2014-15 Annual Report

Excellence
Community
Citizenship
Leadership
Our Sisters’ School
2015 Annual Report
Our mission, as an independent, tuition-free, non-sectarian
middle school, is to educate and inspire economically disadvantaged girls from the New Bedford area. Our Sisters’ School
empowers girls to step into the future with valuable life skills
and a mindset of achievement and excellence by providing a
safe, supportive, and academically challenging environment.
OSS Alumnae attend
or have graduated from
the following schools:
“OSS was just the beginning, and now the
Bishop Stang High School (5)
in life. We will have to face many challenges
Bristol County Agricultural
High School (3)
City on a Hill Charter School (2)
Fairhaven High School (1)
Falmouth Academy (1)
Greater New Bedford Regional
Vocational Technical High School
(27)
real journey starts, the journey we will take
and overcome them, but we know we can do
whatever we set our minds to accomplish.”
Jordan Lopes ‘15
Lincoln School (1)
Marionapolis Preparatory School (1)
Masters Regional Academy (1)
Milton Academy (1)
New Bedford High School (5)
Old Rochester Regional High School
(1)
Phillips Academy Andover (1)
St. Andrew’s School (3)
St. George’s School (1)
Tabor Academy (3)
Wheeler School (2)
Alumnae statistics:
59 graduates from 5 classes
(2011-2015)
100% college bound
10 entering college in 2015
Class of 2015 at graduation, held at the New Bedford Whaling Museum,
on June 17, 2015.
It Takes a Community...
At Our Sisters’ School, we realize that “we are all teachers, and
we are all students.” In the spirit of this idea, we salute our first
alumnae cohort, all of whom headed off to college this fall. These
graduates and leaders inspire our community to reach for the
stars. We couldn’t be more proud of this testament to the quality
of education OSS has provided these past seven years.
We continue to strive for academic excellence and to provide
authentic learning opportunities that truly engage and inspire our
students. Our faculty remains a combination of seasoned teachers
and budding AmeriCorps teachers. While our mission is to educate young women, we provide on-going support and training
for our enthusiastic and passionate young teachers. Volunteerism
remains the backbone of Our Sisters’ School, a true community
effort.
Sarah Herman
With each school year we learn more about the strengths, needs
and realities of our students. After careful review, we recognize
that our past and continued success is due, in great part, to our
focus on teaching and developing the fundamental values of Excellence, Community, Citizenship, and Leadership. The following
report illustrates our most recent initiatives to build a school that
cultivates these values in our students.
A handful of key individuals who have helped us along the
way are transitioning off the board (but not going too far afield).
We will miss our founding trustees Chrissie Bascom, Gaelen
Canning, Doreen Lopes and Bill Prescott. As they step down,
and we say goodbye to Maria Mojica, we are fortunate to welcome Linda Fenton, Per Lofberg, Jocelina Pires, Abbey Spargo,
Martha Sullivan, Bob Unger, and for a return term, Helena
DaSilva Hughes and Gail Fortes. As our school moves into its
eighth school year we welcome Alison Coolidge Boreiko as
Co-chair of the board.
Lisa Schmid Alvord
On behalf of the entire OSS community, we thank you for joining
our efforts to continue building our beloved school.
Sincerely,
Sarah Herman
Head of School
Lisa Schmid Alvord
Board Chair and Co-founder
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Core Values
A
s a tuition-free independent middle school
for economically disadvantaged girls, it
is central to our purpose to provide a
strong academic foundation. Yet that is just a
starting point for us. Our true purpose is to
equip our students with the foundation they
need to pursue higher educations, achieve their
dreams and help build their communities!
For that, we know, they also need healthy selfesteem, unfettered aspiration, and resilient
determination. This is our work. We are guided
by the following four core values:
“It isn’t a coincidence
that OSS is a middle school.
Pre-adolescence is the best
time to teach life-long lessons,
and OSS is able to cultivate
those values in us, and to use
the best in each of us to teach
us how to learn, and how to
teach others.”
Eva Watts‐Pine ‘15
2
Excellence
Excellence is achieving
mastery, one step at a time.
Excellence is both the pinnacle and the
foundation of our journey. It is what we
want to achieve, and how we achieve it,
step-by-step. At OSS, we promote excellence through what we call our “ABCs”–
clear, compelling, uncompromising
standards for Academic, Behavioral,
and Community performance. We also
cultivate excellence through a focus on
“Deeper Learning” competencies such
as critical thinking, problem solving,
effective communication and collaboration.
Anchored by a student-centered philosophy, our belief is that excellence
requires each student to have a voice
in her learning and to find meaning in
her work. Our teaching strategies are
designed to maximize the classroom
learning experience, leveraging handson activities, cooperative learning
and individualized expressive tasks
to achieve conceptual understanding
of skills. While addressing academics
skills and standards, we teach students
to learn how to learn, self-manage, and
self-assess.
When students graduate from OSS, we
know they are stepping into the future
with valuable skills, tools, and a mindset
of achievement and excellence.
We strive for excellence in all that we
do, academically, behaviorally and interpersonally.
We teach a “growth mindset” encouraging perseverance and resilience.
“I know it takes multiple drafts to get a
final product that I’m really proud of.”
Community
Citizenship
Leadership
Community is at the heart
of why we’re here.
Citizenship is lending a hand
to do what needs to be done.
Leadership is seeing, showing,
and paving a better way.
OSS was founded by a team of community-minded citizens who chose to
invest in the economically disadvantaged girls of New Bedford. They know
that helping middle school girls realize
their potential creates a ripple effect
of benefits–raising local achievement
levels, elevating standards and expectations, and improving prospects across
the community.
In addition to academic aspirations,
OSS promotes citizenship values such as
honesty, integrity, empathy, respect for
others, diversity, and community service. Citizenship reflects our students’
deep sense of responsibility. They know
what needs to be done, and they do it.
If we could, we would offer a classroom
seat to every middle school girl in our
area who wants to attend. However,
limitations require us to prioritize and
select among applicants. In addition to
passing literacy and math assessments,
successful candidates possess what we
call the “eye of the tiger.” By that we
mean they convey a focused determination and an attentive eagerness. They see
promise in the future and have passion
for what they and others can achieve.
As an all-girls school, ineligible for state
funding, we rely on our community’s
generous support to carry on our work.
The community sustains us in other
ways as well, populating our executive
board, providing academic coaching,
leading clubs and sports–all on a volunteer basis. Our community ties are
also strengthened by partnerships with
parents and families and by our alliances with other area nonprofits.
We depend on volunteer participation
and we teach our students to contribute
back.
Internships and enrichment programs
with community organizations such
as Trips for Kids and the Community
Boating Center weave school and community life together.
Morning Speakers connect our students
with professional worlds through presentations from community members
twice a week.
“I love CBC because we learn to sail, we
spend time on the water–our water–and
it makes science class more interesting.”
Our students know that their community values them, and they return this
generous spirit through the third of our
four core values: Citizenship.
Whether it is serving as a mentor or
advocate, interning at a local organization, or participating in our “Spread the
Love” Club, our students gain confidence, experience, and inspiration by
giving back. Having regular opportunities to share their gifts with others helps
students further develop and strengthen
these gifts. They become active members of their community, responsible
citizens, and role models for others.
Every student’s family contributes at
least 15 hours a year helping in the
school.
Each student engages in over 10 hours
of service yearly in our community and
as they grow older and more capable,
they increase their hours.
Spread the Love is a popular club that
allows students to engage further in
service learning.
“On MLK day so many OSS girls were
volunteering at GiftsToGive that I took an
interest in the school and after learning
more about this incredible school, I accepted a job as a teacher.”
During their time at OSS, our students
are empowered by a “growth mindset”
that links success to their own aspirations, through effort and courage. Students learn that acting with confidence
is how we build confidence; it’s how we
learn, grow, and succeed. As leaders, our
students take responsibility for gaining
the skills and experiences that the pursuit of their dreams will require.
Students practice the power of being an
“upstander.”
Students build the confidence to say “the
unpopular thing,” in a kind way.
Students confidently role model striving
for personal and academic excellence.
Leadership development is an intentional part of our curriculum.
“I think ‘leadership’ means believing that
I can make a difference.”
This commitment to Citizenship creates
a strong foundation for our fourth core
value: Leadership.
3
Excellence
Pursuing Excellence:
At OSS, we strive for excellence in all
arenas. Students and teachers alike,
we work our hardest to be leaders
for positivity, thoughtful community
members, and to produce the highest
quality academic work we can muster.
As we reach for these lofty goals, we
are energized by our Community Core
Advisory program, and our appreciation for what researchers Costa and
Kallick refer to as “Habits of Mind.”
During Community Core Advisory
meetings on Mondays and Fridays,
students and teachers meet in small
groups to prepare for and reflect on the
week. Using carefully designed lesson
plans as a guide, conversations about
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school work and peer relationships
support student and staff efforts to
reach for excellence. Initiative games
create group dynamic scenarios to debrief, and informal chats allow groups
to explore deeper feelings about leadership, community and academics.
Thinking about Thinking, Thinking
Interdependently, Persisting, and Striving for Accuracy are examples of the
Habits of Mind we reference in our
pursuit of excellence during Advisory
conversations and in our classrooms.
When mental exhaustion begins to
cloud our work, we invoke the power
of persistence and accuracy. When
doing group work, we consciously
recognize the challenges, and focus
on the advantages of thinking interdependently. When problem solving
and bumping up against walls, we
recognize the metacognitive value of
Thinking about Thinking, and attempt
to problem solve from a fresh angle.
Habits of Mind and Community
Core Advisory programming are important keys on the ring as we pursue
excellence.
“ Thank you to our teachers:
you demanded more because
you believed in us, whether
or not we wanted to... You
all constantly set the bar
high and wanted us to be as
excellent as we could be.”
Jayliana Borges ‘15
Our thanks go to our many wonderful volunteers
Board of Trustees
Admissions Committee
Advancement Committee
Advisory Council
Finance Committee
Governance Committee
Personnel Committee
Student Success Committee
Sustainability Committee
Teacher Recruitment/
Retention Committee
Community
Margaret Albert
Joel Alvord
Lisa Schmid Alvord
Sabrina Andrade
Christine Ash
Timothy Bachli
Talbot Baker, Jr.
Christine Baldwin
Stephen Barker
David Barrett
Laurie Barrett
Christina Bascom
Georgie Battaglia
Dorothy Bentley
Wendy Bidstrup
Mary Jean Blasdale
Alison Coolidge
Boreiko
Alison Jane Boreiko
Thomas Boreiko
Alexander Borges
Nancy Braitmayer
Malena Buker
Kelsey Burgo
Gaelen Canning
Peter Canning
Samantha Chan ‘11
Suzanne Church
Janie Coolidge
Maria Cortez Lopez ‘13
Diane Cramphin
Rhesa Cumberbatch
Meagan Cuthbert
Kate Dabney
Rabiet Dasher
Jennifer DeBarros
Cindy DeGrave
Liona Delva
Nate Dressel
Vicky Dukes
Nyjah Eastman
Janet Egan
David Ehrens
Betty Fabian
Andre Faucher
Linda Fenton
Agatha Fernandes
Barbara Ferri
Paul Ferri
Sophie Fierst
Cyndy Fish
Alice Flint
Kianna Fonseca ‘13
Stewart Forbes
Gail Fortes
Kim Francis
Stanna Freeman ‘12
Jill French
Susan Furtado
Carolann Gathers ‘12
Francine Gilbert
Lynea Gilreath ‘13
Phoebe Girard
Edward Goldberg
Jarynette Gonzalez ‘13
Mark Goulding
Linda Gouveia
Rose Grant
Nancy Griswold
Ann Healy
Janice Hess
Bunny Hickey
Cela Hobbs
Linda Hobbs
Matthew Hobbs
Ray Holberger
Nonnie Hood
Tucker Hood
Leslie Howard
Felicity Hoyt
Helena DaSilva
Hughes
Elizabeth Huidekoper
Roni Hyam
Donna Jeffers
Darlene Jordan
Jerry Jordan
Maureen Kalisz
Richard Kane
Judith Kennedy
William Kennedy
Julia Kiechel
Stephen Kiechel
James Knight
Wiley Knight
Nancy Kurtz
Beth Ladd
Gig Lang
Edie Lauderdale
Betsy Lawrence
Rene Levesque
Mali Lim
Mouse Lofberg
Per Lofberg
Doreen Lopes
Melanie Luperon
Jean MacCormack
Ann Macdonald
Lloyd Macdonald
Abby Magni
Carissa Mak ‘11
Ronnie Mak ‘12
Lucinda Martin
Shannon McCarthy
Margaret McGetrick
Elsa McGilvray
Madeleine McGuire
Susan Mead
Maria Mojica
Trinity Monteiro ‘13
George Alex
Morganis
Teresa Mozaz
Michelle Nghiem
Wally Nichols
Phyllis Noyes
Lisa Nunes
Joan O’Brien
Jonathan O’Brien
Justin Ogilvie
Jesely Ortiz ‘13
Michael Penna
Celeste Penney
Christy Pennoyer
Kayla Perez
Tom Peters
Daniel Perry
Susan Perry
Hoa Pham
Eve Pierce
Maria Pinarreta
Leslie Piper
Jocelina Pires
David Prentiss
William Prescott
Patrick Prevost
Ute Prevost
Jane Pucello
John Quirk
Katie Rivera
Debby Robbins
Cathy Roberts
Margarida Rosa
Sarah Rose
Dalymar Ruiz ‘12
Lisa Sands
Susan Sargent
Kate Schmitt
Gale Schultz
Maryellen Shachoy
Ann Silva
Kathleen Siplas
Joanne Soares
Jewel Suoto ‘13
Bernadette Souza
Abbey Spargo
Bonnie Stapleton
Catherine Stone
Margot Stone
June Strunk
Martha Sullivan
Virginia Sutherland
Louise Sylvester
Tabor Academy
Maya Tavares ‘14
Tampson Tavares ‘12
Sandy Tavares-Perry
Terri Taylor
Megan Thomas
Sara Thomas
Marybeth Timberlake
JoAnn Tschaen
Wendy Tse
Mary Turcotte
Bob Unger
John Vasconcellos
Leslie Vicente
Sue Vincent
Marion Wainer
Marjorie Waite
Russell Weigel
Sylvia Westphal
Amanda White
Elizabeth White
Nancy White
Marcy Wintrub
Jeannie Wolff
Cynthia Yoken
5
Citizenship
Volunteer Profile:
Tucker Hood has been an enthusiastic volunteer since OSS was founded,
donating roughly 100 hours a year to
the School’s website development and
maintenance.
What do you enjoy about OSS?
The positive attitude I see in students
and staff. I enjoy seeing kids take themselves seriously as students.
Tell us about your professional
background.
I came out of college interested in education and how it could be improved.
I explored several master’s degree
programs but decided to first get some
practical experience and went to work
for a school startup putting high school
graduates in apprenticeship programs. I
came to realize that my talent lay more
in organizing than counseling. I went
on to do other things before going to
work for a small, community bank in
New Bedford. I left to pursue an MBA
at the Wharton School of Business,
focusing on finance and accounting. I
visited California and was impressed by
the optimism and opportunity: a sense
that anything was possible. I went to
work for a San Francisco bank and was
subsequently sent to Argentina to help
set up an office. I returned to the U.S.
later on and worked for a Rhode Island
bank as a management consultant in
software product development. Tired
of traveling extensively and being away
from my family, I started designing and
building websites in 2001. My clients are
businesses and individuals from a wide
range of fields.
What advice would you offer our
students and alumnae about careers?
Have a plan, but don’t be overly bound
by it. Be prepared to take advantage of
new interests and unexpected opportunities. Find out what you are really
good at and find ways to put that talent
to work.
Would you recommend OSS for
potential volunteers?
If you believe in OSS’s mission, it is a
great place to volunteer. Your help is
needed and it is appreciated.
Leadership
Alumna Profile:
Arianna Mello ‘11 graduated
Phillips Academy in Andover, MA and
started Amherst College in 2015.
What was your impression when you
arrived at OSS and did your confidence
grow as the years passed?
All my friends went to bigger public
schools, and there would only be 30 students in the first year! All girls! So it was
really different, but definitely the right
choice! As OSS continued to grow…
more kids, more classes…the challenges
seemed to grow as well. I remember we
were writing our essays for secondary
school in the eighth grade, helping each
other, reviewing all that we had learned.
It was very exciting! The long days
helped me get ready for Andover!
What would you say if a parent asked
you “Why should I send my daughter
to OSS”?
I would say, “You can’t miss this opportunity! An independent school with
so much hands-on attention and adult
mentors looking out for you and helping
you along the way.”
What thoughts crossed your mind when
you knew that you would be going to
Andover?
6
It definitely was scary especially since I
was a little on the shy side. It was quite a
change…to a much bigger coed school
after three years of all girls. And of
course I would be boarding there…away
from home and facing a huge culture
change. So many new kids from so
many different backgrounds! But I just
knew I wanted to do it. It would be a
great adventure!
If a current OSS student asked you
about Andover, what would you say?
I would tell her that she definitely
should go if she had the opportunity. It
was a very challenging four years. Very
rigorous. But I also made some of my
very best friends there. And living in the
dorm was great, with my friends and
my counselors. It really became like my
home away from home.
If you had to list three goals for your
post-college years, what would they be?
I would hope to have narrowed my
passions a bit and be able to figure out
exactly what I want to do. From all the
experiences I had during my Andover
years—with traveling and all that—I
would definitely want travel to be part
of my future job. I would also like to be
able to give back. I know that I like to
be involved in social activism…to help
others. I will never be able to forget
where I came from. Especially OSS… I
owe it so much! And the city too. I will
always want to help make New Bedford
a better place.
Community Partners
Schools with whom we
actively partner:
Alma del Mar Charter School
Bishop Stang High School
Dartmouth Public Schools
Friends Academy
Global Learning Charter Public School
Greater New Bedford Regional
Vocational Technical High School
Nativity Preparatory School of
New Bedford
New Bedford Public Schools
Summerbridge Breakthrough
Collaborative at Wheeler School
Tabor Academy
University of Massachusetts
Dartmouth
OSS students participate
in internships and service
programming with:
Buttonwood Park Zoological Society
GiftsToGive, Inc.
Immigrant Assistance Center
Lloyd Center for the Environment
New Bedford Jewish Convalescent
Home, Inc.
New Bedford Whaling Museum
YWCA Southeastern MA
The following organizations
provide reliable service and
support to OSS:
Child and Family Services, Inc.
CVS Caremark Charitable Trust
SouthCoast Serves
United Way of Greater New Bedford
OSS students participate in
enrichment programming with:
Gifts in Kind
OSS gratefully accepts donations in many forms.
Your generosity enhances the educational experience
for our girls. Thank You.
Joseph Abboud Manufacturing
Donna Adams
Lisa Schmid Alvord & Joel Alvord
Bad Robot Productions
Carol Ann & Manly Baker
Deborah & Benjamin Baker,
Enable Hope Foundation
Angeline Baldwin & Pamela Jolin
Christina & Charles Bascom
Jacqueline & John Beauregard
Dorothy Bentley
Boston Duck Tours
Elizabeth Cady
CVS Health Foundation
D’Addario & Company
Dartmouth Public Schools
Heather Dextradeur
Driftwood Camp
Falmouth Academy
Fay’s Restaurant
FedEx Mattapoisett
Kim Francis & Carlos Cardoso
Susan & Wayne Furtado
Estate of Paul Gay
Debra Gayle & Michael Malone
Rose Grant
Janice Hess
Highland Street Foundation
Nancy & Waldo Howland
Margaret & Richard Kane
Karyne & Company Day Spa
Ilda King
Deborah Kovacs & Nicholas Sullivan
Edith Lauderdale
Elizabeth Lawrence
Mary Ellen Hawes Lees
Regina Lopes
Ruth Ann Martin
Regina McIntyre
Jocelyn Mitchell
George Morganis
Bernadette Nelson
Helga & Walter Nichols
Ocean Explorium
Roseanne & Joseph O’Connell
Partners Village Strore
June Pina
Mia Pina
Cristina Torruella Pingal
& David Pingal
Linda Poyant & Frank Busnengo
Reynolds Dewalt
Santa Foundation
Markey & Rusty Shapleigh
Deborah Shotwell
Margot Stone
Tabor Academy
Tadashi Shoji
Jeanne Tavares
Maria Tavares
Lia & Mark Thomas
Tifereth Israel Congregation
Patricia Tocci
Blair Tracy
Sean Viruet
Marjorie Waite & Neal Weiss
Mary Wayss
Elizabeth & Benjamin White
Nancy & Thomas White
YMCA Southcoast
Boys and Girls Club of Greater
New Bedford
Community Boating Center
Connecting for Change hosted by
the Marion Institute
Girl Scouts
Junior Achievement of Southern MA
New Bedford Oceanarium
Rotch-Jones-Duff House and Garden
Museum
Tifereth Israel Synagogue
Trips for Kids
Women’s Fund of the Communty
Foundation of SEMA
Zeiterion Performing Arts Center
7
Thank You
to everyone who believes in our school, students, community and our mission
July 1, 2014 – June 30, 2015
Anonymous (14)
13 Striper Club
Joseph Abboud Manufacturing
Christina Ackah
Margaret & Robert Ackerman
Bonnie & Robert Adams
Kathryn & Robert Aisenberg
Jaime & Matthew Albanese
Margaret & David Albert
Anne & Charles Alexander
Elaine Almeida
Anne Almy
Lisa Schmid Alvord & Joel
Alvord
Sara & Seth Alvord
American Association of
University Women Inc.
Anchor Capital Advisors
George Andrews II
Leslie Antonelli
Rosanne & Peter Aresty
Richard Armstrong
Patricia & Christopher
Arnold
Richard Arthur
Avery Dennison
Anne & Gregory Avis
Connie Bacon & James
Bevilacqua
Margaret Bacon & John
McCarthy
Deborah & Benjamin Baker,
Enable Hope Foundation
Talbot Baker, Jr.
Margot Balboni
Margherita & Michael
Baldwin
Priscilla & Tod Ballou
Family
Corrine Baptista
Stephen Barker
Maria and Witt Barlow
Laurie & David Barrett
Nancy & Kevin Barrett
Christina & Charles Bascom
Dora Beatty & Peter
Macdonald
Pamela & Robert Beck
Marguerite & Charles
Beckman
John Benjamin
Joanna & Robert Bennett,
Maurice & Anne Makepeace
Family Foundation
8
Dorothy Bentley
Pamela & Ricardo Bermudez
Wendy & Lawrence Bidstrup
Joan Blanchard
Mary Jean & William Blasdale
Nina Blumenthal & Scott
Corin
Julie & Todd Boes
Thomas Bohan
Linda & Willard Boothby
Alison Coolidge Boreiko
& Tom Boreiko
Nancy & Jack Braitmayer
Nannette & William Braucher
Bristol County Savings
Charitable Foundation, Inc.
Deborah Brooke
Judith & Clinton Brown
Janet & Michael Brown
Tia & Peter Bullard
William C. Bullitt Foundation
Christine & Philip Burgess
Hilary & Philip Burling
Amy & Andrew Burnes
Gertrude Burr
Butler’s Hole Fund
Gaelen & Peter Canning
Cynthia & Truman Casner
Theresa & John Cederholm
Katherine Chapman &
Thomas Stemberg
Elaine & Paul Chervinsky
Charitable Foundation
CHT Foundation
Suzanne Church
Janet & William Coleman
Community Foundation of
SEMA— James Arnold Fund
Congregational Church
of South Dartmouth
Sally Conkright & William
Rogerson
Ann Marie & Richard
Connolly
Sharon Connors
Sheila Powers Converse
Leslie & John Conway
Mary & Sackett Cook
Deborah Coolidge &
Harvey Goldman
Jane Coolidge
Lindsay & Charles Coolidge
Mary Coolidge
Mary & Allyn Copp
Nancy & David Corkery,
Braitmayer Foundation
Jenna Costa
Courington, Kiefer &
Sommers LLC
Kay Cowan & Bill Potter
Elizabeth Coxe & David
Forney
Diane Cramphin
Loretto & Dwight Crane
Jill & William Creevy
Evelyn Crocker
Joan & Prescott Crocker
Croll Foundation
Edwina & James Cronin
Nancy Crosby
Crystal Cruz
Cruz Family
Nancy & Paul Cruz,
Crayon Campus
Victoria & Robert
Cunningham
P. Christopher Cutler
Family Fund
CVS Health Foundation
Kate & Fred Dabney
Judith Danforth
Gary Darman
Liddy & Thomas Davis
Helen & Leslie De Groot
Patricia & Peter Dean
Dean Ross Home
Candida Delgado
Heather Dextradeur
Kim Dickinson & Henry
Stokes
Carol & James Dildine
Pam Donnelly & Timothy
Mahoney
Elizabeth & Philip Douglas
Sarah & William Ducas
Elizabeth Duffy & Robert
Lawrence
Bernadette Duquette
Eastern Charitable
Foundation
Nancy & James Edwards
Janet Egan
Annette Ewing
Laurie & Russell Fearing
Christina & Eric Fenton
Linda & Peter Fenton
Rebecca & Nathan Fenton
Kathleen & David Fentress
Mark Fermino
Patricia & Armand Fernandes
Ferri Family Foundation
Fiber Optic Center, Inc.
Yolanda Fields
Laurie Findlay
Linda & Charles Findlay
Moly Fingan & Daniel Duarte
Ellanor & Matthew Fink
Margaret Finn & Thomas Getz
Alice & Jon Flint
Bridget Flynn & Michael
Eatough
Deedee & Stewart Forbes
Sarah & Charles Forbes
Jean Fordyce
Edith Forrester
Lyn & Steven Fors
Gail Fortes
Vicki Fowler & John Kelleher
Francis Family
Kim Francis & Carlos
Cardoso
Mr. & Mrs. J. Walter Freiberg
Jill & Thomas French
Elise Frick & Jack Garraty
Louise & Daniel Gallagher
Dorothy & Seth Garfield
Natalie & John Garfield
Sarah Garraty & Jeffrey Kerr
Deborah & Peter Gates
Debra Gayle & Michael
Malone
George Gebelein
Louisa Gebelein & Jeremiah
Jones
Elaine Gelinas & Robert Gray
Daniel Gerrity
Gidwitz Family Foundation
Peggy & Mark Gildersleeve
Edward Goldberg
Sally Goodman & Jonathan
Schwartz
Cheryl & Charles Gorfinkel
Elizabeth & Charles Gormley
Lucinda & Stephen Gormley
Georgiana & Mark Goulding
Linda & Michael Gouveia
Nicholas Grace
Irene Graham & Michael Davis
Graham Family Foundation
Rose Grant
Hannelore & Jeremy
Grantham
Grantham, Mayo, Van
Otterloo & Co. LLC
Abby & David Gray
Gerry & Samuel Gray
Marjorie & Nicholas Greville
Nancy Griswold
Valerie & Ihsan Gurdal
Ann & John Hall Family Fund
Myrna Hall
Tracy & Sam Hallenbeck
Sandra & Devens Hamlen
Carola Harden
Kathy Harding & Eric Duarte
Patricia Harrington
Sally & Mark Harty
Corbin & John Harwood
Hawthorn Medical Associates
Mary Ann & Stephen Hayes
Susan Heide
Julie & Bayard Henry
Anne & Charles Hepner
Judith & Edward Herlihy
Penny & Michael Herlihy
Peter Herman
Sarah Herman
Sandra & William Hewitt
Barbara & William Hickey
Lucile & William Hicks
Mary & Prentiss Higgins
Julie & Jordan Hitch
Cela & Matthew Hobbs
Linda & Franklin Hobbs
Johanna & Frederic Hood
Marita Hopkins & James
Ring
Leslie & Jack Howard
Felicity & Austin Hoyt
Bess and Jim Hughes
Helena DaSilva Hughes
Rosemary Hughes
Heidi & Arthur Huguley III
Collette & Henry Huidekoper
Elizabeth Huidekoper
Swanee Hunt Foundation
Sandra Hyacinth
Donna & Theodore Ingalls
Island Foundation Inc.
Susanna Jacobus, Richard
Jacobus Family Foundation
Donna Jeffers
Hope & David Jeffrey
Ann Jenkins & Bart Bussink
Nancy Johnson
Stephen Johnson
Gerald R. Jordan Foundation
Margaret & Richard Kane
Raphael Kanter
Leonard S. Kaplan and Hilda
Kaplan Charitable Foundation
Ann & George Keches
Andrea & Henry Keene
Frances & William Keene
Patricia Kelleher & Dalton
Perras
Elizabeth & Morris Kellogg
Bernadette Kelly & Sheldon
Daly
Karen & Kevin Kennedy
Foundation
Margaret & Gene Kennedy
Priscilla & William Kennedy
Lynne Kenney
Mona & Robert Ketcham
Julia & Stephen Kiechel
Gertrude Kingery
Jackie & Dieter Klein
Laurie & James Knight
Deborah Kovacs & Nicholas
Sullivan
Cecile & Irvin Krause
Diane Krejsa & Peter Levy
Kurtz Family Fund
Elizabeth & Robert Ladd
Ladera Foundation
Olga & Sebastian Lassalle
Edith Lauderdale
Lydia & Gerald Lauderdale
Elizabeth Lawrence
Patricia & Robert Lawrence
Anne & James Layton
Carlene LeBlanc
Sarah Lederman
Sally & Michael Lemelin
Frances & Clinton Levin
Katherine & Melvin Levine
Allan Levy
Soraia Lima
Elizabeth Lindsay
Catherine Logue
Darci Lopes
Kaya Lopes
Viennia Lopes-Booth
Ludes Family Foundation
MaryBeth & David MacBain
Jean MacCormack
Ann & Lloyd Macdonald
Jane Mackey
Abigail & Michael Magni
Meiyuk & Ka Sheung Mak
Elena Maker
William Makris & Douglas
Reed
Sylvia Marlio
Virginia & Richard Marr
Beth & Carmine Martignetti
Lucinda Martin
Massachusetts Charitable
Society
Anne & Brem Mayer
Elizabeth & Greer McBratney
Holly & Joseph McDonough
Anne McElroy
Ellen & Duncan McFarland,
Bromley Charitable Trust
Margaret McGetrick
Madeleine & Kevin McGuire
Linda & William McQuillan
Margaret McSweeny
Susan & Kirtland Mead
Rosemary & Anthony Melli
Kristen Mendes
Alejandra Mendez
Rose Mendoza
Meriz Landscaping Inc.
Elizabeth Meyer
Elizabeth Micheels & David
Tobias
Milbury & Company LLC
Rose & Frederick Miller
Dora & Dudley Millikin
Jocelyn Mitchell
Helen & James Montague
Sandra Montour
Reina Montoya & David
Maldonado
Donna & James Moody
Lucy & Ward Mooney
Sara Mora & Carlos Acosta
Faith & Richard Morningstar
Carol Morrison
Lee & William Morrison
Teresa Mozaz
Charlotte & Robert Nau
Carol Ann Nelson
New Bedford Police Union
Helga & Walter Nichols
Diana & Peter Nicholson
No Problemo Taqueria
Mary & William Notman
Mary Louise Nunes &
Randall Mello
Joan & Jonathan O’Brien
Roseanne & Joseph
O’Connell
Orville W. Forte Charitable
Foundation, Inc.
Carol & Robert Osteen
Linda & Louis Othote
Regina Pakradooni
Mileni Palacios
Hillary Parker
Margaret Parker Fund
Mary Parker
Ann Parson
Sandria Parsons
Emily Paul
Amelia Peabody Foundation
Celeste & John Penney
Christine Pennoyer
Tracy Pennoyer
Mildred & Richard Perkins
Susan & Daniel Perry
Eleanor & Richard Phillips
Eve & Leo Pierce
Emily & John Pinheiro
Renia & Charles Platt
Alexis & William Popik
Mary Powell
Linda Poyant & Frank
Busnengo
Lynn Poyant
Alexandra & Robert Pozzo
Patricia Pratt
David Prentiss
Betty Prescott
Suzanne & William Prescott
Ute & Patrick Prevost
Laura Price
Jennifer Prouty
Jane Pucello
9
Mimi & John Putnam
Cynthia & Jerry Pyle
Irlanda Ramos & Vincente
Miranda
Rands Foundation
Ana Raposo
Katelyn Rapoza
Cynthia Redel & Michael
Esposito
John Reidy
Barbara & Frank Resnek
Sally Reyering & Chris
Baldwin
John Ribeiro
Lynne & Michael Ribeiro
Alice Rice & Mark Perkins
Patricia & Thomas Ridzon
Anne & James Righter
James O. Robbins Family
Trust
Ailene Robinson & Thomas
Lewis
Angely Robinson
Joan & Richard Roller
Andrea Rose-Wheatley
Travis Roy
Carolyn & James Rubenstein
Gale Runnells
Delia & James Russell
Amanda Sabol
Kerry & William Saltonstall
Barbara Samuels
Jessica Sanchez
Blanca Santiago
John Sargent
Susan Sargent & Tom Peters
Frederick Schaefer
Christopher Schlesinger
Susan Schlesinger
Christine & Paul Schmid
Margot & Mark Schmid
Katherine & Thomas
Schmitt
Nathaniel Schudrich
10
Gale Schultz
Krista & Roger Scoville
Sea Breeze Foundation
Seacoast Contruction Group
Daniela Sever & Radek
Fooksa
Laura & James Shachoy
Maryellen & Norman
Shachoy Fund
Joan Shafran & Rob Haimes
Frima & Gilbert Shapiro
Wendy Shattuck & Samuel
Plimpton Fund
Anne & Harry Shoemaker
Martha & Steven Shuster
Sue & Calvin Siegal
Joyce & Albert Signorella
Shana Silva
Sloane & Hardwick
Simmons
Kathleen Siplas
Elizabeth & Paul Sittenfeld
Mary & David Smoyer
Southern Mass. Credit Union
Bernadette Souza
Genevieve & Steven Spiegel
Sarah & Andrew Spongberg
John Spooner
Deborah & John Spring
St. Andrew’s by-the-Sea
Jane Ross Stankiewicz
Judith & Peter Stanton
Bonnie & Robert Stapleton
Fund
Nan Starr & Philip Marshall
Alice & Geoffrey Stengel
Fredericka & Howard
Stevenson
Isabelle Stillger & Scott
Chappel
Trina & Newcomb Stillwell
Anne Stone
Catherine Stone
Lara & Jeffrey Stone
Lisa & Gregg Stone
Margot Stone
June Strunk
Martha & Michael Sullivan
Carol & Christopher Swan
Louise Sylvester
Sylvia Group
Angie & Nuno Tavares
Jeanne Tavares
Sally Taylor
Ronald Teachman
Joan Thompson
Pamela & Renke Thye
Tifereth Israel
Congregation
Patricia Tocci
Maryse & Charles Toomey
TownWear by BER, Inc.
Pamela & Charles Trippe
Dora & Arthur Ullian
Joan Underwood
Dagmar & George Unhoch
Upstream Foundation
Victoria Vallely, Bartol
Charitable Foundation
Anna van Heeckeren &
Edward Baker
Sallie & Alex Van
Rensselaer
Angela Vasconcellos
“ The one-on-one learning...
the close relationships with
her teachers. OSS broadened
Arianna's intellect and pushed
her as far as she could go." Tina Ford P'11
John Vasconcellos & Bill
Barr
Francine Veilleux & Robert
French
Kristy Verissimo
Priscilla Wade
Annick & Eliot Wadsworth
Charlotte & Herbert
Wagner
Marion & Henry Wainer
Marge Waite & Neal Weiss
Jane & Robert Walker
Ellen & Laurence Walsh
Terese & William Walsh
Stephanie & Jonathan
Warburg
Margot Warch
Anna Waring
Mallory & John Waterman
Susan & Keith Watson,
Alfred Watson Family
Foundation
Wattles Family
Charitable Trust Fund
David Waxler
Judith Wayss
Mary Wayss
Anne & Richard Webb
Happy & Henley Webb
Webster Bank
Jane & Russell Weigel
Sylvia & Christoph
Westphal
Anne & Alexander White
Elizabeth & Benjamin White
Katherine & Chris White
Nancy & Thomas White
Daphne Whitman
Anne & Jeremy Whitney
Sally & Peter Wilde
John Willoughby
Catherine & Joseph
Winterhalter
Marcy Wintrub & Duane
Barton, Toby Wintrub
Foundation
Victoria Wood
Sarah Wotka
Mardee & John Xifaras
Doris & Richard Young
Mary & Anthony Zane
Ann & Hans Ziegler
Virginia & Peter Ziobro
Every effort has been made to
insure accuracy of this report.
Please accept our apologies
and let us know of any errors
at 508.994.1255 or email:
ggoulding@oursistersschool.org.
T
Financial Summary
hanks to the generosity of our supporters and friends, OSS had another strong year in
fiscal 2015 investing 84% of our expenses directly into our programs. As we continue on
this important journey together, we are committed to providing our students the promise of
a full four-year education at the School. To that end, we are fortunate this year to grow our
Sustainability Fund by $1.3 million, thanks to the loyalty and generosity of every one of you.
We sincerely thank you for your dedication to our school, our community and our students.
Fiscal Year 2015 at a Glance*
Income
Donations & Grants
$2,225,632
In-kind services & goods**
200,062
Investment222,617
Other14,423
Total$2,662,734
Expenses
Programs & activities**
$ 934,086
Administration & general
69,391
Fundraising89,414
In-kind goods
21,419
$1,114,310
Sustainability Fund***
$1,300,000
Total$2,414,310
* Unaudited figures
** Includes volunteer services valued at $178,643
*** Sustainability Fund market value: $6,941,196 as of June 30, 2015
Doris Kearns Goodwin:
Women in American Society
An audience of over 300 people was riveted as the
Pulitzer Prize-winning author and historian Doris Kearns
Goodwin spoke about the role of women in American society at a fundraiser for OSS on July 26, 2015.
After the introductions by Lisa Schmid Alvord and Sarah
Herman, the OSS Chorus (Alejandra Mendez ‘18, Isadora
Sylvia-Ribiero ‘18, Marlowe Tavares ‘17 and alumna Maya
Tavares ‘14) opened the evening with a wonderful rendition of “True Colors,” followed by a heartfelt speech from
alumna Arianna Mello ‘11, all of whom received standing
ovations.
The evening was a true community effort with everyone
from students to board members pitching in to help. Also
of note were the delectable foods and dessert prepared by
many talented supporters including some who are wellknown James Beard Award winners.
OSS thanks all our generous donors for the spectacular evening which, including the live and silent auctions,
successfully raised over $200,000 for the School.
11
Who’s Who
Our 2015-2016 enthusiastic staff:
Habits of Mind and Community
Core: Dr. Armand Desmarais leads
our staff as Curriculum & Instruction
Facilitator. He guides teachers to incorporate Habits of Mind, such as persistence and communicating with clarity
into school-wide instruction. Lesley
Stevens, Community Core Connector,
fosters a unified development of social
and emotional literacy. Our four core
values of excellence, community, citizenship and leadership are practiced and
celebrated during advisory and throughout the school day.
Humanities: Ariana Wohl and Sara
Winnick teach English and Social
Studies through Humanities. Working
together with Facing History, students
learn about themselves, their rights,
their world, and how their own voices
can make a positive difference.
Math: Having been trained in the
College Prep Math curriculum as well
as Hands-On Geometry and Visual
Algebra through the Carroll School,
Angel Diaz, Katelyn Rapoza and
Victoria Wood continue to build our
math program and are prepared to
design amazing classes for our lucky
students.
Science: Jocelyn Mitchell and
Amanda Sabol return to the science lab
for more dynamic experiments, inspired
field trips, and memorable classroom
guests.
and will carry our students forward
in their personal journeys as budding
young artists. Cindy Hartigan will
return to teach drama and direct our
unique spring drama performance.
Administration: Head of School
Sarah Herman continues her third year
at the helm. Director of Advancement
Georgie Goulding raises much-needed
funds and Laurie Knight, Secondary
School and Alumnae Support Coordinator, returns for her fourth year. Carlene
Left to right, Georgie Goulding,
Blanca Santiago, Sarah Herman,
Jocelyn Mitchell, Laurie Knight,
Carlene LeBlanc
LeBlanc, Finance and Operations Manager, oversees all the practical details that
make OSS run smoothly. Jocelyn Mitchell continues as Volunteer Coordinator
and Science Department Head. Blanca
Santiago, our Administrative Assistant,
has managed the front office and all
admissions inquiries since 2009.
Dr. Armand Desmarais
Angel Diaz
Tobey Eugenio
Erynn Jones
Katelyn Rapoza
Amanda Sabol
Tom Short
Lesley Stevens
Adriana Vicente
Sara Winnick
Ariana Wohl
Victoria Wood
AmeriCorps Volunteers: Erynn
Jones and Adriana Vicente join veteran
Victoria Wood to make our extended
day possible by supervising classes and
activities, ranging from Nautical and
Animal Sciences, Book Club and Arts
and Crafts to World Language.
Music and Performing Arts:
Tom Short continues to teach recorder,
keyboard, guitar and even wind ensemble. We welcome Tobey Eugenio,
our new Fine Arts teacher. Tobey has
incredible experience and enthusiasm,
12
Board of Trustees
2014-15
Lisa Schmid Alvord, Chair
Talbot Baker, Jr.
Stephen Barker
Laurie Barrett
Christina Bascom
Alison Coolidge Boreiko
Gaelen Canning
Linda Fenton
Alice Flint
Kim Francis
Elizabeth Huidekoper
Doreen Lopes
Maria Mojica
Susan Perry
William Prescott
Bernadette Souza
Abbey Spargo
Catherine Stone
John Vasconcellos
Russell Weigel
Staff
Sarah Herman,
Head of School
DeeDee Bentley,
Advancement Coordinator
Georgiana Goulding,
Director of Advancement
Laurie Knight,
Communications, Secondary
School & Alumnae Support
Coordinator
Carlene LeBlanc,
Finance & Operations
Manager
Jocelyn Mitchell,
Volunteer Coordinator
Blanca Santiago,
Administrative Assistant
Consultants
Kate Dabney, Grants
Linda Fenton,
Advancement (volunteer)
Visual & Performing
Arts Teachers
Cindy Hartigan, Drama
David Rivera, Music
Tom Short, Music
Brent Tavares, Dance (volunteer)
Mary Wayss, Art
Why Our Sisters?
Remediation Specialists
(Volunteers)
During New Bedford’s storied
Jane Pucello
Gale Schultz
Elizabeth White
women to go on extended
past, it was uncommon for
whaling voyages. These “Sister
Classroom Teachers
Sailors” were seeking precisely
Viennia Lopes Booth
Angel Diaz
Elena Maker
Jocelyn Mitchell
Amanda Sabol
John Sargent
Shana Silva
what our brave young “sisters”
AmeriCorps Volunteer
Teachers
adventure for growth, learning
Dawn Lopes
Logan McNamara
Katelyn Rapoza
Victoria Wood
of New Bedford are seeking
today in the classrooms: to sail
beyond familiar horizons, and
to explore unknown oceans of
and accomplishment.
Our Sisters’ School
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145 Brownell Avenue, New Bedford, MA 02740
508.994.1255/www.oursistersschool.org
NEW BEDFORD, MA
PERMIT 500
Address Service Requested
Thank You
Your generosity and support make it possible for OSS to provide an
extraordinary education and transformative opportunities to deserving
young girls.
Support the OSS Annual Fund
“ OSS opened my eyes to a
world beyond New Bedford.
It taught me to look with a
Let’s continue this important work together. Make a gift today at oursistersschool.org, or contact Georgie Goulding, Director of Advancement,
at 508.994.1255/ggoulding@oursistersschool.org, to discuss the different
ways you can help OSS.
new set of goggles and truly
Angel Match
Irene Luperon ‘11,
St. George’s School ‘15
–started University of Southern
California in the fall of 2015
Your gift can go further–50% of each donation received before 12.26.15
will be matched by our generous anonymous Angel Donor.
Support OSS today!
enjoy learning. I am forever
grateful.”
Many thanks to Cela Hobbs
for designing this report,
and Virginia Sutherland and
OSS staff for providing the
photography.