By Isabella Fazio '20 These past few months have been a hard adjustment for all of us, but we wouldn’t have been able to get through it without the nurturing and supportive staff here at Fontbonne. Every teacher has done their best to accommodate and ease the stress placed on us during these hard times. Without their dedication and commitment we all would’ve been lost.
Our amazing principal Ms. S has done everything possible to help motivate us and keep us on track. In addition to planning online events, Ms. S has made things fun and enjoyable for us while we’re all home. The faculty also made a video reminding us that they are always there for us. Each and every member of the Fontbonne staff has shown so much support and has been there for us whenever we struggled or needed someone to talk to during this tough time. Teachers have continued to push us to do better and guided us to reach our full potential. Multiple teachers stayed after school to host activities in order to maintain social distancing and still have fun. Cooking with Ms. Wurglics, Mrs. Glasser’s trivia night, and Ms. S’s ice cream social were just a few of the efforts that the members of the Fontbonne community made in order to make this difficult time more pleasant. The faculty also delivered signs for the seniors and hosted a car parade to celebrate the last day of classes. For all your efforts and dedication to making this situation as pleasant as possible, thank you. Each member of the Fontbonne faculty and staff has made the best out of the situation we were all put into. You have all put so much work and dedication into everything that you do and we as the students truly do appreciate all that you have done.
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By Leslie Alhakim '21 Letters to our Fellow Seniors Leslie Alhakim
Since our school is a community and most importantly, a family, teachers and faculty members wrote letters dedicated to the graduating class of 2020. Not only do we love you and are we so proud of you, but we’re also going to miss you! Even though it’s been a difficult year, there are many people that are here for you ♥ Special shoutout to Stephanie Patella, Alessandra Antonacci, Amal Dawoud, Giulia Troia, and Isabella Fazio who are all senior members of the Folio. -------------------------------------------- Dear Seniors, The Class of 2020 was always meant to be a historic class. You are all incredible and unique human beings that it makes sense to have the most unusual senior year. Instead of thinking of your year as the “year without…” I challenge you to think of your year as exclusive. Your year is so special that no one else in the history of Fontbonne has had your experience. This year has challenged you all to become more responsible, more dedicated, and more committed to not only your school work, but your relationships with you teachers and friends. Keep challenging yourselves to work on your commitments and relationships. Always remember whether it is a campus visit, an email, or a Google Meet session your Fontbonne family will always be here for you. Always, Ms. Cipriano -------------------------------------------- To the dear sweet members of the Class of 2020, I have not been one of your teachers, your FA, club moderator, nor a Class Coordinator, but over your four yours at Fontbonne, I have had the privilege of meeting and coming to know many of you. You have volunteered to be of service to the Alumnae Office helping to host the reunions or sing at Mass, or host a tour of our school for the visiting alumnae, you have stopped in my office for a candy or piece of chocolate, or you have sent a smile my way in passing, and, some have come to my office to ask for advice on how to execute one the many service projects you spearheaded...you are a smart, kind, generous, and lovely group of young women. These last several weeks have not been easy for you...not being able to share some of the “senior” events you have so looked forward to has been very disheartening and yet, YOU shared a video of HOPE with all of us. HOPE is the key to looking to the future. Keep an open heart throughout your life, your endeavors, your works of kindness. Keep what you have learned at Fontbonne, not only the academics, but the life lessons, the Mission, the examples of your teachers, close in your heart. They will be guiding principles throughout your life. Keep what you have learned during this difficult time as a guiding light of what is important in life. Do not think of what you “missed” but on what you have experienced. The days to come will far outweigh these days. Keep HOPE. The young women you shared these past 4 years with will be the women you laugh with, cry with, celebrate with. They will be the women you share your life’s milestones with. Keep them close to your heart. Keep LOVE. Rely on your Faith. It will give you strength when life gets hard...refer back to these days...know that you made it through these bizarre days because God has guided you. YOU can do anything, face anything, accomplish anything. You are in God’s Grace. You are a Bonnie! Keep FAITH. As you cross the threshold from student to alumna, know that I and all of us at Fontbonne will always be here for you...you are loved, you are cherished, and you will be missed. Congratulations on your graduation - Class of 2020!!! God bless you and keep you all the days of your life. Love, Ms. Musto Alumnae Director -------------------------------------------- Dear Seniors, We are all living a “new normal.” Amidst this global pandemic, we have been forced to adapt to new ways of doing things - learning from home, working from home, practicing social distancing regulations, etc. Running even the easiest errands like going to the grocery store or supermarket - has become “different.” For some of us, adapting to this new normal has not been very easy - I reflect on my own difficulties as I write this letter to you - sitting inside, cooped up in my small one-bedroom condo. It has been mentally challenging - and I know that some of you may be feeling the same way. One thing that is certain is that you definitely didn’t expect to finish out your senior year this way. None of us could have ever imagined this scenario. I could fill pages upon pages of this document with memories that we have shared together. To keep it somewhat short, I’ll just share a few - but whatever I leave out - it’s not because those memories aren’t meaningful. To me, every memory I have with you is special, precious, and meaningful. Some of us had the privilege of bringing back our overseas trips to Europe. A few of you might remember hanging out in one of the famous plazas in Madrid, when “Fat Spiderman” decided to tease me and joke around with me. For those of you that don’t know, yes, this person actually does exist. He is an overweight man that likes to dress up as Spiderman and have fun with tourists, all to make a few euros for his antics - or maybe just to get him to go away. You might remember painting beautiful tiles or walking through the beautiful Parc Guell. You might remember visiting La Sagrada Familia or walking down the famed Las Ramblas - with all of its shops and outdoor vendors. Some of you will remember the great time we had in London last year, imitating our tour guide’s accent and favorite sayings. We will remember the Eiffel Tower, the beautiful castles and palaces that we visited, The Louvre, the giant hike that we made to reach the base of that one church, etc. I know Romeo and I will never forget our new favorite meal, croque monsieur! Delicious! Some of us will remember the bus rides to the haunted houses that we took every year - and how I tried to scare some of you, basically acting like I was one of the actors in the haunted house. We’ll remember sporting events (I tried to come out and support as many of you as I could), assemblies, masses, prayer services, drama productions, etc. Some of us celebrated a City Championship just about a year ago! I’ll never forget my girls from Girls Who Code and Cyber Girls! We’ll remember courtyard interactions and foyer run-ins. Personally, I’ll remember all the requests for snow days - even though that was never my call to make - I’m just the one who sends out the emails, voicemails, etc. And please try to remember, if the forecast calls for a “trace” of snow, we will NOT close school! I’ll leave you with one last memory - ALL THOSE TIMES you came to my office because you broke your Chromebooks! Oh, right, it wasn’t your fault. The screen just magically cracked and the hinges fell off by themselves! Some of you may have even heard me say, “What did you do THIS time?” Some of you would stop by just to visit - and those moments always meant the most. Hopefully, we’ll return to normal sooner rather than later - and my door will always be open to you - so feel free to drop by and make my day that much better. I really didn’t mean to ramble, but I guess I couldn’t help myself - and I really couldn’t stop once I got going. To conclude this rant, I’ll leave you with some personal messages from myself to all of you. I truly believe that we will get through this - and when we do, please remember that Fontbonne will always be your home - and that you have a family here that truly cares about you. Once we return to normal, we would all love to see you again - so please, whenever you can, stop by and say hello. This class is so special for so many reasons. We will never forget you - and not just because you were the first class to deal with a pandemic like this. It has been an absolute pleasure watching you grow up these past four years. You came to us as innocent little 9th grade girls (others joined our family a little later - but you will always be one of us). And now, you are about to leave us as mature, responsible young women ready to take on the world! We will never forget you. We will forever miss you. And remember, if you ever need us, we’re just a phone call or an email away. Sincerely, Mr. Mark Surdyka -------------------------------------------- Dear Class of 2020! So many memories…..Do you remember back in September when the 9th grade girls entered school? Do you remember how you stood around saying, did “we look that young?” “They look like babies!” “Did you see that girl’s backpack, it is bigger than she is!” “Those freshmen are nuts, those backpacks are going to knock me down the stairs, why don’t they walk to class? Why are they all running in the halls?” Well, do I have news for you! You did look that young, you did wear humongous backpacks and run to class and some of you still do not know how to open your locks! Every graduating class has wonderful memories from each year spent at Fontbonne. First time Sports Night, as well as, the Roaring covid-19 flappers. How on earth were you going to fit the Pata Pata or the Alunelul into that theme anyway? What I will remember most about you girls is the way that you are so accepting of everyone and everything. You have come into Fontbonne as transfer students from many different schools, yet you have embraced the Fontbonne traditions, you have accepted students from other schools and felt their pain and put your arms around each other in solidarity. Each of you have been leaders in clubs, sports and most importantly the cafeteria line! The class of 2002 began their school year with 9/11, and you will end your high school career with Covid-19. This is something that will make you stronger and bind you together. You have had to learn how to accept the unexpected and make the best out of the lemons that you were quite unexpectedly tossed...make lemonade and enjoy a glass together double parked outside of 9901 Shore Road! I will join. As I sit here writing this on Mother’s day, in parting go forth and be great moms, teachers, students, nurses, doctors, botanists, lawyers, artists, musicians, world travelers or chefs. Remember that, “To memories of days in Fontbonne Hall, our hearts will ever cling” and “We are pilgrims on a journey…” Have a wonderful journey Ladies! Love, Ms. Nicoll -------------------------------------------- May your joys be added, Your sorrows subtracted, Your happiness multiplied, Your troubles divided and May God's blessings on you grow exponentially! With all my love, Mrs. Barton -------------------------------------------- Dear Class of 2020, My full length letter to all of you will be in your yearbook, so I will make this message brief. I hope you know by now, through all that you have experienced during high school, and especially during this school year, that you have proven yourselves resilient, and courageous, and loving, and strong. What has touched my heart the most through this most challenging time is your obvious love of Fontbonne. You love Fontbonne more than I thought any group of students ever could, and that makes me so very happy and proud, because that love of your soon-to-be alma mater is a gift that you have given each other. It is a gift that can never be taken away from you. Your sisterhood is resilient, courageous, loving and strong. Fontbonne is not just a place, it is a piece of your hearts. Never forget your heart and your home. All my love, Ms. S. -------------------------------------------- To Our Graduating Class of 2020! Congratulations on this big achievement, and thank you for the privilege of sharing your Fontbonne journey with you! Use your talents to make the world a better place! We are so proud of you! -World Language Department -------------------------------------------- To my sisters, the Class of 2020, What a way to end our years at Fontbonne. No matter what is thrown at us, whether it be 14 teachers leaving after our first year or a worldwide pandemic, we come out closer and stronger than we ever thought we could. I cannot express how incredibly thankful I am to have gone through Fontbonne with you all. We can all admit that it hasn’t always been a smooth ride (beef week included), but we’ve always worked it out in the end. Looking back, every memory we’ve made is one to be remembered and cherished for the rest of our lives. Coming to Fontbonne with 14 of my close friends from grammar school was definitely helpful when transitioning from 8th grade to freshman year. But I never knew how much of a difference so many new faces would make in my life. From Freshman Orientation, everyone knew that we were a force to be reckoned with. Each and every one of us has grown into amazing young women who will make the Fontbonne family proud. We’ve made history in more ways than one. What sticks out in my mind is the fact that we’ve welcomed so many new people into our family. I honestly think that’s what makes us one of the luckiest years to ever go through Fontbonne. In 2018, when we were blessed with the St. John Villa students, I don’t think we knew how much better they would make our school. The 2019-2020 school year came and brought the amazing and talented Bishop Kearney students. Our year has gone through so much together, but that perseverance through hard times gives me hope that we will continue our journeys together. We will also continue to make history. Every single student from the Class of 2020 has a story to tell, a goal to achieve, and a dream to follow. You have all made such an impact on my life, so I wanted to say thank you. Thank you for putting a smile on my face, on the best days, on the worst days, and every day in between. Thank you for being there to offer a hug when it was needed the most. Thank you for showing me the incredible potential that can come from the small school at 9901 Shore Road. And finally, thank you for being who you are. Don’t ever change. Continue sharing the light that you have in your hearts, everywhere you go. The world isn’t ready for Fontbonne’s Class of 2020. I love you all so much, and I can’t wait to see what you all accomplish in the future!!!!! Sincerely, Isabella Chirico -------------------------------------------- High school is a time when you are trying to figure out who you are, while also faced with many decisions that will shape who you can be. You have new responsibilities and expectations, all while being challenged academically with pressure to succeed. It is a confusing, perplexing and baffling time in a young woman’s life, especially in the beginning months of 2020. But I don’t want to point out all the obstacles, but to comment on how wonderfully you have handled all of them. I am proud of your enthusiasm and positive attitudes during this time and consider myself lucky to be part of your amazing journey in becoming women of the world. You all have so much to offer and I cannot wait to see all the places you can go. Best of luck. I will truly miss you. -Danielle Glasser -------------------------------------------- Dear Class of 2020, Congratulations on the impressive academic accomplishments you’ve achieved over these past four years at Fontbonne Hall Academy. It is a mark of your ability to strive for excellence. But more importantly, you are to be commended for the young women of character you have become. Your generosity of spirit and willingness to live out the CSJ mission, to love the dear neighbor without distinction, has been remarkable. Additionally, your ability to adapt to unforeseen challenges, changing the things you can and accepting the things you cannot change, with such dignity and grace, will be your lasting legacy. You will no doubt be stronger women because of your shared experience during this difficult time in human history. Use what you have learned to make this world a better place. Finally, know that you have left an indelible mark on our collective hearts and we could not be more proud of you! May the road rise to meet you And the wind be always at your back The sun shine warm upon your face The rain fall soft upon your fields And until we meet again May God hold you In the hollow of His hands. With Love and Admiration, Ms. Breeda Connolly -------------------------------------------- Dear my most wonderful Seniors, Well despite everything that has changed in the past 2 months, you still managed to make it here. The person who should be most proud of your accomplishments is YOU! You have worked so hard and deserve everything that is to come. It has been more than a pleasure to teach many of you for not only one year, but two! Each of you brought countless gifts to our classrooms and I know I am a better teacher and an even better person for knowing all of you. Like I have said to many of you before, now is really the time to find your path. So, journey well and never forget your roots. The CSJ mission of unity, reconciliation, and all inclusive love lives within you now. It always did. I know Fontbonne’s physical buildings symbolize so much and it has been very difficult to not be there during these last days, but I hope you realize that Fontbonne is a part of you now. You can choose how large that piece is and how influential it will be in other aspects of your life. I hope it will play an integral role in your continued growth as empowered women. Your voice is more powerful than you think and I know that you will use it wisely and for good! Promise me one thing - that you always see your worth, because I have, and I know you will all go on to impact so many other people throughout your lives. You will be dearly missed, but the world deserves to have you now, so go on and be great! And of course, always remember to make good choices! Love always, Wurg, Wurggie, or simply, Ms. Wurglics -------------------------------------------- Hi Seniors, It’s Ms. Duffy. We are currently in the middle of a really difficult problem (actually, many difficult problems) in the world and we don’t know what the answer to any of these problems are. We are at that point of a math problem when you’ve just read a long question and you start to feel anxious and say something like “I don’t know what to do!” And what do I say? Something along the lines of any of the following…
You mighttttt not need to factor a polynomial when you’re in college and into your 20s (or maybe you will!) but I do hope you’ll carry those skills with you into everything that you do. We are in the unknown. We can only practice doing one right thing after another, little by little, finding our way to “the answer” (who we are, what we want to do, what we love, who we love, where we belong, how we will impact the world). We’ll get there with patience, perseverance, and belief. Love, Ms Duffy By Kristen Kupper '21 Fontbonne Hall Academy’s History Bowl team had a very successful competition. Their Varsity A team was able to reach a record high score of 270 points.
The History Bowl goes to three competitions a year. But because of COVID-19, they will not be able to go to their last competition taking place on March 21st. Ms. Wurglics, History teacher at FHA, runs the History Bowl. She mentions how proud she is of the teams. “History Bowl had an excellent season and greatly improved from last year. Two of our Seniors, Sophia Crawford and Mairead O'Shea, qualified for Nationals in Washington, D.C. in the individual U.S. History Bee. Additionally, our Varsity team of Sophia Crawford, Mairead O'Shea, MariaRose Guardavaccaro, Meaghan Anderson, and Hala Wilson broke a personal best record and our JV team of Sarah Downey and Adeline Arteaga advanced to the playoffs in our latest competition!” Even though competition season is over, the teams are still practicing weekly. Ms. Wurglics describes what practices were like during the competition season. “Before the virus, we were practicing twice a week for an hour and a half each. Then, Sophia, Mairead, and I were practicing an additional 2-3 hours a week for Nationals.” Sophia Crawford is the president of the History Bowl. She also goes into detail about practices. “Something that Ms. Wurglics and I did every meeting at the beginning of the year was to make the girls practice memorizing all of the countries and their capitals. We did the same for all of the states and their capitals in our country. After that, we started to notice that by practicing previous History Bowl rounds and using our buzzer system, we really learned and retained much more information. Using the buzzer system gave us an opportunity each week to experience what it would be like during a round at competition. By linking keywords, time periods, people, and places, we began to answer more questions quicker.” This virus eventually led to the cancellation of any future tournaments for the time being. The competition will not be happening virtually. But nationals have been postponed. Ms. Wurglics mentions, “We would love for competitions to occur virtually, but because competitions are buzzer based and timed, it would be very difficult for the competition to transition to a virtual format. If there were any issues with connections or a lag time, the results would be inaccurate.” Although there were many roadblocks in the way for the History Bowl, they were still able to make the best out of their situation and that everyone going to nationals will sweep a victory. By Jenine Samara '22 As Women’s History Month comes to a close, we should all acknowledge our efforts as a school to empower, uplift, and remember the women who continue to pioneer for equality. ‘She Can’ is a powerful reminder of our potential to succeed as young women in any endeavor we choose to pursue. Through the use of different art media and two simple words, Fontbonne was able to convey the limitless prospects that its students can achieve. Today’s world is constantly evolving, and with that change comes ambition, the ambition seen within each young woman both in and outside of the Fontbonne community. Although ‘She Can’ holds a general meaning, it also has a varying definition to all those who interpret it. When I asked some members of the Fontbonne community what ‘She Can’ meant to them, their responses all varied but held a common theme of perseverance:
"No matter how high the wall above, no matter how hard the path ahead, no matter how critical others can be, and no matter how uncertain the future may be, women of Fontbonne always succeed. The Fontbonne woman can do anything that she dreams of doing." -Ms. S It's no secret that Fontbonne girls are extraordinary. They work together, they think deeply, they support each other, they create amazing things. Part of that comes from the mindset that there isn't anything they cannot do, (including, as we learned this week, online learning.) The Sisters of St. Joseph often share stories about being called to do "whatever women are capable of" to help the dear neighbor. While that has changed so much since the 1600's when the Sisters were first founded, our girls continue to live that mission as well.” -Ms. W “To me, ‘She Can’ means that we’re seen as equal. We’re accepting that the world is moving on and evolving. ‘She Can’ is acceptance of the success that we have managed to make improvements towards equality.” -Alyssia Sanchez ‘22 Although we’ve made immense strides since early forms of feminism, we are far from the full state of equality. With this in mind, it’s also important to acknowledge the need for justice in all groups who’ve been deprived of opportunities or equal representation. Applicable to feminist movements, ‘She Can’ may also be interpreted as an expression that encompasses the need for equality in all groups. So, as March begins to conclude, more eventful than most, we should progress with a new sense of gratitude, pride, and motivation in all that we seek to accomplish. By Juliann Bianco '21 As one of Fontbonne’s most talked about traditions, students of every grade have been looking forward to and preparing for Sports Night. However, as with nearly all events, including school itself, Sports Night has been postponed from its original March 29th date until May 17th due to the COVID-19 outbreak. The event is always held at St Francis College, which has either rescheduled or canceled all large gatherings in the month of March, not just our school’s.
For those who don’t know, Sports Night is a yearly all day event that brings all the girls closer together to compete in several categories with their grade level. Everyone spends months putting together the ideas and practicing, and always ends up being one of the most memorable days of the year. Each grade creates a dance, a tumbling routine, a skit, while also designing their own mural, costumes, and props. It’s certainly a lot of work, but as senior Dianna Gentile stated, “Sports Night is the time where our grade becomes a whole.” The girls in each category learn very quickly to cooperate and work with classmates they may never have even spoken to, and the captains in every year and group always demonstrate wonderful teaching skills, patience, kindness, and leadership for their peers. As anyone can tell you, the season also gets a little competitive. Grades become united to work for their theme, and by the time spirit week is here, you can sense the excitement and anticipation in every single student walking through hallways of decorations. Even with all the competitive spirit, students don’t hesitate to help each other out. One of the main traditions that comes with Sports Night is the seniors helping out their freshman sisters and showing them the ropes, even though they will ultimately compete with one another. During their first time showing the school what they’ve created and practiced for countless hours, the freshmen always get tons of applause and support from the upperclassmen, faculty, and alumni. This year, students have prepared just as much as usual, and are all hoping to be able to get back to practicing when we return from online school. But even though Sports Night has been pushed back, that doesn’t mean students will be any less ready. The grades are more determined than ever to ensure that they’ve got the best theme, dance, tumbling, etc. Regarding this, junior MariaRose Guardavaccaro says “Now that it’s postponed, we’re gonna really have to step it up because everyone’s even more motivated to win.” Even though none of us can physically be together for a while, the student body hasn’t forgotten the excitement coming up, and many believe this year’s Sports Night will be more intense and spirited than ever after our long absence. Senior Arianna Heinsch says, “It’s just the best thing ever.” By Kristen Kupper '21 Maestro Rafael Franco is the latest edition to the Fontbonne Hall Academy staff. He is currently the teacher for Spanish 1, 2, and 3.
On Maestro Franco’s first day at Fontbonne, he told some of his classes about why he chose Fontbonne Hall Academy. He said, “I had heard so many great things about this school, and when I saw a posting for a high school Spanish teacher, I did not hesitate and I applied.” Maestro Franco always loved to speak Spanish, attending a high school with a population that predominantly spoke Spanish. When he entered college, he double-majored in Spanish. To earn more credits, he went to school in Mexico and eventually got NYS certification. Maestro Franco also added that Fontbonne has been living up to his expectations and it is everything he thought it was going to be. Maestro Franco also added why he loves Fontbonne, he said: “I love the discipline, the students are wonderful, the staff is great, I love the location, and I also love the site of the school itself.” I asked him if he wanted to share any fun facts about himself, here’s what he had to say:
We are very excited to welcome him into our Fontbonne family! By Jacqueline Khorsandi '21 For the approaching 2020-2021 school year, the Fontbonne administration has opened up to new suggestions regarding new classes students want to see during their time as students. We recently interviewed students about the classes they want to see for the upcoming school year.
While interviewing students we received many responses for the classes that they would want Fontbonne to adopt. Many students would like to have feminist studies, film studies, nursing, home economics, practical studies (taxes & bills), current events, and creative writing. One student commented: “It would be really cool if they added class that I would be interested in learning for my future career”. Others have stated “I would really love it if there is something new that I can learn.” Another student stated: “I think adding a new class would be beneficial for students to have new types of learning”. The students really want to see more interesting classes that they can apply to real world situations. A couple of students have also said “I hope that they had new classes that I’m really interested in learning”. Students wish that FHA could add these classes they have suggested to make learning for interesting and helpful for the future. By Juliann Bianco '21 As newer, safer, and more thorough lockdown drill plans are being created, Fontbonne has chosen to adopt the ALiCE method, educating students and faculty on it in an assembly. Five faculty members were chosen to be the ALiCE officials: Ms. Pagan, Ms. Brussi, Mrs. Nicoll, Mr. Fiasconaro, and Mr. Petric. During the assembly, each of these officials taught a portion of the new system, and answered any questions students may have about the reform.
In the past, there was only one way to go about a lockdown drill. The teacher locks the door and shuts the lights, while all the students sit silently either against a wall or under the desks. The idea was to make every classroom seem unreachable and empty in the event of an intruder. Using code instead of clear and direct messages was also key in this method. Fontbonne’s code for initiating a lockdown was “Sister Ro please come to the office”. All students and teachers knew the meaning, but no outsiders would. However, with the ALiCE system in place, it provides options in a dangerous situation as well as using clear messages and communication. The acronym ALiCE stands for Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, and Evacuate. As Mr. Fiasconaro explained in the assembly, being alert is something we should already be doing. It means staying aware of your surroundings and what’s going on so that you can tell much more quickly if something is out of place. Lockdown is the part of the system that hasn’t changed much from old lockdown drills. Students and teachers lock the door and shut the lights, but instead of hiding all in one place, they now board up the door with furniture and anything else available in the room and sit spread out throughout the area. The inform part is where it mainly begins to change from old lockdowns. Instead of using the “Sister Ro please come to the office” code, teachers and students are supposed to use the clearest possible message to make other people aware of exactly what’s going on. This includes using the location, direction, and visual description of a possible intruder instead of secret messages. Counter also adds a new option. In the event that an intruder makes it into a classroom, students and teachers are supposed to create as distracting a situation as possible, by throwing things, making noise, moving around, or even swarming the intruder. However, countering isn’t about trying to fight an intruder, it’s about taking control of the situation. Lastly, students are meant to evacuate immediately if it’s a safe option for them, and make their way to the meeting spot in St. Patrick’s auditorium. While plenty of questions were answered during the assembly, some students had some other inquiries , such as what to do if they’re in the bathroom or on crutches, or in a classroom with glass doors. Mr. Fiasconaro, one of the ALiCE administrators was very helpful in answering these questions in the best way possible. Students do need to keep in mind that all situations can vary, and that there is never a perfect protocol for any scenario. What should I do if I’m in the bathroom during a lockdown? Just as if you were in a classroom; you have to make a decision which best suits you in that time and place. If you are able to evacuate, do so immediately. If you are not able to- proceed to barricade until you have an opportunity to leave. To make that choice as to when is the best time/opportunity to leave, be sure to keep informed through any means of communication as to when to evacuate. How is this a safer alternative than what we have already? In terms of solving a problem regarding dangerous situations and keeping safe, the more options and tools we have the better. Classrooms are safe- until they are not. The focus should not be on the classroom but your own individual safety. Sometimes a normally safe environment can become dangerous and that sentiment is true anywhere you are. You should always remain alert and respond accordingly to danger giving yourself the ability to choose any option you see fit. How will those in St. Joseph's (the main building) stay safe with the glass doors? Our precautions and training regarding safety and responding to dangerous situations is ongoing. Glassdoors are an obvious safety issue that stand out in our minds more today than several years ago. This observation reflects a changing mindset in how we provide ourselves with a safe and secure environment- a mindset we can only hope to encourage. We will continue to develop our own training methods and practices along with updating and strengthening our physical environment- to include security systems or 'structural weak points' like glass doors or accessible exit points. I can assure you- while glass doors are composed of a delicate material, once a barricade has been put in place, it will serve as a deterrent and an obstacle that is just as effective as the implementation of a wooden door. If an intruder is spending time ineffectively entering a room, they will move on. Keep in mind a barricade if effective for just two minutes, it is more than enough time for the NYPD to respond and an intruder will not want to waste time on any barricade. Average NYPD response time- after they are informed- is under two minutes. What about those who are injured or on crutches? Again- there are judgment calls to be made by every individual that are particular to the time, place, and other factors of the situation. Being injured or assisting someone who is injured is just another factor you have to assess when making the next choice in protecting yourself and getting to safety. If you are injured and not able to evacuate, find a room and barricade just as you would if you were unable to evacuate in any other circumstance. If you are able to assist a student who is injured in evacuation, or barricading without putting yourself in greater risk you may make that choice. At the end of the day these are the choices we are giving students and faculty to empower them with their own safety and security. By Stephanie Patella '20 On December 16th, 2019, Sister Pat Mahoney joined Ms. Wurglics’ law class to offer insight on her profession as a social worker. At the time, the students were learning about the increasing incarceration rates, people falsely accused of committing crimes, and what life is like as an ex-felon. After watching the documentary 13th and annotating numerous passages from The New Jim Crow book, by Michelle Alexander, the students understood the harsh reality of the Criminal Justice System. While these topics were quite difficult to discuss, Sister Pat explained a different side of the story. She spoke about her countless years of assisting ex-felons (specifically women) to find a job and help them begin their new lives.
As a major advocate for domestic violence, Sister Pat Mahoney wanted to work in a place where she would be able to help those who not only wish to land back on their feet after conviction, but assist the women who were abused in previous relationships. Working in Providence House and assisting over 5,000 patients satisfied her desire. She explained that most women were sent to Providence House as a result of abusive relationships while a very small percentage of the women previously served jail time for actually committing a crime. Sister Pat, along with the countless workers at Providence House, do not rest until women are able to push themselves forward to start a new beginning. When speaking about the influence of Providence House workers, she explains, “The right person in someone’s life can make a world of difference.” Ms. Wurglics and her students were very inspired by her words and were happy to learn about a lighthearted perspective on a negative issue. When I asked Ms. Wurglics about her take on Sister Pat’s story, she explained, “Not only did she bring her first hand experience of living in Providence House, but she also proves that anyone can make a difference. It is integral for our girls to see just how involved the Sisters of Saint Joseph are in our direct communities. I know that Sr. Pat's stories inspired many in the class while simultaneously combating many stereotypes about religious life. We are so appreciative for her genuine presence and the work she does right here in Brooklyn.” By Gianna Curreri '20 Tania Rivera is currently Fontbonne’s AP Bio, Forensics and G.A.T.E.S. teacher She was here during the 2017-2018 school year and recently returned for 2019-2020.
When asked what made her come back, this is what she had to say: “The support from the science department, the spirit of the school, and the wonderful young women that I get to teach everyday.” Since it has been a year that Mrs. Rivera has been at Fontbonne, she noticed things that have changed: “Science is a constantly evolving and exciting field. We live in the age of technology and discovery. Fontbonne is welcoming those changes, adjusting, and introducing them to its students through a strong STEM curriculum that prepares them for the future. The student diversity is also evolving and I am happy to see students of many different cultural backgrounds learn, support, and be friends with each other regardless of any differences.” Mrs. Rivera is thrilled to be working back at Fontbonne. |