UPDATE Magazine: Spring 2022

SPRING 2022

A Magical Performance: Cinderella

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/guardians and friends.

Contributors to this issue of UPDATE include Maggie Berry ’10, Brendan DeVenney, Kathy Flinn, Nora Hennesy ’80, Erin Hoffert, Ms. Rebecca Levis, Maryann Marek, Micki Matheis P’22, Laura McCarty Waryk ’07, Melissa Murphy, Tammi Olle P’12 & ’23, Bryce Ormiston, Beth Pleban, Kathryn Purcell, Julie Schuler, Constance S. Sipple, CFRE, Tammy Sparks, Jeff Sutliff, Jordan Testerman, Clare Toole, Holly Vincovich, Nora Walsh, Dr. Jessica Wrobleski and Rob Zdankiewicz.

Photography courtesy is extended to the following: the CORE Ministry Department, the Congregation of St. Joseph, Michael Daniels, Eileen Dorsey ’01, Downie Photography, Nicole Jamieson ’16, Sarah Kolick ’15, Lifetouch Photography, Lisa Lesh, Laura McCarty Waryk ’07, PhotoDAC/David Cleveland and Ripcho Studios­­­.

For more information, please contact Vice President of Enrollment & Marketing Kathy Flinn at 216.251.6788 x250 or kflinn@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: Sophie O’Leary ’23 as Cinderella and Keira Scott ’24 as Prince Charming in Cinderella (The Enchanted Edition) musical.

• N – Nazareth alumna • T – St. Therese alumna • P – Parent of SJA student • † – Deceased

Dear Saint Joseph Academy Alumnae, Families and Friends, Spring has arrived here at Saint Joseph Academy and is evidenced by the beautiful flowers and green sprouts all over campus! It is one of the things I love most about this campus - the abundance of natural life all around us reminds us of our mission to help young women grow and thrive through all conditions. During this Easter season of joy and thanksgiving, we are grateful for all the lessons our natural world gives us.

Due to the hard work of our faculty and staff, we continue to provide outstanding programs both on and off campus for our students. We are so grateful that the pandemic has slowed to allow civic and cultural engagements to resume. As you will read about in this magazine, we have been able to take students back out into the world to see plays, hear speakers, engage with the community, serve others, attend retreats, and even hear the amazing The Cleveland Orchestra. Learning happens when we engage with one another and the world around us. These are transformational experiences for our students, and we are thrilled to be back at it!

Throughout the spring semester, the Saint Joseph Academy community celebrated Black History Month, Women’s History Month, and National Catholic Sisters’ Week with activities, speakers and curricula. Faculty and staff continue to grow in our development of Restorative Practices. Throughout the year, we have had several opportunities for professional learning in this area. In addition, our faculty and staff Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) committee has grown to include members of the Board of Directors, as well as parents/ guardians and alumnae. We are working with researchers from EngenderED to gather information about our community and their experiences. It is critical that we continue to find ways to amplify voices and make sure every member of our community feels seen, valued and heard. You will receive updates about these efforts and our journey to ensure we are living out the mission of fostering unifying relationships with God and all creation.

As we near the end of the school year, we look forward to celebrating our beloved students in the Class of 2022. These young women have had an anomalous four years. After a year and a half of high school, they were thrown into pandemic schooling. In spite of two and a half years of the pandemic, they have become a resilient, strong, positive, productive class. We are so proud of them and cannot wait to celebrate them in great SJA fashion!

With gratitude, Kathryn H. Purcell Correction to the winter issue of UPDATE (2021) In the last issue of UPDATE there were numerous errors including those listed below.

• The names of Anna Duesenberg ’22, Morgan Rudolph ’22 and May Norman ‘22 were misidentified with their photos.

• Grace Nussle ’22 was improperly named under her photo.

• Theresa Kratt ’23 was not given proper credit for contribution to an article.

• The class year for Anna Maria Costanzo ’25, Olivia Tipton ’25 and Cara Riley ’25 was misidentified under their photo.

• Vanessa Martin ’22 was not identified as an assistant stage manager for Clue.

We are so very sorry for the mistakes. We have apologized to these students and will do our best to minimize errors in the future.

Bringing Fun & Function to the Howley Makerspace innovation lab

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hen Engineering & Design Honors Program Coordinator Mr. Rob Zdankiewicz received new production carts for the Howley Makerspace innovation lab, he thought a white sticker reading “Cart 1” and “Cart 2” would label things nicely. The Makerspace interns had other ideas. Tasked with helping to run the space, they knew the carts needed signage that more adequately explained the tools and inspired innovation. From creating “how-to” videos to developing QR codes for each piece of equipment, the Makerspace interns have elevated the learning experience in the lab, providing inspiration and advice.

Yet that’s not the only way the Makerspace has transformed recently.

A separate project, run by Graphic Design Teacher Mrs. Beth Pleban, challenged five Independent Study Graphic Design III students to collaboratively reimagine the Makerspace innovation lab, including all interior surfaces. Using the principles of environmental design, Catherine Chambers ’22, Abigail Takacs ’22, Julia Scheatzle ’23 (granddaughter of Paula Branaghan Suveges ’66), Samantha Krankowski ’23 (grandaughter of Rita Hakey Szy ’63, daughter of Julie SzyKrankowski ’91, sister of Mathilda Krankowski ’21) and Ryan Novak ’22 (granddaughter of Heidi Javorsky ’79,

L-R: Samantha Krankowski ’23, Abigail Takacs ’22, Catherine Chambers ’22 and Ryan Novak ’22

daughter of Staci Javorsky Novak ’99) worked throughout the semester to complete all facets of the project – from initial brainstorming to final presentation of ideas. The students presented their final project to President Mrs. Kathryn Purcell, Principal Jeff Sutliff and Creative Manager Mrs. Laura McCarty Waryk ’07 (sister of Jackie McCarty Arthur ’03).

“The Makerspace is a beautiful blank canvas that needed student input and design to make it come to life,” said Mrs. Pleban.

Students completed an extensive research and ideation process to design signage and environmental graphics for walls, windows, tables and more. The designs included a strong, cohesive color palette, a variety of

visual elements and interactive components created intentionally for each zone of the lab.

The young women not only used their own creativity, but also explored other avenues to execute their vision. “I worked on the zoning, measurements and creation of the space into a 3D design. I did some research and was able to find this amazing software called HomeByMe, which is an online interior design application that allows you to visualize your home ideas in 3D,” explained Takacs.

“A learning opportunity like this not only enhances the user experience within the Makerspace, it showcased the students’ extensive knowledge of spatial, graphic and interior design for a large-scale project,” said Mrs. Pleban.

Saint Joseph Academy SPRING 2022

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Living Unifying Love Through Black History Month

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iving Unifying Love requires us to celebrate God’s gift of racial and cultural diversity as well as our shared traditions and history. This February, Saint Joseph Academy was grateful to celebrate Black History Month through a month of “Black HerStory” activities made possible through the energy and enthusiasm of student leaders and the engagement of the community.

Riley Mills ’25, a member of the Freshman Leadership Team, helped to plan a number of activities, including daily announcements and a Black HerStory bulletin board. The board featured Black women who made notable contributions to society, including Marion Anderson, Maya

commented. “A combination of factors contributed to making this particular Black History Month different, like a really diverse freshman class and passionate students committed to making it a success.”

Faculty integrated Black history into Saint Joseph Academy classes as well. The Theology Department highlighted Black American saints along with theological reflections on African American art and poetry, while Honors Engineering classes researched prominent Black engineers and computer scientists. Students in Physical Education discussed the story of Jackie Robinson, the first African American baseball player in the Major League, through watching the movie

Francetta Dweh ‘25 singing “Rise Up”

L-R: Mrs. Gwendolyn Howard, Riley Mills ‘25 and Jazmin Bailey ‘07

Angelou, Daisy Bates, Aretha Franklin, Katherine Johnson, Wangari Maathai, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Harriet Tubman, Madam C.J. Walker and Oprah Winfrey. Each woman’s profile included a QR code which, when scanned, led to additional information online about her. Riley also organized a “soul food” sampling event, which was one of her favorite activities of the month. “The food sampling gave students a chance to try new things,” she said. “There were a lot of compliments and great feedback.”

Mrs. Adriane Hicks, who served as a School Counselor at the Academy for nearly a decade prior to taking on the new role of Assistant Principal for Student Success in 2021, was grateful for student leadership and the range of activities that were happening for Black History Month this year. “There was a greater student investment this year than in the past,” she

“42”. The Nazareth Library encouraged reading books written by Black authors or related to Black women in STEM, and all students were invited to take part in podcast discussions centered around civil rights issues in 2022.

The culmination of Black History Month was an all-school Black HerStory assembly which featured musical performances by members of the St. Martin de Porres High School Choir, directed by Ms. Vickey McBride, as well as a moving solo performance of Andra Day’s “Rise Up” by Francetta Dweh ’25. The assembly also featured keynote remarks from Mrs. Gwendolyn Howard, a School Social Worker at Saint Martin de Porres High School, and Jazmin Bailey ’07, an Emmy Award-winning reporter currently working as an Anchor at Fox 8 News and a Saint Joseph Academy “25 Under 35” honoree.

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Saint Joseph Academy UPDATE

Jazmin Bailley ’07 shares her experiences and perspectives with the Saint Joseph Academy Community

Mrs. Howard shared her own experiences of racial harmony as a preface to offering background on Black History Month and why it is important to celebrate. Black History Week was originally established in 1926 by Dr. Carter G. Woodson, a Harvard-educated historian and scholar who dedicated his career to the field of African American history, and it was expanded to a full month in 1976. “Black history shapes and informs our thinking about what happened in the past and best practices for today,” Mrs. Howard shared with the Saint Joseph Academy community. “We needn’t hide portions of our history but learn from the past how to live in the future better, not bitter.”

Jazmin expressed gratitude for the lessons she learned at her alma mater and shared her experiences as a young Black woman at the Academy and throughout college and her career. In particular, she called attention to how her work as a reporter over the past several years has clarified the importance of using her voice as a Black woman in America. She encouraged listening and learning from others, and also spoke about her experience in an abusive relationship and her journey of healing which was the subject of her 2018 book, The Woman with the Oil: Baring All and Healing from the Inside Out. Ms. Bailey expressed her gratitude for the leadership of Riley and other students and for the opportunity to speak at Saint Joseph Academy as part of a Black History Month celebration.

For many within the community, the event was truly an experience of unity in diversity and a special occasion to celebrate the contributions of our Black sisters and brothers.

Saint Joseph Academy is grateful for the leadership of our students, Mrs. Hicks, and faculty and staff who help us to live unifying love through our celebration of Black History.

Insights Shared During Women’s Leadership Symposium

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aint Joseph Academy’s 15th Annual Women’s Leadership Symposium took place on February 23, 2022.

This event highlights the many options and pathways available to our students as they enter the professional world. It allows them to see and hear from female role models in a variety of fields, which is important given that women still are underrepresented in many professions.

This year’s speakers presented in-person at the Academy or virtually through the Zoom platform. Their work fell within the areas of Engineering & Design, Health Sciences, Global Studies and Business & Entrepreneurship. These align with our distinguished programs and give students a glimpse into which area they might find interesting. Students learned about engineering professions including biomedical, structural, mechanical and aerospace; fashion and graphic designers; and

a range of others such as rocket production, investigative reporter, police officer, financial analyst, health coach, dietician, entrepreneur and more. There was a terrific variety of professions and stories of the ups and downs of finding your way in the professional world.

Our guests spoke about the choices they made along the way to find careers that aligned with their passions, and were able to discuss some of the challenges associated with being a female professional. Many of the speakers highlighted how their paths were not linear or predictable. They spoke about doors opening and being brave enough to step through and take a chance on something new. As always, our students were engaged and asked terrific questions.

Student feedback is important to the event as we try to grow and evolve the program to meet student needs. Next year, we hope to add a civic engagement track to allow for politicians, attorneys and

Regan Sellers, Formulations Engineer at Oakwood Labs

nonprofit administrators. That great idea came directly from student feedback.

Sophomore Vivian Ahern shared, “This year I was able to view three speakers explaining their careers and the paths they took to get there. My personal favorite was a professor in engineering and science.

Her presentation was very engaging and informative and it rekindled an interest of mine in engineering, which I was obsessed with as a child. The speaker was very talented at teaching each and every one of us at least one thing about an engineering career regardless of whether or not we were thinking about engineering as a career.”

Women's History Month: Honoring Women from the Past Celebrated every March, Women’s History Month gives us the opportunity to deepen our knowledge of women’s contributions around the world and serves as a reminder of the importance of Saint Joseph Academy’s mission to empower and educate young women.

We are blessed by the vision of our sponsors, the Sisters of the Congregation of St. Joseph, who believed in the education of young women long before society saw the need for Helen Prejean, CSJ it. Therefore, it was fitting that this year’s tribute to women’s history began by honoring the original six women who came together in Le Puy, France to form the Congregation of St. Joseph: Anna Brun, Marguerite Burdier, Clauda Chastel, Anna Chaleyer, Anna Vey and Francoise Eyraud. We value the Congregation’s vital work that continues to provide enriching opportunities for Saint Joseph Academy students.

The highlight of Women’s History Month was a virtual visit from author, speaker and activist, Helen Prejean, CSJ. Sister Helen is known worldwide for her 40 years of ministry to prisoners on death row and efforts to abolish the death penalty while promoting

restorative justice for victims’ families. She has written several books about her experiences, including Dead Man Walking, which was adapted into an Academy Award-winning movie and a stage play. She is a 1957 graduate of Saint Joseph’s Academy in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and entered the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph in 1958.

On March 10, Sister Helen was joined

by Academy student panelists Anna Khuri ’23, Theresa (Tacy) Kratt ’23 (daughter of Catherine Waters Kratt ’87) and Mary Lepore ’22 for a discussion on Zoom. The remainder of the student body watched the event from their classrooms. The panel asked Sister Helen what led her to pursue life as a CSJ and what sustains her spirit given the challenging nature of her work.

Sister Helen explained how she experienced an “awakening” to social justice in her early 40’s, prompting her to become active in ministering to the poor and marginalized.

“When I put my hand on the rope of social justice and began to pull, life surges through me,” she shared. “It’s when we get engaged that hope comes alive.”

“The conversation with Sister Helen was so interesting and insightful,” said Tacy.

“She has a very special spirit and ability to communicate our call, as people of faith,

to advocate for justice and the dignity of human life in every circumstance.”

The Academy community commemorated Women’s History Month in other ways as well. Students in Señora Plesca’s Spanish classes engaged in an interactive slide presentation about the importance of International Women’s Day (March 8) and how it’s celebrated in Spanish-speaking countries. They created posters reflecting what they had learned and hung them in the hallway. The Social Studies department showcased women and their innovations with an interactive March Madness-style bracket in which the students could vote for the most significant innovator. The Nazareth Library had a display featuring women authors and books about prominent women in the Performing Arts. Displays of influential women—activists, authors, athletes, scientists and more—were featured around campus and highlighted on social media.

During Women’s History Month and every month, we are indebted to the dedicated Saint Joseph Academy community that collaborates to form women of unifying love who strive to make a difference in the world.

Here’s to strong women: May we know them. May we be them. May we raise them.

—Unknown Saint Joseph Academy SPRING 2022

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Spring Musical Cinderella (Enchanted Edition) Charms Audiences

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t felt utterly magical when the Saint Joseph Academy theater program returned to full capacity seating for the spring musical, Cinderella (Enchanted Edition), held the first two weekends of April. This version of the musical is a more contemporary retelling of the timeless story. It incorporates heartwarming humor and includes a stronger female protagonist while preserving the elegance of the original Rodgers & Hammerstein production.

Brought to life by Drama Director Mrs. Anne Ising, the musical-comedy lifted the hearts of enthusiastic family, friends and alumnae with its stellar performances.

Sophie O’Leary ’23 shone as a gentle yet spirited Cinderella who believed in being kind even in the face of hardship. “I love being able to play different characters, but this one felt particularly special for me since I grew up with the story of Cinderella,” Sophie said. “She’s such an iconic character, and I’m so grateful and excited to have had the opportunity to play her.”

Amaya Moore ’24 sparkled as Cinderella’s warm, witty Fairy Godmother who counsels her young charge to worry less about fitting in and more about embracing her own destiny. Alaysia Martin ’22, Lily Hynes ’22, and Moira Schlueter ’24 stole many scenes as the hilariously ill-mannered

L-R (foreground): Amaya Moore ’24, Sophie O’Leary ’23

wicked stepmother and wicked stepsisters.

As Cinderella reminds us, “Be kind, have courage, and always believe in a little magic”—words that are more relevant today than ever. Congratulations to the cast and crew on a job very well done!

Main cast: Sophie O’Leary ’23, Keira Scott ’24, Ava Anselmo ’22, Bella Congelio ’22, Alaysia Martin ’22, Lily Hynes ’22, Moira Schlueter ’24 (sister of Gretta Schlueter ’20), Amaya Moore ’24 and Dante Calabretta ’24 (Saint Ignatius High School) Ensemble: Maeve Baker ’25, Jaidyn Bisheimer ’25, Alesha Brown ’25, Makaela

Lubrano ’24, Delia Mulloy ’25, Rain Perz ’25, Blake Ramella ’25, Lainey Rambert ’23, Madeline Roback ’23 and Elizabeth Tobon ’24 Crew: Reagan Casper ’23, Lili Fuehrer ’22, Elizabeth Jodon ’25, Faith Kmiecik ’23, Vanessa Martin ’22, Julia McCafferty ’23, Maggie Natt ’22, Abigail Neate ’24, Avery O’Bryant ’23, Julia Olle ’23, Gianna Russo ’23, Zoe Schmidt ’24, Madelyn Sollazzo ’22, Elizabeth Tobon ’23, Briana Torres ’25, Melania Tymosch ’24, Nora Kazy ’22 and Lily Mihelich ’22 Orchestra: Abby Konjura ’25, Katarina Payamgis ’24 and Samantha Rizk ’22

work of the sisters.

As sacred beings created in the image and likeness of God, we are called to be dreamers, to embrace the full capacity and unfolding potential of God’s creative vision by contributing our own gifts and dreams.

I am reminded of a story that Mrs. Holly Vinkovich, one of our English teachers, shared. Her father would sometimes ask her, “What did you daydream about today?”

This is a beautiful example of the kind of people who are called to live God’s dream by teaching at Saint Joseph Academy, those who were formed to be teachers and encourage students to dream and imagine.

One of my favorite historical anecdotes about the Academy involves the dream of Mother Theresa Fitzmaurice, who led the school through the early decades of the twentieth century. Critics referred to her dream of building a school for young women twelve miles away from Public Square as

“Theresa’s Folly.” One hundred years later, Theresa’s dream continues to unfold as an inspiring school community where each student and alumna is empowered to dream and to live the dream God has for her.

Our work continues to be a celebration and manifestation of this belief in the sanctity of dreams. It inspires our students’ efforts in writing, the arts, science, engineering and athletics. It inspires our alumnae’s work in these same areas as they graduate, embrace vocations that put their dreams into practice and live unifying love and service to the dear neighbor without distinction.

As we stand poised at the dawn of a new era in history, when so many of our assumptions about how things are have been shaken, let’s resolve to fix our hearts on God’s dream. Let’s daydream, and ask God, “What dream do you have for us today?”

PRINCIPAL’S CORNER: One of the few things we know from scripture about St. Joseph is that God spoke to him in a dream. And more importantly, he paid attention to the dreams God had given him. The Congregation of St. Joseph has also tried to remain attentive to God’s dream, as we are reminded in many of the Maxims of the Little Institute such as Maxim 16: “Fix your hearts on God’s dream. Let it guide everything.” It echoes a theme that recurs through many of the Maxims, that God dreams, and we are “instruments of God’s dream” (Maxim 31).

As a school community founded on the charism of the Congregation of St. Joseph, we are called to make God’s dream of unifying love manifest through our students, alumnae and those we encounter and build relationships with as we carry forward the 4

Saint Joseph Academy UPDATE

Excellence in VISUAL ARTS

“Growth” digital photography

by Erika Klosinski ’22

Artwork by Emilie DeOreo ’22

Twenty Visual Arts students were recognized at the 2022 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. Founded in 1923, this event is the nation’s longest-running, most prestigious recognition program for creative teens.

The awards celebrate student work that showcases technical skill, originality, and personal voice or vision.

This year, Saint Joseph Academy students received a total of 26 awards—six Gold Keys, five Silver Keys, and 15 Honorable Mentions.

Additionally, Cassandra Ciryak ’22 was honored with the Gary & Almut Zvosec Award for excellence in mixed media with her piece entitled “Human vs. Nature,” which addresses deforestation. The award ceremony was held on January 15 at the Cleveland Institute of Art. Erika Klosinski ’22 won four awards, including two Gold Keys, for her natureinspired photos. She cites the influence of her teacher, Mr. Peter Nezovich, as crucial to her growth over the years. “The photography classes I’ve taken at Saint Joseph Academy have helped hone my skills,” Erika said. “I hope to take some photography courses in college and keep it as a hobby as I go through life.”

Congratulations to the following studentartists for this outstanding recognition: Gold Key: Cassandra Ciryak ’22, Ava Fairbairn ’24, Erika Klosinski ’22 (two Gold Key awards), Julia Scheatzle ’23 (granddaughter of Paula Branaghan Suveges ’66) and Hannah Smiddy ’24 (daughter of Claudia Conforto Howatt ’94) Silver Key: Lily Fuehrer ’22, Erika

Mia Stutzman ’22 t-shirt design for the Tri-C Rockoff Competition

Klosinski ’22, Elana Maraldo ’22, Molly O’Boyle ’22 (daughter of Adrienne Auth O’Boyle ’88 and sister of Bridget O’Boyle ’18) and Elizabeth Tobon ’23 Honorable Mention: Annalies Anderson ’25, Peyton Bender ’22 (two Honorable Mentions), Ronnie Conroy ’22, Brigid Coyne ’25, Lily Fuehrer ’22, Kayla Gleason ’22, Mack Hammond ’22, Celia Heisey ’24, Erika Klosinski ’22, Abigail Konjura ’25 (granddaughter of Alice Gerba Haught ’63), Samantha Krankowski ’23 (granddaughter of Rita Hakey Szy ’63, daughter of Julie Szy-Krankowski ’91 and sister of Mathilda Krankowski ’21), Anna Mancuso ’24 (sister Rachel Mancuso '19 and Claire Mancuso ’22) and Kelsey Niehaus ’23 (granddaughter of Kay Koch Niehaus ’51) Students’ Talents Recognized During National Youth Art Month Saint Joseph Academy was also well represented during National Youth Art Month, a celebration of visual art education that takes place each March.

The artwork of Kayla Gleason ’22, Carmela DiLisi ’23, Sienna Stephens ’25, and Keira Scott ’24 was selected for the 2022 Statehouse Exhibition. This show recognizes the talent of students who receive high-quality arts education instruction as part of their academic experience.

Anna Mancuso ’24 , Ella Maher ’22, Gianna Reginelli ’25, Lili Fuehrer ’22, Celia Heisey ’24, Julia Scheatzle ’23 and Emilie DeOreo ’22 were recognized for their artwork at the Northeast Regional Youth Arts Month

“Human vs. Nature” mixed media artwork by Cassandra Ciryak ’22

(YAM) show. Emilie received first place for the high school division. “The inspiration for my piece came from one of my favorite book series —“Shatter Me” by Tahereh Mafi.

The design represented inner turmoil and how that reflects the anxiety many, including myself, endure,” Emilie explained. She credits graphic design teacher, Mrs. Beth Pleban, with building up her confidence.

Lastly, a Holocaust Commemoration Art Contest sponsored by The Jewish Federation yielded two Academy winners: Carmela DiLisi ’23 won first place while Rachel Garlock ’24 (daughter of Jill Statanek Garlock ’92) took third.

Students Sweep Tri-C High School Rock Off Design Contest Local high school bands weren’t the only teens who rocked at the Tri-C High School Rock Off. For the first time in Academy history Saint Joseph Academy students won all three categories—CD cover, poster and t-shirt—in this annual design competition.

Mrs. Pleban has entered the work of her graphic design students in this competition since 2013. The students who swept this year’s event were: Lily Kuebler ’23: CD cover Emilie DeOreo ’22: poster Mia Stutzman ’22: t-shirt The winning designs were used in promotional materials for the High School Rock Off, which just celebrated its 25th year.

Congratulations to all of our extremely talented student-artists and the entire Visual Arts Department!

Saint Joseph Academy SPRING 2022

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Model United Nations Team Has Exceptional Year When Saint Joseph Academy Senior Gianna Capuano (granddaughter of Janet Stropki Wiece ’65 and sister of Isabella Capuano ’20) was a Sophomore, she planned the trip of a lifetime: traveling to the global Model United Nations (MUN) conference in Europe. Then COVID-19 hit and derailed her plans for 2020 and again in 2021. For Gianna, 2022 was the year. In March she traveled to the United Kingdom for the Haileybury 2022 MUN Conference – a weekend of diplomacy that included working with students from around the globe to mediate and debate solutions for a range of global issues.

“Meeting and talking to other teenagers (delegates) from across the world was so eye opening to me. It was very interesting learning about their daily life and the similarities and differences between us. I am still in contact with the students I met and will hopefully get to meet up with them again one day,” Gianna said.

Gianna’s experience is one of many that highlights how Saint Joseph Academy students benefit from the Model United Nations (MUN) Club. Students are tasked with role-playing and representing the interests of various nations in conferences that mimic the

committee work of the real UN. Students must research their country and political interests, and work to solve a range of different assigned issues through lobbying and debate. Most conferences take place locally, yet students also travel to other states or countries when the opportunity arises. For the 2021-2022 school year, Academy students participated in two Cleveland Council on World Affairs conferences at Case Western Reserve University and in the Cleveland International Model United Nations Conference (CLEIMUN22) in February. Two students also chaired the Cleveland Council on World Affairs Junior High Model United Nations Conference.

“Model UN is a great opportunity to give our young women a global perspective on what is happening in the world. In addition to practicing debate and public speaking skills, the program allows students to step outside their life as a teenager and understand the perspectives of various nations, including those that don’t always align with our political point of view,” said Social Studies teacher and club moderator Ms. Lisa Lesh. She added that this year, students have performed exceptionally well throughout all of the competitions.

Model UN students at the Cleveland Council on World Affairs conferences at Case Western Reserve University

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Saint Joseph Academy UPDATE

The CLEIMUN22 took place at St. Edward High School and included over 200 delegates from 12 schools. The Academy earned two awards: Sophie Jane Eldridge ’25 won “The Best Resolution Award” for human rights, and Maya Blazer ’25 won “The Best Delegate Award” for the Disarmament and International Security Committee. Sophia Almhana ’22, served as the Co-secretary General at CLEIMUN. Sophia played a leadership role in this year’s club, teaching the members different strategies for success, including creating guides and slideshows, as well as facilitating “mock” Model UN conferences during meetings. These mock conferences gave club members the opportunity to practice their parliamentary procedure and speech-making in a stress-free environment.

“Model UN is by far one of the most important programs I have been involved in at the Academy because of the exposure to world issues and complex problem solving it requires. To not only become well versed in a current topic, but also to go further by discussing real solutions is challenging yet captivating about MUN,” Sophia said. “My favorite MUN conference was definitely CLEIMUN22. I served as Deputy SecretaryGeneral of the conference, and to see months of work and planning come to fruition was extremely gratifying. This role also gave me a much stronger sense of how model UN works and made me a better delegate.” Gianna’s experience mirrored Sophia’s — and is one of many examples of how the program prepares young women for college and beyond.

Ms. Lesh has personally heard from MUN alumnae who still utilize the skills learned in their daily lives.

“This is an important program because it educates students on world issues that are not always so mainstream. Without MUN I would have never been aware of the pressing issues of maritime piracy or how GMOs can be used to combat poverty and hunger. Educating people on these topics spreads awareness and concern and fuels the race for solutions,” Gianna explained.

Bringing the World Closer: A Virtual Border Immersion

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aint Joseph Academy students are discovering that you don’t have to go far to learn about the challenges facing cultures around the world. This school year, the Academy’s Global Program facilitated several opportunities for students to engage in open dialogs about issues facing people at home and abroad.

From February 8 through 11, eight students participated in a Border Immersion with CORE Ministry and in collaboration with Borderlinks. The experience gave the young women a chance to learn firsthand about the challenges facing immigrants and refugees. Activities included several virtual trips to the U.S./Mexico border where the students heard a variety of testimonials from those who have crossed looking for a better life. Students also participated in simulations designed to help them experience the process individuals must go through to receive legal documentation in the U.S. The events culminated with a day-long trip to various local organizations and sites that serve immigrants and refugees in the Cleveland area. Students visited the Ignatian Spirituality Network (ISN) to hear from a Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipient, learned about ISN’s immigration advocacy and participated in letter-writing advocacy.

The students then traveled to the Spaces gallery to visit the Important Papers exhibit on immigration followed by a traditional Central-American lunch. For their final stop, the group visited the city’s Hope Center for Refugees and Immigrants. They heard from Jewel Yokie '16 about services for immigrants and refugees. They also prepared backpacks for the children of newly arriving refugee families.

“I chose to participate in the U.S./ Mexico Border Immersion experience because I wanted to further my understanding of immigration and how the United States continues to govern this national issue. We found the deeper meaning of individuals’ hopes and expectations when emigrating to the United States and how that compares to reality — being faced with language barriers,

Students prepare backpacks for children of newly arriving refugee families

lack of employment opportunities, limited access to medical services and cultural differences. Overall, this was an eye-opening experience,” shared Clare McCarthy ’23.

Using a virtual platform, Academy students also participated in several Global Education Benchmark Group (GEBG) dialogues. These dialogues create an opportunity to gather virtually with peers from around the world to discuss important global issues in small group sessions on Zoom. This year, the GEBG program focused each discussion on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Students from around the globe participate, breaking into small groups to talk about how they’ve personally experienced the session’s chosen topic in their local communities. “It really provides the perspective of how interconnected we all are,” said Spanish teacher and Global Program Director Ms. Rebecca Levis. “It’s so easy for us to get caught up in our own lived experiences that we are unaware what this experience is for our counterparts around the world. This opens the dialogue.”

Junior Sarah Scott has participated in many of these dialogues and valued how the small group setting created a more personalized experience. “My favorite part so far has been taking a step back and realizing where some of the other students that I have talked to are from. Looking at a map and realizing I am communicating with someone from India or Turkey has been really cool to me! I also liked how the information was coming from students around my age, as most of the news we hear from other countries comes from adults.

This was a great experience to look at global issues from the lens of our peers firsthand,” she said. “The most surprising part of this program was hearing from two students that were on opposite sides of India. One of them was having a completely different experience than the other, and they had a whole conversation about how each part of India differed so much. I found that quite surprising because I assumed it would be the same, but I think it was a learning experience for both myself and them,” she said.

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LIVING THE MISSION Restoring Community Although our society will be processing the impacts of the global pandemic for years to come, there has already been a considerable amount of speculation on its meaning for education. Many institutions and publications have identified significant learning losses and disparities among K-12 students as a result, and even where students have maintained high levels of academic achievement, feelings of isolation and social-emotional challenges are common.

Our Saint Joseph Academy mission calls us to care about the whole student: not only her mind, but also her spirit and emotions, her physical well-being, self-image, character and relationships. We know that supportive relationships and communities of care are essential to personal and collective well-being, in the best of times as well as more difficult seasons of life. For this reason, over the past several years our community has been engaged in learning and implementing restorative practices as a way of building and strengthening relationships among students, between students and faculty, and across the adult community at Saint Joseph Academy. We are supported in this work by the Congregation of St. Joseph, which has been engaged in restorative practices and restorative justice for many years.

Restorative justice is often associated with situations where harm has occurred and it is necessary to repair relationships and restore trust. However, the practices that contribute to a restorative culture are applicable much more broadly than just criminal justice or school disciplinary policy. At its heart, a restorative mindset is about acknowledging the centrality of relationships, assuming the best of others and recognizing the value of each person’s contribution to the whole. These commitments call us to be proactive in building collaborative relationships where people feel safe enough to speak their truth, whether the context is a classroom, student activity, department meeting or in relationships with families and friends.

Listening and conversation circles are a vital part of restorative practices, which can be used for everything from community-building conversations to resolving serious conflict.

The physical structure of a circle implies equality and inclusion, and often a “talking piece” is used to reinforce the importance of listening to one another and respecting the person who is speaking. In just the past two years at Saint Joseph Academy, we’ve seen the value of circle processes in a variety of ways, including supporting student wellness and class engagement.

While we know we have room to grow in this commitment, we are confident that incorporating restorative practices at Saint Joseph Academy is an important dimension of living the mission in our contemporary world.

Dr. Jessica Wrobleski Vice President of Mission

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Strengthening Our Commitment to Unifying Love As a Saint Joseph Academy community, our commitment to unifying love calls us to create an environment where everyone is seen, heard, and valued for the unique person they are. In particular, we want to ensure that every student feels a sense of belonging and empowerment, not only in the classroom but in all aspects of her experience at the Academy.

In response to the Congregation of St. Joseph’s call to action in May of 2020, the leadership of Saint Joseph Academy has sought to be more intentional in our approach to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion so that people of all backgrounds and races experience a sense of Belonging (DEIB) here. Since July of 2020, a committee of faculty and administrators has met regularly to engage our community and discern the best way forward. That committee is currently working with members of the Board of Directors and alumnae representatives to develop a strategic plan for DEIB at Saint Joseph Academy.

To establish a baseline for our work, we are partnering with Dr. Katie ClonanRoy (Cleveland State University) and Dr. Charlotte Jacobs (University of Pennsylvania) of EnGenderED Research Collaborative.

Drawing on their expertise and experience conducting research at girls’ schools, EnGenderED will help us to host voluntary student listening sessions to learn more about student experiences in relation to DEIB at Saint Joseph Academy. In this way, we hope to identify and build on what we do well while recognizing where we can grow in our commitment to fostering unifying relationships within our community.

We are so grateful for the diverse gifts, backgrounds, and perspectives present within our community and for our shared commitment to the mission of Saint Joseph Academy. With your help, we can continue to grow in unity with God and every neighbor without distinction.

Many Gifts, One Spirit:

Retreats at Saint Joseph Academy “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit.” (I Corinthians 12:4)

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aint Joseph Academy recognizes the importance of a holistic experience of faith formation which engages students beyond the walls of the classroom and across multiple dimensions of their lives. For this reason, retreats are an important part of every Saint Joseph Academy student’s experience, and the CORE Ministry Department

Members of the Class of 2022 at their Towpath Retreat

continues to develop new and creative ways for students to engage spiritually through a variety of retreat opportunities.

CORE Ministry faculty member Mrs. Theresa Avila-John, who has been coordinating retreats this year, explained how valuable these times of retreat and reflection are for students, many of whom express gratitude for the time away from usual routines, classes and social media (students turn over their cell phones for the duration of all retreats). Although the pandemic initially presented significant challenges to the retreat program, the innovations that have come as a result have strengthened and broadened the opportunities available to students.

Beginning last year, class-level retreats for 9th and 10th grade students were held on campus while other grades worked asynchronously at home. In the past, these retreats took place off-campus as a part of Theology classes, but when retreat centers were unavailable due to COVID restrictions, CORE Ministry reimagined these days in a way that allowed them to become a shared grade-level experience–a beneficial innovation which has continued this year. A Senior class retreat was another addition that was

prompted by the pandemic, but which has proved to be a valuable addition to the retreat program. Since they missed out on many class experiences as a result of COVID, the Class of 2021 requested (and helped to plan) this time of reflection and connection, which the Class of 2022 experienced in April.

All of these retreats take place within the time frame of a typical school day, but Juniors and Seniors have additional overnight/multi-day opportunities. For many students, attending a three-day Kairos retreat is a rite of passage and a highlight of their high school faith-formation experience, which allows for personal reflection and meaningful connections with classmates.

Although Senior Morgan Leary was not able to attend Kairos her junior year (overnight retreats did not happen in 2020-2021), she volunteered to be a student leader for Kairos this year, and it was all she had hoped that it would be. “The only word that can describe it is magical,” she said. “Kairos was one of the best experiences of my life,” and she hopes that all students, regardless of faith background, will consider attending.

For Juniors looking for an alternative to Kairos and for Seniors who would like to attend additional retreats, CORE Ministry has developed a variety of other offerings which allow them to connect with their own particular interests and passions. Students who experience God in and through the

Members of the Class of 2023 show support for one another at their Kairos Retreat

natural world are able to attend one of several nature retreats held annually, and students can also explore their own creativity through an art retreat or writing retreat. For a significant number of students, a silent retreat is an attractive opportunity to seek out connection with God, while others enjoy an overnight “Urban Plunge” service retreat in the City of Cleveland. Another popular overnight option is the Towpath Retreat, during which students and adult leaders engage in reflection as they bike 30-40 miles of the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail.

The variety of retreat offerings is a direct reflection of our charism, which calls us to recognize the diversity of gifts and passions that God has created within the family of humankind. Mrs. Avila-John and other CORE faculty are continuing to work in collaboration with other programs to engage students in creative and meaningful ways.

“We do our students a disservice if we assume there is a one-size-fits-all approach [to spirituality],” Avila-John explained. “God can meet each of us through the things we love,” whatever they may be.

–Dr. Jessica Wrobleski, Vice President of Mission

Members of the Classes of 2022 and 2023 at the Writing Retreat

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Four Seniors Honored through National Merit Scholarship Competition

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our members of the Class of 2022 were named Finalists in this year’s National Merit Scholarship Program. This distinction is earned by less than one percent of high school seniors nationwide, and Saint Joseph Academy is extremely proud of Elizabeth (Betsy) Gerrity, Erika Klosinski, Jessica (Jess) Kowalski and Morgan Rudolph’s achievements.

These students were chosen from a pool of 16,000 Semifinalists to continue in the competition for the opportunity to receive scholarship awards in 2022.With this honor, these students have the opportunity to continue in the competition as 7,500 National Merit® Scholarships will be awarded worth nearly $32 million.

“It’s inspiring to see how these students from a variety of different grade schools have each been able to flourish at Saint Joseph Academy,” said Princial Jeff Sutliff. He also shared, “I look forward to witnessing how they will continue to grow as scholars and as women of unifying love in the tradition of the Congregation of St. Joseph.”

Elizabeth (Betsy) Gerrity Post-Secondary Plans: She intends to study Liberal Arts at Thomas Aquinas College.

Erika Klosinski Post-Secondary Plans: She intends to major in PreMedicine at the University of South Florida.

L-R: Jess Kowalski, Morgan Rudolph, Erika Klosinski and Betsy Gerrity

Jessica (Jess) Kowalski Post-Secondary Plans: She intends to study Wildlife/ Conservation Biology/Ecology at Iowa State University.

Morgan Rudolph Post-Secondary Plans: She intends to major in Mathematics or Statistics at The Ohio State University.

Sarah Kolick ’15 representing the Congregation of St. Joseph at U.N. Conference Sarah Kolick ’15 (daughter of Mary Smetana Kolick ’83) was one of two young adults who attended the United Nations (UN) Commission on the Status of Women on March 14-25, 2022, along with members of the Congregation of St. Joseph’s Peace & Justice team. Every year the Congregation invites a select group of young people (age 21-35) to represent and work with the Sisters at one of several UN conferences.

After graduating from Saint Joseph Academy, Sarah completed a degree in East Asian Languages and Government from Smith College. She will graduate from George Washington School of Law in May 2022 and plans to work at Cleveland Legal Aid as an Elder Justice Lawyer (an advocate for those experiencing abuse or violence later in life) upon completing her degree. She is currently working as a legal intern at Amara Legal Center in D.C., which specializes in assisting clients who have been victimized by commercial sex work (sex trafficking).

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Saint Joseph Academy UPDATE

Sarah Kolick ’15

Sarah’s passion for justice was kindled from a young age, in part through her connections to the Congregation of St. Joseph and Saint Joseph Academy. Sarah admired the Sisters’ efforts to create a more equal church by lifting up the voices of women and LGBTQ persons, and as a student at Saint Joseph Academy, Sarah’s friends and teachers opened her eyes to the compounding forms of discrimination that women, girls and people of other marginalized genders experience. She

is grateful for this inclusive faith-based lens that welcomes people of all backgrounds and religious traditions. ​​The UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) is the principal global policymaking body dedicated exclusively to gender equality and the advancement of women.

Every year, representatives of UN Member States gather in New York to evaluate progress on gender equality, identify challenges, set global standards, and formulate concrete policies to promote gender equality and the advancement of women worldwide. This year the theme of the Commission is “Achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls in the context of climate change, environmental and disaster risk reduction policies and programmes.”

Sarah and other participants in the Commission meetings will present on their experience and learnings to the Congregation of St. Joseph and others who are interested via Zoom later this spring.

Virtual Parent Education with Dr. Lisa Damour Mental Health & Athletics: New Program Elevates Students’ Access to Resources Amara Brahmbhatt ’24 being celebrated by team mates

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tudents who participate in high school athletics benefit in many ways – staying physically fit, learning time management and making friendships that often last a lifetime. Yet student athletes are also faced with outside pressures that can lead to or magnify mental health challenges. That’s why Saint Joseph Academy recently implemented a new protocol and training program for coaches, creating the first-of-its-kind initiative in the area that specifically addresses the mental health needs of student-athletes.

While the Academy offers an extensive Health & Wellness Curriculum, this new component adds the athlete point of view.

“Coaches see the girls in a different light.

They see them with their friends and teammates, and the relationship is different.

They may overhear things, and they do run into issues frequently,” said School Counselor Mrs. Nora Walsh.

The goal of the new program, which launched in January, is to establish a more direct protocol for coaches to refer studentathletes to their counselor if a mental health issue becomes a concern. Educational training for coaches on mental health also began at the same time. In the future, the program hopes to offer mental health training sessions for parents/guardians and athletes as well.

The educational piece, along with the process, makes the program unique and robust, helping to provide mental health services more quickly. “The program really streamlines the process for addressing concerns, giving coaches a direct line to our counseling team,” said Athletic Director Ms. Maggie Berry ’10 (daughter of Charlene Rolf Berry ’79 and sister of Kathleen Berry ’07), who is often the first one to talk with coaches about any student-athlete concern. “Mental health is just as important as physical health – and we knew we needed to take care of our athletes in this way. It’s important to normalize getting help for mental health,” she said. Ms. Berry and

On April 12, 2022, Saint Joseph Academy parents/guardians were invited to attend a special educational virtual presentation, “Helping Girls Manage Emotions,” led by Dr. Lisa Damour. She is a parent, clinical psychologist, podcaster and New York Times bestselling author.

Earlier this school year, Dr. Damour spent time with the faculty and staff in a growth mindset training session, and she also joined us for parent education events last school year. We were thrilled to welcome her back to share more of her expertise and tips for navigating the challenges associated with raising happy, healthy female teenagers.

Her latest presentation included the following important topics that kept the discussion engaging: the heightened emotional concerns that arose in the context of the pandemic, how to best support psychological well-being in their daughters and how to help their daughters manage stress, anxiety, and other emotions effectively. Dr. Damour spoke about emotional expression and containment, encouraging young females to have the right feeling at the right time and managing emotions effectively. She also provided insight for parents/guardians in supporting their daughters who are feeling upset. She suggested, “First curiosity, then empathy.” The importance of sleep (“Sleep is the glue that holds everything together.”), perspective on our children’s mental landscape, the power of distraction, and when to worry and when to get outside help were also discussed during the Q&A session.

In this challenging time for adolescents and parents/guardians alike, we are so grateful to have Dr. Damour as a friend of and valuable resource for Saint Jospeh Academy.

Assistant Athletic Director Ms. Erin Hoffert worked together to develop the protocol process and create a program that could provide coaches with educational training.

The counseling team played a critical role in these educational sessions, providing insight and guidance. “Some of our sports teams are very high performing – going on to higher levels of competition. Every level that they progress there can be added stress and increased performance anxiety. We want to support our student athletes academically, socially, and emotionally.” explained School Counselor Ms. Maryann Marek.

The Academy’s program is also unique in that it fills a void that exists in the statelevel training coaches already go through.

Prior to being certified at the high school level, coaches undergo considerable training through the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) and the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS). However, this training covers mostly first aid and coaching fundamentals, only brushing the surface of mental health.

The Saint Joseph Academy program goes more in-depth, providing scenario-based learning opportunities where coaches work together with the counseling team to develop solutions. Many of these scenarios are loosely based on real-life situations Ms. Berry and Ms. Hoffert have seen throughout their careers in high school athletics.

“We learn best from each other, and our coaches are already doing amazing things to help our young women,” said Ms. Berry.

“Prior to implementing the program, we surveyed our student-athletes regarding their mental and physical wellbeing. Their responses were eye-opening, and we couldn’t have been prouder of our coaches. Some coaches had already been incorporating mental health stations into their lifting sessions. Others did frequent breaks and check-ins. These are practices that can help any athlete in any sport.”

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Fall Sports Basketball Concludes Successful Season with OHSAA District Title Trophy The Saint Joseph Academy Basketball Program had yet another successful season this year, a season that will go down as the best in program history. For the first time, the Jaguars clinched a spot in the OHSAA Regional Final. After capturing the program’s second OHSAA District Title with a win over Wadsworth, they advanced to the OHSAA Regional Semifinal against the second-ranked team in the state, Archbishop Hoban. The Jaguars upset the Knights, 65-58, handing them their first and only loss of the season. That set up a matchup between the Jaguars and Massillon Jackson with a spot in the OHSAA State Semifinal on the line.

Despite the road to Dayton coming to an end a game short, the Jaguars proved they were one of the best teams in all of the state, all season long. Led by Seniors Ava Haddad, Ella Neitzel (sister of Colleen ’18, Varsity Basketball team after District Championship win Molly ’19 and Caroline Neitzel ’24), Ryan Elbert and Lizzy Lenahan (daughter of Sharon Stuczynski Lenahan ’87 and sister of Kayla Lenahan ’18), Saint Joseph Academy finished the season with a 16-9 record and an OHSAA District Title trophy and Regional Runner-Up trophy in hand. This season Haddad joined the 1,000-point club and received recognition as Special Mention in the Division 1 Girls Basketball All-Ohio Team. In the Division 1 Northeast Lakes All-District 2022 Girls Basketball Team, Haddad was named to the First Team while Neitzel was named as Honorable Mention. Both Haddad and Neitzel made cleveland.com’s Fab 50 girls basketball all-stars list.

Congratulations to second-year head coach Mrs. Karen Swanson Haan and the Jaguars on an exceptional season and to the group of Seniors for taking Saint Joseph Academy the furthest they have ever gone in postseason play!

Ava Haddad ’22 celebrates program’s first-ever trip to Elite Eight Tournament

Strong Season for Bowling Ends with Handicap Division Win The Jaguar Bowling team consisted of 15 members on the roster, the largest ever for the Jaguars. Leading the team were captains Caprice Hofstede ’22 and Abby Kovacic ’22 (sister of Emily Kovacic ’19). The highlight of the season came at the GCIBL Tournament where the Jaguars won the Handicap Division for the second time in three seasons. Hofstede led the Jaguars to win the division with a score of 301. Lauren Alletto ’22 and Brigid Kropf ’22 also had strong performances to boost the Jaguar’s team score.

The 2021-2022 season was also the first year the school was able to field a Junior Varsity team. The JV Jaguars had a great season, as well. They finished runner-up in the JV GCIBL Championship, beating Westlake where they were led by Abby Neate ’24 who bowled a score of 275.

Well done, Head Coach Mr. TJ Zingalis on a season to remember for the bowling program, one that has an extremely bright future with the amount of interest from the Jaguars.

Abigail Neate ’24

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Saint Joseph Academy UPDATE

Gymnastics Has Impressive Season with its First State Meet Competition The Jaguar Gymnastics team had a season to remember. For the first time in program history, the Jaguars were able to send a representative to the State Meet. Junior Lauren Weisenseel advanced to the OHSAA District Meet in four out of five events. That’s where she clinched her spot in both the vault competition and all-around competition.

At the State Meet, in Columbus, Weisenseel finished tied for 18th place in the vault competition and tied for 27th place in the allaround competition.

The season was also highlighted by a firstplace finish at the Flip For the Cure Invitational in Olmsted Falls. At the meet, the Jaguars beat out Olmsted Falls and Buckeye to finish with 128.05 points for first place. Weisenseel finished first in beam, while Abbie Harden ’22 (daughter of Megan Wagner-Harden ’97 and sister of Maddie Harden ’20) was spectacular, finishing in second place and Paige Schilens ’23 finished right behind her in third.

At the Magnificat meet, Harden and Maddie Jarc ’24 posted their season-high in floor competition and helped the Jaguars finish in second place.

Congrats to the Jaguars on a fantastic season overall and representing Saint Joseph Academy on the biggest stage this year!

Lauren Weisenseel ’23

Indoor Track Competes at State and National Meets The Saint Joseph Academy Indoor Track Program continued its prolonged success this year with great representation at the State Meet. Led by captains Clare Jordan ’22 (sister of Maura Jordan ’20), Carlee Blankenship ’22, and Kate Boland ’23 (daughter of Eileen Chambers Boland ’84 and sister of Celia ’19 and Bridget Boland ’21), the Jaguars saw many of the runners have personal bests and have their best seasons. The season was highlighted by Mariel Drost ’23 and Maggie Maline ’22 (sister of Maddie ’21 and Melissa Maline ’24) qualifying for the weight throw at the State Meet. The 4x800m relay team of Blankenship, Anna Duesenberg ’22, Bridget Mullen ’25, Erin Hyland ’23 (granddaughter of Marge McNeeley Harkness ’60 and sister of Bridgid Hyland ’20), and alternate Alexia Wenzel ’23 all finished 13th in the state. The 4x400m consisting of Clare McCarthy ’23, Hyland, Blankenship, Duesenberg and Jordan (alternate) finished 21st in the state, with help from qualifying athletes Boland and Stephanie Hwodecky ’23.

The Jaguars even sent representatives to two national meets. At the New Balance Indoor National Meet in New York City, Drost competed in the weight throw in the Rising Stars division, and placed 21st with a throw of 33’9.” At the Adidas Indoor Nationals in Virginia Beach, the 1600m sprint medley team of Jordan, McCarthy, Duesenberg and Blankenship all finished third with a time of 4:34.29. Duesenberg and Blankenship also raced in the 800m run and posted times of 2:28.83 and 2:33.12, respectively.

L-R: Clare Jordan ’22, Carlee Blankenship ’22, Anna Duesenberg ’22, Clare McCarthy ’23 at Nationals

Swimming & Diving Season Results in Many Personal Bests The Swimming & Diving team faced much adversity at the start of their season due to the number of cancellations in their schedule as a result of pandemic-related issues. But once they were able to get back in the pool, the team performed strong and posted many personal bests. At the National Catholic High School Championships, Emma Claire Lambert-Shemo ’22 placed 3rd overall in the 100m freestyle with her fastest time ever at 54.64. She also swam a personal best in the 200m medley at 2:16.04.

Clare Doverspike ’23 had personal bests in the 100m backstroke. At the OHSAA District Meet, the Jaguars’ four divers, Audrey Dinger ’23, Samantha Krankowski ’23 (granddaughter of Rita Hakey Szy ’63, daughter of Julie Szy-Krankowski ’91 and sister of Mathilda Krankowski ’21), and Emma Petrus ’23 (sister of Rachel Petrus ’15) and Vivian Ahern ’24 all finished in the top 40 in the state.

The 200m medley relay team of Suzanna Fernandez ’23, Lambert-Shemo, Doverspike, and Jillian Wilde ’22 had their best time of the season to finish 13th overall. Lambert-Shemo had her lifetime best in the 200m medley race to finish seventh and earn a top-eight medal.

Clare Doverspike ’23

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Saint Joseph Academy

Celebrate the Academy

COMING TOGETHER TO

“Celebrate the Academy” “A World of Opportunity” was a fitting theme for this year’s “Celebrate the Academy.” Not only will students benefit from the $300,000 net proceeds raised for the scholarship fund and academic initiatives, but the 485 guests in attendance at the sold-out gala enjoyed the chance to be back together and celebrate in person.

We are deeply thankful to the Saint Joseph Academy community for making our annual fundraiser a success once again. Although our world has faced many challenges over the past two years, we remain committed to providing our young women with meaningful growth experiences that will prepare them for lives

President Kathryn Purcell and 2022 Medaille Shield recipient Tari Rivera

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Saint Joseph Academy UPDATE

of compassionate leadership and service.

“Celebrate the Academy” is one important way that our wonderful community of generous supporters, devoted parents/ guardians, exceptional alumnae, and spiritual sponsors, the Sisters of the Congregation of St. Joseph comes together to celebrate our collective partnership in the formation of the next generation of young leaders who will be inspired to make a difference in our world.

The gala also provided the Saint Joseph Academy community with the opportunity to recognize Patricia A. Gaul ’76 as the 2022 Distinguished Alumna and Tari S. Rivera as the recipient of the Medaille Shield Award.

Tari is the founder and president of Regency Construction, the company that oversaw the renovation of Fitzmaurice Hall and the expansion of the Howley Makerspace innovation lab. She spent six years on the Academy’s Board of Directors, including terms as Facilities Committee Chair, ViceChair and Chairperson. The Scholars’ Porch, Dining Hall and Howley Terrace expansions took place during her tenure.

Tari played a key role in developing a plan for expanding the Academy’s beautiful campus, starting with the renovation of the century-old Motherhouse. As a champion for students pursuing careers in STEM industries, Tari offers a program called Construction Academy to school clients. About 25 Saint Joseph Academy students—many from the Engineering and Design Honors Program—participated in Construction Academy during Regency’s time on campus.

L-R: Margaret Sweeney ’03, Caitlin Smith ’05 and Celebrate the Academy emcee Gabriella Kruz ’10

We would also like to acknowledge the dedication, hard work and creativity of the Event Committee who helped make “Celebrate the Academy” a resounding success: Denise Caruso P’23; Jen Castelluccio P’24; Vicki Pohlman Cleary ’79; Michelle Crossan P’24; Margie Karl P’25; Devra Konjura P’25; Julie SzyKrankowski ’91, P’21 & ’23; Mary Ellen Punty Kraus ’75, P’11 & ’14; Michelle Boyle Lopez ’91, P’22; Sarah Lorek P’20 & ’22; Julia Mayer P’21; Tiffany Safran P’23; Maureen Schlueter P’20 & ’24; Christine Takacs P’22; Jennifer Turco P’23.

We look forward to seeing everyone next year at “Celebrate the Academy” on February 25, 2023.

L-R: Elizabeth Ewald ’23, Shannon Joyce ’23, Claire Rath ’24

The Academy Chorale performing

Patricia Ann Gaul ’76

2022 DISTINGUISHED ALUMNA

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atricia (sister of Eileen Gaul Isdaner ’78 and Kathleen Gaul Burke ’81) has come a long way from her days as a tenacious Georgetown University freshman who took a bus to Senator Ted Kennedy’s office on Capitol Hill, knocked on his door, and asked for an internship. Not only did she get the job, but she also returned as an intern the following year. During her junior and senior years, she worked for Senator Bill Bradley.

Patricia graduated with a B.S.B.A. in Accounting—a major for which Saint Joseph Academy’s challenging math curriculum had prepared her well. She returned to Cleveland to study for the CPA exam and help with her father’s mayoral campaign.

In 1984, Patricia joined Playhouse Square Foundation as its Controller. After earning a law degree from Cleveland-Marshall College of Law in 1993, she added General Counsel duties to her area of responsibility. Today, Patricia serves as Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel, overseeing operations of the theaters as well as Finance, Legal and Human Resources and assisting with Real Estate.

Playhouse Square is the nation’s largest performing arts center outside New York City and has 11 performance spaces that entertain more than one million guests annually. It also has the largest subscription base in the country with 49,000 season ticket holders (Pre-COVID). Patricia has maintained a balanced $115 million budget for the notfor-profit performing arts center. Her careful stewardship of the finances has funded many initiatives that have transformed the Playhouse Square District into the vibrant downtown neighborhood it is today.

Over the course of her career, Patricia has received numerous honors including Crain’s Cleveland Business CFO of the Year for Non-profits (2008) and General and In-house Counsel of the Year for Non-profits (2014). In 2021, she received the Economic and Community Improvement Award from Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW) Network.

Patricia is the second of eight children born to Joseph and Joan Adler Gaul. Her parents were incredible role models who stressed the importance of faith-based education. Patricia and her siblings attended St. Angela Merici in Fairview Park but were given their choice of Catholic high school.

Saint Joseph Academy was the perfect place for her because the school reinforced the same values she learned at home, including nurturing faith, standing by one’s beliefs, appreciating education, and giving back.

She gratefully remembers the Academy’s culture of inclusivity cultivated by smart, selfless CSJs who repeatedly demonstrated they were ahead of their time.

“I have so much respect for what Saint Joseph Academy has done for generations of girls, especially as it relates to developing relevant leadership skills, including a thoughtful, comprehensive approach to problem-solving and a compassionate, caring manner in dealing with people,” Patricia shared.

Patricia is involved in a

number of charitable and civic organizations.

She serves on the Board of Directors of the Georgetown Alumni Club of Cleveland, the Irish Good Fellowship Club and Willowood Manor, a senior living community in Fairview Park that held a special place in her father’s heart. She also helps oversee the Joseph and Joan Gaul Endowment Fund, which awards scholarships to students from St. Angela’s who attend Catholic high schools. The fund was established by the Gaul children to honor their late parents.

In her free time, Patrica enjoys being with her large, loving Irish family, which includes 22 nieces and nephews and nine great-nieces and great-nephews. She enjoys swimming, boating, walking in the valley, reading, 60’s music and–of course–live theater.

Congratulations, Patricia, on being named Saint Joseph Academy’s 2022 Distinguished Alumna!

President Kathryn Purcell presents Patrica Gual ’76 with the 2022 Distinguished Alumna Award

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ADVANCEMENT

Scholarship Established to Honor a Special Alumna Dedicated to “Serving the Dear Neighbor” Margaret Walsh Daniels ’59 was a remarkable woman, dedicated to helping those less fortunate. She grew up in Cleveland, and when her mother died, she and her sister, Elizabeth Walsh Watters ’58 helped their father raise their three

L-R: Margaret Walsh Daniels ’59, Patrick Daniels and Michael Daniels

younger siblings. Margaret appreciated the excellent education she received at Saint Joseph Academy, and her classmate in high school, Nancy Wilkes McCann ’59, remained her best friend for the rest of her life. After graduation, Margaret began working full-time at Higbee’s Department

Store, at a job she started while still in high school. In time, she progressed through the ranks at Higbee’s, and became the Fashion Coordinator for the Children’s Department.

In 1979, Margaret met the love of her life, Michael Daniels, while they were both on a business trip from Cleveland. They met in New York City when Margaret extended her hand to Michael at a discotheque and asked him to dance. As it turned out, they both worked for Higbee’s in Cleveland. The rest of the story, as they say, is history! Margaret and Michael had a wonderful, loving marriage and partnership. They eventually moved to Pittsburgh where they both worked at the Joseph Horne Department Store. Michael was a buyer for Men’s Clothing, and Margaret worked on Special Events. Later, Margaret became a realtor with Howard Hanna, and Michael became Vice President of Brokerage Services at Oxford Realty Services.

Margaret and Michael were blessed with one son, M. Patrick Daniels, who was an extraordinary person and role model to others. He was born with Muscular Dystrophy, but never complained or felt sorry for himself. He had his mother’s optimistic and caring attitude and was quite an inspiration to his parents and many others. While attending medical appointments, he would observe others who

were less fortunate and often reflected that he and his parents were very blessed. This is how Patrick and Margaret lived their lives, feeling compassion for others and always appreciating life’s blessings.

In December 2021, twelve years after the loss of Patrick, Margaret passed away.

Michael has now established the Margaret Walsh Daniels ’59 Scholarship at Saint Joseph Academy. He shared, “It gives me great joy and peace of mind to establish this Scholarship in memory of Margaret, as she held a great affection for her alma mater.” This was evidenced by her custom to make regular donations to the Academy’s Annual Fund and by her excitement and participation in several of the Class of 1959 reunions.

The Margaret Walsh Daniels Scholarship recognizes a wonderful alumna and will carry on her spirit of generosity and gratitude. In his comments about the establishment of this new scholarship, Michael stated, “Margaret, and our son, Patrick, both had hardships to bear, but their hopefulness and humility remind us to look at the blessings we have all received.”

To learn how you can establish a scholarship at Saint Joseph Academy, contact Vice President of Institutional Advancement Connie Sipple, at 216.671.0166 or csipple@ sja1890.org.

Support a Student and Save on Your Taxes!

A new program, the Angel Scholarship Fund, has opened a new door for providing tuition assistance for the young women who attend Saint Joseph Academy.

The Catholic Community Foundation has established the Angel Scholarship Fund, which allows Ohioans to receive a 100% Ohio income tax credit for up to $750 in cash donations ($1,500 for married filing jointly) by designating their contribution to benefit the students at Saint Joseph Academy. Those that choose to do so will receive a tax credit starting with the 2022 tax year. Every dollar donated provides additional scholarships to our young women who need it most.

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Saint Joseph Academy UPDATE

Here is how to take advantage of the program and support Saint Joseph Academy: • Go directly to the Catholic Community Foundation Angel Scholarship Fund website: www.catholiccommunity.org/angel-scholarship-fund/overview. Please note that gifts must go to this special scholarship-granting organization (SGO) and cannot be donated to Saint Joseph Academy to receive the tax credit.

• Click the button to make an online contribution or download a mail-in contribution form.

• Identify Saint Joseph Academy as your school of choice (note Saint is spelled out on the online drop down menu of eligible schools).

• Complete the payment by either check or credit card.

• You will receive a tax acknowledgment, which must be attached to your 2022 Ohio state tax return from the Catholic Community Foundation.

We hope you will consider supporting our students by giving to the Angel Scholarship Fund!

Your Support Truly Changes Lives

S

pring begins a busy but important time for our students as they enter the final stages of their academic year. The members of the Class of 2022 are taking their final steps in their journey toward graduation. They have worked hard to get to this point, and we are ready to help them celebrate this special milestone in their lives. While bittersweet, it is also a time of gratitude for all they have brought to this community and promise for the future. They serve as an example of the power of your support of this school.

Without your generous participation in our Annual Fund, we would not have been able to provide the scholarships and resources that they needed to thrive in their time here at Saint Joseph Academy. We are truly grateful for your past participation in the Saint Joseph Academy Annual Fund.

Your donation, of any amount, will make a difference in the lives of the more than 685 students who have been inspired to become women of unifying love. To make your gift today, simply visit online at www.sja1890.org/donate, scan the QR code or mail your gift to the Advancement Department, 3470 Rocky River Drive, Cleveland OH 44111 by Thursday, June 30. Thank you for your generosity that helps every student, every day!

Scan QR code with your smart phone

A Life Well-Lived: Sr. Karen Lyons ’59 It is with sadness that we share news of the recent death of Karen Lyons, CSJ ’59 (formerly Sister Mary Rita) (sister of Mary Rita Lyons Blank ’62 and Linda Lyons Graff ’65), who entered into eternal life on February 23, 2022.

Sr. Karen joined the Sisters of St. Joseph shortly after graduating from the Academy in 1959. For as long as she could remember,

Contact Us

she had wanted to be a teacher, and in 1964 she graduated from Ursuline College with a B.A. in Secondary Education. She began her teaching career at Nazareth Academy, where she taught Social Studies and Theology from 1964-1968. She went on to teach at Saint Joseph Academy for five years, and served as Assistant Principal from 1973-1979 (she received her M.A. in School Administration in 1974). Sr. Karen then moved to Cleveland Central Catholic High School where was an Assistant Principal until 1996.

After serving as Facilities Coordinator at St. Joseph Center, she sought out training as a

To explore the many ways you can make a lasting impact on Saint Joseph Academy, please contact a member of our Institutional Advancement Department for a confidential conversation:

Constance Sipple, CFRE Vice President of Institutional Advancement 216.671.0166 csipple@sja1890.org

School Counselor and ministered at Saint Joseph Academy from 1999-2009.

According to Sr. Karen’s obituary, “Karen was a generous, loving, positive person with a great sense of humor who shared her life with family, and many wonderful companions and friends... Her high school classmates were especially close and they continued to meet for dinner the first Friday of every month for many years.”

We offer condolences to all who have been touched by Sr. Karen’s life. May she rest in the peace and love of God, and live on in our hearts and memory.

Melissa Murphy Development Director 216.251.6788 x232 mmurphy@sja1890.org

Saint Joseph Academy SPRING 2022

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Memoriam Mary Ann Lavelle, CSJ ’46 and Loretta Lavelle Seidl ’50 on the death of their brother, Lawrence Lavelle.

Anne “Mickie” Fischer Mayer ’47 on the death of her sister, Mary Fischer Campbell ’38.

Clara Dubnicka Hrovat T’48 on the death of her husband, Frank Hrovat.

Kathleen Filbin Patton ’49 on the death of her brother, Leonard Filbin.

Barbara Burkhardt O’Brien ’51 on the death of her brother, Robert Burkhardt.

Carol O’Reilly Hughes ’53 on the death of her brother, and Susan O’Reilly ’79, Amy O’Reilly ’84, Molly O’Reilly Brunori ’86 on the death of their father and Patricia Vertal O’Reilly ’80 on the death of her father in law, Richard O’Reilly.

Donna Smith McCafferty ’53 on the death of her daughter, and Katherine McCafferty Turoczi ’79 and Kelli McCafferty Miller ’82 on the death of their sister, Myrna McCafferty ’80.

Jeanne Reichard Niklas ’55 on the death of her brother, Leo Russell Reichard.

Donna Palker Stoyka ’55 on the death of her brother, Louis Palker.

Helen Miller Gale ’56 on the death of her husband, Robert Gale.

Sue Keppler McClellan ’56 on the death of her husband, James McClellan.

Rita Vosniak Lichtenberg ’57 and Cynthia Vosniak Miller ’66 on the death of their brother, Richard Vosniak.

Kathleen Doyle Hildebrand ’57, Madonna Doyle Fazel ’64, Therese Doyle Clark ’65, Madeline Doyle Ritschel ’65 and Bonnie Doyle Clark ’67 on the death of their sister, Maryellen Doyle Decker ’59.

Mary Bertke O’Connor ’57 and Linda Bertke Califra ’60 on the death of their brother, Steven Bertke.

Louise Hannan Herrick ’58 and Eileen Hannan Colarossi ’73 on the death of their brother, Terrence Hannan.

Catherine LaBianca Johnson ’58 on the death of her husband, Eric Johnson.

Bracha Urban Ofstein ’58 on the death of her husband, Dovid Ofstein.

Elizabeth Walsh Watters ’58 on the death of her sister, Margaret Walsh Daniels ’59.

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Judith Lyall Foley-Gawronski ’59 on the death of her husband, Robert Gawronski.

Mary Jo Flannery Karcher ’63 on the death of her husband, Rick Karcher.

Mary Joyce O’Donnell Moran ’59 on the death of her sister, Grace O’Donnell ’63.

Margaret Kandalec Stuhm ’63 on the death of her husband, Daniel Stuhm.

Carol Stefanak Dorenkott ’60 on the death of her husband, George Dorenkott.

Mary Ann Bloomingdale Medvecky ’60 on the death of her daughter, Renee Medvecky Amos.

Patricia French Mitchell ’60 on the death of her husband and Becky Mitchell Riebe ’88 and Maura Mitchell Strack ’90 on the death of their father, Raymond Mitchell.

Georgene Maysey Rue ’60 on the death of her sister, and Dawn Babic Swanson ’90 on the death of her mother, Kathleen Maysey Babic ’64.

Jeannette Nylen Zebris N’60 and Linda Nylen N’67 on the death of their sister, Patricia Nylen Roff N’60.

Josie Henke Gaughan ’61 and Therese Henke Ulery ’61 on the death of their sister, Marie Henke Roth ’54.

Clare Balombin N’64 on the death of her sister, Jane Balombin.

Peggy O’Connor Crimaldi N’64 on the death of her husband, Basil Crimaldi.

Anna Koha Weinmann ’64 on the death of her father, Frank Koha.

Mary Rodgers Veith ’68 and Beth Rodgers Gaewsky ’71 on the death of their sister, AnnMarie Rodgers ’74.

Natalie Chomyk-Daniels N’69 on the death of her brother, Michael Chomyk.

Alison Fischbach Conroy N’69, Roberta Fischbach N’72, Daneen Fischbach Bielecki N’74 and Leslie Fischbach McDonald N’79 on the death of their father, Joseph Fischbach.

Rosemary Mulcahy Wood ’64 on the death of her sister, Patricia Mulcahy Boehmer ’59.

Sandra Fedak Mulroy ’69, Barbara Fedak Roll ’79 and Carol Fedak Brick ’83 on the loss of their mother, Irene Fedak

Mary Beth McCready Byrnes ’65 and Patti McCready ’72 on the death of their brother, Kevin McCready.

Nancy Kelly Whelan ’69 on the death of her husband, Kevin Whelan.

Kathleen Haggerty ’65 on the death of her husband, John Rehak.

Anne O’Heren Jakon ’65 on the death of her sister-in-law, Phyllis Jakob.

Catherine Karl ’66 on the death of her father, Paul Karl.

Carolyn Farrell Schum ’66 and Patricia Farrell Wasko ’71 on the death of their mother, Mary Gilmore Farrell ’45.

Priscilla Giraldo Gwinn N’70 on the death of her father, Anthony Giraldo.

Nancy Schaffran Nimrichter N’70 on the death of her sister, Sr. Janet Schaffran, CDP. Kathy Hoban Reisner ’70 on the death of her mother, Lucy Brannigan Hoban ’46.

Maureen Graven Meier ’61 on the death of her sister, Marilyn Graven Stewart ’57.

Maureen McNea Zalewski N’66 and Marcia McNea Rodic N’76 on the death of their brother, Donald McNea Jr.

Mary Ann Corrigan-Davis ’71, Eileen Corrigan Smoot ’74, Clare Corrigan Woidke ’81 and Kate Corrigan Tompkins ’87 on the loss of their mother and Megan Corrigan Estes ’01, Cecilia Tompkins ’19 and Mary Tompkins ’25 on the loss of their grandmother, Eileen Hopkins Corrigan.

Frances Brown Pelcin ’61 on the death of her sister, Helen Ann Brown, CSJ.

Susanne DeCrane ’67 on the death of her husband, Brian David Berry.

Patricia Farley Vail N’71 on the death of her mother, Kathleen Farley.

Anna Marie Sweeney Smith ’61 and Eileen Sweeney Bulan ’62 on the death of their brother, and Susanne Dziak Sorg ’83 and on the death of her father, Michael Sweeney.

Mary Beth Straub Gorbett ’67 on the death of her husband and Bridget Gorbett ’93 and Kelley Gorbett ’98 on the death of their father, Edward Gorbett.

Janice Kontra Vyhnalek N’71 on the death of her sister, Barbara Kontra Smigel N’73.

Theresa Polomsky Lyons N’61 on the death of her husband, James Lyons.

June Barnhart Marosek ’61 on the death of her husband, James Marosek.

Mary Rita Lyons Blank ’62 and Linda Lyons Graff ’59 on the death of their sister, Karen Lyons, CSJ ’59.

Jeannie Walters Danko ’62 on the death of her brother, Timothy Lee Walters.

Donna Brady Jancura N’62 on the death of her sister, Brenda Brady N’60.

Donna Marie Miller Ranker ’62 and Michelle Miller McDonald ’68 on the death of their brother, Keith Miller.

Noreen Mangan Formica ’63 on the death of her brother-in-law and Nan Mangan Balas ’65 on the death of her husband, Stephen Balas.

Saint Joseph Academy UPDATE

Bernadette Timm Takacs N’66 on the death of her brother, Matthew Timm.

Mary Lou Surdy Krupa N’67 on the death of her husband, James Krupa.

Maureen Baddour Moses ’67, Patrice Baddour Lorence ’69, Mary Baddour ’72, Teresa Baddour Hooper ’80 and Karen Baddour Ogrinc ’88 on the death of their brother, Robert Baddour.

Elizabeth Peto Schaaf ’67 on the death of her brother, Ernest Peto.

Anna Marie Rini Donley N’68 on the death of her son, Derek Donley.

Linda Freiberger Fox N’68 and Jeanne Freiberger Mickas N’70 on the death of their father, Robert Freiberger.

Judith Hughes Collins ’68 and Ruth Hughes Speer ’71 on the death of their sister, Nancy Hughes Wagner ’73.

Marjorie Miketo Caughey N’72, Patricia Miketo N’74, Karen Miketo Gaski N’76, Laura Miketo Mitchell N’78, Marita Miketo Pompeani N’79 and Marielle Miketo Morgano ’84 on the death of their mother, Margaret Miketo.

Karen Stevenson Mullen N’72 and Nancy Stevenson Ridgeway N’75 on the death of their father, David Stevenson.

Peggy Stalder Schuster N’72 on the death of her mother, Anna Stalder.

Peggy Fitzgerald Kroon Van Diest ’72, Mary Jo Fitzgerald Woodruff ’80 and Anne Fitzgerald Carey ’83 on the death of their sister, Loretta Marie Fitzgerald ’71.

Eternal rest grant unto them O, Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace.

Joan Smyke McCafferty N’73 on the death of her husband, Terry McCafferty.

Tina Rorak N’73 on the death of her father, Eugene Rorak.

Joann Hendricks Balchak N’74 on the death of her mother-in-law, Rosemary Balchak.

Beth Anne Conroy N’74, Christine Conroy N’76 and Kathryn Conroy Turner N’79 on the death of their mother, Mae Marie Conroy.

Sue Palof Irwin N’74 on the death of her sister, Shirley Palof Warren N’76.

Mary Beth Fisher Kirk ’75, Judith Fisher Klein ’78, Katie Fisher Boie ’81, Laurie Fisher Humphrey ’82, Jenny Fisher Coyle ’83 on the death of their mother, Evie Fisher.

Cathleen Geiss Schneider ’75, Christine Geiss Keuchel ’80 and Mary Geiss Makela ’86 on the death of their sister, Cheryl Geiss Diamond.

Christine Pelley Conroy N’76 on the death of her mother, Rose Pelley.

Mary Cummins Ivancic N’76 on the death of her mother, Geraldine Cummins.

Mary Gallagher Conroy ’77 on the death of her mother, Joan Kelley Gallagher ’49.

Diane Dever ’77 on the death of her mother, Irene Dever.

Mary Sharon Ballenger Kachler N’77 on the death of her son, David Joseph Kachler.

Cathryn Sosinski Powers N’77 on the death of her father, Carl Sosinski.

Lisa Reitz-Williamson ’77, Laura Reitz ’79 and Barbara Reitz ’84 on the death of their mother, Bernadette Reitz and the death of their brother, Thomas Reitz.

Elizabeth Apolonio N’78 on the death of her mother, Gloria Apolonio.

Tamara Cables Bevelacqua ’78, Deborah Cables Hemphill ’78 and Cynthia Cables Wise N’79 on the death of their father, Thomas Cables.

Maureen Toolis Bonham ’78 on the death of her mother, Arlene Toolis.

Deborah Cables Hemphill ’78 on the death of her husband, Lloyd Hemphill Jr. Ann Darcy Martinez ’78 and Megan Darcy Walsh ’84 on the death of their father, James Darcy.

Michelle Moran Slack ’78 on the death of her brother, Edward Moran.

Joyce Wish-Lochner ’78 and Lisa Wish Carpenter ’82 on the death of their sister, and Amanda Bostwick Okin ’97 on the death of her mother, Barbara Wish Bostwick.

Peggy Clancy Gregory ’79, Rose Marie Clancy Ritchie ’80 and Brenda Smith Clancy Basalla ’80 on the death of their mother, Betty Clancy.

Gretchen Haas Hammer ’79 and Michele Haas Ljubi ’80 on the death of their mother, Genevieve Haas.

Mary Isabella McCarthy ’79 and Andrea Isabella Schmidt ’84 on the death of their father, Joseph Isabella.

Renee Zarzour N’79 on the death of her brother, Joseph Zarzour.

Beth Ann Henzey Bott N’80 on the death of her mother, Winifred Henzey.

Kathleen Mack Haagensen ’80 on the death of her brother, Daniel Mack.

Julianne Novak Ricker N’80 on the death of her sister, Laurie Novak Baratko N’76.

Carolyn Kreal Schade N’80 on the death of her father, Richard Kreal.

Susan Durkin, OSU ’81 on the death of her mother, Barbara McEntee Durkin ’53.

Cherie Cifranik Ford ’81, Connie Cifrank Palumbo ’85 and Colleen Cifranik Koleno ’91 on the death of their father, Jerry Cifranik.

Richelle Glista Grabski ’82 on the death of her father, Richard Glista.

Karin Kearney Wood ’82 and Colleen Kearney Sill ’83 on the death of their father, John Kearney.

Angela Ament Bowman ’87 on the death of her mother, Elizabeth Ament and the death of her father, Anthony Ament.

Please remember in your prayers the following deceased alumnae:

Marie Roth Houghtling ’87 and Kathryn Roth Smith ’92 on the death of their father, Paul Roth.

Mary Fischer Campbell ’38 Margaret Mary Field Rabatsky T’43 Rosemary Nice Murphy ’44 Mary Gilmore Farrell ’45 Jean Finegan McGarry ’45 Lucy Brannigan Hoban ’46 Patricia Campbell Hanton T’48 Margaret Mary Patton ’48 Joan Kelley Gallagher ’49 Josephine Snell Shirk ’49 Kathleen Walsh Kirchner ’52 Barbara McEntee Durkin ’53 Mary Lou Malloy O’Malley ’53 Annelieze Potting Sabo ’53 Marie Zilko Sterbenz ’53 Marilyn Knuff Calto ’54 Marie Henke Roth ’54 Patricia Masterson Spisak ’54 Patricia Riddle Beekman ’55 Patricia J. Donnelly ’55 Margaret Casserly Stanton ’55 Donna Reidy Carlin ’57 Marilyn Graven Stewart ’57 Maurita Prendergast ’58 Patricia Mulcahy Boehmer ’59 Margaret Walsh Daniels ’59 Maryellen Doyle Decker ’59 Karen Lyons, CSJ ’59 Irene Sabol ’59 Brenda Brady N’60 Patricia Nylen Roff N’60 Barbara Rossino Miano N’62 Grace O’Donnell ’63 Kathleen Maysey Babic ’64 Larraine Williams McLaughlin ’64 Elaine Vick Russell N’64 Patricia Masterson Rudolph N’65 Chris Danko Hand ’66 Linda Roetzer Wiencek N’66 Linda Luber Milewski N’67 Loretta Marie Fitzgerald ’71 Barbara Kontra Smigel N’73 Nancy Hughes Wagner ’73 Karen Osinski Gardner Lick N’74 AnnMarie Rodgers ’74 Laurie Novak Baratko N’76 Shirley Palof Warren N’76 Sharon Berdis Genco N’80 Myrna McCafferty ’80 Janine Alspach ’81 Patricia Ann Lego Kimble ’82 Melissa Wagner Ripley ’96

Julie Lima Stolar ’88 on the death of her father, Frederick Lima.

Laura Varga Rhode ’89 on the death of her mother Loretta Varga.

Kathryn Pluto Crestani ’90, on the death of her father, Peter Pluto.

Valerie Orenich Hazlett ’91 on the death of her step mother, Joyce Orenich.

Rachel Kolecky ’92 on the death of her brother, Donald Kolecky Jr. Claudia Smyczek Raleigh ’96 on the death of her mother, Karen Smyczek.

Cortney Hlynosky Angala ’99 on the death of her husband, Erwin Angala.

Pamela Buccier McCormick ’99 and Karen Buccier Watson ’99 on the death of their mother, Diane Buccier.

Stephanie Wagner ’99 on the death of her sister, Melissa Wagner Ripley ’96.

Sara Mayer Wanous ’00 and Nicole Mayer Cadiou ’03 on the death of their mother, Suzanne Mayer.

Jacqueline Kurtz Erwin ’03 on the death of her father, James Kurtz.

Melissa Ferguson Mandula ’04 on the death of her mother-in-law, Debra Mandula.

Bailey Williams ’12 on the death of her mother, Sheila McNea.

Anne Callahan ’83 on the death of her father, Thomas Callahan.

Hallie ’15, Sidney ’16, Sammie ’18 and Jamie Rihvalsky ’20 on the death of their mother, Donna Rihvalsky.

Reneee Messina Capuiso ’83 on the death of her father, Joseph Messina.

Rachel Strick ’17 on the death of her father, Benjamin Strick.

Michelle Alspach Conley ’83 on the death of her sister, Janine Alspach ’81.

LOSSES FROM THE ADULT COMMUNITY:

Bridget Macalla ’83 on the death of her mother, Ethna Haag.

Kathy Flinn, Vice President of Enrollment & Marketing, on the death of her sister-in-law, Deb O’Brien.

Norina Cukon-Lyons ’84 on the death of her father, Ivan Cukon.

Eileen Dolan Ginley ’85 on the death of her father-in-law, Joseph Ginley.

Dawn Danko Keaton ’85 on the death of her husband, Patrick Keaton.

Katherine Kicielinski ’86 on the death of her mother, Valeria Kicielinski.

Melissa Murphy, Development Director, on the death of her grandfather, James Kocurko.

Maryann Marek, School Counselor and Department Chair, on the death of her mother, Mary Marek.

Peter Pluto, long term substitute teacher at Saint Joseph Academy.

Saint Joseph Academy SPRING 2022

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ClassNotes Alumnae

1970s

rescued or want to, through education, care tips and referrals.

Clare Cavoli Lopez ’72 was named a senior advisory board member at the Near East Center for Strategic Engagement. As Founder/President of Lopez Liberty, LLC and former CIA Operations Officer, Clare has been called upon to share her expertise during several media appearances.

Emily Caja ’13 married Storm Haueter on December 3, 2021 in Columbus, OH. Members of her wedding party included Marykate Caja Blankenship ’13 and Annie Webster Akomeah ’13.

Caroline Mills ’14 Graduated from Case Western Reserve University School of Law and passed the Ohio Bar Exam and is now practicing at Baker Hosteller.

1990s

Becky Eagleeye ’96 is a Doctor of Physical Therapy and has been practicing for almost 20 years. She recently opened a new private practice, Mouth Matters Therapy, LLC, in Westlake, which specializes in treatments focused on mouth and airway development and function.

Dr. Mary Kovach ’96 was recently awarded the National President’s Meritorious Service Award from the National President of the Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America® (OSDIA). This award is the highest honor the National President can bestow upon a person who has demonstrated excellence on behalf of advancing the interests of the Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America.

2000s

The office of Westlake Mayor Dennis Clough declared July 31 “Eileen Dorsey Day.” Eileen Dorsey ’01 was the featured artist at the Westlake-Bay Village Rotary Arts Festival.

Her Saint Joseph Academy family and friends were on hand to see her recognized.

Lisa Abraham Hoekenga ’00, Department Manager - Rail and Transit (Cleveland, OH) for Michael Baker International was recently recognized as a member of the 2022 Class of ENR Midwest Top Young Professionals.

The criteria for induction included exemplary leadership qualities, a progressive career path and community involvement.

Elly Maranos ’00 has incorporated her lifelong animal rescue work into her own private, non-profit company called Elly’s Animal Rescue, which provides valuable resources for every kind of animal in need. In addition to caring for and conducting animal rescues herself, she helps people, who have 20

Saint Joseph Academy UPDATE

included Sarah Billittier ’11, Alison Tawney ’13 and Jess Zdanowicz ’13.

Melissa Waltos ’14, daughter of Theresa Waltos-Hawranko ’85 married Nick Coffey on November 27, 2021 at Knotting Hills in Pevely, MO. Her sister Amanda Waltos Hieger ’10 was in the wedding party.

Eileen Dorsey ’01

Allison Jarus ’05 was instrumental in passing the Accelerating Access to Critical Therapies for ALS Act (ACT for ALS) a bill in U.S. Congress, which gives funding to promising treatments, clinical trials and a cure. While on the House floor, U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05) acknowledged Allison’s tenacity that helped get the legislation passed Sarah Hunley ’07 married Saint Joseph Academy Math teacher Chris Kenny on October 9, 2021 at St. Leo the Great Church, followed by a reception at Brennan’s Party Center.

Brooke Hamilton ’09, an associate at Burn’s White (Cleveland) has been named to the 2022 Ohio Super Lawyers Rising Star list.

The distinction is bestowed to attorneys who exhibit excellence in practice. Brooke’s area of specialty includes mass torts, toxic torts and transportation litigation.

2010s

Katherine Laubert Sabol ’10 married Matt Sabol on December 31, 2021 at Saint Mary’s Church in Berea, OH. Meghan Laubert ’21 was Maid of Honor, Stephanie Farner Snyder ’12 was Matron of Honor.

Samantha Billittier ’13 married Corey Bowers on September 25, 2021 in Columbia Station, OH. Members of the wedding party

After working as the youngest Assignment Editor at NBC Chicago, Molly Walsh ’15, daughter of Ann Posendek Walsh N’80, has come back home as the Community Reporter with the Akron Beacon Journal and USA Today. She comments that “After three years in Chicago covering local news, including the pandemic, civil unrest, capitol insurrection and other things, I truly saw how impactful local news is, and I wanted to come home and try and make a difference in the communities closer to my own backyard.”

2020s

Gracyn Sage ’20 was accepted as a presenter at the Peace and Justice Association Conference at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee. The focus of her presentation was the role and impact of nurses in addressing health inequities, especially during and after the pandemic. She is a sophomore at the University of Mount Union, pursing a nursing major with a minor in peacebuilding and social justice.

The University of Mount Union freshman outside hitter Heaven Bartell ’21 was named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association Division III All-American team. She was an Ohio Athletic Conference first-team selection and was also named to the AVCA Region 7 All-Region team. In 28 matches and 99 sets, she averaged 3.53 digs per set, 3.16 kills per set, .45 blocks per set and .24 service aces per set. Bartell finished first on the team with 313 kills and .277-hitting percentage.

CubClub Meghan Roach Kapp ’01 and Scott Kapp a daughter, Tenleigh Eliana, born August 20, 2021

Leah Cwynar Newman ’10 and Joseph Newman a daughter, Nicolette, born May 5, 2021

Ashley Thomas-Sosic ’02 and Jeff Sosic a son, Rocco Ashton, born November 28, 2021

Maegan Osborne Webb ’11 and Les Webb a daughter, Avery Lauren, born July 30, 2021

Allison Jarus ’05 and Rory McGlynn a daughter Saoirse, born September 2021

Brittany Hennings Lee ’13 and Garrett Lee a daughter, Cecelia Jolene, born February 20, 2022

Erin Barrett ’06 and Alex Soldo a daughter, Maeve Barrett Soldo, born December 21, 2021

Monica Popi ’13 and Jonathan Vega a daughter Tatiana Angelina Vega, born February 5, 2021

Maisie Regotti Mitchell ’07 and George Mitchell a daughter, Adeline, born September 15, 2021

Jessica Calton Neuhart ’15 and Brady Neuhart a daughter, Lucille Rose, born July 4, 2021

Kayte Tuleta Gorski ’10 and Chris Gorski, a daughter, Grace, born October 7, 2020

Sum m

Our summer programs empower girls in grades 3-9 to enhance their skills or explore new ones. Whether their interests are sports, yoga, art, inventing, STEAM or health sciences, campers will have fun learning alongside our students in an all-girls environment.

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Register soon as spaces are filling up quickly!

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Visit sja1890.org/summer

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Ac a d e m y!

Questions? Email Summer Program Coordinator Mrs. Colleen DeVenney ‘94, at summer@sja1890.org or call 216.251.6788 x228

#SummeratSja Saint Joseph Academy SPRING 2022

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Saint Joseph Academy 3470 Rocky River Drive Cleveland, Ohio 44111 www.sja1890.org Dated Material

PARENTS OF ALUMNAE: If this publication is addressed to your daughter who no longer maintains a permanent address at your home, please notify the Alumnae Office at 216.251.6788 x221 or email alumnae@sja1890.org.

In an effort to be good stewards of both the environment and your generous contributions, we are now sending only one magazine per household.

LOOKINGAHEAD A Summer of Fun Awaits: June 13-July 29 We have many adventures for girls entering grades 3-9 who are looking to have fun this summer! From enrichment activities to athletics to the arts and everything in between, our summer programs have it all - whether girls are looking to enhance their skills or learn new ones. Learn more and register at www.sja1890.org/summer.

28th Golf Classic: Monday, August 1, 2022 Join us for our annual golf outing at Sweetbriar Golf Club in Avon Lake on Monday, August 1. Enjoy the game you love while helping Saint Joseph Academy students. This event includes 18-holes on the Legacy Course, lunch and raffle prizes. Shotgun start at 9 a.m. Contact Alumnae Coordinator Tammi Olle P’12 & ’23 at tolle@sja1890.org for registration and sponsorship information.

Legacy Mass and Brunch: Sunday, September 25, 2022 Each year, we welcome legacy-connected students whose mothers, grandmothers, great grandmothers, aunts and great aunts walked our beautiful campus before them to an annual event in celebration of Saint Joseph Academy family ties. If you have a daughter, granddaughter or niece who is part of the Class of 2026, 2025, 2024 or 2023 please save the date for our Legacy Mass and Brunch on Sunday, September 25.

Grand Reunion: Saturday, October 8 and Sunday, October 9, 2022 Saint Joseph Academy alumnae who graduated in years ending in ’2 and ’7 are invited to their reunion celebration on campus.

Details will be sent via email and postal mail. Please be sure we have your current email and mailing address. You can update your information at www.sja1890.org/alumnaeinformation or by calling 216.251.6788 x245.

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@sja1890

@sja1890

/school/sja1890 /SaintJosephAcademyYT