News Around Woodlands

Woodlands event urges girls to explore high-level business careers

Woodlands Academy of the Sacred Heart hosted a public forum March 13 encouraging girls to explore high-level business executive roles. Opened to school-aged girls and their parents throughout the region, this “Imagine Yourself in the C-Suite” program allowed attendees to engage in dialogue with a leading professional and one another. The session featured Claire Pomeroy, MD, MBA, president of the Albert and Mary Lasker Foundation. An expert in infectious diseases, Pomeroy is a long-time advocate for patients, especially the underserved and those with HIV/AIDS. Tyler Johnson, a 2009 graduate of Woodlands Academy, started the program by interviewing Pomeroy. Those in attendance then had an opportunity to ask questions. “Imagine Yourself in the C-Suite” presentations by female CEOs and executives are meant to inspire achievement, build confidence and encourage girls to forge pathways to excellence.

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Next stop for Woodlands Academy MathCats: ICTM State Finals

All 23 Woodlands Academy of the Sacred Heart participants in both team and individual events at this year’s Illinois Council of Teachers of Mathematics’ (ICTM) regional contest are state finals qualifiers. Overall, the all-girls college-preparatory high school from Lake Forest placed third in Division 1A at the 2024 ICTM Region 20 Competition held at Niles West High School in Skokie on Feb. 24. Highlights include first-place finishes by the Geometry team of sophomores Maya Whiteman, Maggie Glunz, Emmy Seliga, Chloe Mensah and Lucy Petherbridge as well as the Junior-Senior 8-person team of Yaya Cabrera, Aanya Sahu, Gianna Keuer, Gracie Jennings, Claire Smylie, Avery Drehkoff, Lauren Janos and Fiona McNulty. The ICTM State Finals will be held April 5-6 at Illinois State University in Normal.

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Woodlands Academy celebrates its junior class

Junior Ring Ceremony, one of the most significant days of a girl’s time at Woodlands Academy, marks the turning point in a student’s time at a Sacred Heart school. The class rings and Philippine Duchesne medals presented at the March 1 ceremony, planned and hosted by the senior class, are reminders of the strong bond students feel within the walls of Woodlands Academy and the entire Sacred Heart community. Senior Aanya Sahu, this year’s WACOR president, opened the program by reflecting on what last year’s presentations meant to her. “It was at this ceremony when I understood the value of all the relationships I formed with the people here at Woodlands,” she said. “Look around. The girls sitting next to you have never left your side, and they never will.” Speaking on behalf of her fellow juniors, Ida Psencik thanked the Woodlands Academy community for its support. “This camaraderie is something I have only ever experienced at Woodlands, where I am surrounded by people who love and care about me and want me to succeed.”

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Woodlands Academy holds second Service Day of the school year

Community service is emphasized in a Woodlands Academy of the Sacred Heart education. Goal III of all Sacred Heart schools seeks to educate to a social awareness that impels action. With this in mind, Woodlands Academy held the second of its two 2023-24 service days on Feb. 22. Sophomores and seniors from the all-girls college-preparatory day-and-boarding high school in Lake Forest lent a helping hand at three area service organizations – Northern Illinois Food Bank, Bernie’s Book Bank and Cradles to Crayons. At the same time, freshmen and juniors – who helped out in the community during September’s Service Day – participated in retreat activities this time. Students began their day on campus making blankets and writing messages for hospitalized children. [Pictured with their advisor, Brendan Bond, are seniors (from left) Teresa Ciaglo, Kaley Meister, Greer Talty, Caroline Holland, Elizabeth Erricolo, Vicky Nguyen, Alexandra Piccolo, Regan Stewart and Abby Greene.]

 

 

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 Woodlands Academy senior is a 2024 National Merit® Finalist

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. Gianna Keuer is among the approximately 15,000 U.S. high school seniors achieving Finalist status in the 69th annual National Merit Scholarship Program. This group of academically talented students will continue in the competition for some 7,140 National Merit® scholarships worth nearly $28 million to be awarded in the spring. Keuer 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 2024 National Merit Scholarship competition began during the last school year, with more than 1.5 million juniors taking a preliminary exam. [Keuer is pictured with Head of School Susan Tyree Dempf, Ph.D., and Principal Rocco Gargiulo.]

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Nearly a third of Woodlands Academy seniors are State Scholars

Woodlands Academy of the Sacred Heart has been notified that 10 members of its senior class are being honored as Illinois State Scholars. This designation by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) recognizes exceptional academic achievement that indicates an especially high potential for success in college. Woodlands Academy’s recipients this year are Karishma Bhatara, Megan Caserio, Teresa Ciaglo, Abigail Hironimus, Janel Ivy, Gianna Keuer, Judith Koukol, Kaley Meister, Kathleen O’Donnell and Aanya Sahu. “I am so very proud of our State Scholars for achieving this recognition of all their hard work and outstanding academic performance during their years at Woodlands Academy,” said Principal Rocco Gargiulo. “I’d also like to thank our faculty members for creating an environment that prepares girls for college and beyond by empowering them to lead, compete, engage and explore.” [Pictured (from left) are Gianna Keuer, Karishma Bhatara, Janel Ivy, Abby Hironimus, Teresa Ciaglo, Kate O’Donnell, Megan Caserio and Kaley Meister. Not pictured: Judith Koukol and Aanya Sahu.]

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Woodlands Academy 3rd quarter Sacred Heart Awards presented

Eight Woodlands Academy of the Sacred Heart students (two from each class) and one staff member received third quarter Sacred Heart awards Feb. 9 in recognition of living the Sacred Heart Goals and Criteria in a most visible way. Goal Five, “Schools of the Sacred Heart commit themselves to personal growth in an atmosphere of wise freedom,” was chosen by the Woodlands Academy student government as the basis for these awards. Freshmen Kate Marlowe and Valeria Santoyo, sophomores Chloe Mensah and Irene Poole Ruiz, juniors Vanessa Tellez and Saira Thomas, seniors Sapphire Bankston-Hunter and Mary Largay, and receptionist/cashier Mrs. Christine Grasenick were recognized for their efforts in living out this goal. Pictured (L to R) are Mary Largay, Sapphire Bankston-Hunter, Saira Thomas, Chloe Mensah, Irene Poole Ruiz, Vanessa Tellez, Valeria Santoyo and Kate Marlowe. Not pictured: Mrs. Grasenick

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Woodlands Academy wins first place at Archdiocesan math event

A team of six Woodlands Academy of the Sacred Heart students won first-place honors in their division at the recent Archdiocese of Chicago math competition held at Loyola University-Chicago’s Crown Center. MathCats team members freshman Amelie Chew, sophomore Maggie Glunz, freshman Madeleine Lillis, junior Fiona McNulty, and sophomores Emmy Seliga and Maya Whiteman competed against students from three other Chicago area Catholic high schools in Division A at the Feb. 3 event. Individual honors included a first-place finish by Whiteman, a third-place finish by Glunz and a fourth-place finish by Seliga. (Pictured, from left, Amelie Chew, Maggie Glunz, Fiona McNulty, Maya Whiteman, Emmy Seliga and Madeleine Lillis display team and individual awards won by the MathCats.) 

 

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