On April 26, 2013, Holy Child Academy (HCA) Middle School students enjoyed a visit from recent graduate Leighann Adelizzi ‘11.  A sophomore at Episcopal Academy (EA), Leighann spoke to HCA students about her recent service trip to Haiti.  Leighann had been selected to be part of EA’s first group of students to visit its partner school, the St. Marc’s School in Haiti.  Instead of vacationing with family or friends, Leighann spent a week away from all of the comforts of life and traveled to one of the poorest countries in the world.  Upon arrival at Port au Prince, Leighann was struck by the devastation caused by the 2010 Earthquake, the poverty, and the trash. 

The purpose of their trip was to visit St. Marc’s School and forge relationships with the children and villagers.  After a few days in the capital, the group set out for the school which was located on the top of a mountain.  The group had to hike for over 2 hours in 95 degree weather (and wade through a mud river) to reach the village that housed the school.  Along the way, Leighann was amazed by how friendly all of the local people were. The EA group was greeted by the school children and locals singing to them. Leighann was brought to tears by the sight (and admittedly by the happiness of having the trek behind them).

Her visit with the children of St. Marc’s was Leighann’s favorite part of the trip.  She said that although she speaks enough French to communicate, language wasn’t necessary to connect with the children.  They taught the children games like duck duck goose and the hokey pokey and they communicated through laughter.

Reflecting on the trip with the HCA students, Leighann said that she didn’t feel like the devastation defined Haiti.  “…[I]t wasn’t until I actually got to experience the interior part of [the country] the actual people, their faces, their stories, and the school that my perception drastically changed and I realized what a beautiful and amazing place that Haiti is.” 

In addition to her service work, Leighann is an avid runner.  Leighann’s 4 x 400 relay team recently won the Philadelphia Academic League at the Penn Relays.  She also plays volleyball for a travel team called the Keystone Juniors and is a member of the community outreach board at EA.  If life isn’t busy enough for Leighann, she was recently selected to be the photography editor for EA’s school newspaper.

When asked about her time at HCA, Leighann said she had “amazing relationships with the teachers and faculty at HCA.”  She went to say that she was “able to confide and trust in the teachers and faculty, and they were able to adapt to the individual learning of each student which really helped shape my educational framework going into high school.”

Gertrude “Trudy” Ezzo and Her Home Away From Home

 

For Trudy Ezzo, Holy Child Academy (HCA) in Drexel Hill has been home away from home for more than 27 years. Arriving in 1985 as the Third Grade teacher, Trudy moved in 1992 to the Pre-Kindergarten where she continues to teach today. Trudy recalls her excitement and readiness (early childhood studies at Immaculata University) for her new Pre-Kindergarten position, and that enthusiasm and preparedness still serve her and her students well today. Visit HCA’s Pre-Kindergarten class and you will witness happy faces in a warm and nurturing environment that fosters creativity, respect, and good manners.

 

Trudy’s interest in teaching started at an early age. In many respects, teaching is in Trudy’s genes as her Aunt Gert and Aunt Jane (Sister Regina Gertrude, IHM) were educators who influenced Trudy’s vocation. She shares that, in high school, she had spent a week in her Aunt Gert’s classroom, an experience that “sealed the deal” for her career path.  Now a master teacher herself, Trudy finds each day rewarding and professes to have the “best job in the house.”

In addition to her family, the Society of the Holy Child Jesus also has had an impact on Trudy’s life and career. Trudy is a proud graduate of Academy of the Holy Child in Sharon Hill, Pennsylvania. Trudy reminisced that when her parents attended their first meeting there, Sister Elizabeth Fitzmaurice (formerly Mother Thomas Mary) told the audience that school is an extension of home and the sisters are called “Mother.” According to Trudy, her parents were impressed and delighted that the school was a gentle and caring place, just like home. To this day, Trudy fosters this nurturing atmosphere in her classroom. “I always keep “gentle and caring” in mind, and remember that I am here to take care of the children, like a mother.”

Trudy also attributes her Holy Child education in shaping the person she is today. “My high school life has made a huge impact on my life. I was always a shy, timid, child, and my parents felt a smaller, gentler environment would be best. My father always teased that I found my voice at Holy Child and the school found the best in me.”

 

According to Trudy, the Network of Holy Child Schools is a testament to Cornelia Connelly and her conviction to “develop mature persons capable of making choices which enrich their own lives and contribute to the lives of others.” Trudy knows firsthand that Cornelia’s teachings are alive, even in corporate America. “I once heard my daughter, a HCA graduate, tell a colleague that she always keeps Actions, Not Words, in mind.” Trudy continues, “Holy Child grads keep those lessons for life.”

Trudy reflects on her relationships with Holy Child schools and acknowledges their importance. “Whenever my high school friends gather, we reminisce about the superb education and the promotion of exceptional life goals and Christian values and how that sets us apart from other schools, just like HCA graduates today.”

Interestingly, Trudy has noticed a trend of Holy Child graduates becoming teachers…they gravitate toward Holy Child schools.  Perhaps it’s because the Holy Child schools are just like family, warm and caring – home away from home.

 

View the World through HCA Alumni Jeff Glasse's Invention

Holy Child Academy (HCA) had a chance to catch up with alumni Jeff Glasse ’84 this Fall.  Jeff currently lives in New York City and has an impressive career in video production, educational software and hardware.  Today, Jeff is the founder and CEO of Kōgeto.

After graduating from HCA, Jeff went to Monsignor Bonner High School and then received his undergraduate degree at Princeton University.  Upon graduation from Princeton, Jeff began a career in film production at the Cubist Post and Effects, a postproduction video editing company in Philadelphia.  He recalls enjoying his work there; but, as you will read, Jeff has an inner drive to keep challenging himself.  

In 1998, Jeff moved to New York City and founded DIGIT New Media, an award-winning documentary and interactive production company.  There, he produced videos and interactives for clients, including ESPN and the United Nations.

In 2000, Jeff joined Teachscape, an enterprise software company focused on the educational market.  While at Teachscape, Jeff worked on a project called “Measures of Effective Teaching,” a project funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.  Jeff was tasked with finding a way to record 18,000 hours of classroom time at a reasonable cost – in under six months.  Since traditional videotaping would have distracted the students and only captured what the camera was facing, Jeff designed “Lucy,” a panoramic digital video camera that could be placed in the classroom and record without a cameraperson.  This invention not only reduced the price of a panoramic camera from about $150,000 to $2,500, but it also dramatically reduced the time it took to process panoramic video (previously 40 hours down to a single hour of panoramic video). 

After 10 years at Teachscape, Jeff ventured out on his own and founded Kōgeto.  At Kōgeto Jeff designed and started manufacturing the “Dot.”  The Dot is a panoramic camera that fits onto the back of your iPhone and will record 360° of video from your phone.  Check it out at  www.kogeto.com  and don’t miss a Dotspot posted by Jeff’s sister HCA grad Jennifer Glasse ‘82 and a reporter for the Arabic News Network’s English Language Al Jazeera. http://www.kogeto.com/dotspots/H44AOBY9Y9XW?query=&page=2&hp=1&sort=featured#.UGnCP42PXSg.

After sharing details about Jeff’s exciting career and amazing new product, Jeff took a few minutes to look back at his time at HCA.  Jeff had fond memories and credited show producer Frank Jackson with his love for the theatre.  Jeff also proclaimed his 4th grade teacher Mrs. Jean Kasmer as the best teacher “hands down” -- a pretty powerful statement coming from a man who helped study teacher’s effectiveness in the classroom!

HCA Student Shared Birthday Joy with Soup Kitchen

 

 

 

Imagine a 1^st Grader requesting friends to bring a gift for the “missions” instead of buying a birthday present for herself.  Holy Child Academy 1^st Grader Victoria Hiscott did exactly that! 

Victoria celebrated her 7^th birthday a little differently this year. Friends and classmates of Victoria arrived at her birthday party with monetary donations for the Archdiocese’s Kid Snack Bags Project rather than toys, dolls, and games for Victoria. With the help of Victoria and her friends, nearly $300 was raised for children who eat at soup kitchens. These funds were then used to purchase, decorate, and fill paper bags with juice, granola bars, a box of raisins and a fruit cup.

Holy Child Academy learned of Victoria’s generous idea when Mrs. Hiscott called Lower School Director and Service Coordinator Ms. Anne Wood to inquire about the “missions” and to explain her daughter’s birthday wishes.  Apparently, Victoria’s thoughtfulness had been spurred on by Holy Child Academy’s year-long service projects to help others who are less fortunate and the school motto of Actions, Not Words. Victoria, however, took her “actions” to another level and shared her birthday joy with the needy. Ms. Wood commented that “Victoria’s thoughtfulness and generosity at such a young age left many of us of speechless.”

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