Collen Scullion
reporter
An alum returns to the same evergreen-scented Main Hall she left years ago, receiving a nametag with her date of graduation to welcome her to Alumni Noëls.
“We all fondly remember singing Noëls in the Main Hall as students, and it is so much fun to hear the traditional carols again,” said Devi Zinzuvadia (CES ’91), Communications Associate for Schools of the Sacred Heart. “I was amazed to find that I could sing some of the songs by heart, even after all these years.”
Alumni Noëls, the largest of the five alumni events hosted by the Alumni Board, helps reconnect alumni to each other, their families and faculty. Participants sing traditional songs familiar to Sacred Heart students around the world. The members of the Alumnae Chorus has even recorded a CD of these recognized tunes.
The French carol CD, made in 2002, brings the holiday spirit and flashes of school history to its listeners. The music’s history is important to former students who came and sang.
“Coming back to the Flood Mansion, there are a lot of memories here,” said Charlene Mak (’96). “Singing at the end when everyone gathers around the tree and sings in French, brings back memories.”
Noëls serve as a time of reunion and remembering past friendships.
“I come to the Broadway alumnae reunions to keep up relationships because I think that this is part of what Sacred Heart tradition is about — deepening relationships.” said Sister Be Mardel, former Head of Schools who now resides at Oakwood in Atherton.