Works by artists Leslie Iwai and Eloise Heinrich were displayed at Woodlands Academy of the Sacred Heart as part of the 2023 Jamie Tuttle Women in the Arts festival, which also included in-person presentations by each artist. The Women in the Arts event has been a Woodlands Academy tradition since 2005 when parents of two alumnae offered to sponsor exhibits by two visiting artists. Because this initial event was so well received by the visiting artists and Woodlands students alike, the donors offered to make Women in the Arts an annual event. In 2021, this annual celebration of female artists was named in memory of Jamie Tuttle, a vital member of the school’s arts faculty for three decades who inspired generations of Woodlands students with her dedication to the arts. (Pictured is the display of Iwai’s work at Woodlands Academy.)

All 20 Woodlands Academy of the Sacred Heart participants in both team and individual events at this year’s Illinois Council of Teachers of Mathematics’ (ICTM) Contest are State Finals qualifiers. Overall, the all-girls college-preparatory high school from Lake Forest placed third in Division 1A at the 2023 ICTM Region 20 Competition held at Niles West High School in Skokie Feb. 25. Based on the strength of their third-place overall finish at the regional level, Woodlands Academy’s MathCats have advanced to the April 22 State Finals at Illinois State University in Normal. Regional competition highlights include a first-place finish by sophomore Hannah Burke in the Algebra 2 individual event. The purpose of the ICTM State Math Contest includes recognizing outstanding mathematical achievement and encouraging independent study while stimulating interest in mathematics.

Woodlands Academy of the Sacred Heart proudly announces that one of its senior class members continues to advance in her pursuit of a highly prestigious scholarship award. Anne Kelly is among the approximately 15,000 U.S. high school seniors achieving Finalist status in the 68^th annual National Merit Scholarship Program. This group of academically talented students will continue in the competition for some 7,250 National Merit® scholarships worth nearly $28 million to be awarded in the spring. Kelly advanced to the Finalist’s round based on her academic record, participation in school and community activities, demonstrated leadership abilities, employment, and honors and awards received. The 2023 National Merit Scholarship competition began during the last school year, with more than 1.5 million juniors taking a preliminary exam. (Kelly is pictured with Head of School Susan Tyree Dempf, Ph.D., and Principal Rocco Gargiulo.)