The OLMA Overview -- May 9, 2020
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What a week! I want to begin by thanking the many families, friends, and alumnae who made a gift to our Annual Fund on #OLMAGivingTuesday! It is a tough time, so your generosity is appreciated more than you know. If you haven't made a gift and would like to, our campaign is still open. Donations of any size are welcome, as every single dollar is a help.
This week was all about Teacher Appreciation. The outpouring of love from students and families was overwhelming. I have the honor of visiting the homes of every teacher and staff member to deliver the most fantastic Smile Boxes I've ever seen. If yours hasn't arrived yet, have no fear. I will be there! I am in awe of the job my faculty and staff have done during this pandemic. They are fantastic all of the time but continue to outdo themselves with every passing week. I've received notes and emails from parents praising their work. You can
CLICK HERE
to visit our Online Learning page to read some of them. Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts. You keep us going strong!
We continue celebrating our seniors as they get set to cross the finish line. Again, thank you for joining us in paying tribute to these 20 young women. Graduation, like these girls, will be unique this year. More to come on this next week.
Finally, I hope you enjoy the Class Lip Syncs linked below. They are well done and hilarious! We're saving the Faculty/Staff production for a later date. Stay tuned. Have a great weekend. -- Mrs. Coyle
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STUDENT SPOTLIGHT:
MEET BREANNA VOLPE, CLASS OF 2023
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OLMA freshman, Breanna Volpe, is quite the superstar. She is a fantastic student, talented athlete and makes community service part of everyday life. This young woman chose OLMA after hearing about it from a family friend. "It sounded great, so I did the group shadow when I was in 7th grade and came back for an individual shadow day when in 8th," said Breanna. "I loved how close everyone was, and friends surrounded all the girls. I could feel the sisterhood. There was no judging going on. I knew it was for me."
Nearly one year in, Breanna says that OLMA has met all of her expectations. "I've made so many friends," she said. "Lunch is my favorite part of the day because I can walk up and talk to anyone at any table." Breanna said she met many of her first friends as part of the Volleyball Team. "Joining a sport is a great way to get involved and make friends right away," she said. "Everyone welcomes you in even if you're new to the sport."
In addition to Volleyball, Breanna played JV Basketball and joined the Lacrosse team. "The JV team got very close," she said. "And even though we didn't get to play the Lacrosse season, the team has come together."
On the weekend, Breanna helps bring kids with special needs together on the soccer field and basketball court as part of Top Sports. "It's an awesome program," said Breanna. "We partner up with kids and teach them how to play. Along the way, we form close relationships. I love seeing them smile and have fun." Her work with Top Sports led her to The Night To Shine program. "This is a prom for people with special needs and part of the Tim Tebow organization," said Breanna. "We get to serve as buddies and hand out tiaras and sashes. My favorite part is watching them all on the dance floor. You can't help but smile."
Academically, Breanna's favorite class is Biology. "I love the labs, even the online ones that we're doing now," she said. "They are interactive and fun." She looks forward to getting back into the real classroom but is confident in what she's learning remotely. "We're getting everything we need. It's a lot of work, but I've got it down now. It's all going well."
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TEACHER FEATURE:
MEET MS. DIANA COPPINGER
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Diana "Ms. Cop" Coppinger has not let COVID-19 stand in her way -- not for a single minute. Fortunately, Ms. Cop's students were already using online textbooks, so that made the transition to remote learning easier. "It was exhausting but went relatively smoothly," said Ms. Cop. "My greatest challenge was figuring out how much work was best suited for the students, given their various online learning conditions. Every family is facing different situations, like having to care for younger children, technology limitations, or parents who are essential workers and not at home. It took a while to figure out the right balance, but we've got it now."
Ms. Cop is proud of the progress her students have made. "One of our greatest successes is the Imagineering project that the Physics students are doing," she said. "It is Disney based, and the girls will finish with a table-top sized model of a thrill ride complete with costumed characters and a map of their imagined theme park. The finished product will be professional enough for pitching to financial backers. We're having a great time with it."
When she's not teaching, students can connect with Ms. Cop and with each other in a yoga class on Zoom. Originally designed to prepare students for the Mindfulness through Yoga and Surfing in Costa Rica Mini-Mester course, the yoga classes have caught on. "I teach two or three times a week and have some students who are regulars and some who pop in and out," said Ms. Cop. "I started doing yoga when I was 16, and I would love to instill the practice in some of my students. It helps me navigate the world in a calm, cool, and collected manner. It's the source of my positive attitude and optimistic view of life."
As the school year winds down, Ms. Cop is making more of her teaching student-directed. This approach is working particularly well with her freshmen students. "Rather than teaching them all the same thing at the same time, I'm giving them choices," she said. "Some girls have chosen to learn about evolution, while others are studying vertebrates or plants. It's a way to give the girls more ownership over what they're learning and keep them engaged."
Now in her 25th year of teaching at OLMA, Ms. Cop is still learning new things every day and stays in touch with many of her former students. "They are mothers and foster mothers, married and single, nurses and doctors, lawyers, and engineers," she said. "My girls are pediatricians and OBGyn's, forest rangers, teachers of high school students, and caretakers of infants and the learning challenged. They are involved in politics, are fitness fanatics, artists, administrators, and executives of huge companies. Some have companies of their own. There is no one more proud of these women than I am. I love them," And, they love you. We all do. Thanks, Ms. Cop.
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OLMA ATHLETES KEEP PLAYING
FOR THE W.I.N.
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OLMA athletes have found a way to keep on playing this spring in a way that benefits them and others. The initiative called, Keep Playing for the W.I.N. begins today. W.I.N. stands for What's Important Now and is one of the concepts introduced earlier this year as part of the OLMA Sports Leadership Academy (SLA).
"It's a valuable concept for teams, and given the cancellation of spring sports and the uncertainty we're all facing, it provides a good perspective as we navigate the adversity that comes with this challenging situation," said Ms. Jennifer Valore, Dean of Academics and Leadership. "The SLA has created an opportunity for all OLMA athletes to Keep Playing for the W.I.N. in support of people in need and those fighting on the front lines during this pandemic. We get to help others by doing what we love to do --- setting goals and crushing them!"
Here's how it works. OLMA athletes will participate in a 5K event from home as part of one OLMA team on Saturday, May 16. They can walk, run, bike, use a treadmill, and more. Beginning tomorrow, participants will seek sponsors who will donate directly through a fundraising portal created by Larry's II Restaurant in Vineland. All of the funds raised will help feed the area's essential workers.
Want to help? Make a donation anytime this week by
CLICKING HERE
and be sure and add the hashtag, #OLMAKeepsPlaying so we can track our progress. Way to go, OLMA athletes!
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CLASSES TAKE THE LIP SYNC CHALLENGE
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What's a girl to do when she's quarantined and wants to have some fun with friends? Hold a Lip Sync Challenge, of course! Oh, and did we mention that it has to be virtual? As is the case with any challenge handed to OLMA students, they went all out. We hope you enjoy their performances. Stay tuned for the premier of the Faculty/Staff masterpiece, coming soon.
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We hope you enjoy the OLMA Overview. If you have questions or suggestions, please contact Mrs. Kinkade at 856.697.2008, ext. 140, or email her at: mrs.kinkade@olmanj.org
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