janus’s key: the past and future in two faces agree. I hunger and I thirst for I want to be satisfied with questions asked

and answers ratified. but although it is the key that I crave, I yearn for new doors: I want to brave the hunches and theories and the vast unknown, the door forever locked without questions of my own. every door leads to somewhere, every lock is unique, and though I can’t know all it is knowledge I seek. infinite doors stand before me but if all could be opened, my life would lose reason and our purpose would be broken. if we reach the end of the hall, then like angel’s locks we’d fall. thus when the greater questions loom I utter nescio sed contentus sum.

Silver Key in Poetry

WHEN DO WE KNOW THAT WE’VE GROWN UP?

by Lucy Cooney ’26

Is it when you stop staying up

Until your parents get home to say goodnight? Is it when you no longer sit at the ‘Kids table’ during Thanksgiving?

Or it is when your mother stops Objecting to you drinking coffee every day?

Maybe it is when you realize that Fifth grade was five years ago, And you can’t seem to remember Your kindergarten best friend’s name. Maybe it’s when your friend starts To pick you up in the driver’s seat. Or when you finally grow taller than your mother, And a wave of sadness seems to creep up on her?

But maybe it is when you look in the mirror, And see the innocent sparkle has faded from your eyes. Or when the constant solitude No longer bothers you like it used to?

Maybe it’s when your once outgoing personality is now trapped behind bars.

Or when conversations with fair-weather friends Become a chore

Maybe its when the first day of school

Feels like a punishment instead of a privilege

Maybe it’s when you sit alone,

Trying to remember what true happiness is supposed to feel like. Forced to watch the ghost of your Adolescence leave you behind.

Silver Key in Personal Essay

30,000

by Avery Spalding ’25

I’m going to try not to think about the 30,000—I’m fine with not understanding it for now. The best time to think about being on an airplane is when you’re not on an airplane. I might figure it out at sea level, and feel grateful the science worked out well enough to get me home.

The pilot said we might hit some turbulence over the great lakes. I won’t bother with trying to understand that either, because we are surrounded only by air. Air isn’t typically something one can bump into. I guess the bird can. The rules change when you’re at 30,000 feet.

We’re somewhere over middle America, I think, because I can only see odd little shapes of green or yellow or brown through the haze out the window. There are probably cars and houses and people down there as well, but we’re too high up to see them. I wonder if the people know I’m writing, sort of, about them. The people on the plane, too; my fellow passengers. Probably not. They’re reading and watching TV, and eating tiny packets of pretzels, and sleeping uncomfortably. They’re drinking tiny bottles of scotch and writing emails. They’re wandering up the aisle trying to avoid bumping the stranger in the aisle seat, but aren’t we all?

I passed through security alone—without my parents, that is—for the first time today and enjoyed being lost in the crowd (didn’t mind being bumped into all that much). The rat race was almost pleasant—through the metal detector and down the escalator and onto the airport train and to my gate—and I am now rather enjoying being a rat in a giant metal bird. The solidarity of 30,000 feet.

I liked the part of the pandemic that meant not traveling. I am a creature of routine, and getting on a plane takes me away from that. Rats don’t like being on planes, as a general rule. I’m afraid of flying, not because of the actual flying, but because I lose my biggest comfort when I get on a plane.

The first big trip I went on since the pandemic began was one of the hardest things I’d ever done. It was 2022, I was 15, and we were going to Colorado to see family. And it turned out okay. I felt like crap the first day, probably a combination of anxiety and altitude sickness. I did it partially to see my grandfather, who isn’t doing too hot health-wise: that’s the simple explanation. The more complicated part involves an equation or a scale of sorts: my fear of travel and travel sickness and change at one end, and my desire to spend time with my grandfather on the other. I felt a very deep need then to prove that my anxiety wouldn’t keep me from something so important.

I know now that it’s a bit more complicated than that, but I wonder how many people sitting around me are trying to balance their own equations. The besuited man two rows behind me has an especially mundane business trip ahead of him, and he’s secretly considering refunding his ticket home. A new city might be better. There’s an older lady on vacation, asleep against the little plastic window. It’s her first flight. There’s a twenty-something with a cat in a carrier, a connecting flight to Spain, and another flight booked for the end of the semester. There’s a loud toddler who won’t

remember a moment of this. And they all will never meet, and I will never meet them. I hope it works out okay in the end, for all of us, our equations.

There wasn’t really an equation when I was younger—or if there was, my parents handled it. They handled luggage and snacks and boarding passes. I worried about getting wikki sticks in my snackbox and playing Plants vs. Zombies on the seatback screen. I was concerned with cartoons and having to walk too much in the airport. It was easy.

Somebody packed my clothes, somebody printed my boarding pass and walked me down the jetway. I miss it, a little bit, especially when I’m reminded of the 30,000 feet. I wasn’t sentient enough then to understand how big even one thousand was.

But today, I bought myself a bagel at my gate and I watched everyone else wait in line and I was grateful to be a little bit alone. The aloneness is okay right now: there’s something wonderful about being 30,000 feet in the air, going 700 miles an hour across the country, on a giant metal bird with a few hundred strangers.

Gold Key in Critical Essay

ANGEL OF THE BATTLEFIELD: CLARA BARTON

by Ellie Schlichtmann ’25

(excerpt)

After the conclusion of the Civil War, Barton spoke publicly about her experience as a female nurse on the frontlines, sharing her story of how she fought back against the boundaries society placed on women. What made Barton such a powerful figure for women’s rights was that she did not only dream of change or talk about it as a hypothetical, she instead led by example then spoke from her own personal experience. Barton went to the front, paved the way for women after her, and established her own reputation and the reputation of the field of nursing as credible and respectable. Specifically, she demonstrated qualities of women unbeknownst to many employers such as, determination, intellect, emotional fortitude, and physical strength. This made the profession of nursing available to more women in the future, changing America’s social landscape. In 1892, Barton delivered a poem she wrote in reflection of her time during the Civil War. She described the barriers she and other female nurses faced and overcame despite the resistance of male peers. Barton said, “Did these women quail at the sight of a gun? Will some soldier tell us of one he saw run? Will he glance at the boats on the great western flood, At Pittsburgh and Shiloh, did they faint at the blood?” She goes on to describe the real action taken by Civil War

nurses, saying, “They saw, in high purpose, a duty to do, And the armor of right broke the barriers through. Uninvited, unaided, unsanctioned oftentimes, with pass, or without it, they pressed on the lines; they pressed, they implored, till they ran the lines through, and this was the ‘running’ the men saw them do.” Barton then ends saying, “[we] would stand with you now, as [we] stood with you then, the nurses, consolers, and saviours of men.” Barton effectively fought back against boundaries society placed on women by first leading by example then speaking from her own personal experience. As she overcame male views of the typical pure and submissive nineteenth-century woman, she established herself and the field of nursing as indispensable to the war effort and women’s rights movements.

Furthermore, Barton explicitly advocated for women’s rights, specifically in regard to the equality of the sexes, and praised the roles and work of suffragettes, most famously, Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and Frances D. Gage. She held these women in high regard and gave them credit for making her involvement in the Civil War possible and so well-known. She also condemned men, specifically soldiers, for not recognizing the role these women played in saving their lives. In a lecture given in 1882 Barton explains how, “you, [soldiers], glorify the women who made their way to the front to reach you in your misery, and nurse you back to life. You called us angels. Who opened the way for women to go and make it possible?” In 1898 Barton continued to advocate for gender-based equality in America saying, “I believe I must have been born believing in the full right of women to all the privileges and positions which nature and justice accord to her in common with other human beings. Perfectly equal rights— human rights.” In this way, Barton was an early feminist. She believed in the social, economic, and political equality of the sexes. More specifically, Barton spoke publicly about, “the right [of a woman] to her own property, her own children, her own home, her just individual claim before the law, to her freedom of action, to her personal liberty.” These beliefs which Barton advocated ardently for would not become popular belief for almost a century after the Civil War in second wave feminism. As Barton aged, she utilized her platform as a widely respected and accomplished woman to advocate for women’s rights and to support famous suffragettes of the age.

AROUND CAMPUS

Faculty Professional Development Highlights

by Abby Woodworth

Members of our faculty showcased Newton Country Day’s advancement in leadership in girls’ education at the International Coalition of Girls Schools (ICGS) Educating Girls Symposium in New York City. Warren Perry presented Coaches: Creating Opportunities for Athletic Coaches to Hone Expertise and Succeed and David Byron, Catherine Barber, and Emily Horwitz presented Girl Meets World: Designing Intentional Experiential Curricula. Catherine Roy ’09 and Emily Horwitz presented More Than Words: 8th Grade Capstone Projects as the Culmination of Experiential Learning in Middle School at the 2025 ICGS Conference in Philadelphia in June.

Melissa Bleakney-Dalton participated in the Certificate in School Management and Leadership program, a collaboration between the Harvard Graduate School of Education and Harvard Business School Online. The program uses a case-study model and includes courses such as Leading Learning, Leading People, Leading Change, and Leading School Strategy and Innovation. Educators from around the world engaged in collaborative problem-solving while learning from the wisdom and experience of leaders both within and outside the field of education.

Religious Studies faculty member Erin Regan is currently completing Courage to Preach, a Post-Master’s Certificate program through the Clough School of Theology and Ministry at Boston College. The program is designed to enhance a minister’s ability to preach in response to the most pressing issues of our time.

Lindsey Tonge recently earned a graduate certificate in Learning Differences with a specialization in Executive Functioning from Landmark College, a leader in education for students with learning differences. The program involved studying and learning from data-driven experiments that illuminated best practices in the field. (Read more about Tonge’s new role on page 11.)

The Athletics Department at Newton Country Day offered two in-house professional development sessions for coaches this year. Topics included Non-Verbal Communication, Recruiting the Right Way , and Sports Psychology which was led by Associate Head Crew Coach Rosemary Kyne, who holds her BA in in Psychology from Bates College and a Masters in Child Study and Human Development, with a focus on the coach-athlete relationship, from Tufts University.

AROUND CAMPUS

Old-School Methods, New-School Tools

How Karen Naylor-Riobueno P ’13 blends tradition, technology, and tennis tactics in the Spanish classroom

by Laura Kelly

Karen Naylor-Riobueno P ’13 approaches teaching the same way she approaches a tennis match: focusing on one point at a time, and treating patience and presence as muscles that require daily exercise. Now 23 years into her Newton Country Day career, she continues to draw inspiration from lessons she learned on the court during her professional tennis career. She teaches students to be present and intentional, and to leave perfectionism at the door, because as in tennis, life is not about winning every point, but winning the points that matter.

Following her professional tennis career on both international and local courts, Naylor-Riobueno’s Newton Country Day journey started in 2001 as the varsity tennis coach. “The athletic director showed me the campus and I knew that I really wanted to be part of this ,” she shares.

She substitute taught one Spanish class and, a few months later, received an urgent call asking her to take on a full-time teaching role.

“I dropped everything for that job. The rest is history,” she says with a smile.

She says world language education is crucial because it helps students understand cultural relativism. “Learning about other cultures helps them realize there is not one way to do things,”

Naylor-Riobueno explains. Similarly, there is not one way to teach and learn in her class. While she remains grounded in pen-and-paper learning, encouraging students to take time with every lesson for maximum retention, she complements this traditional approach with a thoughtful integration of technology. When faced with 19 AP Spanish students, her largest class yet, she enrolled in “AI in Education: Leveraging ChatGPT for Teaching” at the University of Pennsylvania to find a modern solution to providing all of her students with timely feedback. She created a custom chatbot that offers students quick, detailed feedback on their Spanish writing skills. “My platform is a secure way for students to use artificial intelligence with the specific goal of improving their writing,” she explains. The chatbot was a hit with her students; they processed and applied feedback faster, gained more confidence in their writing, and used AI as a tool to enhance their learning. “I’m floored by AI,” she shares. “I consume content about it daily. I look forward to learning more about how it can improve the classroom experience.”

Even after decades of evolving lesson plans to keep up with the modern student, Naylor-Riobueno still finds the same joy in teaching, especially at Newton Country Day. “I’m so excited to be here. Our students are passionate about learning and about the Sacred Heart mission. I really enjoy being in a space that is larger than life,” she says. “I’m always excited about doing things better next year. I have never been bored at work.” She has saved every thank you note from her students, thinking she might need a reminder of why she chose this path one day—but that day has yet to come. Like a successful tennis match—and a fulfilling teaching career—she continues to take it one point, one lesson, one moment at a time.

Naylor-Riobueno, tennis coach, and her daughter Alexa ’13, singles player, in 2010.

AROUND CAMPUS

Homecoming

Homecoming 2024 saw plenty of Falcon spirit as alumnae, family, and friends cheered on our athletic teams against rival Dana Hall.

Scan the QR code for more photos and a video recap

Middle School Photos

Upper School Photos

Video Recap

MIDDLE SCHOOL Advent Vespers

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UPPER SCHOOL

Advent Vespers

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AROUND CAMPUS

Congé

Mobs of screaming seniors ran down the hallways to interrupt classes and announce: it’s Congé! This year’s “Country Congé” theme made for a day filled with cowboy hats, line dancing, and mechanical bull riding.

Scan the QR code to watch the recap video

Scan the QR code for more photos and a video recap

AROUND CAMPUS

Blue/Silver Induction

A favorite annual tradition at the start of the school year: each and every new member of the Newton Country Day community is inducted into Team Blue or Team Silver!

Photos Video Recap

AROUND CAMPUS Junior Ring Ceremony

On May 22, we celebrated the Feast of St. Madeleine Sophie Barat and the Junior Ring Ceremony.

Scan the QR code for more photos and a video recap

Photos

Video Recap

Middle School Celebration of the Arts

The culminating Middle School curricular arts event where every student presents work from their visual art, chorus, instrumental, and dance classes. Highlights include co-curricular, project-based learning endeavors, such as dance classes partnering with a variety of disciplines including English, History, Latin, and Religious Studies.

Scan the QR code for more photos and a video recap

Photos

Video Recap

Upper School Festival of the Arts

The culminating Upper School curricular event where all visual arts students display pieces in an art show and all performing arts students present a wide variety of works, ranging from classical to contemporary. This year’s Festival focused on Goal III: a social awareness which impels to action with performances featuring themes such as protest music, the wage gap, consumerism, and the impact of plastics on our environment.

Scan the QR code for more photos and a video recap

Photos Video Recap

Middle School

Musical Beauty and the Beast Jr.

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Upper School Musical Tuck

Everlasting

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Athletics

Sisterhood in Sports with Sacred Heart Greenwich

Newton Country Day and Sacred Heart Greenwich came together in the spirit of sisterhood for some friendly competition during the winter and spring athletic seasons. In the winter, our varsity basketball and hockey teams hosted Greenwich, while in the spring, the Newton Country Day varsity crew team traveled to Greenwich for competitive races.

(Above) Michael F. Baber, President of Sacred Heart Greenwich; Warren Perry, Newton Country Day Athletic Director; Ayo Hart, Sacred Heart Greenwich Varsity Basketball Head Coach; Jessica Hooper P ’28, Newton Country Day Head of School

Fall Season Highlights

Varsity Volleyball finished the season as EIL Tournament Champions for the fourth consecutive year. EIL All-League honors were awarded to Emilia Powderly ’25 and Emily Falahee ’28.

Varsity Field Hockey had another outstanding season, earning the #5 seed in the New England Class C Tournament, where the team delivered an unforgettable 2–1 overtime victory against King in the quarter finals. Lillian Pergola ’25 was named EIL Co-Player of the Year/ Boston Globe All-Scholastic and Kimberly Southall was named EIL Coach of the Year. Lucy Cooney ’26 received EIL All-League recognition along with Lillian Pergola ’25 and Marie Murloy ’25, who also received All-NEPSAC honors.

Varsity Soccer finished the season with a berth in the EIL playoffs and as the #4 seed in the New England Class C Tournament. The team scored a total of 38 goals, which is the second most since 2009. Lucy Guden ’26 and Taylor Young ’26 received EIL All-League recognition along with Johanna Jané-Leonardis ’27, who also received All-NEPSAC honors along with Kerstin Bailey ’26.

Varsity Cross Country placed second out of eight teams at the O’Connell Invitation meet with three runners placing in the top 20. Nora Joyce ’25 received EIL All-League and NEPSTA All-League recognition.

MS B1 Soccer had an undefeated season, ending with a record of 10–0–3.

MS Cross Country enjoyed a successful season, including first place wins at the Larz Anderson Invitational and the Roxbury Latin Jamboree.

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Upper School Middle School

Winter Season Highlights

Varsity Basketball attended the Turkey Tip-Off at Brandeis University for the first time and hosted the #2 ranked team in Class A and fellow Network school, Sacred Heart Greenwich.

Varsity Ice Hockey traveled from Connecticut to Maine to find the best competition possible. EIL All-League honors were awarded to Katherine Cedrone ’26.

The Varsity Dance Team performed at several school events and at the StarQuest Dance Competition, where both dances placed first in their categories, receiving high scores for being technically strong and well-rehearsed.

Varsity Squash made their debut at the 2025 U.S. High School Team Championships in Philadelphia and won two out of four matches, finishing 6th in their division.

JV Basketball started their season winning ten of the first eleven games. Every player scored in two different games this season.

COLLEGE COMMITMENTS

Sarah Brody ’25

Tufts University

Elsa Cressotti ’25 Northeastern University

Bianca Hajer ’25 College of the Holy Cross

Hope Moriarty ’25

Colgate University

Rowing

Lillian Pergola ’25

Boston College Field Hockey

Upper School Middle School

Spring Season Highlights

Varsity Softball played at an elite level all season, finishing 10–3 overall. Sarah Brody ’25 and Teia DeGeorge ’25 both earned All-NEPSAC honors, with Brody also being named EIL Player of the Year.

Varsity Tennis celebrated a successful season, winning 5 of their last 6 matches to finish 5–3 in the EIL. All-NEPSAC honors were awarded to Avery Grover ’25.

In Varsity Crew’s most successful season in five years, both the first and second boats qualified for NEIRAs for the first time since 2020, and the second boat took a third-place finish in the Petite Final.

Over the course of their 11 games, Varsity Lacrosse had 11 players score 130 goals. EIL All-League honors were awarded to Lucy Cooney ’26, along with Marie Mulroy ’25 and Lillian Pergola ’25, who also received All-NEPSAC honors.

In their first full season as an official varsity sport, Varsity Track & Field had a recordbreaking season. Eleven athletes, nearly three-quarters of the team, qualified to compete at the New England Division II Championships. EIL All-League honors were awarded to Kaylie Mulka ’26 along with Johanna Jané-Leonardis ’27, Lauren Cantwell ’26, and Katie DeSisto ’27, who also received All-NEPSAC honors along with Noelle Trull ’28.

Varsity Sailing once again collaborated with Beaver Country Day to form a co-op team for the third year, with three sailors from Newton Country Day, including the team MVP Gracie Goodman ’27.

Middle School Softball enjoyed an undefeated season, and MS A Lacrosse celebrated their second undefeated season in a row.

Meet Warren Perry

Newton Country Day’s new Athletic Director

Newton Country Day is pleased to welcome Warren Perry as our new Director of Athletics!

Perry is an accomplished athletics professional with over a decade of experience in sports leadership and program development in the Sacred Heart Network. Most recently, Perry served as the Director of Strategy and Excellence in Athletics and Wellness at our sister school, Convent of the Sacred Heart in New York City. There, he led strategic programs in athletics, physical education, and wellness, as well as coach and leadership development. In his other role as Director of Aquatics, he led the swim team to three consecutive state titles and nine straight league championships, and also spearheaded the Sacred Heart Network Summer Project on service through aquatics.

As a dedicated member of the Sacred Heart Network, Perry prioritizes “wise freedom” by empowering students and athletes to grow through sports and physical activity. He especially loves Goal V, Criteria One and encourages his teams to discover their potential, learn from challenges, and develop empathy, all while building resilience that extends beyond the playing field and into students’ everyday lives.

A North Carolina native, Perry attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he competed as a varsity swimmer. He holds two master’s degrees—one in Sport Management and the other in Education. For fifteen years, he taught undergraduate coursework in coaching theories, demonstrating his passion for developing leaders in sport.

“Since arriving at Newton Country Day in November, I’ve felt deeply welcomed by a community that lives out the Sacred Heart mission in every corner of school life,” remarked Perry. “Highlights like the Blessing of the Athletes and our Winter White Out event reminded me just how powerful sports can be in forming courage, confidence, and connection. I’m incredibly grateful for these first six months and excited for all that lies ahead as we continue building something special together through Falcon Athletics.”

THANK YOU, KIM SOUTHALL, FOR YOUR YEARS OF DEDICATED LEADERSHIP AS ATHLETIC DIRECTOR

After 22 years of dedicated service to Newton Country Day, Kim Southall concluded her 19-year tenure as Athletic Director. Initially hired as a Field Hockey coach in 2002 and later becoming Athletic Director in 2005, she helped shape the school’s athletic program into one defined by teamwork, resilience, and sportsmanship.

When asked what she was most proud of in her 22 years at the school, Southall shared, “As I look back on my time at Newton Country Day, there are many accomplishments that make me proud of our Athletic Program—undefeated seasons, EIL Championships, Conference Players of the Year, Coaches of the Year, girls moving on to compete at the collegiate level… Most of all, I am proud of watching our students develop into strong, confident women throughout their time with us.”

Southall will continue as Newton Country Day’s Varsity Field Hockey Head Coach in the Fall of 2025.

Intertwining Vines

An Athletics Strategic Game Plan

“I am the vine, you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit.”

John 15:5

Athletics at Newton Country Day is more than competition—it is Formation . Truly, Falcon sport programs aspire to be not just formational, but Fiercely competitive. If we succeed in these two goals, our studentathletes will have Fun

Like the vines that grow strong through connection and care, our athletics program intertwines with the Sacred Heart mission to cultivate young women of character, community, Courage , and Confidence . Following a comprehensive audit conducted in Summer/Fall 2024 involving perspectives from all areas of our community, we are proud to share this strategic vision that honors our tradition, responds to student and community voices, and boldly charts a future of growth, excellence, and spirit.

STRATEGIC

PRIORITIES & ACTION PLANS

Schools of the Sacred Heart are guided by five Goals that guide our mission-driven work. In this spirit, we have identified five strategic priorities for Newton Country Day athletics— each one a vital strand in the vines that connect sport to the education of the whole person. Together, these commitments reflect a holistic and complete vision for growth: strengthening our foundation, elevating our programs, and deepening our alignment with the Sacred Heart mission.

FORMATIONAL: Emphasizing the role of sport in shaping character, faith, and leadership.

: Celebrating the joy of play, team spirit, and the love of the game.

FIERCE: Competing with passion, ambition, and a relentless pursuit of team and personal success.

COMMUNITY Community Gatherings

Thursday, August 8, 2024

Cape Cod

Reception

Wednesday, October 16, 2024

Middle School

Grandparents’ Day

Thursday, October 24, 2024

Dads’ and Pals’ Drop Off

Thursday, December 5, 2024

Parent/

Caregiver

Christmas Party

Friday, December 6, 2024

Current

and Former Trustee Luncheon

Monday, February 3, 2025

Grade 8 Parent/ Caregiver Visit Day

Friday, February 14, 2025

Sacred Heart

Luncheon

(see page 92)

Wednesday, April 16, 2025

Parent Education Speaker:

Catherine Price

(see page 57)

Sunday, April 27, 2025

Mater Brunch

Wednesday, May 28, 2025

Class of 2025 Cookout

Monday, June 2, 2025

Grade 8 Liturgy

Wednesday, June 4, 2025

Baccalaureate Mass

Honoring the Class of 2025, pictured the next day at Commencement.

Award-Winning Author Catherine Price Delivers Powerful Message on Tech and Teen Well-Being

by Tina Lim P ’30

Newton Country Day welcomed award-winning science journalist and author Catherine Price as a guest speaker for the Parent Education Speaker Series, generously sponsored by the Class of 2025 Families.

Catherine Price is a leading voice in the national conversation about digital devices and how to create healthy relationships with technology. Her presentation for the Newton Country Day community, titled “Kids, Smartphones, and Social Media: The Risks and the Solutions,” addressed one of the most pressing challenges facing families today.

During the school day, Price spoke to Newton Country Day students in grades 8–12, engaging them in a conversation about the impact of smartphones and social media on their well-being. Price encouraged students to be mindful of what they choose to pay attention to in their lives, and pointed out that young teenagers’ brains are in a vital stage of development. “Plasticity makes teens vulnerable—but also powerful. You have more control over how your brain changes than you may realize.”

Conversation about these topics stretched beyond the Q&A that followed her talk into classrooms and advisories as students reacted to the hard truths they had absorbed. “Her approach prompts students to really listen and even

experience disgust at what they hear about how tech companies hijack their neurochemistry and profit from hooking them on social media applications,” shared Associate Head of School for Academics and Head of Upper School Melissa Bleakney-Dalton. “With their awareness raised, they are impelled to action—in true Sacred Heart form!”

That evening, Price offered parents and caregivers a clear, evidence-based framework and practical guidance for navigating the complex world of digital devices. “For parents, Catherine offered timely and practical insight into the ever-evolving landscape of social media, equipping us as parents with knowledge and strategies to establish healthy boundaries that support mental health and protect our children from the more harmful aspects of the digital world,” noted Head of School Jessica Hooper P ’28, who took in Price’s talks in her dual role of Head of School and parent of a 9th grader.

Price’s visit reflected Newton Country Day’s ongoing commitment to supporting families through thoughtful, relevant programming that strengthens our community and fosters student well-being.

“As a school psychologist, I deeply appreciated how she balanced neuroscience with empathy,” shared Crystal Mims, Director of Student Support. “Her message reinforced the idea that protecting our well-being in a digital world is not about fear, but about empowerment and connection.”

Scan the QR code to read more about Catherine Price’s visit.

Catherine Price (center) with (L to R) Deborah Tully, Head of Middle School; Melissa Bleakney-Dalton, Associate Head of School for Academics and Head of Upper School; Nicole Noel, Associate Head of School for Strategy and Mission; Jessica Hooper P ’28, Head of School; Crystal Mims, Director of Student Support; and Susie Ramirez ’99 P ’31, Director of Community and Belonging.

Nora Joyce ’25 Student Chapel Reflection

22 One day, Jesus got into a boat with his disciples and said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side of the lake.” And so they set forth, 23 and as they sailed he fell asleep. Then a windstorm swept down on the lake. As a result, the boat was becoming filled with water, and they were in danger. 24 So they went to him and awakened him, saying, “Master! Master! We are perishing!”

Then he awakened and rebuked the wind and the turbulent waves. They subsided and there was calm. 25 He said to them, “Where is your faith?” They were filled with fear and a sense of awe, and they said to one another, “Who can this be? He gives orders to the winds and the water, and they obey him.”

–Luke 8:22–25

Three summers ago, my Dad, my brothers, and I set out on an ambitious adventure. We traveled to Provo, Utah to climb Mt. Timpanogos—a mountain that was 11,753 feet above the ground. It would require over sixteen miles of hiking, making it by far the longest and highest peak we attempted to summit together.

The morning of the hike, we woke up at 3am to embark on our journey. We traversed through switchbacks, took in the views of beautiful meadows, and climbed through many boulder fields.

With less than a mile to go, our spirits were the lowest they’d been. Seven miles in, the skies had opened up and a harsh hailstorm began. Each time a hard, icy pellet of hail hit my legs and face, it stung like pins and needles. My body could

barely move; I was frozen with fear and numb from the miserable weather.

My brothers and I wanted to give up. We doubted our abilities to make it through the storm and summit the mountain. However, being so close, my Dad wouldn’t let us. He reassured me that if I followed what he told me to do, I would not fall. Step by step, with my Dad in front directing us, we persevered to the summit. Jesus and His disciples also set out on an adventure, traveling across the Sea of Galilee. While traveling, the sea becomes stormy as violent waves crash into the boat. The disciples find themselves in a dangerous position as their boat floods. Despite all of the commotion, Jesus is sleeping.

Like me, the disciples panic in their distress. They call out to Jesus saying, “Master, we are perishing!” Jesus wakes from His sleep, He calms the storm, and then Jesus asks His disciples, “Where is your faith?”

An overly simplistic reading of this Gospel might have us conclude that as long as we have faith and pray, especially when life gets hard, Jesus will remove the storms, obstacles, or tragedies in our lives. I know that life’s difficulties do not disappear with prayer and faith.

The wisdom of this Gospel for me is that no matter how harsh the storm, there are always two constant sources of hope. The first is hope from God. God is always here for us. The second is the source of hope that we can find in each other. The disciples could have immediately abandoned each other, each

fending for themselves. They could have worked together to attempt to salvage the bottom of the boat. They could have broken into arguments or given up completely. But, they don’t do any of these things. Instead, they stick together in the boat and ask for Jesus’ help.

In my own experience on Mt. Timpanogos, I was tempted to pay attention to the awful weather, the fact that we still had a long way to go, and my own exhaustion, but I was consoled by the fact that I was with my brothers, and we were being led by my Dad. It gave us a sense of hope, faith, and companionship. We were all “in the boat” together.

This reminds me of our community here at Newton Country Day. Last year, during a very difficult time for my family, I, like the disciples, found it hard to keep faith. However, many friends and faculty members not only supported me, but pointed me back to the hope that is found in a relationship with God. All of us here in this chapel are the disciples in the boat together, weathering the storms that life presents to us. Despite the stress, anxiety, or worry we may feel, we are not alone. We are surrounded by others who love us and we are also always surrounded by God’s love. Our Gospel reminds us that when we are in the midst of storms in our lives, to turn to Jesus. Even more, it is up to us to encourage, remind, and inspire each other to look to Jesus in our hardest moments. Even when it seems impossible, and we’re hiking through a hailstorm, if we lean on him and each other, it is possible to know and feel God’s hope and peace.

Sacred Presence

The RSCJ in the Life of Our School

by Sara Milone P ’29 ’32, Director of Mission & Ministry

Newton Country Day School of the Sacred Heart is the beneficiary and product of the vision of Religious of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (RSCJ), whose guiding accompaniment and active participation continue to shape the life of our community. Following 34 years of leadership by Barbara Rogers, RSCJ, our retired Head of School, the RSCJ remain an essential thread in the fabric of our shared life and embodiment of the mission of Sacred Heart education, whether offering blessings, spiritual guidance, or simply their presence on campus at school events.

At the beginning of each athletic season, the Blessing of the Athletes gathers student-athletes, coaches and parents for prayer and community. While victory in sports is a worthwhile pursuit, this blessing reminds the community that athletic competition is not only

about strength and skill but also about character, integrity, and embodying the values of Sacred Heart education. We were grateful to have Kathleen Hughes, RSCJ join for our fall season blessing, Nancy Kehoe, RSCJ join for our winter season blessing, and Cecile Meijer, RSCJ join for our spring season blessing.

Our weekly Upper School chapel services were enriched this year by the presence of two RSCJ speakers whose reflections offered students a powerful and personal encounter with faith. In November, Barbara Quinn, RSCJ joined us for the Feast of St. Rose Philippine Duchesne and shared a Gospel reflection that illuminated the grace found in failure and the quiet consolation of a life rooted in prayer. In February, Cecile Meijer, RSCJ offered a profound reflection on the Beatitudes, interweaving her vocation story with her global advocacy work at the United Nations. After chapel, she continued the conversation over lunch with members of the Model UN student committee, deepening the connection between faith and global justice. Whether through stories of their vocation or thoughtful Gospel reflections, the RSCJ bridge

generations—linking today’s students to the rich tradition of Sacred Heart spirituality. Their presence invites deeper reflection and offers a living witness to a life of prayer, purpose, and service.

One of the most profound ways the RSCJ support our school community is through their spiritual leadership in the Busy Person’s Retreat—a weeklong retreat opportunity offered annually to faculty and staff. Designed for those with full schedules and busy lives, the retreat pairs participants with a spiritual companion for daily prayer and conversation in the midst of their workday responsibilities. This year, Ann Jablonski, RSCJ, Clare Pratt, RSCJ, and Barbara Quinn, RSCJ served as the companions, bringing their charism of attentive listening and spiritual depth to each encounter. In doing so, they create a sacred space for renewal and a rekindling of purpose within the vocation of Sacred Heart education.

The RSCJ embody the love of the Heart of Jesus in a way that is both accessible and inspiring. Their ongoing presence is not only a gift but a living legacy that continues to form our school in faith, love, and mission.

Trustee Kathleen Hughes, RSCJ leads the Blessing of the Fall Athletes.

Cecile Meijer, RSCJ speaking at Upper School chapel.

Cecile Meijer, RSCJ with Model UN Committee students.

Hearts Rooted in Change

THE INAUGURAL SACRED HEART SCHOOLS SUMMIT

by Abby Woodworth

A group from Newton Country Day School traveled to Chicago, Illinois for the inaugural Sacred Heart Schools Summit, an intergenerational learning and action conference for the global Sacred Heart family. This year’s Summit brought together Sacred Heart educators, students in grades 8–12, and alumni, along with several Religious of the Sacred Heart (RSCJs), and mission partners to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Network of Sacred Heart Schools. Topics explored included global issues of inequality and sustainable features under the guiding theme of “Hearts Rooted in Change: How Reflection, Analysis, and Transformative Action are Critical to Our Future.” Centered around four main tracks—Call to Family, Community, and Participation; Integrity of Creation; Our Common Humanity; and Solidarity and Action—participants engaged in purposeful learning, analysis,

and contemplation that promotes informed, transformative action rooted in the love of Jesus Christ and the sense of community.

“Being blessed with this opportunity, it opened my eyes to how special it is to be a part of the Sacred Heart Network,” shared Katherine Mackey ’26. She expressed her gratitude for being able to speak to Nancy Kehoe, RSCJ, and for getting to know many of the RSCJs at the conference. “One of my favorite parts of the trip was being able to interact with the RSCJs on a personal level, hearing their stories and life advice and learning how to live out the Sacred Heart Goals and Criteria every day.”

When asked about what she learned during the summit, Mackey said: “One thing I learned is to never take anything for granted. Sometimes, I forget about the larger community around me and the things I have been blessed with.”

The Summit was created to deepen participants’ understanding of the call

to Sacred Heart Family members to act as agents of change rooted in the mission of Sacred Heart education and the charism of the Society of the Sacred Heart. Erin Bourque ’27 reflected on her time at the Summit, saying, “It was an eye-opening and inspiring experience where I not only became more informed about current social justice issues, but also learned how I could take action to combat them.” Bourque also spoke about the joy of being surrounded by fellow Sacred Heart Network students. “I created new friendships with my Sacred Heart sisters from around the world and was reminded of the gift that it is to be a part of the Sacred Heart Network.”

Top: Back row (L to R): Lindsey Tonge, Erin Regan, May May Condlin ’28, Lauren Cantwell ’26, Katherine Mackey ’26, Erin Bourque ’27, Helen Carey ’27, Brenda Borges ’26, Jessica Hooper P ’28. Front row (L to R): Jael Farmer ’28, Avery Grover ’25, Maggie Crowley ’25, Makayla Rodrigues ’26.

Bottom: Katherine Mackey ’26 (right) and Nancy Kehoe, RSCJ (left)

Roots that Give us Wings

Susie Ramirez ’99 P ’31, Director of Community and Belonging, attended Sacred Heart’s annual Roots that Give Us Wings conference in St. Charles, Missouri. The conference is designed to immerse Sacred Heart educators in the history of the Sacred Heart Founding Mothers, while also exploring the original school grounds and reaffirming commitment to Sacred Heart’s shared mission.

“Being a part of Network programming was remarkable,” Ramirez reflected. “It reminded me that Newton Country Day

Sacred Heart Pen Pals

is part of a larger, international community where all of its members uphold the Goals and Criteria and grow students in Courage and Confidence. I’m committed to collaborating with our Mission and Ministry department to develop meaningful programming for educators, helping them explore what it means to be a Sacred Heart educator and how they can live out the Goals and Criteria in their work.”

See page 10 to learn more about Ramirez and her new role at Newton Country Day.

This year, the Middle School partnered with Sacred Heart Sheridan Road in Chicago for a Pen Pal project. Students exchanged letters throughout the year, sharing their school traditions and offering a glimpse into daily life at their respective schools.

SISTER BARBARA ROGERS, RSCJ HONORED AT HOLY CROSS COMMENCEMENT

Former longtime Head of School Sr. Barbara Rogers, RSCJ received an honorary degree from the College of the Holy Cross at its 179th Commencement on Friday, May 23, 2025. Sister Rogers, who served on the Holy Cross Board of Trustees from 2016–2024, was honored for her leadership and dedication to Sacred Heart Education.

Ramirez, far right, with fellow Sacred Heart educators at the Roots that Give Us Wings conference in St. Charles, Missouri.

SACRED HEART NETWORK

Journal Entries from Network Exchange

March 2025

Over 30 students traveled abroad to take part in Network Exchange, engaging in a reciprocal exchange with our sister schools in a variety of cities including Vienna, Melbourne, Nantes, and Rome. A new requirement of the Newton Country Day program, students journaled throughout their experiences abroad to document what it is like to attend a Sacred Heart School in another country.

MOUNT ANVILLE SECONDARY SCHOOL DUBLIN, IRELAND

“I was introduced to so many new girls and teachers. It was so fun to see the similarities and differences between our schools. My exchange sister’s brother had a huge rugby match so I got to see rugby for the first time and it was super fun! Although the first night I got there I still was processing it all, and settling in, I have quickly come to the realization that time flies by when I’m having fun!”

–Eloise Koenig ’27

SAGRADO CORAZÓN DE SARRIÁ

BARCELONA, SPAIN

“I am experiencing the culture through the food and the new schedules and routines, which has been amazing.”

–Isabelle Martin ’27

SAGRADO CORAZÓN APOQUINDO SANTIAGO, CHILE

“My host family is very welcoming and patient with me, encouraging me to speak Spanish and being patient when I can’t think of a word. My exchange sister’s mom has been especially accommodating and kind.”

–Gracie Goodman ’27

EBTS SCOLAIRE MARMOUTIER

TOURS, FRANCE

“I love being at home and my exchange sister, Solyne, has been incredible at translating words into English at school and at home. I have enjoyed being around her younger siblings and eating meals with the whole family.”

–Margot Pagliano ’27

INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF THE SACRED HEART TOKYO, JAPAN

“I’ve loved my experience here and am sad to leave. I’ve enjoyed going out to lunch with my exchange sister and her family, visiting both Buddhist and Shinto shrines and temples, learning how to check out at a store in Japanese, and bonding with girls from ISSH.”

–Erin Bourque ’27

SACRED HEART PRIMARY SCHOOL TAIPEI, TAIWAN

“I’m having a lot of fun here. I’ve made a lot of new friends, even from a 9th grade class…There’s so much more variety and flavor in their food, I really don’t know how I will be able to go back to cereal for breakfast.”

–Catherine Wu ’27

KINCOPPAL-ROSE BAY SCHOOL

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA

“It is fun to engage with the other students and hear about why they love Australia so much. I really like how they have business and law classes here. They are a cool way to see if you want to pursue one of these classes in the future.”

–Caroline Ewald ’27

Newton Country Day Honors the Class of 2025

by Tina Lim P ’30

Newton Country Day’s 145th Commencement Exercises were held in the Sunken Garden on Thursday, June 5. Faculty, staff, and the families and friends of the 60 graduates of the Class of 2025 gathered under the tent to celebrate the accomplishments of the senior class.

After the procession into the tent, Head of School Jessica Hooper P ’28 offered the crowd a welcome. “What a joy it is to gather on this beautiful morning to celebrate the Newton Country Day Class of 2025—a remarkable group of 60 young women who share in common not only the bonds of sisterhood, but the transformative power of a Sacred Heart education.” Hooper invited all to extend gratitude to trustees, faculty, and staff, as well as the parents and caregivers of the Class of 2025. She urged the graduating class to remember: “Newton Country Day School of the Sacred Heart is not a place you go to—it is a place you go from. You came here to learn, to be formed, to discover who you are and who you are called to become. Now that you have, the question is: Where will you go from here?”

“Our Sacred Heart education is a gift, and it is now up to us to share this gift with the world.”

– Finlay McCormick ’25

Hooper then introduced Class President Sabrina Pierre-Louis ’25, who gave the Invocation, followed by Mary Quinlan Prize recipient Maggie Crowley ’25, who took the stage to deliver the Salutatory Address. Crowley began by recognizing the undeniable characteristic trait of the Class of 2025, as well as the school as a whole: generosity of joy. “What I’ve discovered here is that the natural disposition of someone formed by the Sacred Heart is to give. Her time, her energy, her attention, her love. And it is the culture of generosity at this school that has made an indelible mark on each of our hearts,” remarked Crowley. She went on to share her appreciation for the close bond of sisterhood formed among the members of her graduating class. “We belong to each other and this mission of generously sharing the love that we’ve encountered in this school. You all are my role models, and I am proud to call you my sisters.”

Hooper took the stage once again to introduce Commencement speaker Mary Thompson ’81, an award-winning journalist who started as a print reporter

Maggie Crowley ’25 delivers the Salutatory Address.

Mary Thompson ’81 delivers the Commencement Address.

Finlay McCormick ’25 delivers the Valedictory Address.

for Bloomberg News , moving on to Bloomberg Radio and Television as a financial reporter, then to CNBC as a general assignment reporter, covering the banking and insurance industries, the 2008 financial crisis, and Hurricane Katrina. She received the prestigious Gerald Loeb Award for her coverage of the Bernard Madoff scandal and a National Headliner Award for her reporting on price fixing in the insurance industry. Currently, Thompson works as an advisor and moderator to World 50’s corporate director program. Thompson offered the Class of 2025 a piece of advice: to listen. “Any relationship, work or personal requires communication, and while most think of communication as speaking, its more important partner is listening. It’s not only how you learn, it’s also the gift of being present and respectful to others. It is how friendships are formed; it is how communities thrive.” She also pointed out the current state of mass communication: “A fragmented media market means people can curate what they see and hear, and all the while a generation—your generation—is losing trust in the institutions that used to guide, inform and protect us—the government, the media, religion.” She urged: “We have to listen with compassion and patience, and hope that in listening, we can learn something—about our friends’ anger, their pain, their reasoning, or even their silence. You don’t have to agree, or even respond, but the courtesy of listening, and listening closely, can be the first step in building or rebuilding trust that is lost. In this world you are about to enter, you will need to do this. It won’t be easy, but find strength in the sisterhood you have here. This can be a safe and caring community. You can and should give back to it, but you can also ask of it when you need it.”

After the conferring of diplomas, Alice Husson Prize recipient Meredith Huber ’25 took the stage to express gratitude for the school’s faculty and staff. “Thanks to the encouragement, patience, and generosity of each member of our faculty and staff, we can feel confident in our ability to take on complex and challenging issues and visualize how we as individuals can make a difference in our own unique way. Thank you for seeing us for who we are and for who we can be, for the time and dedication you give to your work and to us, your students, and for laughing, traveling, and growing with us.”

Following the distribution of prizes, Finlay McCormick ’25 delivered the Janet Erskine Stuart Valedictory Address, sharing her reflections on leadership. “Servant leadership is at the heart of Sacred Heart education, and has defined the work our grade has done here. It is a type of leadership that is marked by empathy, purpose and above all, joy.” She also shared about the unique and close bond of sisterhood of her class: “Though we are soon to step away from the place we

have called home for many years, we will carry this shared sense of sisterhood with us no matter which far corners of the world we explore. This community has given us, as Mrs. Hooper so eloquently put it, the courage to be confident: not only confident in ourselves, but in who we stand beside.”

McCormick closed with her hopes for her graduating class: “In a world that is becoming increasingly filtered and superficial, I hope we remain rooted in what is real. I hope that we approach our lives with the same sense of wonder and awe we have cultivated here. I hope we continue to marvel at the beauty of the world and our place in it. I hope that we maintain our spirit of authentic connection and servant leadership. I hope we move into the world and use our time and relationships here as blueprints for the communities we will build. I hope we become leaders within those spaces, and most importantly, friends to all we encounter. I believe that we will be the ones starting cross-cultural conversations and

forging connections across lines of tension with poise and compassion.” She reminded her class: “Our Sacred Heart education is a gift, and it is now up to us to share this gift with the world.”

After the Sacred Heart Awards were distributed by Nicole Noel, Assistant Head of School, Hooper congratulated the graduates and award recipients and addressed the Class of 2025 for a final time: “Spend your life in gratitude for the love that has shaped you, the education that has formed you, and the community that will always stand with you. Never forget the promise found in Romans 8: Nothing—absolutely nothing—can separate you from the love of God.” She then invited Chair of the Board of Trustees Maura T. Murphy ’99 to deliver the closing prayer. Families then joined their graduates for photos and celebration as they were welcomed into our alumnae community.

Graduates pose with their Sacred Heart alumnae relatives for the 2025 Legacy Photo.

SACRED HEART AWARDS

The Janet Erskine Stuart Prize is awarded to the student with the highest cumulative average for four years: Finlay McCormick ’25

The Mary Quinlan Prize is awarded to the student with the second highest cumulative average for four years: Maggie Crowley ’25

The Alice Husson Prize is awarded to the student with the third highest cumulative average for four years: Meredith Huber ’25

Art: Adele Touloukian ’25

Chinese: Elsa Cressotti ’25

Computer Science: Riley Montague ’25

Dance: Analise Kretsedemas ’25

English: Finlay McCormick ’25

French: Meredith Huber ’25

History: Julia Hirsch ’25

Instrumental Music: Elsa Cressotti ’25

Latin: Julia Connolly ’25

Mathematics: Ludovica Melodia ’25

National Honor Society: Lillian Souza ’25

Performing Arts: Abigail Unger ’25

Religious Studies: Ellie Schlichtmann ’25

Scholar Artist: Eleanor Allen ’25

Scholar Athlete: Lilly Pergola ’25

Science: Alara Ecemis ’25

Senior Project: Carina Fujimoto ’25

Spanish: Sochi Egwim ’25

STEM: Sasha Schafer ’25

Vocal Music: Sophia Beaver ’25

The Pamela Donovan Prize is awarded to a student who demonstrates personal integrity: Hope Moriarty ’25

The Sarah Jones Prize honors a student who possesses a deep commitment to determination, follow-through, and a vision for the future: Nylah-Rene Andrade ’25

The Paula Collins Mazzio Prize is awarded to a student who excels in writing in any genre: Avery Spalding ’25

The Clare Pratt Prize is awarded to a student for her interest in the world: Avery Grover ’25

The Virginia Schumann Prize celebrates devotion to the tradition of Sacred Heart education: Wheatley Evarts ’25

The Barbara Rogers Prize is awarded to a student who, like, Sister Rogers, worked in large and small ways to help the community grow in its capacity to make known the love of the heart of Jesus: Nora Joyce ’25

The Clare McGowan Prize , named in honor of sister Clare McGowan, alumna of Newton Country Day and Headmistress at the Sacred Heart School in Washington, Stone Ridge, available to our teachers who have served for more than ten years: Dr. Mark Potter

FOUR-YEAR GOAL AWARDS

Goal I: A personal and active faith in God: Sophia Beaver ’25

Goal II: A deep respect for intellectual values: Ludovica Melodia ’25

EIGHT YEARS OF COURAGE AND CONFIDENCE

Eight members of the Class of 2025 started at Newton Country Day in the fifth grade. They commemorated the growth they experienced during their eight-year journeys by posing with their very first school photos.

From left to right:

Ellie

Goal III: A social awareness which impels to action: Catherine Cole-French ’25

Goal IV: The building of community as a Christian value: Elizabeth Kfoury ’25

Goal V: Personal growth in an atmosphere of wise freedom: Chrysanthi Grover ’25

The St. Philippine Duchesne Prize is awarded to a student who demonstrates a spirit of steadfast purpose and the courage of her convictions: Fiona Jobson ’25

The St. Madeleine Sophie Barat Prize is awarded to the student who exemplifies excellence in all aspects of Sacred Heart Education: Abigail Goodman ’25

8TH GRADE AWARDS

The Kiki Niedermeyer Award is given for faith, courage, and kindness: Emily Allen ’29

The Trudy Hennessey Award is given to a student who has exhibited good sportsmanship and a positive spirit in all aspects of school life: Daphne Koenig ’29

The Alice Husson, RSCJ Award is given to a student for demonstrating qualities of generosity, service, courtesy, and responsibility: Sabrina Dacey ’29

The Catherine Baxter, RSCJ Award is given to the Middle School student who best exemplifies the Goals and Criteria of Sacred Heart schools: Madeleine Milone ’29

Alivia Hennessey,

Schlichtmann, Analise Kretsedemas, Elsa Cressotti, Ludovica Melodia, Hope Moriarty, Fiona Jobson, and Avery Grover

Newton Country Day School of the Sacred Heart Class of 2025

College Acceptances as of June 1, 2025

American University

Arizona State University

Assumption University

Babson College

Barnard College

Baylor University

Boston College

Boston University

Bowdoin College

Bucknell University

Butler University

Carnegie Mellon University

Case Western Reserve University

The Catholic University of America

Clark University

Clemson University

Colby College

Colgate University

College of Charleston

College of the Holy Cross

Connecticut College

Denison University

Dickinson College

Eckerd College

Elon University

Emmanuel College

Endicott College

Fairfield University

Florida Southern College

Fordham University

Furman University

Georgia Institute of Technology

Georgetown University

Howard University

Indiana University Bloomington

King’s College London

Lehigh University

Lesley University

Loyola Marymount University

Loyola University Maryland

Marist College

McGill University

Merrimack College

Middlebury College

New York University

Northeastern University

Oberlin College

The Ohio State University

Pace University

The Pennsylvania State University

Pepperdine University

Providence College

Purdue University

Quinnipiac University

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Rochester Institute of Technology

Sacred Heart University

Saint Anselm College

Salve Regina University

San Diego State University

Santa Clara University

Seton Hall University

Simmons University

Skidmore College

Smith College

Southern Methodist University

Suffolk University

Syracuse University

Temple University

Texas A&M University

Texas Christian University

Trinity College (Connecticut)

Tufts University

Tulane University

University of California, Davis

University of California, Irvine

University of California, San Diego

University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB)

University of Colorado, Boulder

University of Connecticut

University of Delaware

University of Maine

University of Maryland, College Park

UMass Amherst

UMass Boston

University of Miami

University of Michigan

University of Mississippi

University of Notre Dame

University of Pittsburgh

University of Queensland Women’s College, Brisbane, Australia

University of Rhode Island

University of Richmond

University of San Diego

University of San Francisco

University of South Carolina

University of Southern California

University of St Andrews (Scotland)

University of Tampa

University of Texas at Austin

University of Toronto

University of Vermont

University of Virginia

University of Washington

University of Wisconsin–Madison

Vanderbilt University

Villanova University

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech)

Wake Forest University

Washington University in St. Louis

Western New England University

Wheaton College (Illinois)

Worcester Polytechnic Institute

ALUMNA SPOTLIGHT

“This is a Developing Story.”

MARY THOMPSON ’81 RETURNS TO NEWTON COUNTRY DAY TO SHARE HOW LISTENING AND CURIOSITY SHAPED HER EVOLVING CAREER

by Laura Kelly

After over four decades as an alumna, Mary Thompson ’81 returned to campus in June to deliver the Commencement Address for the Class of 2025. Though her time at Newton Country Day for her junior and senior years was brief, Thompson remains closely connected to the school community, and she doesn’t underestimate the impact those years have had on her life.

Thompson began her Falcon journey after living in Belgium for six years. Moving across oceans and attending several schools throughout her childhood equipped Thompson with two crucial skills needed for her future careers: adaptation and perspective. “I understood the world is very big. Other cultures have valuable gifts,” she explains.

The third of four high-achieving siblings, Thompson sought to pave her own path at school. “There were big expectations of me. But this school provided an absence of that,” she shares. She integrated quickly, participating in theatre, athletics, and student government. “To have that opportunity, where expectations were not put on me—I was just able to show my gifts—was really important.”

She went on to share those gifts at the University of Notre Dame and graduated with a degree in English, returning to Boston to work in sales at Fidelity Investments. But what she really wanted to do was write. As a kid, she read TIME and Sports Illustrated and pictured a future for herself in sports writing. Returning to this vision, she

enrolled at Columbia University for her Master’s in Journalism.

While she planned to focus on sports journalism, Thompson received job offers from financial companies that needed reporters, including one she accepted at Bloomberg TV and Radio Though her four years at Fidelity had given her a foundation in finance, she admits that her Bloomberg audience often knew more than she did. She approached this challenge by doing what she learned as a child overseas: she adapted. “It was intimidating, but it was a motivator,” she explains. “I did a lot of listening and observing. There’s confidence in knowing what you don’t know.” After nine years at Bloomberg, she brought these lessons into a 16-year financial reporting career at CNBC.

Feeling like she had one last career move to make, Thompson left CNBC and reporting in 2016. She pivoted to help launch G100 BoardExcellence, a peer-to-peer education program for corporate directors. Now, as a freelance moderator, she connects leaders of Fortune 1000 companies with resources on how to manage change through conferences and collaborative discussions. “It’s difficult to learn how to do your job when you’re a corporate director,” Thompson shares. “When you attend a conference and hear how a speaker navigated crises, it is an incredible educational opportunity.”

In her personal and professional life, Thompson nimbly adapts to change while

staying grounded in the understanding that there is always more to learn. When addressing the Class of 2025 at their Commencement, she reminded graduates that growth comes not from knowing all the answers, but from listening deeply, asking questions, and embracing every learning opportunity.

Top: Thompson’s senior photo from The Spire yearbook; Bottom: Mary Thompson ’81 (middle), with classmates Linda Dorsey Farley ’81 (left) and Moe Quinn ’81 (right) at the Commencement Exercises for the Class of 2025.

ALUMNA SPOTLIGHT

Navigating Toward Equity

ROCHELLE WILLIAMS-BELIZAIRE ’00

FOLLOWS

HER

MORAL COMPASS IN CHAMPIONING EQUITABLE ACCESS IN HEALTHCARE

by Elizabeth Gallagher ’99

Rochelle Williams-Belizaire ’00 is a transformative leader in health equity, with more than 20 years of experience advancing diversity in clinical trials, patient advocacy, and strategic partnerships across both site and industry settings. She drives data-informed change to ensure science serves every community—not just the most accessible. Anyone fortunate enough to correspond with her is met with this quote in her signature line: “There is something better than science, and that is science with a moral compass—science that contributes to social equity, science in the service of humanity.” – Dr. William Foege. This conviction has guided her life’s work: dismantling institutional barriers and building more equitable systems of care.

“I value my time at Newton Country Day even more than my college years. It taught me that as a woman, I have a seat at the table—and to take that seat with confidence.”

– Rochelle Williams-Belizaire ’00

Williams-Belizaire’s journey began with a jarring realization: the stark contrast between healthcare in the United States and her home country of Jamaica. “My early encounters with the American healthcare system made clear that access, respect, and agency were not experienced equally across communities,” she says. “That early exposure to systemic inequities shaped my approach to leadership. From the start, I knew that addressing health disparities would require more than empathy—it would require structure, strategy, and influence. Newton Country Day helped reinforce that I had a voice—and the responsibility to use it.”

Rochelle Williams-Belizaire ’00.

After graduating from Tufts University with a double major in political science and community health, Williams-Belizaire began her career at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute under the mentorship of the late Dr. Jane Weeks, supporting oncology research and early-phase clinical trials.

She then joined the Joseph Betancourt Disparities Solutions Center at Massachusetts General Hospital, where she collaborated with Dr. Kerry Kilbridge to improve how clinical trial information was communicated. “Pamphlets and videos weren’t resonating—most assumed a reading level and cultural context that simply didn’t reflect the communities we were trying to reach.” Williams-Belizaire helped pioneer a more grassroots, patient-informed approach. She later advanced to lead multiple oncologic clinical research programs and served as Head of Regulatory Affairs.

At MD Anderson Cancer Center, she led the Women’s Moon Shot Program, focused on accelerating the translation of scientific discovery into patient care. That work caught the attention of Gordon Mills, MD, Ph.D. who is recognized as one of the most cited scientists in biomedical research and widely regarded as the grandfather of one of the most innovative cancer discoveries. Mills hand-selected Williams-Belizaire to join Oregon Health & Science University. Together, they launched the Knight Cancer Institute’s inaugural precision oncology department. Under her leadership, the program grew from concept to execution, including gene therapy trials, a community-based oncology network, and expanded industry partnerships to ensure access for patients across urban and rural settings.

But just as the program launched, Williams-Belizaire’s youngest son was diagnosed with a life-threatening hematologic condition. “One day, I was meeting with colleagues about expanding services; the next, I was in those same rooms discussing treatment options for my child,” she recalls. “I realized how overwhelming it was—even with my clinical and regulatory background. I couldn’t stop thinking about the families navigating these decisions without that knowledge.”

This moment deepened her sense of purpose and propelled Williams-Belizaire’s transition into the pharmaceutical industry to scale her impact. At Mirati Therapeutics, she served as Director of Clinical Operations, implementing innovative community-oncology strategies to improve trial access. Her work earned recognition from U.S. health authorities for advancing a breakthrough patient enrollment model.

In 2024, she joined Boehringer Ingelheim, leading the U.S. Oncology Strategy for Diversity in Clinical Trials and spearheading global change management initiatives in Germany. She was also recently named to the Leadership Team at BeOne Medicines, where she now leads the global strategy for Clinical Trial Diversity—just a few miles from Newton Country Day.

and her family.

Williams-Belizaire’s leadership has extended beyond her career’s industry. A longtime volunteer, she began educating and advocating for communities through her church, later sharing her message in local media to promote clinical trial access in underserved populations.

“I tragically lost our first child due to institutional bias. I know, firsthand, the devastating consequences of unequal access to care—and what it means to navigate the system without the tools to advocate for yourself,” she explains. “Equitable access to care, including clinical trials, isn’t just my passion. It’s my life’s purpose.”

“I value my time at Newton Country Day even more than my college years,” she adds. “It taught me that as a woman, I have a seat at the table—and to take that seat with confidence. That lesson has shaped every room I walk into.”

Williams-Belizaire and her husband are raising two sons, now ages 9 and 7, with the same core values that guide her work: dignity, agency, and compassion. Their eldest has already made an indelible mark, recently agreeing to serve as a bone marrow donor for his younger brother, offering the possibility of a cure. “In our home,” she says, “equity isn’t just a principle. It’s lived.”

Williams-Belizaire

ALUMNA SPOTLIGHT

Leading with Humanity

IN THE AGE OF AI, HILLARY ASHTON ’89 IS WIRED TO BUILD HUMAN CONNECTIONS

by Laura Kelly

She may be on sabbatical, but Hillary Ashton ’89 is not resting on her laurels. After over 20 years as a leader in the technology industry, most recently as the Chief Product Officer at Teradata, a data analytics and cloud company, she has taken a step back from corporate life and a demanding travel schedule to focus on her family and community service in her home of San Diego. Still, she keeps a close eye on how artificial intelligence shapes daily life and encourages her two sons to continually build their “human-ness,” which she believes machines will never replicate. “Humans are the elite tier of experience for other humans to reference,” she explains. “Technology won’t get you there.”

Growing up in downtown Boston, Ashton broke the mold of a typical Newton Country Day student in the 80s, reverse-commuting to Newton on the T every morning. While she noticed a significant difference between her upbringing and

that of her classmates when she started in seventh grade, she still fit in. “I could be with the sporty kids and I could be with the artsy kids, even though I wasn’t very good at art. You didn’t have to be in one clique to belong,” she shares. “That ability to be flexible in different social settings meant you could be truly well-rounded. I was allowed to explore everything.”

“That ability to be flexible in different social settings meant you could be truly wellrounded. I was allowed to explore everything.”

– Hillary Ashton ’89

Ashton’s senior portrait in the 1989 edition of The Spire yearbook.

Ashton and her husband, Paul, and two sons, Marlowe and Horatio, on a family trip to Kenya.

She explored technology in its early days at Newton Country Day through a typing class—which she still credits for her speed and accuracy at the keyboard today—but she didn’t see a future for herself in tech until well into her undergraduate career at Franklin & Marshall College. She enrolled as a soccer recruit to pursue a degree in government, and explored a few computer science electives. In her senior year, she completed a project that involved building a CD-ROM for the admissions office. “There was some programming involved, and I was able to produce an immersive experience for people visiting the college,” she says. Her interest was piqued; she decided to take a multimedia class at Harvard College that summer. “I learned you can use tech to tell a story. That was when I learned what I wanted to do.”

Fast forward a few decades: After working in leadership roles at technology companies such as Digitas, SAS, Manthan/ Algonomy, and PTC, Ashton relocated from Boston to San Diego in 2019 to join Teradata as the Executive Vice President of Products. To the world, Teradata is billed as “the most complete cloud analytics and data platform for AI that delivers harmonized data and faster innovation.” To Ashton, Teradata is a community that connects with global organizations to protect their data; it provided her with unique opportunities for interpersonal collaboration. Despite working at the forefront of artificial intelligence, Ashton’s work has been profoundly human-focused. Whether at a small startup or a large company leading 2,000 people, she is always excited by the same prospect: “solving complex technology challenges and working collaboratively as a team with other people.” She presented to influential executives and partnered with some of the largest banks, airlines, sports teams, and retail providers in the world.

Ashton’s accolades include being named one of the Top 50 Most Powerful Women in Technology by the National Diversity Council and one of the Top 100 Women Leaders in Technology by Women We Admire. However, she doesn’t choose to brand herself as a “woman in tech.” She prefers to be known as a leader in tech who happens to be a woman. Being one of the only city kids in the classroom to one of the only women in the boardroom taught Ashton how to connect with others by focusing on commonalities rather than differences. “It’s true that in tech, you’re mostly working with men. But I found that leading with how different I am is an ineffective path to success. I don’t look around and think about how I’m the only woman or American at the table,” she shares. “I look around and think about how we can connect and achieve an outcome together.”

Artificial intelligence is now seeping into every industry. Ashton says we are on the tip of the iceberg. “As a person who loves tech, it’s super exciting,” she shares. She acknowledges her balanced perspective as a Gen Xer who came of age before

smartphones and watched the digital world take shape. Younger generations who had no exposure to an analog world, on the other hand, don’t have the benefit of this balanced view. “They will need to understand how to use tech as a tool. Just like how the dictionary on the wall of the Newton Country Day library in 1989 was a tool to write an essay, not a replacement for your brain, AI is not your brain, it is not your human experience. We need to evolve to use it for good,” she says.

Ashton’s attitude toward the thoughtful deployment of AI is, in her words, optimistic but not ignorant. “Humans are resilient and intelligent, and we want to survive,” she shares. But she acknowledges humans will likely misuse new technology before learning its ethical implications. “We might burn our fingers a few times,” she admits. “But AI will help cure human disease. It can help children build literacy. Fire was a revolutionary tool, but it also burned things down.” Even with her extensive behind-the-scenes knowledge of AI, she does believe in a net positive impact. “We have a history of using these tools generally for good,” she says. Ashton believes this history will repeat itself, as long as people understand that technology should serve human needs without replacing human experiences.

Ashton speaking at a customer conference for Teradata.

ALUMNAE

Reunion 2025

It was a pleasure welcoming our alumnae back to campus for Reunion 2025! Members from 11 classes reconnected and reminisced with their classmates and faculty members. Alumnae enjoyed school tours, a social hour with faculty, a liturgy, and class dinners.

WELCOME BACK, CLASS OF 2020!

The Class of 2020 missed out on a lot during their senior spring—graduation, goodbyes, and all the little moments that usually make the end of high school memorable. So for their reunion, we asked what would make it meaningful. Their answer? Getting to catch up with their former teachers. We brought everyone together for a Faculty Social to make that happen.

Class of 2020: Elizabeth Weiss, Kate Delaney, Charlotte Morey, Maggie Hayes, Natasha Nichols, Caroline Labow, Faith Ellis, Jade Esposito, Morgan Burns, Ally Montgomery, Eliza Durbin, Alex Tucker, Isabella Vega, Holly Thompson, Julia Derubis, Olivia Egan, Christina Glynn, Kat Kane, Ella O’Kelly Lynch, Kelly Cloonan, Tina Lakis, Hannah Curran, Grace Bizup, Charlotte Barton, Abby Coburn, Sophia Gaines, Lucy Jrolf

62%

The Class of 2020 had the highest attendance rate at Reunion

Class of 2015: (Back row left to right)

Sarah Geene, Anne Hentschel, Emily Martland, Sarah Spellman, Elena Batten, Jacqueline Ferrera, Jacka Harrington, Caroline Marano, Caroline Freeman, Erin O’Brien, Cecily Pierce, Marissa Beney, Eugenie Planche, Emily Ix, Emma Clark, Ellie McLaughlin

(Front row left to right) Olivia Corcoran, Hannah Maguire, Sarah Pickard, Gigi Parente, Gabby Castro, Jenn Jackson

Class of 2010: (Back row left to right)

Angelica Aquilino, Kristina Petitti, Kelly Runowicz, Katie Lambrecht, Lyndsay Kerwin, Jackie Volkmann, (Front row left to right) Stephanie Durocher, Ashley Piemonte Fishman, Manuela Toro-Covicer, Alex Chistolini

traveled from 19 states to return to campus to mark their time and celebrate their Sacred Heart education at Reunion

Class of 2005: (Back row left to right)

Catherine Doyle Wysoczanski, Maia

DeBarros Baptista, Tanasia Portis, Erin Chabot Abbott, Julie McDermott, Vanessa Loukas, Claudia Green Fehling, Kyla McHaffie, Virginia Kerrigan, Abby Hueber, Alexa Hechavarria Moran, Elaine Purcell

(Front row left to right) Cara McCue Moran, Lily Poduska Flatley, Samantha Jackson, Elizabeth Collins Calder

Class of 2000: (left to right) Susan Kroc, Cristin Van Heest McArdle, Tenile Pritchard, Rochelle Williams-Belizaire, Sarah Joacquinn Aldridge, Laura Skorczeski, Mariana Cerrera

Class of 1995: ( left to right ) Sarah Casey, Elisa Rodriguez, Louisa West, Shauna Firicano, Joan O’Brien, Caitlin Boyns, Shamila Rajaratnam, Melisa McGregor, Meeghan Piemonte Peirce

Class of 1985: (Back Row left to right) Laurie O’Rourke, Sarah Walsh Maxwell Ann Tracy-Farabaugh, Kara Brannon Murphy, Meg Middleton, Marie O’Sullivan Cox, Monica Sullivan Shack Cynthia Graff, Suzanne Keating, Diane Berman, Erin Malloy, Laura Koch

(Front Row left to right) Lisa Hopkins, Lisa Gault Jaynes, Walda Keohane, Kathy Genova

Class of 1980: (left to right) Vera Johnson, Nijole Ivanouskas Potts

Class of 1975: (Back Row left to right) Jane Reardon, Denise DeLorey, Susan Myers

(Front Row left to right) Marion Martignetti, Melissa Jacobson, Robin Schelzi Mille, Siobhan Campbell Jordan

ALUMNAE

Young Alumnae Events

Alumnae Senior Project Panel

Senior Project kicked off with a panel of alumnae reflecting on their experiences with Senior Project and the networking skills and personal insight they gained from their experience (see page 16)

Alumnae Children’s

Advent Party

Alumnae brought their children to campus to experience the magic of Advent with games, treats, and a visit from Santa!

Vespers

Each year, we invite graduates from the last three years to a Young Alumnae Goûter and to watch Upper School Vespers. Following tradition, they join students, faculty, and staff in Trinity Chapel to join in singing “Silent Night.”

Alumnae Hockey Game

We had a great turnout for our Alumnae Hockey game. Thank you to everyone who participated and made it a success!

This year, we took to the road and held our Alumnae gatherings in cities all over America!

Middle School Goal III Guest Speaker Series brings Alumnae to Campus

Abby Rosovsky ’16 spoke to students about the intersection of social justice and her work as a lawyer. She is currently a Juris Doctor (JD) candidate at Boston College Law School, serves as a student attorney for the Compassionate Parole Clinic, is a senior editor for the Boston College Law Review, and works as a research assistant to Dean Katharine Young.

Mary Delaney ’12 returned to campus to speak to Middle School students about her work with Camp Malta

USA which serves young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Kathleen Smith ’12 visited as the final speaker for the series, speaking about her career as a licensed social worker and mental health specialist at ABCD (Action for Boston Community Development) Head Start, a federally funded family development program that offers comprehensive services for children and their families.

New York

San Francisco

Washington, D.C.

Boston

Left: Abby Rosovsky ’16; Middle: Mary Delaney ’12; Right: Kathleen Smith ’12

Class Notes

Newton Country Day reserves the right to edit, format, and select all materials for publication. This includes photos that do not appear because of low resolution.

1951

Betty Curtin Crowley ’51 writes: “Dear Friends, can’t believe our 75th is coming up! I’m managing to keep active—still subbing K–5, Sunday and funeral choirs at St. Mary’s, volunteering in our town library bookstore, tutoring and Senior Center chorus. Wishing my best to everyone.”

Penny Kickham Reilly ’51 writes: “Your scribe has been unsuccessful in reaching some of our last remaining classmates. It has been a long time since we enjoyed our life at NCDS and the company of some great women.

“We did lose our Class President last year, Bea Sullivan McDevitt ’51 , and Addie O’Keefe McMurrer ’51 . I am hoping if there has been any other news, the school would be notified.

“Catherine Mary Donovan ’51 is still living in Boston and keeping in touch with us. The city is conducive to staying in good health and good shape. She walks, does Pilates, reads, and enjoys her life in general. We had a very nice conversation.

“Mary Chisolm Sullivan ’51 called and she is well. Spent some time in rehab but back on her usual busy schedule. Some sad news—Sheila Mahoney ’51 passed away. She was ill for a short time before her death.

Sister Mary Jane Sullivan ’51 is still at Teresian house in Albany NY and fine. Maureen Cortelli Sheehan ’51 and her husband Jerry are in Duxbury. Jerry is retired and, like us all, taking every day in stride.”

“Your scribe is well and newly retired from St. Sebastian’s which I will miss. It was time. How fortunate I was to have such an experience with great faculty, staff and bright young gentlemen to work with two days a week. What Joy!!! I do spend time with my grown grandchildren and four great grandchildren and enjoy it all. Keep in touch and stay well!!”

1959

Pam Tosi Hodgkins ’59 writes: “Within a week of each other, two of my grandchildren graduated from high school! William “Will” Belval, my daughter Merry’s youngest son, graduated from Franklin County Technical School in Massachusetts. He received his diploma with a concentration in Welding & Metal Fabrication, as well as his Massachusetts Dept. of Transportation state certification in Bridge and Highway Construction. Three days after graduation he was gainfully employed full time at Renaud Inc./ Daniels Construction, Vernon, VT where he had spent nearly two years in his cooperative job—on the job training building bridges and observation towers at ski resorts and for forest fire wardens! My eldest son Rob’s daughter, Makena Hodgkins, graduated from Keene High School, Keene, NH. She has decided to take a gap year before pursuing her studies and certification in nursing. During her junior and senior years she has worked with and coaches handicapped students in athletics and living skills. I am blessed to have my 10 grandkids nearby… with 3 more yet to graduate!!!”

Grandchildren of Pam Tosi Hodgkins ’59 at their graduations.

1960

Gwendolyn Hoeffel ’60 writes: “I had hoped to contact our class for our 65th reunion. Greetings to all who read this. As Lolín Dolores Menéndez ’60 wrote, she has moved from her beloved Puerto Rico to our community in Albany, NY. So we are a bit closer and able to meet now and again. However, in August I will be moving from Bedford, NY to New York City. It was unexpected, and will certainly be a challenge and stimulation. Be in touch if you come to NYC!”

Dolores Menendez ’60 writes:

“I have just moved to Avila Retirement Community in Albany, where seven RSCJ live together in a wing of the facility. This gives me opportunities to get together with Gwen Hoeffel ’60 and explore the area with her. I do go back to Puerto Rico to see family and friends, and keep in touch with Maria Valdes Penagaricano ’60 and Ana Rita Diaz ’60.”

1965

Anne Carey Hurwitch ’65 writes: “This year was my 65th reunion year from NCDS! At the tea reception before the liturgy I had an opportunity to have a long chat with the new head of school Mrs. Jessica Hooper. Congratulations to NCDS to have found such an impressive woman/ educator to lead the school forward.”

1967

(Mary) Lee Roversi ’67 writes: “I continue to be deeply grateful for my life—full of the love of family and friends, a thriving organic farm and B&B on the island of Kauai and my continued good health.”

1969

Maureen O’Connor Broderick ’69 writes: “5 members of the class of 1969 had a reunion at the home of Mary Ann Dorgan Strang ’69 in New Hampshire.”

Mary Keefe ’69 writes: “Hello all—I’ve recently moved to Emerita Partner status, at my firm MGA Partners Architects. Next month we’ve giving a walking tour of the University of Pennsylvania campus, to national and international alumnae from the Wharton School, in town for the Wharton Global Clubs Leadership Conference. Back in Boston, I’ve joined the Associates Group of the Boston Public Library, which houses the architectural

archives of my father’s firm (Maginnis & Walsh Architects then Kennedy, Kennedy and Keefe Architects) 1898–1978. This firm was the original architect for the conversion of the Towle estate to our NCDS campus on Centre Street, including the beloved chapel.”

1971

Ellen Barry ’71 writes: “I graduated from NCDS after junior year in ’71 and went to Swarthmore College ’75, then NYU Law School (Root-Tilden and Hayes Fellow, ’78). I founded Legal Services for Prisoners with Children in 1978, an organization that has advocated for the human and civil rights of incarcerated parents, their children and family members for over 45 years; I passed the baton to formerly incarcerated leaders in 2021, but continue to work toward ending mass incarceration through LSPC and the Circle for Justice Innovation (donor/activist funding group), Windcall (providing sabbaticals to social justice activists), and Equal Justice Society (reparations for African American descendants of Slavery). I am a: Soros Justice Fellow ’97; MacArthur Fellow ’98; Nobel Peace Prize Nominee ’05 and ’08 with 1000 PeaceWomen. My partner is Mike Florio (advocate for utility consumers) and we have two children, Angie (about to publish her first novel) and Antonio (died in ’21 of a rare illness.) We welcome visitors to California!”

Laura Murphy Kensington ’69, Susie Moschella Beebe ’69, Mara Kirby ’69, Mary Ann Dorgan Strang ’69, Maureen O’Connor Broderick ’69.

Gwen Hoeffel ’60 and Dolores Menendez ’60 in Pine Bush Conservation Area, Albany.

Lee Roversi ’67 , her children with their partners, and her grandchildren.

Ellen Barry ’71

Barbara Davis Hanson ’71 writes: “My husband Arnie and I celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary this past year. All our children and grandchildren joined us for the celebration.”

1972

PJ Tocci ’72 writes: “Busy year for the Tocci family! My daughter, Piera and my son, Peter were both married… practically one month apart! Piera was married in Sicily, Italy at Il Castello Lanza Branciforte di Trabia on October 13 and Peter was married at Glenmere Mansion in Chester, NY on November 25. My daughter, an executive with Zillow, lives in Detroit with her husband, Yamah, a data scientist. My son, an executive with Ferrari, lives in NY with his wife, Cristina, a doctor specializing in Gastroenterology. I still live in Tuxedo Park, NY and stay busy running a Project Management Company, The Tocci Group Inc., specializing in providing technical services to the Design + Construction Industry. I am also on the AMFP National Board and local NY chapter board (Association of Medical Facility Professionals) which caters to the healthcare industry. Thankfully, work is mostly remote these days which allows me to spend an average of 6 months a year in Italy. I finally have learned to balance work and play!”

1976

Join us for your 50th Reunion in June! Margot Hintlian ’76 writes: “Yikes! Are we really approaching 50 years since we graduated on that beautiful day in June 1976!??! The years went by quickly, but are marked by many milestones, careers, marriages, children, and passing loved ones. When we last met in 2020 at our alumni Zoom cocktail gathering, I was impressed if not humbled by the accomplishments of my classmates. I think we did live up to Beth Giron’s words in her valedictorian speech.I look forward to seeing the class of ’76 at the alumni event.”

1977

Christina Kickham Costigan ’77 writes: “Had a wonderful tour of the school in August 2024 with Robin Parr Lagace ’77.” (see photo on next page)

R EUN ON

Saturday, June 6, 2026

After your 50th Reunion, you are invited to return each year for Reunion Weekend. It’s a special opportunity to gather with classmates, share memories, and continue your lasting connection to Newton Country Day of the Sacred Heart.

Class of 1976: 50th Reunion

Class of 1981: 45th Reunion

Class of 1986: 40th Reunion

Class of 1991: 35th Reunion

Class of 1996: 30th Reunion

Class of 2001: 25th Reunion

Class of 2006: 20th Reunion

Class of 2011: 15th Reunion

Class of 2016: 10th Reunion

Class of 2021: 5th Reunion

Newton Country Day School

The Family of Barbara Davis Hanson ’71 . First row: Lucas, Stephanie, Arnie, Barbara, Elliott, Mariana; Second row: Zoe, Reese, Katie; Third row: Ben, Chris, Jon.

1981

Join us for your 45th Reunion in June!

Moe Quinn ’81 writes: “Linda Dorsey Farley and I had the pleasure of hearing fellow classmate and friend Mary Thompson ’81 address the graduating class of 2025. She was outstanding. We also got to see our former teacher Mrs. Melody Morey. What a wonderful day and such a joy to be back on campus.”

Mary Thompson ’81 gave the Commencement Address at the 145th Commencement Exercises for the Class of 2025. (See page 69)

1982

Nadine (Dina) Nelson Chmura ’82 writes: “Not much new to report. I would love to hear from anyone who would like to share a memory!”

1986

Join us for your 40th Reunion in June!

Tara Noonan ’86 writes: “I am still living in Köln/Cologne, Germany, where I have been for 15 years! My husband, Adrian Diehl, and I will celebrate our 11th wedding anniversary on August 1. Jennifer Ackil Brandt ’86 and I recently got in touch and were able to meet up in Aachen for a great catch-up at the start of June. We had a great time talking and talking and talking and almost didn’t see any sites, but did manage a quick visit to Aachen Cathedral. It was great to see each other— we hadn’t seen each other since graduation day almost forty years ago!”

1987

Melissa Hirshson ’87 has been promoted to Principal Technical Writer at ZOLL Medical in Chelmsford, MA, where she has been working up the ladder for the past 18 years.

1988

Libby Kavanagh Berke ’88 recently moved back to the U.S. from Yucatan,

Mexico, and is now living in her husband’s hometown of Red Bank, NJ. She continues to work for New Profit, a venture philanthropy organization committed to catalyzing the impact of social entrepreneurs who are expanding access and opportunity in America.

Suzanne Rheault Stewart ’88 writes: “I am still loving life in Nashville with my husband and 3 dogs. After being retired for 10 years and sending my kids off to college (MIT and USC), I decided to return to work as a financial advisor. We will be in Iceland and then Normandy for D Day celebrations this summer. Ken will be jumping out of WWII airplanes!”

1989

Jennifer Young Watts ’89 had lunch with some great NCDS graduates, including Heather Gallagher Troy ’89 , in Charleston, SC in February.

1991

Join us for your 35th Reunion in June!

Ann Marie Boole McCormick ’91 is an Executive Director at UBS Financial Services Inc. She has spent 25 years of her career at UBS and this past

Tara Noonan ’86 and Jennifer Ackil Brandt ’86

Jennifer Young Watts ’89 with fellow alumnae.

Linda Dorsey Farley ’81, Mary Thompson ’81, and Moe Quinn ’81.

Christina Kikham Costigan ’77 and Robin Parr Lagace ’77

February became the Associate Market Executive for the South Atlantic Market covering parts of Maryland and all of Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina. In addition to her day job, she is very active in all things people and culture at the firm from Season of Service to Employee network support, etc. Ann Marie lives in Bethesda, MD with her husband, twin 17 year olds, and 2 dogs. In her free time you will find her banging on the boards and cheering at her kids ice hockey games and cross country/track meets. Ann Marie is also on the Board of Cards for Hospitalized Kids.

1996

Join us for your 30th Reunion in June!

2001

Join us for your 25th Reunion in June!

2004

Brittany Borders ’04 recently premiered her first original play, The Meeting Tree , at the Strand Theater in Dorchester. A former longtime staff member at Newton Country Day,

Borders now serves as Director of Admissions at Cathedral High School in Boston.

Kathleen O’Brien ’04 moved back to Boston at the end of 2024 and began a new role as the Director of Trusts & Estates with the Bonhams Skinner auction house.

Liz (Goff) Santillanes ’04 was recently elected to the Board of Education for the Union Free School District of the Tarrytowns in Westchester County, NY. Passionate about inclusive, communitydriven leadership, Liz is committed to advancing student-centered policies and strengthening public education through transparency, collaboration, and advocacy.

2005

Meaghan Doherty Myers ’05 currently lives at Fort Benning, GA with her husband and two small daughters. She recently left the U.S. Department of State where she worked in political and economic affairs at U.S. Embassy Riga, Latvia, and is teaching advanced classical ballet at Columbus State University.

2006

Join us for your 20th Reunion in June!

2007

Grace (Dubuque) Kortlander ’07 and her husband, Matt, welcomed their first child, William Matthew Kortlander, on July 2, 2024.

After graduating from the Tufts Orthopedic Surgery Residency in 2021 where she received the Henry Banks Outstanding Resident Award, Raminta Theriault ’07 completed a fellowship in Adult Reconstruction at Stanford and a second fellowship in Orthopedic Oncology at UC Davis. She began clinical practice at Ochsner Medical Center MD Anderson Cancer Center where she was teaching faculty for the Ochsner Orthopedic Surgery Residency Program and one of 3 Orthopedic Oncology Surgeons in the entire state of Louisiana. She was recently recruited back to Stanford in October 2024 as teaching faculty for the Orthopedic Surgery Residency Program and Adult Reconstruction Fellowship with a full time faculty appointment at the VA Palo Alto where she has enjoyed serving our veterans while teaching at Stanford.

2008

Emily Giudice ’08 welcomed her son, Nico, on New Year’s Eve 2024. He joins big sisters Georgia (4.5) and Alice (2.5) in the family.

Cara Stuka ’08 graduated from Boston College with her M.A. in Higher Education in May 2025.

2010

Allison Fachetti Dunk ’10 writes: “I got married! I married my husband Andy Dunk on July 20, 2024 in Cape Cod. Our ceremony was held at St. Joan of Arc church in Orleans followed by the reception at Wychmere Beach Club. We met in business

Allison Fachetti Dunk ’10 and Andy Dunk.

Cara Stuka ’08

school at Kellogg and have lived in San Francisco for the last four years. We are moving to NYC this fall so I hope to attend more local NCDS events!”

Nicole Hatton Nickerson ’10 writes: “My husband Andrew and I welcomed our first baby boy, Niall Gary Nickerson, on November 15, 2024 in Bozeman, Montana.”

Kelly (Freeman) Runowicz ’10 welcomed her first son, William, on September 5, 2024.

2011

Join us for your 15th Reunion in June!

Maggie Berkeley Beaulieu ’11 married her husband Ben in October 2024— celebrating with classmates Emily (Chabot) MacCormack ’11, Riley (Barry) Murphy ’11, Katie Mulroy ’11, Jacalyn Reed ’11, and Chrissy Raymond ’11.

Megan Bruso Hurley ’11 writes: “Jack Hurley joined our family on October 22, 2024. Big sister Catherine (2) is loving her new little brother! We also moved into our new home in South Natick.”

Emily Chabot MacCormack ’11 writes: “We welcomed our son Sean MacCormack in August 2024! Maddie and Sophie Abbott (daughters of Erin Chabot Abbott ’05 ) are thrilled to have another cousin in the Chabot crew.”

2012

Mairead R. McAuliffe ’12 and Peter J. Ingato were married on August 31, 2024. The couple celebrated with family and friends at a castle nestled in the New Jersey Botanical Garden that reminded Mairead of NCDS. Mairead felt so lucky

Megan Bruso Hurley ’11 and family.

Maggie Berkeley Beaulieu ’11 with classmates.

Maddie and Sophie Abbott (daughters of Erin Chabot Abbott ’05) with their cousin Sean MacCormack (son of Emily Chabot MacCormack ’11).

Peter J. Ingato and Mairead R. McAuliffe ’12.

Andrew Nickerson and Nicky (Hatton) Nickerson ’10 with baby boy Niall Gary Nickerson.

to have many of her Newton friends in attendance, including Lisa Richmond ’12, Mary Delaney ’12 and Natalya Pulaski ’12. Mairead’s sister Bridget McAuliffe ’16 was her maid of honor and Emily Scala ’12 was a bridesmaid.

2016

Join us for your 10th Reunion in June!

Sarah Kelleher Cutler ’16 writes: “I got married to Mackenzie Cutler on May 30, 2025!”

2018

Riley Connon ’18 writes: “I got promoted from research manager, to project manager, and then to senior project manager at Guidepoint all within one year!”

2021

Join us for your 5th Reunion in June!

Aamaya Guzman ’21 writes: “I graduated this May with my B.A. in Communication from the University of Massachusetts Amherst; now on to my next adventure, real adulthood!”

2022

Genevieve Jobson ’22 was recently published by The Wilson Center for her article “Cultivating tradition, sustainable innovations, and female entrepreneurship in Lebanon.”

In Memoriam

The Alumnae Office has been notified of the deaths of the following alumnae within the past year:

Dodie Hayes Cifrino ’41

Eunice Ford Williams ’45

Anne Elcock Sullivan ’47

Marjorie Bennett ’48

Brenda Sullivan Downey ’51

Beatrice Sullivan McDevitt ’51

Janet Phillips Connelly ’55

Midge Connor Winkel ’58

Mary Jane Becherer Ferson ’59

Debby Oakes Whitney ’59

Carroll Donahue Swan ’61

Karen Avakian ’63

Andrea Quigley Griffiths ’64

Eileen Dineen ’66

Eve Anne Ward Tull ’67

Charlotte Moore Leavitt ’68

Sally Weinrich ’68

Mary Elizabeth

Connor Hamlin ’71

Janet McManama Linehan ’72

Catherine Muldoon ’90

Sarah Kelleher Cutler ’16 (right) and Mackenzie Cutler at their bridal shower.

Riley Connon ’18

Impact Report

Scan the QR code to view the 2024–25 Impact Report

NEWTON COUNTRY DAY’S BOARD OF TRUSTEES

The Board of Trustees plays a vital role in the life of the School, serving as stewards of its mission and long-term health. Trustees provide strategic direction, ensure financial strength, and help secure the resources, leadership, and facilities Newton Country Day needs to flourish now and in the years ahead.

Composed of devoted alumnae, parents, and RSCJ leaders, the Board works in close partnership with the Head of School to uphold the Goals and Criteria of Sacred Heart education and to advance a bold vision for the growth, leadership, and achievement of every Newton Country Day student.

2025–26 Board of Trustees

Kate Hogan Ascione P ’21 ’22 ’27 *

Elizabeth Morey Blecharczyk, M.D. ’01

Christopher Busby P ’23 ’26 ’29

Peter Connolly P ’23 ’25

Brian Cordeiro

Jen DeSisto P ’25 ’27

Donna Farrell P ’22 ’25

Jill Carlson Gunter ’08

Ellen M. Harrington ’77

New Board Member

Jessica Hooper P ’28

Kathleen Hughes, RSCJ, Ph.D., Newton College ’63

Nancy Kehoe, RSCJ, Ph.D., Sheridan Road ’55, Duchesne College Omaha ’59

Enuma Menkiti ’97

Jay Mitchell P ’27 ’30

Maura T. Murphy ’99, Chair

Cassie Jeremie Ramos ’02

Katherine Wallace P ’27

* new for 2025–26

KATE HOGAN ASCIONE P ’21 ’22 ’27

Kate Hogan Ascione P ’21 ’22 ’27 is originally from Cleveland, Ohio, and graduated from Boston College in 1993. Before raising her four children she worked in development for Harvard College and various nonprofits in Los Angeles, New York, and Boston. She currently serves on various boards and nonprofit committees in the Boston area including the Boston College Board of Regents, Boston Health Equity International, The Mabel Center, The Island School, and Camp Harbor View. Kate and her husband, Mike, live in Belmont with their son, Nicholas, and their three daughters: Maggie ’21, Ellie ’22, and Katie ’27. In addition to her daughters, Ascione’s connection to Sacred Heart Schools extends to her mother, who was educated in the Network, and two aunts who attended Newton Country Day.

2025–26 PARENTS’ ASSOCIATION OFFICERS

Rachel Busby P ’23 ’26 ’29, President

Brie Allen P ’26 ’29, Officer

Jennifer Bekarian P ’29 ’30, Officer

Emily Venanzi P ’26, Officer

Kelly Woolbert P ’21 ’23 ’31, Officer

Record-Breaking

Highlights from Giving Day 2025

We exceeded our goal of 350 donors with 377 total donors! students made over 350 hand-written thank you notes Challenges

We unlocked a total of $105,000 for The Fund for Newton Country Day

The Class of 1993 had the highest donor participation

Save the Date for Giving Day 2026! Wednesday, April 8, 2026

1980s Challenge Completed! 20 Alumnae from classes in the ’80s made a gift

Donor Challenge Completed! Over 350 donors participated

Parent & Caregiver Challenge Completed! 107 current parents and caregivers made a gift

The Fund for Newton Country Day

TRANSFORMATIVE

The Fund for Newton Country Day plays a vital role, providing 8% of our school’s annual operating budget and helping bridge the gap between tuition and the true cost of a Sacred Heart education.

IMPACT

The Fund for Newton Country Day impacts every student’s experience by supporting all aspects of their education— exceptional teachers, experiential learning opportunities, leadingedge equipment, and academic resources.

What Will Your Legacy Be?

OPPORTUNITY

Your participation in the Fund for Newton Country Day fuels opportunities. It allows us to have 15 sport teams, 34 extracurricular activities, and 7 retreats, and more each year.

One of the simplest ways to support Newton Country Day is by including the School in your will or trust. A bequest costs nothing today and allows you to make a lasting difference in the lives of future students.

You can choose to give a specific dollar amount or a percentage of your estate— whatever feels right for you. And every bequest, no matter the size, helps ensure that Newton Country Day remains a place where young women grow into leaders with courage, confidence, and faith.

When you notify us of your plans, you’ll be welcomed into the Founders’ Society, which honors those who are helping to secure the school’s future.

To learn more, contact Carol Fachetti P ’10 ’17, Director of Leadership and Planned Gifts, at cfachetti@newtonSH.org or (617) 559-4900.

Scan the QR code to learn more

A Night of Joy and Generosity: Très Bien Auction Springs Into Community

This year’s Très Bien Auction Springs into Community event, held on Saturday, March 1 at the Wellesley Country Club, was a celebration filled with generosity, connection, and school spirit. It was a remarkable evening that reflected all that we can achieve for Newton Country Day when we come together as a community.

The spirited evening welcomed more than 285 parents, caregivers, alumnae, faculty, and friends of Newton Country Day and featured coveted silent auction items, lively student performances, an array of raffles and games hosted by Class of 2025 Alumnae Ambassadors, and an exciting live auction. From exclusive getaways to Harbour Island, Thailand, and Brazil to unforgettable experiences like Fenway and Boston Garden shows and adventures with Great White Sharks, every bid reflected the community’s generous spirit.

An astounding $385,000 was raised, including an extraordinary $178,000 during the Fund-A-Need paddle raise to enhance the Sweeney-Husson Theatre with a state-of-the-art projector and sound system.

The success of this year’s event is a meaningful demonstration of the strength and generosity of the Newton Country Day community. We would like to express our deepest gratitude to our dedicated Auction Committee, led by Marie Caroll P ’27 and Diane Cavallo P ’28 ’23, whose vision, creativity, and countless hours of planning made this evening truly special. An additional special thank you goes out to our Auction Committee: Brie Allen P ’26 ’29, Christine Antonellis P ’28, Jennifer Bekarian P ’29 ’30, Sue Bouchard P ’29, Rachel Busby P ’23 ’26 ’29, Rossanna Hennessey P ’21 ’23 ’25 ’28, Andrea Lichtenstein P ’27 ’29, Karen Lutz P ’27, Amy MacDougall P ’24 ’29, Christina McCormick P ’25, Colleen Mitchell P ’27 ’30, Mary Moriarty P ’25, Sarah Parker P ’31, Katie Shapiro P ’30, and Katy Wallace P ’27.

A heartfelt thank you to all who attended and supported Très Bien Auction Springs into Community . We’re already looking ahead with excitement to our next all-community event, Bold Vision, Bright Future , on Saturday, October 25, 2025!

New Traditions

Brought to you by the Class of 2025 Families

by Kay McMahon

The Class of 2025 isn’t just leaving with diplomas; they are leaving their mark.

This year’s graduating class helped launch new traditions that celebrate Sacred Heart spirit, deepen alumnae connections, and leave a lasting impression on campus. It all started in February with the 100 Days Luncheon, a joyful kickoff to the countdown to graduation. Hosted by Class of 2025 families, the room buzzed with laughter, memories, and heartfelt advice from Head of School Jessica Hooper P ’28 and alumna Beth Gallagher ’99. They shared reflections on sisterhood—what it means to be a Newton Country Day alumna and the lifelong importance of connection. Later in the spring, the school introduced another new tradition: the Sacred Heart Alumnae Induction. Seniors gathered in the chapel to be welcomed as members of the global Sacred Heart alumni network. Reflections from Board Chair Maura Murphy ’99 and Cleo Greenwood ’14 captured the power of staying rooted in the Sacred Heart mission, no matter where life leads. Each senior received a symbolic Sacred Heart passport and a pin recognizing their accomplishments; they also made history as the first class to sign a new alumnae book, which now resides in the newly renovated front lobby, a transformation made possible by the Class of 2025 families with a creative boost from the Senior Project of Neasa Kearney ’25.

Another tradition was born this spring: at the Baccalaureate Mass, each member of the Class of 2025 received personal tributes from faculty and staff—heartfelt acknowledgments of the joy, spirit, and unique gifts of each individual senior.

Some traditions are rooted in history; others are sparked by vision, generosity, and love for this community. The Class of 2025 gave us both.

THE SACRED HEART LUNCHEON

In the spirit of new traditions, we were thrilled to welcome back our mothers of alumnae and senior mothers for the first annual Sacred Heart Luncheon. Held on Valentine’s Day, the event brought this special group together to hear from our new Head of School, Jessica Hooper P ’28, create heartfelt Valentine’s cards for their daughters, and share wisdom with senior parents as their daughters prepare for the journey ahead. It was a joy to have our mothers of alumnae back on campus. Their lasting connection to Newton Country Day is a true reflection of the strong bond they continue to hold with the school.

Honoring the vision that makes today possible and collectively celebrating the promise of our future.

Honoring the vision that makes today possible and collectively embracing the promise of our future.

Join the Newton Country Day community—past and present— for an extraordinary evening of celebration and connection.

Join the Newton Country Day community—past and present— for an extraordinary evening of celebration and connection.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2025

OMNI SEAPORT HOTEL, BOSTON

From the Archives

Do you know any students who might be a great fit for

Our new online School Store is now open!

Newton Country Day is excited to announce our brand-new School Store! Now, all Falcon fan gear and blue & silver spirit wear is available in one place, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

With our new partnership with Prime Time Sports and our move to Nike as our official apparel provider, every Nike purchase gives 5% back to support our school.

Stock up and show your Falcon pride!

We value recommendations from our families and alumnae who have experienced what Newton Country Day has to offer. The Admission Office is eager to welcome prospective students throughout the 2025–26 admission season.

Please share your recommendations with us directly by emailing admissions@newtonSH.org or send prospective families to the admission section on our website: newtoncountryday.org/admission.

We look forward to meeting future members of the Newton Country Day community!

Newton Country Day School of the Sacred Heart

785 Centre Street

Newton, MA 02458

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