But SF remained very much the same, as well. Commitment
to excellence, school spirit, the sense of sisterhood, and the caring community that supported its members when they needed it
most are all aspects of campus life that seem unchanged. While
some traditions have faded into history (remember decorating
homeroom windows and powder puff football?), others have
arisen to take their place. These intangible qualities are what
kept me coming back year after year.
What were some of your favorite traditions at SF?
Perhaps my favorite was the talent show before Christmas.
I never tired of seeing displayed the marvelous gifts given to so
many of our students and being thankful for their generosity in
sharing those gifts with all the rest of us. I always marveled at the
energy and enthusiasm pervading the campus during Spirit Week.
How did you motivate your students?
I never saw myself as motivating my students. I believe
motivation must come from within. I tried to create an environment where a student’s efforts would be rewarded with a sense of
achievement. When a student said something like “I never knew
that I was so good at math.” I knew I’d succeeded.
What’s your favorite quote?
It’s difficult to pick only one, but I’ve always liked the following quote. It was presented to me many years ago by a student.
Sad to say, I no longer remember who she was but I still have
the gift and treasure it. It was done in lovely calligraphic script
(remember when Miss Doglietto and Mrs. Groshosky taught
that useful skill?) and read:
“It’s a funny thing about life; if you refuse to accept anything
but the best, you very often get it.” –W. Somerset Maugham
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How do you define success? Overall, how did you determine your
student’s su