Ivy McClure Stewart ’90 has been travelling to the Academy since 1978 as a student, a parent, parent of alums, and a faculty member. As her youngest child, Will, graduates she will move on from the Little Acorns classroom, though she will still return to teach French for our littlest learners. She reflects on the past 47 years at the Academy and how her life has been forever changed by this school.
There are hallowed places in this world that are built with more than bricks and mortar — places that carry memory, spirit, and purpose in every hallway and classroom. For me, that place is the Academy of the Sacred Heart. As I reflect on my life, it’s impossible to separate my story from this school — they are deeply intertwined.
I first walked through the doors of the Academy in 1978 as a wide-eyed two-year-old, tagging along as my parents dropped off my older brother to begin his first day of Primary. At the time, I had no idea that the very ground beneath my feet would shape my future in ways I could not yet imagine. I grew up within these walls — learning, growing, and being nurtured into the person I would become. But I wasn’t alone. My three brothers also spent their formative years here, each of us carrying with us the shared legacy of St. Philippine Duchesne: a legacy rooted in profound faith and pioneering spirit.
Throughout our childhood, our parents were ever-present in the life of the school — volunteering at every event, chairing Chemin, giving tours in the Shrine, serving on the Board of Trustees — always with joy and a deep appreciation for this extraordinary community. By their example, they taught us what it means to give back to a place that gives so much.
Years later, I returned to the Academy not as a student, but as a parent. All three of my children walked the same hallways I once did, learned in the same classrooms, and were formed by the same values. To witness their growth in this holy place, steeped in history, has been one of the greatest honors of my life. Academy students are keenly aware of what a beautiful privilege it is to learn in a place “where Saints hath trod.”
In 2021, I joined the faculty and began assisting in the Little Acorns classroom. Being here each day was never just a job — it was a calling. I have cherished every moment working alongside Cortney Pearce and all of the young learners we are so blessed to teach. Even the ordinary moments become extraordinary simply because they happen here at the Academy. I have also been inspired by the remarkable educators I am honored to call my colleagues. They have dedicated their lives to this place and their wisdom, faith, and love leave an indelible mark on all of our children.
Now, another transition approaches. My youngest child, Will, is graduating — closing the chapter on a decades-long family journey through these hallowed halls. My time as a classroom assistant is also drawing to a close; though I’m grateful to continue serving as the early childhood French teacher one day a week. This moment brings with it a rush of emotions — joy, gratitude, and the tender ache of remembrance.
Within these walls, generations of students have found belonging, purpose, and a sense of the sacred. In learning, in quiet acts of service, and in faith, the spirit of St. Philippine Duchesne lives on — anchoring us to something far greater than ourselves. To be a small part of that legacy, to have received its gifts and been entrusted with passing them on, fills me with a profound reverence I can scarcely put into words. Though my daily presence may fade, my heart will abide here — always.
