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News From the Head of School By Lauren Lek, Head of School
Dear Parents, Guardians & Friends,
After months of practice, this weekend saw the conclusion of the 46th annual Spring Sing extravaganza. I am always left in awe following the performances of our students. I love seeing them step into unique positions that we dont always see inside the academic classrooms. These young women excel in all aspects of Spring Sing leadership to ensure a successful production; from choreography, costumes, managing schedules, musical selections, finance, and working in collaboration with each other and their faculty advisors.
I extend my gratitude to the parents who helped to support the alternative school schedules, late practices and of course those who joined us at the Balboa Theater this past weekend. The girls were all extraordinary, and I dont think I will ever look at Canal Street, Wall Street, Pacific Coast Highway or Elm Street the same!
I would also like to again offer to all of you the opportunity to join us at this years 2016 Gala. This has grown to be the most significant fundraising event throughout the year. Over the past two years over $225,000 has been brought in to directly support our students and our programs. So many of you have graciously purchased sponsorship opportunities or tickets. 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 many of our students and parents came together to help make the exquisite floral decorations, which will be seen throughout the event.
We also have a number of unique silent and live auction items that will go fast. This year we will be auctioning off a select number of parking spots in the structure for Graduation day and an exclusive graduation package. There are also exclusive vacation, entertainment and specialty silent and live auction items to choose from. From the breathtaking décor, the delicious food, and a wonderful evening with friends–this is an event not to be missed!
Finally, I also wanted to acknowledge the incredible success of our Mock Trial Team! They took 1st Place this year in the San Diego County competition. After only competing for five years, OLP was thrilled that last year we made it in the top ten. It was a tremendous accomplishment for these young women to so rapidly move into the first place spot. They will be off to Sacramento on March 18th to compete at the State Level. Please help me in congratulating all of our 9-12 grade Mock Trial Ladies.
I wish you a blessed Lenten season, and sincerely 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, & Friends of OLP,
In his recent visit to Our Lady, Queen of Angels School in Harlem, New York, Pope Francis spoke with the students and said to them, "It is beautiful to have dreams and to be able to fight for our dreams. Don't ever forget this." So much of the work we do on a daily basis at OLP is centered on this very notion. Over the course of four years our students discover dreams they did not know existed within themselves. It is a great honor to witness this growth and discovery process on a daily basis. Spring Sing is a wonderful example of building a dream into fruition. Thank you to everyone who made our 2016 Spring Sing possible, it was an awe inspiring production. Many thanks to the OLP faculty, student team leaders and all the parents who supported their daughters as participants.
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 18, 2016. We are also looking forward to the second annual Women's Symposium on Friday, March 18, 2016. 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.
As always, you are welcome and invited to join us for our upcoming celebrations of faith this month. 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 Wednesday, March 16, 2016 at 11:00AM in the Holy Family Event Center.
This March we are actively preparing to welcome the OLP Class of 2020 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 such a strong class of applicants.
I wish you all a wonderful Spring Break (March 21, 2016 - April 1, 2016) and very Happy Easter! May God continue to bless OLP and the dreams of our students.
Mrs. Jessica Hooper
Assistant Head of School
2016 L'affaire en Bloom Gala Almost Sold Out!
Tickets are almost gone for our L'affaire en Bloom Gala & Auction, presented by McKinney Advisory Group on Saturday, March 12, 2016. This grand event provides for educational needs not covered by tuition, including scholarships for our students. Last year, this event raised more than $120,000 to benefit the next generation of women leaders and innovators at OLP who, through their work and service, will change the world. Help us top that amount and support the next generation of women leaders & innovators!
- Saturday, March 12, 2016 | OLP Campus
- 5 p.m.: VIP Soirée with Signature Libations & Specialty Hors dOeuvres
- 6 p.m.: Live Entertainment, Cocktail Reception and Silent Auction
- Followed by: Dinner, Program and Live Performance & After Party
Special thanks to our Honorary Event Chair Ann Navarra '63.
The event includes an exclusive
VIP Soirée, silent and live auctions, gourmet dining experience provided by The French Gourmet and an unforgettable live performance.
New This Year! We have an adorable Goldendoodle puppy who needs a good home. Our Pilot Puppy was born on January 15, 2016 and is a purebred Goldendoodle. This sweet and precocious pup needs a new home, and we hope it's yours!
Don't miss your chance to meet Pilot Puppy and bid on a host of other incredible live and silent auction items. Click here to purchase your tickets today! Contact Rivka Bent at [email protected] with questions.
Welcome Kristin Wiggins, New Director of Advancement
We are excited to announce the appointment of our new Director of Institutional Advancement, Kristin Wiggins. Kristin's professional background includes more than fifteen years of experience in the nonprofit sector focused on fundraising, corporate and donor relations, major gifts, marketing, volunteer management and special events.
She recently served as Executive Director for Piedmont Environmental Alliance (PEA) in North Carolina, before deciding to move back home to California. Prior to PEA, she served as Director of Institutional Advancement at Moreau Catholic High School where she led the fundraising and communications efforts for the school. Prior to that, Kristin was the Vice President of Development for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Northern California Chapter and the Director of Corporate and Donor Relations for the Greater Washington Chapter. Kristin lives in Chula Vista with her husband Mark and two sons, Sean (7) and Andrew (3).
We are thrilled to have Kristin on board and hope you will be able to meet her at an upcoming event!
Thank You for Joining Us At Spring Sing!
It was another fantastic Spring Sing production and we thank you for joining us. In case you missed it, the Spring Sing Results are:
Best Props: Juniors
Best Script: Seniors
Best Costume Design: Juniors
Best Acting: Seniors
Best Chorus: Juniors and Seniors
Best Dancing: Freshman
Best Singing: Seniors
Best Theme: Sophomores
Best of Show for Frosh: "Cups"
Best of Show for Sophomores: "One"
Best of Show for Juniors: "Beach Mashup"
Best of Show for Seniors: "We Belong"
Overall Best of Show: Juniors "Beach Mashup"
Overall Winners of Spring Sing 2016: Junior Class of 2016
Ode to Circle Drive Pine Tree
As you walk or drive along Circle Drive, you may have noticed our beloved pine tree is gone. The Facilities Department partnered with an Arborist firm to investigate the health of the tree after a variety of branches fell off the tree during the recent Winter storms. The firm determined that the tree was no longer healthy and was deemed unsafe. We recently had to make the very difficult decision to remove the tree.
Not commonly known is the fact that our present-day tree was not the first in its location to meet the same fate as the soil and natural infrastructure of the area is not suited for the longevity of the species. And though the information helps us to understand the "why" of the circumstance, our love of nature compels us further.
Toni Russo, Director of Facilities, ensured that stumps were preserved, which can be re-purposed as benches for generations to come. Though the area is clearly not adequate to re-plant another pined giant, the Facilities Committee is hard at work determining the best course of action for the locale and school, not only for today, but also for tomorrow. In the meantime, the poem by Joyce Kilmer sums up perfectly our regard for the natural and our faith in the eternal.
Trees, by Joyce Kilmer
I think that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree.
A tree whose hungry mouth is prest
Against the earth's sweet flowing breast;
A tree that looks at God all day,
And lifts her leafy arms to pray;
A tree that may in Summer wear
A nest of robins in her hair;
Upon whose bosom snow has lain;
Who intimately lives with rain.
Poems are made by fools like me,
But only God can make a tree.
State of the Arts
By Grace Newton and the 12th Night Cast
Twelfth Night, one of Shakespeares best comedies, is under construction at the Academy this spring. The show features a host of rip-roaring characters like undercover heroine Viola, her twin brother Sebastian, Lady Olivias drunkard uncle Sir Toby Belch or sneaky maid Maria, quick-witted Festia, the pompous Malvolio, and many more. Twelfth Night is sure to appeal to audiences of all ages, and its steampunk garb is sure to catch your eye and get your gears turning! Twelfth Night will be performed April 14th, 15th, and 16th at 7:30, and Sunday the 17th at 2:00. Tickets are on sale through the OLP website, or through Showtix4u.com.
In addition to rehearsing for Twelfth Night, OLP theater students are preparing for their LAMDA presentations. LAMDA, or London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, offers high school students the opportunity to perform for a professor from London, who will award them either a "pass," "merit," or "distinction." The LAMDA program offers an actual diploma in Speech and Dramatic Arts, and is a wonderful certification to have on your college resume. (and girls, Benedict Cumberbach is a LAMDA graduate!)
Two of our amazing cast members from Saints are also in St. Augustine High Schools Production of The Rainmaker by N Richard Nash. The Rainmaker is a Midwestern mid 20th century romantic-comedy about drought in life and love. Please go to SAHS.ORG for more information.
An OLP Legacy
By Rivka Bent
Sitting down to interview Sr. Anne Lorraine Mahlmeister, CSJ 48, felt like more of a privilege than a work assignment. Within minutes of being in her apartment I knew I was in the presence of OLP royalty and was honored to have the opportunity to glimpse into the rich and full-bodied story that is hers. But wait, Im getting ahead of myself, we must first shine the light on her beautiful history from its humble beginnings.
Veronica Imelda Mahlmeister (her name at birth) was born last in a family of seven children. Her birthday of September 11 didnt have the same significance at the time as it does now post the 2001 attacks. In the entry hall of her abode hangs the Mahlmeister family tree, something she points out to me with pride and admiration. Veronica was born into a non-practicing family and when she was only eight months old, her father and siblings lost the presence of her mother due to a chronic illness. The details of this period are a bit complicated, suffice to say Mr. Mahlmeister was left to rear and provide for his seven children on his own.
Read More
OLP Juniors Attend Global Leadership Connection
By Zoe Morales '17, Crystal Coriano '17 and Paulina Halley '17
We had the privilege of attending the Global Leadership Connection conference hosted recently at USD. This three-day conference consisted of many activities with the purpose of enhancing leadership skills—from establishing good eye contact and giving firm handshakes to maintaining meaningful positive conversations with peers. The goal of this program is to give student leaders the opportunity to meet other students from their community with the same interests.
Icebreakers and activities assured that no attendee would leave without talking to every person in the room. Diverse role models in our community gave inspirational speeches instructing the attendees to reach their potential. With the intention to encourage leaders to have a positive mindset, Carole Harder, GLCs founder, stated, "the youth are the greatest natural resource." Therefore, this program helps participants to think of themselves and others. Many activities included reflections about self-esteem, dreams, and hopes to maintain a balanced life, while others encouraged positive group work ethic. Students were given fifteen minutes to confront a problem in an elementary school. In order to solve this, skits and presentations were performed in front of all the participants within the time limit. Preparation for the upcoming personal and group interviews occurred continuously in various activities.
Read More
OLP Wins San Diego County Mock Trial Championship, Moves on to State Competition
Big congratulations to Ms. Nagem and the Mock Trial team! On Saturday, February 27, 2016, the Academy of Our Lady of Peace all-girls Mock Trial Team won first place in the San Diego County High School Mock Trial Competition Championship. The OLP team is the only all-girls team to compete in the San Diego County competition. In just five short years, the OLP team has moved up the ranks and secured this triumphant win out of 25 competing high schools.
Higgs Fletcher & Macks Jim Eischen and Scott Ingold coached the girls to victory. Another member of the firm, Michelle Maisto, came on board as a coach this year and was instrumental in preparing the team for a scrimmage with The Bishop's School and La Jolla High School in January. You can read more about the coaches and their experience on the Higgs blog here.
"In only five years our all-girls OLP Mock Trial team has risen to the 1st Place position," said Lauren Lek, OLPs Head of School. "They are extraordinary leaders who worked collaboratively as a team to secure this tremendous victory."
This year, more than 500 students participated in the county-wide competition.
On Friday, March 18, the OLP students will be representing San Diego County in the California State Mock Trial Championship in Sacramento. All 19 members of the team will be traveling to the state capital for the competition.
Congrats girls!
Scholarship & Internship Opportunities
ANNpower Fellowship
From now until March 8, we are searching the country for young women who are committed to reshaping the world for positive and sustainable change - the leaders of tomorrow. We will select 50 10th and 11th graders to be our 2016 ANNpower Fellows. If you are selected, you will join an elite group of rising stars, providing you with the skills, tools and training needed to realize your full leadership potential.
To be considered, you must demonstrate a strong commitment to leadership and potential for creating innovative solutions to problems in your community. You should also have a proven track record in your academic work and interest in extracurricular activities. Are you up for the challenge?
Click here to apply now!
UCSD and Sally Ride Junior Academy Summer Program
The Sally Ride Science Junior Academy for Girls offers fascinating and fun learning experiences in science, technology and engineering, with applied mathematics and art design (STEAM) for girls entering grades 6 through 12 in 2016-2017. During these workshops, students assume the roles of space explorer, ocean engineer or computer scientist as they immerse themselves in hands-on projects. Top-notch STEAM instructors lead these workshops, serving as both teachers and role models. The workshops also incorporate real-life stories of vibrant women conducting research in each field. Their examples inspire students and help make STEAM careers more accessible.
On the last day of each session, students participate in a showcase to share what they created and learned with students in other workshops.
Learn more & register
here.
San Diego Supercomputer Center High School Volunteer Summer 2016 Internship Opportunities at the University of California, San Diego
For the seventh year, SDSC launches an exciting volunteer internship program for high school students entitled Research Experience for High School Students (REHS). As part of this program, students will be paired with an SDSC mentor and will work as part of a research team dedicated to a particular area of computational research.
Please review the research opportunities on the website below. Students may apply for up to two opportunities. All applications must be submitted no later than March 15, 2016.
San Diego Supercomputer Center, UC San Diego | June 20 - August 12, 2016 (eight weeks)
For complete internship details, click
here.
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