A Message from the Head of School s we begin another exciting school year, I am thrilled to share the strides Buffalo Academy of the Sacred Heart has taken in giving form to the vision of our strategic plan. At the heart of every strategic initiative is our unwavering commitment to the holistic development of each girl—nurturing her spirit, mind, and body, within a mission-centered, joy-filled community that continues to flourish. This issue of the Cordecho highlights several powerful examples of that progress. SHA has developed a comprehensive wellness plan rooted in our belief that a student’s personal well-being is essential to her academic and spiritual growth. Complementing our already deep-seated commitment to wellness, welcome, and sisterhood as a Franciscan community, the team focused on two additional key elements in that plan, and both are featured in this issue. This summer, we created our brand-new Wellness Center—an inviting space designed as a hub for student support, reflection, and spiritual growth—supported by our school counselors, social worker, and campus ministers. We also introduced Sources of Strength, a nationally recognized peer-led program that empowers our students to demonstrate leadership skills as they build resilience and foster a culture of connectedness and care at Sacred Heart. We are also proud to share that we are now a candidate school for the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program (MYP) and will welcome the evaluation team this fall for our accreditation visit. This move ensures that every student benefits from the globally recognized strengths of IB pedagogy—realworld applications, 21st-century skills, interdisciplinary learning, and a strong sense of international-mindedness. These are not just academic enhancements; they are life-shaping opportunities that will serve our girls well beyond their time at SHA. The MYP opens IB to all our learners and is equally beneficial to our students who need additional support as it is to our accelerated students. Engaging, meaningful instruction enhances everyone’s classroom experience. What makes these achievements even more energizing is the response from our community. Families across Western New York are recognizing the strength of what SHA has to offer: a rich blend of academic excellence, co-curricular vibrancy, and a deep commitment to the Franciscan values that guide our Academy. Rooted in those values, our SHA sisterhood offers girls a sense of belonging, purpose, and joy that lasts far beyond graduation. We are thrilled to welcome our largest incoming class since 2017. There has never been a better time to be a SHA girl! Thank you for your continued support, your prayers, and your commitment to our shared mission and vision. Together, we are shaping a future full of faith, promise, joy, and wellness. 2 CORDECHO SPIRIT. MIND. BODY. ONTHECOVER “Living in Nature” was one of 14 interdisciplinary units for freshmen and sophomores during the two-day SHAKe Up sessions in January 2025. Led by faculty members Martha Horohoe, Tammy Mugel, and Melanie Marczak Whitney ‘96, students gained a deeper understanding of the natural influences that led to the Beaux Arts movement in art and architecture. A trip to the Erie County Botanical Gardens and an architectural tour in Buffalo provided the girls with ample inspiration to create artwork of their own using naturally formulated pigments they created in SHA’s science lab. Emma Heisner ’27 paused to photograph a flower, drawing inspiration for her own artwork. Learn more about SHAKe Up sessions on pages 10-11. SPIRIT. MIND. BODY. Christine Licata ’63 has served on the Board of Directors since 2022 and as President since the 2024-25 school year. Christine’s role as the Vice Provost for Academic Affairs at Rochester Institute of Technology, where she oversees accreditation and academic program management for the university, has served SHA extremely well as we continue to move through our strategic plan and IB MYP accreditation. Christine is deeply committed to ensuring that SHA’s values, traditions, and outstanding education continue in perpetuity. When not busy with her professional commitments, Christine loves to support the arts and is a gifted ballroom dancer.
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