Black History Month tradition continues at Woodlands Academy

Nearly 100 students in fourth to eighth grade from St. Malachy School in Chicago visited Woodlands Academy of the Sacred Heart in Lake Forest on Friday, Feb. 10, for a day of events including an uplifting gospel liturgy, pizza lunch, talent show and a carnival.

This celebration marked the latest chapter in a Black History Month tradition between the inner-city grade school and the North Shore all-girls college-prep high school dating back to 1996.

This year's theme was sharing our gifts and blessings with one another. As she opened the liturgy, which featured music from the joyful voices of the St. Malachy Gospel Choir, Woodlands Academy senior Meaghan Lanctot of Lake Forest said, "Sharing friendship is something students at St. Malachy and at Woodlands Academy have been doing for a long time. … We are so blessed to share so many experiences together and to learn so much from one another."

St. Malachy students then enjoyed a pizza lunch hosted by Woodlands Academy Service Club, Campus Ministry and Social Justice class members. This was followed by a variety of activities including robotics and ceramics workshops for the older guests and a carnival for the fourth- to sixth-graders.

The robotics workshop was a new feature this year, suggested by members of the Woodlands Academy Robotics Club as part of their desire to generate interest among middle school students.

This annual celebration at Woodlands, which has special meaning to both hosts and guests alike, is held in the true spirit of Sacred Heart Schools' Goal III, "a social awareness which impels to action."

Founded in 1858, Woodlands Academy is an independent Catholic college preparatory day and boarding high school for young women. It's part of a worldwide network of Sacred Heart Schools that spans the United States and 40 other countries. A nonprofit, Woodlands Academy's identity is rooted in Saint Madeleine Sophie Barat's desire to inspire young hearts and minds to excel, to lead lives of integrity and to serve. For more information about Woodlands Academy, please visit www.woodlandsacademy.org.