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News From the Head of School
By Lauren Lek, Head of School
Dear Parents, Students and Friends:
As we begin this season of Lent, I want to again thank all of our parents, extended family, alumnae and community members who joined us for our Ash Wednesday Mass this past month. It is always such an important way for us to come together as a community of faith.
By this time, many of you are aware that in April, my husband and I will be welcoming our third child, and our first little girl. Baby Emma should be arriving sometime in early April! I will be taking a brief maternity leave, but coming in for special events such as Baccalaureate Mass and Graduation.
During the three months I will be away, I am thrilled to welcome Sr. Ann Bernard O'Shea, CSJ, who will be stepping in as the interim Head of School. Sr. Ann Bernard has most recently been serving as the Senior Advisor to the President at Carondelet High School in Concord, one of our sister schools sponsored by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet. Sr. Ann Bernard has had over 50 years of experience in schools, serving for over 16 years as the Principal at St. Raymond School in Menlo Park and St. Agnes School in Concord. It has been over 40 years since she was last here in San Diego. Please help me in welcoming Sr. Ann Bernard as she supports our OLP community through this brief transition!
I would also like to again extend to all of you the opportunity to join us at this year's 2015 Gala, Vive La France! So many of you have graciously purchased sponsorship opportunities. Thank you! For those who cannot attend, I would encourage you to consider purchasing a seat for a CSJ Sister, faculty or staff. This year will see the return of our gala back to the OLP campus. The 2014 gala brought in a record net revenue to support our school and programs. We have even higher goals for this year, and look to your presence at this exciting event! Click here to purchase tickets or a sponsorship.
I wish you a blessed Lenten season, and thank you for all you do for the OLP community!
Lauren Lek
Head of School
March Updates
By Jessica Hooper, Assistant Head of School
Dear Parents & Students,
Spring has sprung and Spring Sing was a grand success! Thank you to everyone who made our 2015 Spring Sing possible, including the OLP faculty, student team leaders and all the parents who supported their daughters as participants. Spring Sing is a time honored tradition here at OLP and it truly takes a village to produce the event each year.
Looking forward we have some wonderful events scheduled for March, including the annual Junior Boat Dance in partnership with St. Augustine High School on Friday, March 20, 2015 and our annual OLP Talent Show on Friday, March 27, 2015. We are also thrilled to be hosting our first ever Women�s Symposium on Friday, March 27, 2015. This event that will bring talented and educated professional women from all over California to campus in hopes of inspiring our students to become all of which they are capable of becoming. See the article below for more information about joining us as VIPs on that day.
As always, you are welcome and invited to join us for our upcoming celebrations of faith this month. Our annual St. Joseph�s Day liturgy will take place on Thursday, March 19, 2015 at 11:05 AM. Also, as we prepare for the arrival of Easter, we will participate in a meditative experience of the Stations of the Cross, planned and presented by our OLP Campus Ministry class on Tuesday, March 31, 2015 at 11:05 AM. Both events will take place in our Holy Family Event Center.
This March we are actively preparing to welcome the OLP Class of 2019 and we are thrilled at the prospects of applicants we have garnered. The OLP tradition of excellence carries on in our future generations of students and we are very blessed to have had so many applicants. Also, looking towards next year, please note that returning student contracts are due on Friday, March 27, 2015. These contracts will be sent to your homes via mail on Friday, March 13, 2015.
Thank you for your continued partnership in the education of your daughter(s). We continue to feel blessed and privileged to have them on campus each day.
God Bless,
Mrs. Jessica Hooper
Assistant Head of School
Change in Final Exam Administration
Dear Pilots and Parents:
This Spring we will be adapting our final exam schedule so that teachers will be administering and proctoring their own final exams. Students are at the forefront of the recent decision to augment the administration of final exams. This will provide teachers the freedom to test using diverse and higher order assessments. Because the teacher of the course will now proctor their own final, teachers will now have the opportunity to assess beyond a simple recall of information as is so frequently used in the standard multiple-choice exam. The aim is to challenge students' use of critical thinking skills, performance skills and creative abilities, all of which are essential for the 21st century workforce.
Research shows that an assessment that requires the creation of a product or performance produces a more accurate measure of student mastery. Examples of diverse assessments include: a lab performance for science, an oral-exam performance for a world language class, the creation of a research paper for English, a play performance for drama, webpage design for computer or engineering courses or the creation and critique experience of a painting for an art course.
High-level, quality performance assessments naturally alleviate concerns about cheating. In addition to high performance assessments, departments will also work together to ensure that variations in the assessment versions are equitable. This new change allows flexibility for when the final is assigned or administered. Teachers have the freedom to use the scheduled date for final exams, or time prior to the scheduled final exam date, providing more time for quality performance. Additional reasons for this alteration include the fact that there are over 50 students in multiple disciplines, which is no longer feasible to schedule; teachers can address mistakes that may exist in the final as they proctor their own exam; and we are more closely modeling the collegiate approach to finals. Should you have further questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me directly.
Sincerely,
Ms. Sheelah Keeter
Assistant Principal of Curriculum and Instruction
Limited Tickets to Join Us for Inaugural Women's Symposium
Join us as a VIP guest for a day of learning and women empowerment at the inaugural OLP Women's Symposium. We'll feature prominent women leaders on multi-generational panels as they share insights and knowledge with the future leaders and innovators of the world. Panel discussions will cover a wide array of topics from finding your passion and choosing a career to managing the hurdles of being a woman in the corporate world and many more!
A limited number of VIP tickets are available at no cost on a first come, first served basis. You can learn more about this incredible event and secure your VIP spot by clicking here.
OLP Sponsors STEAMConnect Conference
OLP is a sponsor of STEAMConnect's 2nd Annual Ascend Conference in San Diego on March 5, 2015. STEAM has grown tremendously over the past couple of years. Hundreds of STEAM schools and programs are surfacing around the country and the momentum isn't slowing down. For those who are doing STEAM, there is excitement but no standard for assessment. For those who aren't doing STEAM, but want to, there is a general lack of guidance for how to launch quality STEAM curriculum or programs. We're here to change that.
The projected attendance is 500+ cross-disciplinary individuals ranging from arts and STEM educators, to administrators, business leaders from STEM and creative industries, nonprofits, parents, students and policymakers. We'll have representation from STEAM leaders across the US that stretch around the globe, so even though we sit in Southern California, our scope and perspective will be international. And we'll be there to showcase our very own STEAM curriculum and announce our exciting new STEM Certificate. To learn more about STEAMConnect or to register for the Ascend Conference, click here.
Holocaust Survivor Speaks to Juniors in Moving Experience
By Caitlin Edwards '16
The Bible II classes recently attened a presentation from Holocaust survivor Ben Midler arranged by the Anti-Defamation League. Mr. Midler shared his experiences and his story deeply touched our students and faculty. After listening to Mr. Midler, I felt enlightened. He is a true testament to the human spirit and his optimism and faith inspired me. His advice on looking to the future truly resonated with me. The fact that he was able to forgive those who caused him so much pain is incredible. When he said that "without forgiveness, life doesn't go on," I knew that that was advice I would be able to use everyday. His talk made me rethink the old saying "forgive and forget," as the 70th anniversary of thie liberation of Aushwitz coincided with his talk.
In a sense, he was here to pass the torch of remembrance to us, the new generation. It is now our turn to communicate the travesty of the Holocaust and to make sure it never happens again. So intstead of "forgive and forget," forgive and pass on, forgive and learn, forgive and prevent.
Library Launches Annual Poetry Contest
It's that time of year again! The annual poetry contest kicks off this month.
It will be during Co-curricular on March 12th in the Library.
All students are welcome to submit their own, original poems. There is no limit on how many poems a student can submit.
Faculty volunteers act as the judges and will read each poem anonymously. Then, they rank the top four poems.
The prizes are Barnes & Noble giftcards for the following amounts: 1st $70; 2nd $40; 3rd $25; 4th $15.
Winners must be present during Co-curricular to collect their prize.
Students that don't want their poems entered in the contest but do want to read their poems are welcome to (but they must get their poems approved before hand).
The winning poems will be on display in the Library throughout National Poetry Month (April).
Click here to access the Entry Form.
OLP Student Attends Nobel Week in Sweden
By Marina Ramirez '16
This past December, along with eighteen other students from the United States, Canada, Ukraine and Hong Kong, I was selected to attend Nobel Week in Stockholm, Sweden by the National Society of High School Scholars in collaboration with Stockholm University. During Nobel Week, I joined the Nobel Lectures, Nobel Week Dialogue and Nobel Breakfast. I heard amazing speeches by this year's physics, chemistry, and economics Nobel prize winners. Stockholm University even invited me to an exclusive lunch with the committees appointed to decide Nobel laureates. During my trip, I also experienced a tour of City Hall prior to its closure for the Nobel Banquet, a greeting by Vice-Chancellor Astid S�derbergh Widding, and attended a political science class in Stockholm University.
Being able to hear speeches by famous artists, reporters, scientists, political figures, and Nobel laureates was truly inspiring. In one of the lectures the qualities of laureates were described. The one that struck me the most was �vision, courage, and work.� All of the Nobel laureates told their story and explained their contribution to the world. They described their struggle and their journey. Although many people try to do the same and claim they want to change the world, what sets them apart is their perseverance, their clear vision, their ongoing courage, and their hard work. Without those qualities, the physics laureates would have never invented blue LED's, the chemistry laureates would have never developed super-resolved fluorescence microscopy, and the economics laureate would have never analyzed market power and regulation. Because of this experience, I learned it is important to work hard, to not be afraid, to have a goal in mind and to work for it.
Peer Tutor Program Soars at OLP
By Teri Heard, Counseling Department Chairperson
The revised Peer Tutor program at OLP has already seen tremendous success this year. The new program started at the end of October when the counseling department moved over to the remodeled St. Catherine's building. In the past 3 months, more than 75 students have connected with a peer tutor for help.
Peer Tutors are available Monday through Thursday before and after school and during Co-Curricular and Lunch on Mondays and Wednesdays. Any student can come up at any of these designated times to get help. There is no need to schedule an appointment as the Peer Tutors will always be available during the designated times.
We encourage all students to talk to a Peer Tutor or to stop by the Student Commons to learn more about the program.
OLP Art Teacher Featured At Local Exhibit
By Kelly Schnorr, Visual & Performing Arts Department
I actively exhibit my work in multiple shows each year. Recently, I was invited to exhibit at the LUX ART Education Pavilion in Encinitas. The exhibition features some recent and past works including hundreds of plates that wall paper the walls. One objective is to sell all of the plates at $4.00 a piece for two reasons: I hope to raise money for the education pavilion, and I believe art should be accessible to everyone. Click here to learn more about the LUX Art Institute's Education Pavilion.
I am an artist who works in the tradition of ceramics as a representation of culture. As a child growing up in Rancho Penasquitos I was very observant, active, and creative. In college I fell in love with ceramics because it combined my love of art, culture, history and science. My early work was about suburban sprawl and its affect on the environment. I earned my BFA in Ceramics at California State University Chico in 2006.
In graduate school at San Diego State, my work shifted to include family imagery, collectables, and disposable objects. With a contemporary sense of satire and sentimentality about suburban culture, I create domestically familiar ceramic objects that upon closer inspection become undermined by their tackiness and disposability.
In the years after graduating with my MFA, I was studio manager of the ceramics faculty at Palomar College. I presented a lecture on copyright law at a national ceramics conference in Tampa Bay and participated in a residency in Denmark. All while adjunct teaching everything from drawing, sculpture, to production pottery classes at SDSU, Palomar College, and Grossmont College. Coming to the Academy of Our Lady of Peace has afforded me the great opportunity to teach young women who show up eager to learn and grow as artists and who inspire me to nurture my own work.
Embracing the Charism Through Our Lenten Reflection Group for Faculty and Staff
By Suzie Knapp '79, Director of Campus Ministry
In the spirit of communal prayer and faith-sharing, a number of faculty and staff are gathering at lunch on Thursdays during Lent to discuss Vinita Hampton Wright's book, "Praying Freedom." Rooted in Ignatian spirituality, this book provides opportunities for personal reflection on Lenten themes as well as spiritual nourishment for our ongoing vocation as Catholic educators.
"Freedom is the ability to make wise choices in the midst of emotional turmoil. Freedom is a stance toward life that opens you to possibility and cultivates a positive outlook. Freedom removes interior constraints so that you can follow the best way. Fredom means that you truly have a choice. Freedom moves you to greater love. Freedom brings peace and makes a way for contentment. How free am I? How free are you? During Lent, we have the opportunity to focus on our spiritual health, and inevitably we discover how un-free we are…So free is an appropriate topic for our Lenten meditations." An excerpt from "Praying Freedom"
In the tradition of the first Sisters of St. Joseph who came together under the direction of Jesuit Father Jean Pierre Medaille, we gather in prayer for our school community seeking to foster peace and unity among students, faculty and staff. Our hope is that through this Lenten prayer and faith-sharing we will recognize God's presence more clearly in our daily lives. Please keep the OLP faculty, staff and administration in your prayers this Lenten season as we strive to grow closer to Christ and live the Gospel each day.
Alumnae Profile: Jamie Mattos '12
As a third year student at the California Maritime Academy majoring in Global Studies and Maritime Affairs, I've completed the most interesting requirements for my major so far, finishing an international experience and a very interesting internship.
I chose to study in Vietnam mainly because the country is Communist and predominantly Buddhist. It was the country that was most foreign to me and I wanted to be completely out of my comfort zone. Traveling 16 hours to Saigon and then traveling north to Hai Phong with 25 other students and two teachers was a life changing experience. Learning about the Vietnamese culture and visiting several Vietnamese ports and businesses expanded my knowledge of international trade, port management, port security.
While in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) we visited the War Remnants Museum which is entirely dedicated to the Vietnam War. It was a culture shock to learn about the Vietnamese perspective of the war. It was the first time I had ever been presented with a non-American viewpoint about a war and I appreciated it greatly. We also visited the Cu Chi tunnels used by the Vietnamese at that time and journeyed to the "Hanoi Hilton" where John McCain was held as a POW.
Read More
Alumnae News
50th Jubilee Reunion for the Class of 1965
Members of the Class of 1965 will be honored on Thursday, May 28 with Mass, brunch and reserved seating at the OLP Commencement. If you haven't yet done so, complete your memory book page here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/OLPClassof1965. Photos and memorabilia can be mailed to OLP or sent to Kirsten Hadzicki at [email protected].
The Classes of 1970, 1975, 1980, 1985, 1990, 1995, 2000, 2005, and 2010 are also having reunions this year. Reunion committees and plans are being made now, with dates soon to follow. Contact [email protected] to volunteer or give your input.
Spring Sing
We will be featuring Spring Sing in the next issue of the OLP Magazine. If you would like to share your favorite memory or what Spring Sing taught you, send a note to [email protected].
Share your good news!
Recently graduated? Married? Started a new job? Had a baby? Gotten a promotion? Taken a fabulous vacation? Volunteering on a worthy project? We want to hear about it! Please send your announcement (along with a photo if you like) to [email protected].
Stay Connected
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