OUR MISSION

S isters Academy of

Baltimore, a Catholic,

community-centered middle

school, educates girls of

different races, ethnic

groups, and religions, from

families of limited economic

means, particularly those

in southwest Baltimore.

The Academy empowers its

students to become agents

of transformation in their

families, communities, and society.

Sponsoring Congregations

School Sisters of Notre Dame

Sisters of Bon Secours

Sisters of Mercy

Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur

Board of Members

Kimberly Baxter

Deborah Cerullo, SSND

Mary Donohue, SNDdeN

Alice Talone, CBS

Board of Directors

Lawrence Beyer

Faye Alston Cook

Marcia A. Cort, M.D.

Rosemary Donohue, SNDdeN

Delia Dowling, SSND

Kate C. M. Edwards

Anita Feeley

Andrea Giampetro-Meyer

Mary M. Gunning

E. Tonas Kalil

Mark McCarty

Moira H. Monk

Margaret O. Moseley

John Riehl, IV

Augusta Reilly, RSM

Janet Schmick

Janet Mary Shields, SSND

Josette Towles

E ach morning at Sisters Academy, the students and teachers meet to begin the day with

greetings, reflections, announcements, and prayer. On one morning last month, the

reflections were inspired by the celebration of Martin Luther King’s birthday and his famous

speech, “I Have a Dream.” Following the reflections, each student received a slip of colored

paper and was invited to write her dream. Here are the dreams of some of our students:

“I have a dream that the world will be a better place where little children can walk and play

in the streets without being hurt.” – C’Erra, Grade 8

“I have a dream that people will come together and make a peaceful world. And that we

shouldn’t be afraid to walk outside because of violence in the world.” – Mo’Riyah, Grade 7

I have a dream that one day children who live in other places in the world won’t have to

work in unfair conditions.” – Daniera, Grade 8

“I have a dream that one day the fight for equality won’t have to happen anymore, that we

can all live peacefully.” – Leah, Grade 8

“I have a dream that one day I can try hard enough to accomplish something hard.” – Jade,

Grade 5

“I have a dream that all races will one day come together to make a difference and the world

will become a better place for future generations.” – Kiyah, Grade 7

The dreams of our students rise up from their experiences of fear, violence, and injustice at a

young age. Nurtured by their families and teachers, they have the capacity to envision peaceful

neighborhoods, to imagine a better world, and to dream that they can make a positive difference

in the world.

The dreams of our students come from a spirit deep within their own hearts. Symbolically, the

strips of colored paper together formed a large heart, now displayed on the wall outside the

school library.

This edition of our Newsletter documents stories of generosity, creativity, inspiration, and

commitment during the first semester of our school year. As you read these stories, know that

all of us at Sisters Academy are grateful to you for your generous gifts as donors and sponsors.

You not only enable our students to dream, but you also provide them with the means to realize

their dreams.

Hearts Full of Dreams

— Sr. Delia Dowling, SSND, President

Volume 15, Issue 1 Winter 2018

Tahjae (left picture) and Akata and Monica (right picture) are three of our students with bright aspirations.

Page 2 Sisters Academy of Baltimore Volume 15, Issue 1

News Notes

S isters Academy students received T-shirts, pom-poms, posters, and top honors when attending the Loyola University Maryland

“Field Trip Day” on Thursday, January 11. Loyola hosted more than 600 middle school students from seven Baltimore public schools along with our 70 students. The activities included cheering for the Lady Greyhounds basketball team as they played American University, listening to an empowering address on “Learning How Self-Discipline Leads to Success” presented by former Raven’s player Matt Stover, and dancing center court to the DJ’s sounds. But the most important activity of the day was the announcement of the 2018 “Field Trip Day” Essay Contest winners. Sisters Academy students swept the competition with the largest number of winners from a single school. Each student contestant was asked to write her thoughts and solutions in response to the question, “How can we make the world a better place for everybody?” Among the 20 winning essays selected, nine were submitted by Sisters Academy students with winning entries from each grade. The students had a banner day filled with fun, accolades, and gratitude for participating and competing.

I n September, Sisters Academy received exciting news that the Frank family members created the Frank Family Fund for Sisters

Academy of Baltimore at the Baltimore Community Foundation (BCF). The fund will provide annual support for the sponsorship of a full class and an academic scholarship for an individual student, in perpetuity. Last spring, Mimi Frank Bozzelli, Alice Frank Hubbard, and Timothy Frank visited Sisters Academy as a culmination of their research and family deliberations with the BCF. The family’s support of Sisters Academy began when Kate Hubbard, a fourth generation (G4) family member, volunteered as a tutor at Sisters Academy while she was in high school at Notre Dame Prep. Kate’s experience generated such enthusiasm for Sisters Academy that it inspired her family to become a student scholarship sponsor. As a student sponsor, Mimi and Alice have served as the family point persons for communications with their student who is now in the eighth grade. Both expressed their gratification in seeing her progress through letters, as well as their delight for the experience of meeting one another during Sponsor Appreciation Day. In a recent BCF newsletter article featuring the Frank family, Mimi shared her thoughts on how the generations of their family, third(G3) and fourth(G4), arrived at making this important decision. "Our dad loved education and thought it was the greatest gift you could give anybody. So, when our family agreed to create a fund for Saint Ignatius Loyola Academy, we said, 'What about the girls?' Without hesitation, the G3’s and G4’s agreed to establish a fund for Sisters Academy." We are most grateful to the Frank Family, all generations, for their foresight to value education and for their generous philanthropic validation of our mission.

Thank You, Golfers’ Charitable Foundation The Golfers’ Charitable Foundation awarded Sisters Academy a grant of $5,000 to help provide students with daily bus transportation throughout the school year. During the Golfers’ Annual Golf Tournament dinner, held on October 2, Sr. Delia was invited to speak about Sisters Academy. “It is an honor for our school to receive this generous recognition from such a wonderful and noble group of men and women, whose charitable work has such positive impact on the young people of our city. Many thanks to the member golfers, and to Bob and Anne Ariosa for their leadership within this great organization!”

Sisters Academy Art Now on Instagram When you visit Sisters Academy, you are sure to notice the

beautiful, fun, and joyful works of art created by the students

under the direction of Beth Lorete. During the first semester,

students created various art forms, including three-dimensional art

from disposable materials, water color art, and mandalas. If you

can’t visit in person, click onto Instagram and follow the artists

@SABartStars.

New Board of Directors & Chairperson for 2017-2018 At the September 2017 Board meeting, Sisters Academy welcomed two new members to the Board of Directors: John H. Riehl, IV and Sr. Janet Mary Shields, SSND. Mr. Riehl is Principal of Obrecht-Riehl Properties. His firm is responsible for management, marketing, leasing, and consulting for multi-family, residential, office, retail, and warehouse developments in Maryland and Virginia. With his extensive experience, Mr. Riehl is serving on the Board’s Finance & Facilities committee. Sr. Janet Mary Shields, SSND, a former Catholic School Principal, is currently serving as the Coordinator, Liaison and Supervisor of Student Interns at Notre Dame of Maryland University. Her experience as an educator and administrator provides expertise on the Board’s Academic & Student Affairs committee. At the September meeting, the members greeted Andrea Giampetro-Meyer as the new Chair of the Board. She is taking over the position previously held by Peggy Moseley, who continues to serve as a member and past Chairperson of the Board of Directors.

Members of the Class of 2021 (current fifth-graders) gather in front of

their displayed art work.

Loyola University Maryland “Field Trip Day”

Sponsor Appreciation Day

Friday, April 27, 2018

A Family’s Legacy Values Education

Page 3 Sisters Academy of Baltimore Volume 15, Issue 1

Traditions and Celebrations

T he Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur were founded in 1804 in Amiens,

France by Saint Julie Billiart and Francoise Blin de Bourdon. Their

mission became to make known the Goodness of God through

education, particularly for girls and for those of limited economic

means. The Congregation grew rapidly in the early years and soon spread

to Belgium where the Sisters located the Motherhouse in Namur. In 1840 Sisters arrived in

Cincinnati, Ohio to educate the children of immigrants. Soon, the Sisters blazed trails to

Washington (DC), Boston, and the Pacific Northwest, settling in Oregon and California.

Today, Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur serve in 15 countries on 5 continents.

In 1934 a new Province Center was founded at Ilchester, Maryland, with Sisters serving

throughout the east coast from New York to Florida to teach mainly in parish schools.

Today, Trinity School, Ilchester, is an active partner with Sisters Academy of Baltimore. Some

graduates have attended Maryvale Preparatory School, also sponsored by the Sisters of Notre

Dame de Namur. Sister Suzanne Hall, SNDdeN and Sr. Delia Dowling, SSND are the

“founding mothers” of Sisters Academy. From the outset, the Sisters of Notre Dame de

Namur have exhibited great enthusiasm and a strong commitment to Sisters Academy. A

number of Sisters have served in the school as teachers, secretary, volunteers, and on the

Boards of Members and Directors.

Saint Julie Billiart once said, “Teach the children what they need to know for life.” It has been

such a joy to journey with Sisters Academy through all its milestones: choosing a name for

the school, purchasing the building, welcoming the first fifth grade class, rejoicing with the first

graduates, and each successive class, and now seeing them embark on careers after

successfully completing college. One cherished quality that continues with each new class was

best expressed by a current fifth grade student, “The first time I came here I was frightened.

Then everyone welcomed me as a family member.” The Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur

continue their strong commitment to that mission of educating young women for life and of

creating a lasting family of welcome and accomplishment. We are proud to be a part of the

Sisters Academy family.

Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur Foster Their Mission through Sisters Academy

Sister Mary Donohue, SNDdeN presented the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur Award for effort and academic motivation to Jaleah Jupiter, Class of 2017.

— Sr. Mary Donohue, SNDdeN, Board of Members

F rom September to December, Sisters Academy

students, graduates, teachers, volunteers, parents, and

friends gathered on more than one occasion honoring

school traditions and enjoying special events that celebrate

our school community. The events featured are snapshots

from the September Investiture Ceremony, the October Fall

Festival, and the Christmas Bazaar and Las Posadas in

December.

Investiture

Fall Festival

Christmas Bazaar

Las Posadas

139 First Avenue

Baltimore, MD 21227-3002

Non-Profit Org.

U.S. Postage

PAID

Baltimore, MD

Permit No. 7618

SISTERS ACADEMY OF B ALTIMORE

Phone: 410-242-1212

Fax: 410-242-5104

www.sistersacademy.org

Return Service Requested

Teaching Students to See Truth in the World

T he success of Sisters Academy is dependent on teachers who love teaching and want to empower their students to become passionate,

spiritual, confident, and well-educated leaders. Christine Barrett came to

Sisters Academy this year after teaching at The Seton Keough High School.

She is a teacher who exemplifies an unwavering passion for teaching with the desire to make a difference. With 15 years of experience teaching

English and literature to middle and high school students, Christine realizes

the importance of identifying the individual needs of her students, teaching

to those needs, and challenging her students to become active participants in the classroom, school community, and in their personal lives. "Last year

I was truly saddened by the loss of such a wonderful school community at

Seton Keough. It was during this time that a colleague and friend

recommended I research Sisters Academy of Baltimore. I vividly remember watching a video on the Sisters Academy website that

showcased the wonderful and talented young women who attend this

school. I cried instantly. It was because I knew that God had provided me

with everything that I have ever sought – my true calling. I am very grateful to be a part of such a special place.”

Christine's dedication to her students goes beyond the classroom. As

their teacher and moderator, she provided the eighth grade class with guidance and organizational tools that helped them produce a highly successful and fun Fall Festival. It was a celebration of games and

activities for the enjoyment of the whole school. “Sisters Academy is a community filled with amazing young women who work to

make the world a better place. And, I am even more grateful to work with a cohort of supportive and loving staff, who truly dedicate their lives to their craft and their students. Thank you for embracing me. I am finally home."

Christine and her husband Joe are the proud parents of their daughter Lilah. When meeting her, one quickly feels her supportive,

attentive and kind nature, knowing that she is truly dedicated to her family, home, faith, and Sisters Academy.

Welcome Christine Barrett