Students support worthy causes

Lauralton Hall students recently raised over $750 dollars in support of two very worthy causes.

On October 10, the Lauralton Hall community dressed in pink in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. A portion of the funds raised was donated to the Milford-based Get in Touch Foundation. Milford native Mary Ann Wasil Nilan, a breast cancer survivor and founder of the GIT Foundation, was instrumental in promoting “GIT Your Pink On” dress down day throughout area high schools. For more information on the Get in Touch Foundation, please visit www.getintouchfoundation.org.

Science students survey Mondo Pond

Advanced Placement Environmental Science teacher April Kelley and Environmental Club moderator Donna DiMassa accompanied 33 AP Environmental Science students on October 29, to Mondo Pond in Milford for an Environmental Assay Survey. The students spent more than hours surveying the environmental conditions of the pond and its surrounding habitat. After a guided nature walk around the pond led by Mrs. Kelley, the students settled into their assigned roles in the Environmental Assay Survey. Some aspects studied were dissolved oxygen levels, fecal bacterial counts, water quality (pH, nitrate & phosphate levels), soil quality (texture, pH, nitrate & phosphate levels) and species diversity.

National award programs recognize LH students

Kudos to senior Heather Hawkes of Trumbull who was recently named a National Merit Semifinalist and seniors Mary LoPiccolo of Newtown, Elizabeth Lynch of Fairfield, Caroline O’Connor of Fairfield and Fiona Strain of Fairfield who have been designated Commended Scholars.  

Lauralton thanks Open House participants

Thank you to our students, faculty and parent volunteers…and especially to the visitors to our campus who helped make Open House 2008 the most successful ever. We were thrilled to host a record number of prospective students and their families on October 5.

The Open House format gave visitors the opportunity to spend time at the academic fair, visit classrooms, peruse the clubs and activities area, tour with our students, get a first look at our state-of-the-art science labs and art rooms and partake of some Mercy hospitality. 

SADD members attend Governor’s Prevention Partnership

Physical Education/Health Department Chair and SADD Adviser Peggy McGowan accompanied two Lauralton Hall SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions) officers, Jessica Makrinos, ’09 and Catherine “Kasia” Phillips, ’09, both of Stamford, on a trip to the Lyceum in Hartford for the Governor's Prevention Partnership SADD Youth Leadership Conference on October 8. Workshops focused on positive youth leadership, healthy decision-making and initiating positive changes in our school and community. The keynote speaker, Dr. Jim Fitzgerald of the Student Leadership Training Program in Massachusetts, started the day off with great leadership skill-drills, followed by workshops for smaller groups for discussion of the safe driving laws, addiction and issues concerning the legal drinking age. Advisers met in groups to share ideas unique to their respective SADD chapters.  

Recent grad serves as cultural attaché in Japan

Last summer Laura Boynton,’08 didn’t find a summer job. She didn’t lifeguard, or wait on tables or dish out scoops of ice cream. She didn’t make any extra money for college.  Instead, she found a country and a people that would change her life and the way in which she views her world. Selected as the only student from the entire New England states, Laura was immersed in a cultural and diplomatic exchange with the people of Japan, spending an entire month as a cultural attaché to a program known as High School Diplomats (HSD). 

Juniors receive class rings

On October 2, members of the Class of 2010 gathered with family members for the Junior Ring Ceremony, a very special Lauralton tradition that marks the transition of students from underclassmen to upperclassmen.  

Students succeed at Science Olympics

More than 200 middle school girls from throughout Connecticut spent Saturday, September 27, translating a secret language, building a bridge out of paper to test how much weight it can support and building race cars from lifesavers, straws and paper at Lauralton Hall’s annual fall Science Olympics. Curious Creatures, a professional organization of exhibitors who teach respect and appreciation for exotic and unusual animals, was also on hand to give an educational presentation with twelve animals, including a boa constrictor, chinchillas and ferrets. More information on Curious Creatures can be found at www.curiouscreatures.org.

Science Olympics was created to promote science education for girls and to provide participants the opportunity to enjoy themselves while applying the basic themes of science in a practical, experimental context. The theme for the event is “Science is FUN!” The Science Olympics for Girls is held twice a year and, at each session, participants spend the day doing tasks that show that girls not only do science well, but also have fun while doing it!

Lauralton celebrates Mercy Day

September 24, 2008 - Mercy Day - is an observance that the Academy of Our Lady of Mercy, Lauralton Hall, shares with all other Sister of Mercy institutions and ministries throughout the world. Celebrating this special day in a time-honored tradition, the Lauralton community attended mass and lunched together on the campus grounds.  

Dates set for open house/entrance test

Lauralton Hall will host the annual open house from noon to 3 p.m. on Sunday, October 5. Administrators, faculty, students and alumnae will be on hand to meet potential students and their families. All are welcome; reservations are not necessary.