Winter 2009 - Sacred Heart Schools

HeartofMattertheWinter 2009Goal I: Educating toa personal and activefaith in GodPublished for alumni, families and friends of Sacred Heart Schools, Atherton

Sacred Heart SchoolsAdministrationRichard A. DioliDirector of SchoolsSusan RaffoChief Financial OfficerSandy DubinskyChief Operations OfficerM’Lis Berry (SJSH ’77, SHP ’81)Director of DevelopmentCee SalbergPrincipal, SJSHPreschool & KindergartenBridget CollinsPrincipal, SJSHLower & Middle SchoolJames EverittPrincipal, SHPTrusteesMindy Rogers, Co-ChairAnne Holloway (SH Newton ’73), Co-ChairMona BaileyMaude Brezinski (SH Noroton ’72)Roberta CampbellMike ChildJohn CoganBarbara Dawson, RSCJMarritje GreeneTim HaleyFred HarmanMarie-Louise Flick, RSCJRon JohnsonJohn KerriganStephanie LaneManny MacedaMike MohrmanKenneth OlivierMary Pat Ryan, RSCJSteve RudolphChick RunkelSue SutherlandJanice WilkinsMichael WishartTrustee Emeritus:Robert GlocknerJohn N. HunterThe diverse opinions expressed inHeart of the Matter do not necessarilyrepresent the official policy of SacredHeart Schools, Atherton.Visit us at www.shschools.org©Sacred Heart Schools, AthertonHeart of the Matter is publishedbi-annually in February and August bySacred Heart Schools, Atherton150 Valparaiso AvenueAtherton, CA 94027Tel: (650) 473-4003Fax: (650) 473-4099Heart of the Matter is mailed withoutcharge to all current parents, alumni andto many parents of alumni and friends ofthe school.Contact dhouston@shschools.orgwith your comments, questions orsuggestions.EditorDawna HoustonDirector of CommunicationsContributorsMary Askins (SJSH ’79, SHP ’83), JamesEveritt, Sr. Nancy Morris, Rachel Prouty,Colin Quinton, Marie VaudellPhotographyDawna Houston, Mary Askins, AudreyEve Harper, Pearl Nicholas. Specialthanks to all of the parents who contributedtheir photos for this magazine.PrinterCraftsmen PrintingSacred Heart Schools, Atherton (SHS) isa Roman Catholic, independent schoolfounded by the Society of the SacredHeart of Jesus (RSCJ) in 1898. Ourmission is to educate the whole child tobe a leader who loves God and servesothers.About the CoverPictured is the statue of Jesus that islocated on the first floor in the MainBuilding. This same statue can be foundin Sacred Heart schools throughoutthe U.S.State of the HeartFrom the Director of SchoolsGoal I: Schools of the Sacred Heart committhemselves to educate to a personal andactive faith in God.As a member of the Network of Sacred Heart Schools, we areguided by the Goals and Criteria of a Sacred Heart Educationand are committed to educate each student to: a personal andactive faith in God; a deep respect for intellectual values; a socialawareness which impels to action; the building of community asa Christian value; and personal growth in an atmosphere of wisefreedom. Perhaps more difficult to cultivate in our students thanany of the other goals, developing a personal and active faith inGod is central to our mission: To educate the whole child to bea leader who loves God and serves others. In this issue of Heart ofthe Matter you will see Goal I in action and how it is carried outby people in our community, from faculty and staff members tothe Religious of the Sacred Heart at Oakwood.I am proud of the work that is done here at SHS particularlyof the programs that deepen our commitment to the spiritualityof the RSCJ and the evolving tradition of the Roman CatholicChurch and at the same time foster an environment where all ofthe world’s major religious traditions are accepted and respected.Liturgies, daily prayer, retreats, and weekly Espacio meetings helpstudents to develop an appreciation for personal and communalprayer. The Sacred Heart Society provides the opportunity forstudents to build relationships with the retired nuns at Oakwood.The Office of Formation provides leadership to enable our faculty,staff and board members to further the vision of St. MadeleineSophie and St. Philippine Duchesne. And the list goes on.May your heart and mind continue to be open to having arelationship with God and may you accept His love for you.Richard A. DioliDirector of Schools

HeartofMattertheContentsHeart FeaturesGoal I: Educating to a personal and 6Active Faith in GodCampus Ministry Takes the Lead on Faith 6Espacio is now a household 8Term for SHP StudentsMay your walk be filled with peacE 10Reflecting the heart of jesus 10Following God’s Plan 11Heart Spotlightsleading the charge for st. madeleine sophIE 12St. Madeleine sophie award 14Sacred Heart launches the most ambitious 16campaign in the history of the schoolNoteworthySchool News 2 Alumni Class Notes 20Athletics 4 Alumni Events 29

Kindergarten students collaborate with SHPstudents on community service projectDuring the month of December, as part of the curriculum, thekindergarten classes at St. Joseph’s learned about Gary Soto, aChicano poet, essayist and children’s book writer. Using the “handme down” theme from his book, If the Shoe Fits, the kindergartnersspearheaded a community service project, “The Shoe Project” tocollect gently used children’s shoes for local families in need. Duringthe first two weeks of December, each kindergartner, with the help ofstudents from Sacred Heart Prep, helped collect, bag, and label theshoes that were donated from families with students in preschool andkindergarten. These little philanthropists also decorated the collectionboxes, made a sign to promote the project, and counted the shoes.The hallway at St. Joseph’s Preschool and Kindergarten was lined withboxes and bags of shoes when the project was finished.In all, the students collected 282 pairs of shoes forlocal families in need in December 2008.heart of the campusGrandparents DayOn Monday, November 24, 135 visitors spent the morning atSt. Joseph’s as special guests of the students for Grandparents/Special Person Day. For the first time in many years, this specialday was planned during a regular school day. This gave the guests anopportunity to experience the dedication of the faculty, to get a smallflavor of the school’s curriculum, and to feel the uniqueness of theSacred Heart community.The morning started with a continental breakfast in the FoleyCenter where the guests picked up their schedules for the morning andhad an opportunity to talk to other visitors. After spending time withthe children in the classroom, everyone congregated in Spieker Pavilionfor a Mass. The liturgy, led by Mr. Mike Murphy, Middle SchoolReligion and Math teacher, was focused on Thanksgiving, grandparents,and the special persons. He emphasized the importance of family andthe invaluable gift our grandparents and special persons offer us. Themorning concluded with the community singing “America the Beautiful.”One grandparent wrote: “Had to tell you that was the bestGrandparents Day I’ve attended....When I see the small class size, the teacher quality, the interaction between studentand teacher (even at 8 a.m.!) the visual aids used– well, it’s impressive.”Winter 2009Ms. Shorty Lorenat is pictured here at St.Joseph’s on Grandparents Day. She was aspecial guest of the preschoolers Arianna andLorenzo Martinelli.

SCENES FROMSeussicalThis past December, in the true spirit of “one school,” Sacred HeartSchools presented the colorful and zany musical, Seussical, witha cast and crew made up of over 100 students in grades preschoolthrough twelve. The talents of many of the students were showcasedin this musical through the characters that we all know and love sowell such as the Cat in the Hat, Horton the Elephant, and the Whosfrom Whoville. Reminiscent of the all-school performances directed byformer faculty member Joan Burdick in the 1970s and 80s–althoughfaculty and staff no longer perform alongside the students as they oncedid in years past–this bi-annual all-campus production is a rare opportunity forstudents from both St. Joseph’s and Sacred Heart Prep to work together on oneproject. According to Drama Teacher and Seussical Director Rachel Prouty, thedifferences between the younger and older students create wonderful opportunitiesand challenges, as one can well imagine when working with students between theages of five and eighteen. “It’s always an adventure, however the rewards are worthit, particularly the friendships that are formed across the grade levels.”The show, written by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty(Lucky Stiff, My Favorite Year, Once on This Island,and Ragtime), brings to life all of our favorite Dr. Seusscharacters, including Horton the Elephant, Gertrude McFuzz,Lazy Mayzie and all of the Whos of Whoville! Top: Jojo,the Mayor’s son, is a thinker non-stop and he can imaginealmost anything into existence, including the Cat in the Hat.Directly above: Mr. and Mrs. Mayor address the citizens ofWhoville. To the left: The citizens of the Jungle of Nool putHorton the Elephant on trial for talking to a speck of dustand sitting on an egg. Below: The Whos and the Junglecitizens welcome the Sour Kangaroo and her side kick, theYoung Kangaroo.Heart of the Matter

Gators prepped for the playoffsSports highlightsThe close of the fall sports season saw seventeams qualify for post-season play in the CCSfinals, perhaps one of the best seasons everfor the SHP Gators, not to mention over forty of ourstudent athletes were honored for their individualachivements.For the first time ever, the Varsity Football Teamsecured a Central Coast Section (CCS) Small SchoolDivision tournament berth with a 28-21 overtimevictory over The King’s Academy in the PAL Oceanchampionship game on November 7. And if thatwasn’t something for the Sacred Heart archives, theyadvanced all the way to the CCS championship gameafter defeating longtime rival Menlo School andScotts Valley in the quarter- and semi-final games.This is the first year that SHP has participated in thePAL Ocean League. They previously played in theBay Football League and the North Coast Section.According to Head Coach Pete Lavorato, who hasbeen coaching the Gators for six years,” It was adream season. Things couldn’t have worked out muchbetter. I believe two keys to the great season were theleadership of the senior class and the tremendouscamaraderie between the junior and senior classes.”Because of their success, the Gators have been movedup to the very tough Bay division of the PAL for2009. Congratulations to Coach Pete Lavorato whowas name PAL Ocean Division Coach of the Year.The Girls’ Water Polo Team established schoolhistory of their own by holding off Castilleja, 5-4, inthe Central Coast Section Division II championshipgame on Saturday, November 22 winning the title forthe second year in a row. They also finished as WCALchampions earlier in the season with a win over St.Francis. Senior Yvonne Dunlevie who led the teamto a 23-6 record was named girl’s Division II MostValuable Player of the Year.The Boys Water Polo Team also made schoolhistory as well securing the CCS Division IIchampionship for the second year in a row. Theybattled it out against Menlo School to win with aWinter 2009

score of 6-3. They also finished as WCAL co-championsearlier in the season. Senior Paul Rudolph was named boy’sDivision II Player of the Year.The Girls Golf Team placed third in the West Bay AthleticLeague and advanced to the CCS Finals tournament andplaced ninth in the section, quite an accomplishment for afirst year program with no seniors. They finished with a recordof 10-4-0.In Girls Tennis, we finished second in a strong West BayAthletic League. The team once again advanced to the CentralCoast Section tournament where they upset higher seedLeland prior to falling to St. Francis in the section quarterfinals. They finished with a record of 14-7-0The Girls Volleyball Team finished their regular seasonwith a 19-10 record and a third place finish in the WBAL.Led by league Most Valuable Player Marissa Alvarez, theGators upset higher seed Harker Academy in the CCSQuarterfinals before losing to Harbor High School of SantaCruz in the CCS Semi’s.The Boys and Girls Cross Country Teams also had stellarseasons. The girl’s squad once again had a good enoughqualifying time to enter the CCS tournament while the boysjust missed extending their season.5St. Joseph’s makes history of their ownwith a record of 21-0 in flag footballUnder the skilled guidance of coaches Bill Campbell,Mark Flynn, Gary Graumann, Mike Moe, PatDillingham, Jason Armstrong and Jeff Reynolds, the StJoseph’s Varsity A boys flag football team went undefeatedduring their 2008 season. Their record of 21-0 was capped offby an exciting victory over Menlo School with a final scoreof 6-0. Besides winning the WBAL league title, the boysalso won two tournaments, including the first annual FlagFootball Tournament held at on the Sacred Heart Schools,Atherton campus in a close game over Harker. It was a seasonto remember!Go Gators!5Heart of the Matter

FaithGoal I: Educating to a personaland active faith in GodCampus Ministry takes the lead on faithSacred Heart Schools, Atherton (SHS) is guided bythe Goals and Criteria of a Sacred Heart Education,the first of which is: Goal I: Schools of the Sacred Heartcommit themselves to educate to a personal and active faith inGod. Developing a personal and active faith in God is centralto our mission which is “to educate young women and mento be leaders who love God and serve others.” Although it’sthe responsibility of every educator who works at SHS tocarry out the mission of the school, it’s the Campus Ministrydepartment in particular who oversees the co-curricularprograms offered at all grade levels that are specificallyfocused on Goal I. There isn’t one student on campus thatisn’t touched by Campus Ministry in one way or another.Through the leadership of the three key members of thedepartment, Sister Kathleen Dolan at St. Joseph’s and CarolSchaffer and Virginia Boesen at Sacred Heart Prep (SHP),Campus Ministry provides a variety of age-appropriateprograms to enhance the spiritual life of the community.And they don’t do this all alone. It really does “take a village,”particularly when the entire school community in gradespreschool through twelve come together in Spieker Pavilionfor Eucharist at the beginning of the school year to celebratethe Mass of the Holy Spirit and at the end with the feast ofSt. Madeleine Sophie Barat. Working collaboratively withfaculty and staff members from all departments on campus,and with students as well, is key to the success of the CampusMinistry programs.Campus Ministry programs are rooted in the traditionsof the Roman Catholic Church and the Society of theSacred Heart, however they are also designed so that allstudents, regardless of faith tradition, feel welcome to activelyparticipate in the many aspects of the programs, fosteringan environment where all world religions are respected andaccepted. For example, the daily prayers that start off theacademic day at each grade level are selected by the CampusMinistry department members with input from students andfaculty from a variety of sources and faith traditions. At thehigh school, one day they may say the “Our Father” together.On another day they may start with a quote from the DalaiLama, or Buddha followed by a universal prayer such as“God of Compassion, As we long for peace, help us rememberour sisters and brothers of all faiths who share our longings. WeWinter 2009

pray that all living beings realize that we are all nourished fromthe same source of life. Amen.” Regardless of the source of thecontent, starting each day together with a daily prayer helpsthe students to develop an appreciation for personal as well ascommunal prayer.Another program that is planned and coordinated byCampus Ministry is the retreat program for grades six throughtwelve. With the help of other faculty and staff members,Ms. Boesen plans the retreats for SHP and Mike Murphywho teaches math and religion in the middle school, plansthe retreats for St. Joseph’s. The retreats for each grade levelare designed for the developmental stages of the students. Inparticular, the one-day retreat for the sixth grade focuses onwhat it means to be a child of the Sacred Heart and SacredHeart traditions. Freshmen and sophomores participate inone-day retreats that are designed to develop and cultivatecommunity and faith-sharing. Juniors and seniors are offeredthe opportunity to participate at different times during theyear in overnight retreat experiences, including Kairos. Kairosis a Greek word that means time, but not in a chronologicalsense. It is used to refer to a moment of opportunity, ofchallenge, of decision. It is a “time of the Lord.” The threedays and two nights spent at Kairos allow the students torecognize the presence of God in themselves as well as intheir parents and families, and in the friendships they share.Because this experience is so personal, there is a tradition tonot share any of the details of what happens during theseretreats and it’s clear that the students honor this tradition.Several students were stopped in the hallway in the MainBuilding and asked about Kairos. It was hard to get anythingmore than “Very cool” or “I highly recommend it” or “Wow,it was amazing.”In addition to the entire community coming togetherfor the Mass of the Holy Spirit and Mass of St. MadeleineSophie, additional liturgies and prayer services are heldseparately at St. Joseph’s and at SHP throughout the schoolyear. It is Campus Ministry that is behind the scenes makingeverything run smoothly with help from faculty, staff, andof course, the students, who always have the opportunity toactively participate in one way or another whether as lectors,musicians, planning the services or when appropriate, servingas Eucharistic ministers. At SHP, these liturgies and servicesare held during Espacio, a thirty minute period in the weeklyschedule where grades nine through twelve come together as acommunity and enter into prayer and reflection.Other ways in which Campus Ministry touches thestudents is by just having an open door for students whomay want to discuss spiritual issues or perhaps just hangout. During office hours at SHP, often you can find manystudents and faculty in the Campus Ministry office in theMain Building, also known as “the Fish Bowl.” There is a verycomfortable sofa there and rumor has it there are always goodsnacks, but even more inviting than the bowls of gold fishor pretzels that are always available is the warm and invitingenvironment that Ms. Schaffer and Ms. Boesen provide forall those who are looking for a respite from otherwise busyschedules.When all is said and done by Campus Ministry, studentswalk away from their Sacred Heart education at SHS withtools and knowledge to empower each of them to develop his/her own spirituality by living his/her own faith.Where Campus Ministry is responsible for the co-curricularprograms that educate to Goal I, it is the Religious Studiesdepartment that is responsible for the curriculum for gradespreschool through twelve that teaches to Goal I.1.2.3.4.5.6.7.The Criteria for Goal I as stated in theGoals and Criteria of a Sacred Heart EducationRooted in the love of Jesus Christ, the school promotes apersonal relationship with God and fosters the spiritual livesof its members.The school seeks to form its students in the attitudes ofthe heart of Jesus expressed in respect, compassion,forgiveness and generosity.The entire school program explores one’s relationship toGod, to self, to others, and to all creation.Opening themselves to the transforming power of theSpirit of God, members of the school community engage inpersonal and communal prayer, reflection and action.The entire school program affirms that there is meaning andvalue in life and fosters a sense of hope in the individual andin the school community.The school fosters inter-religious acceptance and dialogueby educating to an understanding of and deep respect forthe religions of the world.The school presents itself to the wider community as aChrist-centered institution and as an expression of themission of the Society of the Sacred Heart.Heart of the Matter

Espacio is now a householdterm for SHP studentsPictured above is the original MaterAdmirabilis at the Trinità dei Monti inRome. It has been associated withseveral miracles.Mater AdmirabilisMater Admirabilis, a fresco depictingthe Virgin Mary, was painted 1844by a young French girl, PaulinePerdrauIn, who later became anRSCJ. She chose to paint Mary asa young woman in a rose-coloreddress similar in color to a favoritedress of her own, rather than amatronly Madonna in blue. Paulineput herself wholeheartedly into hertask, however her inexperiencewith the technique of fresco did notproduce the beautiful soft paintingfor which she had hoped, so thetoo vivid colors were hidden behinda drape. When it was revealed toPope Pius IX in 1846, with its colorsinexplicably softened, he exclaimed“Mater Admirabilis!” (Latin forMother Most Admirable.) Since itwas revealed in 1846, it has beenassociated with several miracles.Today, there is a statue and/or apicture of Mater in every SacredHeart school throughout the UnitedStates. At SHS there are severalincluding the fresco in the hallwayof the Main Building outside of thechapel and the statue in the 100building at St. Joseph’s. The feastof Mater Admirabilis, celebrated onOctober 20, is a special day markedat SHS with liturgical celebrations.According to SHP Principal James Everitt, “Current research on thespiritual lives of teenagers and the generation of parents responsiblefor their formation consistently points to the reality that today’s youngpeople are more interested in the “spiritual journey” than a commitment to aparticular religious tradition. Religion scholars and sociologists propose manyreasons for this shift in the post-Vatican II generation of students.” It is partlydue to this that Espacio was created for SHP students. Part of the weeklyschedule, Espacio is a window of “space and time” where all of the students,faculty, and staff in grades nine through twelve come together as a communityand enter into prayer and reflection. The purpose of Espacio is simple—toexpose students to a wide range of experiences that introduce the many ways inwhich contemporary people pray. In addition, it gives students an opportunityto explore their own beliefs about “a personal and active faith in God” whilelearning about the beliefs and experiences of others.While the central message of Espacio is consistently the Christian messageof the Gospel—God’s Love made known to us in Jesus Christ—students arealso exposed to non-Christian forms of prayer and meditation, since the schoolhopes to foster inter-religious acceptance and dialogue by “educating to anunderstanding of and deep respect for the religions of the world” as requiredin Criteria 6 for Goal I. While the time scheduled each week is a constant,the content can take on any form with different students, faculty and/or staffmembers leading each week.For example, during an Espacio held this past fall, SHP faculty member BenHunter led the faculty, staff, and students in a lesson in Tai Chi. Mr. Hunter,who has been practicing Tai Chi since he was s sophomore in high school andhas traveled to China to study it extensively, introduced this martial art as oneform of meditation. In his introduction, he talked about the centering experienceof doing Tai Chi and how “once you are centered, you are still. This stillness iswhat enables us to experience God.” It was quite a sight to see over two hundredpeople in Conway Court practicing this martial art.At another Espacio, John Ceremsak (SHP ’09) shared about his experiencewhile traveling through northern India during the summer of 2008. During thesix weeks he was there, he talked and lived with refugees in Dharamsala, spenta week in a home stay with a doctor named Nawang Tsering in Nyi, and got tolisten to and shake the hand of the spiritual and political leader of Tibet, HisHoliness the 14th Dalai Lama. Not only was he completely inspired by hearingthe Dalai Lama speak, but he was truly moved by the simplicity, authenticity,and especially the compassion of the Tibetan Buddhists with whom he cameinto contact, particularly of Nawang, whose daily prayer ritual of full Buddhistprostrations in front of a small golden medicine Buddha in his small, humblehome was as simple and authentic as the Tibetan people could get. Afterwitnessing firsthand the struggle of the Tibetan people in Dharamsala, John said,“[It] taught me a lot about the importance of religion, not so much as a systemWinter 2009

Faculty member Ben Hunterleads over two hundred faculty,staff, and students in Tai Chi onConway Court.“...faith is a beautiful thing. Sometimes I can feel it and sometimes I can’t.The times I can feel it are often the happiest and most truthful momentsof my life.”of gods and an afterlife, but as a social philosophy…nomatter how difficult the crisis with China might get, [they]will never fail to practice compassion...I find that extremelyadmirable.”At another Espacio, students listened to Katie Hosking’s(SHP ’09) experience of seeing the original Mater Admirabiliswhile visiting her grandparents in Rome. Katie wasn’tparticularly interested in seeing the fresco and didn’tunderstand her grandmother’s excitement about showingit to her, but Katie indulged her anyway and is so glad shedid so. The experience was incredibly meaningful from thewalk up the Spanish Steps, to encountering an enthusiastic“flock of nuns speaking about every language but English,”to listening to her grandmother tell the story of the fresco, toactually standing in front of the fresco. According to Katie,“I am not one to say that I am entirely Catholic. And I amnot even able to tell you that I believe in God all of the time.But I can say that faith is a beautiful thing. Sometimes Ican feel it and sometimes I can’t. The times I can feel it areoften the happiest and most truthful moments of my life.Faith is not something I want to articulate, partially becausefaith is different for everyone, and partially because I amafraid putting words to it will alter or cheapen its meaning.Seeing this painting, I could feel it.” Like everyone else, whenthey left, Katie had tears in her eyes. The powerful feelingsshe experienced from seeing the painting were somethingmore than words could express and nothing she could haveimagined for herself. “…if you happen to find yourself inthe gorgeous city of Rome, I highly encourage you to at leaststop by. If you open yourself up, you might just see morethan a fresco.”It is hearing the experiences of faculty members andstudents like Mr. Hunter, John and Katie, along with activelyengaging in the various opportunities that are made availableto the students, that makes them look forward to Espacioeach week. And it’s thanks to Carol Schaffer in CampusMinistry and the faculty, staff and students who are willingto share their own personal experiences and knowledge thatEspacio is now a household term for SHP students.Heart of the Matter

May your walk befilled with peaceLabyrinths have been around for over 4000 years and canbe linked to almost every major religious tradition in theworld. Unlike a maze which has dead ends and many trickturns, labyrinths are unicursal, which means they have a singlepath leading to the center with no loops, cul-de-sacs or forks.Defined by how many concentric circuits or paths they contain,they are located throughout the world in many sizes andshapes, and are created in a variety of materials in temporaryor permanant designs. Like Stonehenge and the pyramids, theyare magical geometric forms that define sacred space and arepowerful tools for many on their spiritual journey.One of the most famous labyrinths is at Chartres Cathedralin France. Constructed around 1201 AD, with the sign of thecross readily visible in the design, its distinguishing features areeleven circuits with turns arranged in four quadrants, lunationsor teeth around the perimeter, and a six-petal rosette at thecenter. In Medieval times Christians would visit ChartresThe labyrinth at Sacred Heart Schools, Atherton was madepossible thanks to a generous gift from the Delgadillo-SmithFamily.(and other cathedrals) to walk the labyrinth with the hopeof becoming closer to God, instead of risking their lives on apilgrimage to Jerusalem. Today, modern “pilgrims” of all faithswalk labyrinths as a tool to enhance prayer, contemplation,meditation, and/or personal growth or quite simply to allowone to quiet the mind and find peace at the center of his or herbeing.Students at SHS don’t need to travel anywhere to walk alabyrinth, because we have a replica of the Chartes labyrinth oncampus. Built by Labyrinths in Stone in 2004 behind the MainBuilding, it serves as a symbolic center of the campus. Thirtysixfeet in diameter and open to anyone who wishes to walk it,Reflecting the heart of JesusMary Louise Jenkins, affectionately known as “Mamie” tothose who are closest to her, is a retired RSCJ living atOakwood. This octogenarian from the East Coast is beautifulon both the inside and out with an infectious smile that reflectsboth her heart for Jesus and her equally jovial personality. Howlucky the students at SHS are to have her in their own backyard!Born and raised Protestant in New York City, Sr. Jenkinsconverted to Catholicism during her sophomore year atManhattanville College of the Sacred Heart in New York.After finishing a Masters Degree in Music at ColumbiaUniversity in 1948 (she also has degree in Music Therapy),she joined the Society of the Sacred Heart. She is the firstAfrican American to become an RSCJ and also to graduatefrom Manhattanville College. When asked why she becamean RSCJ, she replied, “The first time I saw a nun in full habitwas at Manhattanville College. I was drawn to [the RSCJs].They were spiritual people, well-educated and filled with thelove of Christ, and also with humor.” And when you meet Sr.Jenkins, she is allof the above andthen some!She spent herreligious life in avariety of capacitiesin different SacredHeart schoolsincluding StoneRidge, VillaDuchesne, GrandCoteau, 91st Street, and Greenwich before retiring to Oakwood.Some of her most important work, she says, was “returning toher roots in Harlem” and spending her summers “off” teachingin the St. Aloysius Educational Summer Program in New YorkCity. There she taught English, poetry, and music for twelvesummers to young children, but more importantly, what shetried to do was “help them to know that self-esteem is important10Winter 2009

the labyrinth is used by various classes for prayer andmeditation. When not in use, the labyrinth becomesa decorative background and conversation piece forceremonies and other events.The directions on how to walk the labyrinth aresimple. 1) Start at the beginning and stay on the path. 2)Once you enter, think of nothing but the path you areon. 3) When you reach the center, use the time in thecenter for reflecting, meditating, or praying. 4) Whenyou feel ready, retrace your path to where you started.You can walk, run, hop, crawl. Regardless of yourpace, each person’s walk is a personal experience.Whether you use the walk for clearing the mind andcentering, or to ponder a question or concern, yourwalk can be a healing and sometimes very profoundexperience or it can be just a pleasant walk.So, if you need to find a few moments of peace, takethe time to walk a labyrinth. There is a labyrinth locatoravailable on the Internet or you can walk the labyrinth atSHS. In the words that are etched into the stone at thebeginning of the labyrinth at SHS, “May your walk befilled with peace.”Following God’s planWhen Robyn Wilson (SHP ’74) enrolled as afreshman at Convent of the Sacred Heart (formername of SHP) in 1969, it was an answer to prayer.Raised in a Jewish home, although only in thetraditional aspects, she felt something was missingas early as the age of five. “I was aware, even then,of a strong pull in my heart to be a Catholic..I can’texplain this other than it must have been in God’s plan for me.”From the day she set foot on the campus, she immersed herselfin everything Sacred Heart had to offer and was influenced by manyincluding her friendships with classmates (forty in all!) and the Reganfamily “who embraced me, took me to church with them at St.Raymond’s, and made me feel so much a part of their home.” She wastouched by one teacher in particular, Sister Hayes, whose gentle spiritand love for Christ taught her much about loving and appreciating all ofGod’s people.The weekly Mass also had a huge influence on Robyn. “TheCatholic Church became home for me” and she loved the liturgy. “Iwas very comfortable and filled with love and closeness with Godduring those times..I felt a sense of belonging to something so muchlarger than myself that was filled with history, yet also with active faith.”For the first time she experienced unconditional love and forgivenessand was filled with hope.”After graduating from Sacred Heart in 1974, she converted toCatholicism as a result of the love of Christ that was shown to her whilea student, and she has been showing the love of Christ, in the sameway it was shown to her, ever since.and that Harlem is no disgrace.” She also encouraged them tocontinue with their education and “to always reach out and helpothers” and “to give back.”Although she is retired, she continues to work with studentsat SHS teaching music to first graders and as confidante andmentor to Decatur Macpherson (SHP ’09) and DanielleDebroeck (SHP ’09), two members of the Sacred Heart Society,a service organization that offers twelfth graders the opportunityfor spiritual growth, quiet service to the SHS community anda deeper understanding of Sacred Heart history and tradition.According to Danielle, “the first time I met Sr. Jenkins was at[our] initiation mass. I was one of the last students to be pairedwith my nun. As soon as they called my name and matched mewith Sr. Jenkins, she stood up waving and laughing...this mostincredibly epitomizes Sr. Jenkins. I have dined and gone to themovies with her and Decatur on two weekend afternoons, andboth afternoons were truly spectacular. She simply loves music,and although not a musician myself, her devout love for it hasopened my eyes to the power of music. She is truly incredibleand I always like to brag that I got paired with the best nun! Wespend our afternoons together talking, and at the end we alwayspray for a country in need. She has the biggest heart of anyone Ihave ever met!”Decatur’s experience with Sr. Jenkins is very much the sameas Danielle’s. “I love her!” says Decatur. “We just sit and talkabout anything and everything. We both love to sing (so we singtogether) and she has come to my theatrical performances. Ilove my ability to talk with her about anything...and I really lovethe fact that she raises my awareness about different topics andpeople. I feel like she helps me be more selfless.”After reading about the impact that Sr. Jenkins has had onDanielle and Decatur, one can only imagine the thousands ofother children who have had similar experiences. And if they allreach out and help others, and give back what Sr. Jenkins hasgiven to them? Imagine how far the love of Jesus can reach.Heart of the Matter11

Leading the Charge forSt. Madeleine SophieFormation to Mission becomes a priorityfor Sacred Heart Schools, AthertonSacred Heart Schools, Atherton (SHS) recently hired SisterMartha Roughan as Director of Formation to Mission,a full-time position that is new not only to SHS, but toall of the other twenty-one schools in the United States whocomprise the Network of Sacred Heart Schools. SHS is one ofonly two schools in the Network to have this full-time positionwith Carollton School of the Sacred Heart in Miami, Florida asthe other. For many, “Formation to Mission” is an unfamiliarterm, and to understand what it means and Sister Roughan’srole, it’s important to know some of the history and currentstatistics of the women responsible for Sacred Heart education,the Society of the Sacred Heart.Founded in 1800 by St. Madeleine Sophie Barat in France,the Society of the Sacred Heart is an international religiousorder of nearly 3,500 Catholic women who live and ministerin over five hundred communities in 45 countries. At their“Formation to Mission is possibly themost important work being done inSacred Heart schools...”height, they numbered over 8,000. They are known to manyof us as “the religious,” “the nuns,” or “RSCJ,” whose initialsstand for Religious of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Latin, French,Italian, and Spanish. It usually takes nine years to become anRSCJ and through this process, each woman is formed to livethe mission of the Society of the Sacred Heart. Their missionis simply to share the love of the Heart of Jesus through theservice of education as well as diverse ministries, particularlyaddressing the needs of children, young people, women, andthose in society who are marginalized. In 1818, St. PhilippineDuchesne emmigrated from France and established the Societyof the Sacred Heart in the United States (the U.S. Province).Today there are approximately 370 RSCJ who belong to the U.S.Province.The Society of the Sacred Heart has established overtwo hundred Sacred Heart schools throughout the worldSt. Madeleine Sophie Barat from “The Society of theSacred Heart” F. Charmot S.J. 1953.including our school in Atherton, and until as recently as the1960s, RSCJ were the only educators in those schools. To geta Sacred Heart education meant that you were taught by and,in some cases, lived with these women or “mothers” whose solecommitment was the spiritual and intellectual developmentof the children in their schools. Today, not all of the RSCJwork in Sacred Heart schools. Some work in universities; withhandicapped children and adults; with migrants, indigenouspeople, and refugees; in parishes, retreat centers, ashrams; inprisons; in advocacy work, especially with women and children;as lawyers, nurses, doctors, artists, writers, therapists, pastoralcounselors, spiritual directors, and social workers.Since the 1960s, the number of women entering the Society,and all other religious orders for that matter, has declinedsignificantly to a point where there are very few, if any, womenentering this vocation today. The number of RSCJ in the UnitedStates alone is rapidly declining with the average age to be overseventy years old. Out of the 370 RSCJ in the United States,there are over fifty who are retired and living on the SHS campusat Oakwood, many over the age of ninety. At SHS there are onlytwo full-time RSCJ, Sister Roughan and Sister Kathy Dolan, outof over two hundred employees–the rest made up of lay peoplefrom various educational and spiritual backgrounds, thus, theimportance of Formation to Mission.12Winter 2009

Sister Martha Roughan is pictured herewith faculty member Connie Solari.The Network has a very specific mission expressed in theGoals and Criteria of a Sacred Heart Education which is toeducate students to a personal and active faith in God, a deeprespect for intellectual values, a social awareness which impelsto action, the building of community as a Christian value, andpersonal growth in an atmosphere of wise freedom. The term“Formation to Mission” refers to an ongoing plan, formallyadopted by the Network in April 2008, for the education of adultsin the school community to the essential elements of the missionstated above. The ultimate aim of this plan is to “empower theadults to be bearers of this mission and to assume responsibilityto foster its transmission to the next generation.”According to faculty member Connie Solari, “Formationto Mission is possibly the most important work being done inSacred Heart schools in the U.S. today. It provides educators,regardless of our various roles or job descriptions, with theonly frame of reference within which the term ‘Sacred Hearteducation’ means anything. Without it we are just anothercollege prep school. It provides educators a clear understandingof why we approach curricular material in the distinctive waythat we do, and why we insist on many of our co-curricularprograms.”Sister Roughan’s role as Director of Formation to Mission isto oversee formation programs for trustees and faculty and staffthat are specifically designed for each of these groups. Using theNetwork’s Formation to Mission Plan as her guide, she worksclosely with various departments on campus including the ESCJgroup, or Educators of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, which is agroup of faculty and staff members at SHS who have expressed apersonal commitment to the mission of Sacred Heart educationin addition to a professional one. Over 75% of the SHS facultyand staff currently belong to the ESCJ group.Some of the programs offered to the adults on campusthrough the Formation to Mission office include: extendedprayer services to begin liturgical seasons such as Advent andLent, retreats, some required and some optional, and weeklyor monthly seminars to provoke reflection and meditation. Fornew faculty and staff there is a day long orientation coveringa brief history of the Society of the Sacred Heart and themission as articulated in the Goals and Criteria. For the senioradministrators, each weekly meeting begins with reading(s)from “our Mothers” and includes some type of reflective timefor that reading. For the trustees, there are specially designedprayers for their meetings, e.g. for the feast of St. PhillipineDuchesne in the fall, and periodic distribution of educationalinformation designed to enhance their understanding of the thecharism and heritage of the RSCJ. Currently there is a group offaculty and staff members who meet monthly to study the Gospelof John, which was St. Madeleine Sophie’s favorite Gospel andone from which she derived much inspiration. In the WinterIssue 2008 of Heart of the Matter, Connie Solari wrote aboutthe activities in which the ESCJs have participated as a resultof their commitment to Sacred Heart education. If you haven’thad a chance to read it, you can download a copy from the SHSwebsite.With the declining number of RSCJ, the future of SacredHeart education rests with the present generation of adults whowork as Sacred Heart educators. And with the help of SisterRoughan, at least in our corner of the world in Atherton, St.Madeleine Sophie’s legacy will live on.Originally from the East Coast, Sr. Roughan entered the Societyin 1966 and made her final vows in 1976 in Joigny, France,birthplace of St. Madeleine Sophie. She holds a B.A. in French andtwo Masters degrees, one from Boston College in Education with afocus on Religious Education and a second in Administration fromUniversity of Notre Damein Indiana. She has workedin seven different SacredHeart schools in the UnitedStates as both a teacher andadministrator before coming toSacred Heart Schools, Atherton.You can find her on the thirdfloor of the Main Buildingin room 342, next door toCampus Ministry, a.k.a “theFish Bowl.”To learn more about theSociety of the Sacred Heartand Formation to Mission:www.rscj.orgwww.sofie.orgwww.rscjinternational.orgwww.shschools.org/escjYou can also download “TheHeart” with Connie Solariat http://www.stanford.edu/dept/fren-ital/opinions/ whichwas recorded on October 21,2009.Heart of the Matter13

St. Madeleine Sophie AwardFour members of the community honored for theirservice to Sacred Heart Schools, AthertonFour members of the Sacred Heart community were honored with the St.Madeleine Sophie Award at an awards ceremony on September 10, 2008:Ken Thompson, Marritje Greene, Mike Murphy, and Mary Ann Robbiano.Established in the year 2000, the St. Madeleine Sophie Award honors members ofour community who embody the Goals and Criteria of a Sacred Heart Education intheir exceptional service to Sacred Heart Schools (SHS). Nominated by membersof the community, the awardees are selected by a committee made up of senioradministrators and the Chair of the Board of Trustees. The following includes someof the comments about the four awardees that were shared by colleagues, familymembers, and friends at the awards ceremony.Marritje GreeneFrom the moment Marritje Greene stepped on the SHScampus over eight years ago, she has embraced and modeledfor others the Goals and Criteria of a Sacred Heart Education.She is the mother of Lindsay, Jamie (SHP ’04), and Charlie(SHP ’06) and is currently serving her fifth year on the Boardof Trustees. Marritje is well known for her generous spirit,always giving her time and resources, and always giving fromher heart. She learned from a young age the importance ofgiving back and volunteering. According to her three children,“Her determination to make each school we have attended aspecial place, especially Sacred Heart, is awe inspiring as shededicates her entire self to the projects she becomes involvedin.” She has been involved in many areas from makingdecorations and wreaths in her home for a Christmas eventto being instrumental in creating our Center for StudentSuccess and to organizing a benefit concert to help strengthenthe financial aid program. In addition, working behind thescenes of our annual auction, she has helped to make it oneof the most successful on the Peninsula. One friend says “herzest for life and charm makes others feel like participating andgiving, all while enjoying themselves.” According to Rich Dioli,“Marritje’s philosophy of giving is rooted in the Goals andCriteria and she embodies these goals, not only in her personallife, but also in all that she does in making the world a betterplace.”Mike MurphyMike Murphy, father of Patrick (SHP ’07), has worked atSacred Heart Schools for over sixteen years starting as a religionand math teacher at Sacred Heart Prep before moving over toSt. Joseph’s towork with thelower grade levels. At St. Joseph’s he has served in a numberof roles including interim principal for the 2007-08 schoolyear. He is currently teaching math and religion in the middleschool. Mike is also an ordained deacon for the Archdioceseof San Francisco and frequently assists Campus Ministry withtheir programs throughout the school year.According to his colleague Academic Dean Mike Taverna,“Through the years Mike has been a positive force, belovedteacher, committed colleague and a valuable friend to many.He has been there for students, parents and fellow faculty asa solid upright man dedicated to the community, his familyand the mission of Sacred Heart. I think Mike was chosenfor this award because his life is lived as a reflection of manyvalues and virtues that he holds close to his heart. These nobletraits mirror the guidelines we use as a community to realizeour mission of educating children and helping others. There isno more vivid example of the Sacred Heart Goals and Criteriain action than in the many contributions that Mike has madeover his years of service to this community.”Mary Ann RobbianoMother of Kay (SHP ’72), Paul, and Angie (SHP ’76), MaryAnn Robbiano started her relationship with SHS in 1960as a parent when her daughter Kay started Kindergarten.She became the school nurse in 1968 and served in thatrole until she became the Director of Nursing at Oakwood,the retirement home for the Religious of the Sacred Heart,in 1976. Sacred Heart was all-girls while she served as theschool nurse. Students remember her motherly touch when14Winter 2009

The St. Madeleine Sophie Award winners pictured here withDirector of Schools Rich Dioli are (in the front from left toright): Marritje Greene and Mary Ann Robbiano; in the backare Ken Thompson and Mike Murphy.comforting homesick boarders and treating skinned knees,broken bones, and the flu. She retired in 1990 from Oakwoodand continues to volunteer her time for the nuns through theOakwood Auxiliary and the Children of Mary. She and herhusband Paul celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary with aMass at the Oakwood chapel in September 2007.Ken ThompsonKen Thompson started working at SHS in January 1989 asa long-term PE substitute at St. Joseph’s. An honors grad inmathematics from UC Berkeley and former Cal basketballstar, he was hired the following year to teach a section of mathat Sacred Heart Prep as well as coach and direct the athleticsprogram. Three years later, he moved full-time into academicsas Math Department Chair, where he markedly strengthenedthe department and demonstrated the leadership to be named Dean of Faculty in 2002. Two yearslater, he became Academic Dean, a position he continues to fill with extraordinary intelligence,conscientiousness, and diplomacy. According to his colleague and friend, English teacher ConnieSolari, “He is, in short, as fine an administrator as one could ever hope to work with.” Mr.Thompson is also known as an actor and a singer; he boasts a beautiful baritone voice and arrangesvocal arrangements for two a capella groups on campus. Former students and faculty alike have fondmemories of him starring in all-campus drama productions in the years when faculty joined studentson stage here. To quote Connie Solari in her comments at the awards ceremony, “you’ve never reallylived until you’ve seen 6’6” delicately walking a tightrope while crooning a dramatic solo.” Accordingto a former student “What I grew to realize is that Mr. Thompson’s strength as a teacher lies notin his ability to breeze through difficult material like a mathematical genius, but in his ability tomake the classroom relatable to the students.” Since the winter of 2005, he has battled leukemia,providing a model of courage, grace, and hope for the entire Sacred Heart community.PreviousAward Recipients:2000Mae-Jeanne McGanney, Former TrusteeIsabel Peterson, SHP Faculty, retiredSally Peterson, SJSH Faculty, retiredMargaret Robinson, RSCJ2001Donna Gilboa, SHP FacultyLorraine Horn, Past Board ChairNancy Morris, RSCJJoseph Zucca, SJSH Faculty2002Marilyn Luotto, SHS Faculty, RetiredJoan McKenna, RSCJZenaida Melgoza, SHS Staff2003Helen Costello, RSCJRobert Glockner, Trustee EmeritusAnn McGowan, RSCJJanet Whitchurch, SHP Faculty, Retired2004William Neidig, Former TrusteeShirley Connolly, Former TrusteeSheila Peterson, Former Trustee, AlumnaJoan Eagleson, SJSH Faculty2005Lori Pickett, R.N., Oakwood StaffSherlene Pjesky, SHS Staff, RetiredVinette Ramsay, SHP Past Parent2006Lauren Koenig, Alumna, Former Trustee,ParentConnie Solari, SHP Faculty, Former Parent2007Genevieve Varga, SHP Staff, Former ParentDan Greenleaf, SHS Staff, Current ParentIs there someone you would like to see honored with the St.Madeleine Sophie Award?We are currently seeking nominations from the entire SHS community.The St. Madeleine Sophie Award honors members of ourcommunity who embody the Goals and Criteria of a SacredHeart Education in their exceptional service to Sacred HeartSchools, Atherton. The person(s) honored are selected by acommittee which includes the senior administrative team andthe Chair of the Board of Trustees. Each year the recipientsare honored at a reception and at the Mass of the Holy Spirit,the first all-school liturgy of the school year. In addition, therecipient is a VIP guest at various SHS events throughout theyear and is featured in Heart of the Matter.Please take a few minutes to suggest a candidate for thisaward and include the following information: Your name,name of nominee, and acccomplishments and specific serviceembodying the Goals and Criteria.The deadline for nominations is June 12, 2009.All forms and questions can be directed to NancyTarantino at ntarantino@shschools.org or(650) 473-4089.Heart of the Matter15

Sacred Heart launches the most ambitiouscampaign in the history of the schoolIt was inspirational. It was exciting. It was, in fact, an evening that paid generoustribute to what Sacred Heart Schools is and can become. It was a celebrationto mark the launch of “Living our Mission, Building our Future,” the mostambitious capital campaign in the 110-year history of the school.Over 500 people came together on November 7,2008 for an evening that launched the publicphase of this landmark campaign which aimsto raise $95 million. Along with being the first to view thecampaign video, comprised of clips of interviews with currentstudents, faculty, and administrators who shared inspiringpersonal perspectives about Sacred Heart and what the successof this campaign means to the future of the school, theguests at the launch were also the first to see a photographicexhibition of the new building plans and to experience firsthandsome of the technology that will be purchased by thefunds raised.Director of Schools Rich Dioli wowed the guestswhen he announced that we’ve already hit the $52 millionmark, but still have a long way to go to reaching our goal.He described the $95 million objective as “an ambitious,but obtainable goal,” and saluted the efforts of dedicatedvolunteers and the generosity of many parents, alumni,parents of alumni, trustees, and friends of the school whohave been working for months, and for some, years, towardmaking the campaign, its priorities, and the public launch areality.16Winter 2009

Under the leadership of campaign co-chairs LaurenKoenig, SHS alumna and current parent, and KristinaHomer, current parent, “Living our Mission, Building ourFuture” will support priorities that will help us to providea 21st century education for our students on a dynamic,modern campus that reflects the Sacred Heart spirit, whilepreserving our heritage and traditions at the same time. Thepriorities identified are endowment for faculty excellence,financial aid, and 21st century learning; renovation ofexisting facilities and realigning athletic fields; and buildingnew facilities. The new facilities include a science and studentlife center at Sacred Heart Prep, currently under construction,and buildings to replace outdated facilities at St. Joseph’swhere current classrooms were built with 1950s standards,not 21st century capabilities. There are plans to build alower school classroom building, a middle school classroombuilding, a library/administration building, and a new FineArts building which will house classrooms for band, music,chorus, and drama; assembly space large enough to hold theentire SJSH student body, faculty and staff; and a chapel. Therenovations will include new fine arts and math classroomsWe envision a school that supports anevolving and aware community, livingthe mission of St. Madeleine Sophie andbuilding on the innovative spirit ofSilicon Valley.in the Sigall Building, and classrooms, faculty offices and arobotics lab in what is now the the cafeteria, a.k.a. the GatorPit, in McGanney. The renovations will start in May 2009with completion slated for the start of school in the fall.At the campaign launch on November 7, faculty, staff, andstudents were on hand to discuss and demonstrate how thepriorities for “Living our Mission, Building our Future” will impactthe teaching and learning opportunities at Sacred Heart Schools,Atherton.Part of the evening’s program was the unveiling of thefuture Michael J. Homer Science and Student Life Center,dedicated in recognition of the leadership gift made byKristina Homer on behalf of her husband, Michael J. Homer,former SHS trustee, parent, and Silicon Valley technologyinnovator. This new building, slated for completion inAugust 2009, is the first LEED* certified building oncampus. Located across from McGanney, the Homer Centerwill include eight new science classrooms; critically neededassembly space large enough to hold the entire SHP studentbody, faculty, and staff for liturgies, assemblies, testing, andlectures; a lounge for student leaders; a new cafeteria forstudents and faculty; plus new faculty offices, courtyardswith outdoor seating, and two outdoor basketball courts. Inaddition, the building will double as a teaching tool, with aHeart of the Matter17

Pictured above is awatercolor rendering of theMichael J. Homer Scienceand Student LIfe Center.Below is a watercolorrendering of the assemblyspace with a picture of theconstruction of the hall inprogress.bio-retention area that catches rainwater, a living roof planted with drought resistantplants, and a building management system that lets students track energy efficiencyin real time. When completed, the center will be 44,100 square feet. According toScience Department Chair Colin Quinton,“This is the first time in my career thatI am truly excited about the possibilities of a classroom. I will have the flexibility toteach in a way that reaches students and engages them meaningfully in the subject.Science is a process as much as it is a content and this space inspires me to reach forboth.”The keynote speaker for the campaign launch event was current SHS parent andChairman of Intuit Bill Campbell who inspired the attendees with his commitmentto the school and encouraged every person in the audience to follow his lead. BothBill and his wife, SHS Trustee Roberta Campbell, have been valuable members of theSHS community for over twenty years, generously volunteering their time as well asgenerously supporting the school with financial gifts for endowed scholarships andmany of our newest facilities on campus, including The Campbell Center for thePerforming Arts.At the end of the evening, after hearing Rich Dioli’s and Bill Campbell’scomments, along with having the chance to actually see what a 21st century educationmay look like at Sacred Heart, guests were encouraged to make a symbolic gestureshowing their commitment to Sacred Heart Schoolsand the campaign by tying a ribbon with one of thefollowing words: “faith,” “intellect,” “leadership,”“integrity,” “respect,” “scholarship,” “diversity,” and“justice,” on the fence outside of the construction siteof the Michael J. Homer Science and Student LifeCenter. Students at Sacred Heart Prep had tied theirown ribbons on the fence earlier in the day.Like all great institutions, Sacred Heart Schoolsmust evolve in response to new demands andopportunities to strengthen our academic and co-18Winter 2009

curricular programs. And to do that, it means taking full advantage ofthe latest thinking on curriculum, individualized instruction, and theintegration of technology into the classroom–whatever it takes to have aschool that supports an evolving and aware community, living the missionof St. Madeleine Sophie and building on the innovative spirit of SiliconValley. According to Board Co-chairs Anne Holloway and Mindy Rogers,“It is time to invest in our campus by replacing outdated facilities withmodern classrooms, laboratories, and a library–all supported by the besteducational technologies. New buildings are just the beginning. We alsomust support the professional growth of our excellent faculty, expand ourfinancial aid programs, and increase our endowment to safeguard ourfuture and help moderate tuition growth. This campaign fullfills each ofthese objectives.”*The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)Green Building Rating System, developed by the U.S. GreenBuilding Council (USGBC) in 1994 provides a suite of standards forenvironmentally sustainable construction. The rating system addresses six majorareas: 1. sustainable sites, 2. water efficiency, 3. energy and atmosphere, 4.materials and resources, 5. indoor environmental quality, and 6. innovationand design process.If you would like to learn more about“Living our Mission, Building our Future,” visithttp://campaign.shschools.org or call (650) 473-4003.Heart of the Matter19

Class News & NotesStay Connected!Submit class notes toalumni@shschools.org or(650) 454-8394 or you cansubmit them online atwww.shschools.org/alumni.1960sClaudia Samper (SHP ’63)is living in Bogota, Colombiaand has been working in publicrelations for Mazda for the past24 years. She recently wrote, “Iremember very often those goodyears and most importantly,what I learned at Sacred Heart, Ihave passed on to my daughterand two grandsons.”Jeanmarie Tarmann Derry(SJSH ’69, SHP ’73) currentlyworks at Gilroy High Schoolteaching in the Englishdepartment and as their Speechand Debate Coach in the CoastForensic League.Martha Rosas de Nuñez (SHP’66) lives in Durango, Mexicowith her husband of 31 yearsand her three daughters Paulina,Matilde and Mariangela andtwin sons, Leonel and Joel.Her daughter Paulina is gettingmarried on May 1, 2009. Marthawould love to hear from herclassmates; she can be reachedat martharosas100@hotmail.com.1970sElke-Martea von Schlosser(SJSH ’70, SHP ’74) recentlyopened a bed and breakfast,Enchanted April Farm in PilotHill, CA on a small farm nestledin the Sierra foothills.Dan Lucier (SJSH ’77) is livingwith his wife, Moira and twosons John (12) and Michael (8) inBurlingame, CA.Thank you to Lucile Fox (SHP ’22, College at Menlo’24) and Marie Evelyn Fox (SHP ’23, College atMenlo ’25) for their legacy gift to SHS!You can leave a lasting legacy to benefit future SHS studentsby naming Sacred Heart Schools as a beneficiary in any of yourestate planning. Whether it be in your will, a charitable trust, or lifeinsurance policy, your legacy gift from your estate can help make apromise that Sacred Heart will always be here.If you have already named Sacred Heart as a beneficiary in any ofyour estate planning, please let us know so that we can recognizeyou as a member of the Tower Circle Society.Contact the Development Office at (650) 473-4003 for moreinformation.Joanne Loke Pating (SJSH ’79SHP ’83) lives in Honolulu withher husband, Chris, and theirtwo sons Colin (14) and Adam(12). Since moving to Hawaii,Joanne has immersed herselfin Hawaiian culture. She haslearned to dance the hula andplay the ukulele. Last summershe performed a traditional hulaat the reopening of the RoyalHawaiian Center in Waikiki.Joanne Loke Pating (SJSH ’79,SHP ’83) in Hawaii.1980Martha Rosas de Nuñez (SHP’66), lower left, is pictured herewith her family.Elke-Martea von Schlosser (SJSH’70, SHP ’74) with her caninecompanion Rowdy.Class of 1978 reunion. Pictured: Tracy Cronin (SHP ’78), KimStickney Richter (SHP ’78), Tami Greenback Adam (SJSH ’74, SHP’78), Ellen Kirkbride Kaidanow (SHP ’78), Noel Moran (SHP ‘78), MarySlavin Wallace (SJSH ’74, SHP ’78), Front Row: Michelle Gaubert(SJSH ’74, SHP ’78), Maggie Crimmins Kuhns (SHP ’78), Tami RudeeMey (SHP ’78), Debbie Barrett Pfeiffer (SJSH ’74, SHP ’78), BarrieCallender (SJSH ’74, SHP ’78).20Winter 2009

1980sAnne Lucier Ashendorf (SJSH ’81) livesin Mill Valley with her husband, Michael,and their two children, Charlie (7) andMolly (5). She is employed as the Directorof Marketing at Laurel Fertility Care in SanFrancisco.Cynthia Luce (SHP ’85) lives in DalyCity and has been married to Dr. RichardCheung for the past 11 years. She hasbeen teaching at her alma mater, LifeWest Chiropractic College West for thepast three years and will be opening anew practice in Pacifica in March 2009.After graduating from the FashionInstitute of Design and Merchandising inLos Angeles, Holly Morgan (SHP ’88)began a career in fashion design. In May2009 she will celebrate her two yearanniversary of co-owning Holly MorganDesigns, LLC, a Torrance, CA basedwomen’s clothing company where she isCEO, Creative Director and Designer.1990sGina Zolezzi Rodriquez (SHP ’90) livesin Campbell, CA with her husband andtwo-year old son, Nico. She has beenteaching Spanish at Saratoga HighSchool for the past eleven years andhas previously lived in both Spain andMexico.Kirsten Handelman Daru (SJSH ’90)has been working for Reed Smith LLPfor the past seven years but has recentlybecome counsel for the Bay Area gamingcompany, Electronic Arts. She lives inBelmont with her husband Aaron and isexpecting twin boys in March 2009.Alumni ProfileMary Lucier Askins (SJSH ’79, SHP ’83)Alumna returns home to Sacred Heart to take onrole as Alumni Relations ManagerMary Lucier Askins returned “home” this past fall to takeon the role of Alumni Relations Manager for Sacred HeartSchools, a role that suits her well given her history withSHS. Mary attended St. Joseph’s Elementary from 1971-1979 and Sacred Heart Menlo, graduating in 1983 in one ofthe last graduating classes of all girls. According to Mary,“twelve years at the same school was a blessing and uniqueexperience,” something she didn’t realize until coming back25 years later. “This school was like a home away fromhome for me, and the education and lifelong friends I gainedinvaluable.” Sr. Robinson, Joan Burdick, Sr. McGowan, Isabel Peterson, Sr. Thompson, theMinute Men, the chicken coop, pool parties, the “bomb shelter,” performing in “My Fair Lady,”the time capsule, the “sludge test,” and grey herringbone pleated skirts are just some of Mary’smany fond memories of her time here as a student. “The person that I am today is solidy rootedin the Sacred Heart education that I received.“Mary’s family also has strong roots with Sacred Heart. Her siblings, Dan, Anne, and Chris,all attended St. Joseph’s Elementary and Mary’s mother, Judy Lucier, was a committee memberfor the the very first auction for Sacred Heart Schools and later chaired the 1983 auction. Mary’sfather, Jack Lucier, served as a trustee at the pivotal time when the decision was made to closethe boarding school and convert the high school to co-ed.After leaving Sacred Heart in 1983, she continued her studies at UC Santa Barbara whereshe earned her bachelor’s degree in Mass Media and Communication Studies. She worked inSanta Barbara in cable television and advertising until moving back to the Bay Area in 1989. Forthe past twenty years Mary has been working locally in various industries including specialtyfoods, private investigations, and web-based promotional marketing. She and her husbandMark, a private investigator, have two daughters, Julia (10) and Emily (4). Although life is busywith raising a family and working full time, Mary manages to find time to enjoy activities suchas volunteering for her daughter’s Girl Scout troop, cooking, hiking, and socializing with familyand friends. She and her husband are also active in the Make-A-Wish Foundation and The JWHouse, two charities near and dear to their hearts.The bomb shelter is gone, the chicken coop has moved, the pool is now a pavilion, boysabound at “the Prep,” faculty faces have changed, and working at Sacred Heart is a verydifferent experience than being a student here. However, what has remained constant for Maryis the feeling that Sacred Heart is home away from home. She looks forward to re-connectingwith all of her old friends as well as making new ones through her role as the Alumni RelationsManager.Heart of the Matter21

Class News & NotesDr. Loretta Sullivan Chang(SHP ’90) and her husband, Dr.Samuel Chang, had their firstchild, a baby boy in February2009.Megan Bartlett Beh (SHP ’90)is a kindergarten teacher at Topof the World in Laguna Beach,CA.Erin Rosenberg Gillett (SHP’90) and her husband, Kevin, areexpecting their second child, aboy, in March 2009.Jennifer Ott Cameron(SHP ’90) and her husbandwelcomed the arrival of theirsecond daughter, Carlyle WebbCameron, in November 2008.Eileen Magilligan Sheldon(SHP ’92) and her husband,Christopher, recently movedback to San Francisco afterliving in London, England. Eileengave birth to Buchanan Sheldonon August 27, 2008.Vanessa Perez-Rubio (SJSH’92) and Michael Maffia (SHP’96) were wed at St. FrancisSolano Church in Sonoma onJune 7, 2008. Though bothattended Sacred Heart Schools,they didn’t meet until ten yearslater in San Francisco. Followingtheir wedding, the couple setoff on a whirlwind honeymoonvisiting the Greek Islands, andBurgundy and Paris, France.Vanessa and Michael live in SanFrancisco with their beagle,Flanders.Ann Tornabene Barnes (SHP’92) gave birth to JoshuaVincent on December 12, 2008.The familyis doingwell andElia Rose,Joshua’s 22month oldsister, lovesto help care for her new babybrother. Ann and her husbandEric live in Chico, CA where sheis a practicing pediatric dentistand her husband is an oralsurgeon. Grandmother and SHSstaff member, Beth Tornabene,was thrilled to receive thiswonderful early Christmaspresent.Lesley Scott Pollom (SJSH’93, SHP ’97) lives in RedwoodCity with her husband of fourand a half years, Mike, andtheir beautiful nine-month-olddaughter, Harper Adele. Lesleyis a stay at home mom who trulyenjoys every minute of family life.Lesley Scott Pollom (SJSH ’93,SHP ’97) with her husband,Mike, and daughter HarperAdele.Margarita Woc Colburn (SHP’93) works in Washington, DCas a surgical resident at theNational Zoo. She has one moreyear left in her residency and isfinding it very interesting andSilvi Jaason, Micaela Rustia, Alessandra Perez-Rubio (SJSH ’01, SHP’05), Mike Maffia (SHP ’96), Vanessa Perez-Rubio Maffia (SJSH ’92),Rosanna Perez-Rubio Casper (SJSH ’94), Laura Richardson Hansen,Christie Perego (SJSH ’92, SHP ’96); Front Row: Terrence Rohan(SJSH ’92, SHP ’96), Ryan Walker (SJSH ’93, SHP ’97), Tony Maffia,Ryan Schwedhelm, James McIntosh (SJSH ’92, SHP ’96), and KarlHansen (SHP ’96)busy. She recently performedsurgery on a macaque and wasthe attending anesthesiologistfor a lion, anteater andorangutan.Andrea Marisol Contreras(SJSH ’94, SHP ’98) lives inSan Francisco and works as anEnvironmental Planner for theCity.Jessica DeVivo (SJSH ’94,SHP ’98) is living in Nashville,Tennessee pursuing a master’sdegree in counseling atVanderbilt University. Sheis currently in training as aschool counselor at a middleschool, working toward statecertification and then stateand national licensure. InDecember she was honored tojoin the Board of Directors atthe Vanderbilt Center for HealthServices.Sabrina Beckner Kurtz (SJSH’96, SHP ’00) graduated fromUC San Diego in 2004 andreceived a master’s in educationand a teaching credential fromUCSD in 2005. She has beenworking at a public elementaryschool in Sunnyvale since 2005.Drue Kataoka (SHP ’96)recently launched her art intospace with famed video gamedeveloper Richard Garriottaboard a Soyuz TMA spacecraftfrom the Baikonur Cosmodromein Kazakhstan. This is the firstever “in space” art exhibition.She also recently painted aportrait of First Lady MichelleObama on a 6’ silk scroll usingthe ancient Japanese techniqueof Sumi-e. The portrait, “Blackon White,” was inspired byDrue’s meeting with the FirstLady in Chicago at the NationalWomen’s Leadership Conferencewhere Drue had a specialexhibition of her original art.22Winter 2009

Curtis Nishimura (SHP ’96)lived in Stockholm, Sweden forsixteen months where he hadtime to travel to many Europeancountries including Hungary,Italy, Slovenia, England, France,Bosnia, Germany, Croatia, theNetherlands and Denmark. Hecurrently lives in New York City.Sabrina Schumann (SHPKelli Miller Shane (SHP ’98) withher husband Matt at DisneyWorld.Matt Corpos (SHP ’98) with hiswife Jane and daughter Lila Jane.Andrea Brooke Haynie (SHP ’98)with husband Justin Caldarella.’96) graduated from BostonUniversity Medical School lastyear and is in her second yearas a resident at Cook CountyHospital in Chicago.Jennifer Panos (SHP ’97)recently opened her owninsurance agency underFarmer’s Insurance named thePanos Agency.of Portland where she wasvoted team captain for threeyears. In April 2007 Trishawas made Head Women’sBasketball Coach at SkylineCollege in San Bruno, CA. She iscurrently working on a master’sdegree and teaching credentialat Dominican University ofCalifornia.Jamie Lynn Miller (SHP ’97)is working as a nanny in PaloAlto. In her spare time, sheenjoys volunteering at LucillePackard Children’s Hospital andwriting a book about learningdifferences. She celebrated her30th birthday with a bike ridefrom San Francisco to Sausalitowith her sisters Wendy MillerQuattlebaum (SHP ’93) andShe and her husband, MattShane, who also works atSacred Heart, will celebratetheir 5th wedding anniversaryin September. They rang in theNew Year with a trip to DisneyWorld.Andrea Brooke Haynie (SHP’98) married Justin Caldarellain Menlo Park, CA on May 31,Trisha Felts Hosley (SHP ’97)lives in San Carlos with herhusband, Nathan, and theirtwo children, Nathan “Deuce”Stuart (3) and Camryn (1).After graduating from SHP,Trisha received a basketballscholarship from the UniversityCamille Konopnicki (SJSH ’97SHP ’01) received her master’sdegree in chemistry andbiochemistry at UC San Diegoin March 2008 and is currentlyworking toward a PhD in thesame department. She recentlybecame engaged to her bestfriend, Daniel Vincent, after heproposed on New Year’s Eve.Kelli Miller Shane (SHP ’97).She highly recommends thebike ride across the GoldenGate Bridge with a return trip viathe Gemini, a boat designed tohave ten times fewer emissionsthan existing Bay Area ferries.Jenny Benton (SHP ’97)spent the last year in New Yorkworking in the Retail Division of2008. The couple honeymoonedin Cabo San Lucas, Mexicobefore moving to Atlanta, GA.Brooke is working for Nokia as aglobal events program managerand commutes to Californiamonthly.Matt Corpos (SHP ’98) andhis wife Jane welcomed LilaJane into the world on Januarya commercial real estate firm,15, 2009. Matt currently worksNewmark Knight Frank. Shefor Voltage in Palo Alto as arecently moved back to Sancomputer engineer, while hisFrancisco to launch the westwife Jane works in HR forcoast Newmark Retail Division.Google. They live in MountainView, CA. Grandmother and SHPKelli Miller Shane, (SHP ’98),faculty member, Emily Corposis working part-time at Sacredsays she couldn’t be moreHeart Schools while working asproud.Michelle Obama with DrueKataoka (SHP ’96), who recentlycompleted a portrait of the FirstLady © 2008 Drue KataokaKelli Miller Shane (SHP ’98),Jamie Lynn Miller (SHP ’97) andWendy Miller Quattlebaum (SHP’93).an actress and model. She is avolunteer for the ONE campaignand a Child Advocate for CourtAppointed Special Advocates.Heart of the Matter23

Class News & NotesCatherine Burke (SHP ’02) andher sister Sarah Burke (SHP’04).Katy Shumm Tuttle (SHP ’01)with her husband Mark.Danielle Di Fede (SJSH ’99,SHP ’03) with her husband.Jeff Jackson (SHP ’02) with Australia’s PrimeMInister Kevin Rudd.Kristin Schaller Thompsonfirst year law at the University ofHe currently works at Oracle andPepa Paniagua (SHP ’01)(SHP ’99) is now a new mom toDenver Sturm College of Law.lives in San Francisco.recently completed a six-monthSusannah Joy who was born onteaching internship at FirstJune 17, 2008.Danielle Di Fede (SJSH ’99, SHPMichael Cashin (SJSH ’00, SHPPresbyterian Church, Austin,She and her’03) was married on January 17,’04) is currently working on hisTexas. She also completedhusband are2009 in Woodside, CA. She metMBA at the Grazadio School ofone (summer) unit of Clinicalthrilled with theher husband, Darin Pretti, duringBusiness at Pepperdine University.Pastoral Education at the Paloaddition to theirher freshman year at ChapmanHe will finish in the spring of 2010.Alto Veterans Administrationfamily.University. They both graduatedHospital. She expects to completeShaun Ghafouri (SHP ’99)is counsel for an investmentcompany in Redwood City. Hemarried Nathalee Ghafouri onSeptember 8, 2007 and currentlylives in San Carlos. They plan totravel to Argentina in 2009.from Chapman in 2007 andcurrently live in Portland, OR.SHP alumni in attendance at thewedding were her sister and maidof honor Caitlin Di Fede (SJSH’03, SHP ’07), Angela Scaletta(SJSH ’99, SHP ’03), Tony Masia(SJSH ’99, SHP ’03), and ToriAlex Becker (SJSH ’01, SHP ’05)recently returned from studyingin Brazil (and wishes he hadmore opportunities to practicehis Portuguese in Los Angeles).He is a senior at UCLA, studyingsociology and film, and works asan intern at 20th Century Fox.a Pastoral Externship at NorthPark Presbyterian Church,Dallas, Texas in August 2009.Pepa is particularly interested incongregational care, worship andpreaching, mission, outreach, andteaching.Monica Ortiz (SHP ’99) is in hersecond year of veterinary school atSt. George University on the islandof Grenada. She will be travelingto South Africa this summer withother students for training andother hands-on experience at theAmakhala and Shamwari GameReserves.Katharine Jensen (SJSH ’99,SHP ’03) graduated from UCLA in2007 and spent a year working inLos Angeles. She recently movedto Denver where she is studyingDraeger (SHP ’03).2000sSara Spieker (SHP ’00) graduatedfrom UC Berkeley in 2004 and iscurrently living and working in SanFrancisco as the manager of theAnthropologie store on MarketStreet.Jerry Simonson (SHP ’00) hasjust been accepted into the MBAprogram at Santa Clara University.Azad Jacobs (SHP ’01) graduatedfrom San Jose State Universityin 2006 and has been workingas an account manager in digitaladvertising for BlueLithium, Inc.Lexie Castaillac (SHP ’01) isworking toward a master’s degreeat the Academy of Art Universityfor interior architecture with afocus on green design.Katy Shumm Tuttle (SHP ’01)graduated from Santa ClaraUniversity in 2005 and was marriedto Matt Tuttle at the Santa ClaraMission on June 7, 2008. Thebridesmaids included Katy’s twosisters, Meghan Shumm Oliveri(SHP ’97) and Erin Shumm (SHP’99) along with fellow Sacred Heartgraduates Elizabeth Accornero(SHP ’01), Alison Dyer Howard(SHP ’01) and Julie Stankovic(SHP ’01). The couple lives inWoodside with their chocolate labpuppy, Sam.24Winter 2009

Beth Crisafi (SHP ’01) hasJeff Jackson (SHP ’02) graduatedCatherine Burke (SHP ’02)Brandon Child (SHP ’04)been living in New York City andin 2006 summa cum laude fromrecently became engaged tograduated from USC last spring asworking at a public relationsOccidental College with a B.A. inPayton Dobbs and plans to bea business major. After graduating,agency since she graduated fromDiplomacy and World Affairs. He ismarried in August 2009. She liveshe spent the fall in Hong Kong andSyracuse University in 2005. Shepresently studying at the Australianin San Francisco and works inhe started a food line of gourmetabsolutely loves her job. In herNational University in Canberra,public relations.condiments, primarily gourmetspare time she plays on a co-Australia, toward a master’s degreeketchup, in Minnesota. He plans toed, young professional, charityin international relations. LastAshton Grewal (SHP ’02)start working for Apple.football team to raise money forAugust the Australian Nationalgraduated as an economics majorLeiomyosarcoma.University dedicated a newfrom Brigham Young University inRob Parrish (SHP ’04) graduatedbuilding on campus that is partDecember, 2008. In June he willfrom Bowdoin College as aJessica Ortiz (SHP ’02) gotof its ANU College of Asia andstart working for Credit Suisse inneuroscience major. While theremarried on August 2, 2008 tothe Pacific. As one of the studentSan Francisco as an investmenthe worked as a Howard HughesStephen DeWitt of Dallas, Texas.representatives in the Graduatebanking analyst. He is currentlyMedical Institute Fellow. Rob willSHP alumni in the wedding wereStudies in International Affairsstudying for the GMAT and he andbe moving to Baltimore to work forBeth Crisafi (SHP ’01), Hillaryprogram, Jeffrey was given thehis wife KC are temporarily living ina biotech startup company.Benson (SHP ’02) and Daniellahonor of presenting one of theirMenlo Park. They eventually planMarchick (SHP ’03). She is nowstudent T-shirts, depicting theto move to San Francisco.Afer graduating in May 2008applying to law schools and hopesnew building, to Australian Primefrom Washington University in St.to start classes in the fall.Minister Kevin Rudd.Steven Tarantino (SHP ’04) willLouis, Michael Connor (SHP ’04)graduate from the University ofhas been working as a supportMatt Tarantino (SHP ’02)Jaime Wasson (SHP ’02) livesPacific in May with a major inengineer at BrainLAB Corporationis on the audit staff of Pricein Washington DC, and works atmarketing and a minor in sportsin Westchester, IL., a leadingWaterhouse Coopers in San Jose,the Pentagon for the U.S. Armymanagement.provider of software for minimallyand lives in San Francisco. HeInternational Affairs Division. Sheinvasive therapies.recently passed the CPA exam.will be finished with her MA inSarah Burke (SHP ’04) graduatedsecurities studies in May 2009.from Bucknell and is living in Paris.Christmas luncheon brings alums and pastparents back to campusOn December 3, over sixty women enjoyed lunch in theOtto Library for the second annual Parents of Alums andAlumni Board Christmas Luncheon. Director of Schools RichDioli played host for the event greeting everyone at the door andimpressing many of the guests by remembering their names! After a buffet lunch and dessert, everyone had the opportunity toenjoy the decorated hallways of the Main Building and shop at the annual Sacred Heart PrepHoliday Boutique.Pictured above are from left to right: Jana Cashin, mother of Megan (SJSH ’05, SHP ’09), Michael (SJSH’00, SHP ’04), and Chad Cashin (SHP ’01); Denise Villeneuve, mother of Nicole (SJSH ’03, SHP ’07) andGrant Villeneuve (SJSH ’05); Ellen Lynch, current parent and mother of Maire (SHP ’09) and Ian Lynch(SHP ’11); Sally Brownlee, mother of Victoria (SHP ’99), Thomas (SHP ’01), and Julia (SHP ’04); Jan Paton,mother of Catie (SHP ’00), Carrie (SHP ’04), Janey (SHP ’04), Jack (SHP ’07), and Kelly Paton (SHP ’12);To the left: Barbara Frank, mother of Amanda (SHP ’99), Mia (SHP ’99) and Rebecca Frank (SHP ’02); andNettie Ramsay, mother of Stephanie (SHP ’99), Andy (SHP ’03), and Christina Ramsay (SHP ’07).Heart of the Matter 25

Class News & NotesAfter graduating from BostonCollege in May 2008 with a B.A.in Philosophy, Rob Van Alstyne(SHP ’04) entered the CaliforniaProvince of the Jesuits.Conor Foley (SHP ’04) graduatedfrom the University of Washingtonin June 2008 with a BS inenvironmental health and currentlyworks as an environmentalconsultant in Seattle.A recent graduate from RiceUniversity, Emily Reagan (SHP’04) interned for the HoustonAstros last summer and currentlyworks for the Chevron HoustonMarathon. She writes, “I feelincredibly lucky to have attendedSacred Heart!”Ann Simonson (SHP ’04)graduated cum laude fromVanderbilt University in May2008 with a Child Developmentmajor. She is currently workingon a master’s in child studies atVanderbilt where she is workingas a research assistant andvolunteering at the Tennesse nonprofitorganization Books fromBirth. She will complete her degreein May 2009.ALUMNI!You can now find us onfacebookSearch: Sacred Heart Schools, AthertonAfter graduating from Stanfordin June 2008, Niccolina (Coli)Clements (SHP ’04) movedto Paris to work for the OECD,(Organization for Economic Cooperationand Development). Sherecently accepted a new positionin the Education Sector whereshe will work on a project forinternational student assessmentworking with sixty countries fromaround the world. She LOVESliving and working in Paris andwelcomes visitors!Daniel Chaknova (SHP ’04)graduated from UC Davis with adegree in animal science. He iscurrently doing an independentstudies program through UCDavis in conjunction with CARE torelease captive baboons in SouthAfrica back to the wild and tomonitor reproductive patterns inanimals with various types of birthcontrol. He is currently working inthe South African bush.Chris Bayol (SHP ’04) graduatedin 2008 from Chapman Universitywith a BFA in digital arts wherehe also played football duringhis freshman year. In August,he began working as a 3D artistat a visual effects company thatfocuses mostly on TV. He doesanything from building 3D modelsto animation, texturing and lighting.You may have seen some of hiswork during the recent Superbowlcommercials for Audi, Pepsi, andGatorade.Ashley Pogue (SHP ’04)graduated from University ofCO, Boulder with a BA in culturalanthropology, minor in politicalscience and a peace & conflictstudies certificate. She is theyouth director for the middleand high school groups at ValleyPresbyterian Church and AssistantProgram Director for WestminsterWoods. This past fall she visitedfriends and explored the culture inSouth Africa.Douglas Wigley (SHP ’05) attendsPrinceton, and along with the restof his Tiger team, had a fantasticwater polo season, winning theSouthern Championships, butlosing the bid to go to the NCAAfinals in the final minutes of theEasterns finals. Douglas was thirdhighest scorer on the team and willbe co-captain next year.Michael Marino (SHP ’05) willgraduate from Berkeley this springand begin work with Ernst & YoungLLP in their Hedge Fund practicethis summer. Before he goes towork full time, he will travel toEcuador with three other Berkeleystudents to install water collectionsystems in the rainforest.Chad Gibbs (SHP ’06) is amechanical engineering major atDuke’s Pratt School of Engineeringand plays on the club rugby team.He recently spent a semesterat Queen’s College in London,England where he particularlyenjoyed traveling through Europe.Diana Tarantino (SHP ’06) is ajunior at Santa Clara University inthe School of Arts and Sciences.She has participated in manyimmersion trips including SanFrancisco, Ecuador and Tijuana.She is also active in their retreatprogram.Alex Ortiz (SHP ’06) is a thirdyear business major at SalveRegina University. Last summer, heworked for Cossette Productions,the company that produces theGrammy’s and BET Awards. In thefuture, he hopes to continue towork in the music business.Brittany Brugos (SHP ’06)is majoring in InternationalDevelopment Studies at UCLA.She recently enjoyed somerecreational activities – likeskydiving – while studying abroadin Barcelona during the fallsemester.Tiffany Yim (SHP ’06) willgraduate from UCLA this summerwith a double major in Sociologyand Asian American Study. Sheplans to return to the Bay Area toprepare for graduate school whereshe will pursue a master’s degreein public health concentrating onpediatric AIDS.Andrew Ninnemann (SHP ’06)received a Steinbrecher Fellowshipfrom Clark University for the 2008-2009 academic year to conduct26Winter 2009

esearch on how students with AttentionDeficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)adjust to college life and deal with thetransition from high school to “emergingadulthood.” Andrew is spending thesecond semester of 2009 studying in NewDelhi, India, on an Indian Arts and Cultureprogram with World Learning. He hopes toincorporate a study of Buddhist teachingsinto his experience.Claire-Marine Sarner (SHP ’06) now inher junior year at Princeton University,is a civil engineering and architecturemajor who is also pursuing a certificatein theater & dance. She has been activelyinvolved with the Princeton UniversityPlayers (PUP), the only entirely student-runmusical theater organization at Princeton,and was recently elected the new PUPPresident for 2009. “I have not stoppedpursuing my love for the arts sincegraduating from SHP! My passion anddedication to theater and dance have onlygrown with all of the opportunities thatPrinceton has offered.”John Runkel (SHP ’07) is a sophomoreat UC Berkeley majoring in history. He isa member of the Cal Triatholon Team andrecently joined the Zete house with otherSHP alums Michael Marino (SHP ’05) andChris Wood (SHP ’04).Will Van Alstyne (SHP ’07) is asophomore at UC Davis. He is studyingmanagerial economics, playing UCD clubsoccer, and working in the intramuralsoccer program.Kramer Straube (SHP ’07) is attendingHarvey Mudd College. He ran with theHarvey Mudd/Claremont-Scripps CrossCountry Team at NCAA Nationals inIndiana. He is now on the track teamfocusing on the sport of steeplechase.DreamWorks President LewColeman Kicks Off AlumniSpeaker Seriesby Drue Kataoka (SHP ’96)A starting lineup of blockbuster speakers hasbeen chosen this year by the SHS AlumniAssociation Speaker Series. First up? LewColeman, President & CFO of DreamworksAnimation who impressed an alumni audience of about 100 on February 6 with aninsightful talk followed by a private 3D screening of DreamWorks’ much-toutedupcoming release “Monsters vs. Aliens.”Challenges in a Changing LandscapeColeman was candid about the pressures and challenges facing his industry. Overall,attendance in movies, or “butts in seats” as he calls it, falls 4 to 5% each year. Piracyadds up to $5 billion in losses. Release windows are shrinking. Most importantly,technology is becoming commoditized. Access to top-of-the-line animationworkstations used to be a key advantage that big movie studios had over the small,independent creator. Since technology is no longer the sole differentiator, what is?Artistry and storytelling.A Business of Art & Science“We stay on top by spending more time with story, using technology to tell that story,growing our creative talents and recognizing, as much as anything else, that we haveartists on our campus as well as computer scientists.” Coleman does not advocate areturn to the animation “good ol’ days” of classicDisney-style films made from 125,000 hand-painted frames. On the contrary, heastutely pointed out that “great computer graphic films would depend on a hybridlabor force that could crossover comfortably between the worlds of art and science.No longer is this business an art or a science. It is both an art and a science.”Benefit of a Sacred Heart Education?Coleman concluded, “There are technical people and there are artistic ones. Everyonce in a while you find people with both talents, and they are pretty powerful.Today’s Sacred Heart graduates are going to have an edge by being equipped withan education that strongly values both the sciences and the arts.” That’s somethingthat Lew Coleman, a past SHS parent and current SJSH grandparent, knows betterthan anyone!This was the first in a series of speakers sponsored by the SHS Alumni Association thatwill focus on providing our alumni professionals an opportunity to network with eachother and learn about exciting careers from influential people.Heart of the Matter27

Class NotesLet the Games Begin!Brittany Brugos (SHP ’06) skydiving in Switzerland.Rob Runkel (SHP ’08) is anMichael Wishart (SHP ’08) wasEnglish major at UCLA and recently the starting goalie of the Men’sbecame a member of the Sigma Nu Varsity Water Polo Team duringfraternity.his freshman year at Santa ClaraUniversity, earning top performerReid Nonnenberg (SHP ’08) has honors from the WWPA during hisbeen accepted into the University first season. He was also named theChorus at UC Davis and intoComcast Community All-Star awardAfterglow, a men’s a capella group. winner. This award is presented toAfterglow presents concerts in Santa Clara student-athletes whoand around the Davis area and are active in benefitting their localparticipates in regional singing community.competitions.Ryan Wigley (SHP ’08) is attendingBryan Harris (SHP ’08) is anLehigh University where he hasNCAA athlete at USC. What is so declared a double major/doubleunusual about that? He plays for the degree: BS Environmental Science“Women of Troy,” a seven-man team and BA Environmental Studies. Hethat scrimmages against women to is enjoying life in Bethlehem, PA,give them tougher competition in including the weather, and invitespractices.anyone in the area to come visit!Jessica Zigterman (SHP ’08) is a Maria Gibbs (SHP ’08) is a civilfirst-year student at UC Berkeley engineering major at Duke’sstudying classics culture andPratt School of Engineering andhistory on a pre-med track. She is recently made the Dean’s List witha member of the Berkeley Women’s Distinction. She loves Duke and isClub Soccer Team and a member extremely busy. Maria was recentlyof the UCB Habitat for Humanity invited to be on the women’s clubOrganization.basketball team.Starting in the middle of August, over 100alumni from classes ranging from the 1950sto our most recent graduates returned to campusover the course of several months for alumniscrimmage games in football, basketball, soccer,and water polo. On August 14, Coaches Lavoratoand Moran hosted the first annual alumni flagfootball scrimmage. Because the football programitself is quite new, the coaches were not sure howmany alumni would attend. Surprisingly, close tothirty former players showed up and competedin a spirited game of flag football. Afterwards allwere treated to a lunch of burgers and hot dogscourtesy of the SHP Booster Club. The highlight ofthe event was reminiscing about games, plays, andplayers from the past. They look forward to thisbeing an annual event and plan to get the word outfor more alums to attend in the future!Despite the rain, 24 men and 13 womenalumni came back to Sacred Heart to competeagainst each other in water polo on Wednesday,November 26. The Aquatic Center was crowdedwith over 60 spectators, mostly parents of alumni,who huddled under umbrellas and cheered on theplayers in two very exciting matches! Afterward,while the players enjoyed burgers at the DutchGoose in Menlo Park, Janice Meisel, parent ofKevin Meisel (SJSH ’04, SHP ’08), generously28Winter 2009

Alumni EventsBack Row (left to right): Coach Pete Lavorato, Sam Chaknova (SHP ’07), Eric Van Rensselaer (SHP ’03), Mike Connor (SHP’04), Ryan C. Morris (SJSJ ’04, SHP ’08), Robbie La Rue (SHP ’07), Andrew O’Donnell (SJSH ’02, SHP ’06), Greg Casciaro (SHP’07), Rob Moran (SHP ’08), Brandon Miao (SJSH ’02, SHP ’06), R.J. Horsley (SHP ’06), Fabian Graces (SJSH ’99, SHP ’03), TylerHolland (SHP ’04), Oliver Gordon (SJSH ’03, SHP ’07), Coach Matt Moran; Middle Row (left to right): Kevin Diefendorf (SHP’07), Anthony Riesch (SHP ’07), Willie DeLong (SHP ’05), Connor McCarthy (SHP ’05), Matt Budd-Thanos (SHP ’03), GiordanoCapovilla (SHP ’08), Joe Young (SHP ’08), Cameron Rule (SHP ’05); Front Row: Matt Connor (SHP ’07).hosted a party in her home for the parents of thealumni water polo players.Two days later, on November 28,eighteen alumni showed off their best“Beckham” moves on the soccer field.Since it had just rained two days earlier,it was a bit of a mud match, but that didnot prevent the guys from having a goodtime. Immediately following, the athletesenjoyed burgers at the Dutch Goosecourtesy of the Alumni Association.Also on campus that same day,fortunately inside McGanney Gym, 19alumni returned to play a very excitinggame of basketball. McGanney Gymcame alive with screaming and cheering as the finalscore of 78 to 76 was decided in the last four secondsof the game. Sonia Sayigh, parent of Aziz (SHP ’03)and Samer Sayigh (SHP ’04), generously hosted apizza party in her home for the alumni athletes.Back Row (left to right): Keith Marzak (SHP ’97), Adrian del Rio(SHP ’97), Ben Kennedy (SHP ’92), Phil Maskiewicz (SHP ’96),Tony Cassanego (SHP ’03), James Oberhausen (SHP ’04), MilesMonaghan (SHP ’04), and Randy Gustafson (SHP ’98); Front Row:Jason Varga (SJSH ’91, SHP ’95), Job Gregory (SHP ’98), Mark Lee(SHP ’04), Grant Gramaglia (SJSH ’03, SHP ’07), Adam Leao (SHP’07), Travis Benson (SHP ’07).Heart of the Matter29

Alumni EventsBack Row (from left to right): Johnmel Yuzon (SJSH ’00,SHP ’04), Philip Yuen (SHP ’04), Narsai Tail (SJSH ’00,SHP ’04), Jack Scheifly (SHP ’04), Jamie Greene (SHP’04), Thomas Donahoe (SJSH ’01, SHP ’05), Samer Sayig(SHP ’04), John Blanchard (SHP ’95), Mike Budelli (SHP’97), Bobby Budelli (SHP ’95), and Evan Aydelott (SHP ’96);Front Row: Nate Chambers (SJSH ’99, SHP ’03), Ian Simon(SHP ’04), Fabian Garces (SJSH ’99, SHP ’03), Matt Budd-Thanos (SHP ’03), Aziz Sayig (SJSH ’99, SHP ’03), andJack Donahoe (SJSH ’99, SHP ’03).Menlo* and Broadway renew old sports rivalry to raise money for OakwoodIn a rematch of the Hayseeds vs. the Cityslickers, Sacred Hearthosted a challenge basketball game on Saturday, November 1,2008 between alumnae who attended Sacred Heart Menlo andSacred Heart Broadway during the 1950s and 60s. In addition toold friends reconnecting, over $7,000 was raised at this event tobenefit the retired RSCJs at Oakwood.These intrepid ladies played a hard-fought game where theold rules prevailed: half court travel only, three guards and threeforwards with one roving forward. In deference to age, the ruleswere tightened even more by using only one half of the halfcourt! The game was characterized by aggressive defense fromboth teams with lots of laughs and spills. Menlo scored the firstbasket and never looked back, winning with a final score of 13-8.The enthusiastic cheering section of alums, husbands,children, grandchildren, and RSCJs were led by Sister NancyMorris, former teacher of most ofthe players, in old school songs.Sisters Mary Helen McComas andAnn McGowan worked the timewarnings and score board, and,luckily, there were doctors andnurses in the audience who werepressed into service for a variety ofbumps and bruises. After the game,everyone enjoyed reminiscing overlunch followed by dessert with theRSCJ at Oakwood.A special thanks goes out toeveryone who attended and helped organize the event.Sr. Morris was a cheerleaderfor both teams with a “B” onone side of her sweater andan “M” on the other, whichshe switched around halfway through the game.*Not to be confused with Menlo School, the school nowknown as Sacred Heart Prep was formerly known as SacredHeart Menlo or “Menlo” since our address was in MenloPark until 1989.Back row, left to rt.: Kathy Murphy Stoner (SHP ’65), Jeffrey Roos(SJSH ’59, SHP ’63) Mary White Amyx (SJSH ’62, SHP ’66), JudithKeenan (SHP ’64), Sr. Renie Cullen (SHP ’57), and Broadwayalumnae Sally O’Brien Davalos ’56, Vicki Growney Sullivan ’60,and Lynn Bacigalupi Lynch ’60. Front row: Madeleine Saussotte(SHP ’64), Sr. Nancy Morris, Vicki Kump Englert (SJSH ’60), whoalso is an alum of Broadway ’65, and Brielle Johnck ’59.30Winter 2009

Annual tradition a sellout for the second yearOn December 6, SHS alumni and families from St. Joseph’s came together to providesome Christmas cheer as a fundraiser for the Kate Basile de Blois Alumni SchlarshipFund. 120 freshly baked gingerbread houses filled Spieker Pavilion and an equal numberof children and their parents busily decoratedduring an amazing morning. Christmas carolsset the tone while the Alumni Board elvesdelivered buckets of icing and bowl after bowlof candy. Once the houses were decorated, theywere taken home for families to enjoy.Claire Duchesne (SJSH ’18) withher mom Cindy Hamilton.Alexis Beckman (SJSH ’92, SHP ’96) and RicardoMaldonado (SHP ’96) with their son, James.1 2 34Young alums reconnect at the Old Pro5The SHS Young Alumni Cocktail Reception was hosted bythe SHS Alumni Board and the Alumni Relations Officeon December 18, 2008 at the Old Pro in Palo Alto. Over 70young alums from SHP classes of 1996-2004 and SJSH 1992-2000 gathered for this annual holiday event. The room was full oflaughter and cheer as stories were shared and people were able tocatch up with one another.Pictured here are: 1. SHS faculty member Tom Brownlee (SHP ’01), Briggs Hatton (SHP’01), and Azad Jacobs (SHP ’01); 2. Martin Corpos (SHP ’00) and Jenny Miller (SJSH ’99,SHP ’03); 3. Jennifer Feyling (SJSH ’91, SHP ’95) and SHS staff member Christine O’Neal(SHP ’98); 4. Vanessa Perez-Rubio (SJSH ’92), Mike Maffia (SHP ’96) and Christie Perego(SJSH ’92, SHP ’96); and 5. Jenny Judson (SHP ’01), Claire Pomeroy (SJSH ’97, SHP ’01),and Pepa Paniagua (SHP ’01).Heart of the Matter31

IN MEMORIAMWe ask for your prayers for the families and friends of our community who have passed away.St. Joseph’s AlumniLouis Victor Bellomi (SJSH ’37) passed away on December 4, 2008at the age of 86. Born in Italy, he immigrated to the U.S. at the ageof seven. He was a captain in the Menlo Park Fire Department. He issurvived by two children and four grandchildren.Gary Alan Gavello (SJSH ’59) died on August 21, 2008 at the age of63. He was the husband of Kristina and father of Aubrey (SJSH ’11),Garrett (SJSH ’14), and Bryant (SJSH ’16).Sacred Heart Prep AlumniMaria Lou Aguilar de Pintado (SHP ’52) passed away on August 31,2008. She had been living in Mexico.Alice Brophy McChesney (SHP ’37) died in her Phoenix, Arizonahome on June 21, 2008 at the age of 88. Married to her high schoolsweetheart, she had nine children. Alice was active in her communityand was a contributing member of St. Luke’s Hospital Board ofVisitors, The Junior League, The Phoenix Art Museum, The ArizonaAlumni of the Sacred Heart, and the Marian Shop of St. Francis XavierChurch. She is survived by a sister, a brother, seven children, ninegrandchildren, and three great grandchildren.Esperanza “Espy” Jasso, RSCJ (SHP ’50) died November 15, 2008in her hometown of Guadalajara, Mexico. She entered the novitiate atKenwood in New York and took her vows in 1953. Espy’s ministriesincluded social outreach to the poor at Sacred Heart Parish in SanJose and working with migrants and Native Americans in Mecca,CA. She lived at Oakwood for a brief period before returning home toMexico.Sallie “Mickey” Cullen Brophy Goodman (SHP ’47) of Princeton,New Jersey passed away at the age of 78 on September 18, 2007.Sallie was a theater, television and movie actress starring in “US SteelHour,” “Kraft Theater,” “The Alcoa Hour,” “The Fugitive” and was thestar in a Western series called “Buckskin.” She is survived by herhusband of 46 years, George Goodman, two children, and two grandchildren.Madeline Morey Fischer (SJSH ’32, SHP ’36) passed away onDecember 31, 2008. She lived in Menlo Park and San Jose. She ispreceeded in death by her husband, three sons, six grandchildren andone great grandchild.Current Sacred Heart CommunityFor the family of Leon Lusk, father of SJSH faculty member KarenBailey, who died on September 20, 2008 at the age of 85.For the family of Mary Anne Collins, mother of SJSH Principal BridgetCollins (DASH ’79) who passed away on December 5, 2008. Shewas a longtime employee of Sacred Heart Network school DuchesneAcademy in Houston. She is survived by her husband, five children,and nine grandchildren.For the family of Winfrey Elwood Dellinger (Former SHS Staff) whodied on December 26, 2008. Known as “Wimpey” by friends andformer colleagues, he was born in Virginia and served our countryon two separate tours of active duty; he is a military veteran of boththe U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Army. He was a valued employeeof Sacred Heart Schools, Atherton serving for over twenty years inthe Facilities Department in addition to assisting the larger Californiaprovince of the Religious of the Sacred Heart as an expert mechanic.His smile and friendly nature will be missed on campus. He joins hisson Charles in heaven and is survived by his wife, Josefina and son,Clay.For the family of Alba Luz Dorfmeier, who passed away on October8, 2008 in her home at the age of 59. She was a long-time friend ofthe RSCJ at Oakwood. She is survived by her husband Darrell, theirtwo children, her loving family friend, Sister Helen Costello, severalsiblings, nieces, nephews and cousins.For the family of Olga Mirek, grandmother of Marisa (SJSH ’09) andNatasia Pelowski (SJSH ’11) who died on January 18, 2009. She willbe deeply missed by her three daughters, eight grandchildren, andthirteen great grandchildren.For the family of Richard Loughran, father of SHS staff memberNancy Tarantino, and grandfather of Matt (SHP ’02), Steven (SHP’04), and Diana Tarantino (SHP ’06) who died on January 21, 2009 .For the family of Terry Griffith who died on September 21, 2008.An alumni of Sacred Heart Forest Ridge, he was the husband of SueGriffith (SJSH faculty 1978-1997) and father of Doug Griffith (SJSH’78), Ann Griffith Colucci (SJSH ’79, SHP ’83) and Kenneth Griffith(SJSH ’81),Oakwood CommunityAngela Lupert, RSCJ entered the Society of Sacred Heart atKenwood in Albany, NY in 1933. She made her final vows in August of1941. She died on January, 23, 2009.32Winter 2009

eMichael J. Homer 1958-2009Sacred Heart Schools Trustee Mike Homerremembered for his love of family, generosity, andhearty sense of humorMichael (Mike) J. Homer passed away on February 1, 2009 at his home inAtherton from the rare neurodegenerative disorder Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.Mike is survived by his wife Kristina, his three children, James (SJSH ’14), Jack(SJSH ’15) and Lucy (SJSH ’19), his mother, Irene, and his sister, Sue. In addition to family, he leaves a legion offriends, colleagues, and business associates, including best friend and current parent Bill Campbell. Everyone whoknew Mike will miss his extraordinary intellect, tenacity, fierce loyalty and of course, his hearty sense of humor.Born and raised in San Francisco, he attended St. Ignatius College Prep and UC Berkeley. He has been apresence in Silicon Valley for more than twenty years and is well known as both a technical innovator and savvymarketer. He lauched his career at Apple and later held executive positions at GO and EO, before making anindelible mark on the success of Internet pioneer Netscape. Mike was an active board member at Opsware andPalm and an investor and advisor to Tellme Networks, Tivo, and Google. He started Kontiki and Open MediaNetwork and served on the board of Cinequest. His appreciation for film led to the role of executive producer foran award-winning documentary, “Speed and Angels.”All who have enjoyed the privilege of knowing Mike would agree that his love of family defined his success evenmore than his professional accomplishments. He is fondly remembered by his family and friends for his backyardBBQs, Tahoe getaways that always included plenty of boat rides, and his love of baseball. Often sought after forhis sage advice, Mike was always generous with his time and friendship. Mentoring was a way of life for him andhe took great pleasure in sharing his expertise with others. His larger than life personality and genuine warmth willbe profoundly missed by all whose lives he touched.Mike was also a philanthropist. He and Kristina started the Homer Family Foundation to fund education andprograms for the underprivileged. He was a major donor to the Ronald McDonald House at Stanford, the HaasCenter for Responsible Business at Berkeley, the Computer History Museum, and the California Institute forQuantitative Biosciences at UCSF. This past fall, Sacred Heart Schools unveiled the Michael J. Homer Science andStudent Life Center, currently under construction at Sacred Heart Prep.Heart of the Matter 33

Alumni Calendar of EventsAPRIL23 Alumni Board Meeting6 p.m. Otto LibraryEverygiftcounts.25-26 Sacred Heart MenloClass of 1968 41st Reunion(Because we missed our 40th!)28 PALS Mad Hatter Luncheon11:30 a.m. Conway CourtMAY22 SHP Pinning Ceremony5 p.m. Main Building ChapelSHP Graduation6 p.m. Soccer Field29 SJSH Pinning Ceremony11:15 p.m. Main Building ChapelJUNE6 SJSH Graduation10 a.m. in Robinson CourtAUGUST15 Alumni Football ScrimmageFor event details, contact us at650.454.8394 or alumni@shschools.orgHave yousent inyourgiftyet?Your gift, no matter the size, helps ensure that other students will receive thesame opportunities and experiences that you did.To make a gift to the Annual Fund, go towww.shschools.org/giveonlineComing up in the next issue:In the summer 2009 issue of Heart of the Matter we will focus on Goal II: Educating to adeep respect for intellectual values. If you would like to share a story or perhaps write anarticle about an experience or teacher you had at Sacred Heart or St. Joseph’s that hasinspired a life-long love of learning, contact alumni@shschools.org.Sacred Heart Schools, Atherton150 Valparaiso Avenue • Atherton, CA 94027Nonprofit Org.U.S. PostagePAIDPermit No. 307Menlo Park, CAParents of Alumni:If this magazine is addressed to a son or daughter who no longer maintains a permanent address at your home, please send his or her new address toalumni@shschools.org.