MOTHER CAROLINE ACADEMY AND EDUCATION CENTER ANNUAL REPORT 2016 Open Doors Transform Lives Miriam Alves ‘01 Sandra Genere ‘97 Dear Friends, Accountant Assistant Director Alumni Clubs & Associations The Newman School ‘05 Harvard Business School We are delighted to present Mother Caroline Academy and Lasell College ‘09 Education Center’s (MCAEC) 2015-2016 Annual Report. This past Currently preparing for CPA exams Newton Country Day School ‘01 year’s achievements would not have been possible without your College of the Holy Cross ‘05 generous financial support and enduring commitment to MCAEC’s Harvard University ’11, M.A. families. “MCA planted the seed of Member of MCAEC’s Board of Trustees Mentor to MCA student Last year we spent much time reconnecting with Mother Caroline tenacity. Our motto was to Academy (MCA) alumnae. Between hearing inspiring stories from reach for the stars and that’s alumnae while in awe of our current students’ determination, the how I live my life. Graduates of “Looking back on my time at phrase “opening doors, transforming lives” seemed to vividly capture the impact of MCA on the lives of students and their MCA are tenacious, motivated, MCA, building a foundation families. fun and determined and we of confidence at 10 and 11 are prepared to be leaders in years old has really made Hearing the voices and experiences of alumnae only strengthens the world.” our collective commitment to current students as we prepare a difference in the type of them for a path of promise and opportunity. On the opposite page, woman I am today. MCA there are quotes from two alumnae. As you read the contents of was also very special to my this report, we trust that you will continue to invest in the future mother. She was able to drop generation of MCA women. off her daughter each day With Gratitude, and feel like MCA was a really good investment in her daughter’s future.” Ed Hudner Diana Monteith Head of School Board Chair What We Do – Open Doors, Transform Lives An extraordinary community of teachers, families, volunteers, and supporters invest in setting MCA students on a path of educational promise that may have otherwise been out of reach. Simply put, our collective efforts open doors and transform lives. How We Do It Founded in 1993, Mother Caroline Academy is Set High Standards, Invest in Each Student a tuition free, all girls Building the path to high school requires high standards and an in-depth understanding of each student’s individual independent school, grades gifts and challenges. As a school accredited by the 4-8, serving Boston families Association of Independent Schools of New England (AISNE), we hold students to a high set of academic with limited resources. standards across Math, Science, English, History, Our mission is to provide World Religions and Art. a high quality education • We utilize project based learning to fully engage that develops the individual students in content and develop skills in collaboration, critical thinking, communication and problem-solving. gifts of each student and prepares her for success • Outside of the classroom, we offer experiences that build skills and knowledge needed for life through in competitive secondary extended day programming that includes athletics, schools and colleges. arts, STEM, student clubs, field trips and service learning. INVEST • We are devoted to providing a safe environment where each girl can develop self-esteem, self- confidence and the ability to advocate and make healthy decisions for herself. • We partner with parents and adult caregivers to help students develop a moral compass and sense of self needed to navigate life’s opportunities and challenges. How We Do It Partnerships Since its founding Mother Caroline Academy and Education Center has strengthened its impact on the lives of students and their families through a range of partnerships. i2. i2 is a program developed Handel + Haydn Society. Step into Art. In partnership Science Club for Girls. Merrowvista in New to engage middle school The choral program made with ELA and art teachers, Each year the Science Club Hampshire’s Ossippe 826 Boston. As 8th graders children in the fields of possible through a partnership Step into Art’s talented for Girls works with 4th Mountains. Merrowvista’s dedicate themselves to science, technology, with the Handel + Haydn staff engage students with and 5th graders to foster program is designed to preparing for interviews engineering and math Society, has grown into a the great works of art from excitement, confidence and develop individual skills, and writing high school (STEM). i2 staff trained an cornerstone of MCA’s arts Boston museums. Inspired literacy in STEM for girls. MCA enhance group effectiveness applications, students have interdisciplinary team of program. The spirited Sonja by these works, each year 6th students have the chance and provide a formative the good fortune of working MCA teachers to deliver a Tengblad, otherwise known as grade students create and to interact with women experience. Customized for with 826 Boston, a group of comprehensive, weeklong “Ms. T” and a renown soprano, exhibit their own paintings studying or working in the MCA, each May Merrowvista volunteers helping students to STEM program in November provides choral training to accompanied by a literary areas of science, technology, staff lead MCA students and write high school application to the 7th grade. Students MCA students. Last year, with piece rich with emotion, engineering, and mathematics. staff through a 3-day May essays that express their ideas read Fever 1793 by Laurie encouragement from H&HS, personality and meaning. Mentors work with students to retreat using experiential effectively, confidently, and in Halse Anderson, a novel seven 4th and 5th graders develop a strong self-concept activities as metaphors for their own voices. written through the eyes of were accepted into Handel regarding their abilities in real world challenges. The an adolescent girl about a +Hayden’s Youth Chorus Isabella Stewart Gardner math or science through program encourages students flu epidemic that sweeps that performs throughout Museum. For the past hands-on projects. to stretch beyond what is through Philadelphia in 1793. the City of Boston and at eight years, 4th and 5th comfortable, to see what is During the week, students Symphony Hall. grade students with their possible, and discover more were tasked with engineering, teachers have participated about their unique capacities. testing and presenting a in a partnership with the system to respond to the Isabella Stewart Gardner Philadelphia outbreak and Museum. Gardner staff train prevent a pandemic. MCA teachers in a method for discussing works of art focused on generating meaning versus telling students what the work of art means. Over the course of the year, the teachers attend one-on-one trainings and observations with Gardner educators Students visit the Gardner four times throughout the year with the fourth visit including families and a dinner. Students and their families receive a free year-long membership to the Museum. How We Do It Program Events With the goal of extending learning beyond the traditional classroom and building community, each year MCA stages events designed to further engage and develop students’ passion for lifelong learning. Eighth Grade Debate. After eighth graders Girl Power. On March 13, 2016, MCA’s have submitted their high school applications, Mentoring Program in partnership with they turn their attention to the Annual 8th Northeastern University Torch Scholars, Grade Debate. With guidance from teachers, hosted Girl Power. The goal of Girl Power is to students determine which controversial engage women across ages and backgrounds topics will be debated as well as what side of in sharing experiences and strategies for the topic students will represent. Students taking charge of their lives and pursuing their then spend two months researching topics passions. With a spirted and engaged group and preparing for the debates. The debates of participants, the program was kicked off demonstrate the best in civil discourse by Elizabeth Thorton, author of The Objective RESULTS as seen through students use of data to Leader and Professor of Management substantiate arguments, form effective Practice at Babson’s Executive Education High School Acceptances – Beyond High School rebuttals, and present with confidence Program. Following Ms. Thorton was a Class of 2016 and skill. performance by Franny Choi and Jamila Woods of Project VOICE who used spoken The class of 2016 did exceptionally well in gaining acceptance to a range of quality high MCA’s Annual Spring Science Fair. Every word poetry to entertain, educate, inspire of alumnae graduate schools including the exam schools Boston 100% May students participate in a competitive and empower participants. from high school school-wide Science Fair. After weeks of Latin School, Boston Latin Academy, and preparation, students stage their projects in March Gladness. Our first annual March the O’Byrant School as well as independent the gymnasium. Not only does the range of Gladness Basketball Tournament was held on schools Boston Trinity Academy, Buxton School, CATS Academy, The Cate School projects showcase student’s knowledge about March 4, 2016 with the goal of introducing, of alumnae enroll in college the sciences, they demonstrate students’ adult basketball players to the spirited, (California), Commonwealth School, 96% skills in analyzing and visually presenting data determined and enterprising young players Fontbonne Academy, The Newman School, as well as their ability to present information. of MCA. Using the collegiate March Madness Newton Country Day School, Noble & Greenough School, St. Joseph’s Preparatory, Students’ creativity, energy and passion for format, eight teams consisting of MCA alumnae have been or are on St. Paul’s School, Ursuline Academy, The 4 their projects is inspiring. students and alumnae, family members, MCAEC’s Board of Trustees volunteers and local community members White Mountain School and The Woodward played in the tournament.