La Reina High School
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FALL 2014 LA REINA Today …Where quality and the individual count 50 YEARS LATER: Still Educating & Inspiring Young Women La Reina Launches Capital Campaign Class of 2014 Graduates The Environment Takes Center Stage 2 | La Reina Today - Fall 2014 Fall 2014 - La Reina Today | 3 p. 4 A Message from Dr. Michael Bates, Head of School Table of Contents November, 2014 A Message from the Head of School 2 Dear La Reina Families and Friends, La Reina Launches Capital Campaign 4 As we enter the wonderful season of holidays, I am so thankful for this opportunity to lead our school. Breaking News 6 Celebrating the 50th anniversary of the founding of La Reina High School, we stand in a fantastic Mary Anne Hedrick Says Au Revoir 8 moment to recognize all of the contributions made by our many students, alumnae, families, faculty A La Reina Angel Returns to God 9 and staff. We also stand in a moment able to see our future clearly – one in which we continue to provide a transformational education for young women who “promote justice in the local, national, Another Transition for Anita Green 10 and global community.” In this moment, we are excited to launch this expanded magazine to Lauren Konrath '06 Joins the Navy and 11 communicate more fully to you the La Reina of today. Figures It Out th Next fall 2015, we welcome our first 6 grade class to campus with a Middle School for grades 6-8. Class of 2014 Graduates 12 Currently, we are finalizing curricular and co-curricular decisions to ensure that this formative experience promotes learning and vocation from a faithful and motivating place for the young 50 Years Later: Bigger and Better 14 women entrusted to our care. The Environment Takes Center Stage at La Reina 16 We are more than halfway to securing $4.6 million in pledges toward our capital campaign, which is The Garden Club Has Big Plans 17 the first phase of building in our 20 year master site plan for the development of our campus. This first A Message from the Director of Advancement 18 phase will include a learning pavilion, a performing arts wing above the gymnasium, and an updated library and campus ministry center. This work is only possible because of the vision of our Sisters of La Reina Pride 20 Notre Dame and our Board of Trustees, and because of the generosity of people like you who are Sue Reyes Retires 21 dedicated to the mission and vision of our school. In Memoriam 23 Thank you for continuing to support La Reina as we move into the future, knowing that on this campus young women develop the confidence and ability to articulate their vision of how they co-create a better world by their involvement and leadership. p.14 With gratitude, Dr. Michael Bates Head of School p. 9 LA REINA TodAY • reflecting the Catholic identity and mission of the school 106 West Janss Road • Thousand Oaks, California 91360 • www.lareina.com Editor: Betsy Potts • Layout Design: Tracy Hopcus Jordan ’91 Photographers: Sr. M. Lisa Megaffin, S.N.D., Dollenmayer Family and Wood Family Copy Editors: Fedelma Zahlit and Drisana Currier ’05 4 | La Reina Today - Fall 2014 Fall 2014 - La Reina Today | 5 By the Numbers La Reina Launches 100 Percentage of students who Capital Campaign will benefit from the Capital Campaign. A Look Back 501 Total enrollment in Visual In the fall of 1964, the Sisters of and Performing Arts classes and clubs Notre Dame opened La Reina High during the 2014-15 school year. School. Funds to build the school were provided by the Sisters, whose Why This, Why Now? personal sacrifices and fundraising 53% made their dream of educating young This year, La Reina celebrated 50 years of educational excellence. What a Student Has to Say women in the Conejo Valley a reality. Those 50 years were capped by La Reina being named a Blue Ribbon OF CAMPAIGN GOAL about the Learning Pavilion has been secured or pledged. As the school grew, more space was School by the United States Department of Education in 2013. needed. In 1987, thanks to the But the future awaits. Brianna Biezins, Class of 2016, who was working on her research paper donations of many, the multi-purpose To fulfill our promise to graduate young women who will be on the senior patio: building opened with additional transformative leaders in the 21st century, the Campaign will fund the… DONATIONS classrooms, a gym with a stage, and “ It would be nice to have more can be made payable a cafeteria. · Construction of a new state-of-the-art Learning Pavilion to prepare resources instead of having to go to over 3 to 5 years. our local library. We could also have Responding to the changing needs of students to become leaders in today’s global world. study groups in the interactive rooms. the 21st century students, the Board · Enhancement of the Performing Arts Loft to help students develop their Right now, if we study together, we of Trustees commissioned a Strategic have to sit outside.” Plan and a Master Site Plan to God-given talents. address those needs. The Capital Thank you · Renovation of the chapel and campus ministry facilities to ensure the Campaign, which was publicly What an Alumna Has to to our generous donors! Catholic faith is at the center of their education. announced at the 50th Anniversary Say about the Performing celebration of the school, is a result Arts Loft of their vision. Architectural rendering of the Learning Pavilion (above Drisana Currier, Class of 2005, who center) and the black box theater (below), which will be The goal of the campaign is to raise was in the performing arts programs located in the loft above the cafeteria. $4.6 million. Thanks to our generous as a student and now volunteers to donors and foundations, we are over help Regent Performers: halfway to our goal. “ When I was a student, we had to For updated information share space with sports teams. We about the campaign, follow could only use the gym stage for the Capital Campaign link performances. That meant we had to practice wherever we could— on La Reina's homepage sometimes it was in front of the gym; www.lareina.com. sometimes, in the cafeteria. Now, the space in the loft has allowed students We invite you to participate in to practice their art—whether it be the future of La Reina. Contact singing, acting or dancing—and to Sr. Lisa Megaffin S.N.D. put on small productions. The at [email protected]. additional improvements will attract more students to the programs and Chair of the Capital Campaign Tim Paulson with his wife, Judy, at the enhance all the performances.” 50th Anniversary celebration of the school. Tim and Judy's daughters are alums: Sarah '96, Katie '01 and Gretchen '05. 6 | La Reina Today - Fall 2014 Fall 2014 - La Reina Today | 7 The La Reina Middle School Advantage Breaking Middle School Food Court The La Reina Middle School will provide a safe, nurturing environment tailored for the specific needs of middle school girls. The social and emotional life of middle News school students is as important as their academics. To support their unique needs, from Dr. Michael Bates, Head of School the school will give students many opportu- nities to develop positive relationships with their peers and teachers through a strong advisory program, student leadership opportunities, extra-curricular activities, and athletics. The Catholic education they receive will be based on the principles of the Sisters of Notre Dame and will enrich and support them in their faith journey. Age-appropriate faith experiences like class retreats, prayer services and personal reflections will be part of their education. Service learning programs will prepare the students to become global citizens, whose compassion and integrity will Alissa Coppa, was one of the serve as models for others. students who applied to the Beginning in the fall of 2015, La Reina will La Reina Middle School students will Middle School within 24 hours acquire a sense of confidence and after the announcement. responsibility for their own learning, offer a Middle School that includes 6th grade. strengthen their ability to make good This exciting decision was made in response to the needs of girls in our community, and was finalized choices, and come to a deeper after much analysis and careful consideration by La Reina’s Board of Members and Board of Trustees. understanding of the importance Providing education in grades 6-12 enables us to create a program that allows for a seamless transition of a spiritual life. from middle school to high school. The curriculum will be specific to the Alissa is the sister of Kaeli, freshman, and the daughter of alumna Dana Ballaban Coppa, Spanish teacher. The new La Reina Middle School will fulfill the academic, social, emotional and spiritual needs of 6th, academic needs of middle school students, 7th, and 8th grade girls as they make the developmental transition from elementary school to high school. but it will be coordinated with the high school curriculum to prepare students for From Alissa: In these years of exploration and challenge, the middle school will provide the guidance and support girls Even though I love my school, I love the thought of having 60 girls instead of need as they navigate their way into an ever-changing world. the rigors of our high school. 20 in my class. A Middle School is a new concept and I am excited. It’ll be fun to be with my sister and mom.