Stuart News Summer 2012

A N N U A L R E P O R T E D I T I O N

STUART Country Day School of the Sacred Heart

Summer 2012

2011–2012 BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Co-Chairs:Mark Johnson

Suzanne Plambeck

John Beckelman

Thomas Baker

Linda Brady

Patty L. Fagin, Ph.D.

Carol Haggarty, RSCJ

Debora Haines

Rene Johnson

Nancy Kehoe, RSCJ

Sara Burchell Kestner ’96

Cheryl Lagay

Laura Lamke

Melinda La Nasa

Pablo Lapuerta

Stephen LeMenager

Lorraine McGowen

Maureen O’Halloran, RSCJ

Cynthia Reiche Schumacker ’73

Marguerite Vera

Molly Hillenbrand Vernon ’96

Patty L. Fagin, Ph.D. Head of School

Stuart Country Day School of the Sacred Heart serves 460 students in Preschool through Grade

12. The school admits students of any race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin to all the rights

or privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the

school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin in the

administration of its educational policies, scholarships, or loan programs or athletic or other school-

administered programs. Stuart is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools,

and is a member of the international community of the Sacred Heart, the National Association of

Independent Schools, the New Jersey Association of Independent Schools, the National Coalition

of Girls’ Schools, the Secondary School Admission Board, the College Board, the Education Records

Bureau, the Association of Supervision and Curriculum, and the Online School for Girls.

STUART COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL of the SACRED HEART

1200 Stuart Road Princeton, NJ 08540

609-921-2330 www.stuartschool.org

facebook.com/stuartschool@stuartcdschool

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ANNUAL REPORTFrom School Leadership . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54

Board of Trustees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55

Committees of the Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55

Chair of the Finance Committee. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56

Report of Gifts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57

From Development Leadership . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58

Stuart Fund Donors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59

Current Parent Stuart Fund Donors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64

Stuart Fund Grandparents Club . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .67

Honors & Memorials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68

Stuart Fund Donors by Class . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .70

Faculty and Staff Stuart Fund Donors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .70

Endowment Funds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .71

Stuart Program Donors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .75

Mater Legacy Society . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .77

Spring Auction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .78

Upcoming Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .79

STUART NEWSFrom the Head of School. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

CLASS OF 2012Commencement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Class of 2012 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Senior Awards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

“From Summer Stars to Princeton” by Brenea Flucas . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Matriculation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

“Why I Stayed at Stuart” by Angela Gallagher & Jennifer Liu . . . 10

YEAR IN REVIEWAcademic Accomplishments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

STEM at Stuart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

The Arts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18

Athletics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20

Leadership. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22

Active Faith . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23

Making a Difference Through Action . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24

In Honor of Kathleen Cox . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26

ALUMNAEAlumnae News, Sara Burchell Kestner ’96 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27

Alumnae Year in Review. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28

Alumnae Day 2012 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30

Barbara Boggs Sigmund Award. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31

Alumnae Gallery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32

Class Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33

Births . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50

Marriages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51

In Sympathy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51

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From the Head of SchoolThis was a year of reflection on how our community lives out the Sacred Heart Goals and

Criteria. Whether in the classroom, on the field, in the laboratory, on the stage, in the

community, on retreat or in service to others, our girls have modeled what it means to be

Children of the Sacred Heart.

In the words of Janet Erskine Stuart, I hope you will join us in celebrating “the life lived,

the things loved and the ideals believed in.”

Our girls are amazing examples of the Goals in action. Kudos to them and to you for your

support, prayers and encouragement.

Patty L. Fagin, Ph.D.

MICHELLE DOWLINGHead of Lower SchoolThis summer we welcomed Head

of Lower School, Ms. Michelle

Dowling, to the Stuart family. A

Sacred Heart alumna, Ms. Dowling

graduated in 1988 from Convent

of the Sacred Heart on 91st Street

in New York City. Ms. Dowling

received a bachelor of arts in

psychology from Marymount

Manhattan College and

subsequently earned a masters of

science in educational leadership

from the Bank Street College Graduate School of Education, with

a thesis focus on elementary curriculum.

As a first generation American of Cuban descent, Ms. Dowling

began her career in education as a Spanish teacher at Trinity School

in New York where she ultimately became Middle School assistant

principal in just four years. While at Trinity, she returned to 91st

Street for summers as a performing arts counselor and associate

director for the summer creative arts program, working directly

with students age 6-15. Most recently she was at The Town School

in New York where she initially served as head of Upper School –

Grades 5-8, and then the director of placement. She also served as

a member of Trinity’s Marketing, Diversity, and Strategic Planning

Committees and has served as a member of the Board of Trustees

of the Westmont Montessori School.

Ms. Dowling’s professional excellence is matched by her energy

and enthusiasm. We are truly blessed to have her as the next leader

of our Lower School. Ms. Dowling, her husband Alan, and their four

children—who will attend Stuart—are thrilled to be a part of this

wonderful community!

DR. TRISHA STEVENSON MEDEIROSHead of Upper SchoolWe are doubly-blessed this year

to welcome Dr. Trisha Medeiros

to the Stuart community as head

of Upper School. Trisha brings to

Stuart a strong STEM background,

as well as a tremendous reputation

for exceptional leadership. She

received her undergraduate

degree in earth and environmental

science from Kean University, a

master of information science

degree from Rutgers, and a doctorate in educational leadership

from the University of Delaware.

After several years of college level technology/library work, Dr.

Medeiros’ first independent school experience was at Purnell

School, an all-girl boarding school located in Pottersville, New

Jersey, where she served as the library director, coordinator of

community service and as a dorm parent. For the past eleven

years, Dr. Medeiros has served many roles at Tower Hill School—

a Preschool–Grade 12 day school in Wilmington, Delaware, most

recently as assistant head of Upper School.

Dr. Medeiros’ reputation at both Purnell and Tower Hill is one of

excellence. Her past heads of school describe her as successful

in every role in which she has served, noting her innately

collaborative nature, strong connection with students, and positive

relationships with parents. We are thrilled that Dr. Medeiros, her

husband and two children have joined the Stuart community

and know that her expertise and experience will be invaluable in

shaping Stuart’s future.

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Family, friends, mentors and other members

of the Stuart community joined together to

honor and celebrate the 34 young women of

the Stuart Class of 2012. The special day, rich

with Sacred Heart and Stuart tradition, began

with the Graduation Liturgy, led by Msgr.

Gregory E. S. Malovetz. The Commencement

exercises featured Senior Class speaker

Alisha Mehndiratta, Senior Class President

Susan Knox and a Commencement Address

by alumna Kathy Fox Feeney ’71.

Our spark will set us apart in the real world.Excerpted from the Senior Class Speech

by Alisha Mehndiratta:

In its “Be Different!” campaign, Apple

declared that “... The people who are crazy

enough to think they can change the world,

are the ones that do.” These words could

not be more accurate in describing the

Class of 2012.

We are challenging, not troublesome. We are

gutsy, not wild. We are animated, not loud.

We strongly value tradition and we never

hesitate to fight for it.

As we leave Stuart today, each of us will take

this dedication to each other and to the world

around us. Our spark will set us apart in the

real world. Each of us will aim to light up

the monotony of every day and weather all

storms.

We’ll always be gutsy. Being risk-taking and

daring will be two of our greatest assets

moving forward. As T.S. Eliot has said, “Only

those who risk going too far can possibly find

out how far one can go.”

The 33 girls you see behind me are hiding a

secret. They each are armed with powerful

weapons, unique to Stuart alumnae: Our

secret is the education that we have received

and, more importantly, the ability to use that

knowledge to better the world around us.

Onward, seniors.

“I have had this (class ring) on for 41 years. Because of my experience at Stuart, I have had the ability under any circumstances to be okay being me … You all have a head start. You don’t know just how much of a head start you have.”

Kathy Fox Feeney ’71

Commencement

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Nicolette Andrzejczyk

Colleen Anne Baker

Parris Jolean Branker

Amethyst Valencia Reeves Carey

Stephanie Antonetta Champi

Christina Y. Chun

Ashley DelleFave

Jennifer Melissa Ines Dias

Ashley Dowlou

Brenaea A. Flucas

Angela Rae Gallagher

Alexandria Jane Guzman

Ana Teresa Hallowell

Catherine Whitney Huber

Alexandra F. John

Queneisha Javonté Jones

Juliana Helen Karp

Susan Laura Knox

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Charlotte Dalton La Nasa

Jennifer Lynn Liu

Tilar Jerise Martin

Kassidy J. McNair

Alisha Mehndiratta

Hiteshree Sunil Nayak

Golzar Ziaei Nejad

Laurie Rose Fritzie Paul

Kenza Qermane

Catherine Clark Stefanyshyn Reilly

Lexus Ashley Rodriguez

Margo Helen Schmiederer

Toni LaNiece Stradford

Wenjia Tang

Alexandra Margaret Taylor

Yvonne Tabitha Janjay Taylor

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THE ALUMNAE AWARDCharlotte La NasaCharlotte was selected for this award because she has been instrumental in the building of community at Stuart and has contributed to the evolving tradition of Sacred Heart education.

THE SPORTSMANSHIP AWARDAngela GallagherThis award is presented to the student who has displayed the community spirit that is essential to teamwork. Angela has supported the athletic program at Stuart with leadership and enthusiasm, has demonstrated mastery of athletic skills and has the ability to work as a team member.

THE FACULTY AWARDAmethyst CareyCatherine HuberAmethyst and Catherine have been selected to receive the Faculty Award because of their great generosity of spirit in all areas of school life. They have shown both concern and respect for the members of the entire school community and have shared their knowledge, grace, and gifts with others.

THE MARGHERITA CONDELL AWARDStephanie ChampiLexus RodriguezThis award was named in honor of a 20-year Stuart educator. Stephanie and Lexus are recognized for demonstrating a personal and active faith in God, and a social awareness that impels to action, exhibited by their sensitivity to the needs of others and for their service to school and community.

THE JANET STUART SCHOLAR AWARDChristina ChunChristina received this award because she has demonstrated a deep respect for intellectual values and a love of learning.

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Colle

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Abilene Christian UniversityBabson College

Bryn Mawr CollegeUniversity of Cambridge

Case Western Reserve UniversityUniversity of Chicago

Colgate UniversityCollege of the Holy Cross

The College of New Jersey (2)Drexel University

Fordham University

Georgetown UniversityHobart and William Smith Colleges

La Salle UniversityLoyola University Maryland

Loyola University New OrleansManhattanville College

Maryland Institute College of ArtUniversity of MichiganMount Holyoke College

New York University

Oberlin CollegePrinceton University (4)

Rider UniversitySewanee: The University of the South

Virginia Commonwealth UniversityWagner College

Wake Forest UniversityWashington University in St. Louis

Widener UniversityWingate University

THE CLASS OF 2012 IS ATTENDING THE FOLLOWING COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES:

It seems like it was just yesterday that I walked onto the bus to attend Summer Stars, a summer enrichment program hosted by Stuart. Anticipation filled my belly because I knew that this was the start of my adventure at Stuart Country Day School as I headed for the fourth grade in September. Summer breezed by as I learned about Amelia Earhart and how to write short stories. Beginning fourth grade as the “new kid” was not as cool as I had hoped, but acting in the fifth grade musical, Robin Hood, solidified friendships that I would have for years to come. Middle School experiences such as touring the White House and a weekend at Sprout Creek Farm influenced my future career goals.

I hesitated to stay at Stuart for high school because some friends were leaving, but I’m so glad I listened to my older friends who assured me that high school was an entirely different world. High school at Stuart was filled with numerous opportunities that would embellish my college portfolio. I was able to go on a six-week exchange to Spain, start and co-head a club, and write a sermon; and I learned the importance of serving others.

Stuart surrounded me with teachers and peers who believed in me, even when I could not believe in myself. My education taught me that women are strong and that women of faith are even stronger. As I continue my education at Princeton University, Stuart is the reason that I hope to major in Public Policy and Religion. I plan to be the senator who redefines America’s public education system while maintaining my Christian values. Contrary to popular belief, I do not think this goal is naive, too ambitious, or impossible to achieve; I think it’s just what a Stuart girl is equipped to do.

FROM SUMMER STARS TO PRINCETON UNIVERSITYby Brenaea Flucas

Brenaea and more than 2,000 other children have benefited from Summer Stars - a month long academic and cultural enrichment program for Trenton

students. In its 26th year, Stars requires continued donor support. Please contact the Advancement Office to find out how you can help.

Why I Stayed at StuartIn eighth grade I struggled with my high school decision but chose to stay at Stuart for four reasons.

First, I knew Stuart would challenge me as a student and a leader. I had heard stories of Stuart Upper Schoolers staying up all night to work on projects and essays. And while some of my friends left Stuart to avoid this, I knew the Stuart community of excellent faculty and peers would support me (and to be honest I never had to stay up all night)!

Second, I wanted to remain part of the nurturing community that had embraced me throughout my Lower and Middle School years. I also loved being part of the unique Sacred Heart Network, in which I will always be able to connect with people around the world whose moral foundations rest in the same Goals and Criteria.

Third, I knew I would thrive in Stuart’s intimate classroom environment where I could form meaningful relationships with outstanding teachers who go above and beyond to help their students succeed.

Finally, I wanted to go to a high school where being smart was cool and learning was treasured. While I will miss the Stuart community next year, I feel thoroughly prepared for college and I have formed friendships that I am certain will last.

“…I knew Stuart would challenge me as a student and a leader.”

ANGELA GALLAGHER

Angela with Dr. Patty L. Fagin and Mrs. Anne Soos at 100 Days to Graduation

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When the time came to decide if I was going to stay at Stuart for high school, I felt that I was facing a difficult decision. However, four years later, I now understand that there should have been no doubt in my mind that Stuart was the best place for me. Ultimately, I decided to stay at Stuart for several significant and meaningful reasons, all of which reveal the ways that Stuart is truly unique.

After three years of Middle School, I realized the traditional and unexpected benefits of an all-girls education. Of course, the all-girls environment really helped me to concentrate on my studies, feel safe to participate in class, and learn to be a leader. But toward the end of Middle School, I noticed that the all-girls atmosphere had other advantages as well.

One day it became clear to me that at Stuart it was cool to be smart. At Stuart, being smart and passionate about learning didn’t make you a “nerd” or position you at a certain lunch table. I found that everyone at Stuart genuinely respected knowledge and was excited about her education. Toward the end of Middle School, I also began to realize that I was lucky enough to go to school in a sisterhood. With a grade of all girls, lunch time sing-alongs were common, and overnight field trips were like giant sleepover parties. This sisterhood atmosphere helped me to create amazing friendships and always feel comfortable to be myself.

My teachers were also a very strong influence on my decision to stay at Stuart. I remember that immediately after making my decision, I was most excited to tell Mrs. Ryan, my health teacher, that I was staying for high school. Her happiness and the big hug she gave me are unforgettable. At Stuart, student-faculty relationships are incomparable. I had so many teachers in Middle School that became best friends, and suddenly I realized that leaving my teachers would be like leaving ten more friends.

After four years of high school, I am now confident that I made the best decision of my life in eighth grade when I decided to stay at Stuart. I’ve loved being part of a faith-filled environment, and am so glad to have had the five Goals to help guide my decisions and actions. I’ve become an outgoing, stronger person, who has leadership experience and is not afraid to speak up. I’ve had life-changing experiences participating in community service, and have grown in awareness and compassion. I’ve tried new things, and have made amazing memories and friends, with both students and teachers, that I will cherish for a lifetime.

JENNIFER LIU

“One day it became clear to me that at Stuart it was cool to be smart.”

Seven members of the Class of 2012 were “Lifers” who attended

Stuart from Preschool or Kindergarten through graduation.

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Academic AccomplishmentsTHINK. LEAD. CHANGE.With a Sacred Heart foundation of deep respect for intellectual values, academic accomplishments are always

celebrated at Stuart. Our challenging and innovative curriculum, superb teaching and close attention to each

girl’s personal development bring out the best in every student. We are so very proud of the many outstanding

commendations our girls received this year, including the remarkable list of colleges and universities that offered

enrollment to Stuart girls from the Class of 2012.

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Academic Accomplishments ADDITIONAL ACADEMIC ACCOMPLISHMENTS• Margaret Wright and Summer Ramsay-

Burrow, both juniors, qualified for the

2012 National Chemistry Olympiad.

• Ninety percent of the Grade 8 Spanish

Class won awards for their performance

on the National Spanish Exam, and two

students were in top 10 in the state.

• Stuart hosts its first Middle School Math

Invitational.

• Middle School Math Team won an award

for the best new team in a Math Counts

competition.

• Annie Liang ’17 and Soo Jung Jang ’16

ranked in Top 1% at a Middle School

math competition.

• Simone Armour ’17 received the Medal

of Excellence, the highest honor, at the

New Jersey Orators competition.

• Seniors Christina Chun and Juliana Karp

named as National Merit Scholarship

Semifinalists, and Juliana Karp chosen as

a National Merit Scholarship Finalist.

• Isabella Kopits, Anushka Makhija and

Amani Ahmed received High Honors

from the John Hopkins University Center

for Talented Youth (CTY).

1 The Class of 2012 will be attending some of the nation’s top research

and liberal arts colleges.

2 17 Upper School girls were recognized for achievement in the National

Latin Exams.

3 The Middle School Future City Team was awarded “Most Futuristic City”

in state competition.

4 Stuart girls captured 11 out of the 16 Princeton University Martin Luther

King Literary and Visual Arts Awards.

5 At the Lower School Science Fair, our student scientists did an amazing

job explaining their experiments to the many visitors.

6 Christina Chun was honored with the 2012 Hubert M. Alyea Award from

the Princeton University chapter of the American Chemical Society.

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Robotics Team

Future City Team Dr. Claire Gmachl, an engineering professor in the the robotics department

at Princeton University, invited the Future City team to her lab to see how the

University is experimenting with robotics in engineering.

Stuart’s commitment to STEM begins in the classroom with hands-on, project-based

curriculum in all grades and extends outside the classroom to numerous clubs,

competitions, speakers, and mentors. We want Stuart girls to be more than just confident

and competent in the STEM fields: we strive to inspire and excite our girls to explore endless

opportunities for future study and careers in science, technology, engineering and math.

In just five months the Sparks, Stuart’s rookie robotics team,

went from zero experience to 4th Place at the FTC NJ State

Championships!

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These Grade 4 girls successfully designed a switch that completed their circuit.

Integration of the iPad

technology into every corner

of the school (and outside

to the turf and stream)

was an extremely complex

task spearheaded by the

technology integration team

at Stuart. Our faculty, in all

disciplines, has worked hard

to learn new technology

and re-think curriculum.

Middle and Upper School students have taken full advantage of this

powerful tool to keep organized, be creative, do research and to

document a moment in time – or many moments over time. The girls

use the iPad daily, independently, and collaboratively – with their

peers and their teachers - and the results are astounding!

iPadsTHINK. LEAD. CHANGE.

Engineering isElementary

Photo by Erica Haller

Engineering is Elementary brings hands-on experiential learning to

the Lower School classroom.

Two teams are winners in game challengeIt started with a phone call from PBS. Did

we have a class that would program video

games for the 2012 STEM Video Game

Challenge? PBS had contacted Stuart

because of the publicity surrounding our

STEM Advisory Task Force.

It sounded interesting and I thought, “Why

not? What do we have to lose?” In fact, it

became a game changer. The PBS Category

of the STEM Challenge required students

to program math video games for children

ages 3-8. I fell in love with the idea from

the start. Programming games that Lower

School students could use … what a great

community-builder! We didn’t have much

time – it was going to be tough, but I was

on it!

“Shift of plans,” I said to the girls in class

that afternoon. “We are going to learn how

to program by

creating math

video games

for a STEM

Challenge.” I got

blank stares.

I knew many

were not math

fans and were

nervous I was

going to make

them do more algebra. “Relax, this is for

ages 3-8, easy math,” I said. I remember

telling them that they have nothing to lose

and might learn some programming along

the way.

So began a wild adventure for my Grade

8 students and for me. The girls came up

with math topics and games they wanted to

program. I showed them the programming

language Scratch and discussed different

programming concepts. Their goal was to

get something working on the screen in

just under three months. We needed every

minute we could get, so after the trimester

ended I commandeered their study halls

so they could finish the games. We started

with 15 games, and 10 completed games

were entered into the contest.

It was an amazing, crazy time - an unknown

for all of us in the classroom. I was charged

with teaching them to program, but I left

the learning to them. I made sure they were

on task and gave hints to how to code;

they overcame obstacles, learned how to

express confusion, helped each other figure

it out, voiced next steps and delegated

tasks within their groups. It was a wonderful

process to watch them all go through. I

witnessed an increase in computational

thinking, yes. But I also watched students

who never thought they would like

programming rise to become leaders of

their groups.

In May I received a clandestine email. I

was notified that TWO teams had been

selected as winners of the PBS Ready to

Learn Category of the STEM Challenge. Five

students. I was floored. We were headed to

Washington D.C. for the awards ceremony.

It was a wonderful night. We were excited

to learn that our games were the only

winners of the PBS Category … and oh,

our five students were the only girls out

of 28 middle and high school winners. I

was so proud to watch our poised Stuart

girls demonstrate their games and

discuss the class with others. Their games

are now showcased on the PBS Ready to

Learn website.

This journey was an education for all of us.

I stretched as a teacher and took a leap, not

knowing if we could even complete one

game – but I thought we should try. I didn’t

know what questions would be asked, and

the girls didn’t mind that I wouldn’t give

answers – just ideas to try. The girls learned

to program, and developed confidence

by creating engaging games for young

children. We had nothing to lose. but I never

realized how much we would gain.

THINK. LEAD. CHANGE.

“It was an educational journey for all of us. I stretched as a teacher and took a risk… We had nothing to lose but I never realized how much we would gain.”

LEARNING THROUGH GAMESby Alicia Testa, Math & Computer Science Teacher, Tech Integrator

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After speaking with PBS Ready to Learn, teacher Alicia Testa immediately dove into the

challenge, teaching Scratch programming language to her Grade 8 students.

Two teams are winners in game challenge

Working in teams of two or three,

the students created 15 different

projects. 10 completed games were

entered into the contest.

Math Racing Mania Animal Inequalities

1

2

3

5As the only five girls out of 28 winning middle and high

school students, Stuart girls receive widespread media

recognition.6

Photo credit: Princeton Patch

Ms. Testa enlisted the help of Princeton

University students from Princeton

Women in Computer Science (PWiCS) to

help answer programming questions.

(L to R) Julia Weingaertner, Sarah Lippman, Ms. Alicia Testa, Madeleine Lapuerta, Chloe Mario, and Emma Froehlich were honored at a ceremony at The Smithsonian American Museum of Art in Washington DC. Each student received a laptop and educational software. Each team also won $2,000 for Stuart.

Out of 3,700 entries nationwide,

17 winning games were selected

and TWO were from Stuart! Math

Racing Mania and Animal Inequities

won in the PBS Ready to Learn Category of

the Challenge.

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“Honestly, these games are better than 90% of the educational games in the app store.”

Amy Kraft, wired.com

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T he ArtsTHINK.THINK. LEAD. CHANGE.Y

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VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS HIGHLIGHTS• Preschool, JK, and Kindergarten Art Club exhibited their work Colorful

Birds at the Princeton Public Library.

• Our girls performed in four musical productions including Hairspray,

Seussical and Annie, Jr., as well as A Servant of Two Masters, a major

drama, and numerous other stage productions.

• The Tartantones capped off a successful singing year by earning first

place at the Music in the Parks Competition.

• The Middle School Selects Choir was victorious at a New Jersey Music

Educators Association Chorus Festival.

• A painting by Kristen Martucci ’16 was selected for West Windsor Art

Council Exhibition.

• Photographs by Avelyn Simons and Amy Rosica, Grade 5,

and Gabrielle Funez ’14, were published in aMuse, the Arts Council

of Princeton’s publication of poetry and art. Senior Wenjia Tang’s

artwork was chosen for the cover.

• The artwork of Vidhi Patel ’18, Vivian Mayr ’17, and Kristen Martucci

’16 was featured in the Princeton Symphony Orchestra Exhibition:

Listen Up!

• Three students won awards at the Rush Holt Annual Student

Congressional Art Exhibition: Wenjia Tang ’12, First Prize and Jen

Liu ’12, Second Prize in Computer Generated Art; and Vanessa Li ’14

received First Prize in Photography.

• Every student participated in the annual Spring Student Art Show

and Lower School students took each other on an Art Crawl through

the exhibition.

• Students studied the interplay of image and poetry through the

work of alumnae Susan Rizzo ’69 and Allison Gratton ’00, and the

landscapes of artist Jennifer Hawkes, exhibited in the Considine

Gallery this year.

• All Stuart students from Preschool, Lower, Middle and Upper School

sang for the Stuart community and parents at choral performances

throughout the year including Christmas and spring celebrations.

Stuart’s thriving Visual and Performing Arts Program begins in

Preschool and extends through Grade 12. The arts are woven into

the curriculum at every opportunity, and classes in music, drama,

dance and art encourage self-expression, self-confidence and

creative collaboration. Stuart’s intimate size offers students many

opportunities for artist expression – from participating in elaborate

stage productions to working closely with our talented arts faculty

on independent work.

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THINK. LEAD. CHANGE.

This year Stuart welcomed Kim Ciarrocca to the helm of our athletics and physical education

programs. An All-American and World Cup athlete in her own right, Ms. Ciarrocca brought 20

years of NCAA women’s coaching experience to Stuart, as well as a masters degree in sports

administration and a BA in health and physical education. She got to work immediately,

calling every Upper School student over the summer to find out what fall sport they would be

playing - the results were fantastic. Stuart’s inaugural soccer team had over 20 players, and

we also fielded JV and varsity field hockey, tennis and cross country teams in the fall.

ATHLETICS HIGHLIGHTS• In response to requests from students,

Stuart added both soccer and volleyball

teams to the Upper School athletics

opportunities.

• The varsity track and field team broke

many records this season and had first,

second and third place showings in

hurdles, relay, triple jump, discus and shot

put at NJ State Prep B competition.

• NJ State Prep B indoor track success

included new records, a finalist in the 800

meter run, and the shot put championship.

• A Stuart swimmer advanced to the finals in

the Mercer County Tournament.

• Four varsity field hockey players were

recognized with All-Prep Team and All

Central NJ Coaches honors.

• Recreational volleyball was added for

Middle School students.

• Athletics opportunities for Lower School

students were expanded to include golf,

lacrosse, soccer, basketball and tennis.

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In the fall, Dr. Patty Fagin joined 56 heads of school from International Sacred Heart schools in 15 countries for a Heads Conference in New Taipei City on the Danshui River in Taiwan.

THINK. LEAD. CHANGE.

LIES, LIGHT, MCCARTHY VISITING AUTHOR PROGRAM

SACRED HEART GOALS AWARDSOur outstanding faculty lead and mentor by example every day at Stuart. We applaud

those who live and breathe life into the words that make up our Sacred Heart Goals:

GOAL ONEA personal and active faith in GodAwarded to Anne Pierpont

GOAL TWOA deep respect for intellectual valuesAwarded to Ginny Moore

GOAL THREEA social awareness which impels to actionAwarded to Madelaine Shellaby and Anne Hoppenot

GOAL FOURThe building of community as a Christian valueAwarded to Phyllis Wright

GOAL FIVEPersonal growth in an atmosphere of wise freedomAwarded to Pieta Shukwit

Leadership opportunities for students at Stuart begin at the

lower grades and increase exponentially through high school.

These can take many forms; in the classroom, on the field, on

the stage, in the studio, and the labs. We are most proud of our

programs that bring women leaders to Stuart for the girls as

well as the greater Princeton community.

The Lies, Light, McCarthy Visiting Author

Program brings prominent authors to

Stuart who share their knowledge and

experience with the students. This year

we welcomed poet Naomi Shihab Nye.

Ms. Nye was warm and generous. From

singing to the Preschool, lunch with

Senior Scholars, tea with Middle School

students to poetry readings for Lower

School girls, Ms. Nye graciously shared

her work, humor and expertise. Though

she was here for just a day, her visit will

be remembered for a lifetime by us all.

WOMEN IN LEADERSHIPStuart brings world-renowned women to campus through the Women in Leadership Program, giving our girls the opportunity to meet women who shape opinions and make a difference. This year’s speaker, Sister Helen Prejean, is the best-selling author of Dead Man Walking: An Eyewitness Account of the Death Penalty in the United States. Her work with those on death row exemplifies Sacred Heart Goal 3, a social awareness that impels to action.

Photo credit: Ha Lam

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CHANGE.THINK. LEAD. CHANGE.

At Stuart values are embedded into every

single course from the very beginning of

Preschool through graduation. Our exquisite

building conceived by Jean Labatut reminds us

at every turn of our Sacred Heart foundation,

our relationships, and that we are blessed to

be a part of this very special community.

HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:• The Stuart community participated in

monthly Masses and frequent prayer

services with students serving as altar

servers, readers and Eucharistic ministers.

• Our Kindergarten, first and second grade

students led prayer services three times

per week.

• Each eighth grader ran a Morning Reflection

with a prayer of her own choosing and

the entire class concluded the year with

a prayer service for parents that they

organized, planned and led.

• A new Campus Ministry web page was

created for Upper School students as a

place to share morning prayers, reflections,

prayers, and intentions.

• Students participated in numerous field trips

and retreats which helped them to explore

their faith. Trips included the Cloisters,

Sprout Creek, Amish Country, and the Junior

Kairos Retreat.

• In longstanding Campus Ministry

tradition, the Junior Class celebrated their

graduating Senior sisters at the Junior

Senior Prayer Service.

• Sister Nancy Kehoe, PhD, graced our School

with a special intimate discussion of her

book Wrestling with our Inner Angels: Faith,

Mental Illness, and the Journey to Wholeness.

• The Grade 11 World Religions classes

created a giant mandala in the Front Hall

with the food donations destined for Mt.

Carmel Guild.

• The Senior Class researched, created and

presented business plans, and educated our

community on six new “Invisible Issues.”

Active Faith

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• The Stuart Community prepared and served over

800 meals and collected coats for our annual

Loaves and Fishes Dinner at St. Mary’s Cathedral in

Trenton.

• Gifts for 239 children were donated to the Martin

House Christmas Sharing Program.

• Lower School students raised $400 to support

a Sacred Heart education for a young woman in

Uganda.

• Grades 3, 4 and 5 students developed “businesses”

to raise money for KIVA microfinance loans, Heifer

International and HomeFront.

• Lower School students continued to raise money for

UNICEF and the St. Jude Math-A-Thon, contributing a

total of $70,000 in the past six years.

• The Middle School continued long-standing

relationships with Martin House and PJ Hill School,

sharing joy by hosting events for their new friends.

• Grade 8 students worked side by side with boys from

Princeton Academy at the Hillside FoodBank.

• A Middle School student-athlete was nominated by

Rutgers University for her dedication to community

service and helping our soldiers overseas.

• Religion classes participated in “Operation Rice Bowl”

through Catholic Relief Services.

• Seven Middle and one Upper School student(s)

were selected to take part in Sacred Heart Network

Summer Service Projects across the country.

• The Upper School “Heart to Heart Club” raised funds

in support of our schools in Uganda, Haiti and Peru.

• A Freshman was recognized for her work in fair

trade and received the 2011 Sustainable Princeton

Leadership Award.

• Stuart hosted our Sacred Heart sisters’ Campus

Ministry Clubs from Bryn Mawr (PA), Convent of the

Sacred Heart (91st Street in NYC), and Convent of the

Sacred Heart in Greenwich (CT).

• The Upper School held a Pink Out Day to benefit the

Susan G. Komen Foundation.

• The Robotics Team hosted a free summer camp at the

Trenton Library.

Making a Difference through ActionThirteen Lower and

Middle School Stuart

girls (and a mom) gave

the gift of their hair

to children through

Locks of Love.

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THINK. LEAD. CHANGE.

A social awareness that impels to action has

been a fundamental pillar of a Sacred Heart

education from the very beginning. St.

Madeleine Sophie and St. Philippine

Duchesne set out to educate girls so

they could, in turn, make an impact and

a difference in the world. This is one of

the fundamental components of a Stuart

education and sets us apart. We celebrate the

continued work of our Sacred Heart Founding

Mothers through the actions of Stuart girls.

Making a Difference through Action

Following damage from Hurricane Irene, Middle School students,

parents and faculty came together for a service project to clean up

Stuart’s Nature Trail.

Our Campus Ministry

and Outreach Clubs

worked together to

stock shelves at the

Crisis Ministry in

Trenton, and each

month the Campus

Ministry Club

provided cutlery for

HomeFront.

Upper School

students performed

more than 9,000

hours of service

this year at

organizations

including: Habitat

for Humanity and

Young Scholars

Institute in Trenton,

Stony Brook

Watershed in

Pennington, Acorn

Glen Assisted Living

in Princeton and

Appalachia Service

Project in West

Virginia.

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When I think of Kathleen, I am reminded of the lines of a song:

“You will walk in good company.”

Walking...you certainly loved to walk, Kathleen. You walked the halls of

Stuart, the Great Road, a good part of Central New Jersey, your beloved

NYC. You and I walked together, and you shared your memories and

thoughts with me: your family, RSCJs that you had known and loved,

the history of the C Corridor, and Stuart before my time. You brought

words on a page to life.

You listened when I shared,

you supported me, you

loved my family, and you shared your bountiful wisdom with such

gentleness. Yet you did not take yourself too seriously. You knew

when to laugh, you loved life, and people wanted to be with you.

The twelve years we spent together as grade partners left an

indelible mark on my heart, on my family’s heart. Yet I know I

am not alone with such memories. You touched everyone. Your

students were your priority. When you returned to Stuart to visit,

the halls seemed to pulse with “Sister Cox is here, Sister Cox is

here!” They would come walking fast—they never ran in front of

you—and crowd around you. Yet you never sought this out; you

seemed almost surprised by the excitement you caused.

You were so genuine, you touched so gently. You were a link to the

past, you were an example of why the RSCJs were so highly regarded.

It was so simple, really; no fancy words from you. Just fierce loyalty,

strong priorities, a tenacious belief in

God and the goodness of us all.

Now your steps here are silenced.

But there is no doubt for those of us who knew you: you are with your

family, Saint Madeleine Sophie, Saint Philippine, Sisters Janet Stuart,

and all those who waited for you to come to them.

Now, you truly walk in good company, my Friend.

Sheila

In Honor of Kathleen Cox, RSCJFrom her Friend and Teaching Partner, Sheila Schnell

“You knew when to laugh, you loved life, and people wanted to be with you.”

Sister Kathleen Cox (on right) and Sheila Schnell (on left) with their Grade 2 class in 1985, the first year they taught together.

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In Honor of Kathleen Cox, RSCJ

The 2011-2012

school year was an

active one for Stuart

alumnae! The fall

included a mother/

daughter alumnae

pair art show, and

the annual Ring

Ceremony where

each Junior received

her class ring from

a Senior or Stuart

alumnae family

member.

January 2012 began with the annual

Little Christmas celebration where

more than 25 recent Stuart alumnae

came home to Stuart. In February, local

alumnae gathered for a cocktail party

to hear the latest Stuart updates. March

marked the Stuart Alumnae Induction

for the Class of 2012, where members

of the Alumnae Board joined the seniors

for a luncheon.

In May, the biannual Barbara Boggs

Sigmund award was presented at Alumnae

Day to Leigh Morlock ’00, who is living in

Cambodia working with native artisans

to combat poverty. Congratulations to

the Class of 1967 for winning awards both

for the greatest percentage in attendance

at Alumnae Day as well as participation in

the Stuart Fund; kudos to the class of 2007

for the highest number of graduates at the

Alumnae Day brunch.

The first edition of the Stuart Alumnae

eNews hit inboxes in late June. The Stuart

Alumnae Board worked hard to craft an

informational newsletter which is intended

to keep all alumnae connected with Stuart

and all of the wonderful things happening

there today. If you did not receive the

eNews, update your email address via

[email protected].

I’d like to thank this year’s Stuart Alumnae

Board for their time and dedication to our

Alumnae Association, especially Kristin

Rodewald Dawson ’80 (Vice-President) who

filled in for me when I was on “maternity

leave” from Stuart after the birth of my

son, and also Michelle Evaul ’94 (Secretary)

who served as alumnae representative on

the Stuart Fund Cabinet. Finally, a warm

welcome to Alicia Fruscione Walker ’98, the

new Coordinator of Alumnae Relations. I look

forward to a busy 2012-2013 school year and

hope to see many alumnae at future events!

Sara Burchell Kestner ’96

Alumnae Board Chair

Sara Burchell Kestner ’96, President

Kristin Rodewald Dawson ’80, Vice President

Michelle Evaul ’94, Secretary

Meagan Byrne ’06

Beatrice Chukumba Inyama ’86

Mibs Southerland Mara ’83

Kavita Mathews ’04

Roxanne McElroy-White ’79

Melissa Baggitt Scott ’75

Francesca Ferrante Segales ’76

Molly Hillenbrand Vernon ’96

H. Lydia Zaininger ’79

Alicia Fruscione Walker ’98, Coordinator of Alumnae Relations

2011–2012 ALUMNAE BOARD

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JUNIOR RING CEREMONYStudents, faculty, parents, and alumnae

gathered in Cor Unum for the beautiful

and unique candlelit ceremony. Dr. Fagin,

Rev. Msgr. Gregory Malovetz, and Mrs.

Soos each took a moment to speak about

the ties that bind our community together

and to reflect on all that the ring with the

deer drinking from the stream represents.

Afterwards, the Front Hall was filled with

excited Juniors having their rings turned -

114 times! 100 times plus their class year,

plus one for luck.

Alumnae Year in Review

Well known for her trailblazing work in tech

blogging for CNET, Caroline McCarthy ’02

(now at Google) was named to Forbes 30

Under 30 list. You can catch up or “hang out”

with Caroline on Google+.

Congratulations to Lauren Morford ’03

who competed at the 2012 US Swimming

Olympic Trials in Omaha, Nebraska. She

swam for Eastern Express in Princeton,

and then Columbia University where she

was 2004 Ivy League Champion and team

captain. Lauren also competed at the

2008 Olympic Trials.

Molly Hillenbrand Vernon ’96 has moved her

store Luxaby Baby & Child to a larger space

on Hulfish Street in Princeton. Somehow

Molly also found the time this year to write

Luxaby Lily, a children’s book.

100 DAYS TO GRADUATIONSeniors were inducted into the Stuart

Alumnae Association at a luncheon

following the traditional 100 Days

to Graduation celebration. Seniors

donned the special crowns made with

love by Preschool students while they

paraded through the halls for the Stuart

community.

ALUMNAE LITTLE CHRISTMASMore than 25 recent Stuart alumnae

returned to visit with classmates, faculty

and staff, and enjoy lunch with the Senior

Class. The graduates also shared with

eighth graders their experience of life in

Upper School and college. Send us your news to share: [email protected]

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Allysa Dittmar ’10 and her father, George,

paid tribute to her mother Diane, a beloved

member of the Stuart community, by

participating in Overnight Walk in San

Francisco, raising funds and awareness for

suicide prevention.

Shannon O’Gorman ’11 competed in the

Irish 2012 Dance World Championships in

Belfast, Ireland last spring, and recently

placed in the top 5 ladies under 19 at the

North American Championships in Chicago

so she’s qualified once again for the 2013

World Championships in Boston.

Amanda Sharp ’08 came to Stuart to

demonstrate making plaster molds for

casting rubber for Upper School art

students. Congrats to Amanda as she

recently won the regional II Excellence in

Costume Design Award at the Kennedy

Center American College Theater Festival.

WOMEN WE ADMIRE DAYIn March, alumnae Dr. Keo (Feurstein) Van Why ’99, attorney Mia Tinari ’00, and performer

Shelley Wollert ’94 delighted Lower School girls with a visit during Women We Admire Day.

Shelley Wollert ’94 is working on a new

project that took her off the coast of Iceland

to the “Island of Elska.” Elska is a full-blown

multi-media project for children, and her

debut album, Middle of Nowhere, will be

released this fall at islandofelska.com.

Clare Quinlan ’07 spoke to Grade 8

Spanish students about Spanish Civil War

photography. Clare was an art history/

Spanish double-major at Williams College

and studied in Madrid where she researched

the topic. Thanks Clare!

Impassioned Alumna Abigail Borah ’09 spoke

out at UN Climate Change Conference in

Durban, South Africa to raise awareness for

the need for international climate controls.

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Members of the Class of 1967 receiving the Kerney Cup for best attendance at Alumnae Day (by percentage of the graduating class).

Inaugural Alumnae Gallery Inductees: from left to right, Megan Hunter Ruf ’97, Dr. Shelley Hearne ’79, Head of School, Dr. Patty L. Fagin, and Nell Merlino ’71.

Poetry in Motion 5K Run

Alumnae Day 2012Pieta Shukwit, retiring Lower School Head and Missy Bruvik reconnect with students at Alumnae Day 2012!

Class of 2007 had the greatest number of alumnae return!

It was a glorious day and many friends and

family of the Stuart Community turned

out for the 5th Annual Poetry in Motion 5K

and Children’s Run on May 19, 2012. The

event, held in memory of Victoria Flournoy

McCarthy ’71, helps fund the Lies, Light,

McCarthy Visiting author program which

allows all girls, from Kindergarten through

Grade 12, to study a contemporary world-

class author and then spend the day with

the author at Stuart.

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Harris Siegel received honorary membership in the Stuart Alumnae Association upon his retirement. Also receiving honorary membership that day were faculty members Ginny Moore, Madelaine Shellaby, and Pieta Shukwit.

The Barbara Boggs Sigmund Award was created in honor of a former Stuart teacher and public

servant who truly embodied the Sacred Heart goals in her everyday life. In memory of Barbara

Boggs Sigmund, the Stuart Alumnae Association presents this award to one deserving alumna

every other year, recognizing the recipient’s commitment to Sacred Heart values, especially Goal

Three: a social awareness which impels to action. This year, the Association proudly presents the

2012 Barbara Boggs Sigmund Award to Leigh Morlock, Class of 2000.

Currently living in Cambodia, Ms. Morlock has dedicated her life to making a difference in the

world, using everything she learned as a Sacred Heart student as inspiration. Specifically, she

believes that she discovered her ability to be a leader in a male-dominated society from her time

as a Stuart student. Combining leadership skills with a lifelong dedication to learning and serving

others, Ms. Morlock has truly become an inspirational woman to watch and follow.

After graduating from Stuart in June 2000, Ms. Morlock attended Drew University, where

she graduated Cum Laude with bachelor degrees in political science and theater arts. She

continued volunteer activism by starting a team for AIDS Walk New York, raising funds for

the Gay Men’s Health Crisis in NYC and the Hyacinth Foundation in New Brunswick, New

Jersey. She then began to pursue her true passion; combining her strength as a leader with

a powerful commitment to social service, Ms. Morlock began Push Pull

Cambodia, a fashion business based in Cambodia that reinvests in the

people. With her unique and creative business model, Ms. Morlock

has ensured that her business does not strip the Cambodian people

of resources; instead, her company provides employment and health

services for local residents.

Despite being an impoverished nation, Cambodia is home to artisans

with incredible talent and skill. As Co-Founder and Creative Director of

Push Pull, Ms. Morlock appreciates this plethora of hidden skill and works

closely with a community of Ikat Artisans in the Takeo Province of Cambodia. Push Pull employs

approximately 46 Cambodians from this community, offering stability, living wages, annual

ophthalmology visits, and other medical benefits to help the workers support their families.

However, Ms. Morlock does not want to stop here. She wants to invest in the community by

making long-term sustainable change. Therefore, she plans to give 10% of the company’s

profits back to the Takeo Province for the residents to use in whatever developmental projects

they feel are most important, such as clean water and sanitation. To assist the community in this

endeavor, Push Pull plans to launch a program this year to ensure that every artisan has access

to clean water in his or her home.

Leigh Morlock clearly epitomizes the essence of a Sacred Heart woman; she is a powerful leader

defying every obstacle, and she is a stewardess of humankind. Cambodia is a nation largely

dominated by men, but Ms. Morlock has firmly established herself there and earned the respect

of the people. It is a country built upon honoring the leadership of elders; yet, Ms. Morlock

has created a thriving business community focused on spearheading change. Despite all her

success, she simply believes she is living out a dream, thankful for having had the opportunity

to “create the company [she] always wished existed—fair, compassionate, sustainable, and

socially minded.”

Leigh Morlock ’00

Barbara Boggs Sigmund Awardby Alisha Mehndiratta ’12

“Leigh Morlock clearly epitomizes the essence of a Sacred Heart woman;

she is a powerful leader defying every obstacle, and she is a stewardess of

humankind.”

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Megan attended Stuart for 12 years,

beginning in the first grade. Inspired by her

teachers, she pursued a degree from Ohio

State University in environmental science

and wetlands ecology. Megan returned to

New Jersey to work at the site of her senior

community service project, Isles, Inc., a

non-profit community development and

environmental agency in Trenton.

After some time at home raising her three

children, Megan works as an independent

grant writer and program design

consultant for non-profit agencies. She is

active in other non-profit work, including

serving on the Parks and Recreation

Commission for the City of Lambertville

and serving on the board of the

Lambertville Area Education Foundation.

Megan is committed to inspiring and

effecting change through her passionate

work on behalf of the children of her

community. She is the 2004 recipient of

the Barbara Boggs Sigmund Award.

Nell Merlino’s years at Stuart formed the

foundation for her life-long commitment to

empowering women. Nell is well-known for

her part in founding Take Our Daughters

to Work Day, moving more than 71 million

Americans to give girls the opportunity to

dream bigger about their futures. She is

the founder and president of Count Me In

for Women’s Economic Independence, the

leading national not-for-profit provider of

resources for women to grow their micro

businesses into million dollar enterprises,

inspiring entrepreneurs to think bigger and

grow dramatically.

Nell is also author of Stepping Out of Line:

Lessons for Women Who Want it Their Way

in Life, in Love, and at Work. She has been a

true public servant; in addition to working

in state government and with the U.S. State

Department, she created campaigns such

as the YWCA’s The Week Without Violence

and the United Nations’ Fourth World

Conference on Women in Beijing.

Shelley made quite an impact on the

Stuart community while she attended

from Grade 8 through graduation, but

Stuart made an even greater impact

on her. Shelley’s advocacy work began

through her community service efforts

as a Stuart student. After completing her

undergraduate work at Bowdoin College and

her Ph.D. from Columbia University’s School

of Public Health, Shelley dedicated her

professional work to protecting our nation’s

health from preventable diseases. She is the

managing director of the Pew Health Group

at The Pew Charitable Trusts and is a visiting

professor at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg

School of Public Health. Shelley is the

recipient of numerous awards for her public

health work, has published numerous works

on public health topics and ethics, and

trains tomorrow’s medical and public health

leaders on their role in these issues. Shelley

credits her work to the social values instilled

by her Stuart education. She embodies the

Sacred Heart call to “always act as persons

of courage and integrity,” and uses this as

her routine inspiration to continue her fight

to make the world a better place.

Alumnae GalleryLocated just outside the office of the Head of School, the new gallery highlights alumnae whose work exemplifies the Sacred Heart Goals and characteristics outlined in Stuart’s Portrait of a Graduate. Featured alumnae will be chosen by the Alumnae Association Board and rotated annually.

Nell Merlino ’71

Megan Hunter Ruf ’97

Shelley Hearne ’79

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MARK YOUR CALENDARS!

Harris B. Siegel

SEPTEMBER 15, 2012 Exhibition Opening ReceptionSacred Spaces: Paintings and Mixed Media Works by Eileen Shahbender and Jessie Krause

SEPTEMBER 29, 2012 StuartFEST

OCTOBER 3New Parent Reception

OCTOBER 13, 2012 Stuart Founders Club Dinner

OCTOBER 20, 2012 Monte Carlo Magic Fall Gala and Casino Night

OCTOBER 23, 2012 Women in Leadership Speaker: Professor Bonnie Bassler Award-winning molecular biologist at Princeton University

NOVEMBER 17, 2012Community Trivia Night

DECEMBER 8, 2012 Stuart Christmas Cocktail Party

JANUARY 6, 2013 Winter Art Show Reception

JANUARY 7, 2013 Alumnae Little Christmas

APRIL 4, 2013 Lies, Light, McCarthy Visiting AuthorEdwidge DanticatAward-winning novelist and memoirist

MAY 11, 2013Poetry in Motion 5K Runin memory of Victoria Flournoy McCarthy ’71 to benefit the Lies, Light, McCarthy Visiting Author Program

JUNE 8, 2013 Graduation

As we went to press, we learned of the unexpected passing of Stuart’s former Director of College Counseling,

Mr. Harris Siegel. The following biography was written for us by Stephanie Champi ’12.

Harris B. Siegel grew up in Boston, Massachusetts. He was a star football player in high school and upon

graduation, he decided to take two post-graduate years at a local prep school where he learned how to study.

After his two post-graduate years, he attended Tufts University in Boston. He then matriculated to Harvard

University’s Graduate School of Education and Boston University. Harris taught in various schools throughout

the Boston area and Northern New Jersey. He also held vice-principal, principal, and college guidance

counselor positions.

After retiring for the first time, he was asked by a New Jersey Bishop if he could fill position of college

guidance counselor at a small, all-girls school in Princeton, New Jersey. He promised that he would stay to be

the college counselor for one year, but instead he ended up staying for 18 years.

This past June, Harris retired from a full-time position at Stuart to work part time at Raritan Valley Community

College to help students in the honors program transfer to four year institutions.

In Loving Memory 1936–2012

SEPTEMBER 13 & 14, 201350th Anniversary Kick-off Weekend

MAY 4, 201450th Anniversary Closing Celebrations

2013 Alumnae Day activities will be part of the 50th Anniversary Kick Off Weekend on September 13/14, so there will not be an Alumnae Day in spring 2013.

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KICK-OFF WEEKENDFriday September 13, 2013• Flag Ceremony/Mass of the Holy Spirit• Class visits, athletics, sing-a-long, & displays• Cocktails with Heads of School

Saturday, September 14, 2013 • Alumnae Brunch• Art50 Alumnae Art Exhibit Reception• StuartFEST Family Fun Day

CLOSING CELEBRATIONSSunday, May 4, 2014• Poetry in Motion 5K Run• Sacred Heart Goals Symposium• Closing Party

Save the dates!

STUART COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL of the SACRED HEART1200 Stuart Road Princeton, NJ 08540

609-921-2330 www.stuartschool.orgfacebook.com/stuartschool@stuartcdschool

Non-Profit Org.U.S. Postage

PAIDPrinceton, NJ

Permit No. 310

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