PATHWAYS
A Publication for the Alumnae, Parents and Friends of St. Catharine Academy
On the Front Lines
M
embers of the SCA community have been on the front lines throughout the coronavirus pandemic. We have been holding all of them in prayer and are grateful for all they do. Meet two of the many first responders below.
Carmelina Parlo Kipervaser ‘10 Carmelina Parlo Kipervaser ‘10, a nurse at the Montefiore Medical Center (MMC) Moses campus in the Bronx, has been working with COVID-19 patients since the beginning. “We took on most cases of COVID-19 in the Bronx,” Carmelina says. “There is no other word to describe it except for scary…. No one knew anything about how this virus was spreading so rapidly. We went to work not knowing what the day would bring, but were determined to save lives and help others.” She says she handled the fear by reminding herself every day “this is why I decided to go into this field in the first place. I always knew I wanted to help others and be a part of their journey to recovery.” Reflecting on the many patients she has seen, Carmelina told the story of a woman who had been in ICU for a month and then was transferred to Carmelina’s floor. The patient was taken off the ventilator and then was given the opportunity to try to speak. “I was in the room the first time they placed the speaking valve over her trach. She reached for her phone and everyone in the room looked around confused. A man answered the phone and the first words she spoke were ‘I love you’ to her son on the other line,” Carmelina says. “A couple of weeks later, Montefiore was one of the hospitals the governor allowed to start having visitors. I saw a mother and her son reunited after three months apart.” When asked how SCA helped her through these months, Carmelina says, “I believe that my experiences at SCA guide me in my profession daily for the values I hold dear to my heart— the mission and values of the Sisters of Mercy: spirituality, community, service, and social justice.”
Fall 2020
Samantha Juncaj ‘17 Samantha Juncaj ‘17 was working as a nurse extern at NYU Langone Health on the cardiac care unit when the pandemic began. “The pandemic was one of the scariest things I’ve experienced so far as a student nurse and probably in my life,” she says. “I remember the first day that the unit was being transformed into a ‘COVID designated ICU.’ It was frightening to think that the next time I reported to work, I would be in the very midst of the pandemic. Each morning since that day in March up until June, I experienced anxiety and fear that I would get infected and bring it home to my family. I constantly would think about all the people I witnessed struggling to breathe and fighting off the ventilators. I especially had a difficult time coping with knowing that there were students in high school on the unit struggling for a life that has not yet been lived.” Samantha says she is grateful for a nurse she met while working in the ICU. The nurse asked how Samantha was doing and Samantha gave an honest answer about waking up just the morning before and crying out of anxiety. The nurse told her that she was experiencing many of the same feelings--uncertainty, worry, fear, and anxiety. “In the patient’s room, we shared an intimate moment where a registered nurse and student nurse both expressed their deepest anxieties,” Samantha reflects. “I thanked that nurse for talking to me that day because she helped me realize that all healthcare workers were experiencing the same emotions and that anxiety is a totally normal thing to feel during this time.” When thinking back to her time at St. Catharine’s, Samantha says, “The happiest moments of my life were experienced at SCA. I remember leaving SCA feeling empowered, confident, and ready to take on the world in front of me. As I progressed through nursing school, the strength and confidence I had as a senior in high school was not present. However, this experience has made me stronger and I think back to how I felt as a senior in high school often. It makes me happy to know that I still have the same strength, confidence, diligence, and devotion that I left SCA with.” She concludes, “Today as a student nurse and in a year’s time as a registered nurse, I will always hold the values I learned at SCA of compassion, service, and gratitude. I thank SCA for helping me grow and become the woman I never imagined myself to be.”v
MESSAGE from SSCCAA the PRESIDENT
I am a candle Sr. Patricia Wolf, RSM ‘62
T
hus, begins a poem by Valencia of Haiti, as published in the e-newsletter of Mercy Beyond Borders, an international nonprofit founded by Sister of Mercy, Marilyn Lacey, RSM, dedicated to forging ways for women and girls in extreme poverty to learn, connect and lead. “I dream to light the world I know I can do it I am a candle”
In this edition of Pathways, you will meet gifted, generous Catharinites who by their passion, dedication, creativity and commitment are light to the world. We begin with the Pandemic. Over the particularly intense months of March to June, many in the SCA community were in the fray on the front lines in multiple occupations. Our immense gratitude extends to all. On Page 1, we highlight two alumnae nurses, Carmelina Parlo Kipervaser ‘10 and Samantha Juncaj ‘17, who invite us into their moving personal stories of facing down fear to do their jobs in COVID-designated units, and what helped them get through. For both, they found themselves leaning into their SCA experience. As intense as the spring months were, the racial unrest over the summer in the aftermath of the murder of George Floyd had a defining impact on St. Catharine Academy. SCA, a very diverse school, was forced to grapple with the issues of racism, diversity, and inclusion at a whole new level. Some student comments on social media brought into focus their experiences of racial and cultural insensitivities and bias within SCA. To get to the heart of the matter we invited those students to meet with a small group of faculty
and administration. At the conclusion of two extended conversations facilitated by SCA alumna, Olga Segura ‘07, we agreed to a path forward: to establish the Council for Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accountability (IDEA), (p.5). Our work has only just begun. I admire our young women who had the courage to take this step, to shed light on a festering issue, and to express to those in authority the kind of behaviors that cause them pain, and their hopes for the future. To paraphrase Valencia, “They dream to light the world. They know they can do it.” There is a lot more to read in this Pathways edition. At SCA we make a promise to prepare young women for college success, leadership and engagement in the world community. From the article describing our students unique summer activities (p.3) to introducing four new faculty members who will help our students achieve their highest aspirations (p.4), I hope that you see the promise fulfilled. Finally, each issue of Pathways features profiles of alumnae. This edition features six! You have already met Carmelina and Samantha. We also feature sisters Karla Chiluiza ‘99, Kathya Chiluiza ‘01, Amanda Guzman ‘07 and Lauren Paylor ‘10, who each in her own way and through her professional career, is a source of light, hope and inspiration. We are in unprecedented times. In its midst we are called to inspire hope. Valencia gets the last word: “We are candles We can change the world We will change the world We are candles We are all candles”
St. Catharine Academy 2250 Williamsbridge Road, Bronx, NY 10469-4891• Phone: 718-882-2882 • Fax: 718-231-9099 • www.scahs.org Sr. Patricia Wolf, RSM ‘62 President
Sr. Ann M. Welch, RSM Principal
Jessica Ruiz
Director, Alumnae & Family Relations
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Cathy Colletti
Database Manager
Patrice Athanasidy
Marketing Consultant
Contributing Writers: Patrice Athanasidy Jessica Ruiz Sr. Patricia Wolf, RSM ‘62
Photography: Lors Photography Design and Layout: Nanako Inoue
Please remember St. Catharine Academy in your will. Our legal title is
St. Catharine Academy 2250 Williamsbridge Road Bronx, New York 10469
AROUND SSCCAA
Summer 2020: SCA students seized the season by immersing themselves in unique opportunities by Patrice E. Athanasidy Many students take advantage of unique opportunities during the summer. This year, they did not let a pandemic stop them. Learn more about two of our seniors and how they made the most of their summer.
Angelina P. ‘21
Samantha H. ‘21
Angelina P. ‘21 participated in the Einstein Enrichment Program with the Albert Einstein College of Medicine virtually. She says, “I was exposed to different topics in the medical field such as clinical diseases, dermatology, epidemiological studies, and social issues related to public health. I attended sessions with guest speakers from Montefiore and lectures about scientific research skills. At the end of the semester, I worked in a group to create a presentation about the CDC and its responses to past pandemics and COVID-19.”
Samantha H. ‘21 participated in a community-based organization named “Teens Take Charge.” She explains, “The main objective of this organization was to make sure not only New York City but America hears the issues the youth faces, whether it be about racism, lack of opportunities, gender bias, race bias, or lack of assistance in terms of gang violence. My favorite experience with this organization was when we planned a march in support for Black Lives Matter (BLM). We called other non-profit organizations that were willing to donate medical assistance, food and beverages, and safety officers.”
“She encouraged me to take on new
challenges, both academically and in the lab, and helped me expand my knowledge of what it means to be a female engineer in a male-dominated field. ”
Angelina was one of only two candidates selected to work with rising 7th and 8th graders as a mentor. “I was able to pass on my knowledge of science, help facilitate experiments/discussions, and provide insight and guidance to them as they begin applying to high school,” she says. President of SCA’s Women’s Empowerment Initiative Club, Angelina credits Mrs. Petrignani as being an excellent example of how to mentor. “She encouraged me to take on new challenges, both academically and in the lab, and helped me expand my knowledge of what it means to be a female engineer in a male-dominated field. Without her support, I wouldn’t have come to develop a passion for engineering and pursue this career path.”
Samantha, who is vice president of the National Honor Society among her many other SCA activities, says her favorite was on the Fourth of July. “We walked for hours from Madison Square Park, across the Brooklyn Bridge (stopping traffic), all the way to Dumbo Park. After this day, we talked to politicians and demanded our needs to be met.”
The Multi Year Reunion honoring Saturday, April 17, 2021 the classes ending in “0” & “5”
Sunday, April 18, 2021
the classes ending in “1” & “6”
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SCA reopens for in school instruction
D
uring the summer, SCA worked to ensure the safety of all by creating a Reopening Plan with a team of medical professionals, faculty & staff. On September 11th, we opened our doors to our faculty, staff and students. Students had the option to learn in school five days a week or work remotely from home. As of today, nearly half of our students chose in school instruction while the others are learning remotely from home.
The gym social distanced
Staying six feet apart
SCA welcomes four new faculty members to our family! Mr. Fitzgerald, English Teacher
Mr. Gray, STEM teacher
What are you looking forward to most in this upcoming school year?
What are you looking forward to most in this upcoming school year? “I am looking forward to my first year of teaching and getting to know the students.”
“I am looking forward to getting to know the students and, hopefully, teaching fully in-person again.” What innovative tools are you going to be using this semester? “I will be using Google Classroom for all of my class assignments. Students will not be submitting anything as a hard copy.” What do you want your students to know about you? “I’m left-handed and like to write”.
What innovative tools are you going to be using this semester? “I will be using Kahoot. It will help the students to remain engaged.” What do you want your students to know about you? “I would like for my students to learn about different ideas and concepts that are available in the courses that I am teaching.”
Ms. Vallejo, Language & Psychology Teacher
Mr. Marine, Social Studies & Theology Teacher
What are you looking forward to most in this upcoming school year?
What are you looking forward to most in this upcoming school year? “I am looking to settle in and have a smooth transition with the least possible glitches. I am also looking to be the most productive I can possibly be and have my students be successful and productive.”
“I am most looking forward to getting to know my students and them getting to know me. There are so many things I want to cover and teach them. I can’t wait to do that!” What innovative tools are you going to be using this semester? “I hope to bring into the classroom setting music and media to both my Spanish and Psychology courses.” What do you want your students to know about you? “I’d like my students to know that “I get it”. I understand where they’re coming from and their surroundings. My goal is to teach them in a manner that they understand and can look forward to learning.”
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What innovative tools are you going to be using this semester? “I am going to use my previous textbook as a supplement to teach students how to do a DBQ essay.” What do you want your students to know about you? “I want my students to know that I am serious and them to be the best they can possibly be and give it their all.”
W
Council for Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accountability (IDEA) created
e’ve been listening to our community over the last few months on the racial injustices experienced not only around the world but within our own community. While it is always our intention to celebrate the diversity of our school in the best way, we understand that there is always room for improvement. Because of the voices that have spoken up, St. Catharine Academy has created The Council for Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accountability or The IDEA Council for short. The IDEA Council is comprised of five students and five faculty, staff and administration members who want to explore and create a new structure for our school to engage issues of race, diversity, and inclusion in a deeper and more meaningful way. With the help of alumna, Olga Segura ‘07, who is a freelance writer and author of The Black Lives Matter Movement and the Catholic Church, which is slated for a release date of February 2021, The IDEA Council will focus on communicating with our community, educating our community, and holding ourselves accountable. The Council looks forward to working with our school community to move towards a move inclusive environment.
Members of the IDEA Council, expressed what they would like to achieve or accomplish by being a part of the council. Naomi W. ‘23: “By being a part of the IDEA Council, I hope that we are able to provide safe spaces for conversations about inclusion in our community. Hopefully, through our initiative, we can begin to solve the problems of diversity and equality in our world.” Anh H. ‘23: “I want to be able to achieve a place where people are educated on the insensitive topics that can fly over their heads. I want to be able to make POC feel safe, welcomed, and heard in a space that can be scary. I want to speak up for people who are too nervous to oppose people who harm and hurt them and their pride in being different.” Samin S. ‘21: “By being a part of the IDEA Council, I hope to understand the differences in our community and work towards welcoming all members of our school community. To make our school a better place for all of us and celebrate our individualities no matter our race, cultural backgrounds, or religions!”
Jolene V. ‘21: “Through the IDEA Council, I hope to create a comfortable and inclusive school community between all students and faculty that lasts well after I graduate.” Ms. Dana Teehan ‘89: My hope for the IDEA Council is to take SCA values - compassion and service; concern for women and women’s issues; world vision and responsibility; spiritual growth and collaboration and give students and faculty a safe place to discuss and work on racial justice. We want everyone to feel heard and bring any issue that may be affecting them. Ms. Nicole Sallustio ‘00: “As part of the IDEA Council, I hope to achieve a better understanding of every culture that represents each one of our students. I want our students to leave SCA feeling that they were welcomed, loved, and most of all part of the Catharinte family not only during their 4 years but for the future. As an alum, it is my pleasure and honor to get to work with such amazing young women each day. I am looking forward to helping them continue to live a life of Mercy and enhance our understanding of the world around us. ”
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SCA ALU MSN AAA E NEWS SCC
St. Catharine’s celebrated Latinx Heritage in fall 2020 by highlighting some members of the SCA community. By Patrice E. Athanasidy Karla L. Chiluiza ‘99, principal at the Global Learning Collaborative in New York City, and Kathya Chiluiza ‘01, a senior logistics engineer at General Mills, speak about the strong Ecuadorian women in their family who set the groundwork for coming to St. Catharine’s and building careers in education and engineering respectively. “I was surrounded by strong women who served as role models. My mom, abuelita and tia were a tight unit. From them, I learned resilience and a strong work ethic. I also learned to be bold and to pursue my dreams. Lastly and importantly, my Catholic faith has been my anchor during challenging times,” Karla says. Kathya agrees. “While we didn’t learn English at home, we learned important values from our parents and family. Our culture is one that values hard work, commitment, and support for each other. These values helped guide and encourage me to succeed — to push forward during difficult times and keep an open and kind heart for others.”
Kathya Chiluiza ‘01
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She points to her teachers at St. Catharine’s, especially in math and science, as continuing that path. “These female role models demonstrated to me that these topics were not insurmountable, that they could be both fun and challenging…..I began to explore paths in engineering and that led me to choose Cornell Karla Chiluiza ‘99 University.” Karla adds, “All my teachers demonstrated love and dedication. I thank them all for inspiring me to become a teacher.” Both sisters also agree that St. Catharine’s provided a wonderful four years. They point to being able to be oneself and the companionship that makes St. Catharine’s a true community. Today, Karla is principal in a school that is 95% Latinx and Black. “Unlike screened schools, my school admits students from a range of academic readiness levels. We work incredibly hard to create a nurturing and academically rigorous high school experience that positions students to succeed in top-tier colleges.” At General Mills, Kathya manages a team that drives inventory accuracy, product traceability and material flow improvements across manufacturing sites and external partners in North America. She is an active volunteer with several organizations and also partnered with a group of colleagues to start a non-profit empowering BIPOC children and allies to strive for a more inclusive world through a diversity in literature.
SCA ALU MSNA E NEWS SCCAA Latinx Heritage continued Amanda Guzman ‘07, Ann Plato Postdoctoral Fellow in Anthropology and American Studies at Trinity College, Ct., is currently teaching at the undergraduate level and working on several independent writing projects related to her academic research. She considers St. Catharine’s a time of personal growth, “sometimes awkward and sometimes challenging.” Amanda says. “What I most remember from SCA though was the support that I felt at different levels from the close group of friends who I would debate Harry Potter with over hushed conversations in the library to the teachers who gave me encouragement, both publicly and privately, on my writing.” After graduating from St. Catharine’s, Amanda earned her bachelor’s degree at Harvard University. She went on to study for both her master’s and doctorate at the University of California, Berkeley, where she was honored with a number of fellowships and grants. Amanda has also established herself as a writer in a number of professional journals. She says she appreciates her teachers at St. Catharine’s even more today, now that she has her own students. “There is so much ‘behind the scenes’ labor in teaching,” she says. ”Their support has never wavered over the
years since graduation. It has been gratifying to see our relationships shift towards friendships and our conversations gravitate to shared experiences when I have come back to visit or swap life updates over email.”
Amanda Guzman ‘07
When asked to reflect on her Latinx Heritage, Amanda says, “To me, heritage is synonymous with family and community. It comprises such a central, grounding part of who I am today and how I was raised from tangible memories and photos of family past and present to the intangible values, “refranes” (sayings) and traditions that have been passed across the generations.” Calling her research of Puerto Rico especially powerful, Amanda says she appreciates contributing “to scholarship that celebrates, not denigrates, the diverse contributions of the Latinx community, which are as diverse as the many groups that make up the wider community itself - stateside and beyond. Community supports each other across different experiences - recognizing the privileged and defending the vulnerable.”
CL ASS N O T E S IN MEMORIAM
1987 Evdokia Tsolomytis-Kalousis
writes, “Happily started my new teaching position in Kindergarten at St. Frances deChantal School in the Bronx.”
1993 Dr. Elys VasquezIscan pictured with her husband, recently received tenure and promotion to the rank of Associate Professor at the City University of New York (CUNY) where she teaches and conducts research in public health.
2017 Rosanna Espinal writes, “I
passed the State Troopers Exam and I am in the process of graduating from
the academy. In 2019, I graduated from Westchester Community College and received my A.A.S. in radiologic technology.”
2019 Angelique Vega writes, “I rushed and pledged Theta Tau, the professional engineering fraternity, my first semester of my freshman year at Hofstra University. As a first semester sophomore, I am currently a part of E-board as corresponding secretary and also hold the positions of chair and rush committee. Angelique is fourth from the left.
Charmein Guevarra-Francis ‘79 July 22, 2020 Sister of Chenenne Guevarra-Francis ‘82
Ann Spadafino Reda ‘59 August 4, 2020 Georgianne Manna Magnanti ‘64 September 10, 2020 Dolores Della Volpe Otero ‘61 September 26, 2020 Sister of Lorraine Della Volpe Franek ‘62
Catherine Smyth O’Meara ‘64 October 3, 2020 Sister of Eileen Smyth Sussman ‘59
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St. Catharine Academy 2250 Williamsbridge Road, Bronx, NY 10469-4891
www.scahs.org www.facebook.com/St-Catharine-Academy-SchoolPage-167813689914786/
Address Service Requested
December 11th 6:30PM EST Register at SCAHS.ORG/ CHRISTMASCOCKTAILS/ Suggested Donation: $10 Fund for Catharinites
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