Little Flower Catholic High School for Girls is going through the re-accreditation process for our Middle States Accreditation. This happens every seven years with a three-year mid-point review. Little Flower offers its students an exceptional education with a wide range of courses and opportunities. Through this process of self-study, we have this extraordinary opportunity to reflect and renew the mission and ministry of Saint Therese for the betterment of our whole community: faculty, staff, students, parents/guardians, alumnae, and community partners. Everything we do has to go back to our main focus: we are all servant leaders who are fulfilling our God-given potential to do great things and leave Little Flower as better people so we can spread God's message.
Our response count for the Middle States survey was 249 students and 153 adults. Each group had their own survey. Based on these survey results and other key data from Achievement and Renaissance, Little Flower is developing one student performance objective, one faith-based objective, and one organizational capacity objective to submit for technical review. From there, each objective will have an action plan with strategies and checkpoints to achieve those goals.
The Planning Team for Middle States meets twice a month and we hold parent/guardian
workshops every month as well. All of these dates are on the calendar for your review.
I am looking forward to submitting more articles for the Theresian to update you on this tremendous process.
Thank you,
Ms. Radebaugh
The Origin of Ham and Cabbage
By Saoirse Corcoarn'25
Since before I was born, the 17th of March has always been a day when my family gets together, always for two reasons. Reason One: to celebrate the feast of Saint Patrick. And Reason Two: to make gigantic pots of Ham and Cabbage. This past Saint Patrick’s Day was no different; it is a tradition. But where does this tradition come from? Does it come from Ireland itself or is it the result of generations of Irish-Americans finding a way to preserve their culture?
The origins of Ham and Cabbage can be traced back to Ireland. Here in the United States, Ham and Cabbage is an occasional dish - mostly eaten around Saint Patrick’s Day. However, in Ireland, it is known as Bacon and Cabbage and it is eaten frequently year-round. Now, you’re probably wondering; “What? I thought it was ham, not bacon.” Don’t worry, this change in ingredients can be understood when comparing American Bacon with Irish Bacon, which is much closer to ham than the bacon we have in America. Because of this, Irish-Americans began to call the traditional dish “Bacon and Cabbage” as “Ham and Cabbage.”
Now, if I have predicted what is going through most of your heads, you’re probably thinking: “What about Corned Beef and Cabbage?” As a firm believer in Ham and Cabbage superiority, I am happy to tell you that Corned Beef and Cabbage are less true to their heritage than Ham and Cabbage. The reason Corned Beef and Cabbage came about was because in New York City where corned beef was popular, Irish immigrants replaced their bacon with corned beef, something that persists to this day.
In conclusion, a direct line can be established between Ham and Cabbage and Ireland, but there are many branches along the way. However, whether it be the change in meat or the change in the frequency it was eaten, the tradition of Ham and Cabbage in Irish Americans cannot be denied.
The Four-Leaf Clover
By Hillary Hguyen'25
When all the green things bloom and spring approaches. It is the beautiful season when all the vibrant, fresh greenery begins blooming with the sun’s increasing warmth. As you look through the vibrant green grass, you’ll see patches of clovers. And if you are lucky enough, you’ll find the 1 in 10,000 four-leaf clover! Each leaf of the clover symbolizes different blessings: faith, love, hope, and luck. If you ever spot the charming leaf and pass it along to someone new, your luck is said to multiply. And speaking about double, clovers are not limited to 3 or 4 leaves. A world record has been set for a shamrock found with 56 leaves!
This bountiful plant is most abundant in Ireland, where the Druids (Celtic priests) of ancient Europe are theorized to have carried a shamrock to ward off evil spirits. Ever since then, four-leaf clovers have made a mark on good luck and prosperity, making sense of the saying “the luck of the Irish.” See if you can be successful this season in your hunt for a new magically rich lucky charm!
Club of the Month: The Asian Culture Club
By Joanna Meminaj'24
Little Flower offers an assortment of cultural groups that reflect student’s backgrounds. One of these groups is the Asian Culture Club, which meets during both T-1 and T-2. The club is moderated by Mrs. Kugler, and the president is Phoung Nyguen’24. The club offers many opportunities to immerse in Asian culture. Club activities such as learning K-pop dance lessons, origami, movies, and trips to Chinatown have brought a fun spin on learning a new culture.
President Phoung Nyguen describes the club, stating, “To celebrate the diversity and unity of Asian culture, our club is dedicated to exploring every aspect through fun cultural activities, movie nights, and field trips.” Recent events included a get-together with Cheltenham High School’s Asian Culture Club.
The Asian Culture table, organized by the Asian Club at the International Cafe, was a success. The club provided an assortment of delicious Asian cuisines such as boba, ube ice cream, spring rolls, egg tarts, corn dogs, and more.
Winter Wonderland
by Campbell McCluskey
What to cure an aching heart and crowded mind,
This swirling storm defeats me,
A peaceful moment, hard to find.
This evening drones on quite bleakly.
Whatever happened to the blossoming leaves?
Green-shined like emerald amidst the trees.
Dreary silence.
Broken only by the knife of cold wind
Whistling in my frostbitten ears.
The sky is gray and so sings my soul,
Saddened by the absence of my sun’s glow.
My eyes grow tired of the dark
My heart, of the silence.
I was not quite ready
to let the spring go.
The birds have stopped chirping
I miss their sweet song
I miss the afternoons
When the days were once long.
An endless night plagues the sky
It drags sleepy souls along.
I wonder where the animals have gone;
Following their own warmth.
Leaving me frozen in the memory
Of the near past.
And so I sit,
In my cold statue.
Until we meet again.
As branches crackle like broken bones,
And the grass loses its color
What it would be like,
If it were any other season
I can not help but to wonder.
To me, winter is a wonderland.
But only in the sense to wonder;
About where I could be,
what I could do,
If it were the summer.
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