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Note From the Head of School By Lauren Lek, Head of School
Dear Pilots,
May is a season of transition at OLP as we prepare to launch another class of graduates into the world and prepare to welcome our newest first year students. It is always a bittersweet time as begin the journey of time honored traditions like the senior farewell assembly, grad night, community day and mass on the grass!
The Class of 2016 will soon step into your shoes as part of the tremendous legacy of being educated in the charism of our Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet (CSJ) and being leaders in their local and global community as women of faith, women of heart and women of courage. In just four short weeks, they will join their fellow alumnae!
Across the school, this year has given us much to celebrate. We saw for the first time in our schools history, 100% of the Board of Directors, the faculty and staff, and every current family participate in our annual fund helping us raise over $775,000 to support our school and our students. This year the dollars raised in support of the annual fund will help us provide new furniture for each of our 23 academic classrooms, create a patio space in circle drive after a wind storm left the pine tree damaged beyond saving, provide needed upgrades to the gym floor and weight room, improve campus security, renovations to Carondelet Hall and student scholarships.
In support of our AP Environmental Science class, we were also able to secure five aeroponic towers, which are essentially a vertical farm on campus! Our new Engineering Design class was able to partner with our Art students to find new ways to celebrate our CSJ focus on environmental sustainability through a collaborative solar panel project. And, under the leadership of English teacher Katie Turner, OLP will be welcoming Google to our campus to pilot their newest educational partnership, Google Expeditions Pioneer Program.
So much is going on here at your alma mater that we are thrilled to share with you! We hope all of you will be able to join us at our inaugural Alumnae Reunion Weekend August 12 and 13. The weekend will be filled with a variety of events and celebrations to enjoy time with your sisters here on campus! Clear your calendar now for a tremendous weekend of fun and sisterhood not to be missed.
As we head out into the summer, I wish you all the blessings of warm weather, time in the sun and fellowship with family and friends. I look forward to re-connecting in August with the excitement of the new school year upon us.
Gratefully Yours,
Lauren Lek
Head of School
You're Invited to OLP's First Alumnae Reunion Weekend!
OLP's first annual Alumnae Reunion Weekend, being held August 12-13, 2016, is a time for Academy of Our Lady of Peace graduates to reconnect with classmates, faculty and the school. Together we will celebrate the memories and friendships that Alumnae have formed from their years at OLP by providing TWO days of events to encourage our Alumnae family to come back home to OLP. ALL class years are welcme!
The Alumnae Reunion Weekend events include a Welcome Reception with OLP's Head of School Dr. Lauren Lek, campus tours, Co-ed Endless Summer Event, Mass, Ladies Champagne Brunch and more!
If your class is celebrating a special reunion (classes ending in 1 and 6), check with your reunion chair for details on Saturday evening class events being held off-campus.
Alumnae Panelists Shine at 2nd Annual OLP Women's Symposium
OLP is humbled and thrilled that so many incredible alumnae participants and guests joined us on campus March 18, 2016 for the Second Annual Womens Symposium. Modeled after speaker panels at leading universities, this annual event brought together top women leaders to share with our students their insights and pathways to success. Through dialogue and modeling, these female leaders empowered the girls to stand up for themselves and to fearlessly chase their dreams.
Alumnae panelists included:
- Sara Bendrick 04, Host of DIY Networks I Hate My Yard and the owner of Sarita Landscape Design
- Danitza (Ramirez) Villanueva 98, Co-Founder, Publisher and Creative Director of Giving Back Magazine
- Paola (Avila) Gorostiza 93, Vice President, International Business Affairs, San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce
- Sr. Theresa Harpin 69, Co-Founder of Get on The Bus
- Daniela Reali 95, Deputy Public Defender
- Michele Schiele 85, Senior Associate Vice President, Stanford University
- Lisa Lane 07, Sports Reporter for Fox5
Mark your calendar for March 31, 2017, the date of the Third Annual Womens Symposium!
If you're interested in participating next year as a panelist or speaker, contact Kristin Wiggins, Director of Institutional Advancement at [email protected]
Seeking 2017 Alumna of the Year Award Nominations
It's time to send in your nominations for the 2017 Alumna of the Year award.
This alumna is someone whose personal, professional and/or social accomplishments reflect the core values of OLP, and who has brought honor and distinction to herself, the Academy of Our Lady of Peace and her community through her positive presence in the world.
OLP especially values education and lifelong learning, artistic expression, advancement in the areas of the sciences, technology and engineering, intellectual rigor, service to the dear neighbor, and the encouragement of religious faith. With a core mission, born out of the experience of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, of ensuring that each OLP student becomes all of which woman is capable, a strong female leader conducts herself with a spirit of service and leadership in her demonstrated field of endeavor and is held in high regard.
We know our incredible alumnae exist, but we need YOU to submit on their behalf! Don't miss this incredible opportunity to nominate an OLP Sister for this prestigious honor. Submit your nomination today!
St. Joseph's Day Mass
Bishop McElroy joined the OLP community on Wednesday, April 27, to celebrate Mass in honor of St. Josephs Day. The bishop shared that he loved the warm welcome" he experienced during his first visit to our campus.
Many Sisters of St. Joseph attended the Mass and were very excited to hear the whole student body sing their CSJ Vow Song. Afterward, Ms. Kamrath 71 and Ms. La Costas 08 Campus Ministry class reached out to the Sisters of St. Joseph who couldnt attend the Mass. The song sheets from the Mass, along with a personalized letter from the students, were sent to the Sisters to thank them for their influence on OLP and included prayers and wishes for their good health. We plan to continue including our lovely founding Sisters in the traditions and spirit of our school as the years go by.
The Mass ended with the presentation of the three CSJ awards, which are given to seniors who embody our CSJ charisms: Marlen Miranda '16, Woman of Courage; Rachel Rougas '16, Woman of Faith; and Fernanda Gonzalez '16, Woman of Heart. These seniors received outstanding applause and were surprised by their parents during the award ceremony. Our three seniors are pictured above left with their CSJ Sisters and above right with their medallions. Congratulations, ladies!
Alumnae Profile: Q & A with Danitza (Ramirez) Villanueva '98, Publisher of Giving Back Magazine & A Pet's Life Magazine
What was your time at OLP like? What are some of your most favorite memories?
I graduated OLP in 1998, at a time when social media, smart phones with cameras, and text functions were nonexistent. Interactions with schoolmates were more personal because of this. We communicated face-to-face, sitting at the lunch tables sharing our personal experiences of the day, and going over to the computer lab to help each other with homework (or catch up on our favorite TV shows). As I met incredible women then that helped shape who I am today, I have maintained those cherished friendships made at OLP.
Did you learn any specific life lessons or have a favorite teacher that helped shape your experience?
One specific life lesson I learned while attending OLP was the value of time management. Crossing the border from Tijuana every day to attend school meant that I had to organize, plan out my schedule in advance and budget my time wisely. Since I could not afford to waste precious time, this taught me to budget my time and schedule how much was needed for homework, tennis classes, friends and family. I quickly learned to organize my time between tasks.
After school, I would then attend Spanish class so I could learn how to read and write in my native language. Back then I was not a happy camper immersing myself in two languages, but now I feel blessed as it has helped me further my career and has given me a deeper appreciation of culture. Now as publisher of Giving Back Magazine, a monthly bi-lingual and bi-national publication showcasing the individuals, businesses and non-profit organizations who are making a difference, being able to speak and write in both languages has opened up abundant opportunities. Time management has also helped me in my career as I publish a second publication catered to San Diegos adorable pets called a pets life magazine. Managing my time between both publications is not easy but a task I am able to undertake thanks to the life lessons I learned early on at OLP.
How did your time at OLP shape your career? How did OLP help you get to where you are now?
OLP helped shape my career by letting me know that its okay to ask for help from others. The teachers and guidance counselors at OLP always made me feel comfortable enough to ask for help if I did not know an answer to a question or had trouble understanding a homework assignment. I learned to overcome my shyness and be at ease when talking with teachers and counselors. The confidence I learned from speaking up has helped shape my career and has allowed me to build stronger relationships in my business. I started my first business at the age of 26: a scary, but exciting time of my life. I often needed to ask my vendors, clients and team members the right questions in order to be able to build my business with the best answers. I became a problem-solver and broke through the challenges that arise when you start a business. I also surrounded myself with successful business people who could mentor me. When I was confronted with uncertainty I reached out to people I deeply respected in business and asked them for guidance. Asking for help has been a key to success in my business life.
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