Moving Forward... - Our Sisters` School

Moving Forward...
Our Sisters’ School Annual Report / July 1, 2013 to June 30, 2014
The mission of Our Sisters’ School is to inspire and educate middle school girls from the Greater
New Bedford area to reach their full potential in a safe, supportive and challenging environment.
Our Sisters’ School provides a quality education and welcomes girls from diverse faiths, races and cultures.
Since 2008
Letter from
Lisa Schmid Alvord,
Board President and Co-founder
OSS student, Lisa Alvord and Steve Barker,
Head of Friends Academy.
It was a historic moment in New Bedford, as the Charles W. Morgan returned to the city where it was built some 80 years ago.
The purpose of this trip however was not to bring home whale oil, but to inform the public about our maritime history. How
fitting for Our Sisters’ School, as we complete our sixth year and continue to give our students a trip similar to that of the wives of
sea captains a century ago; today our students’ voyage, however, is on the sea of knowledge.
We experienced a seamless transfer of leadership as Sarah Herman took the reins in July 2013 to steer the next leg of the School’s
voyage. Her leadership has been inspirational. As the year rolled out, Sarah infused the School with a strong sense of teamwork
and each member’s responsibility toward our community. One of the great challenges remains the instructional model which she
continues to refine and hone. Her approach toward education provides the basis for an enlightened and improved educational
experience. Under the guidance of Laurie Knight, our graduates received full scholarships from independent schools such as
Milton Academy and St. Andrew’s, while every student who applied was accepted at the Vocational School.
On the financial side, Carlene LeBlanc, Sarah and the finance committee have kept the School operating within budget and
continue to be both vigilant and creative in balancing the needs of the School within the constraints. Last year we voted to put a
portion of our monies from the Sustainability Fund into the Common Fund. By the end of May we saw an increase in that fund of
11.6 percent, a much-welcomed windfall.
It has been a year of transition as our highly competent Director of Development, Abby Magni, chose a wonderful opportunity to
further her career by taking a job at Wheaton College. Alice Flint and John Vasconcellos led the search committee to find a
well-seasoned Advancement Director. We are pleased to welcome Georgie Goulding.
Bill Prescott, Gaelen Canning and Russ Weigel put together a provocative and highly reflective retreat for board members. Under
the guidance of Larry Langford we discussed and analyzed the perceived strengths and weaknesses of the School, as well as the
challenges the School faces as it moves forward.
Three of our founding trustees are stepping off the board this year. The contributions of Kate Dabney, Gail Fortes and Helena
DaSilva Hughes have been immeasurable in building the foundation of Our Sisters’ School. Their wisdom, sound judgment and
hard work can be seen today in the success of students’ educational experiences. We have been fortunate to have such passionate
advocates for our mission.
We also welcomed Steve Barker to the board. Steve’s educational background is impressive and as Head of Friends Academy, he
brings a wealth of knowledge to the table.
In closing, I am reminded of an OSS parent who told Bernadette Souza that before attending our school her daughter was on the
wrong track, uninterested in school and bound for trouble. Today she is a motivated student at OSS and thinking about her next
educational step. One student at a time -- brick by brick, OSS continues to make a difference in the lives of our students, families
and our community.
Letter from
Sarah Herman,
Head of School
It is a joy to reflect on my first year as Head of Our Sisters’ School. It has been, and continues to be, a privilege to work
with the OSS community. Our combined efforts polish the sparkling “jewel” that OSS represents.
At our 8th grade promotion ceremony in June, I spoke about the idea that an open mind and a positive attitude can
help soothe the often-troubled waters of transition. I am grateful to all for rallying their support and ensuring a smooth
leadership transition for our continued success.
This past year was one of trust and steady progress:
• In the classrooms we looked at academic instruction, curriculum and school culture, and made challenging shifts
with the best interests of our students in mind.
• Our focus on school culture motivated us to take bold and exciting risks such as taking our 7th and 8th graders to
Driftwood Leadership Camp in early September to set the tone for the year.
• We launched a program with the Community Boating Center to put all our students into sailboats in our fall and
spring terms, where they learned about the natural environment around them, the challenges and opportunities
associated with teamwork, and their historical connection to New Bedford.
• When not in boats, all our students attended weekly science workshops led by excellent instructors at the Ocean
Explorium and deepened their understanding of their marine environment.
• Under the supervision of coaches from Facing History and Ourselves, we overhauled our humanities curriculum.
• Board members and donors were energized and volunteers were energizing.
• We had an excellent fund-raising season.
These are examples of initiatives that required unfathomable quantities of trust and cooperation from staff, students and
parents. These undertakings, along with the remarkable outcomes of our alumnae, help illustrate our steady progress
toward an evermore effective school.
This year we proudly sent our graduates to excellent local high schools and to attend fully funded top-tier independent
schools including St. Andrew’s and Milton Academy. We are so proud of all our graduates and enjoy watching them
bloom, each at a school thoughtfully selected to match their needs and interests. Naturally, we are eager to see how far
we can bring our current students as they energetically follow in the footsteps of their capable predecessors.
It is amazing to be part of a school so successfully dependent on volunteer participation: parents attend monthly
meetings and events in formidable numbers, guests do presentations as part of our Morning Speaker series, volunteer
coaches, academic tutors and language teachers bring their expertise and patience. Board members roll up their sleeves
to help with everything from fundraising to moving library shelves. I say “Thank You” all day long and mean it!
Teachers, staff and volunteers work tirelessly and I applaud and appreciate their trust and participation. OSS is living
proof of the awesome power of an all-girls learning environment. Please read the alumnae pages included in this report
and enjoy very thoughtful reflections. You too will feel that your support for the OSS mission is well-placed. If you haven’t
been by to see us recently, we certainly do hope you will sail by soon!
A tremendous thanks to committee and board members for their continued hard work and commitment to OSS and our students.
In the spirit of the Charles Morgan, sail on OSS!
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Fast Facts
Alumnae: Where are they now?
One of our
graduates is
attending Bristol
County Agricultural
High School to
follow her dream
of working with
animals.
33% of our
graduates attend
independent
schools with
full academic
scholarships.
52% of alumnae
attend vocational
schools.
33% attend independent schools
52% attend vocational schools
15% attend public schools
Bishop Stang High School* (4)
Bristol County Agricultural
High School (2)
Fairhaven High School (1)
Falmouth Academy* (1)
Lincoln School* (1)
Masters Regional Academy* (1)
Milton Academy* (1)
New Bedford Public
High School (3)
New Bedford Vocational
Technical School (24)
Old Rochester Regional
High School (1)
Phillips Academy Andover* (1)
St. Andrew’s School* (1)
St. George’s School* (1)
Tabor Academy* (2)
The Wheeler School* (2)
The Annual Attitude of Gratitude Alumnae Dinner was attended by 94% of the
alumnae on November 25, 2013.
* All graduates attending
independent schools
were awarded full
academic scholarships.
Fast Facts about OSS Alumnae
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For the first time since OSS was founded in 2008 we have ten alumnae in their senior year of high school. This memorable group graduated from OSS in June 2011. All of the girls are planning to apply to college this year.
CarolAnne Gathers is one of the best welders in her metal fabrication shop. She recently noted that as a result of her education at OSS, “I view everything as an opportunity not a problem.”
Krystal Argueta writes: “Got highest honors on my report card this quarter! Woot woot!”
2013 graduates include Trinity Monteiro at Tabor Academy, and Shaelyn Yopp at Falmouth Academy. Both enjoy rigorous academics and bring diversity to their schools. Trinity is on the dance team, participates in drama productions and has started a poetry club. Shaelyn plays basketball and volunteers with the admissions office.
Ronnie Mak joins her sister at Wheeler, performing in the bell choir. They traveled to Colorado to perform last year.
When asked how OSS has contributed to their success, one replied, “I look at everything with a positive outlook.” Another said, “OSS taught me how to manage my time so I can study and socialize.”
Elena Bartolomey, Jael Costa, Kaylee Pereira, and Taeya DaSilva all commented recently that they felt very well-prepared for the academics at Voc-Tech. “OSS helped me have a better understanding” and that is why school seems easy, one
freshman commented.
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Our thanks go to our many volunteers:
Board of Trustees
Admissions Committee
Advancement Committee
Advisory Council
Sarah Aikman
Ann Alexander
Lisa Schmid Alvord
Joel Alvord
Chris Ash
Talbot Baker Jr.
Christine Baldwin
Steve Barker
Laurie Barrett
Chrissie Bascom
DeeDee Bentley
Esperanza Berube
Jan Bichsel
Wendy Bidstrup
Claudette Blake
Joan Blanchard
Mary Jean Blasdale
Alison Coolidge Boreiko
Alison Jane Boreiko
Tom Boreiko
Alexander Borges
Jackie Bousquet
Marybeth Boyd
Gaelen Canning
Peter Canning
Josina Cardoso
Kim Chan
Samantha Chan
Beng Chen
Renee Chen
Yul-Mi Choi
Melissa Cieto
Diene Conde
Jane Coolidge
Maria Cortez-Lopez ‘13
Samuel Cox
Victoria Croll
Crystal Cruz
Kelsey Cruz
Robert Currie
Megan Cuthbert
Kate Dabney
Bethany Daniels
Jim Davidson
Allie Dawson
Devan DePhillips
Linda DePina
Shelby Densman
Tuesday Desrochers
Lauren Doyle-Grant
Fatima Doumbouya
Alicia Duff
Vicky Dukes
Katelyn Dunn
Nyjah Eastman ‘13
David Ehrens
Betty Fabian
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Finance Committee
Governance Committee
Personnel Committee
Andre Faucher
Linda Fenton
Barbara Ferri
Cyndy Fish
Alice Flint
Jon Flint
Carol Flock-Abaya
Isabelle Fonseca ‘17
Kiana Fonseca ‘13
Tiffany Fontaine
Stewart Forbes
Albert Fortes
Gail Fortes
Kim Francis
Vanessa Franklin
Hannah Freedman
Stanna Freeman ‘12
Jill French
Robert Gallo
Carolann Gathers ‘12
Lynea Gilreath ‘13
Edward Goldberg
Pat Gomes
Adam Goncalves
Jaryneth Gonzalez ‘13
Maude Gorman
Rose Grant
Nancy Griswold
Reilly Harring
Ann Healy
Gabrielle Healy
Jan Hess
Bunny Hickey
Linda Hobbs
PA Holmstrum
Nonnie Hood
Tucker Hood
Leslie Howard
Felicity Hoyt
Elizabeth Huidekoper
Peter Huidekoper
Marybeth Hunsche
Genevieve Hunt
Milford James
Jane Jansen
Donna Jeffers
David Johnson
Darlene Jordan
Gerald Jordan
Marlene Kalisz
Richard Kane
Chan Kang
Andrea Keene
Judy Kennedy
Priscilla Kennedy
William Kennedy
Steve Kiechel
Student Success Committee
Sustainability Committee
Teacher Recruitment/Retention Committee
Rachel Kim
James Knight
Katherine Knowles
Nancy Kurtz
Beth Ladd
Amethyst Lambert
Gig Lang
Edith Lauderdale
Laurie Robinson Laurant
Sarah Lavalette
Melissa Leveque
Renee Levesque
Mali Lim
Lloyd Center for the Environment
Per Lofberg
Dawn Lopes
Doreen Lopes
Lisa Lunt
Jean MacCormack
Conor MacDonald
Madeleine Machado
Abby Magni
Carissa Mak
Helen Marque
Lucinda Martin
Chrissie Massoud
Peg McGetrick
Madeline McGuire
James McNamee
Cindy Medine
Rose Mendoza
Fran Milotte
Athena Mola
Ciara Monteiro
Trinity Monteiro ‘13
Liz Moorhead
Teresa Mozaz
Michelle Nghiem
Julienne Ngongang
Walter Nichols
Joan O’Brien
Jonathan O’Brien
Lauren O’Brien
Jesely Ortiz ‘13
Amy Park
Zachary Paul
Michael Penna
Celeste Penney
Christy Pennoyer
Kayla Perez ‘13
Susan Perry
Eve Pierce
Maria Pinarreta
Jocelina Pires
David Prentiss
Bill Prescott
Uté Prevost
Jane Pucello
John Quirk
Jessica Rice
Alexander Richards
Deborah Robbins
Catherine Roberts
Margarida Rosa
Bernard Roth
Dalymar Ruiz ‘12
Kate Schmitt
Gale Schultz
Maryellen Shachoy
Judy Shore-Stone
Ann Silva
Claudia Soares
Nina Sousa
Jewel Souto ‘13
Bernadette Souza
Bonnie Stapleton
Shoshanna Stern
Catherine Stone
Margot Stone
June Strunk
Martha Sullivan
Louise Sylvester
Tabor Academy
Tampson Tavares ‘12
Terri Taylor
Grace Tenoteo
Megan Thomas
Kelsey Thornton
Marybeth Timberlake
Joann Tschaen
Wendy Tse
Sean Twoomey
Robert Unger
Alfred Vargas
John Vasconcellos
Tammy Vieira
Peggy Vollmer
Marion Wainer
Marge Waite
Rhianna Waterman
Zachary Waxler
Judith Wayss
Karl Wayss
Russ Weigel
Sylvia Westphal
Pamela Whipple
Amanda White
Elizabeth White
Nancy White
Laurie Wilczek
Victoria Wood
Sarah Wotka
Cinthia Yoken
Gifts-In-Kind
OSS gratefully accepts donations in many forms. Your generosity
enhances the educational experience for our girls. Thank You.
Christina Ackah
Stacey & Jay Avila
Luis Bartolomey
Bay Club at Mattapoisett
Jacqueline & John Beauregard
DeeDee Bentley
Wendy & Larry Bidstrup
Joan Blanchard
Jose Borges Jr.
David Cornell Fishing Charters
Jenna Costa
CVS Caremark Charitable Trust
Dartmouth Public Schools
Falmouth Academy
Mark Fermino Kim Francis & Carlos Cardoso
Friends Academy
Kim & Buzz Goddard
Great Hill Blue Cheese
Suzan Greenup
Nancy Griswold
Sarah Herman
Janice Hess
Nancy & Waldo Howland Lauren & Jamie Knight
Larry Langford
Lisa Lebreut
Paul Leconte
Lees Supermarket
Liberty Square Asset Management
Lockheed Martin Sippican, Inc.
Dawn Lopes
Lynne & John Markey
Arlene & James McNamee
Kelli McSweeny
Teresa Mozaz
New Bedford Symphony Orchestra
Noquochoke Orchards
Not Your Average Joe’s
June Pina
Mia Pina Suzanne & William Prescott
Quansett Nurseries, Inc.
Reynolds DeWalt
Eleanor & Bernard Roth
Gale Schultz
Sue Smith
John Stewart
June Strunk
Megan Thomas
Blair Tracy
Sid Wainer & Son
Marge Waite & Neal Weiss
Cynthia & Mel Yoken
Bob Zeida
New Bedford Police Department
New Bedford Public Schools
New Bedford Symphony Orchestra
New Bedford Whaling Museum
Ocean Explorium at New Bedford Seaport
Office of Bristol County District Attorney
Rotch-Jones-Duff House and Garden Museum
South Coast Serves
Summerbridge
Breakthrough Collaborative at
Wheeler School
Tabor Academy
Tifereth Israel Synagogue
Trips For Kids
UMass Dartmouth
United Way of Greater
New Bedford
Sid Wainer & Son
Women’s Fund of the Community Foundation of Southeastern MA
Working Waterfront Festival
YWCA Southeastern MA
Zeiterion Performing Arts Center
Community Partners
Alma del Mar Charter School
Baker Books
Bishop Stang High School
Boys & Girls Club of Greater New Bedford
Bristol Community College
Buttonwood Park Zoological Society
Child & Family Services, Inc.
Community Boating Center, Inc.
Community Foundation of Southeastern MA
Cuttyhunk Ferry Company
CVS Caremark Charitable Trust
Dartmouth Public Schools
Friends Academy
GiftsToGive, Inc.
Global Learning Charter Public School
Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical High School
Immigrants Assistance Center, Inc.
Junior Achievement of Southern MA
Lloyd Center for the Environment
Marion Institute
Nativity Preparatory School
of New Bedford
New Bedford Historical Society
New Bedford Jewish Convalescent Home, Inc.
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OUR DEEPEST THANKS TO ALL SUPPORTERS WHO BELIEVE IN OUR SCHOOL, STUDENTS,
COMMUNITY AND OUR MISSION WHO CONTRIBUTED IN JULY 1, 2013 TO JUNE 30, 2014.
Anonymous (8)
13 Striper Club
Christina & Charles Ackah
Margaret & Robert Ackerman
Paul Alasso
Meg & David Albert
Anne & Charles Alexander
Ned Almeida
Anne Almy
Lisa Schmid Alvord & Joel Alvord
Sara & Seth Alvord
Anchor Capital Advisors
Adelia & N.E. Andrade
Christine & Brian Araujo
Richard Armstrong
Trish & Chris Arnold
Connie Bacon & Jim Bevilacqua
Margaret Bacon & John McCarthy
Bad Robot Productions
Talbot Baker Jr.
Christine & Christopher Baldwin
Margherita & Michael Baldwin
Priscilla Ballou
Maria & Witt Barlow
Laurie & David Barrett
Nancy Barrett
Christina & Charles Bascom
Diane & Joseph Battaglia
Marguerite & Charles Beckman
Russell Beede
Gertraude & John Bergland
Wendy & Larry Bidstrup
Jeanne Bird
Claudette Blake
Joan Blanchard
Mary Jean & William Blasdale
Julie & Todd Boes
Alison Coolidge Boreiko & Tom Boreiko
Boutique Fitness
Nancy & Jack Braitmayer
Nannette & William Braucher
Bristol County District Attorney’s Office
Bristol County Savings Charitable Foundation, Inc.
Bridgit Bruce
BTF Enterprises
William C. Bullitt Foundation
Gertrude Burr
Butler’s Hole Fund
Glenda & Jose Cabrera
Gaelen & Peter Canning
Patrick Carney Foundation
Cynthia & Truman Casner
Theresa & John Cederholm
Po Kin & Po Yam Chan
Harry Chapin Foundation
Katherine Chapman & Tom Stemberg
Elaine & Paul Chervinsky
CHT Foundation
Suzanne Church
Janet & Bill Coleman
Community Foundation of Southeastern Massachusetts
Acushnet Foundation Fund
James Arnold Fund, Inc.
Louis Silverstein Family Fund
Congregational Church of South Dartmouth
Sheila Powers Converse
Mary & Sackett Cook
Jane Coolidge
Lindsay & Charles Coolidge
Mary Coolidge & Daughters
Nancy Corkery
Nancy & David Corkery with Braitmayer Foundation
Jenna Costa
Melissa Costa
Elizabeth Coxe & David Forney
Loretto & Dwight Crane
Joan & Prescott Crocker
Croll Foundation Trust
Edwina & James Cronin
Marian & Michael Cronin
Nancy & Catherine Crosby
Cruz Family
Victoria & Robert Cunningham
Michelle Cupid
Molly & Chris Cutler
CVS Caremark Charitable Trust
CVS Caremark Charity Classic
Kate & Fred Dabney
Susannah & Donald Danforth
Helen & Les De Groot
Dean Ross Home
Dennis Degrazia
John H. Deknatel Family Fund
Linda DePina
Junie Desire
Tommie & Jack Desmond
Toby & Peter DeWalt
Heather Dextradeur
Kim Dickinson
Carol & James Dildine
Kathryn Dinneen
DirectIt
Joseph Doggett
Pam Donnelly & Timothy Mahoney
Elizabeth & Philip Douglas
Molly & Winthrop Dow
Kathryn & Ian Duff
C. C. Dyer
Jeanne & Breck Eagle
Carol Eckstein
Enable Hope Foundation with Deborah & Ben Baker
Pamela Evans & Ainslee Brown
Annette Ewing
Julie & Paul Fay
Linda & Peter Fenton
Barbara & Paul Ferri
Yolanda Fields
Laurie Findlay
Linda & Charles Findlay
Ellanor & Matthew Fink Fund
Margaret Finn & Thomas Getz
Janet & Jim Fitzgibbons
Alice & Jon Flint
Deedee & Stewart Forbes
Sarah & Charlie Forbes
Tina Ford
Jean Fordyce
Edith Forrester
Lyn & Steven Fors
Vicki Fowler & John Kelleher
Jennifer & Peter Francis
Kim Francis & Carlos Cardoso
Francine & Robert French
Please accept our apologies! Every effort has been made to make this donor report complete and correct.
Please let us know of any errors we missed by calling OSS at 508-994-1255.
Thank you.
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*deceased
Jill & Thomas French
Elise Frick & Jack Garraty
Frisbie Family Foundation
Samuel Fuller
Susan & Wayne Furtado
Robert & Briana Gallo
Garden Club of Buzzards Bay
Dorothy & Seth Garfield
Natalie & John Garfield
Sarah Garraty & Jeffrey Kerr
Debra Gayle & Mike Malone
Suzanne & George Gebelein
Paul Georgadarellis
Daniel Gerrity
Gidwitz Family Foundation
Barbara & Milton Glicksman
Edward Goldberg
Patricia Gomes
Kristina Gonsalves
Cheryl & Charles Gorfinkle
Beth & Charles Gormley
Cindy & Stephen Gormley
Vicki & Tom Graboys
Graham Family Foundation
Irene Graham & Mike Davis
Rose Grant
Hannelore & Jeremy Grantham
Jennifer & Rupert Grantham
Abby & David Gray
Elaine & Bob Gray
Gerry & Sam Gray
Suzan Greenup
E. Jamison Gregory
Marjorie & Nick Greville
Sue & Gary Grosart
Julia & Seymour Gross Foundation
Linda & Richard Gurnon
Ann & John Hall
Myrna & Howard* Hall
Devens Hamlen
Cindy Hartigan
Sally & Mark Harty
Corbin & John Harwood
Carla Hatfield
Jennifer & Derek Hausladen
Mary Ann & Stephen Hayes
Ann Healy
Susan Heide
Jenny Henderson
Taylece Henderson
Julie & Bayard Henry
Judy & Ted Herlihy
Penny & Michael Herlihy
Peter Herman
Sarah Herman
Sandra & Bill Hewitt
Barbara & Will Hickey
Lucille & William Hicks
Polly & Prentiss Higgins
Julie & Jordan Hitch
Cela & Matthew Hobbs
Linda & Fritz Hobbs
Jane Hoey
Elissa & Bill Holmes
Joanna & Fred Hood
Laurie & George Host
Leslie & Jack Howard
Helena DaSilva Hughes
Jim & Bess Hughes Fund
Heidi & Arthur Huguley III
Collette & Henry Huidekoper
Elizabeth Huidekoper
Hunt Alternatives Fund
Island Foundation, Inc.
Richard G. Jacobus Family Foundation, Inc.
Donna Jeffers
Hobby & David Jeffrey
Dorothy Jenkins
Nancy & Greg Johnson
Ruth & Michael Jolliffe
Louisa and Jeremiah Jones
Gerald R. Jordan Foundation
Ellie Kai, Inc.
Rabbi Raphael Kanter
Leonard & Hilda Kaplan Charitable Foundation
Edie & Ham Kean
Andrea & Henry Keene
Fran & Will Keene
Betsy & Rusty Kellogg
Mary Ellen Kennedy
Priscilla & William Kennedy
Mona & Robert Ketcham
Ruth & Antoine Kheir
Julia & Stephen Kiechel
Gertrude Kingery
Anne Kippe
Jackie & Dieter Klein
Lauren & Jamie Knight
Leslie & Bourne Knowles
Deborah Kovacs & Nicholas Sullivan
Diane Krejsa & Peter Levy
Kurtz Family Fund
Elizabeth & Robert Ladd
Ladera Foundation
Linda & Robert Lane
Edith Lauderdale
Marijean & Randy Lauderdale
Betsy Lawrence
George Lawrence
Joan & William Lawrence
John Lawrence
Mary Ellen Lawrence
Patricia & Robert Lawrence
Anne & James Layton
Carlene LeBlanc
Mary Ellen Hawes Lees
Debra & Norman Letendre
Fran & Clinton Levin
Kathleen & Melvin Levine
Allan Levy
Mali Lim
Soraia Lima
Elizabeth Lindsay
Catherine Logue
Darci Lopes
Doreen & Luis Lopes
Kaya & Lindy Lopes
Jane & Stephen Lorch
Michael Lowenthal
Ludes Family Foundation
MaryBeth & David MacBain
Jean MacCormack
Lloyd Macdonald
Dora & Peter Macdonald
Abigail & Michael Magni
Christopher Magni
Maurice & Anne Makepeace Family Foundation
Marion Manchester
Gayle & Roger Mandle
Beth & Carmine Martignetti
Cindy Martin
David & Maria Martin
Sharon & John Martin
Massachusetts Cultural Council
Big Yellow School Bus Grant
Katy Mastrocola
Holly & Joe McDonough
David McElroy Family Fund
Margaret McGetrick
Barbara McManus & Anne Hurlbut
Elizabeth & Wallace McMeel
Margaret McSweeney
Susan & Kirtland Mead
*deceased
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Kristen Mendes
Rose Mendoza
Katharine Merck
Meriz, Inc.
Charlotte Metcalf
Miller-Havens Fine Arts Studio
Donna & James Moody
Lucy & Ward Mooney
Kristen Morgan
Faith & Richard Morningstar
Carol & Robert* Morrison
Leslia & William Morrison
Teresa Mozaz
Nau Family Charitable Fund
Carol Nelson
New Bedford Cultural Council-PASS Grant
New Bedford Half Marathon
Walter & Helga Nichols
Chip & Bill Notman
Joan & Jonathan O’Brien
OSS Alumnae
Carol & Robert Osteen
Linda & Louis Othote
Jane & Neil Pappalardo
Hillary Parker
Margaret Parker Fund
Mary Parker
Ann Parson
Betsy Pattullo & Greg Torres
Maja Paumgerten & John Parker
Celeste & Jack Penney
Tracy Pennoyer
Erin & Darren Pereira
Maura & William Perkins
Millie & Dick Perkins
Polly & George Perkins
Laura & Frank Perrine
Rebecca Perry
Sue & Daniel Perry
Eleanor & Richard Phillips
Eve & Leo Pierce
June Pina
Emily & John Pinheiro
Renia & Charles Platt
Taylor Polites
Roberta Polk
Alexis & William Popik
Mimi Powell
Linda Poyant & Frank Busnengo
Alexandra & Robert Pozzo
David Prentiss
Betty Prescott
Suzanne & William Prescott
Uté & Patrick Prevost
Laura Price
Cynthia & Jerry Pyle
Ana Raposo
Katelyn Rapoza
Cynthia Redel & Mike Esposito
9
*deceased
John Reidy
Barbara & Frank Resnek
Baldwin Reyering Family
John Ribeiro
Alice Rice & Mark Perkins
Sandy & Jim Righter
Judith & Robert Riordan
James O. Robbins Family Charitable Lead Annuity Trust
Cathy & Henry Roberts
Roberts Family Charitable Trust
Angie & Nuno Robinson
Linda & Hays Rockwell
William Rogerson
Andrea Rose-Wheatley
Carolyn & Jim Rubenstein
Gale Runnells
Barbara Samuels
Blanca Santiago
Susan Sargent & Tom Peters
Susan Schlesinger
Tina & Paul Schmid
Kate & Tom Schmitt
Cantor Nathaniel Schudrich
Sea Breeze Foundation
Seacoast Construction Group
Laura & Jamey Shachoy
Norman & MaryEllen Sullivan Shachoy Fund
Frima & Gil Shapiro
Jane Shapleigh
Dorothy & William Shattuck
Wendy Shattuck & Sam Plimpton
Gale Shultz
Sue & Calvin Siegal
Joyce & Albert Signorella
Lina & Artur Silva
Shana Silva
Sloane & Wick Simmons
Betsy & Paul Sittenfeld
Barbara & Tom Slaight
Eva Sommaripa
Southern Mass Credit Union
Bernadette Souza
Genevieve & Steven Spiegel
Sarah & Andrew Spongberg
John Spooner
Deborah & John Spring
St. Andrew’s By-The-Sea
St. Philip’s Academy
Jane Ross Stankiewicz
Robert J. & Bonnie M. Stapleton Fund
Nan Starr & Philip Marshall
Alice & Geoffrey Stengel
Fredericka & Howard Stevenson
Trina & Newcomb Stillwell
Anne Stone
Cathy Stone
Lisa & Gregg Stone
Margot Stone
Tina & Tim Stone
June Strunk
Kathy Stykowski
Martha & Michael Sullivan
Tessa Sylvia
Angelina & Brent Tavares
Angie & Nuno Tavares
Carol Taylor & John Deknatel
Joan Thompson
Robert Thompson
Pamela & Renke Thye
Joan & Ed Tiffany
Patricia Tocci
Maryse & Charles Toomey
Sharon Torruella
TownWear by BER, Inc.
Pam & Charlie Trippe
Jennifer Trivedi
Helen & Walter Trumbell
Dora & Arthur Ullian
Joan Underwood
Robert Unger
Dagmar & George Unhoch
Upstream Foundation
Sallie & Alexander Van Rensselaer
Angela Vasconcellos
John Vasconcellos & Bill Barr
Kristy Verissimo
Annick & Eliot Wadsworth
Marion & Henry Wainer
Marge Waite & Neal Weiss
Jane & Robert Walker
Stephanie & Jonathan Warburg
Elizabeth Waring
Mallory & John Waterman
Susan & Keith Watson with Alfred Watson Foundation
Wattles Family Charitable Trust Fund
Mary Wayss
Anne & Richard Webb
Happy & Henley Webb
Webster Bank
Jane & Russ Weigel
Christie & Chris West
Sylvia & Christoph Westphal
Anne & Alexander White
Elizabeth & Benjamin White
Katherine & Chris White
Anne Whiting
Anne & Jeremy Whitney
Katherine Whitten
Michael Wick
Victoria Wood
Mardee & John Xifaras
Jaime Yates
Lisa Yates
Eusie & Tony Zane
Virginia & Peter Ziobro
OSS Financial Summary
Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, community partners and friends,
Our Sisters’ School has stayed the course throughout Fiscal Year 2014. We
invested 86 percent of dollars-raised directly into our program expenses. We
thank each of you for your dedication to our school, community and program.
As the OSS voyage proceeds, we are committed to giving our students the
promise of a full four-year education at the School. Toward that end, we have
been fortunate this year to be able to grow our Sustainability Fund… all thanks
to the loyalty and generosity of every one of you.
What WE SPENT:
Program Expenses: 86%
General Administration: 8%
Fundraising: 6%
“Our Sisters’ School
has taught me a great
deal about how to
make a difference
in the community
whether it’s through
community service
or creating art in
any shape or form.”
Meaghan ‘14, student
at Fairhaven High
School
What WE RAISED:
Individuals: 75%
Foundations: 24%
OSS families: 1%
Funds raised over our fiscal budget are designated to our Sustainability Fund
to ensure the long-term viability of the School.
10
Looking Ahead – School Year 2014-2015
Building on the wonderful results of last year, we’re off to a great start with the first
term already complete, and 2014-2015 promises to be another strong year.
Chromebooks are here
In September 2013, we began a campaign to upgrade our school-wide technology
resources. Thanks to our wonderful donors, every student now can work on a
Chromebook! This has already proven to be a great asset to the girls for all facets of
their learning experience.
New staff members
Georgiana Goulding joined OSS as Director of Advancement. After a 20-year
corporate career in New York City, Georgie opted for the non-profit world. She did
development work at a Connecticut social services agency, The Hotchkiss School
and at UMass Dartmouth.
Dawn Lopes and Victoria Wood made the transition from dedicated volunteers last
year to AmeriCorps Volunteers. Ms. Lopes teaches Creative Writing and manages the
Science Out Of The Classroom Activities. Ms. Wood teaches all sections of Health
and will coordinate the fitness and wellness programs. Both teach world languages
and participate in many other activities.
Viennia Lopes-Booth leads the math department this year. She’s a graduate of Ithaca
College and taught at the Wheeler School for several years where she also coached
field hockey.
John Sargent hails from Connecticut and New York. He is a seasoned history
teacher at both the middle and secondary school levels. He has experience as
a writer as well. He leads our Humanities Team and coaches tennis and public
speaking. He and Elena Maker, another new teacher in the Humanities Department,
both attended Brown University. Ms. Maker teaches public speaking, and coaches
soccer and other sports.
Full STEAM Ahead with New Classes
Turning raw ideas and raw materials into finished works...Transforming thoughts and
feelings into words and poems...Conveying information and authority with voices
and gestures. As part of our ongoing effort to expand the educational horizons of
OSS students, we have added three new courses to the curriculum for the 2014-2015
school year: Construction, Creative Writing, and Stand & Deliver.
Creative Writing is an important part of our curriculum. Dawn Lopes, a spoken word
artist, is teaching this course with a focus on performance poetry. She is encouraging
her students to express themselves in a freer and more personal voice than they
would use for expository or critical writing in history or English.
Stand & Deliver is our new public speaking course. Students practice oral
presentations and are guided through the practice of giving and receiving
constructive criticism. At the end of each semester, one student from each grade will
deliver a team presentation on a topic that has been researched and presented during
those months. Elena Maker, Victoria Wood and John Sargent teach this class.
Media Technology Internship for OSS Alum
High School Junior Jaeliana Ortega has been offered an unpaid internship at Our
Sisters’ School to assist with media technology. She is in the information technology
shop at Voc-Tech and will be able to apply her skills in this area and help OSS work on
the website upgrade.
Experiential Learning: OSS adds Internships for Students
This year a few hard-working, consistently responsible students have the opportunity
to intern at various locations where they can learn through hands-on experiences.
Some of the organizations participating in the internship program include the New
Bedford Whaling Museum, Buttonwood Park Zoo, the YWCA, the Immigrants’
Assistance Center, and the Lloyd Center. There are currently thirteen students
participating in the internship program.
Jane Pucello, a retired math teacher from Tabor Academy, joins us as a Remediation
Specialist. Ms. Pucello has been a dedicated tutor for several years and brings
additional experience to the OSS math department.
711
Georgiana Goulding
Vicky Wood
Dawn Lopes
Viennia Lopes-Booth
Elena Maker
John Sargent
12
Board of Trustees 2013-14
Staff 2013-14
Lisa Schmid Alvord, President
Stephen Barker
Laurie Barrett
Christina Bascom
Alison Coolidge Boreiko
Gaelen Canning
Kate Dabney
Alice Flint
Gail Fortes
Kim Francis
Elizabeth Huidekoper
Doreen Lopes
Helena DaSilva Hughes
Margaret McGetrick
Susan Perry
William Prescott
Bernadette Souza
John Vasconcellos
Russell Weigel
Sarah Herman, Head of School
Laurie Knight, Secondary Schools & Student Support Services Coordinator
Elizabeth Lawrence, Volunteer Coordinator (AmeriCorps Volunteer)
Carlene LeBlanc, Business & Operations Manager
Abigail Magni, Director of Development
Blanca Santiago, Academic Administrative Assistant
Mary Wayss, Visual & Performing Arts Coordinator
Consultant
Kate Dabney, Grants
Lead & Adjunct Teachers
Kim Dickinson
Priscilla Kennedy
James McNamee
June Pina
Gale Schultz
Elizabeth White
Classroom Teachers
Jenny Henderson
Margaret McSweeny
Shana Silva
Angie Tavares
Why Our Sisters?
AmeriCorps Volunteer Teachers
Michele Cupid
Christopher Magni
Mary (Katy) Mastrocola
Katelyn Rapoza
Visual & Performing Arts Teachers
Cynthia Hartigan, Drama (AmeriCorps
Volunteer)
Thomas Short, Music
Brent Tavares, Dance
Mary Wayss, Art
During New Bedford’s storied past, it was not uncommon for young wives to join husbands
on extended whaling voyages.
These brave young women were known as “Sister Sailors” and in their way they were seeking then, on the oceans of the world,
precisely what the brave young “sisters” of New Bedford are seeking today, in the classrooms of tomorrow: to sail beyond
familiar horizons, into unknown oceans of adventure and possibility, of growth and learning and accomplishment. Our sisters
then, our sisters today, and a whole world waiting....
711
Students learn to sail during their weekly class with Community Boating. Navigating the waters of
New Bedford as a team, they apply concepts of angles, wind speed, and current.
Experiential learning is here at OSS.
Our Sisters’ School
NONPROFIT ORG
US POSTAGE PAID
NEW BEDFORD, MA
PERMIT 500
145 Brownell Ave., New Bedford, MA 02740
508-994-1255 / www.oursistersschool.org
Address Service Requested
Thank You…
for your generous support. Your gift makes everything possible for our girls.
We invite you to come tour our school, or contact Georgie Goulding, Director of Advancement, at
508.994.1255 or [email protected] to discuss the different ways that you can help Our Sisters’ School.
To continue providing opportunities and a transformative education for our students,
please make your gift today by visiting oursistersschool.org.
Save The Date!
Doris Kearns Goodwin
at River Rock Farm
Westport, MA
Sunday, July 26, 2015