Tag: STMDHS

Induction 2018: The Family Tradition of the Dominican Legacy

October 18, 2018
Macie

Passing the Dominican tradition to the next generation, senior Macie Lafonta lights the candle of her eighth grade little sister Olivia Icamina at the 2018 Induction ceremony in September in the Sister Ambrose Reggio Gym.

After four years, members of the class of 2019 passed the torch, or rather, the candle, to their little sisters, the class of 2023.

Seniors inducted the eighth grade into Dominican High School on Sept. 20 in the Sister Ambrose Reggio Gym. At the New Student Induction, eighth graders became part of the Dominican legacy through a traditional candle ceremony with their senior big sisters. Inductees also received a Veritas shield pin and a Dominican pennant to reflect their newly-inducted status.

New Student Induction is a celebration of new students and the beginning of their journey through DHS. Welcoming 204 new eighth graders, 17 new freshmen, and 2 transfer students into the Dominican community, this year’s ceremony did not disappoint.

Senior big sisters led their Dominican little sisters through their first school ceremony, and for some Dominicanites, the experience was a family affair.

Bays

Sharing the newfound bonds of the Dominican sisterhood, senior Savannah Bay and eighth graders Emma and Isabella Bay celebrate their welcome into Dominican and their shared love of the school’s heritage

During the induction ceremony, seven members of the senior class passed the candle to their Dominican little sisters as well as their biological sisters. Senior Savannah Bay shared this year’s induction with not just one, but two sisters, twins Emma and Isabella Bay. For Savannah, induction was an emotional experience.

“After living with them my whole life and watching them grow up, it’s kind of surreal to watch them enter Dominican,” said Bay. “Seeing them every day and getting to help them through the same things I’ve gone through over the years has bonded us in a completely different way.”

Passing their flames, seniors shared a unique induction experience with their sisters. For senior Kayla and eighth grader Emma Cook, induction united them in the Dominican heritage.

“I really liked passing the candle and that I got to do it with my real sister,” said Emma.

kayla

United in the Dominican legacy, newly-inducted eighth grader Emma Cook and her sister senior Kayla Cook show their Dominican pride after the New Student Induction ceremony.

The family legacy associated with induction is clear, and for DHS, it means welcoming the next generation of “believing thinkers and thinking believers” into the Dominican family. Induction also allowed alumnae to share the tradition with the next generation of their daughters or granddaughters.

“Induction is this formal process of bringing a new student into the Dominican community, so for families that are multi-generational, new members being inducted into the community seals the bond in a sense,” said Mrs. Jill Cabes (’87), Vice-President, Dominican Catholic Identity.

As always, New Student Induction highlighted the traditions and legacy of the Dominican sisterhood. For all those becoming part of the legacy, induction welcomes them into the Dominican sisterhood. For biological sisters, the passing of the candles roots them in Veritas, providing them with a Dominican bond that surpasses family ties.

  • Vivian Palmer

DHS Tours Seven Colleges in Seven Days

October 17, 2018
smu

With Texas as their last stop, Dominican students share a bittersweet moment as they tour Southern Methodist University’s campus in Dallas. The group was in Texas for the end of their seven-day long summer College Tour in June.

The bus packed with 23 girls made its way down the interstate. The girls sat with their friends and talked about how excited they were to finally go to a college campus. During the ride, they dreamed of university life and what it would be like. They would soon find out when they heard the words they had been waiting to hear: “Okay guys we’re almost there.”

In June, students from St. Mary’s Dominican High School traveled on the week-long Summer College Tour. The students, accompanied by guidance counselor Mrs. Dawn Frick and Dean of Student Services Mrs. Katey Alexander (’91) took a bus trip across the country to visit the University of Memphis, Rhodes College, St. Louis University, Loyola University Chicago, Northwestern University, Washington University, University of Tulsa, Southern Methodist University and Rice University.

Dominican hosts the Summer College Tour to give sophomores, juniors and seniors a chance to visit colleges outside of Louisiana. College counselor Mrs. Wendy Grubb looks at the schools that Dominican girls are applying to and then chooses the destinations, according to Mrs. Frick.

The students were glad they signed up. According to junior Joy Richardson, the tour gave her a better idea of the type of school and environment she is looking for. Richardson said the tour opened her up to new experiences and a chance to meet new friends. Additionally, she said that she grew closer to the friends she already had. “I never had a perspective on college before. I never wanted to talk about it,” said Richardson. “Now all I want to talk about is college.”

The same thing goes for junior Pelarr Edwards. “It gave me a more realistic view of college and taught me what I like and what I dislike in a college,” said Edwards. “I would recommend going on this trip because it’s a chance to see colleges outside of Louisiana and see what college fits you.”

Sophomores Kaylee Gele’ and Madison Gauthier agree that the tour taught them the importance of community and environment when looking into colleges. Gauthier said it taught her what to look for and how to investigate internships that the college can offer related to different majors. Gele’ recommends the tour to other students because “if you’re worried, it’ll help you envision what college actually is and help decide what college is right for you.”

Even the moderators learned something new about college from this tour. Mrs. Alexander went into this trip thinking every college would be the same but soon changed her mind once the trip was over. “I realized that even though every college essentially offers the same thing, each one has something that makes it unique,” said Mrs. Alexander.

Universities that the group loved included Rhodes College in Memphis and Loyola University in Chicago. Rhodes was a group favorite with everyone saying that they loved the community feel and that it reminded them of Dominican. Loyola University in Chicago was another favorite because of the campus on the lake, the curriculum offered and the community. “That’s a school I can see Dominicans girls going to. That’s a college our girls would be comfortable attending,” said Mrs. Frick.

In between college visits, the group also toured different areas along the route. Favorite activities ranged from the visit to Six Flags in St. Louis to touring the Martin Luther King, Jr., Memorial in Memphis.

Before they knew it, the college tour was over, and it was time to go home. The bus packed with 23 girls made its way down the interstate, this time on the way back to Louisiana. The girls sat with their friends and talked about how excited they were for college. On the journey home, they dreamed of going to college and reminisced about their memories on the universities’ campuses. The end of their college trip meant the beginning of their college journey.

  • Grace DiFranco

 

 

 

 

 

Ring Day: The Tradition Continues One Ring at a Time

October 17, 2018

Some rings are new. Some are rings old. And the legacy continues with a new class of Dominican seniors.

On September 7, the Dominican class of 2019 continued the tradition of Ring Day, which includes Ring Mass and running down the St. Mary’s Hall. The annual celebration began in the Sister Ambrose Reggio Gym with Fr. John Restrepo, O.P., celebrating Mass and blessing the rings.

As they do each year, the class’s coordinators shared their memories of eighth through twelfth grades. Past coordinators Dina Alawamleh, Maggie Latham, Cappy Elvir, Chloe Whitcomb and senior coordinator Camryn Wisniewski spoke of important moments during their tenures.

alexanders

Two generations from the Alexander family show off their legacy rings amidst the excitement in St. Mary’s Hall on Ring Day 2018. Ms. Kate Alexander (’17), Mrs. Katey Fitzmorris Alexander (’91), senior Annie Alexander and junior Molly Alexander are bonded by this ring that extends from the root of Dominican sisterhood. “I am extremely excited to receive my ring next year since I’ve seen both my sisters get their rings,” said junior Molly Alexander. “I believe I was actually the first one to turn Annie’s ring.”

Of course, the highlight of the Ring Mass was receiving the coveted senior ring.  Receiving her Dominican senior ring represents something different to every senior. “It’s a symbol of sisterhood,” said senior Ashley Miles.

Some seniors receiving rings were part of a legacy of Dominican High School, which means their family members are DHS alumnae. For example, the Alexander family has a legacy that has spanned for four generations. Senior Annie – a fourth generation Dominicanite – comes from a long line of Dominican graduates including her great grandmother Mrs. Katherine “Kitty” Raphiel McKay (’37); grandmother Mrs. Kay Fitzmorris McKay (’62); mother Mrs. Katey Fitzmorris Alexander (’91), Dean of Students Services; and her sister Ms. Kate Alexander (’17).

Annie now wears the ring worn by her mother, Mrs. Alexander. Annie said she loves that wearing her ring has brought her closer to her mom. “It’s important to me because it reminds me of my family and all the good memories I’ve had at Dominican,” Annie said. “It reminds me of all my accomplishments and that this is just the beginning of the next chapter in my life.”

Following Mass, seniors with new and legacy rings alike rushed to St. Mary’s Hall for the celebratory run. Waiting to turn rings, Dominican students, spend-a-day students and teachers lined the hallways to experience this Ring Day tradition. The anticipation became more palpable as the sounds of the swishing white gowns and the stomping of the seniors grew closer.

chloe and camryn

As smiles radiate throughout St. Mary’s Hall, seniors Chloë Whitcomb and Camryn Wisniewski dash to find their fellow classmates. The traditional running down the halls takes place in St. Mary’s Hall after the Ring Mass and Ceremony.   – photo by Jade Nguyen

“It was so surreal. In the moment, I couldn’t even believe it was happening. It didn’t hit me until afterwards,” said Miles. “It was like a dream in a way.”

While the girls with the legacy rings were running down the hallways, they couldn’t help but to think about their mothers or grandmothers doing the same thing years ago with the same ring.

“Legacy…I can pass it down to generations and carry on that whole legacy that Dominican is about,” said senior Savannah Rouzan.

New to the tradition, eighth grader Adele Talbot and Sophia Martin described their first Ring Day with excitement. Talbot described Ring Day as a thrilling and interesting day that was “really new for me and it was really different.”

“In just a couple of years,” Martin proudly said, ”that’s going to be me.”

  • Jade Nguyen