The Ursuline School Alumnae News - Spring 2020

The Ursuline School ALUMNAE NEWS Spring 2020

The Gamification of Education HOW GAME MECHANICS POWER

UP LEARNING

TABLE OF CONTENTS

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15

COVER STORY

AT URSULINE

05 The Gamification of Education

15 Ursuline Remembers September 11th

CAMPAIGN REPORT 17 Evening of Innovation Honorees

Our Progress

Leavey Alumnae Challenge Grant

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URSULINE DISTINCTIONS 41 Papal Audience

24 Serviam in Action, Thanksgiving

Master Class Fellow: Mary Seiler

25 Model United Nations TUSMUNCII

Teenangels Speak Out at Digital Forums

27 Athletics

National Academic Excellence

Basketball History is Made

31 Performing Arts

33 Get to Know: Robyn Summa 37 Visiting Author: Delia Owens 39 Emily Clemente Memorial Speech and Debate Tournament

The Gamification of Education

Pictured on cover: Jackie Geller’s Advanced Placement Government and Politics class playing the simulation “You’re Hired” Cover photo: Chris Pope

The Ursuline School ALUMNAE NEWS Spring 2020

Board of Trustees 2019-2020 Chair

Ann Gillin Lefever ’82

Vice Chair

Sheila Sohr P’12

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37

President Eileen Davidson H’12 P’90 GP’19

Board Members

ALUMNAE

DEPARTMENTS

40 Alumnae Distinctions

1 Message from the President

Beth Gillin Agarabi ’85

2 Message from the Principal

Tyler Washington ’19

3 Calendar

43 Alumnae at College

35 Slices of Koala Life

45 Alumnae Visit Ursuline

49 Class of 2015, College Graduates

47 Alumnae Gatherings

53 Class Notes

Steve Abbattista P’17 P’17 Tiffani Blake Sr. Martha Counihan, OSU Janine Daughtry P’20 Lynn Boccardi DeLisio ’85 Steven Giuliano P’20 Adrienne Groccia ’11 Lisa DelPriore Hannan ’81, P’15 Liz Healy ’94 Teresa Jankovic P’10 Rev. Msgr. Dennis P. Keane Kathleen Martin Long ’79, P’21 Deirdre McCaffrey ‘89 Colleen Melnyk P’18 John Mulligan P’18 JoAnn Murphy GP’07 ‘22 Rick Nasti P’11 Joseph Nyre P’19 Shana Promuto-Kasarda ‘91

57 We Remember Them

The Alumnae News is published by the Advancement team.

58 In Memoriam

Editor

Renata Cioth Mulder

Associate Editors

Jill Boughner Maureen Corbett Nina Garcia Deirdre Gaughan Catherine Fay McCarthy ’84 Eileen Ring Letters, comments, and articles may be sent to: Renata Cioth Mulder Director of Communications mulderr@ursulinenewrochelle.org In Memoriam and Class Notes should be directed to: Nina Garcia Advancement Coordinator garcian@ursulinenewrochelle.org

The Ursuline School 1354 North Avenue New Rochelle, NY 10804-2192 www.ursulinenewrochelle.org 914.636.3950 (Main office) 914.636.5169 (Advancement)

Design/Creative Direction Meg Loughman LaBella ’83

Printing

McVicker & Higginbotham, Inc.

Photographs

Chris Pope Photography Ursuline Advancement Team Ursuline Archives

Message from the President Dear Alumnae, Look at us now! I hope this edition of the Alumnae News and the recounting of the exciting things happening at your beloved alma mater piques your interest, fills you with a renewed sense of pride and encourages you to come visit.

I love the overarching theme of this issue, The Gamification of Education, especially when it is cutting edge and a relatively new activity for girls. How fitting we are embracing this way to learn through play. As you know, we have always been mindful of preparing our students for the future and the future is here. No longer are teachers the dispensers of facts nor do they need to be.

I am sure you are very aware of the wealth of information in each of our grasps with the technology we all own. What an enormous change in culture we have experienced just within the last ten years.

So, too, has the classroom changed dramatically. Collaboration is encouraged, risk taking through problem solving becomes comfortable, failure is seen as an invaluable learning opportunity. I get excited just writing about it.

How timely that our Innovation Campaign supports the new spaces so needed for the new learning environment: An Innovation Hub, with moveable stations for students to have access to electronic tools or crafts, and floor space as the learning activity requires. Collaboration space in the Christina Jun Murphy ’22 Commons which will be used to not only allow students critical face-to-face time to develop their emotional intelligence but also to work on team projects, to plan service activities, and to enjoy time together. The High-Tech Media Conference Center where leading edge technology will enable our young women to Skype, stream, debate or present their ideas.

Come visit us and see the place that empowered you. Be confident that The Ursuline School you knew as a creative hub, in whatever decade you attended, is still the epicenter of creativity and innovation for girls.

I am very proud to be the President of Ursuline.

Peace through St. Angela.

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Message from the Principal Dear Alumnae, Amazing things are going on in our classrooms here at The Ursuline School. Not only have we transformed learning spaces to meet the needs of our 21st century curriculum, from our experimental science rooms to our new Innovation Hub; thanks to the creativity of our teachers, we also have embraced Game-Based Learning as an integral part of the pedagogy across all classes.

In this issue of the Alumnae News, you will read about new applications of Game-Based Learning in our classes that pair perfectly with our mission to educate, inspire and empower our girls to become leaders. GBL encourages active, student-centered learning rather than teacher-centered, “stand and deliver” instruction. It encourages teamwork through healthy competition and builds problem-solving skills through practice and repetition.

Teachers in two different disciplines sometimes hold joint classes because games create opportunities to master skills in two discrete areas at once. I recently attended a joint Math and Physical Education class where students had to solve computation problems as well as physical challenges to uncover clues that helped unlock breakout boxes for their team.

Teachers encouraged and supervised, but the student teams were controlling the pace and engaging their teammates.

Perhaps most importantly, the gamification of learning invites productive struggle and success through acceptance of mistakes and failure. This reinforces our commitment to developing a growth mindset, the conviction that our intellect can grow over time if we struggle, persevere, and yes, even fail– sometimes over and over. Game-Based Learning requires that students take risks, fail, and try again, to finally master the skill and find the answer. Incorporating some low-stakes challenges into learning encourages students’ belief in a growth mindset, helping them worry less about failing and focusing more on mastery over time.

Our passion for building a growth mindset can be seen everywhere at Ursuline. Banners line our hallways encouraging students, faculty, and staff to rewrite their own narratives about how they learn. Instead of feeling overwhelmed in a particular subject area, our students are recognizing, and their teachers are reinforcing, the belief that meaningful learning is a process.

We believe in the power of YET and Game-Based Learning is helping us unleash that power.

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2020

Calendar of Events MARCH 28

Evening of Innovation - 6p.m. RESCHEDULED

APRIL 2 8 - 19 23 - 24 28 - 29

Global Education & Serviam Symposium Easter Break CROWDS4TUS 24 hr Day of Giving Art Show all welcome

MAY 7 12 21 21 22 29 30

Christine MacMenamin Memorial Scholarship Reception at Wykagyl Country Club all welcome Annual Golf Outing at Leewood Golf Club all welcome Alumnae Welcome Breakfast for the Class of 2020 - 8:30 a.m.

Ascension Thursday Liturgy - 10:30 a.m. all welcome Class of 2020 Graduation Evening of Innovation - 6p.m. New Date Reunion for Alumnae in Classes ending in ’0 and ’5

JUNE 2 2 10

Annual Benefactor Breakfast Closing School Liturgy - 9:30 a.m. all welcome Eighth Grade Moving Up Ceremony

Please check for updates and details on the online School Event Calendar at www.ursulinenewrochelle.org/calendar

Please join us at the annual

URSULINE ART SHOW Tuesday, April 28, 2020 | 7pm - 8:30pm to view works by students in grades 6 -12 including individual gallery style exhibitions by advanced drawing & painting and AP art & design students in the Tully Family Auditorium - Gymnasium 3

UPCOMING EVENTS The Ursuline School

GOLF OUTING

Tuesday, May 12th, 2020 | LEEWOOD GOLF CLUB

“FORE

Our Girls!”

Sponsorship and Underwriting Opportunities To learn more: ursulinenewrochelle.org/TUSGOLF2020

100% of the proceeds go toward programs to enrich an Ursuline student’s education!

Sponsored byThe Ursuline Fathers’ Club

Reunion 2020 Saturday, May 30, 2020 Classes ending in 0 & 5

Registration Open www.ursulinenewrochelle.org/reunion2020 Contact Maureen Corbett, Director of Special Events corbettm@ursulinenewrochelle.org 4

COVER STORY

The Gamification of Education 

Collaboration & Competition Critical Thinking & Problem Solving

Jungle Tiger

k

Cross Curricula

Intrinsic Motivation

Testure Mettle

 Tools

Puzzles

Role Play

r Risk Taking



;



Graceful Adaptivity Character Learning Fail Process

A “gamer” is someone who plays interactive games, whether video games, skill-based card games, or tabletop role-playing games.

If you imagine a gamer as a nerdy teen in front of a TV, you would be surprised to know that today reports suggest 60% of Americans play video games daily. Gamers now include people of all ages, genders, professions and backgrounds who spend an average of seven hours each week playing digital games. In the non-digital realm, gaming cafes have sprung up to host growing numbers of tabletop gamers. Read on to discover how Ursuline students have embraced Game-Based Learning.

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Learning the Game

By Deirdre Gaughan Teacher, English Department, The Ursuline School

“In my view, in the 21st century we need the following – and we need them fast and all at once together: embodied empathy for complex systems; ‘grit’ (passion and persistence); playfulness that leads to innovation; design thinking; collaborations in which groups are smarter than the smartest person in the group; and real understanding that leads to problem solving and not just test passing. These are, to my mind, the true 21st Century skills. We won’t get them in schools alone and we will never get them in the schools we currently have.”

In his essay entitled “Games, Learning, and 21st Century Survival Skills,” James Paul Gee rejects the thinking that distinguishes games as fun and learning as serious. In fact, the significance of play in cognitive development and learning has long been established. The Swiss psychologist, Jean Piaget (1896-1980), described play as being integral to a child’s stages of cognitive development, famously stating that “play is the work of childhood.” In fact, “Games have been used as a learning tool for centuries. Chess was used to teach strategic thinking as far back as the Middle Ages, and the game of Kreigsspiel was invented in 1812 specifically to teach Prussian officers strategy. Beyond military strategy, the genesis of Kindergarten in the mid-1800s was Friedrich Fröbel’s ideas of learning through play” (Cahill). Game-Based Learning, which has applications across the curricula, takes on widely different forms (digital or otherwise) but shares many of the following characteristics: Active vs. Passive Learning: Students are motivated to actively demonstrate content mastery.

Adaptivity: Games engage each learner (or team) through the use of scaffolding, guidance, and feedback.

Graceful Failure: Low stakes failure “is by design an expected and sometimes even necessary step in the learning process.” (Kapur 2008).

Transfer of Learning: Games give repeated opportunities to practice skills and apply knowledge to different, but related, experiences.

Intrinsic Motivation: The dynamic nature of the challenges provided in Game-Based Learning satisfies innate psychological needs for competence, autonomy, and relatedness.

Socio-Cultural Development: The desire to return to play (stickiness), lies in anticipated social interaction.

Armed with a Growth Mindset, Ursuline students have embraced the challenge of Game-Based Learning activities.

As young women are increasingly diversifying their online engagement by learning code and participating in digital gaming, they are mastering the skills needed to navigate, and soon thrive, in our “high-risk world of interacting complex systems” (Gee). Game-based learning initiatives are just one of the ways that Ursuline is looking to the future as it continues “building on the tradition of innovation.”

“ Play is the highest form of research ” Albert Einstein

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COVER STORY

Republic

By Brittany Johnson Farrar Teacher, Classics Department, The Ursuline School

Latin students make in-game decisions as they take on the role of Roman aristocrats and vigorously play through major historic events.

For upper-level Latin students, much of their course reading centers on the writing of aristocratic Romans: men (occasionally women) who either are participants in Roman government and commerce or who have, at the very least, been educated for the purpose of participation in Roman civic life. To help students understand the mechanics of Roman government and the logistics of trade in the ancient Mediterranean, the Classics Department has crafted an interactive game that leads 2nd-year students through the foundation and expansion of the Roman Republic.

Initially, the idea for the game arose as a result of the renewed interest among students in tabletop role-playing games like Dungeons & Dragons, played notably on the 7

popular Netflix series Stranger Things. As the faculty advisor of the Model UN team, I was looking to bring into the classroom some of the intensity and research-based debate involved in crisis-based Model UN committees. Mr. Pierce Wade and I crafted Republic as a classroom activity based on Cicero’s orations against Catiline and the fall of the Roman Republic in the 1st Century BC. In the game, Republic, students are given an ancestral tribe and a societal rank, but beyond these assignments, each may craft a character of their chosen profession, lifestyle and personality. After they complete their research, students are seated in a semi-circle in the classroom. Placards on their desks identify their characters. I call out the historical

“for Republic arose

Initially, the idea

as a result of the renewed interest among students in tabletop role-playing games like Dungeons events and the students proclaim their positions, counter points, and requests for actions.

In this way their character and their immediate descendants “play” through the major events of Roman history: the Conflict of the Orders (class struggle between the senate and the common people), the construction of the Forum, the development of religious traditions in Rome, and the wars of attrition which led to the conquest of the Italian peninsula, and later brought Rome into conflict with its greatest historical enemy, Carthage.

Testing students’ mettle as politicians, military strategists, and long-term business owners, Republic generates the best results we can hope for in combining gaming and learning this curriculum. First, it increases investment in a plotline that is historically accurate, making students more likely to remember key figures and events from Roman history. Next, the custom background readings and creative work assigned to each student as part of the game engage them consistently and authentically with

the narratives of everyday Romans.

Republic also provides the opportunity to study physical objects which survive from Roman times, which drastically improves students’ experiences on museum and international trips.

Designing and implementing Republic for Latin 2 students has helped link the study of the Latin language with the study of Roman history more effectively. It also bonds students in our mixed-grade classrooms through creative problem solving and highstakes debate, all the while requiring them to write and think like Romans.

Students come away from playing Republic with a greater sense of historical empathy, as well as the longterm communication skills they need to negotiate and collaborate effectively.

”

& Dragons

Brittany Johnson Farrar

The new High Tech Media Conference Center will be a tremendous asset in moving the pace of Republic forward. Military and building simulations can come to life for students visually on the screens during class, rather than requiring them to wait between classes for updates on in-game progress.

Additionally, the seminar style seating will offer a professional setting. The Classics Department, such a valued part of Ursuline, has never had greater opportunities to bring history to life.

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COVER STORY

Breakout EDU

By Rosemary Rossi Kennedy-Clarizio ’89 Performing Arts Department Chair, The Ursuline School

Students who are risk takers tend to experience greater success as they apply their learning to solve clues or decipher puzzles and race the clock to unlock their box.

Breakout EDU is an immersive learning game that is modeled after the popular “Escape the Room” activity. The escape room is a social activity that locks a team into a room until they complete puzzles enabling them to escape.

Breakout EDU goes even a step further.

After listening to a scenario read by the teacher, gameplay requires teams of participants to solve riddles and challenges to open a series of word locks, directional locks, and number locks in order to open a locked box. Players are immersed in the experience and racing against the clock to break out before the time expires.

The game requires critical thinking, collaboration, creativity, 9

and communication in order to solve the problem at hand.

These are all skills that are essential in today’s complex world.

The game also develops character traits - perseverance and resilience - and rewards risk-taking. It is wonderfully aligned with Ursuline’s emphasis on having a Growth Mindset - the belief that abilities can be developed and enhanced through dedication, hard work, and effective strategizing.

Breakout EDU can be used in any discipline. In fact, Ursuline teachers in various departments have incorporated and tailored Breakout EDU to their particular curricula.

This multi-sensory collaborative activity is one that students enjoy in the moment and remember long after.

I have used the game called “Rhythm Rescue”with my 8th grade music classes. The students have to solve five puzzles to break into the box. To decode one puzzle, the students use treble clef and add or subtract eighth notes, whole, half, and quarter notes. They decode another puzzle using a special flashlight with invisible ink. QR codes are posted on the walls; when the QR codes are scanned, the 8th graders listen to the rhythm on their phones and find the corresponding rhythms posted around the room.

I conclude the game with reflection questions. Students share how they had unlocked the locks, reveal what was most frustrating, and describe how solving these puzzles might help them solve problems in the real world.

Breakout EDU reinforces not only the content of the course, it challenges the students to apply their knowledge on a deeper level through collaboration, deductive reasoning, critical thinking, and problem solving.

Middle school students decipher a clue written in invisible ink

Using Breakout EDU “ in my music classes not only reinforces content such as rhythm,

High school chemistry students solve a Carbon Cunundrum

meter, rests, note value and notation, but challenges the students to apply their knowledge on a deeper level through collaboration, reasoning, critical thinking and problem solving.

”

Rosemary Rossi Kennedy-Clarizio ’89 10

COVER STORY

Gimkit

By Pierce Wade Teacher, Classics Department, The Ursuline School

Imagine testing yourself on Latin Declensions or the facts surrounding ancient civilizations as you ice your competitors and earn game dollars for your team.

For many students, one of the most difficult aspects of any subject in Middle and High School is the volume of rote memorization involved. This is especially true in languages, where vocabulary and verb conjugations jockey for students’ attention and brain space, or in subjects like history, where dates, facts, and names can start to seem interchangeable at a certain point in the school year.

Game-Based Learning platforms offer students a unique opportunity to practice their memorization of content in a way that is fun and engaging. Gimkit is a Game-Based Learning platform with features that make play in the classroom more competitive and, as a result, more active.

Developed by students for students, Gimkit is built to make memorizing and reviewing topics in isolation less of a chore and more of a fun activity.

Ursuline Latin students find that use of GimKit in the classroom helps not just with content mastery; it also encourages them to persevere in subjects that they find challenging. “If you get an answer wrong it tells you what the actual answer is and it can help you understand the question better” reports Georgina Gamble, to which Annika Pittawala, her classmate in 7th grade Latin, adds “For me, it boosts my confidence that I can actually do Latin.”

Students can play either individually or on teams at the teacher’s discretion. The objective is to answer questions correctly in order to earn in-game “dollars,” but simply answering correctly will not win the day. The second, 11

strategic level of gameplay involves spending your earned dollars on upgrades and powerups that enhance your team’s ability to win: you can increase the reward for correct answers, decrease the penalty for errors, link your pool of money to another student’s or team’s, or freeze your competition’s ability to answer questions for fifteen seconds in order to buy yourself catch-up time.

The result is a gameplay platform that works to keep students engaged even if they aren’t the strongest or swiftest performers in a content area. It also offers students a variety of scenarios in which to practice content, as the makers of Gimkit frequently add new game modes to change the experience of the game: students can race to acquire the Infinity Stones from the Avengers movies, or struggle to survive in a world of “Humans vs. Zombies!” In every case students are using (and improving) their content knowledge in order to compete in a game that they typically find both challenging and fun.

Additionally, Gimkit empowers teachers with user-friendly metrics that allow them to track students’ progress across specific content areas. Every game session produces an indepth report displaying either class performance as a whole or every individual question that a single student answered.

It’s easy for teachers to see where a class, or an individual, is proficient and where more practice is needed. This growth can be used as a low-stakes graded assignment or as an engaging activity to practice new skills in the classroom.

You’re Hired

By Jacqueline Geller Social Studies Department Chair, The Ursuline School

Seniors in AP Government and Politics apply their new knowledge to a unique fact pattern in an absorbing simulation.

Simulations are instructional scenarios where the student is placed in a “real life” set of circumstances. It is a form of experiential learning that aligns perfectly with Ursuline’s guiding principle of student-centered and Constructivist learning and teaching.

In Advanced Placement United States Government and Politics, the 12th grade students are able to apply what they have learned to the real world. For example, they are inundated with polls all the time, especially now with the 2020 Election coming ever closer. Downloading onto their laptops the simulation “You’re Hired,” each senior takes on the role of a pollster. She must create a valid scientific poll, identify the sample that she wants to be polled, determine the most cost-efficient and reliable way to administer the poll and then analyze the data and apply it. The goal is to do all of this correctly and to be “hired” by a Senator at the end of the “game.”

“You’re Hired” is a highly successful learning tool because the student needs to apply what she has learned to the scenarios and she receives detailed feedback on her answer, whether correct or incorrect.

Students compete essentially against themselves; can they complete the task and be hired or do they need to go back and

When I used the pollster political simulation, I experienced what it was like to apply the skills we learned in class to a real-life situation. Sadly, I didn’t get hired in the simulation, but I learned valuable lessons on how pollsters actually collect data. In the future, I will not make the same mistakes when I am actually collecting data.

Cate Hughes ’20

review the material? On the AP exam in May, this is exactly what will be expected of the students: to apply what they have learned to the unique fact patterns provided to them.

Later in the year, these seniors will take part in another simulation, The ReDistricting Game. Their challenge will be to draw Congressional lines on a map while within the confines of the law and Supreme Court decisions about gerrymandering. There are numerous “missions” to accomplish and both basic and advanced levels of play. This will provide the students with a nuanced understanding of a complex topic.

I find that my seniors continue to play even after the simulation is completed; they want to play again and again until they have succeeded and been hired or drawn districts in compliance with laws. In addition, it is enormously gratifying to see them further develop valuable personal qualities such as persistence and resilience through extended play.

COVER STORY

“

As many of my 6th graders shared with me: “Being good at video games isn’t just for boys

“

anymore!”

Lauren Iorio ’09

PRODIGY

By Lauren Iorio ’09 Teacher, Math Department, The Ursuline School

I use Prodigy with my 6th grade math classes to reinforce skills and to encourage the students to learn to love math.

Prodigy is a free, adaptive math game that integrates common-core math into a fantasy-style game that students really enjoy playing. Students download the game on their laptops and then they travel to different arenas, choose treasure hunters, and cast spells as they work with fractions, integers, and decimals. Correct answers result in points scored as students compete against other teams.

Ursuline has joined more than 1.5 13

million teachers who are incorporating Prodigy into their math instruction.

This Game-Based Learning platform engages more than 50 million students, closes knowledge gaps, and increases standardized test scores. Prodigy is also a valuable tool for teachers because it offers a powerful set of reporting and assessment tools that allow teachers to easily identify trouble spots, differentiate instruction, and more effectively manage class time.

Game-Based Learning in general has a powerful impact on the learning strategies available to middle school students. Ursuline students playing Prodigy are able to learn challenging mathematical concepts while having fun. As a result of this “fun,” the learning, while the primary concern of the teacher, takes a backseat in our students’ minds as they explore different worlds, strive to ‘level up’ and earn fun bonuses.

Game-Based Learning

By Edwinna Lucyk Director of Technology Integration, The Ursuline School

Games put us in a state of play. That, in turn, makes taking risks and failing – acts we typically try to avoid – part of the process, and even the excitement.

Stephen Noonoo

“

“

Virtual reality, robotics and adaptative software are just a few of the ways Ursuline teachers have enhanced the classroom experience and they now add Game-Based Learning to the list.

When I went to school in the last century, my classroom experience consisted of listening, watching and reading. Would students in the year 2020 describe their classroom experience in the same way? I hope not; as educational reformer, John Dewey, observed: “If we teach today, as we taught yesterday, we rob students of tomorrow.” Dewey spoke these words in 1917.

Collaboration, competition, role playing, exploration, and discovery are game elements that motivate and engage students via interactive experiences.

EdSurge K-12 Editor, Stephen Noonoo, writes that “games are just systems that put a stack of difficult problems in front of players, and then challenge them to figure out how to solve them.” Although the challenges are often difficult, the game provides immediate feedback and opportunities for rewards along the way, such as collecting badges and points, that let students progressively develop skills and succeed.

This is why games are especially effective at teaching problem-solving, critical thinking, and collaboration. They are also a low-risk means of fostering resilience and developing a Growth Mindset. As Noonoo observes: “They put us in a state of play. That, in turn, makes taking risks and failing – acts we typically try to avoid – part of the process, and even the excitement.” Stimulating the mind is what teachers strive for each day in the classroom and Game-Based Learning is a highly effective tool to achieve precisely this end.

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AT URSULINE

Ursuline Remembers September 11th

By Renata Cioth Mulder Heeding the call to Never Forget, we remember September 11 each year through prayer and through service. In 2019, as part of the World Trade Center Oak Project, we dedicated a young sapling that will be a symbol of hope and strength for generations.

At our Opening School Mass on September 12, 2019 we prayerfully remembered the victims of the attacks of September 11 and asked God for peace and consolation.

Mr. Monacelli carried in the American flag. Several special symbols graced our liturgy: a six-inch piece of steel from the World Trade Center Towers and an inspirational memoir by Pamela Bundschuh Koch ’68, For Goodness Sake, that revealed the story behind the St. James 9/11 bereavement support group.

An oak sapling was blessed at the beginning of our liturgy and dedicated in a short ceremony following our Mass.

The tree will be a living reminder of our alumna Helen Crossin-Kittle ’85, the only Ursuline alumna who was among those lost on that tragic day 18 years ago, and the loved ones of our extended school community who were lost on 9/11/01.

Ursuline is proud and honored to have been selected as a home for this sapling from The World Trade Center Oak Project. Forty-one oak saplings were donated and delivered to families, first responders and other organizations in the 15

New York area as living memorials. The saplings began as acorns collected from the oak trees surrounding the September 11 Memorial in New York City and were grown

by Mr. Chris Hopcraft in Michigan. Out of the destruction will come new life in these trees.

Present for the blessing and dedication were members of the Kittle family. Joining them were several of Helen’s classmates from the Class of 1985 who have established the Helen Crossin-Kittle ’85 Memorial Scholarship at Ursuline in her memory. The first recipient of the scholarship, Kristen Bauer ’20, participated in the dedication. Our oak tree will serve as a symbol of hope and strength for future generations of Ursuline students.

The service aspect of our September 11 remembrance took place on September 7 at the Hugh A. Doyle Senior Center New Rochelle Office for the Aging in New Rochelle.

It was part of Volunteer NY! 9/11 Serve + Remember Program, an annual community-wide day of service dedicated to honoring the memory of those who died on September 11, 2001.

From left: Jackie O’Connor Goodwin ’85, Catherine Quigley Tammaro ’85, Gia Caramadre Lago ’85, Kristen Bauer ’20, Christine Astarita Odin ’85, Kevin Kittle, Tricia Degen-Kittle, Eileen Davidson, Maria Gennarelli-Zaccaria ’85. In front, Chris Hopcraft, The World Trade Center Oak Project.

Ursuline students participate in a project on September 7 with Volunteer NY! 9/11 Serve + Remember to create signs promoting volunteerism and the nonprofits of New Rochelle for the city’s 2019 Thanksgiving Parade.

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AT URSULINE

The Innovation Campaign in Full Swing

“This exciting, bold capital campaign will move Ursuline into the future on a sound and competitive footing. Our peers are implementing their own capital projects and we must successfully execute our plan for our girls and for our future.”

Richard Nasti P ’11 This multi-million dollar Campaign is progressing on time and on budget! The next exciting event is An Evening of Innovation originally planned for March 28.

Due to the extraordinary circumstances surrounding the coronavirus and social distancing measures, An Evening of Innovation is NOW PLANNED for MAY 29.

Our campaign website will always have the latest information.

May we all stay healthy and safe. www.tusinnovationcampaign.org/evening-of-innovation 17

Honorees At the Evening of Innovation, we are proud to honor these exemplary members of The Ursuline School community.

We invite you to read more about them on our Campaign website: www.tusinnovationcampaign.org/honorees

Donna Edwards ’75

Ann Gillin Lefever ’82

Rosemary Vrablic ’78

Donna established a scholarship to promote academic excellence among students of color.

Ann has given generously of her financial and strategic expertise while serving in leadership roles.

Rosemary believes in the value of an Ursuline education and established a scholarship in her parents’ memory.

Alumna

Alumna

Alumna

Donna & Richard Brown P’20

Maggie & Mike Hoffman P’14 ’20

Mary Caryl & Paul McEvoy P’06

Drawing on their corporate & nonprofit experience in leadership & diversity, the Browns have enriched Ursuline over several years.

The Hoffmans have a long track record of supporting Catholic education, missionary work & healthcare.

Catholic education is a major focus of the McEvoys’ philanthropy & we appreciate the McEvoy Scholarship at Ursuline.

Current Parents

Current Parents

Parents of Alum

Catherine Falvey P’75 ’77 ’78 GP ’00 ’03 ’17 ’19

Nina Iannotti Maguire ‘51 P’85 GP’17 ’20

Carol & Felix Petrillo P’93 GP’21

Kay has proudly been a part of seven Ring Days and shepherded three generations of Ursuline graduates.

Nina gave to the Annual Fund before we had an Advancement Office. Nina is an artist and has donated one of her paintings for the auction.

In addition to many leadership gifts to Ursuline, Carol has served as Mothers’ Auxiliary President and on the Arts Center steering committee.

GrandParent

Grandarent

GrandParents 18

AT URSULINE

Among the exciting elements of the Campaign is the construction of an Innovation Hub - a new 2,100 square foot space for students to create, build and invent. The walls of the iHub will feature engraved hexagons to be permanantly displayed. Made of wood, these special pieces of art will add beauty to the educational space.

We invite you to purchase personalized hexagons! Adding your name, your daughter’s name, or your family name to this space is a thoughtful way to celebrate your connection to Ursuline. Quantities are limited, so act fast!

A SMALL hexagon (6") is $2500 and includes first, maiden and married names (as preferred).

A LARGE hexagon (8") is available for $5,000 and can include first, maiden and married name OR a family name.

Quantities are limited.

Hexagons may be purchased by any member of The Ursuline School community. However, if purchased by an alumna, the amount of purchase will be matched 100% pursuant to the Leavey Alumnae Challenge Grant, up to $25,000 per alumna.

If you have any questions regarding your iHUB HEXAGON order, you may contact Marianne Nyland ’80 to discuss at (914) 500-6288 or email nylandm@ ursulinenewrochelle.org

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NAMING OPPORTUNITIES

“ When I give,

I feel proud and honored. We are building on the great resources we already offer at Ursuline.

”

Belinda Palmer P’14, Trustee

Interior Lobby (SECURED)

$2,000,000

Technology Suite

$1,500,000

Innovation Hub aka iHub Drop-in Room Student Commons (SECURED) Clock Tower

$1,000,000

High Tech Media Conference Center Reunion Stairs and Balcony Ursuline Arch and Front Lawn (SECURED) Cafeteria The Circle Administrative Suite Arcade New Acquisition Art Gallery TUS Bookstore Visiting Author Series Distinguished Speaker Series (SECURED) Large Conference Room Admissions Suite (SECURED) Lobby Furnishings (SECURED) Entry Corridor (SECURED) Interdisciplinary Classroom (SECURED) Fitness Center Locker Room (SECURED) Ursuline Tennis Courts Main Office (SECURED) Counseling Suite Small Conference Room (SECURED) Furnishings for Commons (SECURED) Academic Guidance Suite (SECURED) St. Angela Reflection Garden (SECURED) Security Center Assistant Principal Offices (SECURED) Registrar’s Office Athletic Director’s Office (SECURED) Academic Guidance Offices (3 available) Counseling Offices (1 SECURED, 2 available) Equipment for iHub (6 available) Equipment for Drop-In Room (6 available) Equipment for High Tech Conference Center (7 available) Technology for Lobby (6 available) Family banners for Kelly Mac Field 5-year guarantee (20 available)

All donors will be publicly acknowledged on the Campaign website tusinnovationcampaign.org

$500,000

$250,000

$150,000

$100,000

$50,000

$25,000

$10,000

Large Named Hexagon in iHub (22 available)

$5,000

Small Named Hexagon in iHub (28 available) Seat in the Auriana Theater

$2,500

Paver on the Sr. Jean Baptiste Nicholson Commons

$1,500

Brick on the Sports Walk of Fame

$1,000 20

AT URSULINE

Our Progress

After the ceremonial Groundbreaking on June 20, 2019, ground preparations, demolitions, and excavation began in earnest. We note that The Ursuline School seal was carefully removed from the floor of the lobby and preserved in the staging area. The JB Commons pavers and the senior path have also been safeguarded.

The first concrete was poured on October 1, 2019.

Foundation walls were then formed. In November, it was thrilling to see the enormous crane lifting and setting in place all of the vertical and horizontal steel beams. The steel decking was then mounted. On January 14, 2020 the cement floor was poured and cement steps were formed; later that month visible signs of progress emerged from behind the fencing as the roof trusses were installed.

Phase 1 is scheduled for Spring 2020 completion. It will

not be long before students will enjoy the comfort of the Christina Jun Murphy ’22 Commons, an additional cafeteria space in which to eat, plan projects, do homework, or spend time with friends.

One important feature of the Christina Jun Murphy ’22 Commons will be a 2,900 square foot green roof, meaning that it will be partially covered by vegetation. This energy efficient green roof will absorb rain water, purify the air, and reduce the ambient temperature as plants absorb sunlight.

In winter, the green roof minimizes heat loss through added insulation on the roof.

Our financial progress has also been strong. We have raised $6.5 million of our $8.5 million goal. The donations have been gifts of all sizes and we are grateful for each one. The first leadership pledge of $1 million was made by our dedicated Honorary Co-Chairs Joe and JoAnn Murphy. Their gift includes the naming of the new student

commons after their granddaughter, Christina ’22. This pledge was closely followed by a grant from the Thomas and Dorothy Leavey Foundation of $500,000 and an additional $500,000 alumnae challenge grant. These grants by the Leavey Foundation were made in honor of Fallon McCarthy ’14 and Cathy Fay McCarthy ’84 P’14, the great-granddaughter and granddaughter-in-law of the Leaveys. This commitment led quickly to the next! David Kulsar P’26, husband of Karin Pizzo Kulsar ’84 P’26, had an idea. To honor the long-time friendship of Karin and Cathy, as well as that of

their two families, Dave suggested that he and Karin match the Leavey grant with a $1 million pledge of their own to earn the joint naming rights to the new lobby, The Kulsar and McCarthy Lobby and Welcome Center! They refer to their gifts as “the friendship pact.”

Further, MC and Paul McEvoy P’06 have made a leadership pledge of $500,000 and we have now named the McEvoy Family Lawn, next to the McEvoy Family Arch.

The McEvoys have a deep and rich Ursuline history that stretches three generations.

It seems fitting that the place where students have lined up

AT URSULINE

$8.5 Million

for Ring Days and graduations is now named McEvoy Lawn.

We are also pleased to have received another grant from The H.W. Wilson Foundation, this time in the amount of $50,000 to provide furnishings for the new Innovation Hub. The H.W. Wilson Foundation has been a steadfast partner in Ursuline’s renovation and innovation of learning spaces.

As our gift pyramid indicates, many have been extraordinarily generous to this special Campaign effort.

Some are contributing to an Ursuline Campaign for the first time and others are making their largest ever gifts and pledges.

Donors have many reasons for making their investment in Ursuline. Approximately 25 donors have purchased the large hexagons at $5,000 each and another 25 have purchased the small hexagons at $2,500, each engraved and to be permanently displayed in the Innovation Hub. Other Ursuline school community members have stepped forward to attend, sponsor or underwrite a portion of the Evening of Innovation. There are many opportunities to contribute and to be a part of this Innovation Campaign! We hope everyone finds their way to take part in it.

8,000.000 7,500,000 7,000,000 6,500,000 6,000,000 5,500,000 5,000,000 4,500,000 4,000,000 3,500,000 3,000,000 2,500,000 2,000,000 1,500,000 1,000,000 500,000

Double your impact!

What qualifies for this matching grant? all cash donations to the Campaign any portion of a multi-year Campaign pledge received before 12/31/20 purchase of a named hexagon other naming opportunities

Alumnae, dollar for dollar, your Campaign donation will be matched by the Thomas and Dorothy Leavey Foundation up to a total $500,000. $325,000 has already been matched. Let’s match the rest!

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www.tusinnovationcampaign.org/challenge-grant

SERVICE AT URSULINE

Serviam in Action Living out the school motto of Serviam, groups of Ursuline students and faculty/staff spread holiday cheer in the community every year at Thanksgiving. This past holiday season was no different as we directed our efforts to organizations with whom we have partnered for 5 – 25 years.

On November 25, 2019 we collected 702 turkeys and 284 pies that were then distributed to several organizations:  St.

Peter’s - St. Denis Church in Yonkers, where students also helped distribute holiday meals;

 the White

Plains YWCA, where a number of women live in apartments and eat communally;

 and Yonkers

PS 23. In addition, our middle school students prepared bags of packaged and canned goods with hand-written messages and blessings for this school community.

The proceeds of a Dress Down Day were directed to the HOPE Soup Kitchen in New Rochelle. And the Koalas also lent a helping hand with food collection and distribution at the Mercy Center in the Bronx. We were glad to join our sister school, Academy of Mount St. Ursula, in that joint service activity.

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AT URSULINE

Model U.N. Delegates Pursued Reconstruction after Conflict

By Renata Cioth Mulder

The Ursuline Junior Model U.N. Team

Ursuline’s second annual Model United Nations Conference, TUSMUNC II, on November 16, 2019 was another absolute success!

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Sixty delegates from Ursuline, Fieldston School and Maplewood Middle School debated issues around the theme “Out of the Ashes: Reconstruction after Conflict.”

Delegates assumed the roles of diplomats representing countries and engaged in debate using the rules of parliamentary procedure. They prepared for the conference by writing position papers. Then, in teams they drafted resolutions and presented them in a public forum.

The four committees at TUSMUNC II represented fictional universes and historical situations: Ad Hoc NYC, Ragnarok – A World Aflame, Crisis in Burkina Faso - 1987, and America After the Revolution. The middle school delegates passed directives and carried motions. The NYC Committee faced a crisis when the power went out at the Empire State Building, and they elected a new mayor.

The Burkina Faso 1987 Committee created a national constitution. At the Ragnarok Committee, delegates advised survivors of the apocalypse how to build a new civilization.

The America After the Revolution delegates debated whether to repay debts to France. A new, fifth group, was called Press Corps. These delegates had the chance to be journalists; they reported news from other committees while advancing their own news company.

Undersecretary General Lorelei Wolf ‘20 offered an enthusiastic welcome to delegates. She noted the dedication and passion of the high school Ursuline Model U.N. (“MUN”) team members who planned and ran this conference.

Antoinette Frascone ’20 and Morgan Adamson ’23 led the Burkina Faso 1987 Committee

She said, “We all decided that MUN means more to us than just meetings every Thursday and a conference here and there. It means more to us than just debating politics for the day and then going home to forget about them. To us, MUN is a way to engage as a global citizen, to exercise your creative energy and create exciting possibilities, whether it be through your interpretation of a delegation or by your choice of committee to run. Our enthusiasm truly knows no bounds. I can honestly say that I don’t know any other group of people who would spend hours helping one another research and think up solutions to, say, the crisis in Burkina Faso, for instance. But that is exactly what we do, and I am inspired daily by the commitment I see my friends pour into this club.”

Each Model U.N. conference chooses a specific charity as a fundraising focus. At TUSMUNC II, the amazing young people donated $339 to the charity Tunnels to Towers.

Crisis Committee in action in the Gabelli Library

Delegates vote on a resolution

Learn more about this middle school conference at www.tusmunc.org 26

ATHLETICS AT URSULINE

Basketball History is Made

By Jill Boughner In 1984, when 22-year-old Beth Schaefer Wooters ’80 accepted the offer to become the Varsity Basketball coach at her alma mater, no one could have imagined that 37 years later the Koalas would be one of the most successful girls high school basketball programs in New York State.

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While Ursuline basketball was never short on talent, incredible 19 league, 8 Section 1, 7 Regional and 2 State teams had not been experiencing a great deal of success Championships along with 1 Federation Title. and had many coaching changes over the years. In the 1985 Jenese Wilcox ’00, a member of the team that earned yearbook, a summary of the season’s progress read, “...with Beth’s 300th career win, said, “Beth coached us to always their new head coach, the team has experienced a good play our best - be it a regular season game, a sectional game season. By midseason, the team had already won more than or a state championship game. She empowered us to go their entire previous year.” out and give it our all no matter who we were playing or Suzanne Melynk Tripp ‘85 was a senior on the first team what was on the line. This is something that has stuck with that Beth coached and recalls, “We were amazed to have me and I have applied to all aspects of life.”

Beth as a coach Anna Savino was because she had a four-year member just finished playing of the Varsity for Manhattan Basketball team and College’s team and a Captain on the she brought not only 2013-14 team that collegiate playing came out victorious experience but a in a thrilling 63-60 great knowledge of win to earn Beth the game. With Beth her 500th career as coach, we truly victory. Anna shared, became a team that “Beth approaches worked together and every game with the she challenged us same intensity. As a 1995 New York State Championship Basketball Team to practice and play coach, Beth creates a at our best. It was a great feeling to actually start winning culture and team where players not only play to win, but are games.” Fast forward to 2020 with 600 plus career wins, genuinely excited to celebrate each other’s successes. She Beth continues to lead the Koalas with the same passion taught us to be selfless on the court and I believe that is and enthusiasm that she did when she earned her first something which we take into our off-court lives as well.” victory in the 1984-85 season.

When reflecting on her coaching career, Beth is quick Beth’s basketball career at Ursuline started as a player. to share the program’s success. She is grateful for the She was a four-year member of the Varsity Basketball team confidence that is placed in her. “I am thankful to The and also excelled in field hockey, softball, volleyball and Ursuline School for the opportunity and the support gymnastics. While her athletic abilities were not limited to to coach over these many years and, of course, to my basketball, it was clearly her favorite sport. players, former and current.” Beth beams with pride when Over almost four decades of coaching, Beth has she speaks of “the amazing young women who come to developed hundreds of basketball players. Her coaching Ursuline and buy into a system of hard work and dedication. philosophy emphasizes teamwork, dedication and They share my desire to build a program that is successful commitment. This, combined with talented, competitive and well-respected.” and determined players, created one of the most In 2014, The Ursuline School inducted alumna, parent of successful basketball programs in the state. Under the alumna, and long-time coach Beth Schaefer Wooters into leadership of Coach Wooters, Ursuline has won an the Ursuline Sports Hall of Fame. Five years later, Beth 28

ATHLETICS AT URSULINE

received the ultimate nod when she was inducted into the Westchester County Sports Hall of Fame! This honor is shared by a group of approximately 200 outstanding professional and amateur sportsmen and sportswomen who have gained prominence in their fields and who have made substantial contributions to sports in Westchester

County. “Thirty-six years ago, never did I think I would be here. It’s really humbling to be with some of these great coaches, athletic directors, and people that have been impactful in Westchester County sports.” While Beth may not have been anticipating the honor, it was no surprise to us.

The Road to 600 100th win January 8, 1992 victory over Mamaroneck 200th win March 1997 in Vestal, NY 300th win January 12, 2000 win over Our Lady of Mercy 400th win December 9, 2006 49-48 win over Horace Greeley at Ursuline 500th win January 18, 2014 63-60 win over Kennedy Catholic at Irvington High School 600th win December 20, 2019 63-58 win over Albertus Magnus at Westchester County Center 29

Scholar-Athlete Teams

Each season, the NYSPHSAA recognizes varsity teams as Scholar-Athlete teams. To qualify, 75% of a team’s roster must have an average GPA of 90 during their season. We are proud that this past fall 2019, all of our varsity fall sports teams met the criteria and were named NYSPHSAA Scholar-Athlete teams!

Another Five Seniors Commit to Golden Name Athletics at College Level We are happy to announce that on November 15, 2019 cross country runner Haley McLean was named Con Edison scholastic athlete of the week! This came just a day before Haley set off to compete in the New York State Cross Country competition where she braved cold and snow to place 33rd in the state.

On November 13, 2019 we celebrated with five seniors and their families as these student-athletes from the Class of 2020 committed to play their sport in college.

Camryn DiCostanzo will play lacrosse at Iona College.

Grace Prince will row at Loyola Maryland.

Alexa Quirolo will play basketball at Saint Anselm College.

Kathryn Posner will swim at Franklin & Marshall.

Alice Hodge will play golf for Florida State.

Each of these student-athletes has worked hard and persevered at their sport.

They also are dedicated students in engineering, advanced drawing and painting, computer graphic design, and environmental science. Some of them are members of the National Honor Society and one serves as a Student Ambassador.

Congratulations to these young women and their families!

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THE ARTS AT URSULINE

Performing Arts

By Renata Cioth Mulder

Christmas Concert 2019 Inspired Joy in All Our Christmas Concert on December 18, 2019 opened with the induction of 25 new members into our chapter of the Tri-M Music Honor Society. Tri-M selection is based on scholarship, character and service, along with a high level of proficiency in music.

The enthusiastic Middle School Choir began the concert in the Tully Family Auditorium - Gymnasium with four challenging pieces which they sang in four different languages: English, French, Italian and Nigerian.

The wonderful Junior Choir enchanted the audience, especially with the contemporary arrangement of The Christmas Song. The Honors Choir sang lush harmonies in six different parts in the spiritual I’m Gonna Sing til the Spirit Moves in My Heart.

Our instrumental groups wowed the audience with gorgeous arrangements of traditional carols as well as surprising new musical selections. The 31

Middle School Choir

Wind Ensemble played Scenes From An Ocean Voyage in a minor key; the percussionists evoked the sea, shark and whale very persuasively. Their rendition of Away In A Manger was unexpectedly and enjoyably played calypso style!

The excellent Orchestra treated the audience to a beautiful, flowing performance of French Christmas Carols. Then, soloist Lily Desiderio ’20 played the opening notes of All Is Calm on her cello, leading the Symphony Orchestra in a beautiful performance of that piece. Flutist Magdalena DiGiorno ’21 played exquisitely to close out the performance. They certainly earned their standing ovation.

Congratulations to the Performing Arts Department for preparing such a joyous evening of music! Thank you to our Performing Arts faculty: Mrs. Rosemary Kennedy-Clarizio ’89, Dr. Laurie Adamo P’14 ’17, and Mr. Mark Collins.

Magdalena DiGiorno ’21

Lily Desiderio ’20

Photos here are by Chris Pope of Pope Photography.

Thespians Present A Classic Comedy The Ursuline School Drama Club proudly presented their fall drama, The Woman Who Came to Dinner on November 22 and 23, 2019. This comedy, based on the 1939 play The Man Who Came to Dinner, centers on a brash radio personality who is a rude house guest and tries to thwart a romance between her assistant and a local reporter, all while actors visit from around the world.

The audience enjoyed the eccentric yet believable characters and the fine acting of the whole cast. Taryn Comizio ’20 gave a forceful performance as

Sheri Whiteside, the illustrious and opinionated radio personality. Alexis Pinto ’20 was sassy yet passionate as the faithful assistant Maggie Cutler.

Alexa McRedmond ’20 shined as the glamorous actor Lorraine Sheldon and her lovely solo was a highlight.

Courtney McAloon ’21 was delightful as Banjo.

In Ursuline drama tradition, Director Edie Anne Reidy approaches many styles and genres of plays over the years so that all students can experience a wide range of theatrical repertoire.

This three-act comedy is a classic and

heavy with dialogue. The thespians clearly had worked hard to embrace the language and references to the 1930s culture. Each line was delivered with intent. Congratulations to the cast and stage crew. Kudos also to the set designers and costume designers.

Taryn Comizio ’20 and Alexa McRedmond ’20

Student Musicians Perform at NYSSMA All State Concert

Dedicated practice and perseverance paid off for six of our high school music students who were chosen to perform at the 2019 Westchester County Area All-State Music Festival Concert on November 7, 2019 at the SUNY Purchase Performing Arts Center.

Each of these fine musicians had the opportunity to perform demanding works under the direction of outstanding conductors and propel their musicianship to another level.

They also had the chance to meet and bond with other music students from around the county.

Our music students are Lily Desiderio (cello), Santina Madden (violin), Rebecca Zhu (clarinet), Gabrielle Adams (alto), Ciara Carolan (soprano), and Lola Milazzo (soprano). These music students were selected on the basis of their spring 2019 New York State School Music Association (“NYSSMA”) auditions, specifically the challenging Level Six repertoire.

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AT URSULINE

Robyn and student eco-scientists monitored sea turtles at Playa Blanca.

Get to Know . . .

Robyn Summa

By Renata Cioth Mulder Robyn Summa ’93 was working at the Norwalk Maritime Aquarium when an opening at the Ursuline Science Department came up in 1998. Robyn’s mother, who knew Sr. JB, told her daughter about the opening and suggested she apply. At the aquarium, Robyn had been working in education programs. She had not planned on teaching but found that she had a knack for it. It clicked because she is passionate about marine science and she connected with students. So, she applied for the Ursuline position.

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The day of her interview, Robyn came straight from the aquarium in her work clothes: polo shirt. jeans and boots.

The interview went well and the opening was immediate.

The next Friday, covered in mud, she came to pick up books and started at 8 a.m. She taught Biology and Earth Science.

The next year, she started a Marine Science class.

Robyn Summa’s memorable beginning at Ursuline suggests something of her flexibility, her adaptability, and her openness to new paths.

Robyn and her mother enjoy supporting Ursuline at the Fashion Show each year.

Robyn left Ursuline to pursue her Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction at Florida Atlantic University. She also worked at that time at the Pine Jog Environmental Education Center, 150 acres of preserved forest in West Palm Beach which she considered an amazing opportunity.

During that time, Robyn became head of land management programs. After completing her Master’s, she worked for a year as a water quality coordinator at Teatown Lake Reservation, a 1,000 acre nature preserve and education center in the Lower Hudson Valley. She focused on protecting the watershed.

However, the next year she returned to her alma mater and the Science Department, bringing with her the rich experiences gained on the nature preserves. At Ursuline, one of Robyn’s role models was her former teacher Denise Wade, who influenced Robyn’s teaching style and willingness to try new approaches. Another role model was Eileen Davidson, who had left the Science Department in order to take on the role of Assistant Principal.

Since Robyn likes doing new things and welcomes the chance to impact change on a greater scale, she was pleased to be named Chair of the Science Department, as she completed her second Master’s, in School Building Leadership. She subsequently began accepting new administrative responsibilities. Robyn found that her love of puzzles was quite handy when creating school schedules!

A master scheduling workshop and Rediker training were also useful. After the new modified block schedule was implemented, Robyn took on the new role of coordinating the team that organizes Professional Development for our

faculty. And as new faculty were hired, it became clear that a formal New Teacher Mentor position would be valuable.

Robyn stepped up. She leads small groups of new teachers and offers one-on-one guidance on how Ursuline operates, from grade books to Open House presentations.

The addition of administrative responsibilities in no way diminished Robyn’s energetic pursuit of marine science, her eagerness to learn more, and her desire to engage more students. In February 2016, Robyn was selected by the nonprofit organization Ecology Project International (EPI) to participate in an eight-day research and education fellowship in Baja, Mexico. It focused on sea turtles and marine ecology.

That fellowship subsequently led to Robyn organizing a trip for students. Over the February 2019 mid winter break, Robyn and a group of our student eco-scientists completed field research in the rainforest of Costa Rica and monitored sea turtles at Playa Blanca.

Snapshot Teaches: AP Environmental Science. It’s the only AP science course that requires a connection between science discussion and science outdoors, plus government, economics, and social justice. It’s not just about the science. It’s how the real world operates. Alumnae who have taken this course have gone on to pursue environmental science, law, politics, or food and wellness.

Science Department Chairperson: Since 2010 Administrative Roles: Scheduling; Professional Development Coordinator; New Teacher Mentor Co-Curricular Activities: Co-Moderates the Environmental Awareness Club Years at The Ursuline School: 1998 – 2001; 2005 - present Goal for her students: That they become global citizens and are knowledgeable about the world around them. Not everyone will be a scientist.

Favorite sign in her office: “Stay Calm and Love Sharks” 34

SLICES OF KOALA LIFE

Father Daughter Dance Father/Daughter Dance

Mothers’ Auxiliary Fashion Show

Ring Day

Mother-Daughter Communion Breakfast

Welcome BBQ

Make a Difference Day

Peace Day

Christmas Liturgy Sixth Grade Bible Ceremony

International Day of the Girl

VISITING AUTHOR SERIES

Zoologist Delia Owens Gives Clues to Her Mystery Novels

By Renata Cioth Mulder

The Tully Family AuditoriumGymnasium was buzzing with anticipation on November 5, 2019 as we welcomed Delia Owens, New York Times best-selling author of Where the Crawdads Sing. Dr. Owens shared insights into her writing process with the assembly of students, faculty, and a number of alumnae, current parents, and friends.

Delia Owens received a Bachelor of Science degree in zoology from the University of Georgia and earned a Ph.D. in Animal Behavior from the 37

University of California in Davis. Dr. Owens is the co-author of three nonfiction books about her life as a wildlife scientist in Africa where she lived for 23 years. Her extensive research into the behavior of lions, elephants and baboons caused her to be impressed with how similar human behavior is to that of these mammals.

Specifically, these animals exhibited group behavior that reinforced the importance of being part of a group.

In her remarks to our school assembly, Dr. Owens shared that after

her research, she felt that people would be interested in a fiction story that explored how a young girl would be affected if she had to grow up alone. Dr. Owens also wanted to include a murder mystery that posed the question: Why did they behave the way they did?

Two Ursuline seniors had the honor of posing questions to Dr. Owens on behalf of the high school students who had all read this book as one of their summer reading assignments.

Kyla Golding ’20 and Violet Lee Cadet ’20 asked Dr. Owens about her writing inspirations and her author’s style, which blends lyrical writing with a compelling story. After this talk, many in the assembly wanted to reread the poems included in the book to discover the clues to the murder!

The Visiting Author Series at Ursuline was initiated 10 years ago

by President Eileen Davidson. We were delighted to host Dr. Owens, and glad that she generously signed stacks of books and took time to be interviewed by our Unison school journalists.

Photos on these pages

by Christopher Pope.

I attended the Visiting “ Author Series on November

5 with author Delia Owens because I, too, am a writer in my 4th quarter (better late than never) who was so moved by Where the Crawdads Sing, a first novel that I found so profound on many levels.

Ms. Owens explored the fact that human behavior can be a mirror of animal behavior in the wild and, going a step further, said that if one does not have the group support from the beginning, you can never make up for it.

The Ursuline School’s mission is to Educate, Inspire and Empower—and you, [the school leaders], more than succeeded that day with your student audience mixed with alumnae.

”

Nancy Waters ‘65

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AT URSULINE

Public Speakers Hone Skills at our

Forensics Tournament

By Chris Brätt The first Saturday in December holds a special place on The Ursuline School calendar. That is the day we host the Emily Clemente Memorial Speech and Debate Tournament.

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The tournament is named in honor of Emily Clemente, an Ursuline student and beloved member of the Ursuline speech and debate team more than 30 years ago. Tragically, Emily Clemente died in a car accident while still a student at Ursuline, but her memory lives on every year at Ursuline on the first Saturday in December.

This year was no different, as Ursuline hosted 125 participants from 15 schools plus coaches and judges on December 7, 2019. We were joined by former Ursuline faculty and forensics supporters Mr. Ken DeLuca and Mr. Mark Lipitz.

In addition, it was an honor that one of the judges was Preet Bharara, former United States Attorney General for

the Southern District of New York. As a long-time Ursuline Forensics Club faculty moderator, I enjoyed welcoming everyone and handling the logistics.

We congratulate all student participants and recognize their hours of practice as well as their willingness to receive pages of critiques from the judges. These young people learn to organize their thoughts concisely when they have a 10-minute limit for a speech. Other times, they memorize poetry or prose, thereby honing their ability to speak without reading notes. Confidence builds as they deliver a dramatic or humorous interpretation of a play, or speak extemporaneously on an assigned newsworthy topic.

Ursuline’s Forensics Club is a competitive speech and debate activity, a member of the New York Catholic Forensic League (NYCFL), New York State Forensic League (NYSFL), and the National Speech and Debate Association (NSDA). The club offers various categories for different levels of ability, from beginner to expert.

ALUMNAE DISTINCTIONS

Beth Gillin Agarabi ’85 Earned National Board Certification We congratulate Bronxville High School teacher Beth Gillin Agarabi ’85 who received a National Board Certification on January 8, 2020 after logging more than 160 hours of hard work over the course of a year. This is the highest credential an educator can receive. It is offered by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards and is considered a voluntary advanced teaching credential that was designed to develop, retain and recognize accomplished teachers.

The rigorous certification process requires teachers to demonstrate standards-based evidence of the positive effect they have on student-learning in four components: content knowledge, differentiation in instruction, teaching and learning environment, and reflective and effective practitioner.

Beth stated, “This process has humbled me to think about our roles in and out of the classroom. We, educators, possess such an integral role to affect change and move the dial towards greatness in our worlds. Teaching requires a reflective lens, but I find myself asking more meaningful questions ranging from ‘Why will I teach this?’ to ‘How will this skill or unit impact our learners to contribute meaningfully beyond Bronxville?’”

Beth has taught students in sixth through 12th grade throughout her 31-year teaching career. She earned her National Board Certification in the field of English language arts/adolescence and young adulthood (ages 14-18). She currently teaches English to seniors and freshmen, and speech and debate to grades 9-12.

Tyler Washington ’19 Becomes Official Spokesperson Tyler Washington ’19 was selected as the 20192020 spokesperson for the National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD). She began her official tenure as the national spokesperson by giving a speech at the annual NCLD dinner in November 2019. It was the first of many events that she will attend and speak at throughout the year.

Tyler also was awarded the Center’s Anne Ford Scholarship.

Well done!

Tyler attends UConn and majors in Engineering and Computer Science because, after her deeper understanding of STEM, “everything came together. It opened my eyes to so many fields that can integrate my passions. I would like to find a way to apply these areas of study to cognitive sciences, so I will have a better understanding of how the brain works, how people learn, and what challenges some students face.”

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URSULINE DISTINCTIONS

Papal Audience

Sr. Jane Finnerty, OSU, Provincial and Sr. Maureen Welch, OSU, Provincial Councilor of the Ursulines of the Eastern Province, and approximately 90 members of the General Chapter of the Ursuline Sisters had the privilege of an audience with Pope Francis in Rome on October 3, 2019.

The Holy Father particularly encouraged the Ursulines to continue with enthusiasm in their special charism of educating the young and to focus on the hope expressed in part of their Chapter Meeting theme: “Let us go towards a new life.”

Photo and reporting courtesy of the Vatican News.

Mary Seiler as a Master Class Fellow Great teachers continue to learn all the time. In that vein, English teacher Mary Seiler was honored to be one of 20 teachers selected to attend Grammar Clinic, a master class sponsored by Academy for Teachers. Teachers were picked for their creativity and love of their subject. This master class, on November 15, 2019 in New York City, was led by Mary Norris, bestselling author and legendary New Yorker copy editor.

Mary Seiler, standing center, next to Mary Norris

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Master classes are a rare opportunity for public and private school teachers to learn from a world-class expert and from each other. Teachers accepted to a master class become Fellows of The Academy for Teachers. They are eligible for Academy scholarships and fellowships; they are invited to the Academy’s free lectures, concerts, and plays, and can take part in Academy book clubs and writing groups.

The Master Class named Grammar Clinic focused on language as it is always evolving. Mary Norris shared her perspectives on grammatical issues large and small: What’s grammar for? Is incorrect usage ever okay? Can participles sometimes dangle? What do grammarians make of tweets and texts?

In Mary Seiler’s view, “the idea of teaching literature and discovering textual meaning is paramount. However, I still think that grammar should be taught, but in what way? My focus these days is on teaching sentence types, clauses, and verbals. I do this because with such skills, students can develop more variety in their writing.”

Headquarters for a Roundtable session sponsored by ITU/UNESCO Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development. The session focused on the role of artificial intelligence as it relates to child online protection and empowerment in the digital age. The Roundtable was organized by the Ambassador of Montenegro with the goal of building a safer empowering digital world for all children.

Teenangels Speak National Academic Out at Digital Forums Excellence

The Ursuline School chapter of Teenangels began in Spring 2006 and current members of Teenangels continue to spread the message of online safety, privacy and security.

On October 10, 2019, Teenangel Valentina Pescatore ’22 attended the World Economic Forum DQ Day in New York where she participated in an informative and interactive session on Digital Intelligence (DQ). The focus of DQ Day was on current and future action to advance the DQ agenda beyond technical skills – like coding – to areas such as accessing technology, addressing digital identity, digital safety, digital emotional intelligence and well-being.

Erica Cally ’22, Kate Fodero ’21, and Sophie Hennessy ’21 were honored to be on a panel at the Technology Leadership Institute’s Tech Summit Conference on November 1, 2019 in Tarrytown, NY. The theme was “Digital Wellness for the School Community.” Our students joined keynoter Parry Aftab, Esq., a cybersafety and cyberlaw pioneer, in a session entitled “When Experience Meets Youth.”

On December 5, 2019 Teenangels Jennifer Cernada ’21 and Alanna Gallo ’22 visited the United Nations

Principal Rosemary Beirne announced on October 2, 2019 that four Ursuline seniors have been recognized for academic excellence based on their outstanding PSAT/NMSQT scores. Kyla Golding, Jenna Chiarella, Lorelei Wolf, and Stella Banino (from left to right) were named National Merit Commended Students.

Approximately 1.6 million students throughout the nation took the 2018 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test as juniors last year. An estimated 34,000 have been recognized as Commended Students. We congratulate these students as they continue to work hard, apply their best strategies and learn from whatever challenges they encounter.

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ALUMNAE AT COLLEGE

A Sisterhood to Last a Lifetime

By Christiana Corporon ’19 43

At the age of 12, I didn’t quite realize the impact TUS would have on me. I always appreciated Ursuline, but college has made me appreciate Ursuline in countless new ways. Attending college in a city as big as Washington, D.C. can be intimidating but, with the help of the lessons I learned at Ursuline, D.C. has felt a lot smaller and I have found another home away from home. one activity brought me an immediate sense of comfort.

While I loved all the friends I made and experiences I had in the first semester, I wanted to expand on that so I decided to go through sorority recruitment. The one question I was asked at each sorority on the first day was, “Why do you want to join our sorority?” My answer remained the same each time: “I want to have the sisterhood that I had in high school.”

After a weeklong process, I accepted a bid into my top sorority. What drew me into this sorority was not only the feeling of community that I felt at TUS but also their philanthropy that focuses particularly on women’s heart health; this immediately caught my attention as I value women’s health even more after attending Ursuline. I have already met so many incredible women through this sorority process and look forward to meeting even more.

On the surface, GW and Ursuline may appear to be polar opposites. However, the overwhelming sense of community I have found through service and sisterhood is a constant reminder that Ursuline is never really that far away.

“ I want to have

the sisterhood that I had in high school.

“

The Ursuline School has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. Since my mom, Yvette Manessis Corporon, graduated in 1986, it was evident that I, too, would follow in her footsteps and attend Ursuline. Taking my mom’s advice to tour Ursuline as a prospective 6th grader was one of the best decisions I could have made.

From my first year at Ursuline, I wanted to be involved in everything. I gave prospective students tours, joined clubs, played softball. As I entered high school, my involvement in the Ursuline community grew stronger. I became a Student Ambassador, National Honor Society tutor, Peer Mediator, started a club, and continued playing softball through senior year. When I decided in my senior year to attend George Washington University in Washington D.C., I was thrilled but also terrified. I knew GW had countless opportunities similar to those I had been given at Ursuline, but how was I supposed to transition from the comfort of my small school to a huge city with a non-traditional college campus? I would be surrounded by accomplished professionals, politicians, and even Secret Service men while standing in line for a salad at Chopt. I was unsure if I would ever find my place in such a fast-paced environment. I, however, quickly realized that GW is indeed where I am meant to be.

Serviam was something that was instilled in my life from the time I started Ursuline. However, I was worried about finding service opportunities in college as I didn’t even know where to begin. During my first weekend at GW, all freshmen participated in a school wide day of service. We were given different service projects and mine happened to be working with We Are Family which helps deliver food to senior citizens throughout D.C. Coincidentally, my service site for my senior year Make a Difference Day happened to be Meals on Wheels which is essentially the same thing. This

44

ALUMNAE VISIT URSULINE

Spreading Enthusiasm for Computer Science

On September 18, 2019 computer science students were treated to a visit with Doreen Ali ’02, Senior Developer Lead for Services at Microsoft on the Xbox Product Team. Doreen advised students that the most important thing they could do is to ask questions in order to begin to solve problems. She spoke about the need for women in tech and the value of diversity in generating new ideas. In this photo, Doreen is in the center, surrounded by students.

Seeing Changes on Campus

The Advancement Office enjoyed welcoming Jhanay Harris Abrams ’05 and her mother Joanne on October 23, 2019 for a visit to Ursuline. Jhanay, a development professional, was excited to see all the changes on campus yet found that many things - especially the strong spirit of community - felt familiar. Senior Alex Brown joined the lunch gathering and shared some highlights of her Ursuline experience including her work on the Diversity Summit and the establishment, with her parents, of the Alexandria Brown ‘20 Scholarship for students of color. As Jhanay related after the visit, “Each part of our time on campus - the school tour, interactions with faculty and students, and the group discussion at lunch - really resonated and made me feel proud to be an alumna.”

45

Telling Prospective Families Our Story Thank you to Natalia Matar ’19, Christiana Corporon ’19, Molly Sheehan ’14, Megan Pierce Collins ’98, and Lynn Boccardi DeLisio ’85 who volunteered their time at Ursuline’s Open House on October 19, 2019. We know that prospective families valued the opportunity to speak with you. Nobody knows better than you, our alums, the value of an Ursuline education.

Global Issues at TUSMUNC II

At our second annual Model U.N. Middle School Conference, TUSMUNC II, on November 16, 2019, the keynote speaker was Alexandria Sedlak ’14, a Model UN veteran and law student. She charged the delegates, “Don’t be afraid to get up and get your point across.” Joining for the morning was Magdalen Gaynor ’71 representing the Louise Este Bruce Foundation who has generously funded this conference. Pictured here are the alums with the TUSMUNC II Secretariat, from the left, Nive Sujin Kumar ’20, Meg Gaynor ’71, Cate Hughes ’20, Stella Banino ’20, Alex Sedlak ’14, and Lorelei Wolf ’20.

46

ALUMNAE GATHERINGS

Holiday Cheer and School Pride What better way to kick-off the season than at the annual Ursuline Alumnae Holiday Party!

Now in its 9th year, nearly 65 alums of all ages packed The Tap House for some merriment on November 21, 2019. The video of the construction progress shared with guests conjured up feelings of school pride and excitement. It was a fantastic night of friendship and fun!

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for the Eighth Annual Please Please join join us usfor the Eighth Annual

Honoring: Joan Brescia Honoring Brescia, Pˇ00 ˇ01 | Raffle & Silent Auction Hors d’oeuvres & Light FareJoan | Wine, Beer & Bubbly TUS Faculty, Cheer Team Moderator & Think Scholarship Founder Thursday, May Pink 7, 2020 | 7:00pm - 10:00pm

Wykagyl Country Club Hors d’oeuvres, Wine, Beer & Bubbly Raffle & Silent Auction

For more information & to register, please visit: www.ursulinenewrochelle.org/cmms2020

Honoring

Thursday, May 7, 2020 7:00pm-10:00pm

Joan Brescia, Pˇ00 ˇ01 Wykagyl Country Club

TUS Faculty,1195 Cheer Team Moderator North Avenue New Rochelle, New York Founder & Think Pink Scholarship www.ursulinenewrochelle.org/cmms2020

Hors d’oeuvres, Wine, Beer & Bubbly FOR GIRLS CAMP Raffle & Silent Auction A skill-based elective program where no two camp

days are the same. It inspires girls of all abilities and interests, aged 5-13. Program offerings focus on sports, Thursday, May 7, 2020 leadership and STEM. Additional activities include yoga, 7:00pm-10:00pm cooking, dance and drama. Workshops on self-esteem, friendships and conflict resolution.

An instructional camp for girls entering grades 3-6.

Wykagyl Country Club Art projects encourage creativity, craftsmanship1195 and fun Facilities include the Kelly Mac state-of-the-art turf field, North Avenue in our sunny, air conditioned facility in the the air conditioned Tully Family Gymnasium, and the New Rochelle, New York Mooney Hancock Arts Center.

Mooney Hancock Arts Center - on the campus of The Ursuline School.

June 29 - July 3, 2020 & /or July www.ursulinenewrochelle.org/cmms2020 6 - July 10, 2020 Contact: Meg Loughman LaBella ’83 labellam@ursulinenewrochelle.org

Season runs June 29 - August 2 6 Sessions

or Deirdre Cummins-Stones ’96 stonesd@ursulinenewrochelle.org www.ursulinenewrochelle.org/summerprograms2020

Directors: Jamie Barron & Danielle Beshar To Register, visit: www.nextlevelgirlscamp.com 48

CLASS NOTES

Congratulations to the Class of 2015!

Our most recent college graduates are beginning to realize their talents in their chosen fields, continuing the tradition of Serviam that was so much a part of their time at Ursuline and in college, and exercise responsible leadership in ever widening circles.

We are grateful to those alumnae who shared their updates with us and proud to feature them here!

After earning her Bachelor’s degree at George Washington, Anna Savino remained in DC where she is currently the Graduate Assistant for the George Washington University Women’s Basketball team, working as an assistant on staff while working on her Master of Science in Sport Management from the GW School of Business. Anna, who works daily with the team, will be going to the Women’s Final Four in April, as a member of the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA), to sit in on conferences and meetings about the future of women’s basketball. She will also be traveling to Japan for three weeks this summer to work at the 2020 Summer Olympic Games where she will be collecting data on the athletes and working in the USA Olympic House.

A May 2019 Fordham College at Rose Hill magna cum laude graduate with an Honors degree, Anastasia Lacina is taking a gap year while applying to law school, and volunteering with Court Watch NYC, an activist 49

organization which focuses on mass incarceration. At Fordham, Anastasia became editor-in-chief of the Political Review, and participated in protests and events like the Women’s March on Washington. During the summer of 2019, Anastasia “ had the time of my life on a 2-week vacation to Japan with Nicole Porco ’15!”

In 2019, Nora Donahue received a BA in Medicine, Health & Society as well as in Spanish from Vanderbilt University. During her undergraduate years, Nora was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta sorority. Two highlights of Nora’s college experience were having the opportunity to study Spanish abroad in Barcelona, and interning for the Lwala Community Alliance, a healthcare NGO that is based in Kenya. Nora is currently enrolled in a post-baccalaureate premedical program at Columbia University in New York, where she is completing all of the premed requirements before going to med school. She is also working part-time as an ACT/SAT tutor for a company called Private Prep. Before attending medical school, Nora hopes to travel back to Spain because she ”misses the people, the language and, of course, the delicious food!“

Alexa DiIorio has been working as a researcher in translational genomics at Jounce Therapeutics, a cancer immunotherapy company in Cambridge, MA. A graduate of Northeastern University with a major in Biology, Alexa did her second co-op (a Northeastern-specific full-time 6 month internship) at Jounce Therapeutics and shortly before graduation was offered a full-time position as a researcher in the translational genomics group where she works in an RNA lab and analyzes gene expression of several different sample types across many types of cancer.

Having graduated from Syracuse University with B.S. in Social Work, Ashley Mintz is now pursuing her Masters in Social Work from Fordham University. She has completed numerous internships, including at the New York Foundling in the Bronx, and had the opportunity to work with a variety of populations. Ashley wilI graduate in May and looks forward to working as a Social Worker in an educational setting. She commented “There were a lot of things that led me to social work, but one of the main driving forces was the leadership opportunities I had at Ursuline (Thanks Ms. Hertlein!). I hope that in the future, I can provide similar opportunities to youth and inspire them to explore work in social work, too!”

Lauren Gaudiano graduated from The Catholic University of America in May 2019 with a B.A. in Finance and is currently working as a Financial Advisor at Northwestern Mutual in Manhattan.

Siobhan Schenk received a BA in Art History from New York University. Currently, she is working as the Director of Admissions at The Montfort Academy in Mount Vernon as well as a freshman teacher in art history and the volleyball and track & field coach. Siobhan shared, “It has been a very rewarding experience and I am loving every minute of the challenge!” Longer term, Siobhan intends to pursue a graduate degree in mental health counseling with a tentative start date of Fall 2020. Among the very exciting events of Siobhan’s last year was becoming an aunt for the first time!

While at the University of Scranton where she studied accounting, Cynthia Russo participated and led religious retreats and became a Eucharistic Minister, which guided her to reflect on the role of service in her life. This led to her volunteer position for Hospice of the Sacred Heart as a companion to patients. Cynthia also enjoyed the opportunity to explore the globe during her time at 50

CLASS NOTES

Scranton, studying in Barcelona and Copenhagen. where she learned and participated in two very different cultures!

Upon receiving her Undergraduate degree in May 2019, Cynthia remained at Scranton where she is completing her MBA with a concentration in accounting. In Fall 2020, Cynthia will begin working at PwC (Big Four) as an Audit Associate and hopes to complete her CPA before her start date! Cynthia shares “Ursuline has given me a true and strong foundation, not only academically, but spiritually. I continue to follow Ursuline’s motto “Serviam” everywhere I go.”

A cum laude graduate from Loyola University, Maryland where she majored in Political Science with a minor in theatre and a concentration in psychology, Felicia Messina is currently attending Fordham University School of Law. While at Loyola, Felicia interned for Congressman Eliot Engel in Washington D.C. and she has secured an internship with a Supreme Court Justice in Westchester County Supreme Court.

Cynthia Russo

Jillian Priaulx graduated from Fairfield University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing and a French Minor. During her time at Fairfield, Jillian had the opportunity to study abroad in Aix-en-Provence, France. Since graduating, Jillian has been working at Horizon Media in NYC and looks forward to what the future holds. She shared, “I am excited to return to Ursuline for our five year reunion in May!” 51

A Villanova University graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Meghan Foster is currently working on an infectious disease floor at NYU Langone as a Registered Nurse along with her Ursuline classmate Maggie Sullivan. A highlight of Meghan’s college experience was starting her own jewelry business, beadzbymeg! She also studied in Italy for 7 weeks. Meghan has reunited with her co president from senior year at Ursuline, Kitty Elwyn, and is living in NYC. Danielle Maraia graduated from Providence College where she majored in biology and will be attending medical school where she will be a member of the New York Medical College Class of 2024.

A December 2018 cum laude graduate from the University of Maryland where she majored in Criminology and Criminal Justice and minored in Global Terrorism Studies, Megan Lundin currently is in her first year at Fordham Law. This summer she will be interning for the Hon. Jeffrey A. Cohen in the Appellate Division, Second Judicial Department.

After graduating from Ursuline, Kilole Aklilu attended Fordham University and graduated cum laude with a B.S. in Psychology. She was lucky enough to attend Fordham’s Lincoln Center campus, and was able to take full advantage of the city while pursuing her studies. At present, she is working at a health technology consulting firm in the Financial District. Kilole says, “I hope to continue working and traveling, and am endlessly grateful for my time and experiences at The Ursuline School.”

Jane Parisi is currently working at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Development Department. Jane is a magna cum laude graduate of Fordham University with a double major in Classical Languages and Art History.

Kitty Elwyn graduated this past May from Colby College with an American Studies major and an Anthropology minor.

Some highlights from her time at Colby include swimming for the swim team, volunteering at the local nursing home, giving swim lessons to children in the community, and chairing the Senior Class Gift Committee, which she will continue to be involved with post-graduation. Kitty is currently working in NYC in Programmatic Advertising where she works on the Hershey’s team, which is never dull.

She proudly shares, “I know for a fact I wouldn’t be where I am today without the confidence that Ursuline instilled in me. From not being afraid to ask questions in the classroom at Colby, to feeling empowered and self-assured in interviews and business meetings, it all started at Ursuline!!”

Last September, Kitty moved into the city with one of her best friends from Ursuline, “a dream come true,” she adds.

Kitty can’t wait to see what this next chapter brings!

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CLASS NOTES

1967

1989

Five classmates from the class of 1967 who live in the Washington, DC, and Richmond, VA, area got together in Fredericksburg in November for a mini reunion and lunch with great conversation. Pictured from left to right are Joanne Rosell Tripp, Lynn LaMonica Black, Susie Silliere Barry, Mary Janet Stith Casserly and Lynn Neary. Ann Diskin Smalley was scheduled to join them, but had to cancel due to illness. Are there any other ‘67 graduates in the DC, Northern Virginia, Maryland, Fredericksburg or Richmond, Virginia area? Please get in touch!.

Christine Cannavo Poirier aka “CeCe” sends a big wave to her Ursuline fellows! You can find out what she is up to creatively by visiting idiopopmusic.com - a production company she owns and operates with her husband and partner of 15 hearts, Brian Poirier. Her career path since Ursuline has been quite a diverse ride in film and television, business operations, entertainment and event production.

CeCe thanks Ursuline for providing a strong foundation for service, learning and work ethic!

1997 Congratulations to Diana Ruffino Kehoe and her husband, Jack, on the birth of their daughter, Rosalie Joy Kehoe, on December 17, 2019. Rosalie joins big sister Sophia (7) and little brother Jack (4).

1981 Lee Woodriffe is proud to announce the release of her book, “Memorial Star: The Story of Edwin R. Woodriffe” on what would be the 51st anniversary of her father’s murder.

An FBI agent and the first black FBI agent killed in the line of duty, Edwin Woodriffe died at the age of 27 after being shot down while in pursuit of a robbery suspect. The book is the story of his too-short life and Lee describes her journey of writing it as “both heart shattering and the most rewarding task I have ever accomplished.” Lee was just five years old when he died.

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Rosalie Joy Kehoe

2002 Congratulations to Katie Koster on her marriage to Kevin Lacey in July 2019. Katie and Kevin had a beautiful wedding in New York surrounded by their friends and family. She wore the dress of her dreams and Kevin wore tails! The couple celebrated a honeymoon in Dublin and Paris. As Katie says, “I locked him down (or locked him up?).”

Anna Parthemos Meechan and her husband, Niall, are excited to announce the birth of their beautiful baby, Amelia Elizabeth, on December 14, 2019. Anna currently works at The Ursuline School as a math teacher.

2010

Katie Koster Wedding

2003 Kathleen Lewis Bonello and her husband, Charlie, welcomed their daughter, Grace Kathleen, into the world on May 23, 2019. Grace is loved by all her family and friends, especially her Aunt Eileen Lewis Tobin, class of 1998, who welcomed her daughter, Maeve Maureen, on January 10, 2019. Grace and Maeve are already looking forward to being members of the class of 2037!

Vianna Occhino is a new women’s luxury lifestyle brand created by Vianna Occhino Chirico. Vianna Occhino debuted in November 2019 with a one-month pop up boutique in SoHo, NYC. The boutique featured her first capsule collection called OCCHINO SPORT | THETA Hz Active — an elevated line of women’s street and activewear.

The collection also consisted of accessories including shoes, a travel duffle, and fine jewelry incorporating healing stones for a deeper purpose. The store featured free yoga and fitness classes throughout the month to promote and support mental health awareness, a topic close to Vianna’s heart. Vianna had the opportunity to debut 54

CLASS NOTES

her brand in Dubai, UAE at Sole DXB, a culture lifestyle and music festival, where a NY based recording artist wore a full look from Occhino’s collection to perform onstage before thousands as the event’s headline artist. “There’s something to say about being able to break into the Middle Eastern market this early into my brand’s lifecycle. I brought my NYC state of mind and made a mark not quick to forget” says Vianna in talking about the event. “I know my roots and keep them firmly grounded in my brand.” On a deeper scale, the brand has a mission called OCCHINOxHUMANITY, supporting society’s needs in humanity from various aspects of life, be it culturally, economically or environmentally. See the collection today at www.viannaocchino.com. Ten percent of profits from the collection will go toward an organization associated with mental health awareness.

Jacqueline Aquino Wedding

2014 2012 Jacqueline Aquino married Daniel Prinz on April 12, 2019, at St. Benedict’s in the Bronx with a reception at Whitby Castle in Rye, NY. There were four fellow Ursuline alumnae in her wedding, which included her sisters, Nichole Aquino ’11 and Veronica Aquino ’18, her cousin, Jennifer Russo ’13, and friend, Elizabeth McShane ’12. Jackie and Daniel have been together since her Ursuline days and he joined her for both TUS proms.

Jackie is currently teaching eighth grade Math at Ponus Ridge Middle School in Norwalk, CT, where she also directs the school musical. Congratulations!

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Bianca Biagini is a second year associate at KPMG where she is a CPA. In 2019 she received the Chairman’s Award for High Performance, which is KPMG’s most prestigious honor.

This award distinguishes and celebrates those KPMGers who are helping to lead the way through their exemplary performance, commitment to quality, and demonstration of the firm’s values every day. Well done, Bianca!

2016 Congratulations to Sara Marciano who will be joining the Class of 2024 at the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine.

2017 A group of classmates and their mothers enjoyed getting together around the holidays. Since the young women graduated in May 2017, they have been blessed to stay in touch and plan annual outings to the city around Christmas time. Given the group of 20, getting moms and daughters to agree on a date and time for a dinner and show isn’t always easy, but there is a special bond with the girls as well as the “moms” and they look forward to it each year. The group hopes to continue this well after they graduate from college in 2021!

Ursuline alumnae can discuss careers and share job postings on our LinkedIn group: The Ursuline School, New Rochelle, NY. Be sure to follow The Ursuline School company page on LinkedIn.

We Want to Hear From You! Send your news to Advancement Coordinator, Nina Garcia by mail: 1354 North Ave., New Rochelle, NY 10804 or by email: garcian@ursulinenewrochelle.org

Photo Quality Important!

We love to share your photos but they need to be high resolution. Please send the original photo file, not compressed or downloaded from social media. If your photo appears here smaller than you expected, the file size may have been small. Please know we did our best.

Attention Alumnae: If you are not receiving the monthly Alumnae E-Newsletters or invitations to events such as the Holiday Party, and you would like to receive these, please email Renata Cioth Mulder, Director of Communications, at mulderr@ursulinenewrochelle.org 56

We Remember Them personalized inspirational messages, visits, FaceTime calls and gifts - all in the hope of lifting Annie’s spirits. Annie shared with Good Morning America that “Happiness can serve as a kind of medicine.” In fact, the excitement and support she received helped Annie to outlive her 48-hour prognosis by two months! She faced life - and her struggles - with grace and courage. Annie left a heartfelt message to be shared after her passing to “Live your life, laugh again, enjoy yourself, be free, then I will know with every breath you take, you will be taking one for me…”

Annie, you truly “left a mark” on all who were blessed to know you, and we are happy to take each breath in your honor.

Annie McMahon ’15

By Jill Boughner

Although not blessed with length of years in life, Annie McMahon ’15, a cystic fibrosis warrior and transplant recipient, was blessed with a smile that could light up a room, the courage to never give up hope, and poise to face the daily challenges that CF presented her. Annie, who passed away on July 25, 2019, lived her life to the fullest, committing herself to the Ursuline motto of Serviam - “I will serve.” She was a fundraiser for CF research, a spokesperson for CF and organ transplants, and a fighter and supporter for others who were living with CF. Her use of social media and speaking gave the public an honest and realistic look at her life with CF. After two double lung transplants and in need of a third, but with health conditions that left her too weak, Annie was given just 48 hours to live. It was at this time that Annie’s story went viral after a group of her close friends, including many of her Ursuline classmates and family dubbed “Annie’s Army,” posted a video of a weak Annie dancing to Taylor Swift’s song “You Belong with Me.” Taylor Swift was Annie’s favorite artist and someone she had the “life-long dream” to meet. The efforts of “Annie’s Army” and the power of social media not only came through with a chance connection with Taylor Swift, but also generated an outpouring of support from over 100 entertainment giants with

Sr. Celestine Costello O.S.U. Sr. Celestine Costello, a beloved member of the Ursuline Community, died peacefully on October 19, 2019, at Andrus-on-Hudson, Hastings, NY. Sr. Celestine had taught Religious Studies and Math at The Ursuline School 1962 - 1967 and 1986 - 2002. She is also fondly remembered as a homeroom teacher. After her retirement, Sr. Celestine was an enthusiastic supporter of Ursuline and interested in many of our school events.

Sr. Celestine was born in Peekskill, NY, to Teresa and Raymond Costello in 1934. She entered the Ursulines shortly after graduating from the College of New Rochelle in 1956. She later earned an MA in Education and an MS in Library Science from the Catholic University of America.

Sr. Celestine enjoyed a 40-year ministry as an educator. She served as a librarian at the College of New Rochelle and as the founding principal of Our Lady of the Woods Academy in Bethesda, MD. Sr. Celestine taught at the Bethesda Ursuline Academy lower school and high school, at the Wilmington (DE) Ursuline Academy and at The Ursuline School.

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

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We Remember These are the In Memoriam notices received by the Advancement Office as of January 17, 2020.

The Ursuline School community extends our deep sympathy to the loved ones of those listed here.

ALUMNAE:

FRIENDS:

Sr. Jean Bautz, RSCJ ’40 Sister of Helen Bautz Strachan ’38 Gloria Jennings Claudet ’42 Mother of Susan Antilla ’72 Gloria Gregory McDermott ’44 Sister of Jacqueline Gregory Moreau ’46 (RIP) Marguerite Braschoss Reeder ’46 Mother of Catherine Reeder Kearney ’75 Patricia Morrisey Walsh ’46 Mother of Barbara Walsh Vigliotti ’72 Fernanda Walsh Jarasek ’73 Meggan Walsh ’75 Mary Anna Connor Scanlon ’48 Mother of M. Colleen Scanlon ’72 Dorian Brice Hunt ’58 Sister of Barbara Brice McLoughlin ’57 Joan Brice Mellon ’60 Mary Elizabeth Dalton O’Reilly ’61 Erica Branch-Ridley ’83 Sister of Gabrielle Branch ’85 Annie McMahon ’15 Sister of Kathryn McMahon ’17 Meagan McMahon ’21 Claire McMahon ’21

Gaia Bernardini Niece of Leslie Deich ’79 Philomena Biancardi Mother of Joanna Valentini (TUS Staff) Timothy Boehler Son of Jean Boehler (Former TUS Faculty) Robert Boughner Father of Jill Boughner (TUS Staff) Jean Barrett Colligan Grandmother of Catherine McEvily ’99 Claire McEvily ’10 Elizabeth McShane ’12 Sr. Celestine Costello, OSU (Former TUS Faculty) Margaret Emanuel Mother of Diane Emanuel Sammons ’82 Linda Emanuel O’Meara ’85 William Finneran Grandfather of Kelly Proctor ’26 Robert Gillin Father of Ann Gillin Lefever ’82 Mary Pat Gillin Simunovich ’83 Elizabeth Gillin Agarabi ’85

Virginia Hagen Mother of Kerry Morris Orlich ’87 Richard House Grandfather of Chloe Best ’19 Kay Lawless Sister of Eileen Davidson (TUS Administration) Aunt of Shawn Davidson DeVivo ’90 Great Aunt of Tessa DeVivo ’19 Veronica Morehouse Grandmother of Jill Boughner (TUS Staff) James Savage Husband of Patricia Savage (Former TUS Faculty) Andrea Skudlarek Sister of MaryLou LaSala Pagano ’83 Aunt of Caroline Pagano ’18 Lawrence Specchierla Father of Therese Specchierla Perez ’83 Anna Torino Mother of Mary Daniele (TUS Staff)

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“Let your intentions in the fulllment of your duties be so pure that you reject from your actions every other object but the glory of God and the salvation of souls.”

St. Angela Merici 58

“I joined the

Legacy Society to help ensure that there is a strong financial endowment for the future development of Ursuline women.”

Helen Mitchell Waters ’58, P’89 is grateful for the education, and the grade through her senior year at The Ursuline School.

Planned Giving at The Ursuline School The Legacy Society was established to honor donors who have remembered The Ursuline School by bequest through a variety of planned giving methods - charitable trusts, retained life estate, or the gift of a life insurance policy. These generous donors are ensuring a strong foundation for Ursuline’s future. We are deeply grateful for their commitment to our school and pleased to share their Ursuline stories.

There is no pre-determined amount to join The Legacy Society. The Ursuline Advancement team can help you create a planned gift that fits your life, your values, and your charitable and financial goals. For more information, contact Director of Philanthropy Catherine Fay McCarthy ’84 at (914) 500-6284 or cathfmcc@ursulinenewrochelle.org Anonymous Margery Ames ’67 Diane Murphy Capstaff ’62 Catherine Corbett † Linda and Sean D’Arcy Holly Delohery Maryanne DiMarzo ’69 Patricia Niles Dohrenwend ’62 Terrence Dougherty † Lisa DelPriore Hannan ’81 Liz Healy ’94 Agnes Marie Hooley ’30 † Cora Koch ’74 Catherine Fay McCarthy ’84 Winifred Walsh Morris ’32 † Sharon Murphy ’54

Marie Nebel ’38 † Ruth McCooey O’Neill ’38 † Robert Phillips † Martha Reddington ’72 Mary Jane Kann Reddington ’41 John T. Shields † Maureen Specchierla Lawrence Specchierla † Laura Steward ’81 Ruth Ann Tully ’66 Helen Mitchell Waters ’58 and Martin Waters † Mary Fulbeck Webster ’29 and Merwin Webster † Kristen Wenzel, OSU † † Deceased

leadership and values of Serviam that were instilled in her from the third

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MANY SMALL GIFTS - ONE MAJOR IMPACT Crowdfunding works at Ursuline… We invite you to take part in our 6th annual crowdfunding event starting at noon on April 23 through noon April 24.

Add your $24 - $48 -$240 gift to hundreds of others and support Ursuline students..

Look out for entertaining emails and social media posts as the day approaches.

Track the progress starting on April 23 - watch the map fill in, the college list grow and the gift tally increase on the Action Center at

www.ursulinenewrochelle.org/CROWDS4TUS20

#CROWDS4TUS #6YEARSRUNNING #GOKOALAS Email: garcian@ursulinenewrochelle.org to add or update your email