March 6, 2023

Collaboration and Cooperation, the Mantra for the March Newsletter

Carol NewsFeed, Newsletter, Uncategorized Hope Hall Newsletter, Sister Diana Dolce

Sister Diana’s Director’s Corner for March focuses on “Collaboration” and “Cooperation,” two words that many see as the same, but she sees as two complimentary, but different concepts.

She defines collaboration as “working together with others to achieve a common goal,” and cooperation as “working together for a common goal, but also getting along with those with whom you are working, honoring differences of opinion and styles of doing something, and appreciating the fact that there is always more than one way to achieve any goal.

She goes on to say, “In other words, collaboration is what you do in working together, and cooperation is how you do it. She offers suggestions of how to reinforce the values of collaboration and cooperation in the home.

In addition, this issue features:

Our Alumni Spotlight focused on Bridget Lanschwager and Charlie Schaffer.
Student of the Month, Billy Bosley
An article on Hope Hall’s new initiative, the Hope for Tomorrow Campaign that will enable the expansion and renovation of the school and help us enhance programming.
The tale of Enemy Pie in the classroom
Seeds of Hope in Science
How the St. Pauly shed helps Hope Hall and many others.
An update on Experience Italy and invitation to make in-kind donations for it.
Save the Date for the High Hopes Golf Tournament (Hint: It’s July 31 this year, at The Links at Greystone)

To download or read the newsletter, click on the image below.

February 13, 2023

February 2023: Expanding Our Hearts

Carol NewsFeed, Newsletter Hope Hall Newsletter, Sister Diana Dolce

In February’s Director’s Corner, Sister Diana points out that Expanding Our Hearts means making room for people other than our family and close friends. It means including people, in loving ways, whether we know them or not.

One way we can expand our hearts is by making sacrifices.

She points out that sacrifice is something we’re all called to do if we’re human beings who care anything about anyone else.

During the month of February, our students and staff will be participating in Hope Hall’s 19th Annual Pennies for Patients to raise funds to help fight Leukemia, Lymphoma, Hodgkin’s Disease and Myeloma. The newsletter contains information about this initiative, if you’d like to help.

You’ll also find:

A hardy congratulations to this month’s student of the month, Xavier Thompson-Drumgoole
A reminder about Celebrate Hope, our Interactive Open House
A registration form for Experience Italy on April 29th
A piece on Hope Hall’s Literacy Showcase at the end of December

Click on the image below to download the entire newsletter

January 4, 2023

January 2023: Beacons of Light and Hope; Post-Holiday Recipe for Happiness

Carol NewsFeed, Newsletter Hope Hall Newsletter, Sister Diana Dolce, Tribute to Dr. Barry Culhane, Tribute to Tilahun Gushish

For January’s Director’s Corner, Sister Diana revisits December’s topic on the importance of being points of Light and Hope, because toward the end of 2022, we lost two individuals within the Hope Hall Community who embodied those qualities. In this issue, we pay tribute to both of them.

She also focuses on the topic of happiness, pointing out that it is “an inside matter, ” and she offers a “recipe” for bringing happiness into our own lives, as well as those of our children.

In this issue, you’ll also find articles and information on:

Our Student of the Month, 10th Grader David Burt
Experience Italy (Please reserve April 29th on your calendar and watch February’s newsletter for registration!)
TJ Ruberti, our Alumni Spotlight for January
Middle School Math Teacher, Ms. Amie Fouchie, who held “Math Olympics,” as an innovative way to teach ordering numbers and working with decimals to her students
A tribute to former student and one of our points of Light and Hope who we lost in December, Tilahun (‘T’) Gushish (to watch a video tribute done in loving memory of him, Click Here)
A tribute to another of our points of Light and Hope who passed away in November, Board Member Dr. Barry Culhane
A Project done by the Senior Class called Painting with a Crunch
Snowmen in the Library!
An invitation to join us for Celebrate Hope, a new Interactive Open House on February 17th (for more information on this event, Click Here)
A photo collage of thanks to the Gates Fire District, for providing warm, new coats to our students through their annual initiative, Operation Warm

December 6, 2022

December Newsletter: We Are the Light, We Are the Hope

Carol Curriculum, Events, Fundraising, Hope Hall, NewsFeed, Newsletter, Success Stories December Newsletter 2022, Hope Hall curriculum, Hope Hall School, Sister Diana

For this month, Sister Diana reflects on the dark days of December, when “the light in our northern hemisphere is very much diminished,” noting that it reflects a certain darkness surrounding us in our city, nation, and our world.

She points out that this makes it so important for each of us to become a point of Light and Hope.

Because we are all connected, we can spread that light and hope, and become a force for good. When we do something purposeful for others, and recognize the things in our own lives for which we are grateful, “We can make a difference. We can make someone else’s world better even in a small way.”

She also shares tips for bringing that sense of connection, light and hope into the lives of our children.

In this issue, you’ll also:

Meet our Student of the Month (Adelina, a.k.a. Addie Hunneyman) and discover how she was chosen for this recognition by the Rochester A.M. Rotary Club.
Discover the achievements of two of our Alumni
Learn about our new and upcoming Celebrate Hope Interactive Open House on February 17.
Check out how our Trailblazing Blackhawks did in the Pumpkins in the Park 5K run.
Read several of “The Animal in Me” poems from the 6th Grade Poetry Project. (To see all of “The Animal in Me” poems, Click here.)
Learn how our 2022 Annual Appeal makes a difference in the lives of our students
See our “Twelve Days of Hope Hall Values” Christmas and Holiday Greetings.

Click on the newsletter below to download and read the issue.

November 3, 2022

November Is Gratitude Month!

Carol Events, Fundraising, Hope Hall, NewsFeed, Newsletter, Uncategorized Hope Hall November Newsletter

In November’s newsletter, Sister Diana points out that, in spite of all that is happening in the world that may be bringing us down, focusing on things and people we are grateful for helps alleviate feelings of stress and anxiety and helps bring HOPE.

During the month of November, she will be encouraging our students to develop a habit of gratitude by listing 5 things for which they are grateful each night before they go to sleep, and by thinking of 5 things for which they are grateful before they leave school for home at the end of each day.

She encourages all of us to do the same to reinforce and bring Hope into our lives.

You’ll also find:

A spotlight on two of our alumni
An update on our Gala, and a thanks to all who contributed
An inspiring excerpt from our Gala Parent Speaker, Roxanne Henry
A Thanksgiving Blessing
An article on an innovative strategy one of our teachers is using to teach history
A Flyer and reminder about our Poinsettia Sale (You can also find the flyer here)
A reminder of Hope Hall’s Woodworking Sale on December 10

Click on the newsletter below to download a copy.

October 3, 2022

October’s Newsletter – A Focus on the Value of Hospitality

Carol Events, Hope Hall, NewsFeed, Newsletter, Uncategorized, Update Hope Hall Newsletter, Sister Diana Dolce, Toast for Hope Gala

For the month of October, Sister Diana focuses on the value of Hospitality. She points out that hospitality is defined as the act of welcoming another person into our space, into our life, and letting the person know that s/he matters.

She asserts that Hospitality is a value that needs to be taught, nurtured, and cultivated
in order to become a way of life, and she offers tips on how to incorporate it into our personal lives, as well as to make it a way of life for members of our family, including our children.

In this issue, you’ll also find:

- An article about the Dewey Cafe, a “book tasting” that was organized by Ms. Combs and Mrs. Widera to introduce our students to different types of non-fiction.
- An update on new staff, and employee changes at Hope Hall
- Photos from the First Day of School
- An opportunity to “participate” (at least virtually) in the annual “Burying of the I Cant’s” Ceremony.
- Discover How Middle School Science Teacher Miss Kaitlin Hamilton put lab safety “under a microscope to teach her students about doing safe science experiments.
- Read a thanks to all who helped ensure our students and teachers had all they needed in school supplies
- Discover what’s in store for our Toast for Hope Gala online auction.
- Learn how Alvah Halloran & Son’s Hot Rods for Hospice helped the community, including Linda’s Cupboard
- A Save the Date for our Annual Woodworking Sale on December 10.

Click on the image below to download our October Newsletter.

Click to Download

In this issue, you’ll also find:

- An article about the Dewey Cafe, a “book tasting” that was organized by Ms. Combs and Mrs. Widera to introduce our students to different types of non-fiction.
- An update on new staff, and employee changes at Hope Hall
- Photos from the First Day of School
- An opportunity to “participate” (at least virtually) in the annual “Burying of the I Cant’s” Ceremony.
- Discover How Middle School Science Teacher Miss Kaitlin Hamilton put lab safety “under a microscope to teach her students about doing safe science experiments.
- Read a thanks to all who helped ensure our students and teachers had all they needed in school supplies
- Discover what’s in store for our Toast for Hope Gala online auction.
- Learn how Alvah Halloran & Son’s Hot Rods for Hospice helped the community, including Linda’s Cupboard
- A Save the Date for our Annual Woodworking Sale on December 10.

Click on the image below to download our October Newsletter.

Click to Download

September 6, 2022

A Language of Hope for September’s Newsletter and the Start of School

Carol Hope Hall, NewsFeed, Newsletter

As the school year starts, Sister Diana shares her thoughts on the word culture, which she defines as a group of people who share ways of believing, thinking, and acting. It could be likened to a distinguishing philosophy or vision of the group.

She goes on to explain that anyone coming to Hope Hall for the first time immediately picks up on the school’s culture. They see and experience children who learn differently, most of whom come from families who struggle economically, fully engaged in learning and feeling very much at home in a school of their own whose culture is grounded in Community and Hope.

The environment at Hope Hall is nurtured through a Language of Hope, which has the possibility and power to change lives.

“The language of Hope is a way of speaking to another person, no matter what he or she has done, or finds it difficult to do, that says “I believe in you, I respect you, and I know that you are more than what I see right now.”

In the September Issue, you’ll also find:

A Thank You for supporting A Community Thrives
Photos and an update on the High Hopes Golf Tournament
Photos and an overview of Hope Hall’s summer camp, which was underwritten by Glover-Crask Charitable Trust
An article on the ASL Zoo and Capstone projects
An invitation and information on the Toast for Hope Gala
A piece on the financial benefit for charitable contributions
A post on the Summer Tidings campaign to students and parents from Hope Hall Teachers and Staff

Click to download newsletter

July 11, 2022

A Special Thank You to Do-ers of Good – Summer Newsletter

Carol Events, Fundraising, Graduation, Hope Hall, NewsFeed, Newsletter, Uncategorized A Community Thrives, High School Prom, Sister Diana Dolce, Summer Newsletter

A Special Thanks to the Do-ers of Good

June 11, 2022

In Hope Hall’s Summer Newsletter, Sister Diana thanks all the Do-ers of Good who helped make our 2022 Walk for Hope so incredibly successful. In her eloquent words,

“We know that love is stronger than hate, and good is stronger than evil, so all of these actions put so much good into our world, and helped us to raise $46,544.23 to support our operating budget and provide our students with a school in which they can thrive.”

In this issue, we feature photos from the Walk for Hope, as well as:

A list of the “Sole Mates” and supporters of our Walk for Hope
Pictures and a post about the send-off we gave our Class of 2022, along with Graduation Photos. (P.S. In case you’d like to see more photos, the Senior Speeches, or the Graduation Ceremony itself, click here).
Photos and fun from the High School Prom (for more photos, visit our facebook album)
How the Hayes Sisters Made a Slam Dunk for Charity
An update on our Sold Out Hope Hopes Golf Tournament
How you can support Hope Hall’s Sports Program through “A Community Thrives” fundraising initiative.
An announcement of our Emcee for the Toast for Hope Gala