Five Girls Preparatory School Students Named National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists
9/16/20—Girls Preparatory School (GPS) has proudly announced that five of its students from the Class of 2021 are Semifinalists in the National Merit Scholarship Program.
“We are very proud of these five students,” said Dr. Kirk Walker, GPS Interim Head of School. “They serve as outstanding representatives of our strong senior class.”
As juniors, the GPS Class of 2021 took the 2019 PSAT/NMSQT, which served as the initial screen of more than 1.5 million entrants to the 2021 National Merit Scholarship Program. Semifinalists are the highest scorers in each of the 50 states and represent fewer than one percent of each state’s high school seniors.
Julia Morgan School for Girls Announces New Head of School
8/21/20—The Board of Trustees have named Michele Spitulnik as Julia Morgan School for Girls’ (JMSG) next head of school, effective July 1, 2021.
Spitulnik is coming to JMSG from Contra Costa Jewish Day School in Lafayette, California, where for over 12 years, she served as Dean of Faculty, Interim Head, Director of Professional Learning, and Director of the Center for Science Education. In addition to her work enhancing curriculum and teaching, she’s engaged in all aspects of institutional advancement.
“I am honored and excited to serve the JMSG community,” Spitulnik shared. “I’m passionate about supporting our girls during such a transformational time in their lives to become strong leaders and active participants and change makers in our society. I enjoyed engaging with the school community through the search process, and I look forward to learning much more from everyone, so that together we can advance JMSG’s strong mission.”
Purnell School Earns Prestigious STEM Accreditation
8/17/20—Purnell School has been recognized for its commitment to STEM education. The only boarding and day school for girls with learning differences in grades 9-12, Purnell has received the coveted STEM.org Accredited™ Educational Program accreditation.
Purnell earned the accreditation through its dedication to providing well rounded STEM and STEAM opportunities for students with learning differences. In addition to a variety of inquiry-based STEM courses and internships, Purnell’s STEM Enhanced Diploma provides students the opportunity to explore and expand their strengths in these subjects, both in and beyond the classroom.
“At Purnell, we recognize the enormous strengths and individual talents of our students—even and especially in those with specific learning challenges,” said Head of School Anne M. Glass. “Our nurturing educators strive to create an enriching and multisensory curriculum to ignite curiosity and a passion for learning for our students who go on to study in fields including, medicine, climate change, zoology, and coding.”
“Purnell School’s passion for innovative instruction techniques and effective and supportive student-centered approach to teaching students with diverse learning profiles, exhibits a true excellence in leading the way in STEM education for girls,” said Andrew B. Raupp, Founder and Executive Director of STEM.org. “In thoroughly assessing the school for the accreditation process, our team was impressed with their STEM academic rigor combined with a devotion to social-emotional well-being, giving their students the resources and skills they need to think critically and succeed in the classroom and beyond.”
Young Women’s Preparatory Network Students Receive Graduation Surprise from Dallas Mavericks
6/9/20—Aida Martinez, a 2020 graduate of Young Women’s Leadership Academy in Fort Worth, was overwhelmed with gratitude when she received a new laptop computer donated by the Dallas Mavericks along with hundreds of dollars in gift cards provided by the community and $200 in cash from Chime, a leader in mobile banking services.
Martinez is just one among the 124 recent graduates from three schools located in North Texas: Irma Lerma Rangel Young Women’s Leadership School, Young Women’s Leadership Academy Fort Worth, and Young Women’s Leadership Academy at Bill Arnold Grand Prairie. Dallas Mavs CEO Cynt Marshall and Chime CMO Melissa Alvarado announced the arrival of the donated gift baskets during a virtual graduation ceremony for the young women.
Many of the girls, like Martinez, will become first-generation college students. Although the COVID-19 pandemic altered graduation plans, the students were thankful to receive so much love from the Mavericks, Chime, and the community.
Miss Edgar’s & Miss Cramp’s School Turned Cancelled Class Projects into Charity Work
5/28/20—During the COVID-19 school closures, Casey Sherriffs, the Entrepreneurial Lead at Miss Edgar’s & Miss Cramp’s School (ECS) helped her 5th grade students carry out their class project in a reimagined and more generous way.
“We had purchased all the supplies in February and stored them in the science lab, and after March break the girls were going to produce their own bars of soap and had set up an online store to sell it to the ECS community online,” she explained. Since campus never reopened, the class decided to still make the soap but donate it instead.
Sherriffs assembled soap-making kits for students and staff, and everyone worked hard making 250 bars of soap to donate to area shelters.
In addition to their reconfigured soap project, Grades 1 and 2 students had planned an initiative that transformed into a way of giving to those less fortunate. The students were originally planning to do a toy swap shop where they could borrow from each other a new toy and bring it home on a biweekly basis. “The idea came from them trying to encourage people to stop buying so many plastic toys,” Sherriffs explained. With all the toys sitting unused at the school, the class made the decision to donate them to families in need.
These students have made a remarkable difference during an unprecedented time.
Saint Joseph Academy Student is Essay Contest Finalist
5/26/20—An essay written by Saint Joseph Academy senior Tatiana L. has been selected as one of ten finalists for the Stop the Hate Youth Speak Out contest. The dynamic article, entitled Injustice Causes Girls to Lose Part of Themselves, was inspired by her experiences as a girl who loves STEM.
“I believe that by sharing my enthusiasm for technology I help support other girls in several important ways: I inspire interest and encourage participation in STEM activities, leverage leadership roles to ensure all voices and ideas are heard, and by my own achievements demonstrate real possibilities,” wrote Tatiana.
Her essay focuses on the need to break down social stigmas surrounding girls’ interest in STEM subjects and involvement in the science and mathematics fields. She used her experiences at a girls’ school to leverage confidence and calls for others to join in the fight for bringing STEM opportunities to girls everywhere.
Young Women’s Leadership School of Astoria Students Distribute Menstrual Products
5/20/20—Two students at The Young Women’s Leadership School of Astoria are making a positive impact during the COVID-19 pandemic. Nicole S. and Mya A. are determined high school juniors who have convinced the New York City Department of Education to distribute menstrual products at school food-distribution sites during the coronavirus crisis.
About a month ago, the girls launched their “Femstrate” campaign, working tirelessly to achieve action and make a change. Logistical hurdles and bureaucratic delays stalled their efforts from getting much traction until local Assemblywoman Catherine Nolan stepped up to assist the girls with moving their project forward.
An inventory of feminine hygiene products is now available at information tables set up at 211 school sites hosting meal hubs around the city.
Nicole and Mya started the “Femstrate” campaign as part of an assignment for a Global Exchange class, which introduced the girls to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The students were asked to come up with a project to improve health and education, reduce inequality, or address climate change. As girls’ school students, Nicole and Mya chose to address period poverty, which is an important issue to them both.
Read the full story as it appeared in The City.
Maryvale Student Artwork Featured in Online Showcase
5/11/20—Maryvale Preparatory School art students represented the school at the annual Timonium Optimists Young Artists Showcase. While both the in-person art show and awards ceremony had to be canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a virtual showcase was presented online.
The Timonium Optimist Club each year recognizes and encourages talented young artists through an exhibit/competition that crosses school districts. Original, two-dimensional works of art are submitted by high school students—public, parochial, and independent—in Baltimore City and Baltimore County.
Congratulations to the three Maryvale students for having their outstanding artwork selected for the exhibition.
St. Margaret’s School Offers Daily Doodle Time with Art Teacher
5/1/20—At St. Margaret’s School, Middle Years art teacher Miss Kao is providing a way for students—and parents—to relax, reduce stress, get creative, and practice their artistic skills.. While students are at home seeking activities, Miss K, as she is affectionately known, has launched Doodle Time with Miss K, a live creative session of doodling and drawing hosted on Facebook every morning.
Each session is structured similar to an in-person art class starting with an art game or creativity exercise, followed by a doodle-a-long with a combination of pointers, step-by-step tips and encouragement, and finishing with a challenge to work on for the rest of the day.
“This is something I wanted to do because there seem to be a lot of bored people out there, and I’m hoping they can utilize this time at home to tap into their creativity and have some fun,” said Miss Kao.
Linden Hall Head of School Announces Retirement
4/30/20—Linden Hall’s Head of School, Michael E. Waylett, has announced he will retire effective June 30, 2020. Dedicating nearly 40 years of service to education, he led Linden Hall for the past five years guiding the school “in a steady and meticulous manner,” according to Linden Hall’s Board Chair Heather A. Wilson, ’85.
Waylett will leave a lasting imprint on the school as it continues to foster and promote the core belief that Linden Hall is a place where girls are valued and known. He shepherded the collaboration of faculty, parents, alumnae, and leadership to create a strategic plan that will continue fostering a high-powered learning environment where girls will be prepared to lead the change they want to see in the world.
Linden Hall looks forward to an exciting new chapter in its 274-year history in which the school will experience new leadership, continued growth, and advancement.
The Annie Wright Schools’ Community is Providing Protective Personal Equipment
4/22/20—During the COVID-19 pandemic, The Annie Wright Schools (AWS) community is supporting its local physicians and nurses, first responders, essential service providers, and many others who devote themselves to continually working under perilous and stressful conditions.
AWS families are supporting these community members by securing Protective Personal Equipment (PPE). Families of Chinese students attending AWS have organized sending 40,000 surgical masks, including the much-needed N-95 masks, to local hospitals in the greater Tacoma, Washington area. A current parent, who is an executive for an outdoor clothing and equipment manufacturer, is using a Seattle based factory to produce medical masks, pledging 200,000 daily by June. A group of parents organized to purchase over 100,000 surgical disposable gloves, and a parent-owned restaurant has been discounting and delivering donated meals to local hospitals for healthcare providers.
The Hamlin School Makes Face Shields for Local Health Personnel
4/20/20—The Hamlin School has connected with Bay Area Makers to print 3D Protective Personal Equipment (PPE) face shield visors for local health personnel working on the frontlines fighting COVID-19. As many shields as possible are needed, and the Hamlin community is rising to the challenge.
To support the school’s efforts, a Hamlin parent started a GoFundMe campaign that raised enough funds to purchase additional 3D printers allowing for a ramp up in production and enough PLA filament to print the visors for many months to come. Currently, the school is able to produce nine visors a day, which have been approved and accepted by a trauma surgeon at UCSF Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center. The first batch of 50 completed face shields was delivered recently to the hospital’s emergency room.