Saying Yes to God's Plan - Marian High School

Once Upon A MattressFor the first time, Marian collaborated withCreighton Prep for its annual fall musical.Students from both schools had the uniqueopportunity of performing this year’s show,the Tony-award nominated Once Upona Mattress, based on the Hans ChristianAndersen fable The Princess and the Pea, atthe Omaha Community Playhouse. Morethan 1,000 theatregoers attended one of thethree productions.Each year, more than 200 Marian girlsparticipate in the musical as actors, singersand dancers on stage and instrumentalmusicians in the orchestra. In addition,students operate the lighting, sets andsound behind the scenes. This year, the backstagecrew worked in collaboration withprofessionals from the Playhouse to learnhow to use their state-of-the-art equipment.Shhh! It’s Not a Surprise DaySenior Ann Brudney, daughter of Patty NearyBrudney ’75, in the lead role of Princess Winnifred ofWoebegoneAs many of our alumnae may recall, Surprise Day is a time-honored tradition at Marian.It is an event planned each year by the Student Board that usually occurs during thespring semester. However, no one knows when it will happen. Halfway through the day, anannouncement will be made with an enthusiastic, “SURPRISE!” The afternoon classes arethen cancelled and the rest of the day is filled with games and entertainment as a way toincrease student spirit and to allow students to spend time together outside of the classroom.On October 17, 130 eighth grade girls experienced a version of this beloved tradition calledShh…It’s Not a Surprise Day. After a dinner in the cafeteria, Recruitment Director MollyAdams Woodman ’97, with members of the Recruitment Team, unveiled the surprise to theunsuspecting girls. For the following three hours, the girls enjoyed manicures and pedicures,participated in Rock Band, Guitar Hero and Wii competitions (generously donated by currentMarian families for the evening), took part in a cake walk, got their faces decorated by aprofessional face painter, had a hula-hoop contest and danced the night away. The girls whocame out for the evening also received an exclusive “Shh, It’s Not a Surprise Day” t-shirt.Founders Day lunchNovember 10 marked the 54th day of the54th year of Marian, and for the Esprit DeCorps Club, it seemed like a perfect day tocelebrate Marian’s Founders Day, September6, 1955. Students and staff flashed back tothe fifties, with a complimentary lunch ofburgers, fries and milk shakes, sponsored bythe Esprit de Corps Club, whose mission isto raise awareness and appreciation for theschool’s six core values—community, service,empowerment, compassion, leadership andMarian identity.Esprit de Corps, which is French for “spiritof the body [community],” strives to builda sense of pride, fellowship and commonloyalty in the Marian community througheducation and celebration. The 16 membersof the club, four from each grade, decoratedthe cafeteria with Marian blue tablecloths,streamers and candy for the Founders Daycelebration.On September 6, 1955, the Order of theServants of Mary first opened the doorsof Marian High School to 42 freshmen.Sr. Marcella Sitzman, OSM, Marian’s firstprincipal, coined the phrase, “Esprit deCorps,” reminding girls to embrace the spiritof the community and embody Marian’s sixcore values, which are instilled in all of itsstudents to this day.12Abby Diaz ‘12 and Sharon Anderson ‘12 enjoyFounder’s Day lunch