A Closing Message from the Little Flower President, Jeane McNamara:

Dear Little Flower Community,

In the days following the end of this most unusual school year, and as we moved back into Little Flower to start to put the pieces back together to ready ourselves for what is likely to be an unusual school opening, I came across a book in my personal library called The Daily Book of Positive Quotations and this one jumped out at me:

“A helping word to one in trouble is often like a switch in a railroad track…an inch between a wreck and smooth, rolling prosperity.” – Henry Ward Beecher

Beecher was an ardent abolitionist, from a family of widely known anti-slavery activists, including his sister, Harriet Beecher Stowe, who rose to worldwide prominence in the mid 19th Century with her landmark anti-slavery novel, Uncle Tom’s Cabin . Beecher was by trade a Presbyterian minister who bridged the Calvinist origins of the faith to what became known as the Congregationalist ‘new school’ of Presbyterianism which advanced the concept of God’s enduring love over the longstanding Calvinist ideal of predestination, or to say that only certain individuals were worthy of God’s love and redemption.  

I cannot help but be inspired by this simple but profound message, in that the simplicity of a helpful word can go a long way toward healing. Our world, our country, our city, and most of all, our Little Flower community, finds itself battered and bruised right now and in need of healing, mending, and strengthening. Here are my petitions of prayer for healing:

For our students, especially our Class of 2020 graduates and their families who need to mend from the loss of the traditional end of high school major events and instead filedl in with new traditions, like our diploma distribution, and planned summer events as the guidelines dictate. As they look forward toward their bright futures ahead, may they come to realize that Little Flower was always there and will always be there to support them.

For our teachers, staff and administrators, who worked tirelessly to make sure that our students had continuity of instruction and experiences. May they get the much deserved break, rest and rejuvenation they need in preparation for the challenges and opportunities that our fall opening of school will present. We pray especially for Sr. Kathleen Klarich, RSM, Mrs. Kay Meng, and Mr. Tom Emore, who move to the retirement phase of their work lives, that their days will be filled with meaningful opportunities to embrace each moment.

For our legendary Little Flower Alumnae and Board of Directors, who stood with the school shoulder to shoulder to ensure that we had all the resources that we needed to provide continuity of instruction as well as ample financial support to make sure all students hungry for a Little Flower education would be assured that privilege. May their love of Little Flower plant the seed of paying it forward that has made the difference for thousands of young women to enjoy the gift of a Little Flower education.

For our wider Hunting Park community and partners, who have experienced a disproportionate impact of the COVID-19 effects, including a higher incidence of illness and impact from the economic downturn. May we continue to be the beacon of hope for a neighborhood that needs an anchor and an inspiration.

For our students of Color, who have long needed an outlet for their voices to be heard, especially in the wake of the tragic and far too frequent events that dot our nation’s map with a trail of racism, bias, misunderstanding, and miscommunication. May our first steps with peer-led town hall meetings put our students’ needs at the forefront of promoting better communication, providing outlets for positive discourse and paving a true path for Sisterhood to thrive continue to live out not just word but in action.

For our new student leaders, the first majority minority student leadership in Little Flower’s history. May they be graced with the maturity and wisdom to carry the responsibility of leadership, especially at a difficult time, and to seek the support and tools they need to make sure they can fulfill the mission for which they have been tasked.

The artist Vincent Van Gogh said, “ I am seeking. I am striving. I am in it with all my heart .” I ask our Little Flower community to do what comes naturally for us, and that is to give generously and with all our hearts. It is only together we can move forward. I am blessed to walk these next steps together with you, among you, and for you.

In gratitude –

Jeane McNamara, President

A NEW PRINCIPAL FOR LITTLE FLOWER!

June 16, 2020

Dear Members of the Little Flower Catholic High School for Girls Community,

We pray that this letter finds you and your loved ones well during continuing societal challenges in the face of pandemic and civil unrest. Today, we are writing to share happy news for our school community.

It is our honor to announce that the Office of Catholic Education and Faith in the Future, in conjunction with the administration of Little Flower Catholic High School for Girls and its Board of Directors, have appointed a new principal, Mrs. Colette Weber. Her appointment takes effect July 1, 2020.

It follows the April announcement that Sister Kathleen Klarich, RSM, would retire at the end of the 2019-2020 academic year. Sister Kathleen had served as Little Flower’s beloved principal since 1995 and as a teacher and administrator in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia for 45 years.

Please join us in offering both Sister Kathleen and Mrs. Weber prayerful best wishes during this period of transition.

For close to two decades, Mrs. Weber served as a teacher and administrator at the George School, a private Quaker institution of secondary education located in Newtown, Bucks County. Among her accomplishments there, Mrs. Weber was head of the English Department and spearheaded efforts to increase the number of students taking higher-level International Baccalaureate World Literature courses. She also engaged in substantive coaching and development of English department faculty members; led a process to revise and diversify the curriculum; and oversaw increases to student achievement over a multi-year span. From 2002 to 2018 she was the Director of the George School Academic Summer Program, an orientation program for incoming students.

From 2011 to 2014, Mrs. Weber served as Director of the Summer Minds program, which was run as a 3-week summer enrichment program for children ages 9-13 at the George School campus. Her responsibilities as Director included hiring and supervising teachers and academic mentors as well as developing the curriculum, which by the third year had 50 participants.

Mrs. Weber also possesses a strong commitment to serving those in need. Over the course of her years at the George School, she led numerous school-sponsored service trips to Vietnam, West Virginia, Kentucky, and Georgia.

Mrs. Weber is in the process of completing her Doctorate in Education Leadership from Gwynedd Mercy University. She holds a Master of Arts in English Literature from The College of New Jersey; a Post Graduate Certificate in Education/Literature with Physical Education as a Subsidiary Subject from the University of Leeds, United Kingdom; a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature and Language, University of Newcastle Upon Tyne, Newcastle, United Kingdom; and Pennsylvania State Certification in the OATCERT Program in Education from Saint Joseph’s University. She is a member of Saint Luke Parish in Glenside.

In response to the announcement and the general state of the spring 2020 semester, Mrs. Weber said that she was drawn to Little Flower because of its rich tradition of connecting young women to one another through their shared knowledge and experiences. Additionally, she commends the teachers, students, and parents and guardians on how tremendously they have carried on this semester in the face of adversity. She takes comfort in the reassurance offered by Pope Francis when he said, “In our experience of separation, we have understood the heart of communion.” Finally, she looks forward to September with great hope and excitement buoyed by the strength of the Little Flower and the spiritual connection that she offers each of us as we look to the future.

It was the desire of all involved in the search process to make sure that the next principal would be the best match for the Little Flower community and the families we serve.

During these summer months, we are delighted to have Mrs. Weber join the Littler Flower family. We look forward to the positive impact and new ideas that her experience in education and leadership will bring to the community and to our mission of empowering young women to recognize and develop their God-given potential, to deepen their faith, and to grow in awareness of their moral responsibilities to one another and to the global community through a comprehensive program which promotes academic excellence, integrity, and generous service.

Please be assured of our continued prayers for you and your families.

Sincerely,

Sister Maureen McDermott, IHM, PhD

Superintendent of Secondary Schools

Office of Catholic Education

Mrs. Jeane McNamara

President

Little Flower Catholic High School for Girls

We are so excited to welcome our most recent graduates from the class of 2020 into our alumnae ranks!

Congratulations. ladies!

Faith in the Future has partnered with some of the tried and true institutional donors and they are sponsoring a “Campaign for Tuition Assistance”.

The Faith in the Future Campaign for Tuition Assistance will directly support students and families at the high school, elementary school, or school of special education you designate, helping families throughout the Archdiocese during these trying times.

A donation through Faith in the Future goes directly to the designated school and each dollar of the donation is matched 1:1 through the institutional philanthropy they have harnessed.  Please consider this opportunity to double your impact to Little Flower (up to $10,000, which means $20,000 for LF). 

Visit give.faithinthefuture.com today to make a gift.

Please note that your donation may be directed exclusively to Little Flower.

AN APPEAL TO A LITTLE FLOWER FAMILY IN NEED:

We have received 2 anonymous donations for food assistance for any LF family in need. No questions asked.  No documentation of financial need required.

Please contact Jeane McNamara at  [email protected]  if we can be of assistance to help you to help your family.

Thank you for your continued support for Little Flower!

Please consider donating today to our tuition assistance fund. In order to be sure your gift is counted for our current fiscal year, please donate through credit card donation or venmo donation. We are on our way toward reaching our goal of $100k toward tuition assistance!

You can donate through venmo @ LFCHS

You can donate online via the following link:

PLEASE INDICATE THAT YOUR DONATION IS TO BE USED FOR TUITION ASSISTANCE!

Previous successful campaigns allowed us to invest in 1:1 chromebooks, which enabled us to switch seamlessly to virtual learning, teacher training, and various school-wide improvements which heightened the Little Flower experience.

The only reason we’re able to keep operating at this high level is because of your support.

Please consider donating today as we raise money specifically for tuition assistance!

  The promise of a Little Flower education is available to every student in need, with your help .

FLOSSIE SHOP

The Flossie Shop is Open and accepting orders. Delivery may be a little slower due to COVID-19, but we are filling orders. 

You can order here.