Oak Knoll Review Magazine 2016

SUMMER 2016 Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage

PAID S. Hackensack, NJ Permit No. 79

The Butler Legacy

Royal Cadet A LU MNA E / I N E WS SUMMER 2016

CONTENTS IN THIS ISSUE

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Message from the Head of School

FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL

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COMMENCEMENT 2016

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COMMENCEMENT AWARDS

“The past, the present, the future are equally present to Our Lord.”

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FAMILY CONNECTIONS

Cornelia Connelly, foundress of the Society of the Holy Child Jesus

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MATRICULATION

Dear Oak Knoll Community,

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With every new school year, we are gifted with new challenges and opportunities. Cornelia Connelly’s quote reminds us that as we encounter those challenges and discover the related opportunities, we do so within the context of our faith and Our Lord. The past, the present and the future, in essence, become one in the daily living of our lives. Self-reflection of our lives is an important tool for individual growth, and it is also important step for a school community. This coming year we will, again, commit ourselves as a school community to stay true to the ideals of our foundress and the Society of the Holy Child Jesus.

CAMPUS NEWS

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MILESTONES

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This year, we will celebrate the 170th anniversary of the founding of the Society in 1846. In so doing, Cornelia laid the foundation for the principles and beliefs that led to the establishment of Oak Knoll School in 1924. As part of today’s Holy Child Network of Schools, we have begun a self-study and evaluation program that we undergo every six years through the Mission Effectiveness Process. This is an opportunity that offers the chance for Oak Knoll students, alumnae/i, faculty, staff, parents and trustees to celebrate our school’s history while also assessing how we live out the seven Goals of the Holy Child Network of Schools.

SPORTS ROUNDUP

FEATURES

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Many of you have already participated in events and surveys sponsored by Oak Knoll’s Mission Effectiveness Committee, and I thank you for your honest and thoughtful feedback. It will make us a better school community and remind us of our heritage. We will continue to reflect and celebrate our history and commitment to Holy Child education throughout this coming school year.

THE BUTLER LEGACY Longtime Athletic Director Jerry Butler retires after 43 Years

REVIEW is published once a 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 Communications Assistant 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 Peter Chollick Meghan Hodgin James McEvoy Andrew Miller Highpoint Pictures

DESIGN Abbie Moore Design

In the pages that follow, you will take a trip through the 2015-16 school year, read excerpts of the speeches of our Class of 2016 valedictorian and commencement speaker, and connect with some of our prestigious alumnae/i. You will notice many of the same themes and values that make Oak Knoll a special place and a Holy Child School in the tradition of Cornelia Connelly’s educational philosophy. As we look forward to the beginning of the 2016-17 school year, I hope you will join me in celebrating 170 years of Holy Child education, as well as the vision of Cornelia and our tremendous responsibility to continue that work today. In short, we need to understand our past to face the challenges of today that lead to the opportunities of tomorrow.

Facta non verba,

PRINTING Action Graphics Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child 44 Blackburn Road Summit, NJ 07901 908-522-8109 www.oakknoll.org

Timothy J. Saburn Head of School

OAK KNOLL SCHOOL OF THE HOLY CHILD REVIEW

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COMMENCEMENT 2016

VALEDICTORY

Oak Knoll Graduates 56 Young Women of Promise

Tara Halter ’16 Good evening Mr. Saburn, Mrs. Landis, Ms. Kiernan, members of the board of trustees, faculty and staff, administration, families, friends and, especially, the Class of 2016. I could not have asked for a better experience, education or for a better group of girls to share my time with at Oak Knoll. I am truly honored to be here today speaking before all of you.

To the Class of 2016, we truly have a great moment here tonight rightly earned because of all our hard work and all of the opportunities presented to us, and I hope we live in this moment and bask in it for as long as we can as our time together is limited. We have also shared many other great moments as a class throughout the years. There were the bigger moments such as Camp Bernie, the Six Flags trip, college trip, Junior Ring Day, lacrosse winning the Tournament of Champions last year and Christmases at Oak Knoll, but there were also the smaller moments that happened every day in classes, at sports practices and in our conversations in the senior center. We have all contributed in the molding of each other into the people we are today.

These moments have also shaped us, and we will carry them, using them as guides when we are struggling to find our way.

“Congratulations Class of 2016!

This is your time.

Now go out there and take it!” *Excerpts of speech

None of these moments would have been possible, however, without two very important groups of people: our teachers and our parents.

To our teachers, thank you for your dedication as you truly have every student’s best interest in mind. You have given all of us the opportunity to learn, inquire and succeed. Whether it was Mrs. Carlson making us treats to make AP Calculus tests a little more bearable, Ms. Johnston allowing us to play heated games of Jeopardy before tests in eighth grade RUST, or just always being available when we need help. You have not just served as our teachers, but also our mentors.

The Upper School Class of 2016 graduated on June 12, 2016, during Oak Knoll’s 88th commencement ceremony.

To our parents, thank you for giving us the great opportunity to attend Oak Knoll. You have played indispensable roles in our lives and are the people that have been with us every step of the way through our great moments and our lower ones. It is going to be a difficult goodbye to say in August, but you are giving us another great opportunity by allowing us to attend our various colleges and universities. We will make sure to utilize the opportunities given to us at college to continue to grow and make a positive impact on society.

Class of 2016 Lifers Oak Knoll “lifers” are students who have attended Oak Knoll since kindergarten. Pictured, at right, on Commencement Day, are lifers from Oak Knoll’s Class of 2016. Back row, from left: Tara Halter, Megan Treanor, Margaret Burd, Grace Jagoe, Margaret Mumma and Katherine Kelly. Front row, from left: Maggie Miszkiewicz, Nicole Millar, Amanda Kyreakakis, Julie Lorditch and Rachel Molina.

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Congratulations Class of 2016! This is your time. Now go out there and take it!

COMMENCEMENT SUMMER 2016

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COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS

COMMENCEMENT AWARDS

Lt. Julie Kiernan ’07 USNR Today is a day intended for celebration and appreciation, to reflect upon your experiences and to acknowledge the extensive support network that helped to develop you into the exceptional young women you are. Your outstanding education and exposure to a community dedicated to service and compassion have more than prepared you for the road that lies ahead. I encourage you to be fearless in the pursuit of your ambitions, trusting you have what it takes to succeed and plenty of hands to reach for if you ever stumble.

The trademark of an Oak Knoll young woman became especially obvious to me after a few years spent away from the comforts of my home and these walls. I realized what makes an Oak Knoll graduate different from her peers is the core beliefs that have been instilled within you throughout your education here — convictions of morality, humanity, service, a sense of confidence and awareness, overall excellence in every endeavor. Believe in that foundation and carry on that legacy, take pride in it.

Nine short years ago, when I walked out of this auditorium and became an Oak Knoll alumna, I embarked on a journey that very few people understood, and even fewer expected.

At 18, I raised my right hand and pledged my service in the support and defense of the Constitution of this country as a Midshipmen at the United States Naval Academy on June 27, 2007 in Annapolis, Maryland. You would think I would have known what to expect, in that my brother Tom, my father, my grandfather and a handful of cousins walked the same halls and, arguably, endured the similar torture — but either they forgot to mention the hard parts, or I just wasn’t listening.

Time and perspective have simplified the experience… but not one step of it was easy. I failed more often than I succeeded. I was challenged morally, mentally and physically — I doubted myself more times than I care to admit. Sure, the process was painful at times, but I saw it through. I got up every morning and I tried my best — and that’s all anyone can really ever ask of you. Remember that. And when I reached graduation day and received my commission in the greatest Navy in the world — I knew that I had earned that.

Undoubtedly, you will have many successes — you even might fail a few times just to keep it interesting… and if you fail, I encourage you to fail gracefully and with the heart to attempt whatever stumped you the first time, again. In those moments, trust in your foundation of faith — faith in yourself, faith in your purpose and faith in God. In my short naval career, I assure you that I’ve learned most significantly from my mistakes and mistrials than when the proverbial seas were calm.

Congratulations, ladies! Good luck with all your endeavors and thank you again for this honor today.

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“I share with you my experiences to hopefully inspire you to challenge yourself and try something different – so, going forward today, find something you are passionate about and go for it.” *Excerpts of speech Julie Kiernan is a 2007 graduate of Oak Knoll School and a 2011 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. She holds a bachelor’s degree in economics. She currently serves as a U.S. Naval Intelligence Officer, previously serving as a Surface Warfare Officer for four years.

ACADEMIC Gayatri Bajaj French Honor Society AP Scholar Candace Bruyning Spanish Honor Society Margaret Burd AP Scholar

Grace Jagoe Cum Laude Society AP Scholar Katherine Kelly Spanish Honor Society Amanda Kyreakakis Creative Arts Department Award (Dance)

Gianna Castellano Spanish Honor Society

Julia Lorditch Spanish Honor Society Theology Department Award

S. Kaitlin Dunleavy Cum Laude Society

Jaclyn McCall Spanish Honor Society

Brianna Gage French Honor Society History Department Award AP Scholar

Emily McCarthy AP Scholar

Emily Goncalves Cum Laude Society National Merit Commended Student Creative Arts Department Award (Photography) Jaquelyn Grieco Spanish Honor Society Elizabeth Guckian Cum Laude Society French Honor Society AP Scholar Tara Halter Valedictorian Cum Laude Society Math Department Award AP Scholar Christen Hillenbrand Cum Laude Society AP Scholar Bridget Hoke Cum Laude Society Latin Honor Society Foreign Language Educators of NJ Award AP Scholar

Rachael Molina AP Scholar Margaret Mumma Cum Laude Society National Merit Commended Student Music Department Award AP Scholar Jasmine Nazaire French Honor Society Dr. Shirley A. Jackson Award for Excellence in Science Mary Noelke AP Scholar Audrey Picut Cum Laude Society National Merit Commended Student AP Scholar Alexandra Pohl French Honor Society Valerie Ricciardi Salutatorian Cum Laude Society National Merit Commended Student Science Department Award AP Scholar

Emma Schmall Spanish Honor Society Safia Speer Cum Laude Society National Merit Commended Student English Department Award AP Scholar Claire Szpunar Creative Arts Department Award (Art) Hayla Yanes Spanish Honor Society

ARTS Leadership Gayatri Bajaj, Photo Club and Dramatica Carmen Ruiz, Dancers Safia Speer, Dancers Christen Hillenbrand, Scribes Emily Goncalves, Aquila Catherine Korth, Aquila Valerie Ricciardi, Ensemble Grace Jagoe, Concert Choir Council Alexandra Pohl, Freestyle Claire Szpunar, Untucked Service/Dedication Valerie Ricciardi Musical (Artistic Award) Margaret Mumma, Musical (Production Award) Oona Quinn, Concert Choir Council Cassandra Orsi, Ensemble Mary Noelke, Untucked Ashley Pierce, Freestyle Rachel Molina, Aquila Tara Halter, Dancers Elizabeth Guckian, Dramatica Outstanding Achievement Emily Goncalves, Ensemble Elizabeth Tamburro, Freestyle Maria Benton, Untucked Julia Lorditch, Dancers Margaret Burd, Dramatica

M. Carmen Ruiz French Honor Society AP Scholar

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FAMILY CONNECTIONS 1

Oak Knoll’s history is built on generations of family. Here, we celebrate those ties to the Class of 2016.

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(1) Maria Benton ’16 and sister Julia Benton ’18 (2) Margaret Mumma ’16 with brothers Paul ’99 (LS), James ’03 (LS), sister Sarah May ’04 and brother Michael ’08 (LS) (3) Amanda Cagnassola ’16 with sisters Lauren ’11 and Claire ’13 (4) Sisters Julia Watt ’16, Caroline ’14 and Katherine ’18 (5) Briana Gage ’16 with sister Amanda ’19 and brother Brendan (6) Kirby Comizio ’16 with siblings Chet, Kiwi ’14, Keely and TJ (7) Sisters Rachel Molina ’16 with Gabriella ’21 (8) Sisters Amanda Kyreakakis ’16 and Kristen ’14 (9) Sisters Emily McCarthy ’16 and Molly ’18 (10) Sisters Maggie Miszkiewicz ’16 and Kathleen ’15 (11) Nicole Millar ’16 with brothers Lowell ’13 (LS), Chase ’15 (LS), and sister Jessica with the class of ’15 and brother William ’17 (LS) (12) Sisters Megan Treanor ’16, Kaitlin ’14 and Grace ’20 6

COMMENCEMENT SUMMER 2016

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(13) Sisters Giselle Rohane ’16 and Anneliese ’13 (14) Cassandra Ford ’16 with mother Amanda ’81 and sisters Stephanie and Taylor, both with the class of ’14 (15) Sisters Julia Lorditch ’16 and Alexandra ’10 (16) Sisters Elizabeth Schlageter ’16 and Meghan ’18 with brother Mac (17) Grace Jagoe ’16 with brothers Christopher ’08 (LS), Stephen ’12 (LS) and John ’16 (LS) (18) Margaret Burd ’16 with brother Nicholas ’08 (LS), sister Nora ’11 and mom Caroline ’81 (19) Katherine Kelly with brother William ’06 (LS) (20) Christen Hillenbrand ’16 with sisters Alexandra ’19 and Ryann (21) Sisters Jasmine Nazaire ’16 and Joanne Novembre ’19 (22) Sisters Oona Quinn ’16 and Maeve ’18 (23) Sisters Valerie Ricciardi ’16 and Alison ’13 (24) Gianna Castellano ’16 with sister Gabriella ’17 (25) Margaret Gasser ’16 with brother Christian ’08 (LS) and sister Olivia ’14

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MATRICULATION

ON CAMPUS

Class of 2016

Junior organizes benefit for family of fallen football player Junior Kim Sargenti ’17 organized an impromptu bake sale October 13, 2015, raising more than $350 to benefit the family of Evan Murray, 17, a senior at Warren Hills Regional High School who passed away suddenly on September 25, 2015, after sustaining an injury during a football game.

Olivia Badalamenti Villanova University

Brianna Gage College of the Holy Cross

Amanda Kyreakakis Loyola University, Maryland

Jasmine Nazaire American University

Mackenzie Rohde Providence College

Gayatri Bajaj Boston University

Victoria Garceran New York University Margaret Gasser High Point University

Mary Noelke University of Notre Dame

Cassandra Orsi Loyola University, Maryland

M. Carmen Ruiz Boston College

Maria Benton Elon University

Julia Lorditch George Washington University

Candace Bruyning University of Miami

Emily Goncalves Vanderbilt University

Margaret Burd College of the Holy Cross

Jaquelyn Grieco Bucknell University

Amanda Cagnassola Skidmore College

Elizabeth Guckian Villanova University

Gianna Castellano Fordham University

Tara Halter Georgetown University

Kirby Comizio Duke University

Christen Hillenbrand Colby College

Mary Reade Donlon Georgetown University

Bridget Hoke Bowdoin College

Emily McCarthy Boston College

Nicole Millar University of Michigan

S. Kaitlin Dunleavy Southern Methodist University

Grace Jagoe University of Notre Dame

Mairead Miszkiewicz College of the Holy Cross

Katherine Kelly Colgate University

Rachael Molina Fordham University

Margaret Mumma Georgetown University

Cassandra Ford University of Notre Dame

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Catherine Korth University of Notre Dame

Ellen Magnier Wake Forest University Caitlin Manahan Villanova University

Sarah Jane Matthews George Washington University Jaclyn McCall University of California, Berkeley

Samantha Pearson Stevens Institute of Technology Anna Piasio University of Mississippi

Audrey Picut Lafayette College Ashley Pierce University of Miami Alexandra Pohl Drexel University

Oona Quinn University of Virginia Valerie Ricciardi Vanderbilt University Giselle Rohane University of San Diego

Elizabeth Schlageter University of Colorado, Boulder

Emma Schmall Loyola University, Maryland Safia Speer Yale University Claire Szpunar Marist College

Elizabeth Tamburro Pennsylvania State University Megan Treanor College of the Holy Cross Gabrielle Truncale University of Southern California

Julia Watt Yale University Hayla Yanes Howard University

COMMENCEMENT SUMMER 2016

CNN Hero Maggie Doyne brings message of sacrifice, service to Oak Knoll

England’s Mayfield School head visit links Holy Child heritage for students Antonia Beary, headmistress of Mayfield School in England, paid Oak Knoll a visit February 19, 2016, bringing to life for students just how far the Holy Child Network of Schools and the Society of the Holy Child Jesus reach across the globe. Beary, who has been the headmistress of the Mayfield School in East Sussex, England, since 2008, spoke of the importance of embracing the schools’ shared traditions and practices while also learning from differing educational approaches.

CNN Hero of the Year and Mendham native Maggie Doyne brought her message of sacrifice and service to Oak Knoll on November 20, 2015. Doyne, whose foundation, BlinkNow, raised money to build an orphanage for 50 children in war-torn Nepal, spoke at Oak Knoll just days after she was recognized by CNN. Doyne’s efforts to build what became the Kopila Valley Children’s Home began during a visit to the south Asian country where she had a chance meeting with a 6-year-old child. Doyne was inspired by the child, who was breaking stones in a riverbed to earn money for her family living in abject poverty.

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ON CAMPUS Students, parents embark on historic photography tour of Cuba Over spring break, more than a dozen Upper School students, faculty and parents traveled to Cuba for a photography tour in the midst of historic developments in Cuban-American diplomatic relations. The students’ journey, which was guided by professional photographer Jay Seldin, included visiting an Olympic boxing gym, masonry school and farms. At the end of the trip, students were able to have their photos critiqued by Seldin. Since last year, Oak Knoll students also participated in service and learning trips to Quebec, Washington, D.C. and Appalachia.

Students use TEDx talks to bring ‘Ideas Worth Spreading’ to Oak Knoll Nine Upper School students, assisted by classmates who served as producers and understudies, brought innovative TEDx talks that broached myriad topics. The underlying theme of TEDx, “Ideas Worth Spreading,” prompted 30 students to become involved in the inaugural talks, which were given in April 2016. Topics included why sports injuries appear to be on the rise despite advances in medicine and why celebrities are worshiped in today’s society.

Oak Knoll welcomes new athletic director

Lower School students prepare care packages for troops Prayer families from the Lower School organized 34 care packages to be sent to U.S. troops overseas, and students were surprised in May 2016 when an army serviceman actually came to campus to thank them! Army Lt. Col Bill Morris, executive officer of the 50th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, met with fifth- and sixth-grade students in Bonaventura Hall Chapel and discussed his service, which included deployments to Cuba and Iraq. He also shared photos and answered a series of questions about his training, countries he visited and his favorite parts of serving.

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In March 2016, Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child announced Kelly O’Neil would be taking the reins from longtime Athletic Director Jerry Butler.

O’Neil, a former two-year captain and NCAA Division 1 athlete for the College of the Holy Cross softball team, hails to Oak Knoll from the Big East in New York, where she served as an assistant commissioner of the collegiate athletic conference. She also worked as both an assistant athletic director and associate director at Seton Hall University.

CAMPUS NEWS SUMMER 2016

Students intern for Christie’s presidential campaign New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie’s 2016 presidential bid gave five Oak Knoll School juniors rare insight into the inner workings of a political campaign when they hit the phones and went door-to-door in New Hampshire for the former candidate. Oak Knoll juniors Elizabeth Cummings ’17, of Ridgewood; Sarah DeFelice ’17, of Lebanon; Allison Palmeri ’17, of Franklin Lakes; Hannah Whalen ’17, of Glen Rock; and Christine Tomasi ’17, of Mendham, began volunteering for the governor’s campaign in January 2016 and continued until the campaign was suspended in February 2016 .

New Lower School science curriculum focuses on Next-Gen Standards The Lower School unveiled a new curriculum during the 201516 school year that focuses on next generation science standards.

To help meet what Holy Child foundress Cornelia Connelly called “the wants of the age,” the school embraced the standards, which tie together cutting-edge science practices in kindergarten to grade 6, such as planning and carrying out investigations, engaging in argument from evidence and crosscutting concepts like cause and effect, structure and function, or systems.

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ALL-SCHOOL AWARDS

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CONNELLY SCHOLAR AWARD (1)

BRIGID GIBBONS AWARD (3)

HOLY CHILD SPIRIT AWARD (5)

DR. YVONNE IMBLEAU AWARD (7)

Tara McTague ’20, Faith Bulan ’20 and Caroline Hall ’20

Recognized for a spirit reflecting the award’s namesake, Nathalie Beauchamps ’17 was the recipient of the Brigid Gibbons Award, which was initiated in the 1978-79 school year as a unanimous response to the inspiration of service and courage created by Oak Knoll student, Brigid Gibbons.

Pictured with Upper School Division Head Jennifer Landis, Elizabeth Tamburro ’16 was awarded the Holy Child Spirit Award for exemplifying a quiet spirit of self-direction in right action and a positive, yet subtle influence on her peers.

Emily Goncalves ’16, pictured with Upper School Divi-

BRIDGES FOUNDERS’ AWARD (4)

Sarah-Jane Matthews ’16, pictured with Upper School Division Head Jennifer Landis, was awarded the Sister Elizabeth Barber Award due to her personifying the Holy Child foundress’s maxim, “Actions, not words,” that was also exemplified by the late Sister Elizabeth Barber, a 1949 Oak Knoll alumna and member of the Society of the Holy Child Jesus.

were awarded the Connelly Scholar Award, which is given to eighth graders who will be entering Oak Knoll’s freshman class and have demonstrated fine scholarship and exemplary personal qualities. No more than 10 percent of the class may receive this distinction, maintained during the four high school years.

KATIE MACMASTER AWARD (2) Caroline Casey ’20 was awarded the Katie MacMaster

Award, given each year to a student who has embraced all aspects of school life and exhibited personal integrity and a “joyful spirit.” Pictured with Caroline are Fran and Don MacMaster, parents of Katie MacMaster ’07, who used her gifts fully in the classroom, in the arts and in athletics, and genuinely welcomed others to her friendship.

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Carmen Ruiz ’16, pictured with Stacy Nolan, Campus

Ministry coordinator of service, was awarded the Bridges Founders’ Award. This annual recognition by Bridges Outreach of Summit is given to the student-coordinator who serves as a link between the organization and Oak Knoll students. Ruiz served in this capacity during both her junior and senior years.

CAMPUS NEWS SUMMER 2016

SR. ELIZABETH BARBER AWARD (6)

sion Head Jennifer Landis, was named the recipient of the Dr. Yvonne Imbleau Award for exemplifying the Holy Child Spirit in the vein of the award’s namesake – an Oak Knoll alumna who has offered her gifts as a medical doctor in Kenya and Appalachia.

ANGELA METZGER AWARD (8) Lower School drama teacher Patti Cepparulo and Athletic Director Jerry Butler were named the final recipients of the Angela Metzger Award, which recognizes exceptional members of the Oak Knoll community who epitomize the spirit of Holy Child education and the mission of Oak Knoll.

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MILESTONES

The Butler Legacy 1

Longtime Athletic Director Jerry Butler retires after 43 years

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When Jerry Butler first stepped foot on Oak Knoll’s campus in 1973, he was 23 years old and fresh out of college. He already had a teaching job offer in Tampa close to his alma mater, St. Leo College (now University), in Florida. He only applied to the open physical education teaching position in Summit to make his parents happy.

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1 Kindergarten Graduation

2 Moving-Up Ceremony

3 Lower School Graduation

Seeds planted in September that flowered over the course of the 2015-16 school year were in full bloom in Bonaventura Hall Chapel, as 16 Oak Knoll kindergartners graduated Tuesday, June 7, 2016. Students received diplomas from Head of School Timothy J. Saburn and Lower School Division Head Christine Spies, sang several songs and acted out parables that reflected their growth throughout the school year.

The annual celebration of eighth graders transitioning from their middle school years into high school took place on June 9, 2016, during Oak Knoll’s Moving-Up Ceremony. The ceremony included remarks from Head of School Timothy J. Saburn and Upper School Division Head Jennifer Landis, a performance of the eighth-grade concert choir and reflections read by classmates.

On June 8, 2016, 35 students took the next steps in their faith and educational journeys when they graduated from Oak Knoll’s Lower School. Seven male students will go on to prestigious secondary schools in the area, while 26 girls will attend Oak Knoll’s Upper School in the fall. During commencement, the students reenacted the Parable of the Sower, a nod to their personal and educational growth since joining Oak Knoll in kindergarten.

“I came here with no intention of even doing well in the interview, though of course I wasn’t going to go in there and not be enthusiastic,” Butler said. “Literally two days later, they called me and offered me the job. From there, really, the rest is history.”

History, indeed.

Read more on page 16

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CAMPUS NEWS SUMMER 2016

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The Butler Legacy After accepting the position at Oak Knoll, Butler still figured he would only be at the school for a year or two, gaining valuable experience before heading back to Florida.

Reflecting on his 43 years in Summit, Butler said he was energized in his early days by the administration’s commitment to expand the athletics program, which then consisted of a handful of teams playing on small fields, a far cry from the 14 varsity sports and 36 levels of play between grades 5 and 12 that compete today.

“You just had this feeling of spirit and community, caring and support, and comfortable growth that’s remained the same.”

Butler’s tenure began as humbly as the athletic program itself, working out of his pickup truck (he didn’t have an office), scheduling games by payphone and sneaking over to Memorial Field and the Franklin School to line fields in between classes.

The Many Hats Worn By Jerry Butler

Later, Butler and Ann Conlon, athletic director at the time, worked out of an office in Connelly Hall that had been converted from a cloak room near where Connelly Conference Room stands today.

Athletic Director

Back then, there was no Tisdall Hall gymnasium – that building wouldn’t be constructed until the early ’90s. Athletes competed in Campion Center, which was then a multi-purpose room. Butler and athletes would often have to put away folding chairs or clean up from the occasional pre-holiday break assembly before competing.

Coach: JV Basketball Coach: Varsity Basketball Coach: Varsity Softball Coach: Lower School Boys’ Teams Physical Education Teacher Grade 9 Homeroom Teacher Upper School Prom and Dance Coordinator Junior Ring Day Coordinator Upper School Dean of Students Grade 6 Homeroom/Religion Teacher Grill Master

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At one point, Butler found himself working at a desk on the second floor landing in the Lower School’s Bonaventura Hall; an experience he likened to being a Wal-Mart greeter, as each student and teacher would invariably say “hi” on their way to and from class.

Looking back on Butler’s career, there’s much to be proud of, despite his almost innate humility. There have been new teams and programs added over the years, the inclusion of the program into several New Jersey athletic conferences, multiple championship banners raised and the addition of the beautiful field complex on the school’s second campus in Chatham, which opened in April 2004.

Reflecting on his time at Oak Knoll, however, Butler said he is most proud of striking and maintaining a balance between athletics and academics.

driving force to why people would come to Oak Knoll. There’s so much more here.”

Butler similarly impresses this on the members of each year’s outgoing senior athletes, urging them to pick an institution they would want to attend even if they did not play their favorite sport. One injury, he says, could completely alter their pursuit of athletic endeavors.

Reflecting on his career, Butler says the biggest reason he stayed all of these years was the sense of community and sheer opportunity.

Aside from the many teaching and coaching opportunities at Oak Knoll, Butler earned his commercial driver’s license (CDL) and often drove the bus to games. He also spent five years in the mid-’80s plowing snow in the campus parking lots.

He is also quick to point out that the Holy Child Spirit was always on display, even in those early morning hours when he was clearing the snow.

“Sister Marlene Brownett used to come to the door of the convent with hot chocolate and cookies in the middle of the night because she felt bad for me,” he recalled, smiling.

And while Butler has given Oak Knoll 43 years of his life, Butler admits the school has also given him much to be proud.

The best of which is Caryl, his wife for more than 35 years.

The couple met on campus when Caryl was a part-time Upper School art teacher. The two were married in Grace Hall Chapel in November 1979 in a humble ceremony Butler describes as “meaningful and beautiful.”

Caryl was with Butler every step of the way, even shoveling the walkways as he cleared snow from school entrances and parking lots.

Looking ahead, Butler has the utmost confidence in incoming Athletic Director Kelly O’Neil, who spent the last few months of the 2015-16 school year shadowing the future retiree around campus.

Oak Knoll inducts Butler into Athletic Hall of Fame ... And then renames the Hall after him Athletic Director Jerry Butler was inducted into the Oak Knoll Athletic Hall of Fame during Homecoming on April 23, 2016. One month later, at his retirement celebration, Head of School Timothy J. Saburn announced the Oak Knoll Board of Trustees formally approved the renaming of the hall: The Gerald P. Butler Athletic Hall of Fame.

Both distinctions are a reflection of all Butler has given to Oak Knoll’s athletic and physical education departments over the course of four decades.

One of the highlights of his coaching career was when he guided the varsity basketball team to winning the NJIS-A Prep Basketball Championship in 1978.

Five members of that team would go on to be the inaugural inductees of the hall in 2010.

“We continue to grow and support the needs of our programs, and I firmly believe with Kelly coming on board we haven’t seen nearly the end of the development of enhancing our athletic facilities and programs here,” Butler said.

This, as much as anything else, is the legacy of Butler, whose name – beyond memories and anecdotes of colleagues, his students and their parents – will forever remain at Oak Knoll.

“I didn’t want athletics to become the all-important thing here,” he said. “I never wanted to see athletics become the

CAMPUS NEWS SUMMER 2016

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SPORTS ROUNDUP Fall VARSITY CROSS COUNTRY The Varsity Cross Country team finished in third place at the Villa Walsh September Fest, the Union County Championships and the New Jersey Catholic Track Conference Championships. Though the team ultimately placed 14th at the final meet in the State Groups, the team actually had a faster average time than the previous year when the team finished ninth. Each member of the team persevered and improved their times throughout the fall.

VARSITY VOLLEYBALL The varsity volleyball team finished with an 18-7 record, which included a 13-1 conference record resulting in the team being named Union County Division Champions for the second year in a row. The team also advanced to the semifinals of the Prep Tournament and the second round of the Union County Tournament.

Winter VARSITY INDOOR TRACK Despite being a young team with new coaches, the varsity indoor track team did not waver under pressure and competed hard throughout the season, which was highlighted by several impressive performances at the NJSIAA State Group Championships, including a fourth place finish in the 4x400 meter relay. The team later finished 37th out of more than 500 teams at the NJSIAA State Meet of Champions. Other season highlights include a fourth place finish at the NJISAA Prep School Championships and a sixth overall finish in the New Jersey Catholic Track Conference.

VARSITY FENCING

For the second year in a row, the varsity tennis team won the Union County Championship. Boasting an 11-3 record, the team also placed second in the Prep A Tournament.

Despite a 5-8 record, the varsity fencing team competed well in championship tournaments, with the team placing fourth overall in the Prep State Championships. In addition, the Sabre Squad placed second at the Prep State Championships, as well as at the Freshman Sophomore High School Tournament.

VARSITY SOCCER

VARSITY ICE HOCKEY

The varsity soccer team’s 2015 season was highlighted by winning the Mountain Division of the Union County Conference for the second year in a row. The team, which finished with an 11-8-1 record, reached the finals of the Prep Tournament during a season highlighted by victories against rivals Summit and New Providence, as well as a hard-fought tie against Westfield, one of the top-ranked teams in the county.

The varsity ice hockey team’s season was highlighted by competitive play against some of New Jersey’s best hockey teams. The team earned three victories over Newark East Side, as well as a big win over Pingry. The team also rose to the occasion against prestigious hockey programs, losing hard-fought battles against Summit and Princeton Day. The team finished with a 6-8-1 record.

VARSITY TENNIS

VARSITY FIELD HOCKEY The varsity field hockey team had a banner year with an impressive record of 24-2. The team also won its sixthstraight Union County Championship en route to winning the state sectional championship and its fourth straight Non-Public State Championship. The team, ranked nationally by Max Field Hockey, made it all the way to the Tournament of Champions final by defeating Madison in a 4-3 overtime thriller.

VARSITY BASKETBALL The varsity basketball team finished with an impressive 17-10 record, which was highlighted by two victories over conference rivals Dayton and Union Catholic for the first time in three years. The season included wins over Summit and Villa Walsh Academy in the first round of the state tournament. The team also finished second in its division in the Union County Conference, as well as placing third in the Union Catholic Christmas Tournament.

VARSITY SWIMMING The varsity swimming team improved over the course of its season, which resulted in a 7-5 record. This improvement resulted in the team placing fourth at both the Preps Swimming Championship as well as the UCIAC Swimming Championship. Individually, Oak Knoll swimmers were successful as well, including Lindsay Criqui ’18 winning the 100 Meter Backstroke at the Union County Championships.

Additionally, four members of the team competed at the Meet of Champions against the best of the best in New Jersey.

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CAMPUS NEWS SUMMER 2016

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for high jump at the Prep Championships. Emily Dolan ’18 also won first place javelin at the Prep Championships and first place in discus at the State Sectionals.

VARSITY GOLF The varsity golf team made significant strides this year, shooting a season-low score of 192 against Ridge High School, the team’s lowest score in three years. The team also scored wins against the likes of Chatham, Kent Place and Morristown Beard. The future appears even brighter as six of nine players will return next year, all of whom shot in the 50s or lower for nine holes this season.

VARSITY SPRING TRACK Members of the varsity track team had a lot to be proud of this year, excelling at statewide competitions and setting personal bests in a variety of events. After impressive performances in State Group finals, seven athletes competed at the Meet of Champions at Central Regional High School in Bayville on June 8, 2016. The team also placed third in Prep Championships. Individually, Samantha Pearson ’16 placed first at the State Sectionals in both long jump and triple jump. Julia DeSantis ’18 also earned a first place finish

VARSITY LACROSSE The varsity lacrosse team, coming off its first-ever Tournament of Champions title win last year, had high hopes that were seemingly dashed by a rash of injuries. However, the team rallied together, scoring an upset victory over Mountainside to win the Group 1 sectional title. The team would later beat Shore to return to the Tournament of Champions, where they made a valiant effort against Ridgewood, the eventual Tournament of Champions runner-up.

VARSITY SOFTBALL Oak Knoll’s varsity softball season was a historic one. Buoyed by the stellar pitching of Lauren Meehan ’19, and an often high-octane offense featuring fellow freshman Shannon Costello ’19, the team won its first-ever Union County Conference-Sky Division title with a 13-1 win over Roselle.

The team’s success resulted in the squad earning a spot in a higher division of the conference next year.

SENIOR ATHLETE AWARDS TEN-PLUS VARSITY SEASONS AWARDS SAMANTHA PEARSON Soccer, Cross Country, Fencing, Spring Track

TEN-PLUS SEASONS AWARDS SARAH-JANE MATTHEWS JV Cross Country, JV Basketball, Varsity Cross Country, Varsity Softball, Varsity Fencing, Varsity Spring Track

FOUR-YEAR LETTER AWARD

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MARGARET BURD Golf

CAITLIN MANAHAN Cross Country, Swimming

SHARLENE “KAITLIN” DUNLEAVY Tennis

JACLYN MCCALL Lacrosse

CASSANDRA FORD Lacrosse

MAGGIE MISZKIEWICZ Swimming

JAQUELYN GRIECO Tennis

SAMANTHA PEARSON Spring Track

TARA HALTER Cross Country

AUDREY PICUT Swimming

KATHERINE KELLY Lacrosse

JULIA WATT Soccer

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THE ARTS

SPORTS ROUNDUP

OAK KNOLL ATHLETE OF THE YEAR AWARD CASSANDRA FORD This award is presented to a senior athlete who exhibited outstanding quality in sportsmanship, athletic ability and performance.

SCHOLAR-ATHLETE AWARD JULIA WATT This award recognizes a senior who has demonstrated superior achievement in athletics and academics, while participating in other extracurricular activities.

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KELLY E. DURKIN AWARD KIRBY COMIZIO An athlete who embodies all that is best about the competitive spirit and personal commitment to perform is awarded the Kelly E. Durkin Award, named for a member of the Class of 1995 who similarly exhibited a desire to win with a personal strive for bettering herself both on the field and in the classroom.

WOMEN IN SPORTS DAY AWARD KATHERINE KELLY The recipient of this award represents Oak Knoll at a luncheon sponsored by the New Jersey State Athletic Association, which honors one female from every high school and college in the state with an award from the National Association for Girls and Women in Sports.

CAMPUS NEWS SUMMER 2016

TOP to BOTTOM: (1) The February 2016 US production of Disney’s “The Little Mermaid.” (2) The Ensemble during the May 2016 US Spring Concert. (3) The June 2016 LS Instrumental Concert. (4) The May 2016 LS Spring Arts and Music Festival.

Full page: The April 2016 US Dance Concert.

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SUMMER 2016 Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage

PAID S. Hackensack, NJ Permit No. 79

The Butler Legacy

Royal Cadet AL U MN AE / I N EW S SUMMER 2016

CONTENTS

ALUMNAE/I ON THE MAP Oak Knoll’s influence reaches far and wide.

ALUMNAE/I NEWS

Take a look at just how far the Alumnae/i Global Network spans. The bubbles designate the number of alumnae/i in each state or country.

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‘EYE ON THE PRIZE’ UNITED STATES

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ROYAL CADET Kelsea Krauss ’15 reflects on her first year at the U.S. Military Academy

INTERNATIONAL

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THE WORLD IS MY CLASSROOM CANADA

Patricia Visceglia ’15 describes her life-changing gap year abroad

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44 Blackburn Road Summit, NJ 07901 REVIEW is published once a 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 Communications Assistant 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 Peter Chollick Meghan Hodgin James McEvoy Andrew Miller Highpoint Pictures

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Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child 44 Blackburn Road Summit, NJ 07901 908-522-8109 www.oakknoll.org

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ROYAL CADET Kelsea Krauss ’15 reflects on her historic first year at the U.S. Military Academy

Reflecting on her first year at the U.S. Military Academy, Kelsea Krauss ’15 drew parallels between West Point and the foundation she built at her alma mater in Summit.

“The people I was surrounded with at Oak Knoll were very serious about their academic work and were striving to do well,” said Krauss, one of just a few alumnae in Oak Knoll’s history to attend the U.S. Military Academy. “People wanted to be there and they wanted to learn, and that’s the same at West Point. They’re here to excel.”

Strong academic focus was one of the principal reasons she was attracted to the Military Academy, where Krauss said she was “surrounded by brilliant people who are challenging themselves.”

Unlike some of the other cadets, Krauss doesn’t come from an extensive line of career servicemen or women. Instead, she found herself attracted to West Point as a way to continue her academic and athletic endeavors, while laying the groundwork for her future.

As a Royal, Krauss competed in lacrosse and track and field. She was also a standout member of the 2015 lacrosse team that won the Tournament of Champions. In her first year playing for Army, she was a mid-fielder who played in 16 games with 11 starts.

For her studies, Krauss settled on the subject of human geography. In her own words, the subject differs from the classical concept of geography by focusing more on the reasons why people live where they do, such as cultural, religious or environmental factors. With a desire to work in military intelligence and global affairs, the major was perfect for her.

In addition to the academic link to Oak Knoll, Krauss, of course, wears a uniform, and she said Oak Knoll’s scheduling is similar to that of West Point.

Making History

“Like Oak Knoll, there’s a lot of accountability here,” she said. “It’s not like a normal college where you have maybe an 11 a.m. or 2 p.m. class and then you’re done.”

Lt. Patricia Turney ’84, made history when she attended the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, to study mathematics and engineering.

She entered the academy less than a decade after President Gerald Ford signed into law a bill to allow women to be admitted into U.S. military academies.

Lt. Turney is currently the executive director of medical device and GMP materials supply chain at Amgen, a biopharmaceutical company based in Thousand Oaks, California.

One major difference between Oak Knoll and the academy, is that Krauss is often the only woman in many of her classes – a far cry from Oak Knoll’s all-girls Upper School. But Krauss believes her all-girls school upbringing gives her a leg up, however, owing to the independent mind she said was fostered by her teachers and classmates at Oak Knoll.

“I’m not afraid to raise my hand, and I’m not afraid to speak my opinion here,” she said. “Oak Knoll definitely helped me to have confidence.”

Despite the fact that Oak Knoll has helped prepare her for the academy, Krauss admits it wasn’t an easy transition at first. There are the matters of discipline, rank and duty. For example, certain ranks and upperclassmen have privileges that Krauss, a plebe – the academy’s designation for freshmen – has yet to earn.

“You really appreciate everything you have,” she said. “Yes, it’s very challenging, but I’m pushing myself and I’m going to be very happy and successful with my future. And, at the end of the day, I get to serve my country.”

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ALUMNI NEWS SUMMER 2016

Kelsea Krauss ’15

Another Oak Knoll alumna to attend the U.S. Naval Academy was the 2016 commencement speaker Julie Kiernan ’07. Read more about her story on page 4.

OAK KNOLL SCHOOL OF THE HOLY CHILD REVIEW

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the WORLD is my

CLASSROOM

By Patricia Visceglia ’15

One of the hardest decisions to make in life is whether to follow your heart or follow the fray. After graduating from Oak Knoll in 2015, I decided to take a gap year, or time off, instead of heading straight to college. I needed time to find out what I wanted in life.

would give me exposure to all my interests (art, music, theater, archaeology, biology and computer science).

There were many things to consider, and the perceived weakness of doing so was not lost on me. There are so many things I am interested in and I wanted to have all the experiences I could and use the world as my classroom.

With the help of Oak Knoll’s College Counseling Office and a gap-year consultant, we designed a curriculum that

SEPTEMBER 2015: ARCHAEOLOGICAL DIG

At first, I was worried about leaving home and traveling on my own, but it turned out I wasn’t on my own, as I met people and saw places that confirmed my interests and even showed me new ones. From interning in Ireland, to exploring art and archaeology in Italy and France, to continuing my studies at Drew University – this year hasn’t really been a gap. It has been so full.

I flew on my own to Pisa, and wandering through the village came across the famous leaning tower, amazed that this landmark actually existed. I was three weeks into my travels at this point and felt homesick, which is when two women from Connecticut approached me and invited me

to dinner, saying they hoped someone would do the same for their daughters.

I felt re-energized for the dig after my computer internship in Ireland had ended, especially when I learned we would be living at an actual castle. Wearing khaki pants and steel-toed boots, I caught a glimpse of myself and thought I looked like one of those scientists on TV. It was a whole new version of myself. At first we just found pottery, working in the ruins of a sixth century Etruscan burial ground, and then we discovered the remains of a male and female, buried together. We named them Romeo and Juliet. We also found two other males. More than 2,000-year-old bones – and a mystery – was right at our fingertips.

In the walls of the castle, there was a small chapel with washed out frescoes. Every night I called my mom and afterwards went to the chapel, and sat, reflecting among the candles. It was a peaceful way to center myself at the end of every day.

NOVEMBER 2015: THANKSGIVING IN VERONA

DECEMBER: DAY TRIP TO BOLOGNA

Thanksgiving – a true American holiday – doesn’t get much love in Europe, but we tourists were determined to celebrate anyway.

Maybe the biggest challenge in Italy was the lack of internet. Not only for entertainment, but also to get the news of the terror attacks in Paris. Despite our program’s new travel restrictions, my friend and I decided to ditch the final group tour and take a train ride to Bologna on our own. It sounded like an adventure.

In Verona, we booked a restaurant that promised to prepare a turkey. Our chaperones asked if anyone wanted to decorate the place and make it feel like home. Of course I volunteered. I noticed a little craft shop near the hotel, and decided this is my thing. I bought all the necessary supplies (papers, markers, scissors and more) and grabbed my British friend George.

We designed name cards for every attendee, traced actual leaves to make more than 1,000 tissue paper versions that covered the tables. The teachers concurred it was the best Thanksgiving the program ever had.

We ended up passing around our place cards, leaving notes for each other and little memories. Although away from our families, it still felt like home. Some of the paper leaves made it back home, and next Thanksgiving, I’ll use them to cover my family’s dining table.

DECEMBER: SINGING IN VENICE Sitting on the roof of our hotel, I was inspired. I began writing songs as often as I could, constantly taking out my phone to write lyrics. So we ended up in Venice, at St. Mark’s Basilica, for a private night tour of the facilities.

Since it was December, I decided that naturally I needed to write a Christmas song. When we entered the Basilica, just a few lights were on, and then everything went dark. Slowly the lights came on and it appeared like everything was glowing in candlelight. Laura and I were asked if we wanted to demonstrate the acoustics of the church. How could we say no? As I sang the song I’d composed, it was surreal. I felt like I was in a dream. As I finished my final notes, the lights went back off.

ALUMNI NEWS SUMMER 2016

We stepped off the train into the mist and cold rains of the city and got lost in a little market, wandering around the stalls until we found a library on top of Roman ruins. We visited a cathedral, and then I dragged him to the International Library of Music. With our student cards we spent just $2 to see Mozart’s original manuscripts. From littleknown instruments to original drafts of music, I had so much respect for the historical pieces in front of us. I used to think of Mozart as music you hear, but to actually see his creation was so influential. Although we missed out on the final group tour, it was worth it to explore and get away and see Europe on my own terms.

BACK HOME After an unbelievable summer and fall abroad, I ended up injuring myself in the process. It was a curious case where three doctors said there were three different problems or breaks in my back.

During the spring semester, I took a few classes at Drew University as a commuter while recovering at home. My plans changed a bit, but I was able to learn the piano and guitar so I could properly work on my music. While this wasn’t my original plan, I wouldn’t have changed my trip for anything.

I learned so much about the world and myself, and I can feel the difference it made in my drive to learn in school with only half the time off I planned. I feel confident in myself and my experiences, and I look forward to heading off to Ithaca College in August 2016.

OAK KNOLL SCHOOL OF THE HOLY CHILD REVIEW

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‘EYE ON THE PRIZE’

CAMERA IN THE SKY

Alumnae sisters Elisabeth ’91 and Kate Egan ’88: Oak Knoll faculty inspired us to become authors

Drone helps Katherine Koomar ’12 craft picture-perfect Lehigh University painting

It was 1986 when seventh-grader Elisabeth Egan ’91 was pulled aside in school by English teacher Harriet Marcus to talk about how her grades were slipping.

During her senior year at Oak Knoll, Katherine Koomar ’12 created a colored-pencil rendering of Tisdall Hall as part of a greeting card art project.

“She said, ‘You’re a writer, and you need to get your act together and write,’” Mrs. Marcus told Elisabeth Egan. “It was such a flashbulb moment.”

Elisabeth Egan went on to attend Middlebury College and thereafter worked for the book-publishing giant Simon & Schuster. She is currently the books editor for Glamour magazine.

Elisabeth carried Marcus’ words with her as she moved on from Oak Knoll and progressed in her career, and said she would often receive calls from her mentor, inquiring about her writing.

But Oak Knoll’s influence is never that far away.

The day her novel, “A Window Opens,” was published in 2015, “we did some signings at a local bookstore close enough that I could walk home,” she said.

“There, on my front porch, was a pot of orchids, with a letter that said, ‘I knew this day would come.’”

The orchids were, of course, a gift from Mrs. Marcus.

Elisabeth Egan isn’t the first – or the last – student to be inspired by an Oak Knoll faculty member, let alone in her own family. Her big sister, and fellow alumna, Kate Egan ’88, is a children’s author and editor of the popular “Hunger Games” trilogy of novels by Suzanne Collins.

She began her career in publishing after a two-year stint as an English teacher at Oak Knoll. She also worked for Scholastic for eight years.

Much like her sister, Kate Egan described Oak Knoll as an energetic learning environment, unlike any she’d experienced before – or since – she arrived as a seventh grader in 1983.

“So much of the energy of the school came from the English Department,” she said. “Every member of the 6A

English Department loved writing and encouraged us to write – especially Mrs. Marcus.”

While on campus for Oak Knoll’s annual Author Day earlier this year, Kate Egan encouraged Lower School students to challenge and believe in themselves.

“There’s probably some student here who wants to be a writer, and I want to just say you can do it,” she said. “There was a time not that long ago, when I thought being a writer was some magical thing that only some people were able to do. All you have to do is write and share what you write with others.”

In speaking with Upper School students, Elisabeth Egan encouraged them to chase their dreams and to remember that the journey may have branching paths.

“If you’re interested in doing something, there are many, many ways to get there,” she said. “I definitely did not take the straight line. There were a million tangents along the way, but I always kept my eye on the prize.”

Student Spotlight Oak Knoll seventh-grader Leticia Sefia ’21 self-published a children’s book in September 2015. Her work, “The Story of My Life: When I Moved,” tells the tale of a young girl whose life takes a drastic turn when she finds out her parents have decided to move the family from their beloved home.

Sefia said her 144-page fictional novel was inspired by an assignment she received at Oak Knoll when she was in fourth grade.

ALUMNI NEWS SUMMER 2016

Her work is still available in the Royal Shop today.

Koomar went on to Lehigh University, where she doublemajored in accounting and art. In her senior year, she was approached by a professor to create a painting of the university’s campus in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.

This project posed greater challenges than the Tisdall Hall rendering at Oak Knoll, as Koomar’s task was to depict the entire campus, and she found great difficulty effectively photographing university buildings as part of the process.

Her solution? A drone-equipped camera – something not as widely available back in 2012 when she graduated from Oak Knoll.

“I was able to piece together several images taken from the drone while in flight to create the full image,” said Koomar.

Overall, Koomar said her study of art, which first flourished at Oak Knoll, has helped her to achieve success in all aspects of her life.

“Although much of art is subjective, the artist is forced to make many decisions throughout a painting, and while there may be multiple ‘right’ decisions that can be

made, there are many ‘wrong’ decisions, as well,” she said.

“Through my study of art, I have gained a unique ability to make decisions in response to what is presented before me at the current moment. The many lessons provided by a study of art are endless. I cannot imagine my life without the exploration experienced though the creation of art.”

Oak Knoll Creative Arts Teacher, Will Cardell, wasn’t surprised to hear of Koomar’s work at Lehigh, as he said she was always a “quick study” and one of the most gifted students he taught.

“She is innately gifted and has the ability to work in virtually any media with sensitivity, confidence and intelligence.

Katherine labors tenaciously at her art, often spending countless hours in the art studio studying, developing and perfecting,” Cardell said. “Katherine never settles for anything but her best and is always focused on honing her talent and gaining a deeper understanding of art.”

During her time at Oak Knoll, Koomar served as president of the calligraphy club, Scribes. She also won a second place award in the DuCret School of Art Annual High School Art Exhibition.

Koomar graduated from Lehigh University in May 2016.

OAK KNOLL SCHOOL OF THE HOLY CHILD REVIEW

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ONE STEP AT A TIME

DEDICATED TO SERVICE

Irish Dancer Teresa Drew ’12 discusses Oak Knoll’s influence on her career, pursuit of higher education

Alex Hellmuth ’06 receives Holy Child Spirit Award

In 2010, Teresa Drew ’12 broke her foot – twice.

As an Irish step dancer, these injuries were devastating. Through the help of her fellow classmates, Drew was able to pick herself up, regain confidence and pursue her passion. Since her time at Oak Knoll, Drew has competed in nearly 30 regional, national and international contests that have brought her to Chicago, Boston, London, Belfast and, most recently, Glasgow, where she competed in the Irish Dance World Championships.

Alumna Alexandra Hellmuth ’06, whose career has been dedicated to working on economic development issues in Africa, received the Holy Child Spirit Award on March 10, 2016.

The award is given annually by the Society of the Holy Child Jesus to alumnae/i who have used their God-given gifts to “meet the wants of the age” in the spirit of the Society’s foundress, Cornelia Connelly.

At right, Drew, a 2016 graduate of Rutgers University (history and exercise science), discusses her love of dancing, the impact Oak Knoll has had on her craft and education, and leaves advice for future Oak Knoll alumnae/i.

Q: How did you become interested in dancing?

A: I started dancing in 2001 when I was 6 years

old. My cousins started dancing at a weekly class near my house. I usually finished my homework quickly and needed something to do in the winter months when I couldn’t go outside to play.

Q: How does Irish dance differ from other forms?

A: Irish Dance is different in that there are elements of

both rigidity and fluidity to it. The posture is rigid: you have to hold yourself straight and unmoving from the waist up, and carry yourself with an air of confidence. However, from the waist down, the only rules are that your feet stay crossed and turned out.

Q: Your competition travels have brought you all across the

country and globe. What has been your favorite location to compete?

A: My favorite so far is Killarney. This was my first destination out of the U.S., and Killarney is very much the Ireland from the postcards. It was absolutely beautiful.

Q: Did your years at Oak Knoll in any way help or influ-

ence your Irish dancing?

A: My years at Oak Knoll influenced not only my dancing, but my character and even my career path. This was never more evident than when I broke my foot in January of 2010, and then again in August 2010. I was on crutches for 26 weeks that year. Not being able to even walk, let alone dance, was extremely taxing both physically and emotionally. I am still trying to overcome some of the physical setbacks. Despite the difficulty of that experience, I found that I had true friends in my classmates, who helped me tremendously that year. I also learned how to be resilient and determined in the pursuit of a goal, as I had only three

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weeks that year to prepare myself for the Nationals, where I placed 31st despite my injury.

Q: How else has Oak Knoll influenced your life?

A: My injury was extremely important in the formation of

my personality, character and even my vocation. After this experience, I felt called to help people who have difficulty moving without pain, or moving at all. (Since her graduation from Rutgers in May, Drew plans to pursue a doctor of physical therapy degree.)

I also loved the history and science classes at Oak Knoll, and explored those interests even further in college, where I majored in both of these fields.

Q: What was your favorite memory of Oak Knoll?

A: One of my favorite memories from Oak Knoll was going

to Rome with the Ensemble. I am still close with some of the girls from that trip, and it was just an absolutely incredible experience to sing and take communion in the Vatican.

Q: Why do you return to Oak Knoll and perform?

A: I love sharing something that is part of my heritage and cultural past with people who are genuinely passionate about it.

Q: What advice would you have for current Oak Knoll students?

A: Anything is possible if you have a plan. It may take longer than you think, and it may mean you have to give up other aspects of your life – like your social life – but if you make a plan and put in a consistent, daily effort toward your goals, it is possible to do everything you want to do.

ALUMNI NEWS SUMMER 2016

“Outside of my family, Oak Knoll is the first community I belonged to,” Hellmuth said at the awards ceremony in New York City. “It is a community built on a set of core values: equality, social justice, compassion, faith, frozen yogurt on Wednesdays ... The uniqueness of growing up in a community of women conditioned me to picture myself, and all women, as potential leaders.

My experience at Oak Knoll inspired me to seek out a similar community at the University of Notre Dame and it gave me the confidence to pursue my nascent interest in Africa and make my first trip to East Africa.”

In Uganda and Rwanda, Hellmuth studied the root causes of decades-long conflict and genocide and the efforts of both countries at reconciliation. She said she was “outraged at the helplessness of the people I talked to and the failures of governance, but simultaneously motivated by efforts at peace, awed by the natural beauty, and comforted by the friendliness of Ugandans and Rwandans. I knew I had to learn more, figure out how I could have the most impact, and go back.”

After graduation from the Yale of School of Management, Hellmuth said she planned to join the Boston Consulting Group, believing that the private sector could be a strong vehicle for economic development.

“I urge you to strive for limitless growth in your lives and see where it takes you,” she told the Holy Child community. “But of course, don’t forget to look back at where you came from. It’s easy for me to see the thread that connects me to Oak Knoll. The community that taught me to care for others, inspired me to seek out problems in the world, helped me succeed in Ghana, and continues to shape my future is reflected in the faces I see sitting here tonight. I am not unique to Oak Knoll. My fellow alumnae are equally generous and dedicated to giving back, whether through a career that serves others, their dedication to friends and family, or through community service, and I am proud to be a part of that incredible group.”

OAK KNOLL SCHOOL OF THE HOLY CHILD REVIEW

“I am not unique to Oak Knoll. My fellow alumnae are equally generous and dedicated to giving back, whether through a career that serves others, their dedication to friends and family, or through community service, and I am proud to be a part of that incredible group.”

REUNION 2016 Alumnae from the classes ending in 1s and 6s reunited during Reunion Weekend on April 22 and 23.

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CLASS OF

To kick off the weekend, members of the Cachet Club, alumnae celebrating their 50th reunion and above, enjoyed a prayer service with their fourth-grade pen pals as well as a luncheon. On Saturday afternoon, the community cheered on the lacrosse team while celebrating Homecoming at the Chatham Fields.

An enthusiastic group of alumnae returned to campus to take part in the traditional reunion activities on Saturday evening, including Mass, cocktails and dinner. We invite you to join us as we relive the memories of Reunion Weekend 2016!

Congratulations, Class of 1966, on your 50th Reunion!

The Class of 1966 reunited on Reunion Day. Pictured, in the back row, from left: Pat Mahon, Deborah Denker Tower, Maureen “Willie” Reschke, Maryanne Pizzi Lyons and Geraldine Engel Kaupp. Second row, from left: Jane Maguire Gross, Christine Hansbury Dunn and Ann Bernhard Kempner. Front row, from left: Peggy Lewis and Claire Stazeski Luken.

1996

CLASS OF

Back row, from left: Darcy Hughes, Naiima Horsley-Fauntleroy and Mary Gillbert Mallery. Third row, from left: Andrea Sciarrillo Jenkins and Lisa Dangler Trupia. Second row, from left: Katy Fitzpatrick, Reykha Capoor Bonilla, Ann Bonner O’Brien, Liz Martin, Tara Leone and Jess Radwill Vicari. Front row, from left: Jennifer McKenna, Maggie Murphy Stockson, Meghan Murray and Nicola Gammon Serianni

1981

CLASS OF

From left: Lynn Schmall Christ, Bonnie Flinn Hurley, Allison Adams, Caroline Coffey Burd and Liz Maguire Mead.

2006

CLASS OF

1951

CLASS OF

Mary Kearns Yauch

Back row, from left: Kelly Thomas, Katy Cording, Wynne Dillon and Kaitlin Vinci. Third row, from left: Kelly Polisin, Katie Bernot, Ashley Miniet, and Catalina Cadavid. Second row, from left: Natalie Smith, Eliza Friar Kaplan, Krystle Davis, Ashley Johnson and Julia Jacobson. First row, from left: Maggie DiPasquale and Marisa Pereira.

1956

CLASS OF

Joan Kiernan Hamel

1991

2011

CLASS OF

1961

CLASS OF

Back row, from left: Susan McCarthy Relyea, Kathleen Pach Cahill, Maureen Dillon and Penny Denker Russell. Front row, from left: Julia Harrison, Ann Pindar, Anne Moore, Claire Donohoe O’Mara and Randi Burke Opladen.

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1976

CLASS OF

Back row, from left: Betty Burguieres Moore, Joan Griffin, Carol Griffin Appino and Anne Stazeski Colavita. Front row, from left: Marcy McIntyre Rosen, Anne Nichols Heller and Jeanine Matheu Boyll.

REUNION SUMMER 2016

Back row, from left: Tanya Bryson, Maria Denk Van Kirk and Margaret Skarbek Stefandl. Third row, from left: Karen Schessler Mastrangeli, Jennifer Tonzola Ferriso, Kristin Oakes O’Brien and Terri Trespicio. Second row, from left: Margery Shanahan Conniff, Anne Pidgeon Callender, Kathleen D’Angelo, Sara Scuilli Dullea and Elizabeth Obester. Front row, from left: Sofia Fernandez, Lisa Murphy Dooley, Nicole Visceglia Rodgers and Ginny Cleary O’Neil.

CLASS OF

Back row, from left: Maureen Murphy, Samantha Tralka, Raquel Coviello, Molly Moran, Mary Claire Armstrong and Claire Long. Fourth row, from left: Katie Tolkowsky, Kimberly Abruzzo, Laura Zito, Tara Hickey, Mary Coughlin, Rebecca Niccolai and Emmy Talian. Third row, from left: Abigail Kacergis, Bridget Farrell, Alexis Stanley, Tasha André, Liz McGlone and Allie Eckert. Second row, from left: Catie Mota, Sarabeth Domal, Kelsey Swintek, Moira Newman, Christine Calabrese and Nora Burd. First row, from left: Emily Ficke, Anna Quartell, Stephanie Fortes and Leah Petrakis.

OAK KNOLL SCHOOL OF THE HOLY CHILD REVIEW

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REUNION 2016

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, it was a tie between the Classes of 1961 and 1991!

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2

1961

CLASS OF

1991

CLASS OF

CACHET CLUB 3

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50th Reunion Class Meets Pen Pals The Cachet Club, alumnae celebrating their 50th reunion and above, traded letters with fourth-grade students in the weeks leading up to Reunion Weekend 2016. On the Friday of Reunion Weekend, the pen pals enjoyed the chance to meet each other in person.

The students asked their pen pals questions such as, “How did you get to school?” and “What sports did you play?” The alumnae loved telling stories about their time spent at Oak Knoll as much as the students enjoyed hearing about them!

Enjoy some excerpts from their letters:

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(1) Classmates Kathleen D’Angelo ’91 and Margery Shanahan Conniff ’91 are all smiles at reunion! (2) Alumnae/i Association Board President Kristen Antonelli Rinehart ’89 at reunion. (3) Alexis Stanley ’11, left, and Moira Newman ’11 catch up with Kathleen Lynch, Upper School Theology Department Chair and Director of Campus Ministry. (4) Joan Brennan, former director of guidance at Oak Knoll, reminisces with Mary Gilbert Mallery ’96 and Meghan Murray ’96. (5) Interpreter Kelly Lou Nelson helps classmates Joan Griffin ’76 and Anne Nichols Heller ’76 catch up. (6) Alumnae/i enjoy a special reunion Mass. (7) Muffin Yauch Muller, Mary Kearns Yauch ’51, Sarah Yauch O’Farrell and Ann Bonner ’96 enjoy socializing at reunion.

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REUNION SUMMER 2016

“When recess was over, a bell would ring and we had to “freeze!”

We couldn’t move a muscle until the second bell rung, at which time we had to curtsey to the principal on our way into school.”

- Jane Maguire Gross ’66 “I loved singing in the Glee Cub, especially for the Christmas pageant we presented for our families and friends every year.”

– Diane Wilderotter Mayer ’66

Claire Riegler ’25 exchanges pleasantries and a card with her pen pal Peggy Lewis ’66.

OAK KNOLL SCHOOL OF THE HOLY CHILD REVIEW

Cachet Club Members. From Left: Maureen “Willie” Reschke ’66, Ann Bernhard Kempner ’66, Jane Maguire Gross ‘66, Peggy Lewis ’66, Deborah Denker Tower ’66, Claire Stazeski Luken ’66, Margot Leary Badenhausen ’56, Eileen Kervick Connelly ’56, Barbara Engel Alkiewicz ’56, Penny Denker Russell ’61, Randi Burke Opladen ’61, Mary Dempsey Sheehan ’66, Peggy Welsh Byrne ’51 and Mary Kearns Yauch ’51.

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CLASS NOTES

DISTINGUISHED ALUMNA Mary Kearns Yauch ’51

’84

’97

’05

harp at a concert on Nov. 2, 2015 at Grace Episcopal Church in Madison.

Donations from the concert benefitted America’s Grow-A-Row, an organization which grows and provides fresh fruits and vegetables to those in need.

Horvath were married at St. Aedan’s Church in Jersey City on October 3, 2015. Joining Daisy were fellow Oak Knoll alumnae Megan Quinn Kiczek, Meghann Gilligan, Maureen Giese and Briehan Lynch.

Christoph Teubner were married in a village called Margreid in the Sudtirol region of Italy on June 6, 2015. Julie was joined by classmates Tracey Mangin ’05 and Katherine Westerhold ’05.

Merynda Adams ’84 played the

Daisy DeCoster ’97 and Stuart

Julie Myers ’05 and her groom

’90

L-R: is Tracey Mangin ’05, Julie Myers ’05 and Katherine Westerhold ’05.

L-R: Megan Quinn Kiczek ’97, Meghann Gilligan ’97, Daisy DeCoster ’97, Maureen Giese ’97 and Briehan Lynch ’97.

’02

Nicole Portas Barattin ’02

gave birth to her daughter Brooklyn Paige Barattin on April 30, 2016. Nicole is already a proud mother to 2-year-old Leo James Barattin.

Aly Carter Lopian ’05, daughter of Lower School language arts teacher Mary Lou Carter, married Kenneth Lopian, a member of Delbarton School’s Class of 2005, at St. Mary’s Abbey at Delbarton on October 24, 2015.

Kathryn Murray Dickinson ’90 and groom Rudge Dickinson.

L-R: Lower School Language Arts Teacher Mary Lou Carter with daughter Aly Carter Lopian ’05; and bridesmaids Jessica Moore ’05, Aly Carter Lopian ’05, Jessica Whitsitt (McBride) ’05 and Melissa Beatrice (Santucci) ’05.

L-R: Sheila Brodbeck Pasic ’90, Tara Mahoney Paske ’90, Meggan Kinum Zabel ’89 and Katie Murphy Forrester ’90.

Earlier in the year, Dickinson launched a new business called AILLEA, a beauty retail shop specializing in toxicfree makeup, skincare, hair care and fragrance products. After starting a website, Dickinson opened the first of hopefully many brick-and-mortar locations in Denver, Colorado.

’06

Laura (O’Gorman) Schwartz ’06

Nicole Portas Barattin ’02 and daughter Brooklyn Paige.

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Elizabeth Miniet ’09 married Axel Zwaans in Antwerp, Belgium, on February 15, 2016. Miniet is a Salve Regina University graduate who currently works as a yoga instructor.

’12

Maria Isabella Pontoriero ’12

Kathryn Murray Dickinson ’90

and groom Rudge Dickinson were married in Cordillera, Colorado, on June 13, 2015. Joining Kathryn to celebrate her big day were several of her Oak Knoll classmates, including Sheila Brodbeck Pasic ’90, Tara Mahoney Paske ’90, Meggan Kinum Zabel ’89 and Katie Murphy Forrester ’90.

’09

published a blog in March 2016 on the Wall Street Journal website. The piece examined cultural differences in communications, particularly with regards to small talk. Schwartz is a freelance writer and admission consultant.

ALUMNI NEWS SUMMER 2016

graduated from Tulane University’s School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine with a bachelor’s degree in public health and a minor in economics on May 14, 2016. The commencement ceremony held at Tulane’s campus in New Orleans is unlikely to be the last for Pontoriero, who will pursue a master’s degree at the university’s department of Global Health Management and Policy.

Kathryn Oram ’12 graduated from Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, on May 22, 2016. Her college tenure included competing in several rowing competitions including the World Rowing Championship during the summer of 2015 in Plovdiv, Bulgaria.

Kathryn Oram ’12

Allison Hess ’12 graduated May 23,

2016, from Boston College, earning a bachelor’s degree in English with minors in management and leadership, Italian and philosophy. Hess was also a member of Phi Beta Kappa, the Order of the Cross and Crown honor society and the Golden Key International Honor Society.

The Distinguished Alumna 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.

Mary Kearns Yauch ’51 has an outstanding record of service to her community, her church and to a number of civic organizations, which have all benefitted from her wisdom, enthusiasm and commitment. Yauch is devoted to her alma mater and to her class, where she has served as Class Representative for many years, as well as on the Alumnae Board.

During her years of service for an array of organizations, Yauch has chaired the Heart Fund for Bernards Township, served on the board of St. Rose of Lima’s Home School Association and was its secretary for two years. Yauch ran a Senior Citizen Day for the PTA at Millburn High School, volunteered as a Eucharistic Minister at Overlook and to this day still helps Meals on Wheels in Millburn.

Yauch is someone who truly exemplifies what Cornelia Connelly taught, “Actions, not words.” She is the model of the sort of volunteer we would all like to be. She does remind us that women are lucky to have the choices they have today — whatever path they follow.

She has set a high standard for our alumnae and future alumnae to follow. The Class of 1951 is fortunate to claim her as one of their own, but, the entire Oak Knoll community is indeed honored to name Yauch its 2016 Distinguished Alumna.

OAK KNOLL SCHOOL OF THE HOLY CHILD REVIEW

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