A Message From Sr. O'Dea
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Greetings, Forest Ridge Alumnae!
It seems hard to believe that two years have passed since I have been away from Forest Ridge. My years there were so blessed, especially in the wonderful, enduring relationships I knew and the challenging educational work.
At present I am living in the Gatehouse, a small community on a magnificent Atherton, CA property. The Sacred Heart School is also located here, as is the Oakwood Retirement Center for the RSCJ. Because of a need for medical support for an injury, I am at present at Oakwood.
Since my sister lives in San Francisco, we are able to get together often. Among the enjoyable outings we have had are trips to Napa, visiting relatives in Santa Barbara, and celebrating Barbara’s birthday at the Top of the Mark Hopkins Hotel in San Francisco.
Arriving at Oakwood close to the same time as I, Sr. Bunny Flick, RSCJ. was the new Head of School at Forest Ridge when I joined the English Department in 1974. Sr. Flick and I had alum visitors a few weeks ago. It was enjoyable to have lunch and stroll the campus with Mary Jenneskens ’76 and Louise Sullivan ’76. Also, Katie Coleman Brogstrom '70, has invited us several times to her Menlo Park home for supper.
This 65-acre property is home to the Gators, a Sacred Heart student body of about 1200 students from pre-school to 12th grade. The school lives out very creatively and beautifully the same mission as Forest Ridge. Because of its size and location, Sacred Heart Atherton has multiple artistic, scientific, humanistic, and athletic opportunities available to students. The school often wins water-polo matches it can host in its Olympic sized pool!
Besides being on the Board of Trustees for Schools of the Sacred Heart, San Francisco, I have enjoyed participating in this school community at Atherton. I am a member of the Sacred Heart Society , a group of rscj who meet every one- or two-weeks weeks with a senior to serve as a kind of mentor. This year I am meeting with Grace , an avid nature lover who also writes for the school paper and takes all AP classes! Secondly, I hope in a little while to resume some tutoring with the upper school. And thirdly, I attend their plays, one of which this year will be Romeo and Juliet.
Yes, I still enjoy reading; an RSCJ book club at Oakwood to which I belong just finished reading Magnifica Humanitas, Pope Leo XIV’s encyclical concerning AI’s role in our lives. For my own reading I have enjoyed The Correspondent by Virginia Evans, The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife by Anna Johnston, and Theo of Golden by Allen Levi. This latter volume gives a kaleidoscope of meanings to the word “kindness.”
Whatever occurs, I cling gratefully to my affection for all that Forest Ridge is and has been to me and bring your intentions to our 9:00 am. Mass. In its “dailiness of life, “ I know Forest Ridge brings joy and a creative attention to each student. Its leadership and faculty continue to reflect the vision of Madeleine Sophie Barat in an education centered on love. This mission will always be an anchor for our hopes.
Love and Blessings,
Marcia O’Dea RSCJ