There is something about Neil Sedaka’s song Calendar Girl that brings me right back to my days as a Fontbonne student. The moment I hear those familiar lyrics, I can almost hear the song playing over the loudspeaker, with Mrs. Toosi at the helm of the Calendar Drive ship, rallying the entire school with her infectious enthusiasm. It brings back some of my favorite Fontbonne memories.

As a student, Calendar Drive  was one of the most exciting times of the year. And if I'm being completely truthful, my motivation for selling those calendars wasn't exactly rooted in philanthropy.

I was in it for the perks.

The chance to wear my Victoria's Secret PINK sweatpants and UGG boots to school every day from Thanksgiving until Christmas break? Sign me up. The possibility of earning two extra vacation days? Even better. The friendly competition, the excitement of reaching our goals, and the energy that filled the hallways made Calendar Drive a tradition we looked forward to year after year.

But what I didn't realize then was that Calendar Drive was teaching me something much bigger than how to sell 13 calendars. It was teaching me the power of community.

It was about working together, pulling the rope in the same direction, and understanding that every single person had a role to play in reaching a shared goal. Whether you sold five calendars or fifty, you were contributing to something bigger than yourself.

At the time, I didn't fully appreciate what it meant to fundraise for something you believed in. I certainly didn't realize that those weeks of selling calendars would, in some small way, prepare me for a career in Advancement at the very school I loved so much. And yet, here I am.

Years later, I find myself on the other side of Calendar Drive, helping rally our Ducks (our beloved Holiday Ducks!) to get excited about selling their calendars. I'm the one reminding them about the incentives, the dress-down days, the prizes, and all the fun that comes with this beloved Fontbonne tradition.

And believe me, I get it. I was once that student counting down the days until I could trade my uniform for my PINK sweatpants and UGG boots.

But now I understand what Mrs. Toosi and so many others were teaching us all along.

Calendar Drive was never just about the calendars.

It was about showing up for your school. It was about teamwork, school spirit, and the importance of supporting something you believe in. It was about learning that when a community comes together, incredible things can happen.

And perhaps most importantly, it was about investing in something that matters deeply: the education and empowerment of young women.

Today, as someone who has the privilege of working in Advancement at Fontbonne, I see firsthand the impact of that collective effort. Every calendar sold, every gift made, and every family that participates helps strengthen the Fontbonne experience for our students today and for generations of young women to come.

It's funny how life comes full circle.

The girl who once sold calendars for the chance to wear sweatpants to school is now helping lead the very tradition that taught her the importance of fundraising, community, and giving back.

As we kick off another Calendar Drive, I hope our students embrace every moment. I hope they get excited about the prizes, the incentives, and the friendly competition. I hope they cheer each other on, celebrate their successes, and make memories that will stay with them long after graduation.

Because someday, they might look back and realize that they weren't just selling calendars.

They were fundraisers. They were teammates. They were part of something bigger.

And they were helping make a Fontbonne education possible for the next generation of women of courage.

Maybe they won't have Neil Sedaka's Calendar Girl playing in the background of their memories the way I do.

But I hope that someday, a song, a tradition, or a simple memory brings them right back to Fontbonne, just as it does for me.



And I hope they smile, remembering that they were part of something pretty special.

As we launch another  Calendar Drive, I invite our alumnae, families, friends, and entire Fontbonne community to be part of this special tradition.

Whether you remember selling calendars yourself, have a student eagerly working toward her goal of 13 calendars, or simply believe in the power of a Fontbonne education, consider supporting our girls by purchasing a calendar and giving back to a place that means so much to so many.

With 38 chances to win, there's plenty of excitement, but the greatest reward is knowing you're making a difference. Every calendar purchased supports our students, strengthens our community, and helps ensure that future generations of young women have the same opportunities to learn, lead, and grow.

And who knows? Maybe years from now, one of today's Holiday Ducks will find herself humming Calendar Girl, remembering the excitement of this tradition, and realizing just how much it meant.

I know I do.