Review Magazine: Fall 2023

FALL 2023

BLAZING NEW TRAILS Building on 177 years of Holy Child tradition, Oak Knoll’s academic program meets and exceeds the wants of the age

CONTENTS

IN THIS ISSUE

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FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL

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BLAZING NEW TRAILS Building on 177 years of Holy Child tradition, Oak Knoll’s academic program meets and exceeds the wants of the age

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SACRED MOMENTS A journey of reverence and reflection at the shrine of Cornelia Connelly

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ACTIONS, NOT WORDS Kristen Ehinger ’04 discusses how Oak Knoll taught her to take risks and achieve her full potential

FEATURES

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HIDDEN TREASURES Did you know about these unique gems on campus that celebrate our Holy Child legacy?

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LIVING WITH PURPOSE Oak Knoll students reflect on the seven Holy Child Network Goals

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EMPOWERING GIRLS THROUGH SPORTS Oak Knoll hosts fifth annual Women in Sports Leadership Panel in celebration of 50 years of Title IX

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JOURNEY THROUGH TIME Rediscovering our rich history by unlocking the archives REVIEW is published once per year by the Marketing & Communications Department for alumnae/i, parents and friends of Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child.

HEAD OF SCHOOL Jennifer G. Landis EDITOR Meghan Hodgin Director of Marketing & Communications

ASSOCIATE EDITOR James McEvoy Assistant Director of Marketing & Communications

EDITORIAL STAFF Cynthia Prewitt Director of Institutional Advancement

ASSISTANT EDITOR Chris Starr Assistant Director for Content Strategy

Elizabeth O’Mara ’86 Associate Director of Institutional Advancement

COPY EDITOR Leslie Virostek

Barbara Lindner Assistant Director of Institutional Advancement PHOTOGRAPHY Michael Branscom Columbia University Athletics/ Stockton Photo Inc.

Highpoint Pictures James McEvoy Gabe Rhodes NBC Universal Jeffrey Yuhas DESIGN Abbie Moore Design PRINTING Graphic Concepts Printing Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child 44 Blackburn Road, Summit, NJ 07901 908-522-8109 www.oakknoll.org

Message from the Head of School “What one is called to do, she is called to do with all her might.”

- Cornelia Connelly, Founder of the Society of the Holy Child Jesus

Dear Oak Knoll School Community, It was the vision of Holy Child founder Cornelia Connelly in 1846 that education must meet “the wants of the age.” She believed that children learn best when treated with reverence and respect and actively engaged in their education. That philosophy has become a cornerstone of the Holy Child mission and spirit that continues today.

At Oak Knoll, we empower students to cultivate their faith, embrace challenges with curiosity and strength, and develop a global sense of responsibility to significantly impact the world. That all stems from Cornelia Connelly’s charge so many years ago. While our classrooms and curriculum may look different from when Cornelia first established her transformative educational approach, we remain committed to this belief.

In the pages that follow, you will read about the strength of Oak Knoll’s connection to the Society of the Holy Child Jesus and the Holy Child Network of Schools and how they inform our program today here in Summit.

You will also gain a never-before-seen glimpse into Oak Knoll’s academic program that describes our mastery and skills-based learning program, interdisciplinary focus, project-based and experiential learning experiences, leadership curriculum, and global studies initiative. Lastly, you will read about our incredible alumnae who are out in the world making a difference in various fields and how their drive stems from their days at Oak Knoll.

We could not be prouder of our alumnae and all they are achieving. We know that the foundation Oak Knoll provides will help prepare our graduates to succeed in the real world, and they are changing it for the better.

They are truly living examples of Cornelia’s motto: “Actions, not words.”

Sincerely,

Jennifer G. Landis Head of School

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ON CAMPUS The latest news and updates from Oak Knoll

Epic Big Island Adventure Inspires Upper School Students Throughout the summer, 19 Upper School students had an unparalleled experience. They engaged in battles against invasive plants at Volcanoes National Park, witnessed the fiery eruption of Kīlauea, unearthed history at Pearl Harbor, explored the enigmatic lava tubes, and embraced local culture at the lively Farmers Market in Hilo.

Forging Bonds Through Time Grade 10 Upper School mentors in AP World History inspired Lower School budding historians in grade 6 Social Studies by assisting them in conducting primary research and preparing presentations for Oak Knoll’s inaugural History Day project. As part of the initiative, students presented their work to parents, faculty, staff, and students.

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Oak Knoll Senior Writes, Illustrates Children’s Tale For her Senior Capstone Project, Katie Nguyen ’23 wrote and illustrated a heartwarming morality tale for young readers. Her original children’s story, titled The Starfish Wish, is a captivating tale that follows a young girl named June. June embarks on a quest to find a mythical wish-granting starfish, hidden in a distant cove, that she hopes might heal her mother from a seemingly incurable ailment. Nguyen is attending Notre Dame in Indiana, where she plans to major in Visual Communication Design and hopes to combine her love of storytelling with technology by specializing in user interface and user experience design.

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Oak Knoll Dedicates Little Library to Beloved Former Teacher The Lower School held a special dedication of our new “Little Lending Library” in June to honor and remember the late Anne Lofredo—beloved grade 2 Religion, Science, and Social Studies teacher. A heartwarming gathering of students, faculty, staff and members of Anne’s family honored her contributions to education and the legacy of creativity and kindness she leaves to Oak Knoll. In her blessing, Lower School Division Head Christine Spies prayed, “May this little library stand tall and strong and provide books to all for years to come. Please bless all who gather here to sample a story, and may they experience joy and growing knowledge from the books they borrow. Please bless the soul of Anne Lofredo, for whom this little library is dedicated, for her love of Oak Knoll, her students, and her passion for teaching and learning. In the book of Anne’s life, her story included Oak Knoll, and we were blessed by her presence.”

Building Bridges through Open Dialogue Oak Knoll’s community united last spring for an empowering Community Dialogue Night led by our Student Diversity Leadership Board. More than 30 passionate voices, including students, parents, faculty, staff and administrators, embraced the opportunity to connect and engage in meaningful conversations.

We are so proud of our students for leading this initiative, which reinforces the strength of our inclusive and interconnected environment, serving as a testament to the vibrant spirit of unity and collaboration within our school.

A Lower School Nod to Broadway May’s Spring Arts Celebration engaged students in grades 3–6 in Oak Knoll’s first Broadway venture with a production of Into the Woods Jr. Following the performance, parents and special guests enjoyed touring Bonaventura Hall, which was transformed into an art gallery proudly displaying a yearlong look at our students’ creativity and skill.

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ON CAMPUS

Building Momentum: Oak Knoll Track & Field Makes Its Presence Known In the spring of 2023, our 4×800 track and field relay team was invited to compete in the historic Penn Relays—the country’s oldest and largest track and field competition. The invitation marked a watershed moment and further affirmation for our fleet-footed athletes. Whether it is cross country in the fall, indoor track in the winter, or track and field in the spring, Oak Knoll is making its presence known. Scan the code to listen to a short podcast (5:12 mins) featuring Coach Mickey Cassu and our senior team captains.

Stephanie Aguinaldo ’24 Wins International Short Film Award Stephanie Aguinaldo ’24 won first place for “Best Narrative” in the international Rough Cut Film Festival sponsored by the Lycée Français de New York Cultural Center. Her award-winning short film, in French with English subtitles, chronicles her struggles identifying as a Filipina American and how she overcame her insecurities and grew in maturity and appreciation for her roots. Aguinaldo was the only female award winner across all categories.

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Oak Knoll Hosts Middle School Math Consortium Oak Knoll took center stage as the host of a thrilling middle school Math Consortium this past April. Uniting four area schools in an epic competition, followed by mind-bending adventures and small group activities in geometric solids, number sense, and statistics, the event enabled students to unleash their math mania!

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Oak Knoll Hosts Night of Cabaret Seniors inducted into Cum Laude in the spring were Kelly Troczynski ’23, Katharine Cugno ’23, Lily Andersen ’23, Sarah Kuhl ’23, and Jennifer Callandriello ’23.

Juniors inducted into Cum Laude in the spring were Rory Weldon ’24, Danielle Delano ’24, Eve Carbeau ’24, Kiley Reape ’24, Abby Flood ’24, and Lucy Duttenhofer ’24 (not pictured).

11 Students Inducted into Oak Knoll Chapter of Cum Laude Society Five seniors and six juniors were recognized for their academic excellence and inducted into Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child’s chapter of the Cum Laude Society this spring—a society that recognizes academic achievement in secondary schools for the purpose of promoting excellence, justice, and honor.

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More than 30 students participated in a dazzling Upper School Night of Cabaret with over 20 acts performing a variety of different numbers, including singing, acting, and more. A skilled lighting crew composed entirely of Oak Knoll students also accompanied the group of talented performers. Brava!

Ensemble Performs at Carnegie Hall Oak Knoll’s Ensemble represented Oak Knoll in New York City as part of a choral residency that culminated in a stellar performance at Stern Auditorium in Carnegie Hall. For two days, the Ensemble rehearsed with other groups of students ages six to 18 to put together a challenging piece of music with Francis Bardot, a renowned French conductor. After a semester of hard work at Oak Knoll and two days of finishing touches in New York City (including working with professional vocal soloists and a full-sized orchestra), they delivered a brilliant final performance.

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FIRST-YEAR CHECK-IN

Paula Sefia ’22 embarks on a purpose-driven journey of bold exploration at Northeastern University Sefia and several friends at Northeastern University decided very early in their freshman year that it would be fun to enter a “hackathon.” They met religiously in the school’s Snell Library to brainstorm, discuss common interests, and understand the parameters of the annual Hack the Patriarchy competition. The competition is described as “a gathering of programmers, developers, designers and others who, for an intensely focused, short period of time, are trying to build a creative solution within the constraints of a timed event.”

In this case, the hackathon focused on creating innovative solutions for marginalized communities around the world.

The result: a prototype for a website and app called “Big Sister” that Northeastern students can anonymously use to report instances of harassment, catcalling, and sexual assault on campus. Big Sister connects users to campus officers and safety resources, and creates a visualization that college women can use to navigate their area more safely. Their idea won both the People’s Choice Award from their fellow hackathon participants and the Activist Award, which goes to a team whose product most exemplifies the competition’s mission.

Paula Sefia ’22 understands the importance of mastering skills and learning with a purpose. Only one year out of Oak Knoll and the freshman computer science and cognitive psychology major at Northeastern University is not only managing a 20-credit course load, participating in five campus clubs, working two part-time jobs, practicing fencing several nights a week, attending church functions, and maintaining her social and family relationships, but she also just happens to be in the process of coding and launching an app that allows users to track incidents of racial bias, harm, and harassment in their college vicinity.

Sefia acquired this sense of purpose while attending Oak Knoll from grades 3 to 12 and advises peers to keep busy, experiment with interests early in high school, and enter college with big ideas. Or as her mother likes to advise, “Keep your tentacles out and reach for all the opportunities that surround you.”

“I feel like it’s very important that people understand what it is they are interested in, or even explore what they are not interested in, so they know what to filter out. I think that a sense of personal interest is very helpful in terms of shaping your future,” Sefia notes.

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When asked how she maintains balance among all of her curricular, extra-curricular, and social activities, Sefia nods to her Oak Knoll days: “I think I brought my Oak Knoll self to college because I was very involved there as well. I feel like just having a purposeful and busy schedule is something I need. I like putting myself out there and trying a bunch of different things and then developing my skills. My hope is that I’ll continue to do that in college and develop my passions over time.”

Sefia showed early promise as a coder while at Oak Knoll, where she seized first place in her first-ever hackathon at an area independent school. That particular competition was designed to inspire students—especially girls—to work collaboratively and improve their programming skills by building a functional product in one day. Along with two teammates, Sefia designed a fully functional interactive story-mode game called Text Adventure.

Sefia and her new college team of coders are currently refining the Big Sister app, attending an entrepreneurial business development club to ensure the marketing and business side of the product is protected, and looking for licensing opportunities with other colleges and universities. They hope to take Big Sister to even more user experiences. With her passion, energy, and ever stretching tenacity, Sefia is certainly shaping the future for herself and others.

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MAKING CONNECTIONS Students embark on transformative Holy Child Network global exchange program At Oak Knoll, we often talk about the joy and privilege of being “in community” with others. As a member of the Holy Child Network of Schools, that community extends well beyond the borders of New Jersey.

With nine Holy Child schools in the United States, 10 in Europe, and three in Africa, there are ample opportunities for students, faculty, and staff to forge connections, exchange ideas, offer support, and even physically visit for extended student exchange experiences. Currently, Oak Knoll offers annual exchanges with Mayfield Senior School in Pasadena, California; Mayfield School of the Holy Child, in London, and Holy Child Killiney in Dublin, Ireland.

Though Oak Knoll offers a variety of additional national and international student trips through our Global Studies Program, what makes these Holy Child experiences so special is the more intimate connection students experience with their “sister school” student counterparts and the families and the homes they live in while in California and Europe.

Host families provide room, board, local transportation, and social and cultural experiences, as well as other entertainment during the visit.

All the while, Oak Knoll students attend classes with their host “siblings.”

Alternately, students from these sister schools visit Oak Knoll at a different point in the year and stay with families in our community to enrich our school and complete the cycle.

“We want to give our girls a more global perspective and worldview,” says Zohra Ismail, Dean of Students for Grades 10-12 and one of two Global Learning coordinators for the Upper School. “The interconnectedness is part of who we are at Oak Knoll. We want to expand that to other Holy Child Schools by creating an immersive experience for our traveling students and for our entire student body who benefit from the perspectives of visiting students each year.”

“I wanted to participate in the trip to Ireland because I was interested in creating relationships with new people and being involved in new experiences,” says Caitlin Canal ’25. During her visit to Oak Knoll for a week-long immersion, Mayfield Senior School student Kayla Abruzzi ’25 said, “The classes and choices offered at Oak Knoll are so varied. This morning we took yoga, which was really interesting. We have also really enjoyed completing a project with juniors this week, taking inspiration from inkblot designs to create a work of art with pencil and permanent marker.”

Rebecca Mull, World Language teacher and Global Learning coordinator, says the exchanges are a unique opportunity to live with a family and really get to know what it’s like to go to school somewhere else.

“These trips are lovely,” she says. “You can’t really get this type of experience by simply visiting as a tourist. By pairing with a Holy Child school, it helps us to appreciate our shared heritage and tradition by recognizing what is similar and familiar while at the same time noticing how they might celebrate the tradition differently.”

In addition to the Holy Child exchanges, Oak Knoll also plans to offer trips to Iceland, Italy, and Spain as part of its Global Studies program for the 2023–24 school year.

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BLAZING NEW TRAILS Building on 177 years of Holy Child tradition, Oak Knoll’s academic program meets and exceeds the wants of the age

Education must prepare children for tomorrow, not yesterday At a 2001 Education in Action Conference, the late Sister Anne Murphy, former headmistress of St. Leonards-Mayfield School and lecturer at Heythrop College, made a presentation on Cornelia Connelly’s vision for education and said, “Cornelia had an acute sense of responding to current needs, not those of a past age. She told her sisters to order and read the latest books on education methods. She was the opposite of parochial. ‘I’m a cosmopolitan; the whole world is my country and heaven is my home,’ she wrote. Her vision embraced the whole world.”

At Oak Knoll, faculty members know that the wants of the age are many and insistent. They include not only a mastery of 21st-century skills but also a tangible connection to the world in which those skills are exercised—a world full of challenges, opportunities, obstacles, occasional heartbreak, and hopefully a deep sense of personal accomplishment. In essence, a Holy Child education is learning that connects our students to action and a sense of purpose.

MASTERING THE ART OF STORYTELLING Action and purpose-based learning begin in the Oak Knoll Lower School with its focus on cross-curricular projects and collaborations.

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For example, grade 3 students not only hone their reading skills, they take a deep dive into the very nature of language arts, reading, and storytelling. In Library class, they read aloud Aaron Slator Illustrator by Andrea Beaty and discuss how a character who is dyslexic is able to tell a story through his artwork. Next, they are given picture prompts and create their own illustrations to bring the prompts to life.

“After exploring the role of illustration in storytelling, they choose from a selection of picture books based on a cover illustration that appeals to them,” explains Lower School Librarian Betty Castello. “They reflect on why that illustration attracted their attention and share their thoughts with their classmates.”

In Art class, they expand on their learning by creating watercolor backgrounds. They discuss how a dynamic, complex background really has at least three separate parts—the foreground, the midground, and the background. By putting different elements in each of these sections, they create a depth of field to bring life to their settings. After watercolors, each student uses a fine-nibbed micron pen to reinforce details in their piece and then finishes with a final burst of watercolor pencils on top.

Moving on to Language Arts and Reading class, students discuss the important characteristics of fantasy stories and read examples of fantasy books. As a class, they read Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs by Judi and Ron Barrett, Dragons Love Tacos

by Adam Rubin, and Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice

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BLAZING NEW TRAILS Sendak. They brainstorm possible characters and settings that might be included in their own fantasy stories. After deciding on their characters and setting, the students receive a “Plan Your Story” organizer to invent a problem their characters might face and a solution to solve that problem. They select a story template and begin writing their tales.

more enthusiasm and confidence in their learning. Moving forward, I hope to expand this method of assessment to more AP History classes.”

After developing and agreeing upon a new rubric for the class, students selected learning pathways based on skills. They started in an online “Historical Thinking Skills Museum” in each session. After entering the museum, each student would select the skill they wanted to reinforce. Clicking on the skill led each student to a video or a written description/explanation of their chosen skill. Upon completing their pathway, each student would submit an anonymous Google form naming the skill they selected and complete a “3-2-1” form. This would include three things they learned, two questions they have, and one step they plan to take to improve. The second half of class allowed students to break into small groups based on their selected skills. Within their small groups, students could apply the skill they selected.

“A key focus of my research was determining whether student-created rubrics would lead to a better understanding of historical thinking skills. From various student interviews and surveys, the collaborative development of the rubric and subsequent interventions led to a better understanding of skills. In creating the rubric, students needed to work as a team, but the task also required a basic understanding of the six historical thinking skills highlighted in the course,” says Johnston.

Their final story is then morphed into a technology project.

Using an app that allows them to combine photos and videos from a camera roll with live images from their iPad, they take photos of their artwork, create props for their characters, and layer in their backgrounds. The students record their stories in front of a green screen wall in the Ideas Lab. They wear green gloves and enact their stories with character props, and then digitally remove or “key out” that color so their characters appear to move on their own within the illustrations.

They have gone from students of storytelling to purposeful and skillful masters of the form.

A CASE STUDY IN PURPOSEFUL LEARNING This focus on purposeful learning and skills-based mastery at Oak Knoll has literally become a case study in the Upper School through Nicole Johnston’s grade 11 AP History classes.

She recently presented a research paper at the International Coalition of Girls Schools annual conference summarizing her 18-month research fellowship tracking the success of her focus on skills-based learning as opposed to grade-based. After in-depth research, she worked with her students to help them develop their own assessment rubric for the course based on mastery of historical thinking skills rather than striving for a particular grade in the class.

As Johnston explains, “I analyzed students’ progress with historical thinking skills, language used in the classroom surrounding grades, and their overall attitude toward our new competency-based learning structure. As a result of the project, students gained a deeper awareness of their growth and of areas for improvement. I observed students displaying 10

“My research allowed me time to reflect on the age-old question of what comes first: the chicken or egg. Or, in this instance, content or skills. Exploring skills-based learning led me to reflect on another important question in education: understanding the purpose of grading. As a student in various schools for half my life, I never wondered why I earned specific grades. My goal was always to earn the highest grade, never understanding what those grades meant or whether years in the future I would be able to explain what I learned. This project has made me look deeper at the purpose of grading and the message or messages it sends to students.”

While not completely abandoning a grading structure, the student-created, skills-based rubric and the emphasis on the purpose of learning these skills has had a marked effect on results. Though longer-term analysis is underway, this year’s Oak Knoll AP History exam results (released by the College Board) are the best in five years and are significantly higher than the average results for both New Jersey as a whole and the global student average.

UPENDING THE MATH CLASSROOM Purpose-based learning has also transformed the way math is instructed in the Upper School. Oak Knoll utilizes a math curriculum that tailors instruction to individual needs while capitalizing on motivational factors in an all-girls learning environment. The new program was rolled out during the last academic year to students in Pre-Algebra, Algebra 1, Geometry, and Honors Geometry in grades 7–10.

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“The Math Department’s new blended, self-paced, masterybased program was designed to combine whole- and smallgroup instruction and activities and utilize interactive video lessons to divide the course content into individual learning objectives,” explains Suzanne Powers, Chair of the Upper School Math Department. “Students work through each unit’s ‘must do’ assignments at their own pace and can opt to complete ‘should do’ and ‘aspire to do’ assignments to deepen their learning. This has reduced math and test anxiety.”

Rather than requiring students to learn at the same pace and within a prescribed classroom period, the new curriculum utilizes blended, equitable, self-paced techniques for mastery-based learning. This blended approach capitalizes on technology and mediated instructional resources to allow students to master math skills at their own pace while using classroom time to work individually with teachers to tackle problem areas.

Research shows that learning mathematics in smaller “chunks” benefits students. Because units are self-paced, students have the time they need to master content and skills. This supports persistence and a growth mindset. After each unit, students reflect on how they learned and how they might learn better in the future. This reflection on their learning style benefits them in other subjects as well.

Students surveyed in the beginning of the school year and again at the end showed an average 20 percent increase in confidence in their ability to learn through blended instruction, self-paced and master-based assessments.

but standing on a bright green Olivine beach with waves crashing in the distance made that instruction more impactful. Seeing the Oilvine in person made students even more interested in how this basalt forms during the slow cooling of lava flows.

“I asked the student if she wanted the long answer and she said yes,” says Yuhas. “I actually had a captive audience where all of a sudden, here we are on this gorgeous green sand beach in Hawaii, and I’m offering a mini-course on mineral science.

That’s the kind of opportunity students and teachers have when they are learning at the source.”

The hike to Papakōlea Beach was on just one of 10 days packed with immersive learning in Hawaii sponsored by Oak Knoll’s Science Department. Prior to the trip, interested students were invited to several orientation sessions, and they quickly learned that this trip wouldn’t exactly be a vacation. “We make sure that they know that this isn’t the Hawaii trip you might do with your family. We don’t stay at a hotel, and there’s no pool,” explains Yuhas. The participants know going in that the primary purpose of this trip is to bolster their understanding of earth sciences, environmental science, biology, and geology.

Participants stay in shared dorm rooms at the Kilauea Military Camp in Volcanoes National Park. They monitor the action of the active Kīlauea and Mauna Loa volcanoes, pass steam vents, explore an underground lava tube, hike to the visitors station at 9,000 feet in elevation en route to the Mauna Loa observatory, chop down invasive plant species in the park, and surround themselves with the natural scientific beauty of the Big Island.

TAKING LEARNING TO THE SOURCE “Why is the sand green, again?” one student asked Upper School Science Department Chair Jeff Yuhas. She was standing on Papakōlea Beach on the Big Island of Hawaii, along with 18 other Oak Knoll Upper School peers. They had previously learned about the mineral Olivine in a science classroom at Oak Knoll,

That said, the learning isn’t just about science. As Rory Weldon ’24 explains, “Mr. Yuhas put together an incomparable Hawaiian adventure. There was one iconic island experience after another. We saw red lava exploding from a volcano, tried our hand at surfing, paid our respects to the soldiers at Pearl Harbor, hiked to the famed green sand beach, sampled the tasty local cuisine at a farmers’ market, caught sight of dolphins, turtles, and manta rays, and so much more. We were also excited to give back to this wonderful community through a service project removing invasive species from the rainforest.”

Participants also took a snorkel trip, went whale watching, sampled kayaks and paddleboards, learned about organic coffee and macadamia nuts, and bonded with each other and their faculty mentors in ways that can only occur on such a shared experience.

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BLAZING NEW TRAILS Oak Knoll students are making memories connected to their learning that will last a lifetime. By taking learning to its source, students acquire knowledge, master subject matter, and find a purpose in learning that extends well beyond the classroom.

Connelly School of the Holy Child in Potomac, Maryland, in her reflection on the life and educational philosophy of Cornelia Connelly. “Cornelia said that it was the duty of the teacher to make children happy. A central belief in the schools was that all students needed freedom and responsibility.

Therefore, they must be trusted.”

THE LEGACY OF HOLY CHILD LEARNING The curriculum at Oak Knoll and the legacy of Holy Child education is constantly evolving to “meet the wants of the age.” Grounded in our belief that all students are unique and that a one-size-fits-all curriculum is ineffective, Oak Knoll’s programming is tailored to adapt to the needs of individual students.

“Cornelia’s first Book of Studies, dated 1863, contains the wisdom of her approach to education as she sought to guide her schools and to make them the institutions she knew they should be,” says Mary Kosch, former academic dean at

At Oak Knoll, students live up to that trust by taking an active role in their learning and linking that learning to a sense of purpose in a wide and wonderful world. In so doing, they discover for themselves and define for themselves what it means to find a sense of well-being in what is hopefully a life-long love of learning.

THE ROADS TO SUCCESS MASTERY AND SKILLS-BASED LEARNING:

SETTING THE STANDARD FOR LEADERSHIP:

We prioritize in-depth understanding and practical application of knowledge, focusing on individualized comprehension and competency-based assessment.

Here, students take responsibility for their own learning, preparing them for life after high school.

Signature Leadership Programs – such as EmpowHER, Emerging Leaders of a Globalized World, Leadership Evaluation and Development (L.E.A.D.), Sixth Grade Leadership Institute, Senior Capstone, and Social Innovators – prepare Oak Knoll’s graduates to live lives of purpose and set the stage for excellence in any setting.

INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDY: Knowledge and methods from multiple disciplines are integrated across the curriculum to explore complex issues and solve real-world problems.

PROJECT-BASED EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING: Students engage in hands-on projects and real-world experiences to actively explore and understand complex concepts.

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GLOBAL CONNECTIONS: As one of nine U.S. schools and 13 international schools in the Holy Child Network of Schools, our Global Studies initiative exposes students to the world.

Oak Knoll currently has exchange programs with Barcelona, Spain; Mayfield Senior School in Pasadena, California; Mayfield School of the Holy Child in Sussex and Holy Child Killiney in Dublin, Ireland.

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REMEMBERING Mary Cullen ’48 Mary Cullen, a cherished member of our community, passed away earlier this summer.

A proud graduate of the Class of 1948, she received Oak Knoll’s Distinguished Alumna Award in 1988 — the third year of the award’s existence.

After graduating from Oak Knoll, Mary went on to Trinity College and spent a dedicated career at Allen & Co. Inc. in New York, where she retired as Director.

Mary remained deeply committed to the betterment of education throughout her entire life. She was the daughter of Mary Tisdall Cullen and a devoted benefactor and longtime trustee emerita.

As noted by the resolution presented to Mary upon her retirement, “Mary became a member of Oak Knoll’s Board of Trustees in 1980 and served for 33 tireless years. As a Trustee, Mary served on a variety of committees, most notably the Finance, Investment, and Financial Independence Committees. Mary’s thoughtful comments and common sense in her service to these committees were appreciated and valued. In addition, Mary contributed warmth to the Board by sharing personal touches such as her simple love of chocolate and her excitement at attending her first New York Yankees game with Board members in 2011.”

In accordance with the family’s wishes, Mary’s burial and services were held privately. The Oak Knoll School community will remember Mary for her unwavering dedication to education, her spirit, the positive influence she had on so many, and the legacy she leaves behind.

Rooted IN PURPOSE At each critical stage of education, Oak Knoll students:

Livfeaith, BY

discovering and celebrating their unique purpose to become the vibrant, values-driven community members our world needs.

Leadroning, BY

developing the best parts of themselves through a bold and interactive academic program.

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Leaamdple, ex

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becoming as wise as they are smart, with the courage to make a difference.

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From Sketch

TO

LEGACY

The Remarkable Journey of a Student-Crafted Stained Glass Masterpiece A stunning triptych, crafted from radiant stained glass, warmly welcomes all who enter the Grace Hall Chapel. This captivating masterpiece did not originate as a formal commission by a professional artist, but blossomed over an entire year through the passionate dedication of Christina Nguyen, an exceptionally talented alumna from the Class of 2018.

In our steadfast commitment to nurturing the talents within our student body, the choice to entrust a gifted student artist with the monumental task of conceptualizing a 6’ by 8’ stained glass window was met with resounding enthusiasm from our community. Let’s delve into the fascinating journey of how this remarkable project took shape.

The composition that was ultimately selected from among Christina’s sketches depicted the Holy Child perched on Mary’s lap along with St. Francis — a favorite Saint of the Venerable Cornelia Connelly, founder of the Society of the Holy Child Jesus.

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In addition to the finally selected design, Nguyen created preliminary sketches including the alternates shown above: a nativity scene and the flight into Egypt. Her ideas were then presented to a committee of administrators, board members, and theology and art instructors who collectively decided on the final choice.

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Nguyen then reworked the preliminary image as a contour drawing to fit the shape and dimensions of the three display panels at the entrance of the chapel.

Nguyen created studies from reference photos and artwork, especially from the Renaissance and Baroque periods.

Full-sized shaded graphite renderings were then drawn on white kraft paper. A great deal of careful measurement and accurate enlargement were required in translating the full size works.

The final product, transposed to glass by a local artisan, was installed in January 2019, after more than a year of dedicated work on the part of Nguyen and six subsequent months of glass cutting, metal-oxide painting, firing, and assembling.

OAK KNOLL SCHOOL OF THE HOLY CHILD REVIEW

The artist even used student models — Clara O’Mara ’23 and Isabel Salas ’18 — to aid in the positioning of Mary holding the Holy Child, right hand raised.

Thanks to a generous donor and classmate in memory of Gail Reinheimer ’59, the window was unveiled in January of 2019 and blessed by the Reverend Scott Pontes.

Christina Nguyen ’18 is a recent graduate of the University of Notre Dame with a degree from the School of Architecture.

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3

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8

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Bonaventura Hall

1 The statue outside Bonaventura Hall celebrates the legacy of former Lower

School teacher Phyllis Gamba who instilled a love of reading and language arts in her Oak Knoll students for 32 years.

2 The Holy Child is seen in a beautiful statue by Gleb Derujinsky. This work, especially commissioned in cut stone, is set in a niche at the left end of Bonaventura Hall and shows the boy Jesus holding a lamb.

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Connelly Hall

3 Presented by Sister Gloria Okuh, a Holy Child Sister from the African Province, this framed piece of Nigerian students’ uniform fabric, worn with pride, now graces Oak Knoll’s wall in Connelly Hall as a symbol of cultural connection and shared values.

Grace Hall

4 The Grace Hall Chapel Tabernacle adorned with the emblem of the Holy Child — a symbol of unwavering faith and grace.

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Hidden Treasures

Did you know about these unique gems on campus that celebrate our Holy Child legacy?

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5 7

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Grace Hall (continued)

5 Wooden wall sconce in the shape of the Holy Child crest inside Grace Hall

Chapel in recognition and profound appreciation of distinguished service by Jeffrey W. Schroeder who served as Board Chair of Oak Knoll from 2013-2022.

6 Beautiful landscaping around the flag pole on the front lawn in the shape of the Holy Child crest.

Mulcahy Hall

7 Gazing down from the heart of Mulcahy Hall’s first-floor conference room, the portrait of Cornelia Connelly, visionary founder of the Holy Child community, brings a touch of history and inspiration to every gathering.

Prayer Garden

8 Oak Knoll’s prayer garden is a sacred space for quiet contemplation and moments of serenity. Built in 2018 after Mary Hare ’17 initially proposed the idea during her senior year, students today use the space to find solace, reflect, and connect with nature.

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We asked Lower School students to reflect on the many ways they connect with and celebrate the seven Holy Child Network Goals

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HOLY CHILD FALL 2023

GOALS FOR SCHOOLS OF THE HOLY CHILD JESUS In April 2023, the Holy Child Network of Schools published and released the fifth edition of the Goals and Criteria for Holy Child Schools amid the 175th celebration of the founding of the Society of the Holy Child Jesus in 1846 and 160 years since the publication of the original Goals written by Venerable Cornelia Connelly in 1863.

GOAL 1: Holy Child Schools foster a faith

commitment that leads to a joyous personal relationship with God in addressing the realities of the world.

GOAL 2: Holy Child Schools live, learn, and worship as a dynamic Catholic community.

GOAL 3: Holy Child Schools offer an

intellectually challenging, innovative, and creative program of study that develops academic excellence, encourages curiosity, and instills the joy of learning.

GOAL 4: Holy Child Schools promote Catholic social teaching in every facet of life as we carry out our motto, “Actions, Not Words.”

GOAL 5: Holy Child Schools create a learning climate based on trust and reverence for the dignity and uniqueness of each person.

GOAL 6: Holy Child Schools promote the

personal growth and development of all who participate in the life of the School.

GOAL 7: Holy Child Schools ensure the

continuation and growth of Holy Child mission and philosophy in the School.

“I have begun the work; others will bring it to perfection.”

- Cornelia Connelly

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SACRED MOMENTS A journey of reverence and reflection at the Shrine of Cornelia Connelly

By James McEvoy, Associate Director of Marketing and Communications and Unofficial Oak Knoll Archivist

When the Society of the Holy Child Jesus celebrated its 175th anniversary at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul in 2021, a memorial shrine was dedicated to founder Cornelia Connelly who was born in Philadelphia in 1809. Since its blessing, the shrine has become a pilgrimage site for the Oak Knoll community, with staff visiting the shrine most recently this past summer, and during an annual student trip that began in 2022.

Since I first stepped foot on the 11-acre campus of Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child in Summit during the summer of 2015—some nine decades after the school’s founding in 1924,

and nearly 170 years since the Society was founded by the Venerable Cornelia Connelly in 1846—I became fascinated with the school being a member of the Holy Child Network.

Although Sisters were not as prevalent on campus as in years past, my understanding of them and their foundational educational and religious beliefs grew over time. This knowledge came from various sources, including employee orientations, stories shared about the Sisters, encounters at special school events, and participation in activities like the Mission Effectiveness Committee. This committee conducts a self-assessment every six years at every Holy Child school, an event that coincided with my first year at Oak Knoll.

For the next several years, I gained a greater understanding of the SHCJ, visiting the Society’s Archives in Rosemont, Pennsylvania and beginning my own independent research into the Society and school histories. When the opportunity arose, I jumped at the chance this summer to join nine of my colleagues for a special trip to Pennsylvania to visit three locales that represent the Society: a shrine dedicated to Cornelia and the Society within the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul in Philadelphia, the Holy Child Academy in Drexel Hill, and the Archives in Rosemont.

I felt an indescribable sense of awe standing in the Cathedral Basilica, which was constructed over nearly 20 years during a period marred by anti-Catholic sentiments in the city, as well as the American Civil War, according to our well-informed guide, Gina Ingiosi, Associate Director of the Shrine of Saint Katharine Drexel, also located in the basilica.

It creates a wellspring of pride within me to realize that iconography so familiar to members of the OKS community— a statue of the Holy Child, the Society’s emblem, and a portrait of Cornelia—is so near to similar remembrances for Saint John Neumann and Saint Katherine Drexel.

Nestled in a corner immediately to the right of the main vestibule of the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul in Philadelphia, the city of the Venerable Corneila Connelly’s birth, stands a shrine dedicated to her and the order she founded, the Society of the Holy Child Jesus.

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Next, we traveled eight miles west to the Holy Child Academy in Drexel Hill, an institution founded only three years after Oak Knoll, which serves coed students in nursery through grade 8. In a different, but nonetheless powerful way, visiting the academy was a reminder that we are a part of something bigger than ourselves.

HOLY CHILD FALL 2023

Visiting Drexel Hill Academy also felt strangely like being home. We were immediately welcomed by a contingent of the school’s staff, including Head of School Margaret Fox-Tully, who at the end of her seven-year tenure, clearly possessed a powerful and infectious Holy Child spirit.

A tour led by Director of Admissions Cecilia Ulmer included visiting classrooms, meeting staff, and watching little ones run about—not unlike those in our own Summer Adventures camp.

Seeing the familiar Holy Child icons, including a statue of Cornelia that once stood in the former Cornelia Connelly School of the Holy Child in Anaheim, California, underscored the powerful connections that bond all Holy Child schools.

This was only further enhanced as the touring team included a familiar face to the Oak Knoll pilgrims, Patricia Brown, Director of Music, who served on the Mission Effectiveness Committee team that traveled to Summit earlier in the spring.

A statue depicting the Holy Child, a common sight for those familiar with the Society, stands below a tremendous mosaic mural dedicated to the life of Saint John Neumann, Philadelphia’s fourth bishop.

The staff ’s hospitality extended beyond a tour of the school to include a special Philadelphia-themed lunch in a building not dissimilar to our own Mulcahy Hall.

Finally, we trekked an additional seven miles north to the Society’s Archives, nestled immediately next to Rosemont College and the Holy Child School at Rosemont.

This was my third visit to the Archives, and I was already aware of the extensive records and artifacts on display to chronicle Cornelia and the Society’s history, especially the time after the first Sisters arrived in the United States en route to Towanda, Pennsylvania, in 1862.

Another wonderful aspect of this part of the trip was seeing former Oak Knoll faculty member Sister Tobie Tondi, who enjoyed reconnecting with Sue Hildebrandt, Assistant to the Upper School Division Head and Deans.

It was wonderful seeing my colleagues take in the curated displays at the Rosemont archives. Like me on my first visit, they were realizing the full breadth, rich history, and traditions of the Society, and they came away from it with a deeper understanding of the history and tradition of Holy Child.

The statue is marked by the Society’s insignia and five roses, each representing one of Corneila’s five children—Mercer, Adeline, John Henry, Mary Magdalene, and Frank. Devotion to the Holy Child remains strong as evidenced by the wear on the child’s foot from the long tradition of those celebrating baptisms at the cathedral and touching the foot of the statue.

This, at least in my opinion, is the bottom-line value of this trip, which will delightfully be an annual field trip for some of our Upper School students. Anyone who considers themselves to be a part of this special Oak Knoll family should know of and travel to such places—of which there are many— to embrace this extended relationship that crosses borders, hemispheres, and even centuries.

James McEvoy has been a member of the Oak Knoll community since 2015 working in the Office of Marketing and Communications.

He runs Oak Knoll’s social media accounts, is a co-advisor to the Upper School yearbook, Aquila, has served on the most recent MEC Steering Committee, and is a co-chair of the school’s Centennial Committee. If you see puns in our Instagram captions, he is to blame.

Near the statue is a portrait of Cornelia, one that is all too similar to those familiar with Holy Child schools or ministries. Beneath the portrait is a guest book encouraging visitors to pray for her beatification.

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ACTIONS, NOT WORDS Kristen Ehinger ’04 discusses how Oak Knoll taught her to take risks and achieve her full potential Q: PLEASE TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT YOU WERE INVOLVED WITH WHILE ATTENDING OAK KNOLL? A: Oak Knoll empowers students to be involved in various extracurricular activities, which was critical to my growth as a leader and teammate. I played varsity lacrosse for four years, serving as co-captain and participating on the soccer and basketball teams. Oak Knoll pushed me to also explore leadership roles off the field—I served as Academic Council Representative and Student Council Vice President.

Interacting with students and faculty from various parts of the school community allowed me to develop a wide range of leadership skills that I leverage today.

Q: PLEASE TELL US A BIT ABOUT YOUR PROFESSIONAL LIFE POST-HIGH SCHOOL? A: After graduating from Georgetown University in 2004, I joined Credit Suisse, a global investment bank, where I worked in Equity Sales for the next 10 years. After the birth of my third child, I joined Empirical Research Partners, a quantitative equity research boutique where I still work today. Like my leadership experience at Oak Knoll, it was also important to have breadth in my career experience, so I decided to start my own business in 2020. I launched KEE Concept and Design, where I design and make custom handbags out of luxury home décor fabric.

Q: WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO LAUNCH A NEW BUSINESS VENTURE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC?

A: As a working mother, I experienced a lot of conflicting emotions during COVID. I was happy to be home with my children, but it put additional stress on my already taxing

job in finance. I taught myself how to sew at night to unwind from that day-to-day chaos. Fabric stores were not open then, so I used upholstery fabric samples to practice. I realized that making purses with home décor fabric gave people a unique way to express their design aesthetic outside their homes.

Fortunately, people loved the idea, too, and the business did over six figures in sales in my first year. Now I am focused on developing new bag shapes and creating products outside the handbag category—coasters, key chains, and wine totes.

OKS alumnae/i have been instrumental in my company’s growth, from inviting me to participate in the Royal Boutique and offering to sell my products in their retail stores. Those gestures show how involved alumnae/i are in strengthening our ties to the school and to each other.

Q: WHAT SKILLS HAVE YOU DEVELOPED THAT YOU ATTRIBUTE TO YOUR TIME AT OAK KNOLL?

Kristen is pictured alongside her husband, Erik Napp, and the bags she sold at last year’s Royal Boutique.

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A: Oak Knoll’s curriculum challenges students to achieve their potential by emphasizing hands-on learning, where risks are encouraged and mistakes become normalized as part of the learning process. This approach helped me develop a growth mindset, believing that my talents can be improved.

Understanding compounding growth is equally important; little actions can add to big things over time. In an uncontrollable world, you can control how hard you work, which becomes a powerful tool combined with a growth mindset.

These two skills gave me the confidence to embrace various experiences in my personal and professional career, allowing me to discover new passions and interests.

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Q: HOW CAN STUDENTS USE THE CONCEPT OF COMPOUNDING GROWTH IN THEIR DAY-TO-DAY LIVES? A: People often make the mistake of envisioning their goals as massive achievements. When goals become too large in our minds, we overwhelm ourselves, and self-doubt creeps in, preventing us from taking action. Instead, I reframe my goals into “mini goals,” thinking of them as stepping stones toward my larger ambition. This is critical to achieving long-term success and staying motivated in your own growth. When I launched my business, I had the goal of sewing one bag a night—a manageable goal in my mind. After 30 days, I had 30 purses to sell. If I had initially aimed to sew 30 bags, I probably would have quit sewing! Almost two years later, I have practically 350 SKUs on my site.

Q: WE SPEND A LOT OF TIME AT OAK KNOLL TALKING ABOUT NOT BEING PERFECT AND ENJOYING THE GROWTH PROCESS. WHAT IS ONE MISTAKE THAT YOU MADE THAT HAS HELPED YOU IMPROVE? A: Oak Knoll places a lot of importance on having students acknowledge the demands around being a student, while teaching them practices to recognize and achieve balance.

Finding joy and self-worth in your growth process is something I still focus on every day. One mistake I made in high school was not asking for help, which is critical to a growth mindset. A hallmark of teaching at Oak Knoll is the studentteacher relationship, where small classes create greater trust in the learning experience—it’s critical to leverage those resources to help you improve. Seeking help is not a weakness but shows a strength of character and a willingness to learn.

This concept clicked for me when I started my career on Wall Street—I knew absolutely nothing, and the only way to learn is by leveraging the people around you with experience.

Q: EARLIER THIS YEAR, YOU PARTICIPATED AS A SPEAKER ON OUR WOMEN IN SPORTS PANEL, PROVIDING A UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE ON WHAT CAUSED YOU STRESS IN HIGH SCHOOL, AND HOW YOU HANDLED IT. CAN YOU EXPAND ON THAT? A: I put too much pressure on myself to have my entire life “figured out.” I still often hear this misconception when speaking to young, ambitious women. Unfortunately, the added pressures to specialize in either athletics or academics at seemingly more youthful and younger ages have exacerbated this issue. It is essential to dispel the fear that deviating from the “right track” will hinder our ability to achieve our goals. We need to teach students that there isn’t a right or wrong choice; instead, either choice will yield an experience you can learn from, which is how we grow. It is also crucial to emphasize the importance of staying present and not fixating on distant goals. I have conversations with high school students who are already consumed by concerns about landing the perfect job after college. This mindset can lead to a narrow focus on a

Kristen is pictured on her senior day in 2004 with her two lacrosse coaches, Tara Tighe Nolan ’95 and Elizabeth Brodbeck Mercogliano ’94

Kristen is pictured with fellow alumnae panelists Katherine Caufield ’08, Kiwi Comizio ’14, and Emily Dolan ’17 during this year’s Women in Sports Leadership Panel: Celebrating 50 Years of Title IX.

specific outcome that most likely will not be relevant in a few years. It is more beneficial to concentrate on gaining experience and cultivating personal values.

Q: IF YOU COULD OFFER ONE PIECE OF ADVICE TO CURRENT HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, WHAT WOULD IT BE? A: Cornelia Connelly’s “Actions, Not Words” holds a lot of relevance today. We now live in a world where complaining has become the default reaction for many when confronted with adversity—whether expressing dissatisfaction to a coach about playing time or whining to a manager when a promotion is not received. This tendency has become increasingly prevalent, with social media platforms glorifying “complaining culture.” “Actions, Not Words,” encourages us to embrace a solutions-oriented approach instead of ruminating on the negative outcome. When faced with a setback, first solicit feedback in a constructive way to identify the underlying problem. Next, embrace a growth mindset by asking yourself, “What work do I need to do to fix the problem?” Leverage resources around you for help. Lastly, do the work—we all have the power to control how hard we work, and once you realize the power in your personal effort, the possibilities in life are limitless.

Keep in Touch Come back to campus and connect with Kristen this fall at the Royal Boutique from November 2-4, 2023! You can also follow her on Instagram @KEE_Concept or visit her website at keeconcept.com.

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ETERNAL SISTERHOOD The enduring bonds that inspire alumnae to wear their Holy Child class rings A school ring is much more than a piece of jewelry.

It is a symbol of the commitment, courage, and values bestowed upon our graduates that only a select few will ever share. It is a bond that ties each new class to the fierce young women of promise and purpose that have come before them. For many alumnae, wearing their class ring becomes a powerful statement, forging an unbreakable connection to the school that shaped them. It symbolizes the sense of belonging to a vibrant community and the indelible mark left by shared experiences. In this feature, we delve into the heartfelt reasons why Oak Knoll alumnae choose to proudly wear their class rings, celebrating the unbreakable ties that bind them to Oak Knoll and to each other.

“I wear my Oak Knoll ring to honor the tradition and connection to the amazing group of women who have gone before me. When I wear my ring it reminds me of my foundation of faith, wisdom, and friendship that was built at OKS. This special ring serves as a reminder of my Holy Child connections, and I draw upon its strength—especially in times of need.”

—Jeanne Hurley Horsey ’90 To me, my OKS Class ring is a symbol of my lifelong connection to countless other women of promise. Oak Knoll has been the catalyst to my growth as a young woman, so, every time I wear my ring, I am reminded of the plentiful blessings I received from Oak Knoll and the beloved community I have been honored to call my friends and sisters in Christ.

—Leticia Sefia ’21 “The day I got my ring during the Junior Ring Ceremony, I went on Amazon to buy a navy ring case with a little light at the top that shines on the ring every time the case is opened.

Two years later, every time I open that case, that little light shines on the culmination of 10 years of successes achieved, friendships made, lessons learned, and dreams accomplished that shaped the woman I have become, thanks to Oak Knoll.”

—Paula Sefia ’22 “My Oak Knoll ring is a symbol of tradition, sisterhood, community, and strength. As juniors we were so excited to get our rings and have them turned 79 times. As seniors we included it on the cover of our yearbook. As an alum I wear it to all Oak Knoll gatherings and love to see others doing the same! As a parent it’s a treasured item I share with my daughter.”

—Ann Marie Heckmann ’79

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EMPOWERING GIRLS THROUGH SPORTS Oak Knoll hosts fifth annual Women in Sports Leadership Panel in celebration of 50 years of Title IX Moderated by Oak Knoll alumna, panelist, and Big East reporter Meghan Caffrey ’11, the panel featured 10 Oak Knoll alumnae who have made significant strides in their respective fields, including health care, diversity and inclusion, finance, banking, collegiate athletics, and journalism. Each panelist shared her unique experiences and perspectives on the challenges and opportunities women encounter in sports and how Oak Knoll uniquely prepared them for college and beyond.

2023 Panelists included: • Gabby Andretta ’17 — American Express • Meghan Brodbeck Kim ’99 — H Partners Management LLC • Meghan Caffrey ’11 — Big East • Katherine Caufield ’08 — FOX Corporation Alumnae panelists Ana Duarte McCarthy ’77, Elizabeth Persichetty Molins ’85, Meghan Brodbeck Kim ’99, Courtney Hubschmann Dalebroux ’05 and Gabby Andretta ’17.

Oak Knoll School hosted its fifth annual Women in Sports Leadership Panel on Thursday, April 22, 2023, kicking off Reunion Weekend and welcoming students, parents, faculty, staff, alumnae/i, and friends to the Tisdall Hall gymnasium.

The evening celebrated the 50th anniversary of Title IX, the landmark legislation that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in education and sports.

• Kiwi Comizio ’14 — Firmament Group • Courtney Hubschmann Dalebroux ’05 — Neurosurgical Nurse Practitioner and Oak Knoll’s 2023 Gerald P. Butler Athletic Hall of Fame Inductee • Emily Dolan ’17 — EY • Kristen Ehinger ’04 — Empirical Research Partners and KEE Concept and Design • Ana Duarte McCarthy ’77 — Forte Foundation • Elizabeth Persichetty Molins ’85 — University of Chicago, Harvard, and Fidelity Investment

Alumnae panelists Katherine Caufield ’08, Kiwi Comizio ’14, Kristen Ehinger ’04 and Emily Dolan ’17.

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I discovered that if I wanted something, I had to work for it.

In an atmosphere like Oak Knoll, there are no shortcuts to success; it is earned, not given. Athletics has also taught me how to be a leader. Sports have given me the opportunity to work with different people and communicate effectively to achieve a common goal. Third, I learned the importance of putting the needs of the team and others above mine. I believe true success happens when a whole team is willing to put their wants and needs behind them and focus on lifting up others to achieve a common goal. This quality is one of the special things about Oak Knoll. Knowing you have a whole team of girls behind you and supporting you no matter what is a great feeling and something that Oak Knoll has allowed me to experience.”

While panelists shared their own stories of perseverance and determination—highlighting the critical role that sports have played in shaping their lives and careers—they also touched on time management, mental health, lifelong bonds, and life and identity after sports.

In addition, Oak Knoll senior and Athletic Council President Madeline Sepe ’23 read a reflection on her experience as an Oak Knoll Royal and how that has influenced the person she has become today.

“As many of you know, putting on an Oak Knoll Jersey is a feeling like no other,” Sepe said. “The rush of pride and passion overcomes you; you look down and realize that across your chest is the name that represents decades of powerful women that have come before you. It’s difficult to put into words how much of an impact athletics can have on a person, specifically Oak Knoll Athletics.

“I’m proud to say that I am leaving Oak Knoll with lessons I have learned that will benefit me in the future. For example, I’ve learned how to work hard. Early on in my athletic career, 26

At Oak Knoll, we believe each person is created by God for an intended purpose. Students may find that purpose in the classroom, on stage, in the chemistry lab, or on the field. The annual Women in Sports Leadership Panel, which continually features impressive Oak Knoll alumnae who are out in the world making a difference through their careers and lives, is a testament to the remarkable educational program at Oak Knoll and our Athletic Department’s ongoing commitment to teaching life lessons through sports. We believe our athletics programs impact students far beyond their time wearing an Oak Knoll uniform and continue to create connections long after playing days are over.

S AVE T H E DAT E

F O R T H E 2 0 2 4 PAN E L :

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Five Years of Oak Knoll’s Women in Sports Leadership Panel Oak Knoll’s annual Women in Sports Leadership Panel was first launched in 2019 to show students how women have made tremendous careers in the sports world, business world, medical fields, and beyond, using the tools and skills learned through sports to work and succeed professionally.

“Representation matters,” says Dr. Kelly Childs, Oak Knoll’s Director of Athletics. “Seeing women working in the world of sports matters. When you leave Oak Knoll, you don’t necessarily know the world that’s out there for opportunities for women to work in the sports field—whether it’s on college campuses, in sports marketing programs, or working for an actual professional team. These panels continually feature women who lean into their background as high school and collegiate athletes and discuss what they have learned playing sports and how that has served them in their career paths.”

In order to better serve our student body, the panel was expanded to include women working in a wide variety of career fields. Today alumnae and other community members who have ties to Oak Knoll and strong athletic backgrounds are welcomed for an annual evening of conversation and information sharing.

Past panelists have included accomplished women in their fields who range from an ad sales professional at ESPN to a pediatric nurse at Morristown Medical Center and USA Rugby Women’s National Team mem-

ber to Rutgers Athletics and Seton Hall University administrators and sports psychologists. Many panelists have been Oak Knoll alumnae, including: • Kelly Patterson Swon ’99 — Head of Investor Relations & Fund Administration, AIF (2019 Panelist) • Elizabeth Jacobson ’12 — Development Coordinator, Harvard College Fund, Harvard University (2020 Panelist) • Naji Thompson ’15 — Researcher, The 65 Project (2020 Panelist) • Helen Stock Farrelly ’08 — Director of Communications, Metropolitan Golf Association (2021 Panelist) • Erin Donnelly Saulnier ’88 — Executive VP of Ad Sales, FOX (2021 Panelist) • Lauren Varnas ’08 — Senior Manager, Integrated Marketing & Partnerships, Hard Rock Digital (2021 Panelist) • Kaitlin Bierce ’06 — Pursuing a Master’s Degree in Counseling (2022 Panelist) • Dr. Andrea Hubschmann ’02 — OB/GYN, Summit Health and Overlook Medical Center (2022 Panelist) • Kerri Moran ’13 — Storage Brand Sales Specialist, IBM (2022 Panelist) • Laura Zito Dodds ’11 — Head of R&D Program Management, Harry’s Inc. (2022 Panelist)

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REUNION 2023

Relive. Remember. Reconnect.

We celebrated our honored reunion classes ending in 3 and 8 and our most esteemed 50th Reunion class, the Class of 1973, during Reunion Weekend April 20–22, 2023. New this year, the weekend started off on Thursday, April 20, with the special Women in Sports Leadership Panel: Oak Knoll Alumnae Celebrate 50+ Years of Title IX. It featured 10 alumnae discussing how they have used their athletic experiences to pave the way for careers and life after sport (read more on page 25).

On Friday, April 21, there was a special luncheon with the members of the Cachet Club, who were celebrating their 50th reunion and above. On Saturday, April 22, the school com-

munity gathered to support the lacrosse and softball teams during Homecoming at the Athletic Fields in Chatham, with a special induction of Courtney Hubschmann Dalebroux ’05 into the Gerald P. Butler Athletic Hall of Fame (read more on page 31). Later Saturday evening, alumnae/i reunited on campus for tours; a special Mass led by Monsignor John J. Carroll; presentation of the Distinguished Alumna Award to Gina Mendola Longarzo ’88 (read more on page 30); photos on Grace Hall porch; and cocktails and dinner. Join us in reliving the memories of Reunion 2023!

Congratulations to the Class of 1973 on Your 50th Reunion!

From left: Susan O’Connor McKay, Rita Jordan, Rita Lynch, and Nora Gibbons Cary

CLASS OF

CLASS OF

1951

Mary Kearns Yauch

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1973

CLASS OF

1963

Mary Miller Bers

CLASS OF

1978

Motria Ukrainskyj

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Back row, from left: Cathy Pollock Gregory, Odarka Polanskyj Stockert, Sandi Davino Niccolai and Dana Gusmer Gruber. Middle row, from left: Tiia Richardson, Lisa DiLallo Clark, Cathleen Persichetty Greenberg, and Wendiann Sethi. Front row, from left: Mary Grace Maresca Zetkulic and Ruth White.

CLASS OF

1983 Back row, from left: Beryl Esser Stocker, Kate Barrett McGinty, Amy Kitchell Wincko, Jennifer McHale Smith, and Ellen Kelleher.

Middle row, from left: Molly Lyons and Grace Willis. Front row, from left: Erin Morahan Egan and Christine Schessler Poscablo.

CLASS OF

1988

From left: Meghan Davis Gruchacz, Kara Mulcahy Valentine, Gina Mendola Longarzo, and Mary Kelleher.

CLASS OF

1993 From left: Kaitlin Hespos Herman, Laura Hefferan Porcello, Katherine Giaccio Mooney, Laura SumasBarry, and Katie Cummings Siegfried.

2003

CLASS OF

CLASS OF

CLASS OF

2013

2008

From left: Madeleine Colavita and Kelly Mousseau.

From left: Christina Leccese, Megan Paul, Caroline McMinn and Sara Outlaw.

OAK KNOLL SCHOOL OF THE HOLY CHILD REVIEW

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CLASS OF THE YEAR Queens for a Day: Class of 1983 Crowned Alumnae Class of the Year

1983

CLASS OF

Each year, we encourage the spirit of good-natured competition among our alumnae/i by staging a contest for the highest participation in the Annual Fund. This year, we crowned the Class of 1983!

Way to go, Royals!

DISTINGUISHED ALUMNAE/I Gina Mendola Longarzo ’88

The Distinguished Alumnae/i Award, which was presented for the first time in 1986, recognizes alumnae who have shown a continuing love of Oak Knoll and who, through their personal and/or professional lives, have made outstanding contributions that exemplify the Holy Child spirit of excellence and devotion to others.

During the Distinguished Alumnae/i Award Ceremony on Saturday, April 22, 2023, Cynthia Prewitt, Director of Institutional Advancement and Alumnae/i, delivered the following impactful remarks: Gina Mendola Longarzo ’88 exemplifies the teachings of Holy Child Founder Cornelia Connelly with her commitment to her profession, her devotion to helping others, her work with the Oak Knoll Alumnae/i Association, and her pursuit of excellence in all she undertakes. Gina truly lives the life of “Actions, Not Words.”

A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and Seton Hall University Law School, Gina was an Associate at three law firms before opening her own practice in 2008. Gina’s law firm is an all-women practice, including the support staff. They also have one or two female interns and have graciously participated in Oak Knoll’s capstone project for our graduating seniors.

Gina is known as a passionate advocate for her clients and devotes herself to their causes and cases with dedication and tenacity.

ideas, enthusiasm, and energy. And, for one year, we had both mother and daughter serving on the board when Ava joined us as one of the senior class reps from the Class of 2021.

The ties to Oak Knoll are strong as we are also fortunate to claim Gina’s sisters, Nicole, a member of the Class of 1990, and Francesca, with the Class of 2003.

Gina has set a high standard for our alumnae and future alumnae to follow—not only in her outstanding career path and achievements as an attorney but also as a committed alumna who always has Oak Knoll in her heart.

Her love of Oak Knoll has been evident in her over 12 years serving on the Alumnae Board where we all benefited from her 30

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GERALD P. BUTLER ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME Courtney Hubschmann Dalebroux ’05

In order to celebrate our student-athletes’ and coaches’ contributions and achievements, the Alumnae/i Association formed the Oak Knoll School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2010. It was renamed the Gerald P. Butler Athletic Hall of Fame in 2016 to honor the achievements of the longtime athletic director who shaped Oak Knoll athletics for more than 43 years. This program recognizes coaches, teams, and individual athletes who have significantly contributed to athletics at Oak Knoll School.

Courtney Hubschmann Dalebroux ’05 was formally inducted into the Gerald P. Butler Athletic Hall of Fame on Saturday, April 24, 2023, during Oak Knoll’s annual Homecoming celebration at the Chatham Fields athletic complex. In a heartfelt tribute, Elizabeth Mercogliano ’94, former Oak Knoll lacrosse coach, offered these inspiring words in honor of her newly inducted former player: Courtney was a three-sport athlete at Oak Knoll, playing field hockey, basketball, and lacrosse. Not only did she play all 12 seasons of her high school career, but she also excelled at every sport. She was named all-county, all-conference, and all-state in field hockey; she was a 1,000-point scorer in her career and third all-Union County in basketball; and named all-conference, all-prep and all-state in lacrosse, scoring 100 goals in her career.

Among many other impressive accolades, The Independent Press chose Courtney as the 2005 girls high school Athlete of the Year. And, of course, she was also named the OKS Athlete of the Year.

Around the time when Courtney played, she and her teammates set the foundation for what Oak Knoll athletics is today. They put Oak Knoll sports on the map in the state of New Jersey. Not only did Courtney contribute to Oak Knoll athletically, but she also excelled academically and held leadership positions in the school, such as being the Student Body President. Courtney could have played any of her three sports in college, and chose to play lacrosse at Georgetown University, where, as a freshman,

she was named the Sheehan Stanwick Rookie of the Year for the lacrosse team.

Courtney earned her B.A. from Georgetown and now works as a Neurosurgical Nurse Practitioner. She is dualcertified as a Family and Acute Care Nurse Practitioner.

She went on to earn a BSN from New York University, and her MSN-NP from Columbia University. She’s the mother to Luke and Ben, wife to Adam and a proud driver of a minivan.

She is a true competitor who played with joy and grace.

She wasn’t concerned about awards and accolades and did the little things that made her teammates and team better.

Besides her amazing athletic ability, Courtney was a terrific leader. She was THE best teammate and friend. She was funny, encouraging, and always included everyone. And that is what being an Oak Knoll athlete is all about.

“Oak Knoll has provided an amazing platform for young women to excel in sports, and I am so grateful to have been a part of that legacy,” Courtney says. “I firmly believe that athletics, combined with a great education, can help develop young women into strong, confident individuals who can achieve anything they set their minds to. Being in the Oak Knoll Hall of Fame is a huge honor, but what’s even more important is the legacy that we leave behind. Let’s continue to support and uplift young women in sports and show them that anything is possible if they set their minds to it.”

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REUNION 2023

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ALUMNAE/I NEWS FALL 2023

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CLASS NOTES Stay in Touch If you would like to keep your fellow classmates and the rest of the Oak Knoll community updated on your personal and professional milestones, feel free to email Cynthia Prewitt, Director of Institutional Advancement, at cynthia.prewitt@oakknoll.org or by visiting www.oakknoll.org/alumnaei.

Upper School

’49

Maureen Welsh ’49 was celebrated

as a 2023 Jubilarian, along with seven other members of the Society of the Holy Child Jesus. Maureen has served the society for 70 years!

’61

Dr. Anne Moore ’61 recently met up with OKS alumnae and current Yale students Mary Margaret Schroeder ’20 and Maria Bambrick-Santoyo ’19 at the inaugural Saint Thomas More Medal Dinner held at the Yale Club of New York City.

’81

Liz Mead ’81 was recognized as one

of 26 recipients of the 2023 Myra Kraft Community MVP Awards on June 8, 2023, for her work with Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports, an organization that empowers and promotes inclusivity through sports and recreational activities for people of all abilities, regardless of their ability to pay.

In addition to the personal recognition, each volunteer was awarded $10K for their respective organizations.

’60

Class of 1960 recently gathered

together for lunch. Pictured are Kathryn Fittin Felber, Toni Meyerstein Cavanagh, Mary Bird Holle, Brenda Romano Morgenthaler and Peggy Ann Clark Schwartz.

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CLASS NOTES FALL 2023

’12

Amanda Fritz ’12, who recently

’89

Aileen Quinn ’89, who portrayed

Annie in the 1982 film of the same name, appeared on an NBC special celebrating the 90th birthday of her co-star Carol Burnett. Aileen serenaded the groundbreaking actress and comedian with a wonderful rendition of “Tomorrow.”

graduated from Columbia Business School, was one of 14 students across the globe chosen as a 2023 Business Fellow of the Fellowship at Auschwitz for the Study of Professional Ethics.

The program took place in Germany and Poland during the summer and focused on ethical problems faced by individual business professionals in Nazi-occupied Europe and the way they conducted themselves as businesspeople as a way to reflect on business ethics of today.

SCAN FOR FULL STORY

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Image courtesy of NBC Universal.

’04

Angela Bui ’15 recently earned a master’s degree in International Relations and Affairs from Brooklyn College and served as the graduate student commencement speaker.

Kelsey McGee ’15, an awardwinning visual storyteller, directed an Academy Award-qualifying documentary short called Danceable, which follows three dancers with disabilities who find freedom through movement. In addition to screenings at multiple festivals throughout the country, it was featured at the New Jersey International Film Festival on June 3, 2023.

Cristina Kellenyi and her husband welcomed their second daughter, Caroline Teresa, on August 5, 2022.

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CLASS NOTES Caroline Ramsey ’15, was chosen

to serve in a selective internship program at the Hospital of Special Surgery in New York City, in the Women’s Sports Medicine Center.

There, she has been shadowing orthopedic surgeons, primary care sports medicine doctors, physical therapists, and exercise physiologists.

SEO Law Fellowship, which affords opportunities for underrepresented incoming law students to study.

championship en route to competing in the 2023 NCAA tournament.

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SCAN FOR FULL STORY

Emma Gamboa ’20, currently

studying at West Point, was selected as one of the rugby team captains for the 2023–24 season.

Mary Margaret Schroeder ’20,

currently studying at Yale University and with an eye toward becoming involved in Catholic education, returned to campus in the spring of 2023 to shadow Lower School math teacher Elizabeth Mercogliano ’94.

’22

Alysa Ali ’22 recently capped off

Naji Thompson ’15, who will be

attending Yale Law School this fall, spent her summer working at Jenner & Block, a Washington, D.C.-based law firm. Thompson studied Native American law, appellate work, and pro bono practices through research and assignments. The experience, which also included learning from attorneys about their journeys to practicing law, was offered through the

Paige Morton ’20 spoke with Oak

a fall campaign for the Cornell squash team, finishing with a 12-5 record, including a 5-2 record in Ivy League matches.

Knoll communications staff about how her athletic career with the Princeton Tigers basketball team has benefited from the grit she first gained while a student-athlete at Oak Knoll. The Tigers won the Ivy League

Samantha Petrucco ’22 has been named a co-captain of the field hockey team at Columbia University.

Leslie Atahualpa ’22 spent her summer participating in the RISE program at Davidson College where she is now a sophomore. RISE is an intensive fellowship program in the sciences intended to introduce students to undergraduate research.

Her investigation into bacteria and their defense mechanisms is an exciting new area of study in biology.

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CLASS NOTES FALL 2023

MAKING MEMORIES: A look at the exciting events taking place at Oak Knoll School

Chilling with the Past: Oak Knoll alumnae/i, parents, faculty and staff reconnected at the annual Summer Cooler event in Spring Lake.

A Celebration of Motherhood: All mothers, special friends, and their daughters were invited to celebrate Wednesday Morning Mass followed by a Parents’ Association morning of service and friendship as they assembled layettes and gifts for the mothers and babies residing at Birth Haven. May 17, 2023.

August 3, 2023.

Building Community: Oak Knoll’s Parents’ Association hosted writer, performer, and speaker Doreen Oliver for a talk on “Friendships, bonds, and how to reconnect when a relationship feels broken.” May 16, 2023.

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A Day on the Green: Oak Knoll’s Fathers and Friends teed off in style at the Fairmount Country Club in Chatham.

May 8, 2023.

Sip, Savor, and Socialize: The Parents’ Association hosted an exquisite “Around the World” wine tasting event, bringing OKS families together for an evening of fine wine and great company.

March 31, 2023 .

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CAMPUS & ALUMNAE/I EVENTS FALL 2023

Stepping into the Roaring Twenties: The Parents’ Association hosted a glamorous Gatsby-themed spring fundraiser, transporting guests to an era of opulence and extravagance.

May 5, 2023.

OKS on the Road Series: Head of School Jen Landis spent March Break visiting and reconnecting with the Oak Knoll community in Naples and Vero Beach, Florida, and Dublin, Ireland. She also met with alums currently attending Villanova University, and she was joined by Director of College Counseling Jennifer Wilson on a visit to Bucknell University. Lastly, Upper School Division Head Kathryn McGroarty and Director of Holy Child Mission and Philosophy Suzanne Kimm Lewis ’69 joined Jen on a visit with alums in Rosemont while in town for Mission Effectiveness training. March 2023.

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F R O M

T H E

ARCHIVE S JOURNEY THROUGH TIME R ED I S C O V E R ING O UR RICH HIST O RY B Y U N L O C KING T HE ARC HIVE S Welcome to a journey through time as we unlock the doors to Oak Knoll’s on-campus archives in preparation for our historic 100-year anniversary in the 2024–25 school year. Join us as we discover the rich tapestry of history woven within this sampling of artifacts, unearthing fascinating pieces that connect us to the traditions, achievements, and memories that have shaped our school’s legacy.

Oak Knoll maintains copies of the diplomas awarded to two of our earliest graduates: Elizabeth Keith ’33 and her sister, Marie Keith ’35.

Banner used to commemorate the school’s 60th anniversary in 1984.

Student Council President medal belonging to Kathryn Reilly Devo ’58.

One of the school’s earliest student publications, the Oak Log was part yearbook, part literary magazine, and also included a class diary and will, in addition to sports results and senior portraits. The school maintains editions from the 1930–31 and 1931–32 school years.

Gym uniform belonging to Susan Moriarty Gallagher ’76.

A copy of the 1979 edition of Freestyle, Oak Knoll’s literary magazine.

HELP US PRESERVE OUR LEGACY

Staff recently discovered and digitized a series of film reels that documented the school in the late 1950s, including the construction of the Senior School, now known as Connelly Hall.

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We are now accepting donations of treasured memories to our archives that capture the spirit of your time at OKS! From photographs and yearbooks to mementos and memorabilia, your contributions to Oak Knoll’s archives will help us create a time capsule of cherished moments. Share the artifacts that hold sentimental value and reflect the spirit of our school. Your submissions will become a part of our collective story, ensuring that future generations can connect with the traditions and experiences that shaped our community.

Email communications@oakknoll.org to contribute!

ARCHIVES FALL 2023

Help Us Celebrate 100 Years of Holy Child Education at Oak Knoll!

Calling all members of the Oak Knoll community, past and present!

Join us in commemorating our school’s remarkable 100th anniversary by sharing your cherished memories.

We invite you to submit your stories, anecdotes, and photographs to our dedicated website. Relive the laughter, friendships, and milestones that shaped your time with us.

Your contributions will help us create a timeless tribute to the legacy of our school.

Let's weave together the threads of our shared history and celebrate the centennial milestone in grand style.

Scan the QR code or visit www.oakknoll.org/100 and make your mark on this historic occasion!

44 Blackburn Road Summit, NJ 07901 Change service requested

SAVE THE DATE

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Oak Knoll K Kn oll -- Royal R yal Boutique -Oak Knoll Ro

Royal Boutique

November 2-4, 2023 Holiday Shopping in Summit, NJ

Sponsored by the Oak Knoll Parents' Association, this longtime favorite shopping event features 35+ vendors!

25% of sales support OKS! Admission is free.

Thursday, 11/2: 6 to 9 p.m.

Friday, 11/3: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Saturday, 11/4: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

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Visit www.oakknoll.org or contact the Alumnae/i Office: alum@oakknoll.org or 908-522-8106

@OakKnollSHC