film students grow as innovators & creatives
Sacred Heart Greenwich artists shine in Connecticut’s premier student art competition
Sacred Heart Greenwich’s Theatre Program inspires confidence & community throughout Lower, Middle, and Upper School
We celebrated a joyful holiday season at Sacred Heart Greenwich, and this issue of ArtBEAT captures the warmth, energy, learning, and laughter shared through our many performances and creative projects. In these pages, we shine a spotlight on our dynamic theatre program, learn more about the work of our creative filmmaking students, and highlight other moments that made the season so special. Enjoy!
Mrs. Eva Carrasquero P’16, H’23, Performing Arts Department Chair
Mrs. Marnie McLaughlin, Visual Arts Department Chair
In December, our Arts Collective organized a Student Showcase with performances featuring dance, music, and original works from our student artists. Keeping with the Arts Collective’s goal to combine service with community events that promote the arts both in and outside of Sacred Heart Greenwich, proceeds from the event supported the Heartsong Creative Arts Therapy program. Sutton B. ’26 and Caroline G. ’26 spearheaded the studentorganized event, which also included a gallery of work by our visual artists!
This past May we celebrated two beloved members of our Arts Department as they reached an important milestone: Ms. Annette Etheridge and Ms. Ricki Bogin both celebrated their 20th years as educators at Sacred Heart Greenwich, becoming honorary alumnae and receiving their own class rings! The impact they have had on their music and visual arts students through the years has been immeasurable, and we’re so grateful for how they have shaped our community.
In the Upper School, Creative Filmmaking students have the opportunity to develop, film, edit, and produce their own short films. From generating and writing their own scripts, to learning and practicing technical skills involved with filming, to growing within the disciplines of editing and postproduction, these film students are constantly growing as innovators and creatives.
Maisie P. ’27 is currently taking Advanced Creative Filmmaking and loves the artistic freedom the class offers. “Being able to experiment with ideas, collaborate with others, and see how a concept turns into a finished film has been both exciting and rewarding,” she explained.
Drawn to filmmaking because of the unique ways it combines storytelling, visual art, and emotion, she has learned to tackle the challenges involved with translating ideas from her head into something that works visually on screen. “Technical aspects like framing, lighting, and editing were difficult at first, but they pushed me to think more intentionally about my choices.”
One of her favorite films that she has made is called 20/20 Vision, which is about a doctor studying strange addictions. An inventive film with a twist ending, she had to plan and consider plenty of moving parts in order to execute the project with precision. “I am most proud of this film because I really planned and worked very hard on each aspect of the film process,” she explained. “Watching my vision come to life was something very special.”
product was a very cute film that always brings a smile to people’s faces.”
Clara B. ’26 has had an interest in creative filmmaking for years. “Because my mother is a film teacher and my father worked at an animation company, I watched many films in my young life. As a kid I participated in a claymation program, and I always loved making iMovies with my friends.”
Now a senior in the advanced class, she is applying artistic analysis to some of those same movies she watched growing up. “It’s not only fun but informative to watch scenes from films like Legally Blonde and Whiplash that support our learning of story structure and cinematic techniques.”
The creative film that Clara is most proud of is Trick or Dog Treat, a narrative film she made in the fall of her junior year about a dog searching for candy on Halloween night. “Although it was difficult to work with my dog—who is not well trained—the end
The workshop aspect of her class really helped her develop her piece and allowed her to recognize her own growth as a filmmaker. “One of the most remarkable things about the film is the difference between the rough cut and final cut. After screening my rough cut in class, I experimented with color correction and made adjustments based on great feedback from my teacher and peers that helped me to strengthen my story. Along with other adjustments, these changes made Trick or Dog Treat a different but greatly improved film.”
Maisie also shared how her approach to film has evolved as she has grown throughout her time in class. “I’ve learned to plan more carefully, adapt when things don’t go as expected, and trust my creative instincts while still being open to feedback,” she explained. “Overall, I feel like I’m becoming more confident in my creative decisions and more comfortable with the filmmaking process.”
Six students from Sacred Heart Greenwich’s Upper School won awards in the 2026 Connecticut Regional Scholastic Awards program. This program recognizes only the best Connecticut student artwork, which is juried by professional artists and university art faculty and selected on merit for inclusion in a statewide art exhibition held at the Hartford Art School. Beyond the honor of being selected for this high-quality exhibit, students may be awarded Gold or Silver Keys and Honorable Mention Awards in each of 18 media categories.
“Chromatic Collision”
Ava C. ’26
Silver Key Photography Teacher: Mr. Williamson
Honorable Mention
Sculpture Teacher: Mrs. McLaughlin
“Labor of the Day Dreamer”
Olivia F. ’26
Gold Key
Jerry’s Artarama of West Hartford Best in Digital Painting, Drawing, and Collage
Digital Painting, Drawing, and Collage Teacher: Mr. Peck
“Beneath the Rush”
Maisie P. ’27
Silver Key Film and Animation Teacher: Mr. Pisani
“Friendship in a Storm”
Nora G. ’27
Honorable Mention
Digital Drawing and Painting Teacher: Mrs. McLaughlin
“Coffee for Good” Margot G. ’28
Gold Key Film and Animation Teacher: Ms. Stewart
“Threads of Love”
Maisie P. ’27
Honorable Mention Film and Animation Teacher: Mr. Pisani
This past November, the Upper School performed A Christmas Carol based on the novella by Charles Dickens. Students auditioned in early September and spent the next two months staging, rehearsing, and bringing to life the characters in this classic story celebrating redemption, connection, and hope.
“I have always loved being in the winter musicals, and I was so excited to be in the cast of the fall play for the first time this year,” said Caroline G. ’26 who played Bob Cratchit in the production. “It’s just such a fun environment. Being in rehearsal is always my favorite part of the day.”
Eleanor K. ’28, who played Mary, Tiny Tim, the Ghost of Christmas Future, and others, spoke about what she feels makes the theatre program so special. “Everyone makes the atmosphere so supportive so people aren’t afraid to take risks,” she said. “It’s such a close-knit group and it’s helped me make friends I wouldn’t have met otherwise, especially in other grades.”
Beyond the Upper School’s two co-curricular productions, students who take theatre class as an arts elective are able to continue a deeper exploration of the theatre arts. Through the range of foundational units in acting, directing, playwriting, dramaturgy, theatre
history and criticism, design, and theatrical production, students are able to discover areas of focus to concentrate their studies as they rise through more advanced levels of coursework.
Ms. Michaela Gorman ’05 is the Upper School theatre teacher and director of theatrical productions. “The introductory and advanced theatre classes are aimed at helping students to become more experienced theatre practitioners,” she explained “while also growing into more engaged theatre audience members and critics.”
Eleanor talked about how her projects in theatre class have
deepened her understanding of a variety of different topics in the theatre world: “I’ve learned how to write plays, block, do costume design and set design, in ways I wouldn’t have been able to from just being in productions and it’s all been super interesting.”
“I think the biggest misconception about theatre is that it’s all about acting,” said Lizzy H. ’27 who played the Ghost of Christmas Present and others in A Christmas Carol. “And while there is room for that, there is also so much room to learn about the incredibly large world of theatre, like I’ve learned my love for playwriting and I’m working on a producing project right now and it’s so much fun while also a way to challenge myself and learn something new.”
After A Christmas Carol wrapped up, the Middle School hit the stage and student cast members in fifth through eighth grades got right to work on The SpongeBob Musical: Youth Edition
Mrs. Barbara Distinti, Middle School theatre teacher and director of the production, was thrilled about how many students get to participate. “Everyone who auditions is in the musical which is great and allows us to involve as many students as possible,” she explained.
“Everyone is like a family and it’s really special to be a part of that kind of relationship because you always feel included,” explained Addie L. ’31, who played the role of SpongeBob in the recent musical. “When you get your roles no one ever pushes you down or thinks ‘I should have gotten that.’ Everyone’s
just like ‘I’m so happy for you, you deserve that, and I’m so excited to see you do this.’”
Mrs. Distinti went on to talk about theatre classes for Middle School students. “The thing that I think is really unusual and wonderful about Sacred Heart Greenwich is that we have theatre as a required class for every single grade in Middle School,” she explained. “That is very unusual, and I don’t know any other middle school that has theatre as a required class.”
“In class, we’re doing games and activities to build confidence,” explained Addie about her classroom experience. Malena L. ’31 also talked about how much she has enjoyed being in this class with her peers: “Everyone is learning, including the people who have never even touched a stage or a microphone before, and I think that’s really unique.”
Malena went on to talk about some of her favorite parts of theatre class: “Mrs. Distinti will show us recordings of productions and pause it at different times so we
“The theatre program perfectly embodies Goal 5, a personal growth in an atmosphere of wise freedom, because every day at rehearsal is a new chance to challenge myself and take risks. It’s always an environment where I feel so safe and supported by my peers and our directors who won’t criticize me if I make a mistake and are just dedicated to our success.”
–Caroline G. ’26
can have group discussions about what we notice about the actors’ body language or the tone in their voice when they say their lines. I think it’s a really good way to learn everything that goes on behind the stage because you don’t always think of all that preparation that goes into this one show that may only be an hour long.”
“This is about building courage and confidence,” emphasized Mrs. Distinti, “and I feel like theatre class is the time we can really practice that and see those skills come to fruition.” Addie reinforced this, saying, “I love theatre because when you get up there, even though you know all eyes are on you, it feels as though they are all celebrating you
“Theatre class embodies Goal 2, a deep respect for intellectual values, because it has given me the opportunity to learn about all the different parts of the larger world of theatre. I had never heard of dramaturgy before but now I find it so interesting and I can’t wait to learn more about it in advanced theatre class.”
–Lizzy H. ’27
and everyone on the stage and off stage is watching you succeed and feel confident in your own self and it really does feel good.”
Eleanor, who participated in the productions in both Middle and Upper School, spoke more about her time in the program as a whole: “The theatre program has definitely
helped me develop as an artist and feel confident enough to go out of my comfort zone in class and on stage. The community we build in the theatre program is truly unlike anything I’ve ever experienced before.”
In talking about the program, Ms. Gorman reiterated how time
in the classroom is not only about learning information and practicing skills, but also about growing as an artist, a thinker, and a person. “We function as a really strong classroom community where students can give and receive feedback and support one another as they grow as theatre artists.”
“Theatre is such a unique art form,” said Caroline as she reflected on her time in the program. Now a senior, she can look back and appreciate creative collaboration as the foundation of each performance: “It’s really fun to learn what goes into making a compelling production and how we can strive to create art that moves people.”
“The
theatre program fulfills Goal 4, the building of community as a Christian value, because it fosters a community that exemplifies Christian values through the support and kindness among all who participate.”
–Eleanor K. ’28
May
3:00 P.M. – 8th Annual All-School Art Show 6:30 P.M. – Middle & Upper School Spring Concert
6:00 P.M. – 17th Annual Film Festival 9 24 30 8 1:30 P.M. – Lower School Musical: The Lion King Kids
2:15 P.M. – K-1 Musical
