Letter from the President 3470 Rocky River Drive • Cleveland, Ohio 44111 216.251.6788 • www.sja1890.org
UPDATE is published by Saint Joseph Academy for alumnae, parents and friends. Contributors to this issue of UPDATE include: Allison Busser ’04, Kathy Flinn, Erin Grace, John Manuszak, Laura McCarty Waryk ’07, Nikki Mohar, Tammi Olle P’12 & ’23, Kathryn Purcell, Mackenzie Schuler, Constance S. Sipple, CFRE and Jeff Sutliff. Photography courtesy is extended to: Jeff Downie, Aaron Josefczyk, Laura McCarty Waryk ’07, Mackenzie Schuler and Ripcho Studios. For more information, please contact Communications Manager Mackenzie Schuler at 216.251.6788 or mschuler@sja1890.org.
MISSION Saint Joseph Academy, rooted in the spirituality of the Congregation of St. Joseph, fosters unifying relationships with God and all creation, empowers each young woman to achieve academic excellence and inspires a life of compassionate leadership and service in a global society. On the Cover: Seniors celebrate the “Walk of the Roses”
• N – Nazareth alumna • T – St. Therese alumna • P – Parent of current SJA student • † – Deceased
A Saint Joseph Academy education is a faith-filled experience dedicated to developing intellectually and spiritually capable young women who have the confidence to embrace challenges, use their voices and thrive regardless of the circumstances. We want our young women to become compassionate leaders who discover their own strengths, learn how to develop them and apply them in the service of meaningful goals. They need to know how to take care of themselves and serve the dear neighbor, look to others when needed, listen without judgement and seek diverse solutions. Saint Joseph Academy strives to build resilience in our young women, as we know that they will need it as the leaders of tomorrow. The students, faculty and staff of Saint Joseph Academy were flexible after being sent home during the spring of 2020. Students adjusted to the remote learning environment; they supported one another socially and emotionally; they created new ways to communicate. The faculty and staff proved that they too were adaptable and responsive last spring by adjusting to the new needs and reinventing nearly everything that happens in school. Creativity, growth mindset and purpose fueled the community. The faculty and staff served as models of Emerging Wisdom as they broadened their practices and embraced change, a key attribute of our Character of a Saint Joseph Academy Graduate. This issue of UPDATE highlights the resilience and Emerging Wisdom that characterized the spring and summer. You will learn about how traditions like Prom, the “Walk of the Roses” and other events for the Class of 2020 were adjusted so that these students and their families could experience these cherished events while still keeping our community’s health and safety a priority; you will learn about how students served the dear neighbor in the midst of stay at home orders; and you will read how our athletes shifted how they trained and practiced this summer with new rules and protocols. These adaptations and need for flexibility, humility and resilience continue into this academic school year. Faculty and staff have worked all summer to design return to campus plans that enable our young women to be back to school in person even if not every day. In addition, students are participating in athletics and planning for performing arts celebrations. We are blessed that Fitzmaurice Hall and the new Makerspace innovation lab are ready and offer much needed space for the new demands of social distance. Without those gifts, we would not be able to begin school as we are. Maxim 70 states: “Trust God’s timing. The future will unfold.” We are following that great directive. We know that facing the challenges of COVID-19 head on will serve us well in the long run as our education has served our alumnae for generations. We see the outcomes of a Saint Joseph Academy education in the stories of our “25 Under 35” honorees. These remarkable alumnae continue to share their gifts within their professions and with their communities. We are so very proud of them! This year’s theme is “Women of Unifying Love.” It reflects the charism and spirituality of the Sisters of the Congregation of St. Joseph. Our “Character of a Saint Joseph Academy Graduate” statement describes unifying love as, “Nourished by prayer, scripture and the sacraments, she exhibits inclusivity, mutuality and oneness in relationships with God, others and the Earth.” God’s call to unifying love is a call to move forward to greater union with God and all creation. This theme is integrated into the Academy’s summer reading assignment, classroom pedagogy and service learning opportunities. It is a timely theme and will help us to direct our attention to the needs of each individual entrusted in our care. Thank you for your confidence in Saint Joseph Academy and your tremendous support of the young women of the Academy. I am immeasurably proud to be a part of this great academic institution and look forward to learning much more about the charism of the Sisters of the Congregation of St. Joseph and experiencing it firsthand here on campus. While continuing to help the young women of Saint Joseph Academy deepen their relationships with God and achieve their personal best, we will navigate this global pandemic with resilience, with each other and with our faith in tow! With gratitude,
Kathryn H. Purcell