Student-Alumnae Leadership Club: Self-Starters, Big Planners

Growing up in my family, you were considered a self-starter if you did your homework without being told (reminded, nagged…threatened). My parents also impressed upon us the importance of “having a plan.” Me personally? I considered my life well planned if I had lined up a date for The Next Big Dance. That’s about as […]

Pick A Club, Any Club

File this one under: “Something for Everyone” or “Learning In and Outside the Classroom” or… “Pick a Club, Any Club.” In an era where cutbacks for even the bare essentials have been made throughout nearly every public school system in the country, any student who attends a school where those very same essentials are protected […]

(Young) Women Rising

That Doonesbury strip, written back in the 70’s during the height of the still nascent Women’s Movement, is one of my all time favorites. At that time, the character, Joanie Caucus, ran the local daycare center where she watched over, among other 3 and 4 year olds, young Ellie. Joanie was also a new and […]

Today’s Bookbag: Form Follows Function

As prelude, please indulge me in a brief, personal, history of the book bag: In first grade, I carried my books (all two of them) in a nifty little scotch plaid satchel that went quite nicely with my green, velveteen winter coat. In third grade, I traded up to a handsome, chestnut colored, leather (OK, […]

Girls and Science: Fully Capable

Those involved in the nurture, training, and education of children sooner or later refer to the concept of a child’s potential: ‘Every child has great potential.’ Or, ‘Every child should be given opportunities to reach his or her full potential.’ It’s a noble concept and a worthwhile goal. But it has echoed out there for […]

One Story: Sydney Tommins

NDP senior, Sydney Tommins is delightfully and blissfully ordinary, which is meant to be taken as the highest of praise. In an era where teenagers are depicted – at least by the mass media – as overly experienced and world weary, jaded and full of sullen ennui, it is heartwarming to meet someone like Sydney […]

The Class of 2019: Going Up!

It made sense at the time. Interview a group of 6th graders towards the end of the school year and find out how their first year at Notre Dame went. There were several flaws in the plan, however. For one thing, I dropped by to conduct this hard-hitting bit of investigative journalism on a day […]

Oh! The Humanities!

Not long ago, Notre Dame alum, Bette Ellis O’Conor (’46) and her husband, Jim, approached NDP with an idea. In keeping with the college preparatory mission of the school, the O’Conors wanted to establish an academic program that would open the girls’ eyes and minds to the interconnectedness of coursework as a way to better […]

Stacy Burke Danko ’82 Helping Hands Fundraiser @ Mt. Washington Tavern- Saturday May 4th

Stacy Burke Danko graduated from NDP in 1982. She spent her time at NDP being Penny Queen, serving as Lacrosse Manager, and winning Gym Meet…twice! Stacy lost her life to cystic fibrosis in February of 2009. To honor Stacy’s memory The Stacy Burke Danko Helping Hands Fund was created. The Fund assists NDP students whose families […]

One Story: Jamie Watson

Senior Jamie Watson comes bounding down the hallway towards me, her hair bouncing sideways, left to right and back again, in rhythm with her gait. Only Perky Girl hair bounces like that. Jamie is perky. Jamie has the opposite stride of a runway model; in this case, a good thing. Runway models lead with their […]