Dear Members of the Newton Country Day School of the Sacred Heart Community,
Rooted in the history of our Founding Mothers, the Sacred Heart mission calls us to make known the love of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. St. Rose Philippine Duchesne's words, "Love aright and you will never be sad. Embrace God's will and you will be filled with joy and peace." resonate in this moment. Sister Barbara Rogers, RSCJ's love for the Sacred Heart mission and for each of us has enriched our lives and brought our community immense joy for decades. With profound gratitude, having borne witness to a life of service, my fellow board members and I have accepted Sister Rogers' decision to step down at the end of the 2023-2024 academic year.
Sister Rogers' passion for her work is embedded in her connection to a strong line of women. She is, like her mother was before her, a graduate of the Convent of the Sacred Heart, Elmhurst and Manhattanville College. She was present for the canonization of St. Rose Philippine Duchesne in Rome. Following a formative time in health care financing, Sister Rogers held faculty and administrative positions at Carrollton, Stuart Country Day, and Stone Ridge. Yet as a proud Rhode Island native, New England would always be home. Sister Rogers came to Newton Country Day School in 1988, having completed her MBA at Yale. In 1989 she became headmistress. At a retreat with faculty and staff in the early 1990s, Sister Rogers shared what drove and inspired her: ensuring that St. Madeleine Sophie Barat would be proud to claim NCDS as her own and that she would say 'this is what I had in mind' when witnessing the life at Newton Country Day School. Sister Rogers' charism of the mission and commitment to the work has made a lasting reality of St. Madeleine Sophie Barat's vision. The legacy of these formidable women is ours to experience, to protect, and to grow.
During her tenure at NCDS, Sister Rogers has guided us through many transformations and much growth. She oversaw a full renovation and restoration of our historic buildings including the completion of the Sweeney-Husson building with a theatre, science labs and Middle School space. She opened a new library, renovated our Chapel, and brought us the Kathleen R. Martin Wellness Center. Enhancements to our campus have always been about deepening our commitment to mission and enriching the lives of our students. When Sister Rogers arrived at NCDS our endowment was virtually non-existent; it now approaches $50 million, due in no small measure, to her insatiable zeal and commitment. At the turn of the century, Sister Rogers was quoted as saying "Being clear about our mission gives us the freedom to change. It also gives us the ability to make decisions quickly. How did we afford to do all of this? We couldn't afford not to do it." It is this courage and confidence, consistently modeled by Sister Rogers, that has enveloped our school.
The list of physical plant improvements is great, but greater still is the impact Sister Rogers has on our minds and hearts. The strength and breadth of our academic program is a direct result of Sister Rogers' belief in the power of innovation, curiosity, and preparation. Academic excellence, personal wellness, and spiritual strength are the hallmarks of the Newton Country Day School experience that Sister Rogers champions. She developed an immensely talented faculty; all of whom are rooted in the mission and inspired by her vision and commitment. Sister Rogers has spent much time as our spiritual leader mentoring faculty, staff, students, advisees, and alumnae. She believes strongly in respect for the individual and the power of building a community of those individuals. While we may never fully comprehend all that Sister Rogers has given to NCDS, I am eternally grateful to have had her wisdom and counsel over the years. I imagine each of us can recall many personal moments with Sister Rogers where she made us feel seen. She has emboldened thousands of women to be leaders in our world. The power of Sister Rogers' words and, even more so, her example, provide us with a deep connection to the NCDS community, the broader Sacred Heart Network, and our Catholic faith.
We have important work ahead of us and have been preparing for this moment. St. Madeleine Sophie Barat and St. Rose Philippine Duchesne provided the model of the mission of Sacred Heart education. Within this framework, the Board is committed to identifying a new Head of School who will exemplify the values inherent in the Goals and Criteria. We will ensure the integrity of NCDS' mission as a Sacred Heart School. To that end, we have selected RG175, a leading global search firm with an experienced independent-Catholic school and higher education leadership recruitment practice, to help guide our efforts. We have formed a search committee of trustees and past trustees, co-chaired by Elizabeth Morey Blecharczyk '01 and Ellen M. Harrington '77, who will oversee the search and selection process. The Board will seek stakeholder input from across our community including faculty and staff, students, parents, past parents, and alumnae. We will provide updates as this process unfolds and will share details on next steps as we progress in the search. I ask for your prayers during this time of reflection and discernment.
Sister Rogers' retirement will be a momentous occasion which we will honor with much celebration and thanksgiving in the months to come. Sister Rogers is the sole Religious Head of School among the 25 schools in the Sacred Heart Network throughout the United States and Canada. In addition to acknowledging the importance of this moment for our community, we will join the broader Sacred Heart Network in celebrating our rich history of education by the Religious Society of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. We have been blessed beyond measure to have Sister Rogers lead our school for the past 34 years. We are fortunate to move forward with her dedicated leadership for the next 18 months and know that she will be integral to our community for years to come. Please join me in thanking Sister Barbara Rogers for her steadfast guidance, love, and faith; and for, in the words of St. Rose Philippine Duchesne, the example of her life.
With great appreciation,