List of 20 news stories.
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60th Anniversary Community Mass
On this fourth week of January, 60 years ago, Carrollton opened its doors as the Convent of the Sacred Heart. This past Sunday, January 23, students, families, faculty, alumnae, trustees, and friends celebrated this anniversary by coming together in worship, attending an outdoor mass in the center of campus. The community witnessed a glorious celebration officiated by Fr. Robert Vallee. In the Call to Worship, Head Master Olen Kalkus brought the attendees to the origins of the school. Describing Carrollton’s mission as an analogy for the works of mature found in our aptly named home, El Jardin, Mr. Kalkus reminded us that as Sacred Heart educators we are gardeners in God’s fields, and in so doing, we honor God, the Gardener of all creation.Continuing that chosen theme, our liturgist, Debbie Consuegra, lovingly gave a rendition of Dorothy Frances Gurney’s (1858–1932) poem, God’s Garden, for which Father Vallee created the music. A stanza of this poem is carved on the coquina rock of the estate. As every Carrollton student and alumna knows, it is said the decision to open a Sacred Heart school on this site was instantly made when the Vicar of the Society laid eyes upon these words:The kiss of the sun for pardon, the song of the birds for mirth, --One is nearer God's heart in a garden than anywhere else on earth.Within the context of this beautiful liturgy, the Carrollton Alumnae Association presented the 2022 Spirit of Sophie in the World Alumnae Award to Laura Kelly Garcia ’95. Her extensive and consistent contributions to Carrollton as a parent, alumna, mentor, volunteer, and leader, and to the general community as a woman of compassion, hope, dedication, and faith, embody the tenets of a Woman of the Sacred Heart. Laura is a fitting recipient of this award and deserving of the legacy of the past recipients.In closing, Suzanne Cooke, RSCJ, Provincial of the Society’s United States-Canada Province, and past Headmistress of Carrollton, highlighted the relational nature of our calling as members of the Sacred Heart family, and emphasized the value of the alumnae body, collectively and individually, in the continuation and expansion of the mission our foundress, St. Madeleine Sophie Barat, outlined for all who would come after her.It was a joyous day of celebration, history, hope, and commitment to a wonderful future. -
Network Student Advisory Committee
Alexandra Azan '23 and Lauren Nieto '24 have been selected by the Network of Sacred Heart Schools to join the Network Student Advisory Committee (NSAC). They will be a part of a group of 20 Sacred Heart high schoolers, and serve as liaison between the Network and the students at their schools. Congratulations on this significant role! -
Fall Family Festival
Goal IV: Schools of the Sacred Heart commit themselves to educate to the building of community as a Christian value.
It was so heartwarming to host our families and their friends once again for our Fall Family Festival. There was something for everyone to enjoy, and the weather made it comfortable to gather together outdoors.
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Blessing Bags
In the spirit of Goal III, members of the Alumnae mother-daughter group gathered to assemble blessing bags for the Thelma Gibson Health Initiative and Halloween raft kits for the Breakthrough Miami Scholars at Carrollton - two of Carrollton's community partners.
In total, 50 blessing bags and 80 Halloween craft kits were assembled. Thank you to the alumnae who spearheaded this effort, and those who either participated in purchasing items or attended the activity. -
Junior High Ecology Club Garden
The Ecology Club members in Dr. Shulzitki's class have created a garden for the community to enjoy. They prepared and fertilized the plant beds, as well as planted seeds and created a layout to transfer the seedlings once they were ready!
A special thank you to Mrs. Xydas for her support and guidance in this Junior High community project! -
Fernanda Carrion '28 is in Full Swing
Fernanda Carrion '28 is taking the golf world by storm!
After competing in a high school level tournament and finishing 7 our of 77, she was featured in last Sunday's Neighbors section of the Miami Herald. At 11 years old, she is playing on our Varsity Golf team. If Fernanda were to win in Regional competitions on October 3rd , then she will qualify for nationals.
Good-luck Fernanda and team! -
Mass of the Holy Spirit
At the beginning of every school year, we come together as a Catholic community to celebrate the Mass of the Holy Spirit. We ask the Holy Spirit to bless and guide our minds, hearts, and souls as we navigate through a new academic year of growth and development. This year the focus words are love and selflessness. As Head Master, Olen Kalkus said in his reflection, paraphrasing from the First Letter to the Corinthians, accomplishments are not possible without love. Selfless love, when we support and look out for one another, is the time when we are at our best. Mr. Kalkus reminded the community that 20 years ago, on September 11th over 9,000 first responders and follow-up teams exposed themselves to the highest risks. Selfless love strengthens our resilience to get through challenges and encourages our development as a family. We know our communal strength, nourished by the presence and grace of the Holy Spirit, will propel us to a wonderful year. We are looking forward to an incredible 60th anniversary of Carrollton and celebrating 60 years of Sacred Heart education in Miami. Mr. Kalkus closed his reflection quoting from a Christian hymn written by the late Fr. Peter Scholtes which says it all, "They'll know we are Christians by our love." -
The Feast of St. Madeleine Sophie Barat
May 25th is the Feast Day of our foundress, St. Madeleine Sophie Barat. We celebrated with a school mass, where the seniors are traditionally honored and blessed for their forthcoming life journeys. This year they were invited to attend in-person with their mothers, for their last Carrollton mass as students.
May the Holy Spirit and the spirit of Sophie continue to burn within you as you enter new endeavors as women of the Sacred Heart. -
The Carrollton Spirit Store Gives Back $100,000
Over the last five years, the Carrollton Spirit Store has given back 100% of its earnings to benefit Carrollton's Financial Aid Program. Since the time of its establishment, it has raised $100,000! Thank you to Pilar Cendoya Alvarez-Mena '77, and all the alumnae volunteers who manage the store, for your commitment to the school and your belief in the mission! -
Isabela Delgado '24 - Selected as Fellow in the Inaugural Class of The Hafize Gaye Erkan First Republic Fellowship Program
Congratulations to Isabela Delgado '24 for being selected as a Fellow in the inaugural class of The Hafize Gaye Erkan First Republic Fellowship ProgramSM. This is an inaugural program that selects ten young women in Grade 9 (Class of 2024) at National Coalition of Girls’ Schools (NCGS) member schools to receive a $5,000 USD grant per year in each year of their high school education. Funds from the grant will be used for STEM educational services and programs at Carrollton. Mentorship is a fundamental component of the fellowship. Isabela will participate in a mentorship program that includes academic counselors, business professionals and executive leaders.Isabela is an integral member of the Underwater ROV (Remote Operating Vehicle) Robotics team, is president and founder of the “Power of Play” club at Carrollton, which aims to boost patient recovery and wellness with activities for hospitalized children, and was part of the Dream in Green Design and Build Competition to design and build an architectural model addressing sea level rises in Miami. She hopes to continue her passion and interest in STEM at Carrollton through the Robotics club and the Dream in Green competition team, as well as continuing to serve others and lead by example. -
ISSF Star Award Recipients
Congratulations to Kjerstin Clayborne '30, Emma Jimenez '25, and Mairead Gatcliffe '21 for receiving this year's ISSF Star Award. Each year our school nominates the best all-around students to be recognized for their achievements in numerous areas, such as academics, community service, citizenship, fine arts, athletics, dedication and good character. It is our honor to recognize these students for their efforts and achievements!
ISSF normally holds a luncheon where the students are presented with their award, but this year they have prerecorded the award ceremony which can be viewed here. -
Celebrating Poetry Month
The National English Honor Society collaborated with O, Miami to organize the project "Bus Stops," as part of their annual O, Miami Poetry Festival. Students from the Primary and Intermediate schools were asked to create Zip Ode poems. These are poems in which your zip code determines the number of words in each line of the poem. The poems by Ella Wester '28, Isla Knott '28, Emiliana Macedo '27, and Audrey Mas '32 were selected to replace bus stop advertisements throughout Coconut Grove. The project aims to expose people to poetry while by "taking over" a venue that is used to sell things to people. We hope that by replacing the advertisements, the poems allowed them to remember the wonder of the Grove, as seen through the eyes of young students. The project was coordinated by O, Miami with the help of Ceci Mestre '21 and Mrs. Azan.
As you drive to school, you can see the poems at these locations:
1. Coconut Grove Welcome - South Miami Ave. & Brickell Ave.
2. Hermitage: 2001 S. Bayshore Drive
3. Kennedy Park: 2440 S. Bayshore Drive
4. Kampong: 3970 S. Douglas Road
Enjoy! -
Two Student-Athletes Will Continue Their Athletic Careers in College
Carrollton School of the Sacred Heart held a celebratory university signing of two student-athletes who will be continuing their athletic careers in college. Jimena Menendez will be competing in the Division II Tennis Team at NYU where she was admitted by Early Decision in December. Carolina Gaston will sail for Georgetown University, one of approximately 35 colleges and universities which sponsor varsity sailing teams. Both students have been instrumental in powering Carrollton to both, Regional Championships in Tennis and SAISA Girls District Championship in sailing.
Congratulations, and go Cyclones! -
Alumnae Reunion 2021
Although the Alumnae Reunion took on a different shape this year, we are grateful for the opportunity to have gathered in-person this weekend, and would like to thank all the Alumnae who attended!We would like to make a special mention of those alums who were unable to travel or attend the gathering - know you were with us in spirit, and you remain in our thoughts and hearts. We especially remember those classmates who have passed. May their memory be a blessing to us all.A recording of the beautiful liturgy celebrated by Fr. Vallee has been made available and can be viewed by clicking here.We would also like to share the video montage featuring the Carrollton of today which can be viewed by clicking here.Lastly, events such as the Reunion would not be possible without your generosity and support. We are grateful to all the Alumnae who have made a reunion gift thus far - your support has helped ensure Carrollton's ability to implement the resources necessary to offer in-person learning for most of the year, as well as assist those families who have had financial emergencies as a consequence of the pandemic.There is still time to make a gift and support the Blue vs. Gold Reunion Giving Challenge!Can we count on you? Click here to give back today! -
In Memory of Mrs. Raquel Carvajal
Carrollton faculty members honored the memory of their colleague, Raquel Carvajal, at St. Augustine’s 12:30 mass on February 18th. In his homily Father Vallee gave testament to her dedication as a teacher by recounting a well-known line from the story “A Man for All Seasons”. In the play Sir Thomas More, Chancellor of England to Henry VIII, advises Richard, an ambitious young friend, to be a teacher. Richard scoffs: “A teacher, who will know?” Thomas replies: “You will know. Your students will know, and God will know. Not a bad audience that!”
Raquel shined among educators whose joy, fulfillment, admiration, and service to their profession are so well expressed in Thomas’ words. The Carrollton community prays for Raquel, her family, and all who have been so deeply affected by the pandemic crisis. -
Catholic Schools Week
This past week we celebrated Catholic Schools Week alongside Catholic schools across the entire nation. Each day had a dedicated theme that was celebrated in all five of Carrollton's schools. They celebrated students, faculty, the nation, vocations and the community. From dressdown days, to homeroom activities and Zooms, to assembly visitors from the Vice Mayor of Coral Gables, and book readings and bible studies with the religious community members and faculty lunches, it was evident how special the Carrollton community is, and what a blessing Catholic education is. We are Sacred Heart! -
Carrollton Student's Poem Wins Award in the 2020 Ocean Awareness Contest
Andreanna Perez '21 won the Distinguished Honorable Mention Award in the Poetry category in the 2020 Ocean Awareness Contest, a global competition sponsored by Bow Seat Ocean Awareness Programs that engages the youth in creatively raising awareness of environmental issues impacting our oceans. Andreanna was selected from approximately 5,300 participants from around the world, and will be feature in Bow's Seat international ocean advocacy gallery. She participated in the contest as a school project led by her science teacher, Ms. Mallory Gutek. You can read her award-winning piece here! Congratulations Andreanna! -
Carrollton Student and Alumna Host Their Annual Smash Cancer Tennis-a-Thon
On Sunday, January 10th Carrollton alumna, Isabella Leano '20, and Carrollton student, Anais Leitchling '21, were published in the Miami Herald Sunday Neighbors section for their second annual Smash Cancer Tennis-a-Thon.
They co-founded their charity two years ago when they bonded over their love for tennis, and since then have raised $6,500 of their $10,000 goal. They weren't going to let the pandemic stop them from raising funds this year, so they played six consecutive hours instead of the 12 hours last year, and arranged to play alongside other junior players, club pros and even former touring tennis professionals.
Their Carrollton community is so proud of them for recognizing a need, and adapting to the world's circumstances to make sure they still have an opportunity to serve those needs. They hope Smash Cancer "serves as an opportunity to honor victims and support survivors in their journey to a well-balanced, healthy and fulfilling life."
You can help too by donating at https://charity.gofundme.com/o/en/campaign/smash-cancer-tennis-a-thon, @SmashCancer_2020 and www.standuptocancer.org. -
Celebrate-ing Together: Run, Shop, and Give to Financial Aid
Every year in January we gather together as one community of Christ's Heart to celebrate the founding of our school. We honor our rich history, we reflect on our present accomplishments and we look to the future with excitement and joy.Last year's Celebrate was a huge success thanks to your belief in, and support of, Carrollton's Financial Aid Program. With this success and the myriad of challenges we faced together as a community early this year, Carrollton was able to extend additional financial aid to families across all the grades that experienced unforeseen financial circumstances, allowing our students to seamlessly continue their Carrollton education uninterrupted. The 2020-2021 Academic Year is certainly a challenging one, but, as always, our community is rallying to meet those challenges.This year we are Celebrate-ing Together to Run, Shop and Give to Support Financial Aid! Our first two events (Run for Financial Aid and Shop for Financial Aid) were huge successes- THANK YOU!!Our final celebration will be our Give to Financial Aid: Virtual Celebrate on Friday, January 22nd. This will be followed by an early evening Mass on January 23rd at 5:30 p.m. on the bay. You must RSVP here.Become a Sponsor or Underwriter today and enjoy an abundance of benefits while also making a critical impact to Carrollton's Financial Aid Program. Also, make sure to register HERE so that you can view our exclusive, once-in-a-lifetime Carrollton Only auction offerings, coming soon!Thank you for supporting this year's Celebrate-ing Together events with us as we raise critical funds to support our financial aid program. Let us join together to overcome the obstacles of today, so that we may all Celebrate a future that is rich with opportunity. -
The Feast of St. Rose Philippine Duchesne
The Feast of Saint Rose Philippine Duchesne might have looked a little different this year due to recommended health guidelines, yet it was celebrated with every bit of the Sacred Heart traditions held dear by students and adults alike.Grade Three performed a touching St. Philippine play under the aptly named Duchesne Oak with groups of parents in attendance, all masked and socially distant. The Intermediate girls enjoyed their cupcake goûter, and the entire school participated via live stream in the beautiful mass celebrated by Father Vallee from St. Hugh Catholic Church.The personal reflection on Saint Philippine given at the mass by a senior officer in campus ministry, Natalia Ruan ‘21, reminded everyone of St. Philippine’s courage and steadfastness. Her perseverance and humility overcame enormous obstacles to give rise to the Society of the Sacred Heart in the Americas. The example of her determination and unyielding faith can serve us all well during these times of uncertainty caused by the continuing health crisis. We join the rest of the Sacred Heart family in honoring her this November 18th.
Carrollton School of the Sacred Heart
"For the sake of one child, I would have founded the Society."
-Saint Madeleine Sophie Barat
-Saint Madeleine Sophie Barat
