Over the past seven weeks, we have all experienced significant changes to our daily life. No matter your age, your location, your career, etc., all of our normal routines have been pushed aside and replaced with uncertainty, as well as an expectation to be OK with uncertainty. It’s safe to say that being OK with uncertainty does not come easily to people; most definitely it has never been a personal strength of mine.
While uncertainty surrounds us right now, one thing that remains constant and true is the beauty and gift of being a part of the Dominican community. A community that is truly filled with inspiring and uplifting people. Over the course of the past seven weeks, Dominican students, teachers and parents have proven over and over again that no matter the circumstance, our community continues to thrive and shine. Many examples are provided in this newsletter. When given the “Dominican green" light, we will be ready to officially gather to celebrate our Class of 2020 and welcome our graduates into the alumni community!
This past weekend, you, our Dominican community, helped us shine by creating the most successful auction in our school’s history. Over 400 people, including a record-breaking number of alumni, came together virtually to participate in our first online auction. It was such a fun experience to watch the active bidding on the various items, the wonderful generosity shown toward the scholarship fund, the comments on the Facebook Live Stream and the promotion of the event by so many supporters. Special thanks to Louise Berg '79 for creating this year's scholarship fund video, featuring three of our amazing seniors: Phillip Jones, Emma Kuss and Aline Morales. Click here to watch the video. Many thanks to our auction sponsors and committee chairs who helped create a history-making auction. A heartfelt thanks to the 2020 Auction Co-Chairs, Bill & Karen Desing, Jim & Tina Desing and John & Jayne '85 Desing for their leadership, hard work and dedication which made this the best (and hopefully last) online only auction! Click Here to see a list of the amazing sponsors who helped make our Dominican auction possible! Click here to help us reach our $200,000 scholarship fund goal! Thank you to all who participated!
Truly, Dominican is such a very special community. And, because of the leadership provided by the Sinsinawa Dominicans as well as the dedicated men and women who have served on our Board of Directors for the past 60-plus years, I am certain that we will continue to carry on our mission for decades to come.
Thank you for your promotion, your support and your belief in the Dominican mission.
Leanne Giese
President
DOMINICAN NEWS!
Dominican has much to be proud of! Check out these student, alumni, faculty and school updates
A Prayer for the Convent
For more than 50 years the Dominican Convent called Dominican High School's North Campus home. In 2017 the convent was vacated by the Sinsinawa Dominican Sisters and demolition began on the building this spring. Plans for the space in the immediate future are to extend the green space on North Campus to allow for more space for athletic practices.
While the physical building may be gone, we will never forget the impact the women who lived in that building had on our school and community. Click here for a time lapse of the convent demolition accompanied by a prayer written by Sr. Mary Howard Johnstone, O.P.
Our Knight Visited Seniors!
Over the last few days members of Dominican's faculty and staff dropped off "Class of 2020" yard signs to our seniors at their homes. On Tuesday, a few lucky seniors got a visit from the Knight mascot to drop off their signs! We love our Knights and we love our seniors!
Check out the video here.
Dominican Sends Virtual High Fives
While we are all apart, we are looking for ways to stay together as a community. April 16th was National High Five Day. Since we couldn’t give high fives in person this year, our faculty and staff wanted to send some virtual high fives to all knights for the great work they are doing during these trying times. Click here to see the video.
Campus Ministry Holds Virtual Sophomore Retreat
Last Friday, April 24th, our sophomore class took part in Dominican's first ever virtual retreat. The retreat, entitled "Jars of Clay," was centered on 2 Corinthians 4:7-12 and challenged students to reflect on their actions and how to repair broken relationships through Christ. Students participated in retreat individually, with their families, or together as a group over Zoom.
Dominican Theatre Wins 10 Jerry Awards
Dominican Theatre was awarded 10 Jerry Awards for “Bright Star” and “Mamma Mia!” Congratulations to Dominican’s 2019-2020 Jerry Award Winners! The Award Recipients are:
Jenna Alberti – Outstanding Performance for Alice Murphy – “Bright Star”
Mason Sammarco – Outstanding Leading Performance for Jimmy Ray – “Bright Star”
Maura Linn - Spirit Award – “Mamma Mia!”
Alia Melloch – Spirit Award – “Bright Star”
Outstanding Ensemble – “Bright Star”
Jess Miller – Outstanding Stage Management – “Mamma Mia!”
Jeff Schaetzke – Outstanding Musical Direction – “Bright Star”
Bryn Van Beek – Outstanding Scenic Design – “Bright Star”
Bryn Van Beek – Outstanding Lighting Design – “Mamma Mia!”
Nick Murel – Outstanding Scenic Design – “Mamma Mia!”
Congratulations to Our Choir Students!
The following students participated in the WSMA Virtual District Solo and Ensemble contest and are advancing to the Virtual State Solo and Ensemble contest in early May. Congratulations!
Maddy Ballard (Classical Solo)
Georgea Cushman (Classical Solo)
Simone Kim (Classical and Musical Theater Solos)
Lily Maier (Classical and Musical Theater Solos)
Angelina Maly (Classical Solo)
Mary Mitchell (Classical Solo)
Dominican Choir Comes Together Virtually
How does virtual learning work for choir class? Here's your answer! For two weeks choir students have been learning their choir parts for a song entitled "Light of the World" by Karen Marrolli. One of their latest assignments was to individually record their respective parts. After receiving all of the parts, our choir teacher Mrs. Parlier put them all together for this choral recording. Click here to watch the video. Enjoy!
Dominican Hires Girls Volleyball Coach
Jimmy Burg has been hired as the Head Girls Volleyball Coach. Coach Burg comes to Dominican with 10 years of varsity head coaching experience. Over his coaching career Jimmy has been named coach of the year twice and has a cumulative record of 284-115. We are extremely excited to welcome Coach Burg to the Dominican Family.
A VIRTUAL HOLY THURSDAY
Though we could not gather as a school for our powerful Holy Thursday prayer service this year, our Campus Ministry students and the Veritas Team put together a video on our journey walking with Jesus through Holy Week and celebrating the resurrection at Easter. To watch "uKnighted with Christ" click here.
Check out the Knightly News!
Check out Dominican's student-run news website, dominicanknightlynews.com to keep up with stories written by current Dominican students, including an in-depth story on the Coronavirus.
LOOKING FOR WORK? OUTDOOR LIGHTING CONSTRUCTION IS HIRING
Alumni-owned Outdoor Lighting is looking for help in their Brown Deer area shop. Tasks include cleaning and organizing shop and storage areas, loading and unloading trucks, building metal cages for concrete bases, washing and cleaning trucks. Driver’s license a plus, but not required.
If you have a driver’s license, job will also include pick-up and delivery to job sites. Pay is $12.00 an hour, usually work 7-4 daily (but we can be flexible). Contact Mary Pesich mary@odlconst.com or (414) 354-9176.
ALUMNI INFO
Sam Starke '12 Helping Clinic in Haiti Recover from Fire, Treat COVID-19
Prior to medical school, Sam Starke '12 had the opportunity to spend a year developing health programs in Haiti. He learned earlier this month that the hospital where he worked suffered a devastating fire just as they were preparing for the arrival of COVID-19. This hospital is the only permanent dedicated health facility for a population of over 125,000 people in an extremely impoverished part of Haiti. Sam and his colleagues have started a GoFundMe for an emergency relief fund to support repairs and to help with purchases of PPE and medications.
To read the Journal Sentinel article about Sam and his efforts, CLICK HERE.
For information on the GoFundMe campaign, CLICK HERE.
REQUESTING ALUMNI UPDATES!!
How are you keeping in touch with your fellow Dominican alumni?
What’s one of the best parts of our Dominican Magazine? The Alumni updates. Tell us about the ways that you are staying in touch with your classmates during COVID-19. Are you on Zoom calls and Facetime? Having virtual cocktail hours and game nights? Share what you’re doing and send us a screen shot of a virtual gathering or any type of update that shows us how Alums U-Knight!
Please send any updates to Alumni Manager, Julie Dlugopolski JDlugopolski@dominicanhighschool.com, 414.332.1170 x172.
You can also submit updates from the Dominican website HERE
REUNION INFO
Classes ending in 0 and 5… 2020 is YOUR reunion year! As timelines and restrictions of the COVID-19 virus continue to change, please stay tuned over the next few months for reunion updates and announcements. You will find two updates from reunion committees below.
Class of 1960 your reunion has been postponed until Summer or Fall of 2021.
Class of 1970 50th Class Reunion will be pushed until next year in August when we will all feel more comfortable getting together in a big group setting. Continuing updates will be posted in the DHS 1970 / 50th Reunion Facebook page. For any questions please contact: Judy Lynch - lynchj30@hotmail.com, Mary Ritter Zaharias- mrzaharias@gmail.com or Ray Moon- Rmoon1@wi.rr.com
For additional questions regarding your reunion, contact Alumni Manager, Julie Dlugopolski JDlugopolski@dominicanhighschool.com, 414.332.1170 x172.
CALLING ALL GE HEALTHCARE DOMINICAN EMPLOYEES
Do you or your spouse work for GE Healthcare? GE Healthcare offers Community Engagement Initiatives that include matching gift and volunteer programs that can benefit Dominican. Please contact Alumni Manager, Julie Dlugopolski JDlugopolski@dominicanhighschool.com so we can gather names for future community engagement.
Please keep the following Dominican families in your prayers:
The Brill Family
Jeanne Brill, mother of Jack ’73 and Steve ’78, passed away on April 16th at the age of 88.
The Frank Family
Kathy Frank Dwyer ’66, sister of David Sr. ’67 (deceased), Patty Marks ’71 (deceased), sister-in-law of Cheryl Touchett ’67, cousin of Betsy (Nicoud) Roberts ’68, Mary Ann Nicoud ’69, Susie (Nicoud) Koprowski ’71, Mary Agnes (Bertha) Evslin ’66, Patricia (Bertha) Mattingly ’70, Brian Bertha ’77, Terry (Bertha) McGuire ’79, passed away on April 19th at the age of 72.
The McGivern Family
Joan McGivern, mother of Tim ’71 and former Dominican coach Michael, passed away on April 2nd at the age of 92.
The Price Family
Carol Medd Price ’65, mother of former Dominican teacher, Lindsey Price, passed away on April 16th at the age of 72.
The Pritchard Family
John Pritchard, father of Robert ’65, Matthew ’67 and Peter ’68, passed away on April 14th at the age of 96.
The Proite Family
Anthony Proite, father of Gail ’66, passed away on April 11th at the age of 94.
