Bethlehem Academy Student Draws Portrait of Saint Mother Teresa

^{Sarah Daoud ’28, Bethlehem Academy, (Faribault, Minn.)}

^{with her portrait of Saint Mother Teresa.}

Bethlehem Academy (Faribault, Minn.) student artist Sarah Daoud ’28 recently completed a

hand-drawn portrait of Saint Mother Teresa.

Sarah explained that the idea for the drawing came from her art teacher, Jason Hillesheim, who encouraged her to explore the Saint’s life. Sarah said, “Mr. Hillesheim was the one who inspired me to draw Saint Mother Teresa. He suggested it and gave me a biography of her to read. She is a wonderful example of a servant of Jesus. She dedicated her life to serving with love and compassion those who are unfortunate. She’s an inspiration and an amazing person to look up to.”

^{Final portrait of Saint Mother Teresa by Sarah Daoud ’28,}

^{Bethlehem Academy (Faribault, Minn.).}

Edgewood Campus Students Celebrate Advent in December Community Circle

^{Students gather for their monthly Community Circle at}

^{Edgewood Campus School (Madison, Wisc.).}

This month, students at Edgewood Campus School (Madison, Wisc.) learned about Advent during Community Circle--a time when the school community comes together to sing, read scripture, and pray. Different grades lead Community Circle each month, giving many students the opportunity to lead the gathering.

The December Community Circle explored the Advent theme of hope. As the candles on the Advent wreath were lit, third-grade students led the scripture reading and prayer petitions. Then, students were invited to reflect on the Advent season and the value of patience while waiting. One student noted that the circle inspired her to look for ways to be kind to her classmates.

^{The first Advent candle is lit during the December Community Circle at Edgewood Campus School (Madison, Wisc.).}

Trinity High School Gym New Records Board

^{Past and current coaches, alumnae, donors, and students gather in front}

^{of the newly unveiled Athletic Records Board at Trinity High School (River Forest, Ill.).}

On December 15, the Trinity High School basketball team (River Forest, Ill) took on the Taft Eagles in the energy-filled Sr. Michelle Germanson, OP Athletic Facility. The fans’ enthusiasm was amplified by a special halftime ceremony that unveiled a new athletic records board. Alumnae Sarah Falkenholm ’25 and Mia Sznewajs ’25 pulled a ceremonial cord to reveal the board of champions. These alumnae, along with Emma Steadman ’25 (who was unable to attend), played a leading role in bringing the project to life. As senior swim captains and track athletes, their leadership extended beyond their sports to celebrate the wider Trinity community.

The idea for the record board grew from their experiences as student-athletes. Inspired by record displays at other schools, they saw the value of honoring achievement while creating a point of connection across generations of Blazers. “We would spend a lot of time looking at the records at other schools. It was inspiring…it was motivating,” said Falkenholm. “As we started to set records of our own, we wanted a special place at Trinity to highlight the accomplishments of the community’s athletes, yesterday and today. We wanted to create something that could bring alumnae back and inspire future Blazers.”



With the support of coaches, school leadership, parents, and alumnae, the project quickly gained momentum. The students received an immediate and enthusiastic response for the idea from the community.

For the alumnae athletic leaders, the record board represents more than numbers and individual accomplishments. Sznewajs shared her enthusiasm for the project’s success: “If you’re really passionate about something, keep doing it, keep putting your best into it.”



Mounted in the Sr. Michelle Germanson, OP Athletic Facility, the record board stands as a fitting addition to the space, honoring excellence, fostering community, and reflecting the Dominican spirit that continues to shape Trinity High School.