Chez
News
Notre Dame School
of Manhattan
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Letter from the President
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Dear Notre Dame,
Last evening, I listened to a Zoom call given by Rachel Simmons on “Parenting in a Pandemic.” Rachel Simmons is an author of several books on adolescent girls including
Good Enough As She Is.
This week I will share with you some helpful points from the talk. I found her comments insightful regarding parenting and also helpful for people in general.
The first point seems straight forward but quite significant. “We are not working from home. We are at home in a crisis, trying to work.” I find the Notre Dame Community is doing an excellent job of trying to work from home in the midst of this crisis.
Given the crisis, it is exhausting to keep working. Nonetheless, we keep on. While the crisis continues, it is good to check in with ourselves daily and acknowledge that working these days takes extra energy. As a consequence, it is natural if we find our stamina less than usual and our patience thinner than normal. We need to plan to take some “down time” for ourselves and relax so we can live through the day the best way possible. Self-care is essential.
Parents need to be especially aware of their values. What matters most to your family? Can you identify your family values and be grateful for them? Among the most important values is providing a sense of safety and love for the girls. How you do that is unique to each family, but conveying those two values are essential to our girls and to each family member.
It is true, there is much beyond our control, but encouraging the girls to stick with their classes and study schedule is key. While it is important to be flexible, having a schedule to keep us anchored during the day is critical for our emotional well-being.
There is more news to review in this edition of
Chez News
so I will keep this letter short. Please do click on the link below and enjoy Liz Callaway singing “Beautiful City” from
Godspell (
while driving her car in Manhattan).
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Dr. Virginia O’Brien, SU
President
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Let's Hear it for the ND Heroes!
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Dr. Elvira Marie Villafuerte '92 receiving donations of protective gear from Notre Dame.
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A Notre Dame education lays the foundation for college and beyond. ND alumnae go on to obtain careers in business, politics, architecture, engineering, education, technology and a multitude of other fields. Today, and in weeks to come, we would like to focus on our alumnae who are serving on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic. Whether it be as doctors, nurses, first responders, or essential workers, these women are examples of strength, heroism, and courage to us all. We want to honor their roles in this fight by telling their stories.
We encourage you to read on to learn of this week's hero.
Elvira Marie Villafuerte, M.D. '92
Marie graduated from Notre Dame in 1992 and continued on to graduate from Harvard College in 1996. She received her equally prestigious medical degree from Albert Einstein College of Medicine in 2002 followed by completing a surgical categorical internship at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. Marie was ultimately matched with the Jacobi-Montefiore Medical Center where she completed her emergency medicine residency. She now serves as an assistant professor of clinical emergency medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College and as an assistant attending physician in emergency medicine at New York-Presbyterian Lower Manhattan Hospital and New York-Presbyterian Weill Cornell.
Last month, with the concern of personal protective equipment running low for medical professionals, Notre Dame reached out to Marie and offered what supplies we had for her and her colleagues. Marie was quick to respond and eager to receive such donations. She drove to ND on West 13th Street and collected goggles and latex gloves. Faculty member, Mr. Scott Vasey, was most generous to provide N95 masks through a personal source as well. Marie was most grateful for the love and support from the
Chez Nous
community. However, it is the Notre Dame family that is indebted to her!
The goal of ND’s founder, Anne de Xainctonge, was to have her students receive an education centered on the importance of being women for others through acts of service. Dr. Villafuerte’s work in the emergency room epitomizes this mission, and we thank her for her sacrifices.
If you are one of these workers, or know someone who is, please send in the name, graduation year, occupation, and a photo to Dr. Christopher Hampton at
hamptonc@cheznous.org
so that we may continue to honor our Chez Nous alumnae.
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Gracie Hastings '20 completing her French project.
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Nicole Madej '22 celebrating "Poisson d'Avril".
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It is so impressive to see how quickly Notre Dame has acclimated to attending school each day online, and the teachers have all agreed that their students have embraced this new way of learning and are flourishing as a result. Each week we will continue to highlight some of the innovative approaches taken by our faculty and staff.
Ms. Anne Crosson - French Class
Ms. Anne Crosson has been a beloved French teacher at Notre Dame for decades. Understanding that not all students learn alike, she has always found unique ways to keep her students interested and engaged. Even through remote learning, she continues to be innovative in her approach to her teaching. Her recent assignments illustrate her creativity. For example, last month, her 9th grade students began a chapter on food and preparing meals. Using Flipgrid, a video discussion application as the platform, she asked the girls to record themselves "setting the table" and to discuss what they had for breakfast. She also invited the students to have a family member join, and if they taught their parent or sibling to respond in French they could earn extra points. The goal was to use the new vocabulary and structures while having some fun.
And just recently, Ms. Crosson taught her students how France celebrates April Fool’s Day. The French custom is for children to prank their friends and family by making a paper fish ("poisson"), and sneaking it on to someone's back. Once discovered, they shout, "Poisson d'Avril". It is also a big day for children to receive candy shaped like fish, a bigger candy fête than is Easter! The students learned a great deal through these projects and had fun sharing their videos and photos.
Food, fun, and candy, what better way to learn a language. Thank you, Ms. Crosson!
Mr. Scott Vasey - A New Direction for his Global Inequalities Class
Global Inequalities is a unique class for seniors taught by Mr. Scott Vasey, chair of the English department. Mr. Vasey created the curriculum several years ago, out of a personal goal to make sure his students acquired an understanding of global conflicts to help end them.
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Students have analyzed complex issues of inequality throughout the world through his class, and have appreciated the relevance of the material. With the recent pandemic, Mr. Vasey has decided to refocus his curriculum on issues of disparities in the US, particularly in NYC. These inequalities will include those based around gender, income, food security, healthcare access, housing, race, legal policies, education, occupational, immigration, and many more.
Mr. Vasey’s course of study has always incorporated the inequalities that have existed in American society. The current pandemic has magnified these issues, and he feels strongly that the girls can benefit from a focused analysis of the present situation.
The students are lucky to have such an opportunity to deepen their understanding of the societal impact of current events. Such knowledge will serve them well as they become confident and knowledgeable future leaders.
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Mr. Vasey's Global Inequalities 'classroom'.
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Thank you, Mr. Vasey. We could all benefit from your class!
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The Notre Dame community would like to keep in mind and pray for all of us, our extended families, relatives and friends. We have thought of a way to do that and invite you to make a prayer request by
CLICKING HERE
.
You will be asked for your name, the name of the persons you want to pray for, and to state in a few words what you want to say about the people whose names you write. We will keep this list going and pray for all those you recommend to us.
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Contact Information
Elizabeth Bixenman
Director of Development &
Alumnae Relations
(212) 620-5575, Ext. 317
bixenmane@cheznous.org
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ANCHORING LIVES
for
GENERATIONS
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