the magazine of notre dame academy Also: Congratulations to the Class of 2016 summer 2016 | volume 12 | issue 2 vita! summer 2016 | volume 12 | issue 2 Message from the President inside this issue contributors “ NDA is a recipe for success, and our flavors are so bold and Editor complex, that they keep you coming back for more.” Kathryn Quinn Miller ’97 Contributing Writers Ashley Simmons ’08 Many of you know that I love to cook, and it should not shock you that working Design Amanda Quintin Design in education is also very special to me. Both cooking and teaching have a lot in Printing common. The culinary influences that make up my recipes are French, Italian, Reynolds DeWalt Mexican, and Vietnamese. Fusion cooking excites me and I find the key to a tasty Photography dish is a balance of flavors – sweet, salt, spice, and crunch. Similarly, at the heart Ryan Hutton 6 11 of Catholic education is balance. At first, this seems strange, because when you Lifetouch look at the structure of a school it is built upon compartmentalization. Students Michael Russo study math in their math class and social studies in their social studies class. The Published by the Office of Institutional Advancement classroom is a mini fiefdom that is fortified by a cavalcade of teachers who want Notre Dame Academy to rightfully protect their space. 1073 Main Street Hingham, MA 02043 The reason I love fusion cooking is because when you take the elegance of French cuisine and meld it with 781.749.5930 www.ndahingham.com the colors and flavors of Mexico, something transformative happens, and the palate dances to the beat of the mariachi. When I see the girls make sense of what they learned in math and fuse it with their social studies Office of Institutional Advancement Lynn Page Flaherty lesson, something magical happens, barriers are broken down, and there is a real sense of enlightenment. Director of Institutional Advancement Then, something quite paradoxical happens, you begin to realize how little you really know, and how much [email protected] 13 29 more there is out there to embrace. Elizabeth Ahearn Director of Annual Giving I am sometimes a creature of habit. This is particularly true when it comes to eating out. My tendency is to [email protected] Miriam Brownewall P’94 ’95 2 from main street 18 advancing nda order the same dish all the time. But, I have been known to say to the waiter, “go ahead and order for me.” Development Assistant Taking this risk has proven to be very rewarding 99.9% of the time. Education challenges us to step out of [email protected] NDA News, Events, and Accolades Photos from the Out of the Blue Gala & an update on our safe zone to explore the unknown and be rewarded for it. The dignity of risk is what sets us apart. This is Kathryn Quinn Miller ’97 8 congratulations, true in cooking, and it is true in the classroom, too. Director of Communications the Athletic Fields Project [email protected] class of 2016! 20 class notes As we move into this new year, I invite you to break the bread, drink the wine, and join the great banquet Stevie Lee Taylor Director of Alumnae Relations 12 cover story Alumnae News & Reunion Photos table that is NDA. Our young women are truly nourished in body, mind, and spirit. NDA is a recipe for [email protected] The Food Issue: success, and our flavors are so bold and complex, that they keep you coming back for more. 28 reunion 2016 Notre Dame Academy Explore how our alumnae and Board of Directors 2015 – 2016 students are impacting the changing Photos from these special class events Bon appétit, Mark Baker P’10 ’15 Jane Branca ’71 landscape of food. Bradford Caron P’12 ’16 Jamie J. Collins Edie Daly, SNDdeN on the cover Mary Farren, SNDdeN Clockwise from upper left: Nella Pasta on display. A stocked shelf at the Cohasset Food Pantry. Radishes from Sweet Douglas Farrington P’11 Georgia Pea’s Farm in Vermont. A meal prepared at Sarma Restaurant in Somerville (photo by Aliza Eliazarov for Jamie J. Collins Steven Habeeb StarChefs.com.) President Margaret DeLuca Klein ’75 Stephen LeVangie P’98 ’02 mission Anne Malone, SNDdeN ‘67 Notre Dame Academy is a vibrant, Catholic, college-preparatory learning community, sponsored by the Sisters of Curt Morley P’12 ’13 ’15 Notre Dame de Namur. The Academy guides young women in their personal faith formation, challenges students to Elizabeth Pasciucco ’80 pursue academic excellence, and encourages social responsibility on behalf of global justice. Timothy Pinch P’02 ’07 ’12 In support of this mission, vita! magazine communicates through its pages the newsworthy activities of members of the Dianne Reilly P’98 ’00 ’09 NDA community. vita! is published three times a year for alumnae, parents, faculty, staff, and friends of the Academy. Bother Daniel Skala, CFX MaryCarroll Sullivan ’68, Chair Sean Teague P’08 P’13 NDA is accredited by the New England Suzanne Jones Walmsley ’87 Association of Schools and Colleges. from Main Street This summer, we bid farewell to the following longtime colleagues: from Main Streetnews | events | accolades Kathleen Rowley Colin ’89 leaves NDA after 14 years as life at age 25 a teacher and administrator. She took on the role of prin- The Class of 2016 participated in the well- cipal in 2007 and, in that time, NDA added neuroscience, known Credit For Life program. CFL is a sim- robotics, Mandarin, and more to our course offerings. She ulation of what life is like at age 25; seniors Warm Welcomes and Fond Farewells oversaw the launch of the Cuvilly Division and the expan- were asked to select a career and housing sion of Campus Ministry. She spearheaded NDA’s part- arrangements. Based on these selections, nership with SNDdeN schools in England and established the seniors were greeted with a spreadsheet We are proud to introduce the exceptional group of educators who will form the new our global education office. of salary, monthly expenses, and debt pay- ments with the objective of managing the administrative leadership team here at Notre Dame Academy: rest of their personal finances. Joan Perrault, Director of Guidance and Academic Pro- The program kicked off with an opening key- gramming, served NDA for 30 years, guiding thousands Gina Mathews, Ph.D. P’20 – Interim Principal note address by Kaitlyn Skerry Litchfield ’02 of students on their search for the right college. She de- who shared her own personal experience. Gina came to Notre Dame Academy in 1997 as a mathematics teacher veloped strong relationships with the admissions offices of and coach. She assumed the role of mathematics department chair in colleges and universities throughout the country, securing 2001. Throughout her tenure at NDA, Gina continued her education. NDA’s reputation as an academically challenging college She earned a Master of Arts in Teaching from Emmanuel College preparatory school. in 1998, a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies in Educational Leadership from Bridgewater State University in 2006, and a Ph.D. in Education with a concentration in Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment from Walden University in 2016. Maureen Regan served as a science teacher at NDA since 1996. In addition to teaching anatomy and biology, As interim principal, Gina will share her expertise with the instruc- she also developed the 8th grade science curriculum tional staff and faculty. While overseeing the daily operation of the implemented last year. She was committed to Campus school, she will focus on curriculum, instruction, and assessment. Ministry as well, volunteering at the Carolina Hill shelter Jamie Collins, Grace Cunningham, Gina Mathews, and Barbara Mitchell every week. Barbara Mitchell P’16 – Assistant Principal & Director of Guidance Grace Cunningham ’03 – Dean of Students Barbara began her career at NDA as a counselor in the Guidance De- A proud Notre Dame alumna, Grace graduated with honors from partment, a position she held for 11 years. Her move into adminis- Brown University with dual degrees in Religious Studies and Classics. Carol Troy P’91 ’94 wore many hats at NDA, including tration in 2011 allowed her to work with the administrative team to She then earned a Master of Theological Studies from the University her well-known sunflower hat! She arrived at NDA in 1994 more directly carry out the mission and vision of NDA, one in which of Notre Dame. Grace is currently completing a Master in Educa- and served as assistant librarian through 2014. The past two she strongly believes. Barbara earned her Bachelor of Arts from Mar- tional Administration at the University of Massachusetts, Boston. years, she was the Cuvilly Division Coordinator and helped ietta College and a Master of Arts with a concentration in Secondary Grace brings a breadth of experience to her role as Dean of Students. our youngest students transition to their new school. Education Administration from Emmanuel College. She began her career as an educator at St. Clement’s High School in Medford and Matignon High School in Cambridge, before joining Barbara will oversee the Dean of Students and serve as Director of the Campus Ministry staff at NDA. Guidance. She is looking forward to working with the guidance team to continue their tradition of providing exceptional support to our Grace is excited to assume this new role at NDA and looks forward to students and their families. working with students and colleagues across departments. We also said goodbye to the following Top: Seniors went from booth to booth managing their finances at age 25. faculty members: Bottom: Kaitlyn Skerry Litchfield ’02 speaks with “NDA is about empowering young women and giving them the tools and students about making a great first impression.