Operation Smile Club at Mount St. Dominic Academy is Spreading Smiles

At Mount St. Dominic Academy, service and leadership are woven into the school’s culture, grounded in the Dominican pillars of Prayer, Study, Community, and Mission. This week, members of the school’s Operation Smile Club brought these values to life through a heartfelt initiative: a card-making drive designed to spread joy and encouragement to children and young adults recovering from cleft lip, cleft palate, and other related surgeries.

Students gathered to create hand-decorated cards filled with heartfelt messages. These cards will be sent to Operation Smile’s headquarters in Virginia Beach, where they will be sorted and packed with other items for shipment to program sites worldwide. At these sites, coordinators will distribute the cards to patients, ensuring each one delivers a message of hope and cheer to someone in need. The goal is simple yet profound: to bring comfort and positivity to individuals facing the challenges of surgery and recovery.

“This initiative reflects the spirit of our school community—compassionate, service-driven, and eager to make a positive impact,” said Dr. Karen D’Avino, Principal of Mount St. Dominic Academy. “Our students are living out the Dominican values in a tangible way, showing the world the power of kindness and meaningful action.”

For Reese Falcone ‘26, Co-President of the Operation Smile Club, the experience is deeply meaningful. “Helping lead the Operation Smile Club is an incredible opportunity to give back to those in need and make a positive difference in their lives,” said Falcone. “The Operation Smile Foundation is extraordinary because it makes a direct impact on patients and families all over the world while providing valuable service opportunities for students. I’m excited to continue running this amazing club and organization by raising money, making donations, and spreading awareness.”

Co-President Hope O’Connor ‘26 reflects on her experiences with the club: “Operation Smile is truly life-changing, not just for children but for their families as well. Being a part of this initiative has shown me how meaningful service can create ripples of positivity. I’m excited to help this incredible foundation continue making a difference.”

This card-making drive is part of Operation Smile’s global mission. The organization, the world’s largest volunteer-based medical nonprofit, has provided free, life-changing surgeries and comprehensive care to children and young adults in 37 countries since 1981. Supported by individual and corporate donations, Operation Smile has transformed the lives of more than 400,000 patients and invested in training local doctors and caregivers to promote equitable healthcare in underserved communities.

MSDA students embraced the project with creativity and enthusiasm, using festive colors to draw snowmen, holiday decorations, and cheerful designs, paired with uplifting messages of hope and happiness for the holiday season. The classroom buzzed with energy and laughter, reflecting the collaboration and kindness that define the Mount’s community. Each card embodied the Dominican values of service and compassion, proving that small acts of kindness can make a significant difference.

Mount St. Dominic Academy takes pride in fostering a community centered on service and compassion—values that alumnae carry into their futures as college students, professionals, and leaders in meaningful service organizations. This recent effort by the Operation Smile Club exemplifies how Mount students live out these values, showing that kindness and creativity can indeed spread smiles across the globe.

About Mount St. Dominic Academy:

MSDA, established by the Sisters of St. Dominic, is an independent Catholic college preparatory school dedicated to educating young women from diverse ethnic, religious, and economic backgrounds. Located in the picturesque town of Caldwell, New Jersey, the Mount has been empowering young women in the Dominican tradition since 1892.

MSDA is a member of several prestigious organizations, including the New Jersey Association of Independent Schools, the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), the International Coalition of Girls' Schools, the Dominican Association of Secondary Schools, the National Catholic Educational Association, and the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association.

The Mount has received numerous accolades, including the two 2024 College Board AP® Computer Science Female Diversity Awards for exceptional female representation in AP Computer Science A (CSA), and AP Computer Science Principles (CSP). It was also recognized as “Gold with Access” on the 2024 College Board AP School Honor Roll, and earned Gold Medals in the 2023 and 2024 “Best of Essex” contests in the “Best Private High School” category. Additionally, the Mount achieved an A+ rating on Niche’s 2024 Best Schools list, a distinction awarded to only 2.5% of schools nationwide. Visit the Mount for more information.

Rolling Admissions for the Class of 2029 has begun! Sign up today to take the MSDA Entrance Exam on March 22, 2025, then schedule a visit! Private Family tours and “Mountie for a Day” visits are available to current 8th graders and transfer students in Grades 9-11, or join us at our Spring Open House on April 2, 2025.