DVM News - March Newsletter

St. Agnes Academy Students Participate in Citywide Day of Caring

^{St. Agnes Academy junior class volunteering at the Catholic Charities Food Pantry.}

Nearly 300 St. Agnes Academy (Memphis, Tenn.) Upper School students participated in the annual Day of Caring, offering a helping hand to 21 local nonprofit organizations throughout the city of Memphis. This year marked the 30th anniversary of this annual day of service.

“In the Dominican tradition, community service is a guiding principle for all our students,” said Beth Odom, Director of Dominican Catholic Identity. “The goal of this day is to bring St. Agnes students closer to their classmates and their community, and to use the gifts and talents they have received from God to serve those in need.”

The Day of Caring is diligently planned by the St. Agnes Upper School Ministers of Service, a high school student group led by Mrs. Odom. The Ministers met weekly with Mrs. Odom for two months to coordinate all the details for this important day. Each high school grade is designated an area of service, ensuring students have the opportunity to engage with a range of community needs by the time they graduate.

Freshmen were assigned to elderly care facilities, while sophomores worked with local Catholic schools on a variety of projects, including creating new bulletin boards, organizing art supplies, shelving books in the library, and reading with students as needed. Juniors volunteered with organizations focused on serving the marginalized in the community, and seniors served at schools that support children with a variety of special needs.

As part of the Day of Caring, the school’s theater department extended its reach beyond the stage. Cast members from the upcoming school musical shared their talents with community members who might not otherwise have the opportunity to attend, by performing for residents at local nursing homes. The cast referred to this their annual “Tour of Love.”

“Each year that we do this event, I am reminded of the heart and soul of our school community- Study, Prayer, Community, and Preaching,” said SAA Theatre Director Gabby Morris. “Our actors learn songs, lines, and dances, and then they serve various communities by sharing their passion for God through the Fine Arts. I get to witness my students’ commitment to love their neighbors and their cast members as themselves. It is our school’s mission in action!”

Dominican High School Educator Isabel Warning

Named 2026 Catholic Herald Teacher of the Year

^{Isabel (Izzy) Warning of Dominican High School, 2026 Catholic Herald Teacher of the Year.}

Dominican High School (Whitefish Bay, Wisc.) science and religious studies teacher, Isabel (Izzy) Warning, has been named a 2026 Catholic Herald Teacher of the Year. DVM had the pleasure of speaking with her to learn more about her journey as an educator, her teaching philosophy, and what this recognition means to her.

You were honored as a Teacher of the Year. Could you tell us when and how you found out that you were selected for this recognition?

Ms. Warning: I received an email from Ed Foy, Superintendent of Catholic Schools for the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. It came as a great surprise to me because I had no idea that I had been nominated!

Could you share with us your journey as a Catholic school educator?

Ms. Warning: I did not initially set out to become a teacher, but I knew that I loved learning about science. Over time, I realized that research itself did not capture my full interest. What I did love was presenting research, especially the storytelling dimension, and the opportunity to illuminate why a particular question truly matters. At the same time, my experience as a theology major was very formative. Several courses were really influential in helping me consider how human reasoning and rational inquiry can serve as pathways to encounter God. This led me to wonder whether fostering students’ capacity for reasoning might also develop their faith. This idea continues to shape my approach today.

You are completing your tenth year teaching. Is there a moment from these ten years that stands out when that integration of faith and reasoning for a student came together?

Ms. Warning: When working with freshmen on a task that develops their skills in making a claim and gathering evidence to support it, I am continually struck by seeing the growth in students’ confidence as they engage in similar forms of reasoning across various contexts. These “aha moments” stand out most - the moments when students recognize their own development. There is something powerful in being able to say, “You're capable of doing something now that you could not do before.”

To me, that is at the heart of the work. It reminds me of something Stewart Heatwole said at the 2025 DELC Academy: “to be a Dominican educator means to teach your subject really well.”

You have been recognized as a Teacher of the Year. As Dominicans, we are always studying and reflecting on the signs of the times. Is there anything that is currently drawing your attention, something you want to study further, explore more deeply, or areas in which you hope to grow personally or professionally?

Ms. Warning: That is a compelling question. One area that I feel increasingly called to engage is the role of artificial intelligence within education, particularly in my Faith and Science course. It is one of the most significant questions of our time, how Catholic schools can engage with AI in ways that are both realistic and responsible, while also affirming what is uniquely human about us.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Over the past 10 years at Dominican Academy, Isabel Warning has guided students in ways that have sparked curiosity and helped them grow in their knowledge and their faith. DVM congratulates her on being named a Teacher of the Year and wishes her continued success in guiding the next generation.

Edgewood Campus School Students Take Faithful Steps This Lenten Season

^{Edgewood Campus School students’ footprints displayed on the Lenten bulletin board as part of their reflection activity.}

At Edgewood Campus School (Madison, Wisc.), third and seventh grade students gathered for a special Lenten activity focused on reflection and community. Students explored why Christians observe Lent as a 40-day season of growth and preparation.

As part of the activity, students decorated two footprints to represent their Lenten journey. On one footprint, students wrote something they plan to give up during the 40 days. On the other, they shared something they will do to grow closer to God—through prayer, kindness, service, or gratitude. Students wrote ideas such as helping others, giving up distractions, or committing to daily prayer on the footprint cutouts.

Once completed, the footprints were displayed together on the school’s Lenten bulletin board, symbolizing the intentional steps each student is taking to walk with Christ throughout this sacred season.

^{From left to right, Edgewood Campus School students Everly Bailey (3rd grade) and Nia Jameson (7th grade) create footprints for a Lenten reflection activity.}

This month, Dominican Veritas Ministries celebrates the accomplishments of all athletic teams across our network of schools. We recognize students-athletes for their hard work, dedication, and team commitment as well as the parents, guardians, and coaches who make it possible. DVM is proud of the athletes’ exemplary representation of school pride and the spirit of Dominican charism that they carried into every competitive arena this year–congratulations!

St. Mary’s Dominican High School Soccer Team

Wins LHSAA Division I State Championship

^{St. Mary’s Dominican High School soccer team with their LHSAA Division I State Championship trophy.}

In an unforgettable championship game, St. Mary’s Dominican High School (New Orleans, La.) battled Mt. Carmel Academy through two 10-minute overtimes, two 5-minute overtimes, and a thrilling penalty kick shootout, ultimately securing a 4-2 victory. Additionally, Dominican’s goalkeeper, Evelyn Aucoin ’28, was named the Most Outstanding Player of the game.

“The captains worked hard all season to get us back to where we’re accustomed to being, and every kid bought in. They’ve just been outstanding this year,” said Coach Al Silvas.

The determination shown on the field truly reflected the Dominican spirit. It was a hard-fought game from start to finish, and the team showed incredible perseverance throughout.

The school community continued the celebration with a spirited lunchtime parade led by cheerleaders, the band, color guard, and the Debs dance team. The event was filled with cheers, music, and Dominican pride as the school honored the team’s incredible accomplishment.

Trinity High School Blazers

Finish Third in Illinois 3A Girls’ Basketball State Tournament

^{Trinity High School basketball players, coaches, staff, and administrators with the third-place trophy at the Illinois High School Association Class 3A girls basketball state finals in Normal, Ill. on March 6.}

The Trinity Blazers (River Forest, Ill.) completed an outstanding postseason run with a third-place finish in the Illinois 3A Girls’ Basketball State Tournament.

The Blazers defeated fellow Dominican school, Fenwick High School and Glenbard South High School to reach the state tournament, then concluded their run with a 56–40 victory over St. Viator High School to claim third place.

Nearly 200 students from Trinity High School traveled to Illinois State University in Normal, Ill. to cheer on the Blazers, showing spectacular community support.

“It was an incredible game,” said Ken Trendel, Athletic Director at Trinity High School. “We led much of the way, but the final minutes were intense. To see our players stay focused, fight back, and secure our first sectional championship since 2016 was truly special.”

Edgewood High School Wins Second Consecutive WIAA Division 1 Boys Hockey State Championship

^{Edgewood High School Crusaders boys Ice Hockey team celebrate their WIAA Division 1 state championship victory.}

Edgewood High School’s (Madison, Wisc.) boys hockey team, the Crusaders, defeated Stevens Point Area Senior High 7-4 to earn their second consecutive WIAA Division 1 state championship, marking the ninth state hockey title in program history. The Crusaders finished the season with a 27-2 overall record and earned the title of Academic Champion of Division 1 – Sectional 3, boasting an impressive team GPA of 3.77.

“It is difficult to make it to the state tournament in any sport, but to win back-to-back state championships is incredible,” said Ben Voss, Athletic Director at Edgewood High School. “It takes a lot of hard work by the players and coaches to accomplish something this special. This is the ninth state boys hockey championship for Edgewood and the 83rd overall state championship for Edgewood Athletics. Edgewood Athletics is blessed to be able to compete at such a high level, and we are thankful for the opportunity.”

Join us for DVM's last Ignite Webinar of the 2025-26 School Year

What's New on the Platform?

The Dominican Educator Learning Community (DELC) connects teachers, staff, administrators, and board members of Dominican sponsored and legacy schools for exceptional professional faith formation opportunities in the Dominican, Catholic tradition.

Pray

To conclude your Holy Week, explore a 9-day Devotional: From Entrance to Empty Tomb: A journey through John 12-20, Walking with Jesus from Mission to Resurrection. Compiled by Francine Saffold, Board Member of Dominican High School (Whitefish Bay, Wisc.), it offers space for prayer, study of sacred scripture, and personal reflection.

Listen

In the 45-minute pilot episode of new DVM Podcast: The Torchbearer, three Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa––Margaret O’Brien, OP, Mary Margaret Murphy, OP, and Kathleen Phelan, OP,––explore the theme of Sacred Spaces.

Check out this project, titled Modern Preaching Translation, from Edgewood High School. In Peer Ministry class, students are invited to translate original Dominican documents into the common slang of Generation Z.

Reflect

The 50-foot statue of Dominican Friar Antonio de Montesinos stands overlooking the Caribbean Sea in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. It honors his courageous 16th-century defense of the dignity and rights of Indigenous peoples and was selected as this year’s cover image for the SPARK and IGNITE Webinar Series.

If Montesinos were standing before us today, what injustices might stir his prophetic voice? How are we being called to respond?

Study

In this short essay, Praying with the Dominicans, Sr. Margaret Palliser, OP (Sparkill) offers an introduction to Dominican life with a focus on the call to search for truth.

Dominican Veritas Ministries | www.dvmop.org | Middleborough, MA 02346 US

Unsubscribe | Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice