Mini-THON Raises Over $62,000 FTK

The Campanile Mount Saint Joseph Academy Volume LVIII, Number 3 February 2018 Mini-THON raises over $62,000 FTK By Maddie Feeney ’18 reach our goal of $50,000, but the as well as to “stall” their fourth “I am so happy to have had the op- DiSisto commented, “It was amount we raised up at 10 p.m. block class. portunity to come back to speak! truly amazing to be a part of On Friday, Feb. 16, at Mount’s was a true showing of how much However, the night was about It makes me an extremely proud something that special.” 5th Annual Mini-THON, over our school community came to- so much more than the money alumna to know that so many For seniors, their very last 200 students danced for the kids, gether for this cause.” raised, especially to the four students are supporting these big Mini-THON was especially poi- raising a total of $62,478.04. In the months leading up to speakers: Lauren Buben ’13, events to raise funds and aware- gnant. The final tally surpassed the Mini-THON, fundraisers held at Caroline Free ’16, Villa Maria ness for pediatric cancer.” “Seeing Mini-THON grow goal of $50,000 and nearly dou- PJ Whelihan’s, CycleBar, Rita’s sophomore Izzi DeSimone and Villa Maria’s DeSimone said, over my four years has been re- bled last year’s total of $33, 476. and Rise Barre helped propel Plymouth Whitemarsh freshman “The Mount’s Mini-THON was markable. My last one was the Senior co-chair Abby fundraising efforts. The first ever Amey DiSisto. one of the best experiences ever. best example of the Mount com- Schwenger said, “I was confi- “Stall Week” also took place, When reflecting on the event, I felt so loved and supported by munity coming together for an dent throughout the Mini-THON during which students collected Buben, who founded Mount’s all my Mount sisters, and I’m so amazing cause,” said senior Em- planning process that we would coins to go towards the total Mini-THON five years ago, said, lucky for all of them.” ily Little. TheFine Fine Arts Arts Department celebratedDepartment Black History Month withcelebrates exhibits from both Art and Black Photography Clubs History and film screenings Month from Film Club. By Maddie Feeney ’18 confront the images,” said Ms. Croke. Continued A mural of silhouettes of in- The figures have sparked a on Page 2 fluential figures in Black History variety of conversations about spans the length of the wall out- the work itself and about Black Film Club hosts screenings side the auditorium. History as a whole. A key at the The creators of this unique end of the display has served as of films that highlight the project include the Art Club as an educator for many about the African American spirit. well as Ms. Croke’s Design Ba- backstories and importance of sics class. Ms. Croke, the mod- African Americans in American erator for the Art Club, brain- history. stormed with the club’s president, “Oftentimes Black History has Nora Dougherty, for a project been glazed over in our country, they could do to celebrate Black and it is important to recognize History Month. The inspiration how integral these moments and for the project was drawn from figures are in shaping our na- artist Kara Walker, who uses tion,” said Ms. Croke. silhouettes to delve deeper into subjects like race, gender and identity. “[Walker] uses the tradition- ally white, Victorian medium of the silhouettes to create a theatri- cal space in which her cut-paper characters develop a narrative surrounding Black History in America,” said Ms. Croke. While the inspiration came from Kara Walker, Nora Dough- erty said, “Each of the figures was chosen by the students.” The silhouettes have a strik- ing appearance on the wall just across from the entrance to the Art Wing. However, this was done so to mimic the way in which Walker presents her images. Walker displays her silhouettes “. covering a vast amount of wall leaving no choice but to Mount News Page 2 the campanile February 2018 Mount bids farewell to beloved teacher By Meredith Killian ’18 teacher. Crowe. Before leaving for the semes- a tremendous impact on my life, “She made studying seem ef- Mrs. Crowe said she finds that ter, Dr. Balcer took much time for every paper I write in college After ten exceptional years fortless, but she validated our she models many of her teaching and effort to make certain that has and will continue to be influ- at the Mount, beloved English struggle with the material. She techniques on Dr. Balcer’s. Many Mrs. Crowe was fully prepared to enced by the talented Dr. B,” said teacher Dr. Bonnie Balcer will be made characters come alive for of the comments she makes on take on her AP English Literature Kardish. retiring at the end of this school us. It’s not easy to keep second papers are very similar to those and Honors Introduction to Writ- Ava Self ’17 said she will year. semester seniors engaged, and ev- that she received from Dr. Balcer ing and Literature classes. never forget the enthusiasm with An engaging teacher and lov- ery single one of my classmates in 1997. Dr. Balcer knows firsthand which Dr. Balcer taught and the ing colleague, Dr. Balcer has in- worked to her fullest potential “She was the voice in my head what it means to be inspired and welcoming atmosphere of her spired and touched the hearts of until the end of the encouraged by a teacher. classroom. students, faculty and staff at the year,” said Mrs. Crowe. “I was inspired by “Dr. Balcer’s commitment to Mount. Her love for English has Years later when ap- many teachers I had her students was unparalleled, inspired students from the day plying to work at the while I was in elemen- which was evident in her desire she entered the Mount in 2007. Mount, Mrs. Crowe tary school and in high to see all of her students suc- Before coming to the Mount, sought out the advice of school. My fourth grade ceed. On coffeehouse class days, Dr. Balcer taught at the Acad- Dr. Balcer. teacher, Ms. DeSantis, Dr. Balcer’s excitement radiated emy of Notre Dame, where she “I received her letters complimented an essay I through the room. She genuinely taught AP English Literature to of recommendation and wrote, and she asked me loved seeing her students own the current MSJA teacher Mrs. Mary handed them right away if she could send it to a material they were learning, and Ellen Crowe in 1997. Dr. Balcer to Mrs. DeStefano and contest. I danced all the undeniably encouraged student and Mrs. Crowe had a close rela- the members of the ad- way home that day,” said creativity,” said Self. tionship as a student and teacher, ministration,” said Dr. Dr. Balcer. Paige Comtois ’17 said that even before becoming colleagues Balcer. As colleagues, Through her endear- coming into Dr. Balcer’s class as in 2017. their relationship con- ing heart and profound a freshman, she did not have the “She was exceptionally inter- tinued to grow and both understanding of litera- best writing skills. Dr. Balcer’s ested in literature, writing and were excited to reunite ture, Dr. Balcer has left personable teaching style dramat- reading the classics,” said Dr. in the classroom. an imprint on the hearts ically changed her writing. Balcer about Mrs. Crowe as a stu- “I was extremely ex- of many alumnae. “Without having Dr. Balcer as dent. cited, and a bit nervous, Julianna Kardish ’16 a teacher, I would not have the Looking back on her time at the prospect of be- recalled Dr. Balcer’s strong foundation that I have for spent as Dr. Balcer’s student, Mrs. ing her colleague. It’s a class, including valuable writing today,” said Comtois. Crowe said, “My favorite [memo- nerve-wracking experi- lessons, great laughter Dr. Balcer’s kind heart and love ry] involves our reading of ‘When ence when your heroes about Shakespeare scan- for English will truly be missed You Are Old’ by William Butler become colleagues,” said Mrs. while I wrote papers in college,” dals, along with motherly advice this semester and in the coming Yeats. When we came to the line, Crowe. Always asking each oth- said Mrs. Crowe. When asked and positive support. years on the Mount campus. We ‘But one man loved the pilgrim er questions and helping the other how she feels about filling Dr. “Dr. B recognized the pas- thank her for inspiring the Mount soul in you,’ she said, ‘Girls, girls, in and out of the classroom, they Balcer’s shoes this semester, Mrs. sion and brilliance in each and community inside and outside of this is important. If a man says enjoyed their time catching up at Crowe said, “I feel overwhelmed every one of her students, and the classroom each and every day he loves your pilgrim soul, marry lunch. at times, sad that she’s not here gave us the tool set to express of her ten years. him right away.’ I still remember “I loved to hear her tell stories and determined to make her our thoughts and ideas properly, her dimples after she said this.” during lunch, and I loved hear- proud. My prayer is to emulate clearly and eloquently. She helped Mrs. Crowe credits Dr. Bal- ing about how much she enjoyed the joy, labor and humor that she foster my lifelong love of reading cer for her becoming an English being a grandmother,” said Mrs.

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