Blue&Gold Summer 2020
NAVIGATING A NEW NORMAL
Then&Now The classroom has changed over the years - especially within the last year! Our students were confined to classrooms in the 1970s. Now, advances in technology allowed our teachers to continue to virtually educate our students during a global pandemic!
VER ON THE CnOected
hers con Our teac dents - and with stu er - using each oth onference video c m calls fro March to June.
to visit the elderly and infim Sisters of Mercy at McAuley Convent.
Summer 2020
INTHIS ISSUE DEPARTMENTS
WALDRON MERCY ACADEMY, A CATHOLIC SCHOOL SPONSORED BY THE SISTERS OF MERCY, IS A DIVERSE, FAITH COMMUNITY ROOTED IN THE GOSPEL VALUES OF MERCY AND JUSTICE. WE ARE A SCHOOL WHERE THE JOY OF DISCOVERY INSPIRES SERIOUS STUDY, SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AND STRONG FAITH.
FEATURE
2 From the Principal 4 Joy of Discovery 6 Happening on Campus 8 The Power of Mercy 10
Families of Waldron 14 Newsworthy
12 School’s Out: Teaching and Learning during a Pandemic Our teachers hit the ground running, applying the skills they use inside the classroom to educate students online.
facebook.com/WaldronMercyAcademy facebook.com/groups/WaldronMercyAlumni Follow us on Twitter: twitter.com/WaldronMercy Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/waldronmercy Join us on LinkedIn: Search groups for “Waldron Mercy Alumni” or “Waldron Mercy Academy Parents and Friends”
Volume 16, Issue 1 Blue & Gold is published twice a year by the Marketing and Communications Office for the alumni, parents and friends of Waldron Mercy Academy.
CONTRIBUTORS:
PHOTOGRAPHY:
DESIGN:
Marguerite Flynn Suzanne Gallagher Carolyn Leonard Karen McGinley
Carolyn Leonard
AcquireVisual.com
From the Principal hat a year this has been! I am so proud of our students and staff for showing so much resilience as we worked together to overcome unprecedented challenges resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. Teacher creativity and innovation reached new levels; student independence soared. As you read on, you will learn about members of our WMA community who stepped up in light of the pandemic, providing PPE, healthcare services or feeding the hungry. Despite the difficulties we continue to face, Waldron Mercy has grown in strength and faith and has proven the importance of a values based, Catholic Mercy education. Of course, there is always more we can do. This year a group of dedicated staff, parents, alumni, trustees, and others from the local Mercy community are developing a new Strategic Plan for Waldron Mercy Academy under the guidance of our consultant, Partners In Mission. The Strategic Plan will act as the compass for WMA’s future direction and leadership, so areas such as our Catholic Mercy identity, mission, curriculum, facilities, finance, student life, etc. will be addressed during this process. You’ll hear more about this during the school year. Speaking of our Catholic Mercy mission, I assure you that diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) continue to be at the forefront of our minds. Waldron has an excellent Board of Trustees DEI committee dedicated to making sure WMA is always moving forward in its mission to be “rooted in the gospel values of Mercy and justice.” As a Mercy school, this summer we grieved and prayed for all those in the African American community whose lives have been lost and whose families have been affected by violence rooted
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in racism. Waldron is committed to the necessary work of eliminating racism by specifically teaching and discussing with our students and each other the Critical Concerns of Anti-Racism and Non-Violence established by the Sisters of Mercy. We have been and continue to be committed to hiring qualified people who reflect the diversity of our school, with an emphasis on those who are Black or Brown. We are listening and we are learning. You might want to join us in our One Book, One School choice this year: White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo. In recognizing the importance of educating ourselves in order to become better people and allies, our staff will be led in discussion of this important topic in August and will continue professional development throughout the year. Some of the additional actions WMA is taking, including curriculum updates, are described in more detail in this issue. Others, such as an overhaul of our history curriculum, will be a year-long process. I encourage you to use your connections to help WMA become a better, more inclusive community; if you know teachers who would consider working at WMA, or speakers who will help us further educate ourselves about antiracism and inclusivity, please contact me at principal@waldronmercy.org. As I close, I invite you to join us at 6:30 each night to pray for all those affected by the COVID pandemic, those who are sick or who have died, families that struggle either with fear or loss of loved ones or jobs, and those who work in large group settings, including our health care workers and, in September, our teachers.
CONGRATULATIONS,
SR. JOELLEN! This issue of the Blue & Gold could not pass without us celebrating Sr. Joellen McDonnell for all of her contributions to Waldron Mercy as she moves on to her newly appointed position of Life Coordinator for the Sisters of Mercy at the Motherhouse. “I met many wonderful families at WMA and watched as each of you and your children grew in Mercy. Each of you taught me life lessons of kindness, trust and hope in our future,” Sr. Joellen reflected. Sr. Joellen’s heart and spirit are infused in the corridors of our building. With her kind and compassionate ways, she has impacted the lives of so many in our community. She was serving as a teacher at Merion Mercy Academy in 1987 when she was asked to play a lead role as the new Vice Principal in the merging of Waldron Academy for Boys and MMA’s lower school. When her talents were needed, she became Principal at St. Christopher’s School in Philadelphia in 1991 before becoming Principal at St. Denis School in Havertown. Sr. Joellen returned to WMA in 2006. As the Director of Admissions for the last 14 years, she’s introduced the newest generation of Waldron Mercy families to our wonderful school. She is always especially proud of inviting WMA and Merion Mercy alumni back to campus to educate their children. The good news is that Sr. Joellen’s new position is just up the hill and we will be able to see her often. While she may not be in our building, she will always be in our hearts. We have been blessed to have Sr. Joellen as an invaluable member of our family, and we hope you will join us in congratulating her.
CELEBRATING OUR JUBILARIANS We couldn’t let a pandemic stop us from honoring our Sisters of Mercy who reached milestone anniversaries this year! Unable to do so in person, members of our faculty and staff held a drive by parade all over the greater Philadelphia area to recognize the 60th jubilees of reading specialist Sr. Barbara MacWilliams, Board Trustee Sr. Marie Michele Donnelly; and the 70th jubilees of Board Trustee Sr. Marianna Walsh, Latin teacher Sr. Mary Hasson and recent WMA retiree Sr. Kathleen Anne McKee. “Celebrating my 60th Jubilee this spring was a unique experience and surprise given the pandemic,” said Sr. Barbara. “It was a delight and a blessing to see and hear my co-workers as they drove around the circle beeping their horns.”
The cars were adorned with decorations and signs wishing the sisters well. Passengers stuck their heads out of the windows to yell messages of support while maintaining a safe, social distance from the sisters. Each sister also received a delivery of cupcakes to show our gratitude for these women who live their lives in Mercy for Waldron Mercy Academy.
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JOY OF DISCOVERY
“A good beginning is of great importance” VENERABLE CATHERINE MCAULEY
WMA classrooms are filled with students who are exploring new ideas, reaching new heights, and achieving academic success.
Joining a Global Initiative aldron Mercy joined an international education program this year: Global Maker Day! Educators started the event to give students an opportunity to be innovative,
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confident problem solvers through hands-on learning experiences. It also enables schools around the world to connect and share their ideas through video feeds, blogs, and social media using the hashtag #GlobalMakerDay. Each grade had specific, timed challenges with limited materials that students completed in small groups or pairs. For example, sixth graders built prototypes with plastic connectors based on specific prompts. One group was challenged to make a necklace to protect its wearer from the weather (pictured) while another group had to figure out how to make wings for a whale. “It was a little hard at first to talk about everyone’s different ideas, but we eventually combined everyone’s thoughts,” reflected Téa Oliver, a member of the group that made the whale wings. “I liked the way it turned out in the end.”
Top: Maggie Schmidt, McKenzie Blackmon, and Ryan McDonald complete a block ball path. Left: Olivia Wolanin and Mimi O’Malley display their necklace prototype. Right: Third grader Evan Kratz tests a parachute.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) his summer MESA (Mercy Education System of the Americas) provided us curriculum resources to include more African American history in our middle grades’ language arts and social studies programs, and we are adapting those ideas for our younger students. Our staff is also enhancing the Mercy and social justice themed religion curriculum MESA schools developed last year. In order to uphold our mission, and to better teach the Critical Concern of AntiRacism, we had already decided to purchase items our children see and use within our walls to better reflect the variety of people, cultures, and experiences that exist in the world. We are expanding our culturally
diverse fiction and non-fiction reading material, especially those written by Black, Brown, and other people of color, and displaying more Black, Brown, and other people of color in our halls and classrooms, including featuring a photograph of Sr. Cora Marie Billings, a Philadelphia native and the first African American Sister of Mercy. This September we had already planned a Dr. Mykee Fowlin ‘You Don’t Know Me Until You Know Me’ workshop for our older students, and we will be implementing a bias incident reporting process. Conversations will continue among our staff, DEI Committee, and our Board of Trustees as we strive to live our mission.
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ALUMNI ON THE FRONTLINES From the frontlines of the COVID-19 to the frontlines of the fight for social justice and the Critical Concern of Anti-Racism, here are just a few leaders who got their start at Waldron Mercy Academy. Lauren Solometo ’02, D.O., provided mental health services to patients as she finished her last year of residency in psychiatry at the University of Virginia. Technology, she says, has greatly helped her practice. “At UVA, we’ve been grateful for telemedicine which has allowed us to continue safely providing mental health services to our patients during the pandemic.” Lauren will soon return to the Philadelphia area to practice with Main Line Health.
Lauryn Redcross ’18 used her Mercy roots to organize a peaceful protest in Bryn Mawr, Pa., after the deaths of Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Aubrey and George Floyd. “I began to contemplate When did my skin color become a threat? How many more people of color have to die because of it? and Could I be next?” she explained. She organized the event alongside fellow members of the Black Student Union at The Shipley School. “We wanted to raise awareness that racial injustices, overt or implied, are plaguing our world and people of color are dying as a result of hatred and bigotry.”
Matthew Young ’95, BSN, RN, CNOR, provided immediate care to COVID-19 patients in the ICU of Methodist Hospital in Philadelphia. “It was tough watching patients fall victim to this virus and not be able to have their loved ones at their side. I felt privileged to be there for them, and commit to the spirit of Mercy that taught me no one dies alone.”
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HAPPENING ON CAMPUS and off!
“We must strive to do ordinary things extraordinarily well.”
VENERABLE CATHERINE MCAULEY
WMA students showcase their talents outside the classroom through a full range of extra-curricular and co-curricular activities.
Connecting the WMA Community reativity, innovation, flexibility. Concepts taught throughout the year were put into action with the onset of distance learning when our staff moved on-campus activities online as a way to keep our community connected and engaged during difficult times. Wednesday morning at WMA means Community Gathering and although we were unable to be together physically, our weekly school wide assembly didn’t miss a beat by transitioning into a video format just one week into distance learning. Compilations of pictures and videos allowed students to see what classmates and other grade levels were doing in their virtual classrooms -- especially important during this time when they could not see each other on campus.
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Faculty and staff made surprise appearances to close out the weekly virtual experience with the Pledge of Allegiance, school song, and communal prayer. Another powerful and anticipated tradition at WMA that brings students from all grade levels together in prayer is the eighth grade portrayal of the passion of our Lord.
“I was very upset when I thought we might have to miss the Passion Play due to COVID-19. I had been looking forward to it for a couple of years,” said Kaitlyn Quinn ’20. “It's a gift from eighth grade to our school community,” explained Mr. Greg Soltis, Director of Outreach and Religious Education. “More importantly, we as a school and a society were (and still are) in such a need for the story of Easter and the hope that overcomes suffering.” To fill these needs, Mr. Soltis reimagined the dialogue-heavy play as an eighth grade narrated video experience that paired powerful photos with a beautifully adapted script that connected the story of Holy Week to the global pandemic. While it may have looked different, the spiritual experience will be remembered for years to come, especially by the Class of 2020!
A Twist on Traditions e couldn’t let the year come to a close without some of our favorite end-of-year traditions! Our Athletic Director Mr. Adam Dickman brought the experiences of Field Day into students’ homes. The day started with a warm up and pep rally and ended with a school-wide dance party over Zoom. Throughout the day, students and families competed in 15 fun new games that they learned thanks to demonstration videos from faculty members.
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When asked what his favorite part of the day was, rising fifth grader Matteo Villari responded, “The whole thing! I loved every single part about it; it was so fun!”
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The Art Show also had a virtual twist this year! Ms. Beth Hymel collected photos of artwork that students created and compiled it all onto one website, giving students and their families a chance to see everyone’s work inspired by art in Spanish speaking countries. It almost felt like talking a walk down the corridors of WMA!
Celebrating Hispanic Heritage
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tudents paraded into the gym waving flags of Spanish speaking countries from around the world. No, it wasn’t the Olympics - it was the first WMA school-wide celebration for Hispanic Heritage Month! During the event, specials teachers gave presentations about influential Hispanic artists, athletes, authors, and scientists. Students spent the weeks leading up to the celebration learning Spanish songs in music and Spanish classes, culminating in a sing-a-long led by music teacher Ms. Barbara Baldwin. “The celebration helped me identify with the cultures, even though I am not Hispanic,”
commented rising sixth grader Charlie Parson. Arguably the most exciting part of the event was when an associate professor at Temple University, who is also a certified Latin American dance instructor, dressed some of our students in traditional garments to learn dances from around the world. Students and teachers in the audience joined in on the fun, too! The event exposed students to the cultures of native Spanish speakers in a fun environment outside of the classroom setting while also recognizing Hispanic Heritage Month and its celebration of Spanish speaking countries around the world.
Left: Students filed into the Dixon Gym representing different Spanish speaking countries. Above: A Temple arts professor taught dances to our students.
2020 CAL Champions! he Dixon Gym was filled to capacity with students of all ages, parents, and teachers as the Varsity CAL Boys Basketball team took home the trophy in February with a win over Holy Child Rosemont. Congratulations to the team and all WMA 2019-2020 athletes on a wonderful year of athletic accomplishments and displaying Mercy on and off the field!
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POWER OF MERCY
“The poor need help today, not next week.” VENERABLE CATHERINE MCAULEY
Catherine’s spirit of outreach and service that was instilled in our students here continues throughout high school, college, and beyond.
The Spirit of Mercy Shines Through COVID-19 FEEDING THOSE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS
It was no surprise to see the Waldron Mercy family step up to support communities throughout the Delaware Valley during the first few months of COVID-19!
In just a month and a half, Elizabeth McCauley McCall ’00 gathered more than 2,000 masks, thousands of pairs of gloves and foot covers, 100+ protective goggles, several dozen lab coats, and even cleaning supplies for healthcare workers and first responders in Philadelphia and Montgomery County. “This was our very small way of supporting healthcare worker efforts and trying to do our part to make their jobs easier,” she explained.
The Parents Association’s Outreach Committee rallied our families to fund a full seven nights of meals for the men at Project HOME’s St. Columba residence at 41st and Chestnut Streets. The meals were prepared and delivered by Jack's Firehouse, owned by the parents of Michael Houston ’18.
Trustee Beth Delaney (parent of Katie ’02, Colleen ’06 and John ’07), Mary Beth Connors (parent of Danielle ’00), Debbie Corr (wife of James ’82) and a group of Associates in Mercy funded weekly pizza nights for residents at Project HOME’s Women of Change shelter at 20th and Arch Streets in lieu of monthly in-person dinners.
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SUPPORTING ESSENTIAL WORKERS
Jenny Spinner and the rest of the McGahey family (including Quinn ’20, rising fifth grader Ciaran, and rising second grader Finn) collected more than 1,200 bagged lunches for St. John’s Hospice and four oversized tubs of nutritious food items for the Green Light Pantry. “We decided to focus specifically on people experiencing homelessness as an acknowledgment of our privilege of having a home in which to shelter,” explained Jenny.
After our doors closed in March, Principal Ann Marie Braca wanted to make sure the extra masks WMA had on campus were put to good use. She reached out to one of our physician families and, along with Merion Mercy Academy, donated 500 masks to Penn Medicine and CHOP. Mrs. Braca was later informed that due to the critical mask shortage at the time, WMA’s masks replaced those worn by medical staff for multiple days in a row.
Beyond our Walls Our alums know a thing or two about giving back... Maeve Pinheiro ’17 raised $32,818 in just seven weeks for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS)! She was selected to participate in LLS’s nationwide philanthropic leadership program called Students of the Year. From January to March, Maeve used her Mercy Spirit to raise money for the organization. The funds will be used to further research and treatment of blood cancers and to provide assistance to patients and families.
We put out a call to our families to see if they had masks to donate; Maria Cacia and Michael Carosella, parents of rising third grader Chase Carosella, answered. They gave masks they had in stock at their South Philadelphia business, C&R Building Supply, to physician parent Dr. Geoff Hayden, who works at Jefferson Hospital (pictured with his daughter Anderson on the day he picked up the masks). Overall, the couple says they donated hundreds and hundreds of masks to different doctors and hospitals. “It was the least we could do,” Maria declared.
Carrie Santoro, mother of rising eighth grader Jake, coordinated an effort that raised nearly $22,000 to fund 3,950 meals for essential workers -- including sanitation workers, medical staff, and grocery store employees throughout the region. The meals were intended to lift the morale of recipients, while supporting small businesses at the same time; all meals came from local restaurants, such as Campo’s Deli, run by Mia Campo ’98, Michael Campo ’97 and their parents. Carrie gives a lot of credit to the WMA community. “So many WMA families contributed money, and suggested places that could use meals and restaurants that could use our help,” Carrie said.
Maeve
Lauren Starker ’14 was part of the Public Relations Committee for THON at Penn State, helping to raise awareness about THON, the largest student-run philanthropy in the world. The year-long effort culminates in a 46-hour, no-sitting, no-sleeping dance marathon each February to stand against childhood cancer. As part of her duties this year, Lauren escorted student press and national press representatives around during the dance marathon. “Outreach has been important to me since I attended Waldron Mercy and I am Lauren honored that Penn State still gives me the opportunity to serve the community,” said Lauren, who also helped throughout the year with THON fundraising events through her sorority.
Maya Murray ’17 recently finished her term on the Teen Board of The Starfish Project for Children, a program aimed at inspiring children and young adults to get involved in service. As a member, she helped imagine and plan community service projects. Her next step is to finish organizing a designated, wide-reaching service club in her high school. Maya, a rising senior at The Baldwin School, also participates in a Project HOME program in the summer, engaging in projects to fight hunger, homelessness, and poverty in Philadelphia, and plans to join an outreach organization in college. “I always want to give back to my community somehow,” Maya revealed.
Maya
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Families of Each WMA family brings a unique value to our school and has been a part of making WMA what we are today. This overwhelming sense of community lives within WMA. The contributions of our families’ time, talents, and resources are generous and greatly appreciated; even more importantly, the presence of each family adds to the blessings of the Circle of Mercy here at WMA. We’d like to introduce you to a few of our families...
Mullen It’s no hyperbole to say that if you are part of the WMA family, you have been impacted in some way by Jeff and Suzanne Mullen. Jeff has served on the Board of Trustees for nine years, and Suzanne has helped outfit our students in Spirit Wear for about seven years. Their family has seen four kids graduate from WMA with one still to go! Connor ’11 is a St. Joseph’s Prep grad in 2015, Penn State in 2019, and is now working for Deloitte in Philadelphia. Kelsey ’12 attended Merion Mercy Academy and graduated from Penn State this year. She entered Temple University’s Occupational Therapy Program in June! Just like her sister, Noelle ’15 graduated from MMA and just completed her freshman year at the University of Delaware. Shane ’17 is a junior at St. Joseph’s Prep, and the youngest Mullen, Kevin, is a rising sixth grader. Suzanne says that the Mercy charism has become an important part of their lives. “It’s everywhere that Waldron touches. We saw it being nourished in our children. They each have Mercy in their hearts and for that we will be forever grateful.”
McGill Adrian and Dr. Alana McGill and their children, rising seventh grader AJ, rising first grader Ava, and rising kindergartener Avery, are a proud WMA family. Alana says that Waldron Mercy challenges their children every day to learn more and reach their highest potential. Through this, she says, all three have gained a motivation to learn. “We love that they are so excited about what they are learning and all of the friendships they have made over the years,” said Alana.
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“The Tender Mercy of God has given us one another.” VENERABLE CATHERINE MCAULEY
Avitabile Charlie (rising third grader) and Emily (rising kindergartener) both began their Waldron Mercy education at our Child Care facility - “up the hill.” Their younger brother, Teddy, will enter preschool in the fall. “He can’t wait to go to ‘big school’,” Dr. Kate Avitabile proclaimed. There is a lot that Kate and her husband Mark love about WMA, including the Mercy charism, the focus on social justice, and the art and music programs. They are great supporters of the school - Kate, a cardiologist at CHOP, has also lent her expertise to teach our youngest students about having healthy hearts, and they say they love bidding at Tigerfest!
Carter Meet Joan, Bryan, and rising eighth grader Elaina Carter! They have been part of the WMA family since Elaina started preschool 10 years ago, thanks to a family friend with a then fourth grader. “When we moved from Chicago to Philadelphia, a friend insisted that we live in Narberth, near her, and that we enroll Elaina at Waldron Mercy Academy,” explained Joan. “Our due diligence revealed that Waldron Mercy had a stellar reputation.” The family is very involved at WMA. Elaina can be seen onstage in our performing arts programs, which her parents also love because they develop performance skills and confidence in students. Bryan is an active member of our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee.
Short Jill, Adam, and their daughters became part of the Waldron Mercy family when they enrolled Ainsley and Marlowe in pre-k and preschool. “We felt an immediate connection with the faculty and those teachers in preschool and pre-k that helped us and our kids with the transition to a new school where they did not know anyone. That connection has carried through all the years and we have found the faculty and administration create a very supportive environment for our girls,” reflected Jill. Now rising fifth and fourth graders, their daughters have participated in everything from H.O.P.E. lunches to BetterBall. The two are also big fans of pizza day in the cafeteria!
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he last three months of school were unlike any other in Waldron Mercy’s history as our community navigated the COVID-19 pandemic. Students and teachers rose to the challenge of performing their usual in-classroom tasks from home. For the oldest students, distance learning was the culmination of their efforts over the past eight years, and proof of how far they have come. “WMA set the stage very beautifully for this experience,” reflected Alex Parson, mother of 2020 graduate Henry Parson. “Time management and independence was so ingrained in him already. So I think the kids took what they learned and used that during virtual learning. The original tools were just enhanced in the last few months.” This was all possible thanks to the creative thinking of the Waldron Mercy faculty, who found ways to be flexible around students’ at-home limitations. As part of a research project on the Saints of Mercy fifth grade teacher Dan Kane assigned a paper, but also asked students to complete a creative project. Some students chose to dress as the Saint and act out a presentation, while one created a stop-motion LEGO animation. Creating clear expectations was crucial to this self-sufficiency. “With time, I got better at making sure students and parents knew exactly what was expected of them by providing detailed rubrics. With that consistency, I saw a lot more participation and a lot more success,” said Dan. Faculty members fostered independence across all grade levels as they worked hard to keep classrooms connected and on top of the curriculum. “My daughter learned how to adapt quickly to significant change and maintain independence in her learning. She also learned the importance of building self-confidence and trust amongst her peers, teachers and parents as she worked to complete the assignments with limited oversight,” relayed Eboney Oliver, mother of rising seventh grader Téa Oliver. Innovative teachers were the keys to instilling and introducing independent behaviors in the youngest students. Rachel Gilbert and Rachael Jordan quickly recognized that their kindergarteners needed constant parental supervision to complete daily lessons plans. They decided to change that by putting technology to the test -- narrating the instructions for every single daily lesson and embedding the recordings into their teacher website. “For example, I’d tell them to click the blue words to watch the next video lesson. It was all detailed so they could follow along,” Rachel explained. “The parents said kids liked hearing my voice, too; that it brought them some comfort.”
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The second grade team used a similar technique to enable students to finish a biography research assignment started prior to the building closure. Already armed with the basic knowledge of PebbleGo and other research websites available to them, students followed step-by-step videos created by their teachers to complete their research and fill out graphic organizers. For some, it was a blessing in disguise to be challenged to use technology in a new way. The fourth grade social studies curriculum covers U.S. geography, and, unable to use her originally planned lessons, Meg Kinson found a new way to teach her students: virtual tours of the
SCHOOL’S OUT: National Parks. “In real time, we watched Old Faithful erupt as a class. We also climbed glaciers in Alaska and went into volcanoes in Hawaii,” Kinson remembered with excitement on her face. The students had so much fun with these experiences that Kinson plans to incorporate these virtual tours into her future in-classroom lessons.
“THE ORIGINAL TOOLS WERE JUST ENHANCED IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS.”
TEACHING AND LEARNING DURING A PANDEMIC
“I TRIED TO FIND CREATIVE ASSIGNMENTS THAT WOULDN’T HAVE THEM IN FRONT OF THE COMPUTER THE WHOLE TIME AND ENCOURAGED THEM TO THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX.”
“ISOLATION AND SOCIAL DISTANCING WAS HARD FOR THE KIDS, SO WE WANTED TO TRY AND EASE IT FOR THEM.”
The resourcefulness of teachers truly shined when it came to student assessment. As a preschool teacher, Sandy Evans typically assesses her students based on what she sees in the classroom. So she turned to the next best thing: pictures. She asked parents to send her photographs of their children working with scissors and crayons, and she would give feedback on how to help their child manipulate the objects. She also had the students play virtual musical chairs as an evaluation tool during all-classroom video meetings. “When the music stopped, I would ask questions to make sure that they were doing their assignments at home,” she explained. In Middle School, teachers also found new ways to measure student knowledge. Eighth grade teacher Katie DeSanto transitioned to small weekly projects after realizing her weekly vocabulary quizzes were not going to be effective in a digital format. “I tried to find creative assignments that wouldn’t have them in front of the computer the whole time and encouraged them to think outside the box,” she said. One of her favorite assignments was asking students to use vocabulary words while creating a Weird Al-style parody of a song about their experiences in quarantine. Teachers also cut down on screen time by sending students home the day the building closed with backpacks full of workbooks and textbooks. In early May, Lower School teachers provided students with additional physical materials. “Being able to go to school and get hard copies of the novel they read in third grade, and teacherdesigned work packets which included spelling, grammar and reading comprehension activities was an excellent idea!” enthused Maria Olivero Aliaga, mother of Ignacio Aliaga. “For the kids, it was like a little gift coming from school for them.” A Waldron Mercy education is not only about imparting knowledge -- it’s about building connections and looking after the emotional wellbeing of students. The imaginative faculty worked hard to meet these needs despite the physical distance required by the pandemic. Katie DeSanto used a program that started every Language Arts class with an emotional
check so she could follow up with students as needed. Fifth grade hosted an afternoon virtual recess for the students once a week that was purely social by design. “It was important to have that time and prioritize it. We’d play Pictionary, trivia, Scattergories, etc. Isolation and social distancing was hard for the kids, so we wanted to try and ease it for them,” Dan Kane explained. Teachers also used their Zoom video calls not only as a time for instruction, but a time to bond. “My favorite way to stay connected was by talking in Zoom classes,” relayed Téa Oliver. Rising fourth grader Ignacio Aliaga agreed. “We would do riddles with Mrs. Flatley during our meeting, which made it super fun.” Bonding was especially important to the eighth grade and kindergarten teachers, who had worked all year to build relationships among their students through the Big and Little Buddy program. “Kindergarteners loved connecting with their eighth grade Big Buddy, so we didn’t want to leave the year without doing it again,” said Rachel Gilbert. Together, the kindergarten and eighth grade teams created a scavenger hunt that the Big and Little Buddies completed together over a video call. Some used Zoom as a way to connect students in Mercy. “I would give my fifth graders tasks to do, tell them to do something for their mother that she didn’t ask them to do, and tell the class about it over Zoom,” Dan said. “In Mercy, it’s a social thing -- giving them tasks to make other people happy, especially those closest to them.” Of course, the teachers’ ability to innovate and foster independence skills already taught at WMA would not have been possible without the help of the wonderful parent community. “We appreciate the school surveying parents for input and that the teachers acted on our suggestions,” said Eboney Oliver, a sentiment echoed by many parents who reached out to administrators by email. The parents also helped one another through their experiences at home. “A group chat kept us all engaged and happy,” said Maria Olivero Aliaga. “We had so much fun as parents sharing how our techsavvy 9-year-olds knew better than us what to do.” As the pandemic continues to change the world, one thing is certain: together, the WMA family is prepared to tackle whatever challenges come its way.
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Newswor hy
“Draw persons to God by your words, by your example, and by the works of Mercy.” VENERABLE CATHERINE MCAULEY
The day was beautiful, the sky clear...the perfect day to hold the first WMA drive-up graduation! Families parked in two rows to watch our administrators and faculty members announce recipients of scholarships and awards while also listening over a radio broadcast. Students walked in a socially distanced procession to pick up gift bags containing their diplomas, academic awards, and sports awards.
congRAtulAtions, clAss of 2020!
OUR GRADUATES WILL CONTINUE THEIR EDUCATION:
OUR STUDENTS RECEIVED THE FOLLOWING SCHOLARSHIPS:
Merion Mercy Academy St. Joseph’s Preparatory School LaSalle College High School Sacred Heart Academy The Agnes Irwin School
A full-tuition, Academic Scholarship from St. Joseph’s Preparatory School Two Mercy Scholarships from Merion Mercy Academy Honorable Mention Mercy Scholarship from Merion Mercy Academy
Central High School The Episcopal Academy Haverford High School The Shipley School
Academic Scholarships from Merion Mercy Academy Archbishop Carroll HS St. Thomas More Alumni Scholarship to Merion Mercy Academy The Ignatian Scholarship from St. Joseph’s Preparatory School
Principal’s Scholarship from St. Joseph’s Preparatory School Xavier Scholarship from St. Joseph’s Preparatory School Music Scholarship from St. Joseph’s Preparatory School
WMA Receives Middle stAtes AccReditAtion We are proud to announce that Waldron Mercy once again received accreditation from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education! Representatives from the organization visited our campus in the fall to interview students and faculty members as part of the process to become re-accredited.
Part of the process also required the creation of an Action Research Plan that will sustain excellence in the school for years to come. Our faculty and staff chose to focus on a plan to benefit the mental health of our students: building grit and resilience. Faculty members began creating changes in educational strategies and curricula in the fall of 2019 and will continue to do so until 2022.
tigeRfest tuRns viRtuAl legAcy students Our alums have so much confidence in a Mercy education that they send their children here! Pictured are students who have a parent or grandparent who graduated from WMA or Merion Mercy Academy. 14
Waldron Mercy Academy
Our favorite spring fundraiser looked a little different this year! Dressed in everything from casual attire to their finest, our families logged on to raise a glass to WMA from their living room! Attendees bid on old favorites and new items, competed in virtual trivia, and cheered as raffle ticket winners were announced live.
AluMni notes 1990s
Stay in touch with friends and classmates about your career, family and other noteworthy accomplishments. Email alumni@waldronmercy.org or visit waldronmercy.org/alumni.
2000s
lauryn overbey ’94 was published in the May 2020 edition of Tablets & Capsules magazine, a technical publication for the pharmaceutical industry. Lauren is a pharmaceutical sales representative for ACg World. She is a graduate of Merion Mercy Academy, and earned an undergraduate degree from Tuskegee University and her master’s from St. Joseph's University.
gianna spignardo ’07 was recently promoted to Learning & Development Specialist at PFM in Center City, where she works closely with the Human Resources team and PFM’s Diversity & Inclusion Council. gianna graduated from Academy of Notre Dame de Namur in 2011 and received her bachelor’s degree from Drexel University in 2016.
Jim flowers ’01 married Alana Tomarchio on September 7, 2019. The couple lives in South Philadelphia. Jim is also the son of current WMA nurse Candace Flowers.
Antoine Albert ’04 received a Juris Doctor from georgetown University Law Center where he was part of the global Law Scholar program. He is a graduate of LaSalle College High School and Morehouse College.
FOREvER PHOTOgRAPHy
Kate Brennan ’95 and husband gregory DeCandia welcomed son Ignacio Charles DeCandia to the world on September 20, 2019. In November, Drexel University premiered Kate’s musical, ALiEN8, co-written with NJ playwright David Lee White.
Opera singer donata cucinotta ’96 is teaching voice and piano lessons online after the pandemic cancelled her operas and concerts until 2021. She has also used her talents to raise money for the Indianapolis Opera’s education programming by performing in a live streamed concert in June.
Harry gaffney ’04 wed sweetheart Mellana at a ceremony in Brooklyn in November 2019. Cousin frank dilella ’98 officiated while 2004 classmates Kelvin Johnson, Brannen liang, and Andrew tyron were in attendance. In June 2020, Harry started a new job as the Sales Operations Manager at the tech company Megaphone.
Justin Montague ’11 will spend ten months in Chile on a Fulbright Scholarship to research obesity in children. Upon his return from Chile, Justin will attend Rutgers New Jersey Medical School. He is a graduate of Loyola University ’19 and St. Joseph’s Preparatory School ’15.
Michala Maciolek ’13 is spending her summer interning in the JP Morgan Chase Corporate Analyst Development Program, which is known as one of the top 10 most prestigious internships in the country. Michala is a student at Syracuse University where she is majoring in Business Management and also working towards a minor in Political Science. She is a 2017 graduate of The Agnes Irwin School. nicoleta Arcidiacono ’16, a 2020 graduate from Merion Mercy Academy, was honored by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia for being part of the top three percent of the Class of 2020 from all Catholic high schools in the Philadelphia area. She will attend the University of Pennsylvania in the fall. lauren Zarro ’16 is attending Drexel University in the fall after receiving early acceptance into the Computer Science Program. She is a 2020 graduate from Merion Mercy Academy.
Jimmy King ’17 and nile Andah ’17, members of St. Joseph's Prep Mission and Ministry Leadership Team, spent time with noted Jesuit priest, Father James Martin, SJ, after he spoke to the high school students. daniela colavita ’12 graduated from Loyola University this spring, where she was awarded the Carrell Biology Medal for highest gPA in Biology, the Forensic Studies Medal for Highest gPA in Forensic Studies, and the Whelan Medal for the highest gPA in all subjects. Daniela, the daughter of current staff member Sonia Colavita, is also a 2016 graduate of Merion Mercy Academy. Paige Hodges ’12 will attend Temple University’s Maurice H. Kornberg School of Dentistry in the fall, after also being accepted to Harvard School of Dental Medicine. Paige graduated from Howard University this year with a 4.0 gPA, where she was also inducted into the prestigious Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society.
Andrea-Rose oates ’18 competed in the National American Miss Pageant, Junior Teen Division, held in Anaheim, CA. Andi, a sophomore at The Agnes Irwin School, placed first in the oratory and actress segments and was second runner up among 91 contestants from across the country. Marcus Miller ’19 was recognized as a Class of 2023 Rising Star at St. Joseph’s Prep Bakari Awards, an annual celebration recognizing the achievements of Black, Brown, and multiracial students. BLUE & GOLD
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John Avicolli ’91 and wife Meredith welcomed the arrival of son Jack Thomas Avicolli on March 3, 2020.
izzy Boucas-neto ’94, her husband Edward Lyons, and big brother Eddie welcomed baby sister Eloise on March 26, 2020. A graduate of Merion Mercy Academy and Fordham University, Izzy and her family are residents of Ardmore, Pa.
Michael Mcginley ’95, his wife Andrea, and their daughter Elise, welcomed baby Michael on November 24, 2019.
Cameron grace was born to dana cairone iacono ’98 and her husband Thomas on March 3, 2020.
In Memor am
B I R T H S --------------------------------------
eddie Keels ’98 and his wife Elise welcomed daughter Sydney Louise on January 28, 2020.
Rory Killian was born to sean vincent ’01 and wife Anne Elizbeth on August 25, 2019 at noon sharp. Sean manages the Legal Affairs department at Health Partners Plans and Anne Elizabeth is a Senior Consultant at Deloitte.
Rachel Bowe Paley ‘02, her husband Chris Paley and their son Benjamin welcomed Clara Jane Paley into their family on July 7, 2019. After 8 years in NyC and Hoboken, Rachel and her family relocated back to Newtown Square, Pa. in October.
Annabelle logue
Meg Panas
Grandmother of caitlin curran ’00, Patrick curran ’02, Jack curran ’05, JJ Berenato ’99, and lauren Berenato ’01
Former Faculty
nick Augustine
Patricia fitzPatrick
Maureen stumm lucas
Brother of faculty member Mary Augustine
Grandmother of Meghan fitzPatrick ’04, Burk fitzPatrick ’07, tricia Markey ’11, and Mary cate Markey ’13
Mother of Misty stumm Rice ’95
John Baxter
Paul leach Father of Patrick leach ’90
Father of Kim Baxter, Former Trustee
Antionette gallone
James Bracken
Grandmother of Katie gallone ’18
Kittie Mae logan
Jean grandizio
Mother of steve logan, former faculty; mother-in-law of staff member sharon logan
Father of Jim Bracken ’75, Grandfather of Megan Mcinnes ’00, garrett Mcinnes ’01, and erin Mcinnis ’04 Uncle of lily and grace colucci ’19
Mother of staff member fran gallagher, grandmother of lizann gallagher Mclaughlin ’94, caroline gallagher finnegan ’02, christine ’00, and charles ’05 gallagher
diane conwell
sr. virginia Hasson, RsM
Wife of charles conwell ’53
Sister of Sr. Mary Hasson, faculty
Alice Bateman doyle
Anne Kakos
Mother of Alice ’89, nell ’90, Bob ’91, liz ’94, Agnes, and Molly Bateman
Grandmother of frank Kakos ’12, Mother-in-law of faculty member carolina Kakos
Stepfather of William frio ’84 and grandfather of Joey frio ’11
sr. elizabeth Ann Kelly, RsM
cheryl Monzo
Former faculty member
Mother of louis Monzo ’93 and Marissa Monzo Harrow ’99
samuel colucci
dr. Robert falbey ’64 16
Waldron Mercy Academy
Noelle Elise Pagano was born on May 14, 2020 to Kristy constantino Pagano ’00 and her husband Mark. Noelle has a big sister, Nicolette.
eugene Piccolo Great-grandfather of colin cahill
dr. William Purner Father of Andrea Purner orsini ’91
Angelo victor emanuel Rucci Father of Ralph Rucci ’71
Mildred Ricchiuti Grandmother of samantha ’07; mother-in-law of lisa Ricchiuti, faculty
terry J. McHugh, iii ’49 douglas and Mary Ann Miner
Mary schwab
Grandfather and grandmother of Brendan ’03 and Katie ’06 smith; mother-in-law of faculty member Mary Pat Miner
Marie Antoinette turzo*
Kerry Pacifico
Sister of Matthew young ’95 and Meghan young ’05
Grandmother of christina schwab ’17 Grandmother of christian turzo-egan ’10
Meredith young ’96
*We appreciate the generosity of the family of Marie Antoinette Turzo who requested that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Montessori Program at WMA.
Ways to Give GIFT OF TIME Dave DeAngelis ’91 is not only a graduate, but is also the father of rising sixth grader Annalise DeAngelis. Since he and his wife Jen enrolled their daughter in our Montessori program, they have donated countless hours of their time to WMA. Dave just wrapped up his year as the President of the Parents Association, and he deserves extra thanks as he led the group through a much different “i think sometimes end of year than expected! He and his wife people forget how have been members of the Tigerfest much of an impact Committee for the last three years, attending their elementary meetings, giving input and ideas, and helping school, especially with the sometimes arduous task of set up and breakdown for the one like WMA, had event. He especially on their early helped make Tigerfest a foundations. ” success this year when it had to turn virtual! volunteering his time to Waldron Mercy appears to be second nature. Dave steps up wherever needed to further the mission of the school and is very humble about accepting praise for his work. “I went to school here and a lot of my life's values and morals were formed here with teachers and coaches,” he explained. “Now I have a chance to give back and give my daughter the same experience.” Dave has also brought his extensive experience to the Facilities Committee of the Board for the past two years, helping make sure that our building is the best it can be for our students. On most spring weekends you can find Dave, assisted by Jen, painting or building sets for both the Lower School and Middle School plays - even this year, he was well into prep work for both events before COvID shut down both performances. It’s not all meetings and manual labor -- Dave does allow himself to have some fun. Dave and Jen are almost permanent fixtures at all on campus events, from parent centered events like Tigerfest to our alumni reunions and happy hours. “I would love to see more of my fellow alumni at some of these events, whether they are visiting or helping,” he explained. “I think sometimes people forget how much of an impact their elementary school, especially one like WMA, had on their early foundations.”
GIFT OF TREASURE THE WALDRON ANNUAL FUND The Annual Fund campaign provides support for general operating expenses such as student and faculty programs, curriculum, technology, and building and grounds improvements.
MATCHING GIFTS You can double your support by designating Waldron Mercy Academy as the recipient of matching funds if your employer has a matching gift program.
THE UNITED WAY WMA is approved to receive donations through United Way’s Giving Program. If you already use this as a way to give, please consider WMA as a recipient when choosing where to allocate your funds through United Way. Our designation is: Waldron Mercy Academy #14245. GIFTS OF STOCK You can also give appreciated stock, which is easily transferable and provides special tax benefits. Please contact us for more information. PENNSYLVANIA BUSINESS OWNERS If your company pays Pennsylvania state income tax, it may be possible to give the funds to WMA instead. Through the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) and the Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit (OSTC) programs, your company can receive a substantial tax credit while supporting WMA’s Student Aid Fund. Certain individuals may now direct their tax dollars, too! Review this opportunity with your tax adviser and contact our advancement office.
THE EDGAR H. GRIFFITHS ’35 PLANNED GIVING SOCIETY Even after his death, Edgar made sure that his generosity to Waldron Mercy would continue by remembering Waldron Mercy in his will, which noted the impact the Sisters of Mercy had on his life. We hope that you will be inspired to follow Edgar and Mary Griffiths’ example and include Waldron Mercy in your estate plans. Your gift will have a significant effect on the education Waldron Mercy Academy provides to present and future students.
THE GUZZARDI SCHOLARSHIP FUND This fund was established by brothers Robert ’58, Lawrence ’60, and Michael ’64 Guzzardi in memory of their parents, Salvatore and Tina Guzzardi. Your gift to this fund will enable WMA to provide financial assistance to deserving students.
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