Dear Upper School Families,

I hope that you are enjoying the first days of summer. Thank you to all who participated in and attended our graduation ceremony at St. Paul Cathedral last weekend. The Class of 2023 has many reasons to celebrate and feel proud of what they have accomplished collectively and individually during their time at Visitation. I want to recognize the recipient of our Clementine Medal for Scholarship, an award given annually to a member of the senior class who has achieved the highest average throughout her four years of high school: Anna Farley. Anna plans to attend Villanova University and take part in their Division I swim program. I also want to recognize the recipient of our Teresan Medal for Scholarship, an award given annually to a member of the senior class who has achieved the second highest average during her four years of high school: Mairin O’Shaugnessy. Next fall, Mairin will attend the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. During the honors and award portion of our ceremony, we also recognized Lucy Berg, the recipient of the Mary Patricia Hynes Award, a medal that represents the characteristics and philosophy of Visitation, including the special qualities of concern for others and school spirit. Lucy will attend the University of Denver as a psychology major. Read more about the honors and awards presented to graduates here. 

There is a cyclical nature of school. Just as we graduate the Class of 2023, we welcome the Class of 2027. Many of the incoming ninth graders will attend a welcome event on Wednesday so that they can meet one another and start the journey of high school together. We have posted our summer reading and supply list on our website. Please encourage your daughters to check the list and start the work early enough that they do not feel overwhelmed. Please note that we only have a comprehensive supply list for the incoming ninth graders as our older students have different schedules that require varying materials. Teachers will confirm what they will need during the first days of school. The Peddler, Visitation’s store for all things Visitation, including uniforms, will be open during the summer between July 18 and August 21 from 10 a.m to noon or by appointment with the store manager, Lisa Gray. Donald’s Uniform Store is also hosting a 20% off sale during the month of June if you wish to purchase uniforms directly from their store in St. Paul.

As we celebrate summer, I want to highlight athletic opportunities through our Train Like A Blazer schedule. Students can stay active and socialize with peers, new and old. If you have not already done so, I encourage you to please mark your calendar for the weekend of August 11-13 as we celebrate Visitation's 150th anniversary. There will be events for all ages, and you can check out a detailed event calendar here.

I will be in the office regularly until June 21 and starting again on August 1. Please do not hesitate to reach out to me if and when I can be helpful to you as we celebrate the end of one school year and prepare for the next. In the meantime, I wish you a wonderful summer, filled with blessings.

Sincerely,

Anna Bachman Barter, PhD
Director of Upper School