Blue&Gold Blue Summer 2021
Then&Now As our students grow and change, so must our facilities! Our cafeteria has remained fairly untouched since its renovation in the 1960s. Generations of new students have passed through since, bringing with them new eating habits and allergies. Energy efficiency, sustainability, and the need for controlled air flow are of the utmost importance in today’s world. Here’s a look at what the cafeteria used to look like.
Turn to page 3 for our vision and the progress!
VER ON THE CO a y looked Field Da erent, but little diff e happy we wer le to to be ab n hold it o campus r! this yea
Summer 2021
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 Bold Visions, Bright Futures A dedicated group of stakeholders have spent more than a year carefully creating a Strategic Plan that will guide us into the future.
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 2 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 ell, it certainly has been an eventful year at Waldron Mercy Academy! We recreated and reimagined a school year during a pandemic, using in-person and virtual learning from September to June, while also working steadily behind the scenes to plan for WMA’s future. Our teachers showed how caring and nurturing Mercy educators are, as they simultaneously taught students who learned from home all year, learned in the building all year, or moved between the two options as their parents’ comfort level changed. Our staff created new opportunities to replace the old, giving the students a much-needed sense of normalcy. Meanwhile, a dedicated group has been working for more than a year to thoughtfully and carefully construct a Strategic Plan that will guide Waldron Mercy for the next five years. It was an exciting opportunity to collaborate with new and old friends; you can learn more about this process and how the COVID-19 pandemic shaped the experience on page 12! The process is ongoing, but we look forward to unveiling the draft plan to you soon. Also this year, our governing organization, Mercy Education (formerly called Mercy Education System of the Americas), released their enhanced brand identity. This exciting news strengthens the existing connection between Mercy schools around the world and helps differentiate us from other Catholic schools.
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As part of Mercy Education’s branding efforts, all Mercy schools are committed to embracing five Mercy Core Values: Compelled By Mercy Educational Courage Inspired By Faith Principled Leadership A Voice For Dignity and Respect The Waldron Mercy Mission Statement will continue to remain the same and our commitment to excellence will not waiver, as these core values define who we already are. Learn more about our Core Values on the next page. I also invite you to check out our new Mercy Mindset video series that features our alumni, a preview of which can be found on page 9. I hope you are as excited as we are to grow with one another as we enhance our Mercy mission through our new Core Values and Strategic Plan! In Mercy,
INTRODUCING
OUR MERCY CORE VALUES We are happy to introduce you to our Core Values! These values support our current mission statement, define who we are, and connect us to all the Mercy schools that share them. Our Core Values are the hallmarks of a Mercy Education. These are the ideals we stand up for and strive to live up to. We hold ourselves to these standards as an institution, as a community and as individuals. Each value is interconnected and necessary as we take Mercy into the world.
Compelled By Mercy: Mercy students, in the spirit of our foundress Catherine McAuley, are steadfastly determined to take Mercy into an interconnected world. Our shared sense of social consciousness is fortified by universal empathy and a conviction that all are worthy of God’s mercy. This deep awareness and compassion move us to take principled action and serve the needs of others. Educational Courage: Mercy students welcome the challenge of pursuing their full potential in a culture of excellence, critical thinking and curiosity. Their multifaceted journey builds character while it builds essential skills. Our holistic program expects engagement, a thirst for knowledge and personal responsibility, while preparing students to thrive for a lifetime.
Inspired By Faith: Mercy students become living models of faith and forceful advocates for Gospel values. Grounded in our Catholic identity in the Mercy tradition, we welcome all faiths and are strengthened and shaped by these relationships. As we pursue a personal relationship with God, we strenuously follow Jesus Christ’s example of social justice, love and service. Principled Leadership: Mercy students are poised to lead with their unique gifts. Prepared with an ethical and moral compass, we put Mercy values into action and work assertively for what is right. We’re equipped to make difficult choices, learn from our mistakes and develop high emotional intelligence. As an international community, we’re confident in our ability to make a positive difference and push for systemic change. A Voice For Dignity and Respect: Mercy students honor the intrinsic value of the individual and recognize God’s presence in each person. We embrace a global vision and value differences of opinion, and are unafraid to confront hostile or hurtful attitudes. By standing up for those who can’t, we go beyond acceptance to help make sure everyone feels recognized and heard.
JOIN OUR TABLE OF MERCY Our steady stream of facility improvements has moved into the front of the building as we renovate our cafeteria area and front faculty workroom into a community hub that will fulfill our Mercy mission of hospitality while providing an updated dining space for our students and faculty. It will also enhance the experience of the Waldron Mercy community at large. We plan on using the space for gatherings for our alumni family in addition to our current students and parents. The project design aligns with the Mercy focus of Care of the Earth. Students and faculty will utilize a water bottle refill station, eat with eco-friendly dishware, and dispose of waste at a new trash and recycling station. The kitchen will feature more energy efficient equipment.
Why Now? Students are always our top priority. Over the years, philanthropic support from parents, alumni, faculty and staff has been strategically invested in the student experience, including our award-winning service learning program, STEM program, foreign language and curricula improvements, and so much more. Investing in the cafeteria wing is the next necessary step to improve the daily experience for WMA students and enable the Mercy Mission to continue to grow. We are nearly there, but we still need your support! Contact us today to Join our Table of Mercy and discuss your gift. waldronmercy.org/joinourtable Peg Flynn mflynn@waldronmercy.org 610-664-9847 x 131
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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.
Celebrating and Honoring Black History Month s a Mercy school, we are committed to fighting racism and celebrating people of color throughout the entire school year. We also honor and recognize the importance of placing
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an additional focus on African Americans during February’s Black History Month. This year, science and art were included in the programming in addition to lessons in social studies, language arts, and of course, religion. Students of all ages created artwork influenced and inspired by Black creators. Preschool students looked at photos of the quilts of Gee’s Bend before making their own interpretations with strips of paper. In seventh and eighth grade, students researched, listened to, and drew portraits of African American jazz musicians. Our halls were adorned with the likes of Ella Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong. “This project allowed them to understand, appreciate and connect with the origins of the music they enjoy today,” explained art teacher Patty Papatheodore. In science, students in seventh and eighth grade researched and presented information about Black scientists who were influential in the fields they were covering in class. Other highlights of the month included Montessori reading picture books daily about
and by Black authors; morning prayer announcements highlighting Black saints; short history lessons in Community Gathering about influential African Americans in Philadelphia history; fourth grade learning about the tenets of Catholic (and Mercy) social justice linked with their social studies curriculum on the Civil Rights Movement; and kindergarten students presenting inspirational Black Americans to their classmates. Top, left: Fourth grade students created art inspired by Faith Ringgold. Top, center and right: Geometric preschool art inspired by the Gee’s Bend quilts. Left: An eighth grade portrait of jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald. Above: Seventh graders gave presentations on influential scientists of color.
The Heart of Discovery eventh graders didn’t miss a beat during this fun project! Our students explored the human heart by building 3D models in TinkerCad. Each model had to include the four chambers, valves, and major arteries, all with labels. “It was challenging to put in the four chambers and I really enjoyed doing it,” remem-
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bered Téa O. Her classmates agreed. “I had a lot of fun doing it,” said Vaughn J. “We got to see all the different parts, what they do, and how the heart works.” Students enjoyed the fruits of their labor in two ways. Some opted to print their 3D models in plastic. Others decided to present their creations by virtually “projecting” them via a phone app, making it appear to everyone who looked at the phone as if the heart was actually in the classroom.
ALUMNI SUCCESS STARTS HERE We are so proud to see our alumni take what they learned within our walls and apply it to their lives in high school. Here are two amazing examples.
Antoine Robinson ’20 St. Joseph’s Prep rising sophomore High School Activities: Junior State of America (JSA), The Hawkeye student newspaper, Philosophy Club, Prep Republicans, Forensics Team, Student Council “WMA prepared me for the extensive homework, studying and tests I have at the Prep, and also how to be an active class member and leader,” reflected Antoine. The proof is in the pudding: classmates at the Prep twice elected Antoine as a Student Council representative for the Class of 2024. He was instrumental in the Student Council effort to have the administration adopt “asynchronous Wednesdays” during the pandemic, where students had a day to work on assignments and classwork at their own pace. He also helped set up an online mixer with Merion Mercy Academy in lieu of in-person dances. Antoine has also continued his success in Forensics that began right here at WMA! He made it to the National and Philadelphia Catholic Forensic League semi-finals this past year as a freshman.
Annalise Fresta ’19 Merion Mercy Academy rising junior High School Activities: Varsity Volleyball, Spirit Club, Athletes Helping Athletes, Student Council, Heart Club Annalise feels that her experiences at Waldron Mercy, academic and extracurricular, prepared her for her achievements at Merion Mercy Academy. “The WMA teachers pushed us into the right paths for high school, and have set us up for outstanding success.There were many academic preparations along with time preparation and certainly homework preparation.” She has been involved in nearly all activities listed above since her freshman year. “WMA taught me the true values of Mercy and the idea of family within a community, which certainly has helped me become more involved within the Merion community,” Annalise explained. She didn’t even let the pandemic stop her. Annalise and fellow 2019 graduate Luke Gallagher arranged a creek clean up that happened in May as a joint effort between the MMA and SJP Student Councils.
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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.
Spreading Self Love and Acceptance O
ur students learned a beautiful message about the importance of self love from a brand new author… who is only 6-years-old! Camden resident Ka’Maya Shanelle and her mother joined our kindergarten and first grade students on Zoom to talk about Ka’Maya’s coloring and activity book called I Love Myself. We were also happy to share the experience with students at two of our outreach partners: St. Francis Cabrini and Mercy Neighborhood Ministries. Students from all three schools asked Ka’Maya questions, from why she picked the topic to how she worked with an illustrator to create coloring book pages that feature children of all shapes, sizes, abilities, and colors.
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Ka’Maya wrote the book to share her affirmations with other children her age, encouraging feelings of pride and acceptance of the qualities that make them and the person sitting next to them both unique. It was a message worthy of being shared over and over with our youngest students. “I thought you were only supposed to love other people, but I learned that you are supposed to love yourself and treat yourself nicely, too,” reflected kindergartener Waylon P. All students, including those from our outreach partners, took home a copy of the coloring book that we purchased so they continue their journey of self love.
Healthy Hearts, Happy Students e challenged our students to get moving and keep their hearts healthy in honor of American Heart Month in February, recognizing the increased time they were spending behind screens because of the pandemic. WMA students faced off against our fellow Catholic Academy League
Schools in the Happy Heart 50 Challenge. We were proud that Waldron Mercy won the challenge by having the highest number of students complete 50 different heart healthy activities in just five days.
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Some of those activities included 60 seconds of jumping jacks, eating five vegetables in one day, and even getting eight hours of sleep in one night!
Reading to Compete ove over, Tokyo, the Olympics happened at Waldron Mercy first… Reading Olympics, that is! Our teams came away with Blue, Red, and Green Ribbons in virtual competitions this spring, where schools across Montgomery County faced off in battles of literary knowledge. For the first time ever, a team of sev-
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enth and eighth graders entered the Middle School competition, which was held virtually this year. Fourth, fifth, and sixth graders entered the Elementary School Division with two teams as they have for several years. Students on all three teams read 25 books in preparation. Their hard work paid off: the Middle School team recorded the highest score of any school in the event, earning a Blue Ribbon! In the Elementary School Division, Team Tiger Stripes earned a Green Ribbon and Team Eye of the Tiger earned a Red Ribbon.
Above: Fourth grade members of the Reading Olympics team. Left: Middle School captains Kathryn C. and Daisy B. pose with some of their favorite reads of the competition.
Celebration Through Collaboration A
fter a long year of sitting behind computers, it was wonderful to be able to offer our students multiple days of collaborative, hands-on projects during the last week of school! In addition to our traditional Field Day, students in first through eighth grade also participated in Art Day and STEM Day (affectionately termed STEMageddon). Art Day celebrated both visual and performing arts: students turned nearly every inch of pavement into a mural that wound around
the building; seventh and eighth grade students performed skits and poems; and a Temple University professor led world dance instruction on the back field - using dances from South Africa, Italy, New Zealand, Australia, and more! STEMageddon was a wonderful opportunity for our students to grow their cre-
ative problem solving skills! The building was alive with groups of students who chatted away happily while tackling grade appropriate challenges, including cardboard roller coasters, marshmallow monuments, and playdough light circuits.
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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.
Closer to God W
e were overjoyed to host not one, but six First Holy Communion Masses this spring at St. Margaret of Antioch’s Church in Narberth. In line with our COVID safety precautions, each third and second grade homeroom separately received the Sacrament of First Holy Communion surrounded by close family. The experience was especially exciting for our third graders who had experienced multiple COVID-related delays. Students reflected on their experience after receiving Communion: “First Holy Communion is special to me because I am happy to receive the body of
Christ. Jesus will now be fully in my heart.” - Dylan C., grade 2 “The second I ate the host I felt closer to Jesus than ever. I feel like my life has changed. I hope Jesus will guide me in Mercy and peace forever.” - Charlie A., grade 3 “I pray that receiving First Holy Communion will help me to be closer to Jesus and God through prayer and continue to help me grow in faith, love, Mercy, and obedience to God.” - Mila F. Right: Students participated in retreats to prepare for the Sacrament.
Lending A Hand M
usic teacher Ms. Barbara Baldwin exemplified Mercy in action by donating retired music curriculum materials to a school in need! She reached out to seven organizations, in Pennsylvania and nationally, before finding a home for the material at a local Catholic school. “I told the kids there’s always somebody who needs help and sometimes you have to search for them,” she said.
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Mrs. Ann Marie Braca and Ms. Barbara Baldwin help Mr. Michael Lawlor load our retired music curriculum into his car for use at his school.
Providing Warmth to Cancer Patients H
ands-on outreach was hard to coordinate in the pandemic, but our teachers made it work! In eighth grade, students created 20 no-sew Linus blankets that were distributed to local cancer patients. In fact, this is many of the students’ favorite service project they completed at WMA!
Creating a Mercy Mindset Our alumni carry their Mercy mindset for the rest of their lives. In our new video series, aptly titled Mercy Mindset, eighth grade students interview alumni to find out how they continue to exemplify and spread Mercy in their lives. These interviews are then shared with the entire student body so they too can see how a Mercy Mindset will influence their life long after they’ve left the halls of WMA. Here are a few snippets of what our alumni had to share. You can watch the full interviews, or read a transcript, by visiting waldronmercy.org/mercy-mindset
Pierce Hodges ’15 “For our society to be the best it can be we have to show love and opportunity to all people no matter their race, creed, gender, or color. Things like equality, respect, and love -- these are all values that were cultivated in my experience at Waldron. We are all God’s children and in some cases in our society, there are some things that have been unfair to certain factions of people, and I make it a point to assist people in all backgrounds to achieve the best they can be.”
Dr. Melanie Perez Pellechia '92 “The mission of making sure you are able to help others who are less fortunate is really something that has driven much of my life and my work, and I definitely got that from my time at Waldron.”
Dr. Greg Guffanti '97 “It’s super important to be a member of your community...being kind to one’s fellow human beings. It’s fairly innate, I think. Most people want to be pleasant with each other and supportive of each other and be able to allow people to demonstrate their opportunities.”
Michala Maciolek '13 “Look at every day as an opportunity. Instead of looking at every day as “Ugh, I have to wake up early; I have to go to school,” change that mindset to “I have the opportunity to wake up and go to an amazing school. God gave me another day to make a difference, and I’m going to make a difference today.” Just changing that mindset from “I have to” to “I can” or “I have the opportunity to” is really going to help you have a lot of success in the future.”. BLUE & GOLD
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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...
Mendoza The Mendozas have been a wonderful addition to our Waldron Mercy family since they joined us in the fall of 2019. They were drawn in by our missions of Mercy, study, social responsibility, and faith. They have seen their boys thrive within our walls. “Ian and Max have both grown tremendously during their years at Waldron. Max has discovered that he enjoys the endurance and discipline required for cross country. Ian has developed the curiosity to dig deeper as well as an affinity for math and science,” relayed Jennifer. Ian will continue his education this fall at St. Joe’s Prep. We are happy to have Max and his contagious smile on campus for a few more years! Dr. Jennifer Tioseco and Dr. Jose Mendoza, Ian ’21, rising seventh grader Max, and daughter Isabelle.
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Dr. Mark and Kate Reed, rising fifth grader Laney, and rising seventh grader Maggie.
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The Reeds chose Waldron Mercy for the strong academics and small class sizes. “While our girls do really benefit from that, we found that the community of families and staff are why we love WMA so much,” added Kate. The Reed family’s favorite outreach program at WMA is serving dinners at St. Columba shelter through Project H.O.M.E to men experiencing homelessness. The family says this program has opened their eyes and hearts to the ongoing need for service in our local community. Many readers will recognize the family from their presence at our on-campus events! Kate is always a big part of our Tigerfest Planning Committee because, she says, “It’s great to be a part of an event that both benefits WMA and brings the community together to have fun!”
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“The Tender Mercy of God has given us one another.” VENERABLE CATHERINE MCAULEY
Although their last child graduated in 2016, the Marchese family continues to give back to our school! Lou is a member of the Board of Trustees, Lisa has continued to be a face painter at the end of year Montessori picnic, and they are both constant fixtures at Tigerfest and our fall fundraisers. “The kids carry respect and kindness that we believe was a consistent attribute taught at Waldron Mercy, every day, every year. We are proud of our children,” wrote Lisa. Nicole ’10 is a counselor who works with clients with eating disorders and children with learning disabilities. She attended Merion Mercy Academy and St. Joseph’s University, and is currently working towards a masters degree at Lou and Lisa, Nicole ’10, Northwestern University. Dominique ’11, and Michael ’16 Dominique ’11 also graduated from Merion Mercy. She then went on to receive a degree in business from West Chester University where she was recruited to play on the varsity golf team. Dominique works at Enterprise Rent-a-Car, where she has steadily grown in the management division. Michael ’16 graduated from LaSalle College High School in June. He will begin studying communications at West Chester University in the fall. Michael is also a SAG actor -- you might recognize him from some national commercials!
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The Pios joined Waldron Mercy for Philip’s kindergarten education because it was exactly what they were looking for -- a school that was not only going to give him a great education, but teach him morals and values. “When we were taking the tour, a student walked up and held the door open for us as we entered the stairwell. This simple act reflected so much of what the students learned on a daily basis at Waldron Mercy Academy,” remembered Staci. Philip has thrived at WMA - and so have his parents! They love volunteering in the classrooms (we can’t wait to have them back soon) and joining various parent committees that help make our school a success.
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Staci, Philip, and rising fourth grader Philip
Andah You may remember Nile from his standout performances on our stages! His mother, Sena, said Nile’s experiences at WMA and the support he felt from our community gave him the confidence he needed to perform in high school at St. Joe’s Prep. We are happy that Nile will continue to bless the world with his talents as he enters the musical theatre department of the University of Michigan! He was one of just 24 students accepted into the program for the fall. Nile was heavily involved at the Prep all four years; in addition to the Mission and Ministry Leadership Board, the school newspaper, Black and Latino Culture Club, and Prep Democrat, he co-founded the “For All” initiative and created school wide programming discussing the importance of diversity and investigating how bias, privilege, and oppression manifest in various forms. He also earned the Excellence in Performing Arts Award at the Prep’s 31st Annual Bakari Awards. We are so lucky to count Nile, Sena, and Kwame as members of our Waldron Mercy family and we can’t wait to see Nile continue performing!
Sena Owereko, Nile ’17, and his younger sibilings.
Nile ’17 and Kwame
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BOLD VISIONS, BRIGHT FUTURES:
A 5 YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN FOR WALDRON MERCY ACADEMY
ebruary 2020: a group of dedicated Waldron Mercy staff, trustees, parents, alumni, parents of alumni, Sisters of Mercy, and some of our extended Mercy colleagues gathered together, led by the consulting firm Partners in Mission, to excitedly embark on the process of developing a strategic plan to bring Waldron Mercy into the future. Three weeks later, the building - and the world - shut down as COVID-19 exploded into a pandemic. But that dedicated group of individuals didn’t stop. They worked diligently at home over the past year, continuing the process set before them. Now, as the pandemic loosens its grip and the world begins to return to
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“normal,” Waldron Mercy is ready to take the next steps. “In the midst of unsettling times, focusing on a way forward gives a sense of purpose and commitment to what Waldron is about,” explained Marie Michele Donnelly, RSM, a member of the Board of Trustees. “As an alum, a current and past parent, and the Chair of the Board and this committee, I am so awed by the participants' commitment that allowed us to keep this effort going during a
pandemic,” remarked Jim McGovern ’85. The still-ongoing process engaged numerous WMA constituents. First, Waldron staff compiled current and historical information/data about Waldron Mercy in seven domains: Academics/Technology, Advancement/ Communication, Mercy/Catholic Identity, Enrollment/Marketing, Facilities/Tech Infrastructure, Finance, and Student Life. Leaders of each area (called Domain Chairs) used this information to write a narrative report about the current state of each area. All 50 individuals involved in the strategic plan read the in-depth reports to fill out a series of surveys that formed the basis of two strategic planning virtual retreats in the spring of this year.
It almost seemed like perfect timing to be tasked with creating a new strategic plan now; many issues that may not have been on the forefront, including lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic and the movements regarding racial justice, were taken into consideration. “In light of all the ways in which the world has changed, it was refreshing to know that WMA is thinking strategically about the future,” reflected Ellyn Jo Waller, Ed.D., mother of Morgan Waller ’05 and Eryka Waller ’06, and a newly appointed member of the Board of Trustees. “I was excited to see the openness in discussing ways to make sure we are purposefully and intentionally thinking about diversity, equity, and inclusion, and thinking about ways to continue to grow people who are grounded in Mercy and are thoughtful about the world around them in a number of ways.” Algernong Allen, a current parent who is also a member of the Class of 1986, agreed. “Considerations, conversations, and issues in a COVID tinted world created perspectives that enabled a potentially more durable vision for the future.” COVID-19 also changed the format of the planning experience, as events were held over Zoom instead of in person. Even so, participants welcomed the opportunity for teamwork. “COVID makes it hard to collaborate with people, but getting to work with dedicated stakeholders, bounce ideas off them, and talk with people I don’t normally work with was exciting,” explained Mrs. Alex Kramer, the sixth grade language arts teacher at WMA. “Even though this was all on Zoom, I really felt as though I was connected to the people who gave the time and energy to it,” said Sr. Marie Michele. “It was very clear to me that there’s a great love of and investment in Waldron.” Because of that, and because of the review and surveys done in advance of the retreat, a strategic plan draft came together quickly.
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IN LIGHT OF ALL THE WAYS IN WHICH THE WORLD HAS CHANGED, IT WAS REFRESHING TO KNOW THAT WMA IS THINKING STRATEGICALLY ABOUT THE FUTURE.
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“It worked, that we could condense what would’ve been a weekend into six hours. The ideas and what was important were still flowing,” explained Catherine Glatts, Vice President at Mercy Career & Technical High School, and the aunt of James ’04, Ian ’06, and Owen ’08 Glatts. “You walked in with your own thoughts and ideas, but then heard the thoughts and ideas of six or seven other people. That allowed us to come up with the best outcomes and solutions,” reflected Barkley Sample ’77. Through it all, the Mercy mission was at the heart of every decision. “It was a great opportunity to focus on how to bring Mercy and the mission to future students at WMA,” said Emily Multari, a current Waldron Mercy parent who works in the admissions office at her alma mater, Merion Mercy. “I really thought each group did an outstanding job,” remembered Sr. Marie Michele. “I think that within the Strategic Plan, there are building blocks for a financially secure, academically challenging, Catholic Mercy school that can and will endure into the future.” “We’re off to a great start -- a great restart - and WMA will continue forming amazing individuals,” concluded Ellyn Jo. In May, the Waldron Mercy Board of Trustees approved the draft goals and objectives that came out of the Strategic Planning retreats. At the time of publication, Waldron Mercy plans to make the draft of the Plan available to the WMA community for commentary and input shortly. We look forward to embarking on the steps to finalize our Bold Visions so that we can continue to create Bright Futures for our students!
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“Draw persons to God by your words, by your example, and by the works of Mercy.” VENERABLE CATHERINE MCAULEY
Celebrating the Class of 2021
OUR GRADUATES WILL CONTINUE THEIR EDUCATION AT ESTEEMED HIGH SCHOOLS ACROSS THE DELAWARE VALLEY: Merion Mercy Academy Germantown Friends School St. Joseph’s Preparatory School Haddonfield High School (NJ) LaSalle College High School Harriton High School Academy of Notre Dame de Namur The Haverford School Villa Maria Academy The Philadelphia High School for Creative and Performing Arts Sacred Heart Academy William Penn Charter The Baldwin School Central High School
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We were overjoyed to be able to celebrate the Class of 2021 in yet another first! Our Mass and graduation ceremony took place on campus under a beautiful tent and it was truly a memorable send off for our students. Our teachers and parents also worked hard during the final months of school to celebrate the class with special lunches, themed dress down days, a socially distant parade attended by the whole school, and a mini carnival on campus!
OUR STUDENTS RECEIVED THE FOLLOWING SCHOLARSHIPS: Mercy Scholarship from Merion Mercy Academy
Academic Scholarships from Academy of Notre Dame de Namur
Scholarship from Sacred Heart Academy
Presidential Scholarship from St. Joseph’s Preparatory School
IHM Charism Scholarship from Villa Maria Academy
Xaverian Scholarship from St. Joseph’s Preparatory School
David Diehl Leadership Scholarship from LaSalle College High School
Grants from The Baldwin School The Agnes Irwin School Episcopal Academy
5 Academic Scholarships and 1 Academic Grant from Merion Mercy Academy
Music Scholarship from Merion Mercy Academy
ALUMNI NOTES
Stay in touch with friends and classmates about your career, family and other noteworthy accomplishments. Email alumni@waldronmercy.org or visit waldronmercy.org/alumni.
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1990s 1990s
Courtney Jones Carney ’94 was a panelist with the 2021 communitycampus Partnerships for health's discussion on "Structural racism, Vaccine hesitancy, and Informed consent: has trustworthiness Been earned?" courtney also authored an article entitled: The Role of Experimentation and Medical Mistrust in COVID-19 Vaccine Skepticism for the publication Diverse: Issues in Higher Education. courtney works as the executive Director - Intercultural leadership and engagement at the university of Maryland, Baltimore.
2000s
Caitlin Curran ’00 works for the congressional research Service (crS), a legislative branch agency within the library of congress that provides policy and legal analysis to committees and members of both the house and Senate. In her role as reference and Digital Services librarian, she provides research and reference services to congress as well as supporting a number of internal knowledge management projects and initiatives.
Tazmyah Warfield ’02 wed Francisco Nicco-annan in april 2021 in Philadelphia. the happy couple lives in the Washington, Dc area where she works as a financial analyst and he is an economist.
Pilar Jackson ’13 interned at the Wayne county health Department in Wayne, Michigan as a case Investigator through the university of Michigan's Future Public health leaders Program, which is funded by the cDc. She was one of several hundred to be selected for the rigorous nine week program and was excited to be a part of the solution for the pandemic. Pilar will graduate in the fall from temple university with a Bachelor's degree in Public health.
Christopher Travaglini ’05 began a new job leading global financial sales for astronomer, a technology company with offices in San Francisco and New york. christopher is a 2009 graduate of Malvern Prep and a 2013 graduate of the university of Delaware.
2010s
Laura Dormans '04 married Jack Murdoch on November 30, 2020. She is a graduate of agnes Irwin and the university of St. andrews in Scotland. laura is serving as a Staff registered Nurse with the uS Navy and resides in alexandria, Virginia.
Meggie Taylor ’04 tied the knot with Michael Ban in a small ceremony at georgetown university, where she graduated in 2012. the two live in Pittsburgh where Meggie works for aerie by american eagle and Michael is an attorney for a major healthcare company.
Christine Torrisi '04 married Zach lean at the Morris arboretum in May 2021. christine continues to live the Mercy mission as a social worker at catholic Social Services.
Kaitlin Marsini ’10 graduated with her J.D. from Villanova university’s charles Widger School of law. She hopes to practice personal injury law in Philadelphia after passing the Bar. Kaitlin is also a graduate of the academy of Notre Dame de Namur and the university of Delaware. Valez Jackson ’11 completed her first season as the head coach of Merion Mercy academy’s JV Basketball team while also serving as assistant coach with the Varsity team! Valez previously played basketball both at Merion Mercy and Jefferson university as a guard. Bruce Weller PhotograPhy
B. Paul "Tony" Cotter '51 says WMa "proved quite a launching pad" for his outstanding career. highlights of the lawyer's career history include working for the Departments of transportation, housing, and urban Development, and becoming chief Judge on the u.S. Nuclear regulatory commission for 19 years. he also worked for two international organizations: the Worldwide common law Judiciary conference (which he started with the help of Supreme court Justice Sandra Day o'connor), and the International organization for Judicial training. he is a graduate of archmere academy, Princeton university, and georgetown law School.
Brittany Young ’13 graduated Summa cum laude from the catholic university of america where she earned a Bachelor of Music in Violin Performance. upon graduating, she received an award "In recognition of outstanding artistic achievement in the area of orchestral Instruments." Brittany was also inducted into Pi Kappa lambda, a music honor society, and was a member of the university honors Program. She is set to work towards a Master of Music in Violin Performance at the Boston conservatory at Berklee.
Josie Messina ’13 received a full tuition Beasley Scholarship to temple university Beasley School of law and is excited to be a temple owl in the fall! this spring, she graduated Magna cum laude from James Madison university where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Statistics with minors in Political Science and honors Interdisciplinary Studies. Ashleigh Marmer ’17 was inducted into the tri-M Music honor Society, the only national honor society for student musicians. ashleigh graduated from Merion Mercy academy in June and will continue her education at Bucknell university. Maggie Carr ’18 was accepted into the archdiocese of Philadelphia’s Diocesan Scholars Program for next year! the program offers students the opportunity to take courses at local universities during their senior year of high school. Maggie, a rising senior at Merion Mercy academy, will take classes at Saint Joseph’s university. Sydney Parson '18 was a member of Merion Mercy academy's SteM team that placed first in the regional judging in the governor's SteM competition and seventh at the state level. the students spent five months working on the project entitled, "reducing the oversaturation of carbon Dioxide in our atmosphere." the result of their work was the creation of a device that would attach to a car's exhaust pipe and collect carbon dioxide from the exhaust fumes, preventing it from entering the atmosphere. BLUE & GOLD
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Mia James was born in January to tim McCloud ’88 and taylor Marenger.
Will oleckna ’99, wife lauren, and son William were excited to welcome lilly Marie to their family in November 2020. Will is a corporate attorney in Philadelphia.
B I R T H S -----
Nicolette grey was born in april 2021 to george solometo ’03 and his wife Stephanine. She was welcomed by big sister Olivia.
amber Johnson Washington ’05 and husband Kendal celebrated the birth of their daughter Jordyn grace in March 2020.
tom reynolds ’91 and his wife anne welcomed baby aidan Daniel in January 2021.
Julie leonard busta ’00 welcomed John Francis leonard into the world in March 2020. She and husband Matt reside in Philadelphia.
Victoria Zimmerman ’03 and adrian James Duckett welcomed James robert in October 2020.
bernadette attaquin osterhaus ’93’s family grew in September 2020 to include baby Daniel. She, husband David, and their 12-year-old son, Benjamin, live in Northern Virginia where Bernadette works as Project Manager for the u.S. army Corps of engineers. She looks forward to the day when she can visit and show Waldron Mercy to her sons.
Francesca Marie Faggiola was born to alexa Constantino ’07 and Michael Faggiola in March 2021.
Francis Joseph was born to Daniele Conners Young ’00 and husband William in December 2020. he clearly enjoyed celebrating his first St. Patrick’s Day!
Baby lincoln joined the Strehle family in December 2020, welcomed by mother trish silva strehle ’97, husband Jason, and brothers hudson (5) and Cole (4).
Meghan Young Digiovanni ’05 and husband Chris were blessed with twins leighton elizabeth and logan Christopher in December 2020.
Wharton biddle
Joseph flynn
irene Murray
Grandfather of Christoper biddle ’15
Brother of Peg flynn, staff
Marie brascetta
Kathryn hagan
Great-grandmother of ava ’19 and Michael Zarzycki ’21
Mother of gary brascetta ’70
Aunt of sean and Mallory hagan
gnanasekeram Ponniah
Pauline Deehey
Denis Kelly
Grandfather of ajay gnanasekeram
Sister of lorraine Cox, former staff
Father of Pam Kelly Cabrera ’92 and nora Kelly ’94
sr. Marlene skrobak
rose leisenring
gloria soto de garcia
Mother of former Board of Trustee Preston leisenring; grandmother of P.J. leisenring ’09
Great-grandmother of Valentina and siena eburne
Joan barbara Marek
Sister of tom ’88 stapleton
Former instrumental teacher
thomas Doyle ’48
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Waldron Mercy Academy
eddie nevins, Jr., ’07 and wife Paige welcomed edward anthony in March 2021.
In Memor am Charles DeVaux ’53 tony Ditoro
Mary reese, daughter of Carla Degovanni rabun ’98 and husband Jason, was born in September 2020. the family resides in South Carolina.
logan William was born in March 2021 to Caroline Davis griffith ’05 and husband ryan. logan also lives with his two orange fur siblings, Jameson and ginger.
Father of Patrick Doyle ’81, thomas Doyle ’76, and Margaret Doyle MMa ’81; grandfather of Morgan Doyle ’17, Patrick Doyle ’19, and Jack Doyle.
Former piano teacher
John McKelvey Husband of teacher angela McKelvey; father of Kelly ’00, Kimberly ’04, and Katie swartz ’02
Former art teacher
Mercedes stapleton annette suro Mother of David ’00, elisa ’05, and Daniel ’10 suro
frank tripodi ’85 edward Watson ’84
Ways to Give
GIFT OF TREASURE THE WALDRON ANNUAL FUND
GIFT OF TIME Our Parents association works tirelessly year after year to support Waldron Mercy, but the 2020-2021 school year was a whole different animal! the executive Board of President Jane Meconi-Deibel, Vice President Maryellen hank, Secretary nancy novelli serpentine ’96, and treasurer ashley McKeaney Kontostergios ’99 led the efforts to keep WMa families connected. “It was incredible to watch our WMa family be so solution-driven, Jane making sure we made the best of a fairly restrictive environment,” reflected Nancy. “I am truly grateful to have been a part of it.” Classic events were made COVIDfriendly: Zoom bingo, a drive-through trunk or treat with contactless candy delivery, virtual Martin luther King Day of Service, and socially distant, off-site uniform swaps. Others were brand new: a parent book club held on Zoom and a Christmas light drive-through Maryellen event. “I was inspired and motivated by the dedication of the members of the Pa and the collaborative effort between parents and faculty so that the WMa students and community had the opportunity to make special memories despite challenging circumstances,” ashley expressed. all members of the executive Board agreed that their favorite part of the experience was seeing their Nancy WMa family, whether on Zoom or from a safe distance in person. “It showed that people were still involved and interested in being in the WMa family,” said Maryellen. Some of the new aspects of the year worked so well that they will be using them for years to come! “We will definitely be keeping ZOOM for the Pa meetings to make the Pa as accessible as possible to all families and to give differAshley ent ways to participate,” Jane explained. We appreciate their leadership and time in making this year truly memorable!
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.
JOIN OUR CAFETERIA TRANSFORMATION This spring we will begin transforming our cafeteria and adjoining spaces into a multi-use, energy efficient area for our students, faculty, alumni, and parents to gather. The brighter, more welcoming space will further our Mercy mission of hospitality and focusing on sustainability. To learn more, visit www.waldronmercy.org/joinourtable
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.
SISTER NATALIE MARIE SCHOLARSHIP Instituted in honor of Sr. Natalie Marie by her former student, Bob Barnes ’58, and his wife, Barbara, this scholarship is awarded each year to a rising sixth grader who displays an interest and achievement in social studies and who realizes that the knowledge of history and geography are key to navigating our world successfully. If you are interested in establishing a scholarship of your own, please contact Marguerite Flynn at mflynn@waldronmercy.org or (610) 664-9847 ext. 131.
513 Montgomery Avenue Merion Station, PA 19066 ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
alumni Parents let us know your child’s address! www.waldronmercy.org/update-information
CONNECT WITH WMA
www.waldronmercy.org
Keep an eye on our website and social media pages to learn how to connect with and support Waldron Mercy!
@WaldronMercy @Waldronalumni
facebook.com/WaldronMercyacademy
SPREAD THE WORD! Waldron Wednesdays: interested families can join us on campus every Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. for a personal tour! SAVE THE DATE! Spin & Win Casino Night October 30