b'President/Principals MessageElizabeth C. LaForge, Ph.D.Dear St. Scholastica Academy Community, In this edition of Wings, we look back at a challenging year for our global community and how our SSA community successfully rose to the challenge! There are many things to be proud of, above all the way in which our faculty and students moved expeditiously from classroom instruction to virtual instruction. We celebrated Lent and Easter as a faith community in unique ways, sharpened our technology skills for quality teaching and deep learning, and continued to make progress on our strategic initiatives. Our Class of 2020 showed resilience and patience as they shared graduation activities unlike any graduates before them. We concluded the year grateful for the opportunity to stay connected as a learning community, thankful for our good health, and hopeful for the new school year. The year began to bring a close to our strategic planning cycle, initiated in 2016. Many, many of you worked diligently with a determined focus to ensure we met our goals. Although much was accomplished, below are just a few highlights of each focus area to date. Faith Formation: Expanded opportunities for the girls to deepen their faith through daily prayer, mission trips, the sacraments, and service to the community. Academics: Increased the rigor in the college-prep program of studies, while adding advanced placement and dual enrollment courses for all students; redesigned the daily schedule; and increased ACT scores through the commitment of the faculty and growth mindset of our students. Technology: Purchased a new interactive, collaborative Student Information System, improvedinfra-structure, and through our move to 1:1 laptops grew the technology skills of students and faculty and paved the way for technology-rich instruction.Facilities and Grounds: Allocated over $5 million in new construction, renovations, and landscaping to provide space for STEM, theology, art, and athletics, while making the facilities more conducive to learning and a source of pride in our neighborhood. Athletics: Created a sports medicine program to support our athletes as they continue to garner district, regional, and state championships. Student Activities: Re-invigorated the Student Council, which brought new, fun activities, including Rally Day and VooBoo Festival, to our community. Marketing and Development: Intentionality in our marketing efforts and building relationships within the community helped keep enrollment steady and our image in the community positive.Preparations are underway for the SSA community to begin the process anew at the conclusion of the 2020-2021 school year. Make plans to be a part of the planning process as we continue to keep the Academy forward-thinking and innovative as it responds to the changing needs of our students.Please join me in welcoming Mrs. Sheri Gillio as the Head of School at SSA. I am certain that under her leadership the Academy will thrive! A woman of deep faith, she is an experienced, talented educator and we are thankful that she chose SSA.As I leave the Academy, I am grateful that I had the opportunity to work side by side with a team of highly qualified, passionate educators; to build relationships with wonderful alumnae, parents, benefactors, and supporters of the Academy; and most importantly, to share the small moments of Gods presence in our day with hundreds of talented, gritty young women. Thank you for inviting me to SSA five years ago. It has been a time of great joy for me! Finally, as the Benedictines say, may you experience the Lords peace in each moment of every day.In the Spirit of St. Scholastica, Elizabeth C. LaForge, Ph.D. President/PrincipalDOVE WINGS 1'