Our Lady of Providence inspires Faith, empowers Hope, strengthens Love and the Formation of the whole person through exemplary Catholic Education
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May 1, 2020 - eVision News
Serving Parents, Alumni, and Friends of Providence High School
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Four students receive National Merit Honors
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Senior
Amanda Pasierbowicz
has advanced to become a 2020 National Merit Finalist, the highest level awarded by the National Merit Scholarship Program. This distinction places her in a group of more than 15,000 students, representing less than one percent of U.S. high school graduating seniors.
Her Finalist status earned her a National Merit College Scholarship to the University of Alabama, allowing her to major in business management at no cost. The scholarship includes the school’s Presidential Merit Scholarship as well as a National Merit stipend. Amanda said she is considering a double major in a science field because of her love of the subject. Additionally, she has been accepted into the university’s Honors College.
Amanda said she chose the University of Alabama because of the opportunity to receive a full-ride scholarship but also because of its business school and honors college.
“Just the promise alone of being able to come out of college with minimal, if any, debt was incredibly enticing and flattering,” Amanda said. “However, as important as that is for me, when it comes down to it, the reason I committed to UA is because it is a good school.”
Her achievement is based on her performance on the PSAT taken in the fall of her junior year and her application to advance to semifinalist, which factors in
her academic record, school and community activities, leadership abilities, honors, and SAT or ACT scores.
About 90 percent of the 16,000 semifinalists nationwide achieve the finalist status. Finalists are then considered for a $2,500 National Merit Scholarship, a corporate scholarship, or a college scholarship.
Amanda is a member of Book Club, Art Club, Drawing Club, Green Dot, Sherlock Club, and the National Honor Society. She also is a member of the
House of Courage
.
Three juniors qualify for National Merit program
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Juniors
Grant Dierking, Rose Kempf,
and
Allen Kruer
have qualified for the National Merit Scholarship program after scoring among the top 50,000 scorers on their PSAT taken last fall. They will be notified in fall 2020 if they have achieved the commended student or semifinalist level for 2021.
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Professional actor a virtual guest for Advanced Theatre
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Students in Advanced Theatre
recently
met featured guest speaker
Jamey Jennings
, a professional actor, through a Google Meet. Most recently, Jennings was the company tour manager for
Once on This Island
, the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical about the tale of a fearless peasant girl in search of her place in the world. His repertoire includes national tours with
Mary Poppins, Hairspray, Oklahoma
, and others.
Jennings, who went to college with Advanced Theatre teacher
Mrs. Ellen Holifield
, shared his experience as a professional actor with the students. Mrs. Holifield, who said she never considered a virtual speaker before Extended eLearning was in place, said she was surprised and pleased with the students’ reception of Jennings.
“They really seemed to enjoy it, and I think it was a really beneficial and exciting experience,” Mrs. Holifield said. “The kids had some really great questions for him, and he had some great insight and stories to tell. We were on Google Meet with him for almost an hour during class.”
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Perishable food items donated to local agency
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After providing several Providence families with donations of perishable items from the Cafeteria, the remainder of the school’s perishable foodstuffs was donated to St. Elizabeth Catholic Charities in New Albany. Prior to the donation,
Cafeteria Manager Sarah Gahagen
and
Concessions Manager George Bowles
sorted, stored and inventoried foodstuffs after the school was closed by Covid-19.
Food and drink items that could not be stored or frozen were donated to the archdiocesan nonprofit agency.
President Steve Williamson
arranged pick up by Mark Casper, St. Elizabeth executive director.
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Teachers, staff visiting students
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Teachers and staff members are going in pairs to visit students to offer extra encouragement, especially for those struggling with eLearning. The teachers stay outside the home and communicate with the students from a distance. If your student could benefit from such a visit, please email the
Counseling Center
.
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Students continue to create from home
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Students are creating some outstanding and interesting projects during eLearning, and below are just some of those:
Emma Keeney
, junior, Drawing (her first art class)
The assignment:
Create a mural
Project
: A large octopus on her bedroom wall
What she liked about it:
“I like doing things that people won't normally do, for example drawing on your wall or doing body art, But I also like showing my creativity through my work.”
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Dylan Payne,
senior, Tech Theatre (also taking Directing and Advanced Theatre; previously Musical Theatre, Theatre 1 and Theatre 2).
The assignment:
Design a Scenic Backdrop for Video Chats
Project
: Dylan took his virtual backdrop project of Broadway playbills and created an actual backdrop in his bedroom, covering one wall with playbills he found online and printed.
How theatre is helping him during eLearning:
“It’s giving me a space to do work that’s not like your everyday schoolwork. It's a place where we can have fun and get to take a break from the busyness of these days.”
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Lydia Rush,
junior, Sculpture (previously taken Intro to 2D and 3D Art, Ceramics II and II, and Digital Design)
The assignment
: Sculpt with Homemade Clay using Ingredients at Home
Project:
Lydia made a salt dough to create a turtle and narwhal, inspired by a Pinterest project she found. She created a video of the process.
What she liked about it:
“I liked the process because they were very easy ingredients I already had!”
How art is helping her during eLearning:
“Art is helping me because it’s something fun I can do instead of the typical schoolwork.”
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We continue student recognition of our teachers during Extended eLearning:
Dr. Kathryn Jacobi
:
She is very informed on what’s going on and has been keeping us up to date with recent information via email. She has also been giving us encouragement and been praying for our well-being. Junior Sam Bowles
Mrs. Chris Golembeski
is so special to me, and she has done so much for me during my six years at Providence. Every time I was scheduled to lector for morning Mass at school she would be at Mass to support me and be there for me while I'd lector. That just meant so much to me because she would always be there for me and she always had my back when I had a problem, and she is someone I can talk to if I need anything! Now, she is a person I can rely on if I have a question on eLearning. She will also be checking in with me regularly to see how I am doing with eLearning. She definitely has a special place in my heart!
Senior Kyle Wisdom
“These teachers along with other teachers have made a difficult time easier, and I wanted them to have a teacher shout out.”
Sophomore Dallas Bonnet:
- Ms. Katie Aebersold has been really helpful and uplifting through this eLearning process. She emailed me back quickly about an essay question (for French), and we both love the author Sarah J. Maas, so she told me that Sarah was putting on live shows on YouTube talking about her upcoming releases. She’s always positive even though things in the “classroom” are drastically different now.
- Mrs. Diana Welch recorded herself going into more information on certain areas of our notes that might be confusing if not explained in depth. This was helpful and thoughtful as the extra help/info in Biology is always appreciated.
- Mrs. Maria (Cochran) Harritt ’10’s Google Meets for APUSH (AP U.S. History) and how she has reorganized our Google Classroom are exceptionally helpful as we prepare for the revised AP test and sort through eLearning assignments. Sometimes her son makes an appearance on Google Meets, which is always fun and up-lifting.
Mrs. Ellen Holifield
, the theatre teacher, is always checking in on her students and trying her best to keep us sane and making sure we aren’t overworked. She has a lot on her plate due to the cancellation of the spring musical and Deanery kids show. She has handled all of this very well and even makes time for her own family. She treats her students as her own, and she is always offering a smile and open arms (physically and theoretically) to anyone who needs it!
Freshman Bailey Heavrin
Mrs. Terri (Blunk) Purichia ’91
sent the
House of Integrity
a card in the mail telling us how much she misses us and hopes that we are doing well. And she’s going to start emailing us every week checking up on us.
Senior Helena Stoner
We also give a shout out to Principal
Dr. Mindy (Landkert) Ernstberger '74
today on National Principal Appreciation Day! We are grateful for all she does to support our teachers and students, especially during Extended eLearning.
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Teachers find new ways to help others through art
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For teachers involved with extracurricular activities, Extended eLearning has left a void. Art teachers
Mrs. Donna Burden and
Ms. Stephanie LeBrun have found ways to keep not only their students focused on art but others in the community as well by teaching virtual classes for the Arts Alliance of Southern Indiana. They also are planning the Virtual Deanery Fine Arts Fair (see info in Parents Connection) and helped out a young-alumni-owned budding business venture by painting the logo on their building.
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April Scholars, Leaders recognized
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Our April Scholars and Leaders this month were recognized for their excellence in World Languages - French or for their contribution to the
Houses of Truth and Spirit.
Mrs. Kerry Gerber (Hon. '20)
, assistant principal, director of academics, delivered a goody bag to each of their homes, and they were featured on the school’s social media sites. To read their Q&As, click Read More.
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Student-athletes make All-Area teams
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The
News & Tribune
has announced more of its fall sports All-Area teams.
- For Football, senior running back Colin Flake was named to First Team, Offense, and senior offensive lineman Donte’ Davis was named Second Team, Offense. Making the Second Team, Defense, are senior defensive lineman Henry Jones, senior linebacker Bishop Edwards, and senior linebacker Alec Fougerousse. Senior kicker/punter junior Nathan Striby was named to the Second Team, Special Teams. Receiving honorable mention are seniors Austin Barnett, Vincent Benningfield, and Andrew Henderson, and junior Jaxon Murphy.
- For Boys Cross Country, sophomore Garrett Huber and freshman Ben Kelly received honorable mention.
- For Girls Cross Country, senior Natalie Boesing was named to the First Team, freshman Maci Hoskins to the Second Team, and sophomore Sarah Boehm and freshman Erica Voelker received honorable mention.
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Sports Spotlight: Girls Track
Our Spring Sports Spotlight this issue highlights four-year seniors on the Girls Track & Field team. Click Read More for Q&As with
Sydney Barron, Kaylee Kaiser, Stephanie Koopman, Maggie Purichia, Claire Reyes, Ceci Rush, Avery Stumler,
and
Brigid Welch
.
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Summer camps information
Pioneer Summer Camps have been planned, but registrations will not be taken until the day of the camps, should they be permitted to go on as scheduled.
Click here
for a full list.
Virtual Senior/Mother Lunch video now available
Thank you to Girls Soccer assistant coach
Rachel Wells '14 for volunteering to edit the video for the Virtual Senior/Mother Lunch. Seniors and their mothers celebrated on their own this year, and the components of the virtual event were compiled into a
video by Coach Wells.
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Honor Roll posted
The Third Quarter Honor Roll has been posted. It can be viewed
here.
Yearbook distribution plans TBA
The 2018-2019 yearbooks will be arriving at Providence soon, but distribution plans are not yet finalized. An update will be provided in the coming weeks.
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Final week of eLearning schedule posted
Extended eLearning will continue with classes online through May 15. Classes will meet for a final virtual session during the week of May 18 according to the schedule
here. Several virtual events will take place that week as well. AP testing begins Monday, May 11, with the AP Government test. Students will receive instruction on completing these tests. Testing will continue throughout May, ending with AP World History on May 21.
Students will receive instructions on the Locker Clean Out Days scheduled on May 19 and 20. Plans are underway for in-person graduation and prom this summer on dates to be announced and as allowed by governance from Gov. Holcomb and the Office of Catholic Education.
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Deanery Fine Arts Fair now virtual
Providence has taken its
New Albany Deanery Fine Arts Fair virtual. Students throughout the Deanery are encouraged to submit their art work in the categories of 2D Art, 3D Art, and Photography as well as in the new category of StayAtHomeArt for non-traditional art created during the stay-at-home order. This year, the age groups have been expanded to include kindergarten through grade two as well.
Art work can be submitted via the
attached application through Sunday, May 3, at 8 p.m. The virtual gallery will launch on Facebook on May 10 at 8 p.m. Two professional artists will judge the official first, second, and third place winners for each grade’s division and category. The public will also be able to vote for Viewer’s Choice in each category on Facebook. All winners will be announced on Wednesday, May 20, at 8 p.m. on the Facebook event page and via social media. Art will remain posted in the
Virtual Gallery throughout June
.
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Vision
going virtual
The Vision magazine is going virtual this issue. Read the online version, and share the link with your friends. Only those alumni and parents without an email address on file will receive a printed copy, allowing Providence to be good stewards of its resources.
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Reunion dates for 2020
Reunion planning season is starting for the class years ending in 5 and 10. If you don't see your class below, contact
Ronda (Miller) Stumler '83
at
rstumler@providencehigh.net
. Note: Dates below subject to change based on the extent and length of the COVID-19 outbreak.
2020 reunions.
Contact Ronda Stumler to start your planning now!
- 1955: 2020 Quarterly Gatherings - Sept. 11, and Dec. 4, 2020. 11:30 a.m., The Radisson dining room, 505 Marriott Drive, Clarksville.
- 1956: Class Gatherings - October 9, 2020. 11:30 a.m., The Radisson dining room, 505 Marriott Drive, Clarksville.
- 1958: 2020 Luncheon Gathering: June 19, 11:30 a.m., The Radisson dining room, 505 Marriott Drive, Clarksville. For more information, contact Mimi Paris at 812.246.1020.
- 1960: 60-year reunion Aug. 22, 2020. Calumet Club in New Albany. Invitations to follow, and full information will be made available on our class website, www.olp1960.com. Annual mini-reunion brunch Dec. 12, 2020.
- 1970: Sept. 19, 2020. Contact Kathy Kull at 502.558.0173 or Laura Baker Buehler at 812.923.5260.
- 1974: Sept. 12, 2020. More details to come. Email ProvidencePioneers1974@gmail.com with questions.
- 1980: 40 Year Reunion. Sept. 12, 2020, Covered Bridge Recreation Center, 7 p.m. Please contact Chris or Ann (Kaiser) Day for details (Chris 812.989.3268 or Ann 502.396.9943).
- 2011: Planning has begun for 10-year reunion to be held in 2021. For more information contact Clancy Hauber at clancyhauber@gmail.com or 812.987.1729.
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Financial need greater in these times
All of us are making adjustments to the new reality brought on by the novel coronavirus pandemic with implications ranging from serious to inconvenient. As we at Providence adjust and align our instructional program and the allocation of our financial resources to comply with Diocesan and civic guidelines, we anticipate that many of our families will face challenges brought on by layoffs, health issues, and other unforeseen financial complications during this crisis.
Our administration and Board of Trustees want to be as responsive as possible to what will surely be a greater need for tuition assistance. Please consider a gift to our Annual Student Assistance Program (ASAP) which addresses that need, as generously as your own circumstances will allow. The achievements of those receiving a Providence education in many variations of public service illustrate the importance of ensuring that our school continues to provide it for all who desire it. We invite you to share your story via the school's social media channels on May 5 for #GivingTuesdayNow Day.
As part of the CARES Act the government just enacted, there is an above-the-line deduction against gross income in the amount of $300 for charitable contributions made after Dec. 31, 2019, by filers taking the standard deduction. Although this is modest tax relief, it is a dollar-for-dollar reduction against gross income.
To make a contribution online, go to the PHS website and click the Give Now button at the top of the home page (
www.providencehigh.net
). You can also send your contribution by check to our mailing address, 707 Providence Way, Clarksville, IN 47129.
Thank you,
Tony Perito
, Vice President of Advancement
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We would love to hear how you, your family, or your business have creatively found ways to stay connected, serve one another, or conduct business in a new way that enables you to help our community, or those who are directly dealing with or are affected by this virus. Watch the Our Lady of Providence Alumni Association Facebook page for ways to share your story in advance of #GivingTuesdayNow Day on May 5.
Alumna pairing volunteers with those in need
Audrey Shannon '16
, a graduate school student at the University of Notre Dame, has set up a way to connect volunteers with those in need in our community. When classes moved online and she moved home, she transferred her South Bend-based project to Southern Indiana and started www.soincovid19.com to connect with those who need help with those who want to give help locally.
We know there are many more stories of alumni doing great things, and we would love to hear them, whether its nurses, doctors, or college students offering to work in COVID 19 hot spot areas; essential workers making sure packages, prescriptions, or groceries get in the hands of customers; or volunteers in healthcare, at food pantries, or other areas.
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OLPH principal raises funds, awareness with 24-hour marathon
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Steve Beyl '99 is known for the creative and fun things he does to lead his school in his second year as principal. Last week, he ran a 24-hour “marathon” to raise money to support Catholic education. The idea came to run a mile at a time over a day as a way to promote the SGO Tax Credit Scholarship Fund while he was running for his daily exercise in his neighborhood.
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May 11
: AP testing begins
May 14: 3A seniors final virtual class
May 18: Final virtual class meetings for all students begin
May 19: Locker Clean Out for grades 11 & 12
May 19: Virtual Athletics Awards Ceremony
May 20: Locker Clean Out for grades 9 & 10
May 21: Virtual Senior Awards Ceremony
May 22: Virtual Senior Farewell
Graduation & Prom TBD
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Pope Francis’ Prayer to Mary during the coronavirus pandemic
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O Mary,
you always shine on our path
as a sign of salvation and of hope.
We entrust ourselves to you, Health of the Sick,
who at the cross took part in Jesus’ pain, keeping your faith firm.
You, Salvation of the Roman People,
know what we need,
and we are sure you will provide
so that, as in Cana of Galilee,
we may return to joy and to feasting
after this time of trial.
Help us, Mother of Divine Love,
to conform to the will of the Father
and to do as we are told by Jesus,
who has taken upon himself our sufferings
and carried our sorrows
to lead us, through the cross,
to the joy of the resurrection. Amen.
Under your protection, we seek refuge, Holy Mother of God. Do not disdain the entreaties of we who are in trial, but deliver us from every danger, O glorious and blessed Virgin. Amen.
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---------------------------------------------
Christa (Payne) Hoyland '84
Director of Communications
eVision reporter/writer
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