Convent of the Sacred Heart
1177 King St. 06883 • Greenwich, CT 06831
Contact:
Kathleen S. Failla, director of public relations and communications
Office: 203-532-3546 or faillak@cshgreenwich.org
Mobile: 203-2472126
CSH students blog on 5-day service learning in New Orleans
Convent of the Sacred Heart (CSH) faculty members and five Upper School students returned recently from
Louisiana where they had been on a five-day service learning trip rebuilding a home in the Katrina-damaged
city of Chalmette, just outside of New Orleans. Convent of the Sacred Heart, Greenwich has been sending a
team down each year since Katrina, and while evidence of rebuilding is apparent, you can still see areas where
help is needed.
At CSH, Greenwich, the Upper School (US) offers a program that enables students to benefit from direct
service opportunities. “Service-learning opportunities like New Orleans and another trip planned this
summer to the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota provide an extended experience that weaves in
learning with service,” said Lori Wilson, director of campus ministry and US community service. “These are
opportunities for students to understand people of another culture, their struggles and to gain a sense of how
connected we are as people on the same planet.”
Kevin Donnelly, US language department chair, and Mrs. Wilson worked alongside the “Katrina Krewe” –
who included sophomores Molly Carroll, Elizabeth Denson, Gabby Giacomo, Julia Perry and freshman
Yahnah Johns Woodby. The team worked on rebuilding a house with the St. Bernard Project in New
Orleans.
In a blog on the school’s website, Mrs. Wilson and the students wrote about the plight of the poor in New
Orleans. Here is a glimpse of what they saw. “The girls have been working hard mudding, sanding, painting,
tiling, working on installing baseboards, hanging cement board and learning about Katrina, New Orleans and
why the city and people are still in need of help,” Mrs. Wilson wrote.
“The homeowner hasn't been in her home since Katrina. She's 60-years-old and has been living with relatives
since the hurricane. Work was begun, but contractors defrauded on their work and now, finally, she's close to
moving back into her home.
“There was 15-feet of water during the storm in this neighborhood and she had to climb out of her upper
story bedroom window into a boat and get to safety. This service learning experience has been a learning one
for all of the girls. They are learning new skills, learning more about New Orleans, enjoying some new foods,
working hard and becoming more confident. We can be proud of all of them, said Mrs. Wilson."
While the students were on their five-day project at the end of January they were interviewed by New Orleans
major daily newspaper, The Times-Picayune. To read about their experience, here is the address of the blog
on the school’s website: https://www.cshgreenwich.org/podium/default.aspx?t=204&nid=653821.
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