Review Magazine - Spring 2020

SPRING 2020

New Reality

Merge Cubes open up a whole new world in the classroom

CONTENTS IN THIS ISSUE

1

FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL

2

CAMPUS NEWS

21

REUNION

28

FROM THE ARCHIVES

FEATURES

2

LEADERSHIP TRANSITION: A TIMELINE A visual of the succession plan following Head of School Timothy J. Saburn’s retirement announcement in January 2019

4

NEW REALITY Merge Cubes open up a whole new world in the classroom

9

‘GREAT OAKS FROM MIGHTY ACORNS GROW’ Oak Knoll launches new pre-K program for 4-year-olds

12

SIGNATURE PROGRAMS A look at Oak Knoll’s distinctive curricula building leadership, confidence and skills for success

REVIEW is published twice per year by the Marketing & Communications Department for alumnae/i, parents and friends of Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child.

Head of School Timothy J. Saburn EDITOR Meghan Hodgin Director of Marketing & Communications

ASSOCIATE EDITOR James McEvoy Assistant Director of Marketing & Communications ASSISTANT EDITOR Laura Perillo Marketing Content Strategist EDITORIAL STAFF Cynthia Prewitt Director of Institutional Advancement

Elizabeth O’Mara ’86 Associate Director of Institutional Advancement Barbara Lindner Assistant Director of Institutional Advancement PHOTOGRAPHY Meghan Hodgin James McEvoy Rebecca Nowalski Gabe Rhodes SHCJ Archives

DESIGN Abbie Moore Design PRINTING Action Graphics 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 “He will bless us and do all things for us.”

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

Dear Oak Knoll School Community, I am extremely proud to introduce you to this spring’s issue of Review magazine. Spring is a time of new beginnings, renewal and growth. And, in the spirit of change — while we always enjoy providing insight into our curricular and extracurricular accomplishments — this issue in particular takes a deeper dive into our strategic programmatic growth over the last few years.

In the pages that follow, I encourage you to take special notice of our new signature programs: • The Lower School’s Success Skills Curriculum for social and emotional learning; • The Upper School’s EmpowHER program that specifically focuses on building confidence in middle school girls; and • The Athletic L.E.A.D. program that nurtures leadership skills in student-athletes I am confident you will be as impressed with these programs as I am.

You will also notice a timeline of the Head of School leadership transition. This intentional plan has allowed us to appropriately prepare Jennifer G. Landis to become the sixth Head of School in Oak Knoll history. Jen has been shadowing me over the last year as she took on the Associate Head of School role and will continue to do so for the next year as she steps back from her Upper School Division Head duties. We look forward to welcoming Kate McGroarty as Upper School Division Head this summer.

As I head toward my final year at Oak Knoll, it is bittersweet. Oak Knoll is an incredibly warm and unique community and one I will always cherish in my heart. I am proud to be able to lead the school into this new season of growth and I am extremely confident in the future leadership of the school to lead us into the centennial, our next capital campaign and beyond.

Facta non verba,

Timothy J. Saburn, Head of School

OAK KNOLL SCHOOL OF THE HOLY CHILD REVIEW

1

HEAD OF SCHOOL TRA A look at the succession plan following Head of School Timothy J. Saburn’s retirement announcement in January 2019

HEAD OF SCHOOL ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT After 14 years, Timothy J. Saburn, Oak Knoll’s Head of School, informed the Board of Trustees of his decision to retire at the end of the 2020-21 school year.

“Under Tim’s leadership, Oak Knoll has flourished,” wrote Jeffrey W. Schroeder, Board Chairman, in a letter to the school community on January 14, 2019. “The school’s commitment to academic excellence is stronger than ever, as seen in the quality of our students and faculty. Oak Knoll’s arts, athletics and community service programs are outstanding. Tim recently led a highly successful capital campaign, thanks to your generosity, to support all of these priorities and drive Oak Knoll to new heights. Tim has been everything we could have hoped for, and more. He is a star.”

-$18$5<

NEXT HEAD OF SCHOOL ANNOUNCED On January 14, 2019, Board Chairman Jeffrey W. Schroeder announced that Upper School Division Head Jennifer Landis will succeed Mr. Saburn as Head of School upon his retirement.

“In her five years as Upper School Division Head, Jen has proven herself to be a rare and special talent,” Mr. Schroeder said. “An innovative educator of high integrity, Jen has driven significant change at Oak Knoll through her superb intellect, energy and people skills. She is a natural leader who has built strong relationships with students, parents, faculty, staff and alumnae. We are lucky to have Jen, and we are pleased to capitalize on this opportunity to secure her future at Oak Knoll.”

2

-8/<

TRANSITION BEGINS While maintaining her Upper School Division Head duties, Jennifer Landis became Associate Head of School.

CAMPUS NEWS SPRING 2020

ANSITION: A TIMELINE NEXT UPPER SCHOOL DIVISION HEAD SELECTED Head of School Timothy J. Saburn announced the selection of Kate McGroarty as the next Upper School Division Head. Ms. McGroarty is currently the Director of Educational Innovation at the Madeira School in McLean, Virginia.

“Kate’s intellect, energy and curricular experience best met our primary responsibility of providing the very best education for the young women in our Upper School,” Mr. Saburn said in a letter to the community on November 12, 2019. “As someone with deep faith and an authentic personality, she was the clear first choice to lead our students with strong minds and humble hearts into a future filled with educational innovation.”

Ms. McGroarty has 20 years of experience in education. She previously served as Academic Dean and Assistant Director of Global Programs at the Madeira School, as well as a world language teacher at Bavarian International School in Munich, Germany, and Charlotte Catholic High School and Holy Trinity Catholic Middle School in Charlotte, North Carolina.

“I am blessed to be joining a community grounded in its faith in God, its search for knowledge and wisdom, and its service to others,” Ms. McGroarty said in a statement.

“I am delighted for the opportunity to lead a community guided by Holy Child Founder Cornelia Connelly’s belief in educating the whole child and inspiring a joyous relationship with God. I am truly excited to be part of the Oak Knoll community.”

129(0%(5

“I am blessed to be joining a community grounded in its faith in God, its search for knowledge and wisdom, and its service to others.”

– Kate McGroarty, incoming Upper School Division Head

-8/<

-8/<

TRANSITION CONTINUES

TRANSITION COMPLETED

• Jennifer Landis will remain Associate Head of School

Jennifer Landis will become the sixth Head of School in Oak Knoll history.

• Kate McGroarty will become Upper School Division Head • Tim Saburn will begin his 16th and final year as Head of School

OAK KNOLL SCHOOL OF THE HOLY CHILD REVIEW

3

< NEW > REALITY Merge Cubes open up a whole new world in the classroom Students in the Lower School are seeing through to a whole new dimension using augmented reality.

Utilizing Merge Cubes, students can learn and create using augmented reality. While appearing to be nothing more than a black and silver cube, when viewed through a smart device the cube can appear to be anything from a celestial body to an internal organ.

reports, Ms. Connolly said adding she believes they are only scratching the surface of all the learning applications augmented reality can provide.

“While there’s still much to explore regarding the ways augmented reality can truly support education, we are already seeing how it can increase student engagement and intellectual curiosity,” she said. “This brings learning to an entirely new level.”

Through the cubes, Oak Knoll’s IDEAS Lab continues to serve as a safe environment for students to embrace 21st century learning, said Kimberly Connolly, Oak Knoll’s Associate Director of Technology Innovation and Integration.

“In a time where augmented reality is becoming an active part of our daily interactions – facial recognition, enhanced navigation systems, virtual shopping and gaming – it’s important for our students to understand what augmented reality is, its impacts on daily life and how it can support learning,” Ms. Connolly said.

The cubes also include creation features that allow for critical and computational thinking and programming, she said.

Students are already embracing the cubes in cross-curricular activities such as using them to create interactive book

4

CAMPUS NEWS SPRING 2020

FO S T E R I NG A L OV E O F

learning Upper School Dean of Teaching and Learning talks new role, challenges, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;constantly changingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; curriculum

Jennifer Peterson was appointed the new Upper School Dean of Teaching and Learning in July 2019. Ms. Peterson began working as a teacher in the Upper School Math Department in 2004 then was Chair of the Math Department from 2016-2019.

In addition to her new role as Dean of Teaching and Learning, she teaches in the Math Department.

Ms. Peterson holds a bachelor’s degree from Middlebury College with a major in mathematics and a minor in geology, a master’s degree in Education Leadership Management and Policy from Seton Hall University and a teaching certification for the State of New Jersey. Review Magazine recently caught up with Ms. Peterson about her new role:

Q: What does it mean to be the Dean of Teaching and Learning at Oak Knoll School?

A: As Dean of Teaching & Learning, my focus is on meet-

ing the academic needs of students and supporting the faculty in the best ways to accomplish this. I coordinate overall curriculum development, professional development and faculty evaluation, and I monitor the student learning experience to make sure we are always on track. I work with the department chairs on curricular initiatives, serve on the admissions committee, work with the faculty through in-service days and professional development, while also teaching students in the classroom and aiding them in their course selections.

Q: What are the biggest projects that you’re working on this year for Oak Knoll School?

A: I am performing the annual review of the “Book of

Studies,” Oak Knoll’s in-depth overview of the school’s mission, goals, and upper school curriculum. In a dynamic school like ours, there are many moving parts in a resource like this, so reviewing and updating it each year represents a substantial undertaking. Leading course selection and scheduling is another demanding but rewarding aspect of my work since I have the opportunity to collaborate with both students and teachers to plan for student academic experiences in upcoming years.

Q: Describe the biggest challenges in your role as Upper School Dean of Teaching and Learning and how do you plan to accomplish them?

A: One of the biggest challenges I’ve faced this year is the

realization that, even though I’ve been a member of this community for 16 years, there is still so much more to learn.

This year, I’ve focused on areas of our program extending far beyond my previous focus on the mathematics program as well as taking a deeper look at the Holy Child Network of Schools. I am joining even more meetings and groups to not only be involved in the planning and execution of new ideas, but also to discover the rationale and process behind the many components of our daily school life.

Q: What are your plans to enhance the curriculum at Oak Knoll?

A: Our teachers have truly wonderful and innovative ideas and my goal is to support and encourage their efforts. I met with each department during the first couple months of school to find out what their individual curricular goals are for the next few years and am already working with

departments to implement many of the changes that they have requested.

Q: How do you stay abreast of what trends are happening in your professional field and how does this help you in your day-to-day job here at Oak Knoll?

A: I perform a lot of research on my own to ensure I’m

always learning and keeping up-to-date with best practices. It’s also important to maintain an active network for sharing ideas with colleagues both here at Oak Knoll and at other independent schools and educational institutions.

Oak Knoll has been able to implement some of what I’ve learned from this network of colleagues, like the program we introduced to the ninth grade this year on what it means to have a growth mindset. Inspired by this program, I’m currently in the process of connecting with peers in my network to assist in other projects.

Q: How involved are you with hearing ideas from students, listening to what they have to say and incorporating their ideas into the curriculum?

A: I moderate the Academic Council, and in our meetings, we invite student input and engage in discussions relating to curriculum. A few students have also approached me independent of any council, club or class to propose an idea. Oak Knoll’s young women are encouraged to find their voice, and welcoming their feedback and learning from it is essential to our success as educators, especially in an institution like ours that aims to empower its students.

Q: Do you “learn something new every day?”

What are some of the most important things you have learned since starting your new role?

A: Whether it’s every day or every minute, I am learning

something new all the time! I always knew how valuable it was to collaborate with peers, but this new role brings home how utterly crucial it is. Each individual brings so many new ideas and perspectives into a brainstorming discussion, and the opportunity to discuss and refine my ideas with my colleagues has been invaluable.

Q: Why is it vital – professionally and personally speaking – to be open to learning new ideas?

A: The world is constantly changing, and we would be

remiss to not change along with it. The value that learning brings to each of us – academically, spiritually, socially – permeates all aspects of our school and culture. In education, the goal is to not only instill knowledge in our students, but also to foster a love of learning. I’ll never forget when, many years ago, a friend of mine (not in education) asked me, “Doesn’t it get boring? Teaching the same thing every year?” And without hesitation I answered “No, not at all. It’s never the same thing.” While the course and setting may be the same, and even the textbook, the teaching and learning that happens in the classroom is always changing.

Q: What book are you currently reading?

A: Honestly? The “Book of Studies.” :-) Q: What do you like to do in your spare time?

A: When I’m not at Oak Knoll, I have two boys (2 and 5

years old) who keep me busy. I love spending time with my boys and my husband.

OAK KNOLL SCHOOL OF THE HOLY CHILD REVIEW

7

ON THE PULSE Round-table discussion challenges students to find their voice

Oak Knoll history teacher and department chair Zohra Ismail always looked forward to lively discussions about politics and current events with her students. However, when student interest in politics soared after the last U.S. presidential election, the History Department found it challenging to fit in extra news and politics discussions on top of an already loaded schedule.

Thus, On The Pulse (OTP) — a round-table discussion held during both lunch periods 3 times a cycle on days 1, 4 and 7 — was born.

Each current affairs discussion is moderated by two Oak Knoll faculty members and these moderators decide which news articles are up for discussion at the meetings.

“We wanted to be able to provide our students with a safe space and feel comfortable to discuss any and all news topics that they are affected by,” said Ms. Ismail, who credits the entire History Department’s commitment to the success of the program.

The most popular On The Pulse discussion since Ismail first began running the discussions was when California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill into law last fall allowing college athletes to hire agents and make money from endorsements.

Other recent and popular discussions have included the U.S./Iran crisis, the differences between a caucus and a primary, the dangers of vaping, and last year’s college admissions bribery scandal.

8

Emily Antunes ’20 said her favorite On The Pulse discussion was Greta Thunberg’s speech at the UN Climate Summit.

“The On The Pulse discussions are extremely important to OKS,” credits Ms. Antunes. “For many people, especially teenagers, who are focused on school, sports, the arts and more, it’s difficult to stay up to date on current events in the world. Education extends beyond the classroom, and I truly feel as though this has helped me develop my voice as a strong, independent young woman.”

The topic of gun control and the culture of mass shootings in American was a favorite discussion for Julia Bartie ’20.

“I cannot stress enough how important being informed is for students,” said Ms. Bartie. “Many Americans, students included, believe there is no reason to keep up with the news cycle as it does not directly affect their day-to-day lives. I believe that positive change begins and ends with an active citizenry who challenge those in power to constantly grow and be held to account.”

On the Pulse, explained Ms. Antunes, has challenged her in ways the classroom cannot and she said this has been fundamental in her development as a student at Oak Knoll and young woman in the world.

“I love On the Pulse because it has not only strengthened my relationship with my teachers and peers, it’s also helped me grow as a person,” she said.

CAMPUS NEWS SPRING 2020

‘Mighty Oaks from Little Acorns Grow’ Oak Knoll launches new pre-K program for 4-year-olds In keeping true to the school’s mission to “meet the wants of the age,” Oak Knoll announced a new, full-day pre-K program to open in the fall of 2020 for the 2020-21 school year.

The Little Acorns Pre-K @ Oak Knoll will provide a holistic Holy Child approach to education that supports each individual child’s unique development and encourages children to be self-motivated and self-confident learners. The program will engage students to spark their creativity and critical thinking, while fostering the development of their spirituality, independence and self-esteem.

“In the tradition of Holy Child founder Cornelia Connelly, the program will encourage independent learning, exploration and self-discovery in an environment of acceptance and trust,” said Oak Knoll Head of School Timothy J. Saburn in an announcement to the school community.

“Working side by side, children will learn to respect and appreciate themselves, one another and the world around them,” he said.

Mr. Saburn said the program was created to meet the needs of Oak Knoll’s growing families and to better prepare students entering the school’s kindergarten program.

With a curriculum designed to address the unique learning abilities of each child, students will enjoy guided and selfdirected learning in literacy, math, culture studies, science and religion.

A rendering of the new Little Acorns Pre-K space in Bonaventura Hall.

Specialty classes augment the curriculum, providing additional learning opportunities in music, drama, art, physical education, world languages, movement and technology.

Independent studies will be facilitated by weekly visits to the library, allowing students to select books on subjects of their own interest, in addition to those connected to the Acorns curriculum.

The single-section program, which includes beforeand after-care options, is designed for potty-trained children who will be 4 years old by September 1, 2020.

OAK KNOLL SCHOOL OF THE HOLY CHILD REVIEW

9

ADAPTIVE LEARNING New Stanford University-based math curriculum allows for adaptive, personalized instruction Each student enters the classroom with varying degrees of understanding, and while differentiated teaching styles enable educators to reach students where they are, new adaptive tools allow for accelerated learning through personalized instruction.

Starting in the 2019-20 school year, Oak Knoll’s Lower School introduced Redbird Mathematics to the curriculum for students in grades 3-6. Based on more than a quarter-century of research by Stanford University, Redbird curriculum features the latest in gamification, adaptive instruction and digital project-based learning.

The Redbird adaptive program ensures students are challenged with the right level of material as they progress through lessons. It continuously evaluates student performance and automatically adapts to either advance the student or provide additional instruction or practice until they demonstrate understanding of the material.

With an eye to meeting both state and national math standards, the curriculum is designed to provide a thorough understanding of mathematical concepts that students can apply in engaging activities and games.

Students will further cement their understanding of concepts through a series of STEM projects through Oak Knoll’s makerspace, the IDEAS Lab.

“The program is individualized for each student, which benefits everyone,” Ms. Mercogliano said, noting students can either move ahead or go back and review previously presented topics. The program continually assesses student performance and adapts to the ways they learn.

“Personalization helps meet the needs of all students,” she said. “The data and information the program provides the teachers are extremely helpful in seeing where a student may need help or enrichment. We are grateful to have such a wonderful program here at Oak Knoll.”

Elizabeth Brodbeck Mercogliano ’94, Lower School math teacher, said Redbird has been a “huge asset” to the Lower School math curriculum already.

Understand

Apply

Create

Uses multiple instructional

Facilitates the application

Synthesizes math learnings

modalities to achieve

of math through rigorous

to solve real-world projects

deep understanding

practice and advanced games.

using STEM tools.

of math content.

10

Design | Code | Simulate

CAMPUS NEWS SPRING 2020

REMEMBERING Anne Dolan Lofredo ‘A joyful spirit, full of love, hope and enthusiasm’

recipient of the Angela Metzger Memorial Award.

This award acknowledges exceptional members of the school community who exemplify the principles of Holy Child education and the mission and beliefs of Oak Knoll.

Born Anne Dolan in Massachusetts, the Berkeley Heights, New Jersey resident was also an Oak Knoll mom. Her daughter, Alexandra Lofredo, graduated from the Lower and Upper schools in 1997 and 2003, respectively.

The Oak Knoll community mourned the loss of Anne Dolan Lofredo, a beloved Lower School teacher, colleague and friend, who passed away on April 25, 2019.

“We are filled with sadness knowing that we will not see Anne at school again,” wrote Lower School Division Head Christine Spies in a letter to the community after her passing. “She was a remarkable teacher. Anne had a special knack for communicating with students and drawing them into their learning. She knew how to help students navigate social interactions between each other and could always find a way to bring a smile to a student’s face. No matter what subject she was teaching, I would see the students in Anne’s class completely engaged in what she was sharing with them during her lessons. It was like she had magic in her teaching toolkit.”

A scholarship fund her family established in her name has already raised $35,135. The annual income from the Anne Dolan Lofredo Scholarship Fund provides partial tuition for a deserving Lower School student and promotes diversity at the school in accordance with Mrs. Lofredo’s desire for inclusion for all, where every child matters regardless of means.

Mrs. Lofredo worked tirelessly at forming young minds and hearts in Oak Knoll’s Lower School for nearly 40 years.

“Her passing continues to be a devastating loss for our community,” said Head of School Timothy J. Saburn.

“She was a joyful spirit, full of love, hope and enthusiasm.

She made a difference in literally thousands of lives in our community, and we should all be more like her in our lives.”

While at Oak Knoll, Mrs. Lofredo was an active member of the community and impacted countless lives in the classroom, serving as faculty representative on the Executive Committee of the Oak Knoll Alumnae/i Association. She also dedicated years of service to Oak Knoll’s after-school enrichment program.

Mrs. Lofredo exuded the Holy Child spirit and lived out the Cornelian example of love and grace in everything she did and was appropriately recognized as a 2014

OAK KNOLL SCHOOL OF THE HOLY CHILD REVIEW

11

L.E.A.D.ing THE WAY

The Leadership Evaluation and Development (L.E.A.D.) Program nurtures leadership skills in student-athletes A new signature program at Oak Knoll focuses on teaching, discussing and developing leadership skills within studentathletes. Created by Emily Dolan ’18 as part of her senior Capstone Project, the purpose of the Leadership Evaluation and Development (L.E.A.D.) program is to highlight the true meaning of leadership and the difficulties that come from being in a leadership position.

“Emily saw a void in our program and we worked together to create an amazing opportunity to expose our girls to leadership conversations and skill development,” said Dr. Kelly Childs, Director of Athletics. “We continue to work on the actual structure of the program, and like true leadership, it continues to evolve to meet the needs of the girls. We emphasize across all of our athletic programs teaching life lessons through sports, and L.E.A.D. allows us to take a deeper dive into the challenges student-athletes face and develop strategies to overcome them.”

Through the captain seminars, speaker series and all-sport meetings, student-athletes are taught valuable lessons through their roles as leaders on the field. The L.E.A.D. program shows Oak Knoll student-athletes how to utilize these lessons learned through athletics in their everyday lives.

12

Captain Seminars

Captain Seminars are a staple aspect of the L.E.A.D. program.

Each season, every captain comes together as a group to discuss leadership. The discussions center around defining leadership, highlighting the qualities of a good leader and more. As the seminar continues, more specific issues are addressed as a group – what are the roles of captains? What are the roles of the other senior leaders? How do you handle a difficult situation with a coach? Students work either together or in small groups to answer these questions before coming together as an entire group to discuss.

At the end of each session, a challenge is presented to the group for them to overcome together.

Speaker Series

The Winter of 2019 saw the inaugural Women in Sports Leadership Speaker Panel at Oak Knoll run as part of the L.E.A.D. program aimed to broaden the horizons of the Oak Knoll community. This was carried forward with the second Panel in February 2020 in celebration of National Girls and Women in Sports Day. Each panel discussion features female leaders in the business, college or education, media and medical fields. Panelists describe their transition from high school to collegiate sports followed by speaking about how they navigated the competitive landscape to establish a career in athletics.

SIGNATURE PROGRAMS SPRING 2020

WOMEN IN SPORTS LEADERSHIP PANEL Previous panelists have included: • Meghan Caffrey ’11, BIG EAST •C arissa Conroy, Ed.D., Varsity R Letterwinners Association • Annie Hart, ESPN • Elizabeth Heydt, MSN, RN, APN-C •E lizabeth Jacobson ’12, Harvard University •R achelle Paul, Seton Hall University •K elly Patterson Swon ’99, Good Sports •L onnie Sarnell, Psy.D., Clinical and Sports Psychologist • Naji Thompson ’15, Beyond Sports • Mary Kate Walch, Seton Hall University

All-Sport Meetings

Seasonal all-sport meetings are held to bring every student-athlete participating that season together as a group. When student-athletes enter, they are seated randomly so they can interact with student-athletes from other sports, grades, etc. Students have time to eat together and get to know the members of their group. This opportunity, where every student-athlete is present, is used to start the discussion on selfawareness, mental health and leadership. Previous all-sport meetings have featured sport psychologist Dr. Lonnie Sarnell who talked to the group about stress management, sports anxiety, coping measures and goal setting. Oak Knoll alumna Katie McCafferty Rathbun ’08 also spoke with the group about her time at Oak Knoll and her transition to collegiate athletics and more.

“The goal for these sessions is for the participants to walk away being more confident about their personal style of leadership, more understanding where they fit into the team dynamic and overall more comfortable in their leadership role,” Dr. Childs said.

OAK KNOLL SCHOOL OF THE HOLY CHILD REVIEW

13

New Upper School signature program challenges middle school girls to take risks, boost confidence

A new signature program to teach middle school girls how to take risks, push boundaries and thrive outside their comfort zones will officially roll out to Oak Knoll seventh grade students in the fall of the 2020-21 school year. EmpowHER is the brainchild of Jennifer G. Landis, Oak Knoll Associate Head of School/Upper School Division Head and Oak Knoll Upper School History Teacher Nicole Johnston.

“EmpowHER is vital for our girls because lower confidence begins to manifest during middle school,” Ms. Johnston said.

“This program can impact the trajectory of their future both educationally and professionally. By introducing ways for students to recognize and navigate through low confidence, we hope to prevent the trend of low confidence among this age group. Our goal, instead, is to boost their confidence.”

The seeds for the EmpowHER program were planted back in the summer of 2018 after a parent left a copy of “The Confidence Code for Girls,” by Claire Shipman, senior national correspondent with “Good Morning America” and Katty Kay, BBC journalist, with Ms. Landis’s office. In February 2019, Ms. Landis attended a National Coalition Girls’ School conference in New York with two members of the Oak Knoll Parents’ Association. At the conference, Claire Shipman was the keynote speaker.

After being inspired by the work of Mses. Shipman and Kay, Mses. Landis and Johnston initiated their own journey to develop a program, specifically for the Oak Knoll Upper School, which would empower girls and inspire confidence.

In the summer of 2019, the pair launched Confidence Counts – a week-long pilot program for EmpowHER. There, girls participated in various activities and scenarios, which encouraged them to be supportive of one another as they tackled individual and group challenges, sometimes out of their

14

SIGNATURE PROGRAMS SPRING 2020

comfort zones. Some of the challenges related to risk-taking, including performing up on stage and a taste bud challenge.

“We talked about risk-taking across the board. It’s not just about going out for the school play, it’s not just about going out for class president; it can be something small,” Ms. Landis said. “One of the most compelling elements of the program, and the biggest takeaway for the girls, was the idea of both independence and interdependence.”

Confidence Counts was met with so much success, that Mses. Landis and Johnston then spring-boarded the first day-long, EmpowHER workshop on campus last fall for girls in grades 6-8.

During the workshop, girls participated in interactive challenges and team-building exercises, explored healthy risk-taking, positive role modeling, communication skills and conflict resolution.

Oak Knoll student Avery Drone ’25 attended the EmpowHER workshop and said her biggest takeaway was learning new skills that have already helped her grow as a young woman.

“The EmpowerHER program teaches students many amazing skills that will help them thrive wherever they may end up,” Ms. Drone said. “Especially in college or when they are looking at jobs, students who go through this program will be more confident in anything and everything they do and more willing to take reasonable risks and less afraid to try new opportunities.”

One of the activities during the workshop that boosted Ms. Drone’s confidence was standing up on stage in front of peers.

The participants had to choose their least favorite out of three categories, which included dancing, singing and retelling a poem or a story. Ms. Drone’s least comfortable category was dancing.

“I practiced for about twenty minutes with a few other students and we made up and rehearsed a dance,” she said.

“I have always been very insecure about dancing on stage, and even though it seemed very intimidating, I actually had a lot of fun doing it.”

Ms. Johnston explained that learning to fail and then succeed is at the heart of the EmpowHER program.

“As teachers, we want to emphasize this process,” she said. “We want our girls to model all of this – even failure – and then we will be there to pick them up.”

Oak Knoll plans on discussing many of the themes of the EmpowHER program in Upper School classes and programs throughout the school year, as well as to continue to hold dedicated EmpowHER workshops.

“Teaching all of our students about healthy risk-taking while providing them opportunities during their time at Oak Knoll to engage in risk-taking activities will help them to grow their confidence,” Ms. Johnston said. “The little seeds we plant now will have a positive impact later in their lives.”

OAK KNOLL SCHOOL OF THE HOLY CHILD REVIEW

15

SKILLS FOR SUCCESS Social-emotional learning prepares students for lifelong achievement Millions of parents who send their children to school each fall have so many worries – will they keep up, will they make friends easily, will they behave? Parents worry about what measures they can put into place to ensure their child’s happiness, but how many people are thinking about the long-term skills their child needs in order to succeed in life?

At Oak Knoll, social-emotional learning is top of mind and vitally important to the curriculum. According to the Committee for Children, social-emotional learning is the process of developing the self-awareness, self-control and interpersonal skills that are vital for school, work and life success, including working well with others, the development of empathy and ability to cope with every day, evolving situations.

“Social-emotional learning is vitally important to a child’s education as it considers the child as a whole person rather than just an academic,” said Christine Spies, Lower School Division Head.

16

Oak Knoll fully incorporated social-emotional learning into the curriculum during the 2018-19 school year after Ms. Spies and her team originally sought out a character education program for the school.

“I found that several of the components of this character education program – which is the crux of social-emotional learning – was already being addressed in our religion formation classes,” said Ms. Spies, who then turned her focus to finding a success skills curriculum.

Last summer after the faculty read Thomas Hoerr’s book, “The Formative Five: Fostering Grit, Empathy, and Other Success Skills Every Student Needs,” teachers began to incorporate the book’s five main success themes – embracing diversity, perseverance, grit, self-control and empathy – into the curriculum and lessons.

“Social-emotional learning at Oak Knoll is the combination of our well-established emphasis on faith and our recently unveiled success skills curriculum,” Ms. Spies explained.

Every other month, Oak Knoll faculty cycle through and integrate Formative Five success skills into their lessons through actionable activities, meetings, performances and visuals based on grade level.

Leadership Thrives Here The fifth and sixth grade is currently participating in a new signature program falling under the grit category, which teaches students how to become leaders in the Lower School.

Through the Leadership Thrives Here program, students who may not necessarily seek leadership roles at school – including leading morning announcements or campaigning for Student Council – are able to gain the tools necessary to

SIGNATURE PROGRAMS SPRING 2020

5

5

THE FORMATIVE

FIVE

••••• EMPATHY:

learning to see the world through others’ perspectives.

step out of their comfort zone and build their confidence.

One of the success skills taught in the leadership program that Ms. Spies said parents comment on most is grit.

“Grit comes into play a lot because it’s a very difficult thing for parents to allow their children to fail. Parents want to help their kid automatically, but letting them fail and learn from it teaches them grit and ultimately better prepares them for life’s challenges. If every student gets straight A’s, how do they know what they’re good at?” she said.

Monthly workshops in the leadership program include hands-on activities that model how students can be leaders in the Lower School. During the workshops, students discuss being leaders, building consensus, communication, teamwork, creative problem solving, creative thinking and becoming better listeners.

SELF-CONTROL:

cultivating the abilities to focus and delay self-gratification.

INTEGRITY:

recognizing right from wrong and practicing ethical behavior.

Ms. Spies and her Lower School team are confident that combining Oak Knoll’s well-established mission of faith, wisdom, and service with this new program is making a difference. It is a combination the school believes will instill the qualities every child needs to succeed not just in school, but in life.

“In this day and age, we cannot assume that every child is going to be challenged to learn and integrate the important skills taught through the Leadership Thrives Here program,” Ms. Spies said. “These are things that you hope your school fosters, but in an age where families are busier than ever and online videos and cell phones drive so much of our communications, I think it’s especially critical to prioritize these skills in the early years.”

OAK KNOLL SCHOOL OF THE HOLY CHILD REVIEW

EMBRACING DIVERSITY:

recognizing and appreciating human differences.

GRIT:

persevering in the face of challenge.

17

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@

Pictured, from left, are Charlie Smith ’14, Tyler Cmaylo ’14, Pulver, Jonathan Nguyen ’14 and Damien Sylva ’14.

Lower School

Upper School

Andrew Pulver took on the role

Kerry (Newman) Sullivan gave birth to a son, Ryan, on February 6, 2020.

’14

of Tevye in Oak Knoll’s 2019 spring musical “Fiddler on the Roof,” leading to a mini Oak Knoll reunion.

In a demonstration of Oak Knoll’s enduring sense of community, Pulver’s classmates also returned to see his performance in Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “Cinderella.”

’18

’94

Alison (Bischoff ) Gallagher gave

birth to a daughter, Grace Elizabeth, on December 15, 2018. She’s been a welcome addition to brothers Timothy and Matthew.

Joseph Gross with the Class of 2018 portrayed Donkey in A Class Act NY presentation of “Shrek: The Musical Jr.” at the Off-Broadway Riverside Theatre in New York City on April 6 and 7, 2019.

oakknoll.org

Brothers Timothy and Matthew welcome baby sister Grace Elizabeth who was born to Alison Bischoff Gallagher ’94 on December 15, 2018.

or by visiting

’95

www.oakknoll.org/

Cindy Loguda ’95 married Dave

alumnaei.

Joseph Gross with the Class of 2018 portrays Donkey in “Shrek: The Musical Jr.”

18

’91

Biunno during a New Year’s Eve wedding on December 31, 2019.

Dave is the brother of Janine Biunno Pohanka ’00 who was a bridesmaid in the wedding.

CLASS NOTES SPRING 2020

’01

Bailey Doyle married Michael

Conlon on October 19, 2019, in Spring Lake. She was joined by several of her OKS sisters including Kelly Doyle Pendergast ’03, Leigh Slonaker Greene ’01, Jenny Fields Joseph ’01, Maureen Traynor ’01 and Erin Traynor ’04 (not pictured).

’02

Ann (Curran) Higgins ’02

welcomed George Curran Higgins on August 24, 2019 at 8 pounds, 12 ounces. One of her doctors was her best friend and classmate, Dr. Andrea Gibbons Hubschmann. George also made Ann’s sister, Lucy Curran ’09, a first-time aunt.

OKS sisters Kelly Doyle Pendergast ’03, Leigh Slonaker Greene ’01, Jenny Fields Joseph ’01, Maureen Traynor ’01 and Erin Traynor ’04 (not pictured) join Bailey Doyle on her wedding day.

’03

Alexandra (Lofredo) Meyer and her husband Travis welcomed a girl, Olivia Anne, into the world on September 26, 2019.

Ann Curran Higgins and husband Matthew welcome baby George Cuuran Higgins on August 24, 2019.

Kathryn Wade ’03 started working as an academic counselor at Georgetown University where she graduated in 2007. She also welcomed a daughter, Olive, into the world on September 7, 2018.

Alexandra Lofredo Meyer welcomes baby Olivia Anne on September 26, 2019.

Pictured during the New Year’s Eve wedding of Cindy Loguda ’95 and Dave Biunno are, from left: Denise DiBenedetto Carter ’95; Ali Sumas Good ’95, Matron of Honor; Joan Brennan, former Oak Knoll Director of Guidance; Tara Tighe ’95, Bridesmaid; Megan Morahan Barr ’95, Bridesmaid; Cindy Loguda Biunno ’95; Danielle Damiano Medeiros ’95; Ann McDonald Deodhar ’95, Matron of Honor; Janine Biunno Pohanka ’00, Bridesmaid; Nicole Seaver Crowley ’95; Kate Stanzione Singh ’95; and Laura Williams Fasolo ’93.

OAK KNOLL SCHOOL OF THE HOLY CHILD REVIEW

Kathryn Wade ’03 welcomes baby Olive on September 7, 2018.

19

CLASS NOTES ’04

Cristina Kellenyi ’04 and her hus-

band Manny Garcia welcomed their first child, a daughter named Grace Bernadette. The family currently resides in London, England.

Jessica Roy ’04 marries Anthony Ekmejijan on October 18, 2019.

Jessica Roy ’04 married Anthony

Ekmejijan on October 18, 2019, at St. Catherine Church in Spring Lake.

’06

Meghan (Rafferty) Hakanson ’06 Cristina Kellenyi ’04 welcomes baby Grace Bernadette.

and her husband Eric welcomed daughter Hadley Grace Hakanson into the world on September 28, 2018.

Meghan (Rafferty) Hakanson ’06 welcomes baby Hadley Grace Hakanson on September 28, 2018.

’09

Colleen Murphy ’09 married Andrew Babbitt on August 31, 2019.

On her special day, Colleen was joined by former faculty as well as her Oak Knoll classmates from the classes of ’76, ’79, ’06, ’09, ’10 and ’11 and her sisters: Maureen Murphy ’11 and Meaghan Murphy ’06.

Colleen Murphy ’09 on her wedding day with OKS sisters from the classes of ’76, ’79, ’06, ’09, ’10 and ’11.

20

CLASS NOTES SPRING 2020

REUNION 2019 Alumnae from the classes ending in 4s and 9s reunited during Reunion Weekend on April 26 and 27.

The weekend started off with a special luncheon with the members of the Cachet Club, who were celebrating their 50th reunion and above. On Saturday morning, the school community gathered to support the lacrosse and softball teams during Homecoming at the Athletic Fields in Chatham. Later Saturday evening, alumnae reunited on campus for tours, a special Mass, cocktails and dinner! Join us in reliving the memories of Reunion 2019!

Congratulations, Class of 1969, on your 50th Reunion!

1969

CLASS OF

CLASS OF 1969 CROWNED ALUMNAE CLASS OF THE YEAR! The Oak Knoll Alumnae Class of the Year Award is given to the reunion class with the highest percentage of annual fund participation. This year, our Reunion Class, the Class of 1969, led the competition with the top participation.

Back row, from left: Virginia (Mussari) Bates, Donna (McDonough) Ryder, Suzanne Kimm Lewis and Christine (Kenny) Frisbee.

Front row, from left: Jeanne Yoa-Reese, Cheryl Hoenemeyer and Mary Ellen (Kenny) Murray.

Queens for the day, the Class of 1969, celebrates being named Alumnae Class of the Year.

In Memory of Maureen Ellinwood Pluvinage ’99 The Class of 1999 spearheaded a campaign that raised more than $100,000 for the Maureen Ellinwood Pluvinage ’99 Scholarship Fund, a gift of one-of-a-kind education dedicated to the memory of their beloved classmate and friend who passed away in 2017.

The Class of 1999 stands proudly together at Reunion 2019 remembering classmate Maureen Ellinwood Pluvinage ’99.

OAK KNOLL SCHOOL OF THE HOLY CHILD REVIEW

21

REUNION 2019

1959

CLASS OF

Pictured from left are: Joan (Brown) Winston and Bette (Velsor) Corthouts. Not Pictured: Carol Mulvihill White and Mary Ellen Dundon.

1979

CLASS OF

Back row, from left: Judy O’Neil, Maude (Gibbons) Houston, Marybeth (Norton) Bogdanski, Ann Marie Heckmann and Anne (McAndrew) Kostyak. Second row, from left: Sharon (Spector) Panko, Edna Bruder-McGrath and Kerin (Derham) Beattie. Front row, from left: Rosemary (Collier) Brennan, Debbie (Burke) Williams, Rosemary Tafaro, Mary Fran (Farley) Guido and Laurie (Schmall) Kedersha.

1984

CLASS OF

Back row, from left: Tracy (Cicalese) Ferrara, Regina (Maguire) Fernicola, Meighan Kelleher and Mary Anne (Savage) Kull ’84.

Second row, from left: Erin di Chiara, Beth (Mulcahy) Davidson, Colette Sartor and Debbie Vallario. Front row, from left: Anna Murray, Jessica Walsh and Lisanne Sartor.

1989

CLASS OF

Pictured from left are: Laura (Albers) Peskens ’89, Doryan (Hughes) Amato, Hilary (D’Alessio) Addonizio and Kristen (Antonelli) Rinehart.

22

1994

CLASS OF

Back row, from left: Elizabeth (Brodbeck) Mercogliano, Maureen Kelly, Anne (Estabrooks) Miller, Stephanie (Castellano) Keating and Tasha (Rifkin) Connolly. Second row, from left: Megan (Giese) Smith, Laura Higginson, Amina Ahmad Ahmed and Bonnie (Pollock) Frith. Front row, from left: Ashley (Saunders) Russo, Kristin (Hespos) Burns, Jessica (Koch) Morrow and Kim (Trespicio) O’Brien.

REUNION SPRING 2020

2004

CLASS OF

1999

CLASS OF

Pictured from left are: Elizabeth (Grillo) Palazzi and Kathleen Tumelty.

Back row, from left: Annie (Boccella) Savage, Katie (Wade) Hogan, Kelly (Patterson) Swon, Kara Becker and Greta (Hauge) Linnér. Fourth row, from left: Kathryn (Schmidt) Hudson, Katie (Pizzi) Travia and Annemarie (Padula) Tomkins. Third row, from left: Laura (Dunstan) Fornuff, Elizabeth Battista, Meghan (Brodbeck) Kim and Shannon Giese Groeber. Second row, from left: Renée Doll, Jen (Bernaz) Milnes, Millicent (Ford) Rauch, Vickie (Ford) Spataro, Máire (Abraham) Conrad, Courtney (Boova) LaMastro and Christina (Tien) Gazillo. Front row, from left: Stephanie (Wei) Lewis, Christine (Koch) D’Agostino, Julia (Mazzeo) Attanasio and Emily (Schlenker) Johnston.

2014

CLASS OF

2009

CLASS OF

Back row, from left: Carrie Price, Catherine Verdic, Fiona Ismail and Grace Ragold.

Front row, from left: Michelle Russoniello, Katie (McCullough) Lewis and Stephanie Grant.

Back row, from left: Kate Treanor, Hilary Shea, Cammie Loeber, Laura Weiss and Allison Sweeney. Second row, from left: Elizabeth Gregory, Caroline Doherty, Sarah Kelly and Elizabeth Armstrong. Front row, from left: Bridget Corry, Grace Kenney, Mary Margaret Kenney, Sarah Smith, Janel Brown and Ashley Mondelli.

Not Pictured: Evelyn Kenney

OAK KNOLL SCHOOL OF THE HOLY CHILD REVIEW

23

REUNION 2019

24

REUNION SPRING 2020

OAK KNOLL SCHOOL OF THE HOLY CHILD REVIEW

25

2019 DISTINGUISHED ALUMNAE/I AWARD Dr. Claire Esposito ’79

The Distinguished Alumnae/i Award, which was presented for the first time in 1986, recognizes alumnae/i 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.

It gave us great pleasure to recognize Dr. Claire Esposito, a member of the Class of 1979. Dr. Esposito has an outstanding record of service to the people of Honduras, which began when she was a young medical student, 25 years ago, at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in Manhattan. She participated in a fellowship there in a small community in Honduras where she researched and reported on people living without the benefits of modern medicine. That time opened her eyes to the many needs of the people she served. She then began her dedicated outreach to the Honduran people, with food deliveries coordinated through the Franciscan Fathers. In fact, for years, Dr. Esposito has assisted Honduran families by providing food, medical supplies, clothing and other essentials, but, she wanted to do more.

As she began to find success in her medical career in anesthesiology, Dr. Esposito was able to translate her career growth to increasing her service in Honduras. She was able to purchase a home there which became a base of operations for her and where she could see patients both at her home and at a local hospital. In addition, she coordinates medical groups offering aid to the public.

Visiting doctors, nurses and dentists serve up to 100 patients on her front porch. She is also concentrating major efforts on housing in Tela, Honduras. When 26

Dr. Esposito learned that many families were facing homelessness in Tela, to make way for a multi-lane highway, she stepped in and donated $100,000 to a nonprofit organization, Food for the Poor. This generous donation will allow for the building of new homes, and provide food as well as fencing to allow residents to grow climbing vegetables.

Her latest mission in Honduras was to help the women of the community build a small facility for making tortillas that they can sell in the community. The TORTaRIa enterprise has been a great addition to the community and has given the women income and pride in their accomplishment! At the Church, Dr. Esposito is also most gratified at the ongoing bible study groups and the progress in teaching adults how to read.

Dr. Esposito has set a high standard for our alumnae and future alumnae to follow.

She is a Holy Child success story and truly exemplifies what Winston Churchill said:

“We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.”

REUNION SPRING 2020

GERALD P. BUTLER ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME Michelle Cesan Duffy ’09 In celebration of the achievements and contributions of our student athletes, the alumnae/i association formed the Oak Knoll Athletic Hall of Fame in 2010.

This program recognizes coaches, teams or athletes who have made significant contributions to athletics at Oak Knoll. In 2016, the Athletic Hall of Fame was renamed the Gerald P. Butler Athletic Hall of Fame, in honor of retiring athletic director Jerry Butler’s contributions and leadership of the athletic program for more than 43 years.

This year, we honored Michelle Cesan Duffy, a member of the Class of 2009 who celebrated her 10th reunion. Ms. Duffy’s award was introduced by her former OKS field hockey coaches, Ali Sumas Good ’95 and Christina Sumas ’98. We recognized Ms. Duffy for her athletic accomplishments and her leadership skills as a member of the Varsity Field Hockey Team and as a member of the Varsity Lacrosse Team.

Named New Jersey Athlete of the Year in 2008, she was a four-time First Team All-Conference choice for field hockey at Oak Knoll. In fact, she garnered many awards for her athleticism.

And, was recognized in 2008 as a member of the Pan American Junior Championships Team which finished first in Mexico City.

Her athletic achievements continued at Princeton where she was named an All-American for two seasons and Michelle Cesan Duffy ’09 virtually accepts the Athletic Hall of Fame her team won the NCAA National award as she awaits the arrival of Isabella Anne Duffy who joined big Championship in 2012. She was a sister, Cecilia. member of the USA Field Hockey Team from 2011 through 2014. And, that team continued its championship play with a gold at the Pan American Games in 2011. She was named to the Champions Challenge One Team which finished second in Dublin. And, in 2012, she was recognized as an Olympic Alternate for the London Olympics.

Ms. Duffy consistently demonstrated outstanding athleticism, leadership and sportsmanship whenever she played on a team. She became a role model for her teammates and the younger players. We applaud her dedication, commitment and fair play. She epitomizes the best of us and the outstanding traits an Oak Knoll athlete should possess.

OAK KNOLL SCHOOL OF THE HOLY CHILD REVIEW

27

F R O M

T H E

ARCHIVE S COMMON THREAD Celebrating nearly a century of crafting service between Oak Knoll and the Christ Child Society

For nearly a century, Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child has impacted countless lives through an enduring connection to the Christ Child Society.

Ninety-one years ago, as Oak Knoll celebrated its first commencement exercises, Holy Child Mother Maria Josefa and nine other women, including several Oak Knoll mothers, established the Summit Chapter of the Christ Child Society.

This occasion marked the start of a relationship of compassion for the youngest, and often most vulnerable, through the crafting of layettes – infant clothing, linens and toiletries – for those in need.

In 1929, Mother Maria Josefa, SHCJ, was instrumental in establishing the Christ Child Society of Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child.

LEGACY OF CHARITY With the blessing of then-Newark Archbishop Thomas Walsh, the Christ Child Society of Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child was established in 1929, according to Summit Herald archives.

Mother Josefa’s connection to the Christ Child Society was so strong that it merited a mention in her 1947 obituary in the Herald.

“Mother Josefa was noted for her work among the poor,” the obituary read about Mother Josefa, born Anne Elizabeth Roberts. “She was active in the Christ Child Society.”

During the ensuing decades, groups of knitters – Holy Child sisters, Oak Knoll mothers and other members of the community – would gather weekly at Oak Knoll to knit layettes and other items for infants.

The campus and convent would also serve as the site of card games, bake sales and fashion shows all to raise funds in 28

support of the chapter, which, throughout its existence, was moderated by several Holy Child sisters.

However, despite 70 years of wonderful work, Oak Knoll’s participation waned in the ’80s and ’90s as volunteers who could knit became scarce.

The chapter was retired in June 2000, with remaining funds donated to local groups, including St. Joseph Social Service Center, Saint Clare’s Health Services and the Raphael Life House.

MODERN-DAY RESURGENCE Christ Child Society was not dormant for long in Summit, however. Just eight years later, Lambi Newsham learned about

FROM THE ARCHIVES SPRING 2020

the Society from friends involved in the Washington, D.C., chapter, and recognized the need of reestablishing the group.

“I realized that we’re all really fortunate with our lives and our children,” Newsham said. “I knew it would be great for the community.”

This process culminated in 2010 when the Summit Chapter was granted a charter at the Society’s national convention in Cleveland.

STILL RUNNING STRONG Among the faculty who were part of the committee still keeping the tradition strong at Oak Knoll are Rhonda Bowker and Mary Lou Carter.

With the guidance of Bowker and Carter, Lower School students tie the ends of fleece blankets that are then donated to local hospitals, including Morristown Medical Center and Overlook Medical Center. The students also pray and express well wishes for the babies who will be kept warm by the blankets.

As the burgeoning group worked to reintroduce Christ Child to Summit, members learned about Oak Knoll parent Angela Schroeder and her extensive connections to the Christ Child Society.

Schroeder’s mother, Pat Ferry, worked with Christ Child in Cleveland for more than 55 years while Schroeder’s second great aunt served on the original board in Washington, D.C., with Society founder Mary Virginia Merrick.

The newly reestablished chapter asked Schroeder to start a committee of knitters at Oak Knoll and, fortunately, she found willing participants within the Lower School faculty. The Knitting Angels were established in 2008.

“It took a while to get off the ground,” Schroeder said. “It’s hard to find knitters. It has become more trendy recently, but this was years ago. The breakthrough came when we found out there were a lot of knitters at the Lower School.”

Lower School faculty and administrators, including Lucy Remus, Norahmarie Bischoff, BJ Siegel and Joanne Lucey Ainsworth ’64 took up the cause.

“If it were not for the Oak Knoll teachers, it would never have gotten off the ground,” Schroeder said.

Margaret Whelan Strong, current chapter president, said it is appropriate that current Oak Knoll faculty and staff remain involved.

“Our principles are aligned,” said Strong, who is also the aunt of Oak Knoll graduates Erin Strong ’96 and Colleen Strong ’06.

“History tells us what we need to repeat. The need is still there.”

PART OF SOMETHING BIGGER Like Oak Knoll, the local chapter is part of something bigger than itself as the Christ Child Society organization in 1887 in Washington, DC, more than 40 years before Mother Josefa inaugurated the Summit chapter.

Similar to the Holy Child founder Cornelia Connelly, Merrick is a candidate for canonization. She was diagnosed with Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) during her teenage years, causing paralysis. After her parents’ deaths shortly after her diagnosis, Merrick and a group of friends delivered what would be the first layettes.

Through the ensuing years, the Society grew and today count more than 6,000 members among 40 chapters nationwide.

At one point, a chapter even existed at the School of the Holy Child in Suffern, New York, which closed in 1971.

OAK KNOLL SCHOOL OF THE HOLY CHILD REVIEW

29

9 d 1 e D I n V o O p C t s o o t Pe u D