Letter from the Principal Sr. Laura Donovan, RDC '68

ACADEMY OF OUR LADY OFGOOD COUNSEL HIGH SCHOOLCelebrating 90 YearsFall 2011 eChit ChatAn epublication for alumnae, parents and friends of GCALetter from the PrincipalSr. Laura Donovan, RDC '68Dear GCA Family,How good to be back home! After twenty marvelous years at Preston High School in the Bronx, ourother RDC sponsored school, I am being caught up again in GCA life and its inimitable spirit. Whileso much has changed over the years, so much of value remains the same. I have been welcomed bya talented and dedicated faculty and staff, gifted and terrific students, and wonderful parents whopartner with us in this awesome mission of Catholic education. How heartwarming (it has been) tore-connect with many alumnae who have returned to GCA as members of the Board of Trusteesand Board-related committees, teachers, coaches, parents of current students, and in so many ways,advisors and promoters of the GCA mission. I know that as alumnae of GCA, your support is there,too, as you know firsthand the value of the Good Counsel tradition.During these first several weeks of the new school year, I have observed young scholars with

dreams and watched the ways this overflows into leadership, participation in extra-curricularactivities and, a big item at GCA, outreach in service. The idealism of youth is ever sparked by theneeds of others. In the current global environment, young people are becoming ever moreconscious of the sisterhood and brotherhood of all people and the individual responsibilities thatflow from this reality. How important that their idealism be directed in truly redeeming ways, forthemselves and for others who will benefit from their faith and honesty. Yes, they will make adifference! ~ just as you have done/are doing at home, in your communities, the professions, andthe marketplace. You are the tradition of GCA, and so we need to keep you connected to our schooland, as feasible, to our students so that the idealism that you have converted into action will deepentheir hope and spark their motivation.Just a few "claims to fame" in the academic arena: Ever proud of the one hundred percent admissionof GCA Seniors into colleges and universities, we give the Class of 2011 a "shout out" for continuingthe tradition of scholarship: over 70 % of the class were awarded college scholarships, 10% werenamed AP scholars, including Scholar with Distinction. A student in the Class of 2012 has achievedcommended status in the National Merit Program. Among the more than 1.5 million students whosat for that test, she scored in the 96thpercentile. Gooo, Cougars!So much else going on that will be covered in subsequent communication. With students currentlylearning video-editing and other neat digital skills, we may find innovative ways to keep youposted.Now, off to Field Day! Yes, some things never change...May Our Lady of Good Counsel continue to intercede for you and your families for the needs youhold in your hearts.Blessings...Upcoming EventsDecemberr 4, 2011: RDCChristmas Concert & ReceptionDecember 16, 2011: GCAChristmas PageantMarch 10, 2012: White PlainsSaint Patrick's Day ParadeMarch 25, 2012: Mother/Daughter Mass & BrunchApril 26, 2012: Feast of OurLady of Good Counsel andWall of Fame Gala 90thAnniversary CelebrationJune 1, 2011: Senior Inductioninto the Alumnae Association/Baccalaureate MassJune 2, 2012: Graduation andAlumnae ReunionsSpotlighting the class 1962(50th)_________________Upcoming MassesNovember 23, 2011 Thanksgiving LiturgyFaculty Staff News:Summertime and the livin'(was) easy...and in true teacher mode, many GCA faculty could befound enhancing their professional lives through study and research and offering service nearand far. To name a few ~Ms. Jacqueline Gibbs taught three Archdiocesan-sponsored courses for teachers andadministrators on The Social Mission of the Church, God and Revelation, and JesustheFullness of Revelation. Of the opportunity, "rewarding and inspiring," says she.In that same venue, Religion Chairperson, Mr. Gary Cushing, taught an overview ofthe Old Testament: Formation of the Texts, culture, and Theology.Dean of Students, Ms. Julie Kaen, worked with the American Red Cross DisasterServices on Disaster Assessment, Disaster Logistics, and Mass Care for individualsand families displaced by disasters in Westchester County.Ms. Christine Nykwest, Science Department chairperson, participated in an APBiology workshop; and, at its conclusion, received from a professor, the generousdonation of ten AP Biology textbooks and lab books for GCA students. Continuingher MST degree study at Fordham University, Ms. N. was also the recipient of aVerizon Thinkfinity grant in science.Ms. Elizabeth Lindberg, Spanish teacher, traveled to California, Rhode Island, andPennsylvania, and "enriched her knowledge of Spanish culture by attending aFlamenco Dance presentation and an Alhambra exhibition."Dean of Curriculum and Teaching,Ms. Diane McManus was appointed to theGrievance Committee for the Ninth Judicial District by the Appellate Division,Second JudicialDepartment, overseeing the bar associations of Brooklyn, Dutchess, Nassau, Orange,Putnam, Queens, Richmond, Rockland, Suffolk and Westchester.

Mass of RemembranceDecember 8, 2011Feast of Immaculate Conception LiturgyFebruary 22, 2012Ash Wednesday ServiceWays to give and help aGCA student reach herpotential:orSponsor a student with tuitionassistanceContribute to the GCA AnnualFundGive to our Scholarship fundPlan a gift to continue theLegacyDonate your time and VolunteerPlease visit us at www.gcahs.org.atThe Academy of Our Lady ofGood Counsel High SchoolCalling all Alumnae...We are looking for a few good women from eachclass to fill the following roles and partner with theAdvancement Office to continue to build a strongGCA alumnae network:Ms. Melissa Tillson, Social Studies teacher, completed a graduate course at FordhamUniversity on the subject of Women in the American Civil War, and anticipatesbringing new perspectives towards what has been a male-defined event in UShistory.Sr. Mary Alice O'Brien, librarian, applied and was approved for the SouthernWestchester BOCES School Library System initiative, "Click, Create andCollaborate," on Web2.0 Tools in support of teaching and learning. This projectpartners GCA with other school librariasn in defining strategies for the integration ofthese tools into the curriculum, developing richer learning opportunities for studentswhile expanding curriculum design for teachers in all content areas.Ms. Jennifer Tracey, Science teacher, new to GCA and former teacher at Our Lady ofVictory, studied group dynamics and group counseling at the Tavistock Center inLondon, England.Ms. Althea Fusco, Social Studies Chairperson, while in Texas on a family visit, hadher memory of the 1963 event triggered as she visited the Fifth Floor Museum, thewarehouse from which Lee Harvey Oswald fired the shots that killed President JohnF. Kennedy.____________________________________________________________________________Student News:GCA Senior Named to 2012 National MeritScholarship ProgramAlexandra Moehring has been commended by the National Merit ScholarshipProgram, recognizing her exceptional promise and outstanding potential foracademic success. She has been placed in the top five percent of more than 1.5million students who entered the competition, taking the Preliminary SAT/NationalMerit Scholarship Qualifying Test.At Good Counsel, Alexandra is President of the "Confident Women andCompassionate Leaders", co-president of the student fund raising organization, amember of the volley ball team and plays bass in the school band.The Croton-on-Hudson resident, daughter of Harry and Deborah Moehring, is agraduate of Saint Teresa's Elementary School in Briarcliff.1. Class Agent - be the liaison between theAdvancement Office and your class forcommunications, class notes, and schoolnews.2. Class Leader - lead the effort to challengeyour class to participate in reunion giftgiving.Please contact Christine Hughes, Director ofAdvancement, at 914-949-0178 ext. 20 orchughes@goodcounselacademyhs.org, or visit gcahs.orgWall of Fame 2012Celebrating 90 Years ofEducating confident women,Compassionate leadersQualifications for Nomination:Alumna of Good CounselDemonstrates Compassion, throughboth Service (school, church, society andglobal community), and LeadershipA New Way to Celebrate Being Sweet SixteenCement? Cement. That was Kara Magoolaghan's response when her mother askedwhat she would like for a birthday gift. And instead of a party, she chose that hersixteenth birthday celebration be held helping to build a school in Ghana.John Barber, a graduate of the University of Massachusetts, founded a school inGhana that was still under construction. Kara had heard about it often when theirmoms, longtime friends, spoke of their children. She wanted to share in John'smission of educating the poor, forfeiting the glitz and glam of a sweet sixteenbirthday gala.Obligingly, Kara's mom, Joan, emailed friends and family, asking them to make adonation to buy cement at $12 a bag, from which bricks would be created to continuethe construction of the school. They donations brought in about fifty bags of cement.The birthday bash was on its way. Kara and her mom set out from their home inYonkers, New York where they met Kara's godsister, Hana Koob, at JFKinternational Airport. The three then traveled to Amsterdam, Holland and then flew

(confident and compassionate leaderspromoting social justice in our globalsociety)Demonstrates legacy to the GoodCounsel communityWall of Fame Nomination Deadline:December 1, 201190thAnniversary Celebration Wall of Fame GalaSponsorship Opportunities:· $10,000 - Wall of Fame Event Sponsor - 25 tickets andWall of Fame Event sponsor with all signage· $5,000 - Spirit of GCA - 15 tickets and Receptionsponsor· $2,500 - Principal's League - 10 tickets andAwardsponsor· $1,000 - Founder's Circle - 5 tickets andsignage inprogramPlease submit your nomination and sponsorshipinformation to Christine Hughes, Director ofAdvancement, at 914-949-0178 ext. 20 orchughes@goodcounselacademyhs.orgReunionGCA would like to welcome back and celebrate thefollowing classes:1942-70 years1967-45years1992-20 years1947-65 years1972-40 years1997-15 years1952-60 years1977-35 years2002-10 years1957-55 years1982-30 years2007-5 years1962-50 years1987-25 yearsCalling All Alumnae:Please send us your professional information! Wewould love to include you in future networkingevents.on to Accra in Ghana. It was night when they arrived and the roads being unsafe,unlit and possibly dangerous they stayed at the airport for the night. The followingday they set out to the Volta region of Ghana, in the town of Ho, where the schoolwas being built. By night they lived in a house in a nearby town. They spent theirdays making and hauling bricks under an extremely hot sun, as well as teachingyoung children.Kara's heart was warmed by the friendliness of the people. Although living inpoverty, they were willing to share whatever that had with their visitors. They linedthe roadways to greet these strange looking people from the U. S. The childrenfollowed them as these Pied Pipers from America bought them smiles, muchlaughter and a new school!Returning home, Kara says what she missed most was the friendliness andwelcoming of the people, something she does not find here. But she was happy to getback to the land of technology and perhaps even a hot shower!From all appearances, she is just an ordinary teenager. Her passion is figure skating.She takes lessons and competes at the E. J. Murray Memorial Rink in Yonkers. Herskating group, Team Image has won first, third and fourth place in the EasternSectional Champion Competitions. She has two part time jobs, working as a cashierat the skating rink and a receptionist at the Good Counsel Convent in White Plains.She is a member of Good Counsel's Latin Club, has a boyfriend, Mark, who attendsnearby Archbishop Stepinac High School. She attends services with her family atSaint Paul the Apostle Roman Catholic Church in Yonkers. Her dad is a VP at theHudson Valley Bank in Yonkers, her mom a civil rights attorney.Yes, just an ordinary teenager with some very special gifts. Charity and Compassion.(Kara Magoolaghan came to the United States when she was nine months old, aChinese orphan adopted by her single mom, Joan. Kara's godmother, KathleenO'Neill adopted Hana Koob, also from China. Joan Magoolaghan later marriedLawrence McElroen, a single dad with three sons, John and twins Chris and Ryan. Aproduct of the Yonkers public school system, Kara opted to attend Good CounselAcademy High School in White Plains. Her grandmother, Rita McElroen, was aorphan who was raised by the Sisters of the Divine compassion and attended GoodCounsel elementary and high Schools. Her aunt, Dorothy McElroen is a graduate ofgood Counsel as well as her ice skating coach, Fiona Lennon Curry.Send to:rcash@gcahs.org_________________________________________________________Class Notes Fall 2011In MemoriumElizabeth Carroll, Mother of Diane Carroll Breslen'67Elizabeth Peyer Di Pippo '60Jean Marie Finan, Sister-in-Law of Maggie FinanDennis '89Jack Healy, Father of Danielle Healy Gabriel '92John McCarthy, Brother of Patricia McCarthy '47,Joan McCarthy Snow '50 and Peggy McCarthyFornara '52Carl Nyberg, Stepfather of Joan Rolfs Lewis '68

(deceased)Patricia Hart O'Hora '50Madeline Russo, Mother of Pamela Russo '64 andMarie Dingman '68 (deceased) and Grandmother ofEmily Russo '12Catherine Smith '75Jeanne Wasp Tedesco'78Sister Mary Clement, RDC '22Mary Joan Tumber '45Margaret Mary Waters Albis '58Peggy Albis in February 2011Thomas Bumbolow, father-in-law of Carol BakerBumbolow '70, grandfather of Mary BethBumbolow Desario '04, Susie Bumbolow '06, andRoberta Bumbolow '08Sarah Connoughton, grandmother of DevonO'Toole '13Helen Graf, grandmother of Catherine Sweeney '13Betty Gandolfo, mother of Denise GandolfoOrovick '61Mary Kline Clancy '75What action, if any, do you want yourmembers to take? Add a "Find out more"link to additional information that youmay have hosted on your website.Engagements andMarriagesLindsay Gaynor '01 married Eric Califano on May21, 2011 at the Chapel of the Divine Compassion.Included in the bridal party were Diane MorrisMcKiernan '01, Liz Mahon Muccino '01 andMichele Nassetta '01.Laura Dupcak '03 married Kenneth Daniel Casciolion July 2, 2011 at the Chapel of the DivineCompassion. Her sister, Amy '02, was the maid ofhonor and Katherine Alvarado '03 was one of herbridesmaids. Many GCA alumnae were also inattendance.Mary Bumbolow '04 and Christopher DeSariomarried on October 9, 2011 at the Chapel of theDivine Compassion. Included in the wedding partywere mother-of- the- bride Carol Baker Bumbolow'70, readers Monica Baker Guidotti '72 and MaryBeth Baker Levy '75. Also in the bridal party weremaid of honor Susie Bumbolow '06, matron ofhonor Caroline Odell Chamberlin '04, and inattendance was Berta Bumbolow '08What action, if any, do you want yourmembers to take? Add a "Find out more"link to additional information that youmay have hosted on your website.Alumnae SpotlightTeresa Lamattina-Berry '78,along with her daughter Jessica,Congratulations, Class of 2011!Our pride is showing as we applaud this past graduating class, theclass of 2011, with 100% admission to higher education, 70%receiving scholarships to colleges and universities, and 10% beingnamed AP Scholars including Scholar with Distinction.Staying Connected: This is who we heard from...Class of 1949Joan Walters Drake is now serving on the National Board of the Gray Panthers andfighting to retain Social Security programsClass of 1952Norma Camp rejoices the birth of her first grandchild, SaxtonMichael CampClass of 1953Patricia Turner Shiels' granddaughter, Liz Mastrocola, graduatedas Salutatorian and is extremely proud of her!Class of 1957Marcella Donovan McGovern is living full-time in Breezy Point,NY right near the ocean. She has become an extraordinaryEucharistic Minister and is now teaching 5th grade CCD class at aparish. She has 12 grandchildren and is loving them. She hopes tohear from classmates anytime. Go on down to Breezy! The water isgreat!Class of 1958Joanne Ucci Cerrato is a retired college professor from STCC andDirector of the Phlebotomy Program at Springfield TechCommunity College.Class of 1968Nancy Gloeckler Coughlin is the proud grandmother of Gianna (3½) and Mark (1 ½) and is spending retirement counting blessings,traveling with Tom (going to the Mediterranean in September) andkeeping busy at home.Class of 1986Suzann Vey Sopkin has been blessed with another daughter, ClaireIsabelle, on December 6, 2010Class of 1998Adrienne Serbaroli received her promotion to Captain in the U.S.

packed up Jessica's uniformsfrom St. Joseph's School uponits closing and sent them to anagency in Haiti that supportsthe Catholic schools there. "It'sthe environment of spirituality,prayer and love," she toldCatholic New York in theAugust 11, 2011 issue whenexplaining her decision todonate to this agency.What action, if any, do you want yourmembers to take? Add a "Find out more"link to additional information that youmay have hosted on your website.Upcoming ReunionsMarine Corps. Her promotion was celebrated with a smallceremony in Quantico, Virginia on Tuesday September 6, 2011_______________________________________________________________Reunions:The Class of 1961 celebrating their 50th ReunionWelcome Home for your 50th Reunion, Class of1962!Save the DateJune 2, 20121:00pmChapel GreenPlease join us to celebrate your 50th Reunion with aGolden Diploma Ceremony and ChampagneReception!Your Classmates are planning other events for theweekend.More info will follow.Please direct any questions to the Office ofAdvancementPhone: (914) 949-0178 ext. 20Email: Christine Hughes, Directorchughes@gcahs.org________________________________The Class of 72 has started their own FaceBookpage. They are also in the beginning stages ofplanning a 40th Class Reunion.Please contact:Teri Muller, 781- 254-1544, terimuller@rcn.comRoseMarie Giordano, 914- 607-2608,roe1005@aol.comDonna Ryan, 917-376-3602,Donna.Ryan-Rose@comcast.netPatty Borawski Howie, 301-351-6108,pbhowie@verizon.net.______________________________The class of 1967 will be celebrating their 45threunion. Please contact the advacement office fordetails.914-949-0178 ext. 20________________________________The class of 1987 will be celebrating there 25threunion. We look forward to welcoming you hometo GCA!What action, if any, do you want yourmembers to take? Add a "Find out more"link to additional information that youmay have hosted on your website.On June 4, 2011, 23 older women drift over to the Chapel Green,that space, that when we were students, was the lawn between theChapel and Good Counsel College. We rarely ventured there; itseemed not to belong to us.There are lots of ways to view this gathering of women, come backto be present and recognized as the 50 year class; graduating seniorslook over at us and cannot imagine that age will be a fate thatbefalls them. They are in that place of forever young. The faculty,mostly unfamiliar to us, is gracious and curious and has no cluewho most of us are. Some were not even born until years after wewere long gone. For the families and friend of the graduates, sofocused on their special young woman, we are peripheral at best ormaybe a slight distraction in "their day".But for the 23 of us? The day belongs to us. Today we are the starsof our show! We gather after 25 years or maybe for the first time in50 years. A few of us have kept in touch, and Classmates, LinkedIn,Facebook, have brought some of us back into one another's lives.Some of us have changed little and recognition is instant. For

others among us, it is the eyes or the smile or the laugh that is thegiveaway.And then the magic begins to happen. Who we were and who weweren't falls away. The chasm that separated those who seemedthen to have it all and the rest of us who weren't quite enough hasevaporated.Today, we all seem to have it all. There are no honor societymembers, no beautiful blond cheerleaders, no daters of "collegemen", no naive tomboys; even the corporate execs. and collegeprofs. and art studio owners of our 25th reunion are not here, or arehere differently. So, so different from when we gathered 25 yearsago in our early forties when "what we 'do'" was still important.We are just women of a certain age filled to the brim in thismoment of reunion. Enough has turned into abundance.We greet each other with an unencumbered enthusiasm. We aredelighted to see one another in ways we were unaware of or werenot possible for us 50 years ago. - and we give words to it. Joy.Gratitude. Unmasked, the masks and protections we used back thenand over the years dawn on us...and we talk and laugh about it alland discover in ourselves and one another what's real andenduring.And at some point in our time, together we name and remember thesix of us who have died. And like the graduating seniors, we get aglimpse of our own mortality.And then the day is done...we leave with promises not to let somany years go by again...knowing this moment is literally "once ina life time" and cannot be repeated. And it really doesn't matter...How do you say to the graduating seniors...whatever you do,wherever you go, don't miss your 50th reunion? How do youexplain to the faculty that what you teach is not nearly asimportant as whom? Finally, how do you tell your absentclassmates that we wanted you here and that this time may notcome again?You just can't.You really had to be there...______________________________________________________________The Class of 1986 gathered for their 25thReunionOn Friday September 30, 2011 at Mapleton

____________________________________________________________________________The 2011 RDC Golf Outing took place on September 26, 2011 at theWhippoorwill Club in Armonk NYIt was a beautiful day on the green and many GCA Alumnae werein attendance!

FIND A MISTAKE?It is our policy to include something for everybody! Since some people like to finderrors, we regularly include a few in our Class Notes to meet this need.