The Ridge

ReportSeptember 2013

Our Girls Deserve This Opportunity– FR Future is Bright!

Architectural rendering of the new campus buildings.

Welcome to the 2013–2014 school year!

As a Sacred Heart school, one that reflects everything that encompasses the Heart of Christ, we are called to a higher level of engagement and deeper sense of commitment to the school community. While learning, our primary activity, is at the center of our daily work together, we know that the way we work together to form our girls will make all the difference in the values they take with them to college and beyond. Many times it is more than what we say that influences them — it is what we do. I look forward to a positive year of working with our girls and with the community so that the lessons we teach in the classroom are reinforced by our actions outside the classroom. Thanks for joining all of us at Forest Ridge on this sacred journey this school year!

As we begin the new school year together, I want to bring you up to date on some plans for our campus. Although much of the momentum is contingent on both final Board approval and successful fundraising, I would like to convey part of the process so you can share the excitement many of us feel about Forest Ridge’s future.

When you walk through our campus, you cannot escape the reality that we are a community of new and old — and by that I am talking about our physical plant and not our people! Many of our buildings (including those housing middle school classrooms) are original from our move here in the early ’70s and showing their age in expensive ways. We are routinely addressing facility concerns relative to the original campus structures that range from $800,000 to $1 million for upkeep and upgrading.

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In the spring of 2012, we hired Becker Architects to help us think about the design for a new middle school facility. Becker Architects has skillfully guided us in not simply conceptualizing new middle school buildings but in considering how we could make better use of the current property and reduce the school’s impact on the environment with new net zero buildings that would benefit the middle school as well as the high school. (Net zero buildings consume zero net energy and produce zero carbon emissions annually.) We also know that our core activity — teaching — can be enhanced tremendously with a physical plant that encompasses the best of today’s teaching with tomorrow’s possibilities.

As we met over the course of the past year, it became clear that we would have more options if we also addressed similar issues with the #100 Building (where Institutional Advancement resides) and the #200 Building (our current library). In the end, Becker Architects has created a welcoming village feel to the proposed design that allows smoother movement within the middle school and better integration of the high school. The new campus design allows the necessary plant upgrades we need currently along with the flexibility to adapt to changing needs more easily in the future. In addition the School will be a leader in water conservation and energy use in Washington state.

Our girls deserve this opportunity.

Over the next few months we will lay all the necessary groundwork to assure the success of our fundraising and the timely construction of the new buildings. I cannot say with certainty that we will accomplish all of this during the current school year, but I can commit to doing all that needs to be done to ensure we are successful once we begin. And if I had a magic wand, we’d be on our way today — it is that necessary.

I look forward to talking with you more about this exciting possibility as the semester settles in. I hope we can work together on a vision for Forest Ridge that is spectacular both in the classroom and outside the classroom.

My best wishes for a great year!

Our Girls Deserve This Opportunitycontinued from page 1

Architectural rendering of the new campus buildings.

Mark Pierotti Head of School

I’ve been reflecting on that term because the beginning

of each school year gives us the opportunity to welcome,

and to welcome back, new and returning students,

families and colleagues. Similarly, the beginning of

another academic year invites new ideas, thoughts,

even new and improved habits or systems.

Our staff retreat this year emphasized Goal III: “... a

social awareness which impels to action.” And so,

appropriately, we gathered at the Northwest Harvest

warehouse in Kent for a volunteer shift. The staff at

Northwest Harvest extended a genuine and warm

welcome, giving us clear directions and briefing us on

what exactly each of us had to accomplish over the next

few hours.

And that is an integral part of welcoming, isn’t it, that

clarity of expectations that translates into positive

outcomes. Excellent teaching happens when faculty

members welcome their students not just with a smile

but with clear and consistent expectations and when

students find themselves truly engaged as learners. Our

Residential Life House provides a beautiful home away

from home, but the staff makes it a hospitable

environment by assuring that every new and returning

student remembers or learns what the house rules

are: what time dinner is ready or when house

meetings occur.

Among favorite Sacred Heart traditions, Convocation

mirrors an act of welcome. It convenes the entire

community as each member is called by name. Thus we

call by name every student, staff and faculty member,

parents, alumnae as well as alumnae of other Sacred

Heart schools. But Convocation does not end after

everyone has been called. Rather, it challenges us to

continue that welcome, that act of naming and including

throughout the entire school year. It invites us to go

deeper, to seek better understanding and even to become

more comfortable with our own discomfort. Especially

at times of conflict, misperception or misunderstanding,

it is the value of Convocation, of respecting one another

by name, that can lead us toward acquiring a better

understanding of each other’s needs and concerns.

Welcome!

Dr. Carola Wittmann Director of the High School

All are Welcomeis Our Theme This Year

Welcome — to be welcoming — is the theme of this school year.

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Think back to last Sunday night: the chilling realization that for the first time in three months … it was a school night. I hope you all spent your last summer evening enjoying yourself, preparing for the coming year and trying on different knee-highs to pick the very best pair of socks to make your back-to-school uniform just right. I spent my Sunday night in a slightly different way. Along with the other ASB officers and the wonderful Ms. Wilson, I spent my last evening of summer right here on the Ridge, preparing for the year. Around 8:00, I started asking myself, what in the world am I doing here? Well, the answer is right in front of my eyes. In this sea of forest green and navy blue, I see the promise of a year of opportunity, a year of laughter, a year of expanding our horizons and a year of joy. And that’s more than enough reason to be thrilled.

So, students, faculty, staff, parents, I’d like to welcome you all to the 2013–2014 school year. Although it was quite a shock on Sunday night to realize school was the next day, I think I speak for us all when I say that the beginning of school is a time filled with excitement … and perhaps some nerves. It’s an interesting transition — from days of unstructured bliss to days of deadlines and alarm clocks, from sun to falling leaves, from shorts to plaid skirts, and it’s up to each one of us to embrace the change! Whether you are a seasoned senior or a wide-eyed fifth-grader, this year is an opportunity to achieve your goals, enjoy time with your friends and grow as a person. Every fall, I’m filled with resolute vigor; I’m not going to procrastinate! I’m going to get to bed at 9 every night! I’m going to discover a cure to the common cold! Very admirable thoughts, I must say. By about November these grand ideas start to taper off … the busyness of the school year just gets in the way sometimes. I’m sure many of you can relate.

This year, my goal is simple: I want to read two good books a month. Here is a challenge to you all: Help me stay on track! Help your classmates, help yourself, help each other make the most of this school year and achieve your goals. Do the best you can with your homework and tests, in your sports games and musical performances, in your adventures and discoveries. But, also, try to leave time for yourself and for everything you want to achieve this year. I am in a room with hundreds of intelligent and remarkable young women. I can’t wait to see all that you do.

It seems like just yesterday that I was sitting with my legs not so neatly crossed in the fifth-grade section of this gym, during my first Convocation. I remember being antsy; there are a lot of names to be read! Now, though, I like to keep in mind that each name represents a member of a remarkable community who will be supporting others throughout this whole year. Through long nights and eventful experiments, from congés to liturgies, through happy times and sad times, we are all in this together. Middle school, high school, parents and teachers: It’s going to be an awesome year.

I’m so thrilled to welcome you back, and I hope you all have a wonderful first few days of school. And if you ever find yourself in a position as I did this Sunday night, when you are up working hard and long and wondering why you are subjecting yourself to a particularly difficult essay or math problem, remember the community that surrounds you. Work hard for yourself, work hard for this remarkable school, and prepare to reap the rewards.

Olivia Cero ’14August 27, 2013, Convocation Speech

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During the first week of school, the middle school girls and I talked about how important it is to remember that in any situation, any class, any friendship and across any year, each person gets back what she gives. If we bring a fixed way of thinking about a problem or situation, we cannot expect to be blown away by openness and new ideas. If we bring a negative view of a person or situation, we will often only see what doesn’t work or what is hard. If we bring joy, compassion, openness and love, we see those things in action around us and receive far more in return. Children of the Sacred Heart are learners who operate out of their passion for learning, their deep connection to community and their boundless concern for the world around them.

Surrounding our shared commitment to our mission as children of the Sacred Heart is our middle school commitment to leading with grace. The middle school girls understand that striving to use grace-filled leadership in our day-to-day experiences is what sets us apart as leaders. Our goal is to lead in a way that acknowledges and celebrates the talents, passions, opinions, ideas and expressions of all members of a group or community.

A grace-filled leader leads without needing to be first, leads by lifting up the collective work of the group, leads from her understanding of the value of diversity in thought and ideas.

On the first day of school, the entire school community gathered at Convocation and listened as each person was called by name. This ritual reminds us that we are unique members of a community based on welcome and acceptance. Like a family, we belong to this community as we are; it is not a community where we need to change ourselves to fit in. We may be surprised that this community is larger than we originally thought, encompassing our grade level, our division, our school and the Network of Sacred Heart Schools around the world.

It is then that we realize the significance of our theme for the school year, “All are Welcome.” We do not welcome everyone just because it is a nice thing to do but because our mission depends upon the gifts of all the members of our community.

Julie Grasseschi Director of Middle School

The start of the school year is a great opportunity to remind ourselves and our children what matters and

to think ahead about what is to come. At Forest Ridge, we ground ourselves in our mission as a Sacred

Heart school. Each member of our community is a child of the Sacred Heart, and we are all called to live

the Goals and Criteria for Sacred Heart Schools to the best of our ability. As we start this particular school

year together, the middle school community is focusing on our identity as children of the Sacred Heart

striving to operate from a spirit of authentic welcome to all members of the community.

September:Time to

Think Ahead About What is to Come

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Beginnings are as exciting as they are nerve racking. Filled with events, speeches and traditions, beginnings convey identity and tone for what is ahead. Opening week at Forest Ridge this year was no different. And, as always, the Family Picnic was the culminating event of the week. We had been through the Parent Coffee and Convocation, each so welcoming in its own way. Parents became more acquainted with each other and with staff at the school during the Coffee. They sensed the solemn importance of the year ahead as each name was read aloud at Convoc-ation, a cherished ritual performed every year. New parents attended opening-of-the-year meetings with teachers and staff. Students were assigned places in their respective classes, and then, we were off to the races!

But wait; there was one last event of opening week when we would find ourselves and each other once again: the Family Picnic. Thursday night of that hectic week allowed us to just breathe and enjoy each other. You could feel the collective “Aaaaahhh,” as students, siblings, parents, faculty and staff simply settled in at a buffet supper with no agenda, no more need for inspiring speeches or logistical instructions. We relaxed together and began to really connect with old and new friends.

Hospitality, we learn from scripture, is the godly gift we possess and offer each other, and it means everything to how community forms and sustains itself. We deepen our life together when we construct activities and rituals that welcome everybody. How we do this is critical to the way the culture of hospitality emerges. Are we inclusive?

Do we offer personalized greetings to each other? Are we sensitive to each other’s differences while capitalizing on what unites us? Do our rituals convey the meaning of who we are and what we do? Do we actually take time with each other and follow up on individual gestures of “Hey, let’s get together for lunch or coffee soon”?

The details of hospitality are memorable to newcomers. I was a newcomer to Forest Ridge just last year, and I still remember who invited me to lunch in those first months, who showed me the ropes, who made the effort to come to my office to offer a personal welcome, who acknowledged the enormity of the move I had made from across the country, who asked to see photographs of my son. Those gestures have shaped my appreciation of the Forest Ridge experience, the people we work with and the community we are constructing together. Now that the opening days of the school year are behind us, the responsibility for offering hospitality to one another and to visitors falls on each of us. As we commit to some of the simple gestures of hospitality, greeting one another, sharing meals, gathering for events, welcoming strangers, checking in, offering thanks for successful efforts, extending compassion during the inevitable challenges and sorrows we experience, rejoicing in each student’s achievement, we are expressing or offering to our community the powerful and infectious spirit of welcome — the key to becoming the community we want to be.

Regina Mooney, Ph.D. Director of Institutional Advancement

HospitalityMeans Everything When Building Community

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Welcomeas a Leadership Skill

Kisha X. Palmer Director of Women As Global Leaders

This new school year, as we embrace our community theme of All are Welcome, I am energized by the thought that welcoming is not just a word or a physical gesture but also an attitude, a willingness and a stretch. The Women as Global Leaders experience in the Forest Ridge community is the embodiment of all of these attributes; and this coming year is another opportunity to expand the welcoming horizons of global leadership capacity building in our young learners and with each other as an adult community.

Women as Global Leaders has been on a path of discernment, experimentation, growth and reflection, and in this fifth year of growth, I invite the entire community to participate in a dynamic discussion of what the future of Women as Global Leaders holds, not only for present students but for future students and alumnae.

The operative word of our program since its inception has been Global, but this year I personally am focusing more intentionally on “Leader.” Our curriculum in both the Middle School and the High School embraces a global perspective and places all disciplines in the cosmology of global issues. Women as Global Leaders asks: What skills will future students need to address these global issues?

As the High School continues to encourage student and faculty participation in the development of the Peace and Reconciliation, Resources and Sustainability, and Global Health programs, Women as Global Leaders will continue to work with the community to identify concrete skills Forest Ridge students, these future leaders, need. And as the Middle School expands its experiential leadership opportunities, Women as Global Leaders will collaborate with students and faculty on building developmentally appropriate leadership skills.

I encourage the larger community at Forest Ridge is to welcome change, to welcome transition and to welcome the stretch and flex that comes with embracing new thoughts, pathways and relationships. I truly feel this is how we create a safe learning environment in which our students can be confident, compassionate, skilled leaders in the global community.

As the year progresses you will hear about the ongoing development of the Peace and Reconciliation, Resources and Sustainability, and Global Health programs in both the middle and high schools. I welcome your input as we try new things and continue the adventure of defining female global leadership.

I encourage you to follow the Women as Global Leaders Twitter account @WomenGlobalLead and stay tuned to PostIT for information about events and recognitions of community leadership.

I am excited to work with all of you this year. My office is in the library, and you are always welcome!

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Forest Ridge offers parents many opportunities for spiritual enrichment. Goal I, Criterion 4 says, “Opening themselves to the

transforming power of the Spirit of God, members of the school community engage in personal and communal prayer, reflection

and action.” This is a great reminder that spirituality is not just for our students!

Reflection Club:SpiRiTuAL NEEdS ARE AS iMpoRTANT AS pHySiCAL NEEdS

Tanya Lange Campus Minister

The Reflection Club is one such opportunity for parents to gather at Forest Ridge for sharing and support. Throughout the year, members of the Reflection Club meet to discuss topics ranging from spirituality to Sacred Heart traditions to prayer. When we started the club a few years ago, we called it the Parent Prayer Club but soon realized that the name wasn’t an entirely accurate description of what happens when this club meets. We always close in prayer, but most of our time is spent in discussion with one another about the topic for the week. Topics usually relate to the time of year. For example, at the beginning of the year we talk about the push and pull of parenting. In December we always talk about how to handle the craziness of the Advent season. Last spring, we walked the Labyrinth together. We’ve also reviewed mini versions of Chapel Education as a way to learn more about this special space on campus!

One of the great benefits of this group is the opportunity to connect with parents of girls from all grade levels. More than once, in the middle of a conversation, a parent has shared a challenge she was having with her daughter, and other parents in the group were able to offer suggestions of strategies that hadworked for their families.

Our spiritual needs are just as important as our physical needs. When we feel supported and nurtured, we can do the same for others in our lives. Please consider joining us to see what the Reflection Club is all about. Parents of all beliefs are welcome. We meet on the first and third Wednesdays of the month at 8 a.m. in the Chapel. In September, we will meet again on September 18. Watch PostIT for updates and meeting reminders, or email me at tlange@forestridge.org to get on the email list. Come whenever you are able to join us!

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As co-presidents of the Parent Association (PA), we are happy to welcome you to the 2013–2014 academic year at Forest Ridge School of the Sacred Heart. We have exciting events planned, and we look forward to working together with you to make this a successful and memorable school year.

The purpose of the PA is to foster communication and community among FR parents, staff and faculty. This purpose is consistent with Goal IV for Sacred Heart schools: “the building of community as a Christian value.” To that end, we organize events throughout the year to strengthen our community.

The PA welcomes the entire Forest Ridge community, including the girls, their families, the faculty and staff, to a Family Picnic in August. For parents and their daughters, we host separate Father/Daughter and Mother/Daughter events throughout the year. As a way for families to express their appreciation to the faculty and staff, the PA provides our traditional APPLE Brunch each month. Each grade level has the opportunity to bring in delicious food for teachers and members of the administration to enjoy. The PA also hosts two formal lunches for the faculty and staff, one at Christmas and one at the end of the school year. You can also look forward to Love Your Library week and the Forest Ridge Auction in February.

PA-sponsored social clubs include Wine Club, Walking Club, Reflection Club, Book Club and Scrapbooking Club. These are parent-only activities organized to help parents of all grade levels connect with each other. Do you have a particular interest or hobby? We can help you start a club! For more information about clubs, please email frpasocialclubs@forestridge.org

Grade-level parent representatives help build community by organizing coffee socials or evening socials or both for parents at their grade level. These events are designed to provide parents the opportunity to get to know one another and share the joys and challenges of raising adolescent girls!

It takes all of us to make these events successful. The old adage that many hands makes light work rings true! The PA depends on you and will need to call on you for help now and then. Please consider volunteering.

Whether it is bringing in snacks for the girls, decorating for an event or hosting a grade-level social event at your home, we want to thank you in advance for your help and support. These events could not happen without you!

We want to take this opportunity to invite you to the PA Advisory Meetings held monthly in the Sacred Heart Center. Meetings feature informative (and always entertaining) updates from Head of School Mark Pierotti, reports on upcoming events from PA event chairs, timely news from staff members and occasional presentations from our talented students. Attending advisory meetings is a great way to stay abreast of what’s happening at school. Look for more information on these meetings in PostIT and on the Forest Ridge website.

The State of the School address by Head of School Mark Pierotti will be held on November 7 from 7:00-8:30 p.m. in the Sacred Heart Center. We invite you to attend any or all of these meetings to learn about what is happening at Forest Ridge.

Please feel free to email us with questions, or visit the PA page on the website.

frpahspres@forestridge.org (Molly)frpamspres@forestridge.org (Roopa)

Molly McConkey and Roopa Satagopan Parent Association Co-Presidents

Let’s Make This a Successful and Memorable School Year

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Inside: Ridge Report for September

News About a New Campus Project