An Message from the Office of the President:
Happy Summer, Little Flower Students and Families!
We are so grateful for the support we received from everyone during the spring of 2020. We were very proud that the Class of 2020 received their diplomas in person with their caps and gowns on their designated graduation day, June 5, 2020. It was a personal and special moment for our graduates and their families to enjoy the Little Flower campus one last time as Little Flower students. The virtual graduation celebration, that included their Golden Girl sisters of the Class of 1970, provided for a perpetual memory of the Class of 2020 graduation. Kudos to our entire student body and their families for your collective patience, resilience, courage and grit in moving through a challenging finish to the 2019-20 school year.
While we pause to catch our breath and rejuvenate, our focus now turns to the task of safely coming back to Little Flower to resume instruction and student life, especially in the face of others who have decided that a fully online instructional option is best. Here is an update on where we are in the reopening planning:
Last Thursday we shared the Archdiocese of Philadelphia’s ‘Compass Communication Plan’ ( Compass Communication Plan) prioritizing the safe return to school of students and staff. Behind the scenes, Little Flower’s Pandemic Reopening Team (comprised of teachers, administrators, health staff, counselors, Board members and parents) has been engaging in planning to make necessary facility/equipment improvements to ensure safe access, including:
- Touchless Temperature Scans and Daily COVID Health Screenings
- Replacement of all water fountains with refillable filtration stations
- Replacement of bathroom fixtures with touchless motion-sensors
- Improvements to air flow and ventilation
- Directional signage for movement around the building that allows for social distancing
- Signage that encourages improved hygiene consistent with all CDC guidelines
- Installation of plexiglass barriers in high traffic areas and teacher workstations
- Redesign of the Cafeteria food line for social distancing and providing more grab and go products
- Increased safety procedures with regard to vending machine access
- Increased and more frequent disinfection and sanitizing of high traffic areas and classrooms
- A specialized return to athletics plan
- Investment in camera equipment in the classrooms to facilitate a hybrid return to school plan to allow for lower class sizes
- An improved safety footprint at our entrance points to ensure safe entry to the school building
Here is a link to some “Frequently Asked Questions” about our hybrid return to school plan for Fall 2020 ( PLEASE CLICK HERE).
Our new principal, Mrs. Colette Weber, is eager to meet you and your daughters and work to provide the best education possible to provide the college and career success and opportunities for social mobility that a school like Little Flower makes possible for our students. Mrs. Julie Tangradi has stepped away from her duties as Assistant Principal for Academic Affairs to return to teaching. We are excited to be welcoming Ms. Kathleen Radebaugh to the role of Assistant Principal for Academic Affairs. Ms. Radebaugh has spent the past 12 years with the School District of Philadelphia at both the high school and middle school level serving as a teacher and teaching lead.
On the student life side of the house, we will be seeing some change as well. Mrs. Mary McDonald, Assistant Principal for Student Services, announced her retirement after serving Little Flower for the past four years and the Archdiocese of Philadelphia for the past 27 years. A new position “Assistant Principal for Student Life” will prioritize the safe return of our students and staff to the school setting in Fall 2020. Accompanying this change is a shift in additional responsibilities for our beloved Campus Minister, Fr. Joseph McCaffrey, who will be adding to his responsibilities oversight of Service Learning initiatives (to help weave our mission of service through authentic opportunities within the curriculum) and directing initiatives, training, programming and discourse on topics of race and ethnicity, equality, diversity and inclusion.
This shift recognizes that in addition to the investment in physical adaptations we need to make in response to COVID-19 safety recommendations to safely bring our community together, we need to make a systemic investment in the social and emotional wellbeing of our students. This begins with structural change that will build a strong foundation for students to have voice and responsibilities to building the type of inclusive community to which Little Flower aspires. We hope this will set the foundation for our girls to fulfill our mission to celebrate diversity, 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. As members of the Little Flower community, we need to commit to taking this goal from aspirational to attainable for all.
It is critical in these turbulent times that the words in Little Flower’s mission must take on life. I am confident that this realignment of responsibilities will give our students the wide – ranging experiences that will lead to the fulfillment of their God-given potential as women who are faith – filled, college and career ready, and independent.
Please save the date for a Virtual Town Hall meeting on Thursday, August 13, 2020 at 6p.m. The Zoom Meeting Link is: https://zoom.us/j/96135144899 There will be a presentation from our staff about the most up to the minute information we have with regard to the reopening. We share with all of you that the safety – physical, spiritual, social, and emotional – of our students and staff is our highest priority. We are very proud that the Archdiocese has supported a robust investment in the changes that will be necessary to prioritize the safe return of students to our classes. The investment in human as well as physical capital is what distinguishes Little Flower from the others.
The OCE and LF Board- approved Pandemic Reopening Plan can be found HERE and also under our COVID-19 Information page.
My gratitude knows no bounds as you walk this journey with us. I ask you to remind friends who have daughters in schools who do not have the gift of a school community like Little Flower to consider Looking no Further than Little Flower for their high school education. Many have stood still. Little Flower continues to Launch Forward.
I look forward to seeing you on August 13 at 6p.m. Until then, enjoy your summer days!
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In gratitude, Jeane McNamara |
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An Introductory Message from Principal, Colette Weber: |
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As the freshly minted new Principal of Little Flower this is my first opportunity to tell you how excited I am to take on this role. I was 11 years old when I entered an all-girls high school in Manchester, England. I loved all of it: the academics, the sports, the music, the shows, the great times I had with my friends, to name a few. My teachers and coaches taught me how to work hard and to forge a purposeful life. It seems my life has come full circle so that I am now charged with doing the same for today’s girls at Little Flower.
All of us have been adjusting to the new normal of life under Covid. I know many of you were pulled in many directions as you tried to support your children in their online learning. We are working hard to ensure that the highest quality of education will be delivered by Little Flower in September. Your children have not stopped growing so we need to grow with them. They only get one high school experience; with St Thérèse’s help we are dedicated to making it the very best that it can be.
I join members of the Little Flower community as we welcome incoming freshman to the school in our BLOOM 2.0 (Building Leaders One Of Many) summer readiness program. I look forward to talking with the girls about how to succeed in an academically rigorous environment. We will unlock some of the secrets about how the brain works and what habits of mind help us flourish.
I am writing this having just spoken on the phone to Katie Lumpkin, one of Little Flower’s graduates from 1953. I got to know Katie long ago when I first started teaching in the US. She helped me through those early years in the classroom with all their joys and challenges. Little did I know back then that my journey would take me to her alma mater as the ninth Principal of this wonderful school. While I am thrilled to take on the responsibility of continuing the work of Sister Kathleen Klarich, I know that I have very big shoes to fill. Sister Kathleen and the Little Flower community could not have done more to make me feel welcome during these first few weeks.
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Freshman Acclimation Day! |
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To help you adjust to the new normal here at Little Flower we are offering an extra freshman acclimation on Monday, August 17 or Tuesday, August 18. Sign up for one day below.
Please Note: Freshman Acclimation Day is optional attendance only, but highly encouraged. Uniforms are not required for either day. However, LF gear is encouraged if you have it. The Flossie Shop will be open on both days. Snacks will be provided.
Freshman Orientation Day (The first official day for freshmen) is September 14, 2020
You can find more information and a sign-up form at the following website: Click Here
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Employment Opportunities
Little Flower is currently seeking to fill the following roles:
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Parent Ambassadors Program:
Our Enrollment effort expands far beyond the Little Flower in-house staff. Our ability to get out the good word about Little Flower relies heavily on parent-to-parent and student-to-student testimonials about their Little Flower experience.
We are looking to formally kick off a Parent Ambassadors’ program where we could rely on key individuals at key parishes/schools/community groups/workplaces to help us to sell the Little Flower narrative. If you are interested in assisting us, please contact Kristie Hughes Dugan ’92 (mother of Lindsay ’12, Maura ’19, Sarah ’21 and Meaghan ’24) at 215-970-3240 or [email protected]
Part time Nurse:
HS Resource Room Teacher:
See description and apply here
Tuition Officer:
Please see the PDF linked below for the job description; email your resume to [email protected]
See description and apply here
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Please contact [email protected] if you are interested in volunteering to help harvest the Little Flower garden.
All parents and students are welcome! Volunteer hours will be counted for CSC requirements to any student who participates.
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LF CLASS OF 2021-CLASS RINGS
Don't forget...in order to ensure that your class ring will arrive on time for the Ring Mass in October, you needed to make a $75 deposit to Josten's by the end of June!
If you didn't do so, please contact
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Keri Casey, Josten's representative, is available to answer any questions.
All deposits and payments are made directly to Josten's.
All additional payments will have to be made no later than two weeks before our Mass which is scheduled for Tuesday, October 13, 2020.
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CLASS OF 2021 - SENIOR SWEATERS |
Yay! You've made it to Senior Year! And to celebrate that accomplishment you have an opportunity to purchase an LF Senior Sweater!
Orders forms were mailed to the Class of 2021 on Tuesday, July 7.
Print the order form, or save the email and wait till school starts and print it!
The cost of the sweater is $60.25.
Your name is engraved on the right pocket and Class of 2021 is on the left pocket.
The Senior Sweater order form will be due into the Student Affairs Office by Friday, September 18, 2020. NO ORDER FORMS WILL BE COLLECTED UNTIL SCHOOL STARTS.
A line of try-on sweaters will be available in the Student Affairs Office to help you choose the correct size.
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Bloom 2.0
Summer High School Readiness Program
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Hard work and forward thinking allowed the Little Flower community to ready the school to welcome a group of incoming ninth grade students to a hybrid of virtual learning and on-campus experiences during the 2020 BLOOM 2.0 High School Readiness Program this July. Equipped with masks, thermometers, social distancing guidelines, sanitizer and disinfectant wipes at every turn, and a healthy dose of determination, Little Flower teachers and staff put together a high-quality program of academic, social and emotional experiences.
The program was designed to boost students' academic skills in small classes and bolster their confidence to help them make a smooth transition from elementary schools to the Archdiocesan High School environment. The sessions were centered around ability - appropriate high school readiness in English/Language Arts, preparation for content classes (e.g., Social Studies, Theology), preparation for STEM classes (Math, Science), and cultural acclimation to the all girls’ Catholic high school experience. Infused with this training were specific touch-points dealing with communication skills, organizational skills for high school, leadership and team building, and training in diversity and inclusion. We had several student leaders with us every day who went over and above to make the younger girls feel like they belonged.
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An extra meta-cognitive element took students into another realm of thinking through a course called Theory of Knowledge. Students were asked to reflect on how they know what they know and how they know something is true. These questions seem particularly pertinent to the many challenges facing society today.
The first day, you could tell that there was some hesitation to share or speak on camera, so the chat function and some digital brainstorming tools like padlet were used to connect and collaborate. Each day the students worked together, they became more confident and willing to speak and share their cameras. Program participants discussed and interacted with a lot of deep meaningful prompts and were able to foster some dialogue and discussion that allowed them to connect with each other and develop their relationships.
Some of the topics and activities that students participated in over the 3 days included:
- Self-Awareness and Self-Management - including how the brain processes stress and strategies to help with emotional regulation and self-care (sleep, mindfulness, prayer, and chair yoga).
- Responsible Decision Making - the focus was on ethics, leadership and advocacy. A discussion took place about the "ingredients" of a leader and highlighted/celebrated women leaders and role models. The students did a core values exercise which highlighted their 3 top core values. This dialogue opened the floor to discuss how one can utilize these values when making decisions or solving problems.
- Social Awareness and Relationship Skills - the morning focused on storytelling and cultural connections. Micro-messages and "calling in" conversations were discussed. The afternoon focused on goal setting, and setting intentions for the upcoming school year.
Part of the Bloom experience was leadership training open to all students at the school. This is the second year Little Flower has offered this experience. The program was the brainchild of Jeane McNamara, proud President of Little Flower and deftly enrolled and communicated by Kia Benjamin and Stacy Vivino in the Admissions Office. Alexis Tschanz and Laura Presser who fill many roles at the school put out the word via social media and helped every day with exercises to help the girls grow in confidence and feel authentically connected to each other. Little Flower teachers on the program were Angelica Corridoni, James Elliot, Hannah Marks and Carol Dauerbach.
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INTRODUCING Family ID
The online portal for athletic forms for all student athletes and their families!
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Family ID is a secure registration platform that provides you with an easy, user-friendly way to register for our programs , and helps us to be more administratively efficient and environmentally responsible. When you register through Family ID, the system keeps track of your information in your Family ID profile. You enter your information only once for each family member for multiple uses and multiple programs.
Any student interested in trying out for a Fall Sport must register at "FamilyID" which can be accessed through the Little Flower Website. Go to "Athletics" and "FamilyID" will pop up as an option. This must be completed before you can try out for a Fall Sport.
If you have any questions regarding this registration process for "FamilyID", please feel free to contact Adam Buchter via my email ([email protected]) or the Athletic Office (215-455-6900 EXT 1138).
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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 donation is matched dollar for dollar 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).
Please note that your donation may be directed exclusively to Little Flower.
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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.
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Little Flower's once beloved school newspaper has been reinvigorated by current students, with our freshman class leading the charge.
The paper will boast new editions on a bi-weekly basis, and it will feature articles centered on Little Flower athletics, arts, current news and events, and student life.
Please visit our website for the most recent edition of The Theresian: Click here!
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Please see the attached files for summer information from
Flynn and O'Hara
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If you are interested in participating in our uniform exchange -
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FLOSSIE SHOP
The Flossie Shop is Open and accepting orders. Delivery may be a little slower due to COVID-19, but orders are currently being filled.
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