Tidings Summer 2014

tidings academy of the h oly ange l s

s p on s ore d by t h e s c h o o l s i s t e rs of n otre dame

a pu b lic ati on fo r alumn ae, par e nts and fr i e nd s

s um m er 20 1 4

Class of 2014 Most Successful in AHA’s 134 Years

Do you want to make front page news? 2014 graduate Ivetty did by being accepted into six Ivy League colleges as a result of her hard work and growth mindset. Ivetty’s story is inspiring and a true testament to the potential of a Holy Angels student. Through commitment and determination, she pushed herself to attain high honors level, and eventually earned a seat in five AP courses by her senior year. A member of five honor societies, Ivetty also participated in Holy Angels’ Middle College Program, earning additional college credit at AHA that she will take with her to Yale this fall.

Her love of learning and sheer resilience will serve her well as she plans to double major in Pre-law studies and Chemistry, and hopes to tie these diverse fields into one career.

Come and experience the AHA difference like Ivetty did, and make your own headlines!

Check out our new website!

ANGELS

FLY

HIGHER

Academy of the Holy Angels 315 Hillside Avenue Demarest, New Jersey 07627 Admissions phone 201.768.7161

OPEN HOUSE Sunday, October 5th at 11am

[Mini Open House Nov 3rd at 6:30pm]

www.holyangels.org

S p o n s o r e d by t h e School Sisters of N o t r e D a m e

tidings

p r e s i d e n t 's m e s s a g e

Volume Viii, number 1

EDITORS Jillane Ferreira

Director of Communications jillane@holyangels.org

Dorrie Voulgaris

Director of Alumnae Relations alumnae@holyangels.org

administration

Dear Alumnae, Parents and Friends,

Melinda Hanlon, President

president@holyangels.org

Since my arrival here at Academy of the Holy Angels, I have been so impressed by the different and varied ways in which our community lives the words of our founders and mission. I am most grateful for the welcome and support I have received and look forward to partnering with all of you to bring the goals of our new strategic plan AHA 2020 to a reality.

“A community of one mind, one heart, one spirit.” Each day, I continue to be impressed by the commitment to serving others as exemplified by our recent graduates who contributed more than 24,000 hours of service during their four years here at Holy angels. The Class of 2014 received acceptances to all eight Ivy League universities and were offered more than $22.5 million in scholarships.

Last spring, 174 of our juniors and seniors achieved a 94% passing rate on the AP scholar exams. Their achievements are a testimony to the dedication of every member of our faculty and staff.

“Like Mother Theresa, we educate with the conviction that the world can be changed through the transformation of persons.” As the graduate of an all girls’ Catholic high school, the idea that “nothing is of more importance to the good of society than the careful education of women” remains at the core of my beliefs. My journey to Holy Angels began during my high school formation and continued through college and graduate school. My educational journey continues today at Seton Hall University where I am enrolled in the doctoral program in educational leadership. My professional experience includes service in both the Catholic and public school sectors where I have worked as a teacher, assistant principal and principal.

“We commit to live simply and sustainably because love cannot wait.” The vision and strength of AHA’s founders resonates throughout this school where academic excellence and service to others are the hallmarks of the AHA experience. As President, my role is to work collaboratively with all stakeholders to assure that the SSND charism and Roman Catholic identity is reflected in our philosophy and programs. I feel privileged and blessed to be a part of this special place and look forward to our shared future with great hope and faith for what we will accomplish together. I ask for your prayers and support as I work to earn my wings here at Holy Angels. Be assured you are in my prayers.

Blessings,

Jennifer Moran, Principal

principal@holyangels.org

Jean Mullooly, Dean of Students dean@holyangels.org

development office Tara Brunt, Director of Development development@holyangels.org

Barbara Burklund, Development Associate bburklund@holyangels.org

contents On the Cover

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Class of 2014 Makes History

24

New AHA Website Launches

In Every Issue 6

Angel Athletes

8

Angels in the Arts

10

Angels Around the Halls

Spirituality 12 15 Alumnae News

28 In Memoriam

Melinda A. Hanlon President, Academy of the Holy Angels

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graduation & baccalaureate

On June 1, 2014, Academy of the Holy Angels graduated a class of 143 young women. Principal Jennifer Moran proudly proclaimed their accomplishments: “Many images, stories and memories come to mind as I think about the graduating class of 2014. They have become the most successful class in school history, judging by traditional metrics of grades, awards, scholarships and achievements. They attained this success the old fashioned way; they earned it. Hard work and never quitting were part of their DNA. They were especially good when facing challenges in course work, time management or competitions.

is replete with examples of their art and writing.

It was easy to be “for fourteen” when they themselves were for so many good causes. Hurricane Sandy relief took them to Moonachie to rehab houses without air conditioning in the 95 degree heat of July.

Whether in Congo on an Operation Smile mission or at St. Peter the Apostle School in Philadelphia, they gave from the heart.

Spiritually, they deepened their relationship with God through not one but two weekend Kairos retreats, in addition to their senior class retreat. Together as a class, they have given over 24,000 hours of service in the last four years.

Academically, 70% of the class has taken an AP exam; a staggering 50% alone were enrolled in AP English. They are a testament to the belief that one can grow one’s intelligence by engaging with difficult material, and staying the course, encouraged by dedicated faculty who will bring out their best. Their college acceptances were epic; the first time a class attained admission to all eight Ivy League schools.

Talent and creativity were theirs in abundance. They led the Dance Team to a third place finish in Hip Hop Nationals. National awards poured in for poetry, photography and overall art portfolio. The senior number at the talent show “Prom through the Decades” was choreographed and costumed to delight the audience while making a point about the growing independence and equality of women. On International Night they created a fusion of cultures and celebrated them with joy. The 2014 edition of Blueprint, our literary Art magazine,

They may not be worth their weight in gold, but they came pretty close, having garnered more than $22.5 million in scholarships and grants for college. We wish them well as they leave us. They will be missed!”

This year’s senior commencement speaker was Lydon Kersting ’14 and the senior response was given by Christina Sivulka ’14. The graduation address was given

by Regina Gonzales Perron ’93, Esq. The invocation was led by Kayla Quigley ’14 with a closing prayer written by Christina Rubino ’14.

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I’d say that I hope you are successful in life, but I have no doubt that you will achieve academic, professional, and personal greatness. That’s not an expectation. That’s a given. Instead, I wish you courage. I wish you peace.

I wish you joy. But most importantly, I wish you love.

–Lydon Kersting ’14

Class of 2014 Angels are headed to...

Baccalaureate Celebration

Legacy Families Abound in 2014 AHA gives special recognition to the families who have continued the Holy Angels legacy.

In the photo below, pictured L to R are mothers and daughters: Amira Ayoub ’14, Mary Veras Ayoub ’84, Mackenzie Merkel ’14, Colleen Oates Merkel ’79, Caitlin Daniels ’14, grandmother Vicki Lucia Cowen ’63, Caroline Santolli ’14, Charlotte Fletcher Santolli ’84, Toni Luciano ’14, grandmother Jane Bucco ’73, McKayla DiPalma ’14 and Johnna O’Rourke DiPalma ’85. Photo at right is Karen Sullivan Camporeale ’88 and Carina Camporeale ’14.

Not pictured are Amanda Kelly ’14, Daniela Lodes Kelly ’75, Jacqueline Baboulis-Kuhn ’14, Linda Baboulis ’76, Tessa Breithaupt ’14 and Susan Georges Breithaupt ’83.

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Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences Bennington College Boston College Boston University Carnegie Mellon University Case Western Reserve University Colgate University College of the Holy Cross Cornell University Drexel University Duke University Elon University Emerson College Fairfield University Fairleigh Dickinson University Fordham University Georgetown University Gettysburg College Harvard College High Point University Iowa State Laboratory Institute of Merchandising Lafayette College Lehigh University Manhattan College Marist College Middlebury College Montclair State University Mount Saint Mary College New Jersey Institute of Technology New York University Northeastern University Pace University Parisian Beauty Academy Parsons – The New School For Design Philadelphia University Princeton University Providence College Purdue University Quinnipiac University Ramapo College of NJ Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Rockland Community College Rutgers, The State University of NJ Sacred Heart University Saint Joseph’s University School of Visual Arts SUNY Binghamton University Stevens Institute of Technology Syracuse University Temple University The City College of NY, Sophie Davis School The College of New Jersey The College of William and Mary The George Washington University The Ohio State University The Pennsylvania State University The University of Scranton The University of Vermont Tulane University University of Alabama University of California, Los Angeles University of Dayton University of Delaware University of Miami University of Michigan University of New Hampshire University of New Haven University of Notre Dame University of Pennsylvania University of Sciences University of South Carolina University of Southern California Villanova University Wake Forest University Washington University in St. Louis Wheaton College Yale University

angel athletes Spring Track wins BIG NORTH league championship The spring track team pulled out yet another outstanding season. The Angels won the Big North League Championship again and were also victorious in the Comet Relays for the first time. They finished 2nd in the County Relays, the County individuals and the State Sectionals. The team also placed 3rd in the 4x400m race and 4th in the 4x100m race at the Penn Relays.

1600m and won the State Sectionals. In recognition for all of her contributions to the AHA cross-country and track teams, at the final sports banquet of the year, it was announced that Lydon’s track “jersey” would be retired and it is now on display in the gym lobby.

Individually, senior Lydon Kersting broke the school record in the 3200M race and was named 2nd Team All-County for her efforts. She also garnered 1st Team All-League honors in the

Freshman Liz Garcia broke the school record in the 100m high hurdles, and was named 2nd Team All-County and 1st Team All-League. Two team records were broken: the 4x100 team of Christina McCarthy, Kristen Sherlock, Sarah Laufeld and Holly Slepian, and the 4x800 team of Lydon Kersting, Maggie Sheehan, Eva Gurian and Mary Watters all etched their names in the AHA record books. Mary Watters, Kristen Sherlock and Mackenzie Merkel were also named 1st Team All-League.

Athletic Director Patti Gorsuch poses with Lydon Kersting and her retired jersey.

coach DUNNE predicts another great season for the golf team This year’s golf team was very young, as three starters graduated last year. The team was led by 1st Team All-League and 2nd Team All-County player Sandrine Yesilian, a junior. She averaged 44 per round this season with her best round (40) coming in a victory against IHA in the last match of the year. Helen Park and Emily Yankovich, both sophomores, continued to improve during the season, as did junior Paige Sunden. Two 9th graders who contributed to the team’s success, and who both should continue

to grow, are Sabrina Romano and Kelly Behrens. The girls improved as the season went on and the team won the last three matches of the season to finish with a record of 7-8. The Angels finished 6th in the county tournament and 5th in the Big North tournament. The golf team is looking forward to even greater success next year, as they continue their upswing.

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Tough New Division for Lacrosse The 2014 Holy Angels lacrosse team faced arguably its toughest schedule in the history of the program after being moved up to a more competitive division. Despite this tall order, the Angels still managed to end the season with a 6-11 record and a 3rd place finish in the competitive Independence North Division. The team earned first time wins against Glen Rock, Montclair Kimberly, and New Providence, and earned a hard fought win against Pascack Valley in double overtime, after losing to them in two other double overtime games in recent years. The team consisted of three seniors on attack, Julia Toolen (1st Team All-League), Christen Duff (Honorable Mention All-League) and Carla Nilo. Returning next year will be the leading goal scorer Danielle Stephens (2nd Team All-County and 1st Team All-League). The defense will be losing senior Kat Dombroski, but Emma Sanders (1st Team All-League, Honorable Mention All-County) and the remaining players will help to keep the defense intact for next season.

New Field, New Game for Softball The Angels had a challenging season, as they played in the tough Big North Conference United Division. They ended the season with a record of 8-17.

Seniors who led the team were McKayla DiPalma (Honorable Mention All-Division), Kelly Gilmartin (2nd Team All-Division), Nicole Macaluso (1st Team All-Division), Morgan Mellas (1st Team All-Division), Alison Pimpinella (2nd Team All-Division), Kayla Quigley (2nd Team All-Division) and Grace Ritter (Honorable Mention All-Division). There were several positive signs of growth during the season. The Angels struck the ball well and had many solid hits. The cohesive defense cut down many opponent’s rallies. The team participated in a Breast Cancer Tournament at Demarest High School and came away with a victory over Tenafly. With the loss of seven seniors, the Angels will look forward with hope for a successful future on the new Angel field of dreams!

T U R F

the new angel field of dreams is completed!

This summer brought an exciting transformation to Holy Angels. The grass field used by soccer, softball and lacrosse was replaced with a state-of-the-art turf field. This change will benefit the entire community, freeing up time and maintenance that was necessary for the previous field. Thank you to those who contributed so generously to this endeavor. Donations are still being accepted at holyangels.org/turf-campaign if you would like to donate to this project.

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angels in the arts Angel Artists restore statue’s beauty Before leaving for their summer vacation, AHA art students painstakingly refurbished a statue of the Blessed Mother for the sisters at Our Lady of the Angels Convent in Tenafly. The statue was in great need of cleaning and refinishing, and art teacher Kathryn Biskup was thrilled to be able to offer her students’ services for this endeavor.

According to Sister Patricia Coyle of Our Lady of the Angels Convent, the students did a very professional job of restoring the statue which, she reported, “looks better than new.” The convent, run by the Franciscan Order, is home to 50 sisters, 25 of whom are in the infirmary. Their main mission is to pray for the needs of others.

S. Patricia noted that “having our statues and other religious articles so attractive makes praying more meaningful.” She also promised that the sisters would include Holy Angels in their prayers in gratitude for their service to them. The statue is now proudly displayed at the entrance to their chapel. Pictured standing with the statue are AHA students Na Young Lee, Jasmine Espejo, and Jessica Cooperman.

Award Winning Angel Photographer

Spring Concert showcases Angel talent

makes gallery debut Brooke Trisolini ’14 poses with her award winning photograph at the Pratt Manhattan Gallery.

That evening, Brooke received a Scholastic National Art Award at a ceremony that took place at Carnegie Hall.

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Critical Acclaim!

Seussical the Musical is a journey through a compilation of all of Dr. Seuss’ finest works.

The Cat in the Hat (played by Josh McGann DBP ’14) narrates the tale as JoJo (Sheena Santos ’16) hears the story of Horton (Allen Marchoni SJR ’14) and his travels from the Jungle of Nool to McEligot’s pool. The colorful ensemble cast included Gertrude (Emily Sedlacek ’14), Mayzie (Lily Cunniff ’14), The Whos, The Wickersham Brothers, Thing 1 and Thing 2.

The Holy Angels’ production of Seussical The Musical was nominated for eight Metropolitan High School Theater Awards. Established in 1998, the High School Theater Awards recognize talented actors, musicians, designers and directors of high school musical productions.

Judges evaluate entrants from high schools in Bergen County, New Jersey and Rockland and Westchester counties in New York during the spring musical season.

AHA received nominations in the following categories: Actress in a Supporting Role – Sheena Santos ’16 as JoJo Featured Ensemble Group – Sofia Carvajal ’17, Heather Mueger ’15, Louis Napolitano (SJR ’14), Sydney Peterson-Quinn ’15 and Ariela Pizza ’17 as The Wickersham Brothers Outstanding Duet – Alone in the Universe, Allen Marchioni (SJR ’14) as Horton and Sheena Santos ’16 as JoJo Outstanding Lobby Display – Risako Arcari ’16, Elizabeth Bilka ’14, Natalie Freay ’14, Jackie Fusco ’14, Grace Fuselier ’14, Alyssa Gentile ’14, Emily Loftus ’16, Michaela Mudrick ’16 and Christina Sirico ’14 Outstanding Graphic Design – Meghan Valentine ’14 Outstanding Costume Design – Ruth Morely Outstanding Lighting Design – Jim Bonkosky Outstanding Scenic Design – Gregory Cilmi

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angels around the halls ACADEMICS Brigid Hayes ’14 and Caroline McLaughlin ’15 were recently awarded the 2014 Creative Writing Award by La Societe Honorarie de Francais. This year’s topic was how modern technology affects our lives today.

Congratulations to the following girls who received 2014 Junior College Book Awards and Medals:

Olivia Guido – Bryn Mawr College President’s Book Award Victoria Cabales – College of the Holy Cross Book Prize Meghan Englert – Dartmouth College Book Award

Kirsten Judge – Fairfield University

Book Award

Sunny Hong – George Washington University Alumni Book Award Catherine Piersa – George Washington University SEAS Medal Ashley Misciagna – Saint Anselm College Book Award

The following girls were recipients of the Coccia Award for 2014: Sara Ayoub ’16, Graciela Paredes ’16, Camila Nicasio ’15, Kiara Quinones ’14 and Amanda Kelly ’14. The Coccia Award recognizes students who demonstrate a passion for the study of the Italian language.

Academy of the Holy Angels was one of ten schools nationwide to be accepted into the Exploration of the Moon and Asteroids by Secondary Students (ExMASS) program which is run in conjunction with the Center for Lunar Science and Exploration. This research will support the goals of the NASA Solar System Exploration Research Virtual Institute. At the end of the school year, these “Space Angels” will compete for a chance to present their findings to the Exploration Science Forum at the NASA Ames Research Center in July 2015.

Caroline McLaughlin – Saint Michael’s College Book Award for Scholarship and Service Irene Havlusch – Stonehill College Fiona Williams – The Rensselaer (RPI) Medal Emily DeRubertis – UPenn Book Award Laurel Villarente – University of Rochester Frederick Douglass & Susan B. Anthony Award Rhea Shah – University of Rochester Xerox Award for Innovation & Information Technology Jennifer Nugent – University of Rochester George Eastman Young Leaders Award Annie Haws – University of Rochester Bausch & Lomb Honorary Science Award Lauren Miceli – West Point Leadership Award Breanne Mastromarino – Wellesley

College Book Award

Clarissa Sandev – Wesleyan University Book Award

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THE ARTS Bridget O’Donnell ’17 won 1st Place in the Under-15 Solo Irish-Fiddle Competition at the Mid-Atlantic States Fleadh Cheoil, a traditional Irish music festival, held in Parsipanny, NJ. Bridget will compete in Sligo, Ireland for the All Ireland title.

aTHLETICS Kayla Quigley ’14 was recently selected to receive the 2014 Brian Piccolo Award.

This honor is presented annually to a male and female high school scholarathlete of Italian ancestry who models the ideals of Brian Piccolo. The Brian Piccolo Award is sponsored by The St. Joseph Regional High School Chapter of UNICO National, a nationwide service organization which promotes ItalianAmerican heritage and supports cultural, educational and community causes. AHA Athletic Director Patti Gorsuch wrote about Kayla, “She is an outstanding student; I believe that she demonstrates all of the qualities of a hardworking and devoted athlete. Her work ethic and determination to be the very best at what she does has proven to be an inspiration to her teammates and classmates.” For this reason, Kayla was also awarded AHA’s coveted “Angel Award” at the final sports dinner of the year.

#BringBackOurGirls It was the hashtag cry heard around the world. The Angels were quick to respond and join the plea for the kidnapped Nigerian school girls’ return to their families. Junior Kiana Lusher helped organize a community rally in Tenafly, as well as on the AHA campus, to bring awareness about this issue. The concerned Angel was featured on News12 NJ and shared, “I was a 16-year-old girl getting her makeup done, when there were these girls in Nigeria and we don’t know where they are and we don’t know what’s happening to them.”

Seniors Emma DiBernardo, Elle Infante, Jackie Fusco and Jessica McCann addressed several AP science classes about their participation in “An Introduction to Surgical Research Methodologies”, a program at Englewood Hospital.

Open to seniors only and funded entirely by Holy Angels, this program allows students hands-on experience in a laboratory research environment.

The girls met after school once a week, typically for four hour sessions. Mrs. Brizzolara, Science Department Chairperson, shares, “With this partnership, Holy Angels is offering the opportunity to enrich futures through experiences beyond our classrooms.”

Angels in the

Ivetty Estepan ’14, above, recently made front page news in The Record, with her six Ivy League acceptances. Carolina Zuluaga ’15, left, was also featured in the news for her work organizing a book drive with her church.

Attention Parents, Students and Faculty! We love hearing your news, to be shared in AHA’s monthly newsletter and possibly featured in Tidings! Send announcements and photos to news@holyangels.org

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spirituality Archbishop Hebda Visits AHA On May 1st, Holy Angels was honored to welcome the Most Reverend Bernard A. Hebda, Coadjutor Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Newark, to celebrate Easter Liturgy with the AHA community. Immediately after, the Archbishop took a tour of the school and even dropped in on a few classes that were in session. The students enjoyed engaging Archbishop Hebda in some interesting class discussions.

Awareness Day 2014 This year’s theme “Think Globally/Act Locally” was led with a keynote address

by S. Arlene Flaherty, OP, entitled “Becoming the ONE we already are.” Workshops throughout the remainder of the day covered topics such as climate change, immigration, drug and human trafficking, AIDS and fracking. A panel of alumnae presented their experiences in global organizations and the opportunities available in both internships and career paths. Pictured at left, L to R, are Megan DeTura ’09, Liz Reynoso ’90 and Sharon Johnson-Hakim ’02.

Service Day 2014 AHA is committed to creating habits of mind and heart grounded in the gospel values of love, compassion and respect for the dignity and self-worth of others. This is the essence of a Holy Angels’ education and is evident each year on Service Day. On May 17, the entire school community of students, faculty and administration gave a day of service at locations in Bergen, Passaic, Hudson and Rockland counties and as far as the Jersey Shore and Philadelphia. At AHA, the school community is fortunate to have the opportunity to fulfill this mandate.

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faculty & staff news Farewell to...

AHA Social Worker S. Mary Foley, SSND and AHA’s amazing goose dog, Luke, were among the honorees at the Courage Awards Gala in May. They were recognized for their work in recent years with individuals and communities struggling from traumatic events. For the past 16 years, the Courage Awards Gala has honored and celebrated individuals, groups, and corporations who work tirelessly on behalf of others facing the daily and life-long challenges that are compounded by mental illness and mental health-related issues. Sue Heguy, Bergen County Traumatic Loss Coalition Coordinator and CarePlus staff member, stated, “Over the past 8 years, Sister Mary Foley and Luke have worked tirelessly with schools and communities in the aftermath of a death or otherwise traumatic event. Her dedication and selfless work in suicide prevention and as a member of the Bergen County TLC is admirable.

We at the TLC have been in awe of the faith that fills Sister Mary’s life and she continues to be an inspiration to the entire team.”

Because of this honor, Sister Mary and Luke were also interviewed by CBS 880’s Sean Adams for his show Stories from Main Street. The show highlights people making a difference in the community. A link to the interview can be found on the AHA website.

This year, AHA bid fond farewell to a quintet of amazing women.

They have truly impacted the Academy in so many ways and we will forever be in their debt. S. Catherine Green ’50, SSND, began teaching Religion at Holy Angels in 1982. Many will remember her as the caring 9th grade homeroom teacher, but especially for the spider webs she asked students to create in prayer class that enabled them to better understand their connections with their families, friends and God. S. Catherine embraced our new technological advances like no other faculty member and was a blessing to her peers as she answered the pleas for help with the tech learning curve. Kathleen Wall came to AHA in 1984 in the Mathematics department. She took the reins from Sister Aquin as the Math Chairperson and led the department into the new millennium with graphing calculators and the addition of an AP Statistics class. Also joining the faculty in 1984 was Maryann Chitko in the English department. Her work with AP English classes will never be forgotten, but her tireless work as we transitioned to the tablet computers made a lasting impact. Kate Gartland Chambers ’66 came to AHA in 1992 as campus minister and then was selected to be on the Board of Trustees. As she returned to AHA, she was the moderator of Go Green and organized the annual Awareness Day and faculty retreats. Although she will be leaving her work as Mission Integration Coordinator, she will remain on as a consultant as AHA prepares for the Middle States evaluation. S. Patricia Murphy, SSND was with AHA for only one year, but will forever be in our hearts. She came to the Academy with an energy and grace unsurpassed. The Holy Angels community is indebted to her for her vision and leadership.

Pictured standing L to R: Rick Marciano, Maryann Chitko, Tom Meyers, Nicole Paniccia. Seated L to R: Nancy Sue Moore, S. Patricia Murphy, Kate Chambers, Kathleen Wall and S. Catherine Green.

Holy angels also wis h es a fon d fare well to

Rick Marciano – English Tom Meyers – Religion Nicole Gatti Paniccia ’04 – English Nancy Sue Moore – History

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October 24–25, 2014

Alumnae Weekend Including a reunion celebration

for the classes ending in 4 & 9!

Save theDate october 24, 2014 foundation Day at AHA

october 25, 2014 alumnae celebration

• Join us for a special community gathering • Celebrate the SSNDs’ contribution to Holy Angels • Attend a class

• Mass & Dinner • Special recognition for reunion classes • Tours of the building

For more information, visit www.holyangelsalumnae.org 14

alumnae association president

O

n June 1 we welcomed 143 new alumnae angels to our fold. These angels have brought our school tremendous pride, not only in breaking school academic records, but in holding true to what Holy Angels stands for – leading students to grow to the fullness of their potential. We wish them luck and love as they venture forth to their respective schools to continue to grow in their love of learning and bring forth to all those they meet the messages they have learned here at AHA. This graduation was especially moving for me, as my oldest daughter graduated from AHA. I don’t want to give away any surprises for those of you who have not experienced this yet, but there is so much pride in being a “legacy mom”. We are now angels together, in a way we never were before, and for that I am truly grateful.

Fall is a busy time at AHA. Open House will take place on Sunday, October 5th, so if you know of prospective angels, tell them to come and visit. Plans are well underway for this year’s Reunion Weekend on October 24th and 25th. Please be sure to mark your calendar, as it promises to be another fun-filled event with plenty of opportunities for reminiscing and reconnecting. While we will be celebrating the classes ending in ’4 and ’9, the weekend is set up to recognize all AHA alumnae, so don’t miss it! Those of you from the class of 2009, this is your first official celebration at reunion. How time flies! I hope to see so many of you there.

I want to wish a fond farewell to Sister Patricia Murphy, who worked tirelessly as our President this past school year. Sister Pat is finally on her well-deserved sabbatical and although she was only here for one year, she gave us all of her love, spirit and her knowledge. She is truly an angel and we will always think of her as one of us. As of July 1, Mrs. Melinda Hanlon has taken the reigns as our new President. We wish Melinda the best of luck leading our community into our next phase. Melinda is very active in her high school alumnae association, and I look forward to working with her for ideas in bringing our angel alumnae together.

Karen Sullivan Camporeale ’88

ALUMNAE

NEWS

It’s clearly a “family affair” with all seven members of the Baboulis family that have now graduated from AHA. Pictured above are: Donna Baboulis ’74 , Linda Baboulis ’76 , Danielle Cordani-Porreca ’88, Daryl BaboulisGyscek ’04, Dana Baboulis-Gyscek ’06, Darcy Baboulis-Gyscek ’11 and Jackie Baboulis-Kuhn ’14.

’60

Angels from the class of 1960 gathered at the Black Trumpet in Spring Lake for their annual luncheon. Prior to the lunch, after conversing via phone with classmate Sister Veronica Visceglia ’60, the attendees posed for a photo. Pictured below, L to R: Mary DePalma Burke ’60, Mary Gildea Cashman ’60, Eileen Weber Phillips ’60, Mary Ann Buckley ’60, Judy Murphy O’Reilly ’60, Diane Neary Ewing ’60 and Sharon Daly Butler ’60.

Keegan ’65, Carol Conroy Malkowski ’65, Marie Pagnozzi ’65, Kathleen Kilkenny Brodie ’65. L to R (standing) are: Helen Schaberg Maier ’65, Michele Ferrara Scott ’65, Maureen Lewis Corbett ’65, Elaine Hoffman Middelstaedt ’65, Pam Schwitter ’65, MaryAnn Molinaro Marcello ’65, Silvia Epperly ’65, Joanette Milazzo Weiss ’65.

’85 ’65

Several members of the Class of 1965 (the last class to graduate from Fort Lee) met on June 11th at The Glen Rock Inn. Pictured L to R (seated) are: Pat Jund

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Monica Corcoran Harel ’85 is currently the Editor-in-Chief of Capitol Couture and was previously a costume advisor on Mad Men. Monica is the author of The Fashion File; Advice, Tips and Inspiration from the Costume Designer of Mad Men, and most recently co-wrote NY Times bestseller Living in Style with Rachel Zoe.

ALUMNAE

NEWS

’98

Gayza Gastell ’98 married Edward Manor at the Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables, FL on March 28, 2014. A wonderful time was had by all guests and the happy couple was overjoyed to share the special day with loved ones. Other alumnae present at the celebration were Gayza’s sister and maid of honor, Giselle Gastell ’05, and friends Emilie Asjana ’98, Nisha Lalchandani ’98, Catherine Zampieri ’98, Teresa Humuran ’85, Maria Humuran Abbatista ’87 and Briana Lorenzo ’06.

’00

Ann Marie Marano Martin ’00 is excited to announce that she is officially an author and recently published her first book The Hollow, a paranormal thriller set in Sleepy Hollow. The book is available on amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com.

Allison Kearns Sheehan ’04 and husband Jesse welcomed a daughter, Emma Helene (pictured below), on April 30.

Victoria Aquino Shaw ’00 and her husband Jonathan welcomed their first child, Xavier Harrington, on April 29.

He weighed 7lbs 14.5 oz and was 20.5 inches long. He joined his cousin, Athena Lela, who was born on October 8, 2013 to Patricia Aquino Lozano ’97 and her husband Pharoah. She weighed 7lbs 11oz and was 20 inches long.

’03

Kirsten Strand Raffel ’03 and her husband Zak welcomed their first child, Aiden Jon (pictured below), into the world on December 26, 2013. He weighed in at 6 lbs 12 oz and was 21 inches long.

’04

Elizabeth Grefrath-Sessions ’04 and her husband Joshua welcomed their son, Ernest Francis, on October 21, 2013. Ernie smiles all the time and is an absolute joy. Liz had a very Brooklyn maternity leave – urban mommy groups, breastfeeding support circles, ‘stroller-pilates,’ and artisanal baby toys – and returned to work at the National ACLU in January. Vikki Grefrath ’07 is the best auntie a little boy could hope for.

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’06

Megan Emmich ’06 has completed her first year of medical school. She recently went to Panama and Costa Rica with a program called International Service Learning. Megan shares, “I always wanted to volunteer abroad and I had decided early on that as part of my medical school path I would serve on a medical mission trip. We spent a week in San Miguelito in Panama and a week in Fraijanes, Costa Rica where we set up our free clinics. It was a very interesting and rewarding experience!

I gained insight into the specific disease processes that affect a certain area, immersed myself in other cultures, and practiced what I learned my first year of medical school. I anticipate continuing this kind of service as a future physician.”

’07

Allegra Christine Leland ’07 married Nicholas Matthew Fiorito in an intimate ceremony on June 21. The wedding took place in the consecrated chapel of the Carmel of Jesus, Mary and Joseph in Valparaiso, Nebraska. The monastery is home to 32 Discalced Carmelites, including Allegra’s great-aunt, the Most Rev. Mother Teresa de Jesus. The couple celebrated with friends prior to their departure, and Angels in attendance included Jillanne Chimento ’07, Diana Barral ’07, Meghan Harley ’08 and Barbara Bennett Burkland ’77. Allegra, who graduated from the American Musical & Dramatic Academy, is currently pursuing her career in acting and recently made her performing debut at Carnegie Hall. The couple will move to Connecticut in August, and are looking forward to honeymooning in the south of France and Spain later this year.

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Allisa Cicca ’10 graduated from Fairfield University on May 18. She received a BA in Psychology. Caitlin Gallagher ’10 graduated from Georgetown University. She will be teaching on the elementary level as a Teach for America Corps Member in urban Connecticut. Mary Rizzo ’10 graduated magna cum laude from St. John’s University and is pursuing a career in Film and Television. On May 17, Jennifer Katherine Monsalve ’10 graduated from Fordham University with a double major in International Political Economy and Theology, with a

’12

concentration in American Catholic Studies. She was the recipient of two major awards: the Father Joseph Currie, S.J., Volunteer Award for her commitment to service, faith and justice and the Claver Award which is granted by the Jesuits of Fordham to a senior who exemplifies in an outstanding manner Fordham’s dedication to community service. Jennifer was also nominated by her peers for the Senior Leadership Award and Rev. Joseph P. Fitzpatrick Award for her ability to lead, organize, empower, and inspire fellow students, and for her deep passion for and commitment to social justice. It is no surprise she was chosen by her classmates to deliver the final student reflection at Fordham’s Baccalaureate Mass. During her time at Fordham she took full advantage of many opportunities to go abroad, including two pilgrimages to World Youth Day (Spain, 2011, and Brazil, 2013), a global outreach immersion trip to Romania and her entire junior year abroad in El Salvador and South Africa. On August 6th, she embarked on a journey back to El Salvador for one year where she will be working for Santa Clara University’s study abroad program, Casa de la Solidaridad, as a Community Coordinator.

’11

Claire Murphy ’11, a student at the University of Scranton, was one of 42 students inducted into Alpha Sigma Nu, the national honor society for students in Jesuit colleges and universities.

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Nora Neus ’12, while recently traveling through Europe with the UVA Jefferson Scholars program, had a stop Munich and writes, “One day when we were exploring Munich, I got the chance to go visit the SSND motherhouse! It’s a relatively unassuming building from the side, where the entrance is, but when I read ‘Blessed Mother Theresa of Jesus Gerhardinger’ on the sign outside I got so excited. I hadn’t seen that name in so long! We quietly entered the chapel and it took my breath away! It was so gorgeous, in an unexpected way. It was pretty modern, with huge white walls and clean architectural lines with beautiful stained glass. It kind of reminded me of the general architectural style of AHA and the Wilton motherhouse. But when I walked through that SSND school, and saw that same portrait of Blessed Mother Theresa with the two children that we have hanging in our school, I really felt at home. It’s so cool to see what the SSND bond can do across countries and oceans.”

GOT NEWS? Submit your news and announcements for our next Tidings issue!

Just go to holyangels.org/class-notes OR submit your news and photos to alumnae@holyangels.org Deadline is September 22, 2014!

A group of Holy Angels alumnae at Georgetown University got together in May. Eight of the ten Angels at Georgetown were able to meet up at The Tombs restaurant as they celebrated the graduation of five of the Angels. They enjoyed sharing their common experience at Georgetown – study abroad, dorm life, academic majors and student clubs. Pictured L to R are: Chelsea Lauber ’10, Adriana Kranjac ’13, Emma Conn ’13, Shannon Glynn ’12, Caitlin Gallagher ’10, Laura Galanter ’13, Rose Lauricella’10, and Courtney Mastrangelo ’10. Not able to make the reunion were Nicole Onderdonk ’10 and Monica Nolasco ’11.

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Marissa Heyer ’13, pictured above, and her

teammates on the Tufts University softball team won the 2014 Division III National Softball Championship. The team traveled to Tyler, Texas to defend their national title and also found time to perform community service by working with children at the local elementary schools. Catherine Rizzo ’13 won several races for the Fordham Rams’ nationally ranked Division I Crew team. Denise Rizzo ’13 and her teammates on the University of Scranton basketball team won the Landmark Conference Title and qualified for the Division III NCAA Tournament, where they made it to the sweet 16. She was also very successful in the classroom, making the Dean’s List.

Angel Network The Angel Network is a sub-committee of the Alumnae Association and is open to all AHA alumnae. The group focuses on networking events, professional development and will most importantly provide mentoring and internship opportunities for current or recently graduated Angels. And the best part is that your involvement can be as small or as big as you choose – you can either be here in the New Jersey area or as far away as California!

got news?

We love hearing from our alumnae! We want to celebrate with you by sharing your good news and accomplishments with the entire AHA community. Send your news and photos for the next issue of Tidings to alumnae@holyangels.org

by September 22, 2014.

We love pictures, and we want you to look good! Photos that are below the acceptable resolution for print will not be published. Here are some tips for sending us digital photos that will look fantastic in print: •M ake sure your camera is set to the best photo setting (usually “FINE”) so that your photos will be 300dpi or higher •D o not send photos directly from your phone, as they are automatically sized down to a lower resolution •P lease “attach” your photo to the email, just as you would a document.

JPEGs are preferred.

Alessa Conn Woodrey ’04 spoke to the Theater Arts class, giving them advice about the audition process for college performing arts programs.

Hillary Mahon ’08 spoke to the Global Awareness and Environmental Science classes in January.

She shared her experiences studying abroad at Flinders University in Australia and working and living in Adelaide in South Australia.

Elizabeth Guenther ’07 stopped by to speak with science classes in the fall.

She is pictured above with Nancy Brizzolara, Science Chairperson.

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Briana Lorenzo ’06 was a guest speaker for the MEDS club where she discussed her path from the study of cellular and molecular genetics at Worcester Polytechnic Institute to her work today as a Senior Research Associate at Allograft Materials. She also spoke about her work at Mount Sinai as a Clinical Lab Technician, testing samples of patients to assist doctors in finding the proper treatments. She is pictured above with AHA Science teacher Maureen Ferrara.

Genna Reed ’05 is a researcher at Food & Water Watch, a nonprofit environmental and consumer advocacy organization based in Washington, DC. She spoke to the Environmental Studies class about her work focusing on the regulation of new food system technologies, including genetically engineered food. She is pictured above with AHA Science teacher Erica Pritchard and the Environmental Studies class.

Liz Reynoso ’90 visited the Environmental Science class to discuss her work as the Food Policy Director for the City of Newark. She has led efforts to create the state’s largest urban farm on public land and initiated the acceptance of SNAP/ EBT (formerly known as Food Stamps) at farmers’ markets. Liz has authored the City of Newark’s Healthy Food Access chapter in the first-ever Sustainability Action Plan.

Elise Oggioni ’09, a Production Assistant for Varney & Co. on the Fox Business Network, visited with the Communications class to discuss her current role in media and her internship experiences at Fox and for KOMU in Missouri.

Jackie Heath ’10 recently stopped by to speak with the Organic Chemistry class. She shared that she wished she had been able to take “Orgo” at AHA and the advantages that they will find in college having studied the material in advance. She and Natalie Lin ’10 also discussed their next plans for graduate school and the process in applying to various programs.

Sally Casper Binder ’03 was a guest speaker for the Environmental Studies class and shared her graduate research work with invasive species.

Olivia Dawd ’13 gave a drum workshop to all current Angel percussionists.

Emily Greiner ’10, a senior at University of Maryland, spoke to the AP US Government and International Studies classes about her experience as a fellow for the Department of Homeland Security’s Career Development Program. Emily has also been interning at the White House for the Executive Office of the President, Office of Administration, Office of the Chief Operation Services and Continuity of Operation Program. She is pictured below with Social Studies teachers Ms. Jennifer Cucchisi and Ms. Gail Fair.

Catherine Best ’04 was the speaker for the National Honor Society Induction on April 30. In her speech she assured the Angels, “If AHA has prepared you the way it prepared me, you’ll know that you’re capable and willing to work hard to achieve your goals. You’ll face the challenges knowing that you’ll create another better opportunity for yourself.

Big or small, you’ll define your character through life events.”

Leslie Cascone Rohrbacker ’86 spoke with the Creative Writing class about the process of writing and publishing her first children’s book, First Friend, Best Friend.

Alumnae Angels from the class of 2013 returned for the Alumnae College Fair in March to meet with current Angel families and share their first year college experiences. In attendance were Kristiana Marcon ’13, Erin Lynch ’13, Korinne Dizon ’13, Olivia Lofaro ’13, Reid McLain ’13, Eleni Kyriacou ’13, Megan O’Donnell ’13, Adriana Kranjac ’13 and Kaitlyn Policastro ’13.

Dorianne Van Dyke ’01 discussed her role as a media attorney with Nancy Schneberger’s Communications class.

She is currently working for the MLRC Institute. She creates presentations encapsulating First Amendment and Intellectual Property law. Dorianne also researches and summarizes developing media case law for the Supreme Court of the United States.

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2014Arts

May 19,

The Academy of the Holy Angels Fine & Performing Arts Hall of Fame recognizes individuals who have enhanced the Holy Angel’s program either as an artist, performer or contributor.

Nominees must exemplify the highest standards of ethical conduct and moral character. In short, nominees must be a positive role model, worthy of being emulated by current and future students.

Ann Angier Hirsch ’91 After Holy Angels, Ann attended Barnard College and graduated cum laude with a double major in Art History and Fine Arts. Ann then had travel fellowships that took her to Italy and the Newington-Cropsey Foundation in Hastings-on-Hudson, NY. In 2000, Ann completed her MA from Barnard in Interdisciplinary Studies. She then pursued an MFA from New York University with a focus on sculpture, graduating in 2002. She was then the Artist in Residence at the Prince of Wales Foundation in Normandy, France, as well as a Research Fellow at the New York Academy of Art. Ann has received numerous artists’ grants including the Vermont Studio Center, Somerville Arts Council and St. Botolph Club in Boston. Her work has been on exhibit at galleries throughout the Northeast, specifically in Massachussetts and New York. She has completed commissioned work for the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia (Signers of the Constitution), Memorial at Woodlawn Cemetary in Wellesley, MA, St. Ignatius Statue (Walsh Jesuit HS in Cuyahoga Falls, OH). Most recently, a public monument honoring NBA legend Bill Russell was unveiled at Boston City Hall Plaza, where Ann captured not only the athlete, but the man who is a human rights activist and mentor to many.

From 2007-12 Ann was a faculty member at Lesley University in their Fine Arts and Illustration department. She currently serves as a Critic for sculpture and ceramics at Rhode Island School of

Hall of Fame

Design, in Providence, RI. Ann has also been a lecturer/panelist for the St. Botoloph Club in Boston, Clark University, Prospect Hill Academy in Cambridge, MA, New England Model Engineering Society, Fishtank Gallery in Brooklyn, NY and in Washington DC at the Russell Senate Building.

Ann’s studio is located in Somerville, MA. To view more of her projects, please visit annhirschstudio.com.

publishing, the students were taught to type, professionally set and paste each page of every issue. Years later in 1991, with the edition of a Mac computer and laser printer, Blueprint was the first electronically produced publication at Holy Angels.

In 1988, a student initiated the start of a Stage Crew club under the guidance of Maryann. In the early years, this club was service oriented and was responsible for repairing the drapes, cleaning the dressing rooms and even changing the auditorium light bulbs throughout the school year.

But soon Stage Crew grew to what it is today, assisting with all AHA productions.

This “girl team” wielded the hammers and drills, learned how to wire electrical connections, climb ladders and assemble the scaffold. They created the sets, painted them, and set the lighting and the sound board for each show.

Over the 18 years behind the scenes, Maryann worked with students as they learned valuable lessons and has even inspired them to pursue careers in sound and lighting on Broadway and beyond.

L to R: Ann Angier Hirsch and Maryann Chitko

maryann chitko In 1984, Maryann began her career at AHA in the English department. She also taught technology and introduced the early Adobe products to AHA in her Digital Design class. As AHA began to adopt the laptop program, she was the first to have a tablet and later easily transitioned from the classroom to Technology Assistant, helping students and faculty master the use of their tablets and navigate the digital learning platform, Haiku.

Over the years, Maryann has had a great impact on both the fine and performing arts programs at the Academy.

In her first year, she took on the responsibility of moderating AHA’s literary magazine Blueprint and continued to do so until 1994. Under her guidance, in the days before desktop

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Fellow honoree Ann Angier Hirsch worked with Maryann on Blueprint as a staff member and then as Art Editor, and says, “Ms. Chitko fostered in students a passion for the arts…in the 22 years since my graduation from AHA, my appreciation for her generosity and passion has continually increased.”

NOMINATIONS Has a fellow Angel inspired you as an artist?

The nomination deadline for the Arts Hall of Fame is January 1, 2015.

Nomination form is available online at holyangels.org/artshof

a ng el ic e ve ning 2 0 1 4

Chairperson Mary Ayoub ’84 and her dedicated volunteers brought many exciting changes to the 17th Annual Angelic Evening, held on March 28, 2014 at The Rockleigh Country Club in Rockleigh, NJ. This year’s fundraising celebration featured a new extended cocktail party format, electronic bidding and an opportunity for guests to contribute to a “Fund A Future” scholarship fund. The team’s generous efforts in planning and preparation paid off, as the event netted a total of over $136,000. AHA President S. Patricia Murphy, SSND welcomed all and acknowledged the immense dedication and hard work of Mary and her team, and expressed her gratitude to the AHA community for its support during her tenure as AHA President. Alumna Sharon Johnson-Hakim ’02 encouraged donations to the scholarship fund by sharing how financial support from AHA helped make her Holy Angels education possible. A special thank you to Sharon and to the guests who responded generously by donating $22,200 to the fund! Congratulations to Stephen and Margaret Heaney Saxenian ’80 who won $11,437 in the 50/50 raffle drawing. Next year’s Angelic Evening will take place on Friday, March 27, 2015 - mark your calendars!

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scholarships Merz Scholarships The Ellen and Ralph Merz Scholarship Program annually awards scholarships to graduates of Holy Angels.

The scholarship covers partial tuition for one year in an undergraduate or graduate program, provided a minimum 3.0 average in studies is maintained.

Ellen Merz, an educator, raised as a ward of the School Sisters of Notre Dame in the Academy of the Holy Angels in Fort Lee, endowed a scholarship fund in 1984 to be used by graduates of the Academy. All graduates who are currently enrolled in a college or university or graduates who are planning to return to formal study in the next school year are eligible.

The scholarship is intended for those pursuing a degree in education or field where education plays a significant (or important) role.

We are proud to announce the 2014 Merz Scholarship Recipients: Kathleen DiGiulio ’08 Kathleen graduated from Lehigh University in 2012 with a BA in Political Science with a concentration in Africana Studies. During her college years, she was a copy editor for the Lehigh Review and volunteered at the Bethlehem Area Public Library as an intern.

After graduation, she remained at Lehigh to serve on the Summer Reading Program Committee. She is currently an Administrative and Development Assistant for the Bergen Volunteer Medical Initiative. Kathleen is currently pursuing a Master’s in Library Information Science at Rutgers University.

“From the education I received, to the person I learned to be, I have a depth of self that many people spend decades chasing.

Not only did Holy Angels teach me to write and speak confidently, it also taught me how to be a more compassionate person and showed me that I was interested in devoting myself to a life of serving others.

I am so grateful for the focus Holy Angels

places on the SSND charism and Catholic Social Justice. Above all, Holy Angels creates capable women – between that first day of freshman year and graduation, Holy Angels transforms teenage girls into women who believe they can – and do – change the world. In moments of self doubt, I often found myself thinking “well if Sister Mary Nonna Dunphy can climb the Palisades, I certainly can do this.”

Megan Emmich ’06 Megan graduated from the College of the Holy Cross in 2010 with a BA in Biology and a minor in French. During her college years, Megan was active on campus as a member of the French Club and the Purple Key Society, and was a Multicultural Peer Educator and Admissions Tour Guide. She spent a semester studying at Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland. Megan previously worked at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston as a Sarcoma Clinical Research Coordinator. She is currently studying at the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine as she pursues her DO.

“Holy Angels ability to cultivate female leaders is unsurpassed. I truly believe and trust in the principle of the School Sisters of Notre Dame that “the world can be changed through the transformation of persons.” In reflecting, remembering and revisiting my time at Holy Angels I can most certainly agree that I am transforming and becoming the physician-leader I want to be; it is a role that I truly embrace joyfully. Holy Angels has always empowered me to always strive for success, to be the best that I possibly could be. And because of everything that I have received at AHA, I will always look to be a leader and a positive role model and mentor for those young women who come after me.”

Danielle Lobaton ’12 Danielle is currently studying at Northeastern University at the Bouve College of Health Sciences in the Doctor of Pharmacy program.

The intense program spans six years and

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includes three work co-ops. She is active on campus and has been involved with the Red Cross Club, Colleges Against Cancer and is an ambassador for the college. Danielle has also been active with the Health Disparities group where students gather to discuss differences in health care due to socioeconomic backgrounds, age and race. Through this group, students become more aware of the disparities and look for ways to remediate them.

She has also gone into the Boston schools to teach students about health education.

“My teachers at Holy Angels helped me to excel in all areas and therefore shaped me intellectually. They provided me with the building blocks for the cornerstone in my career in pharmacy. The discipline, hard work and long hours have paid off. I feel confident as I delve into the rigorous academic demands of Northeastern because of my Holy Angels education.”

Scholarship Opportunity Are you continuing your education?

Apply for a Merz Scholarship from AHA! For more information visit holyangels.org/merz.

The application deadline for Merz Scholarships is March 16, 2015.

special alumnae events Legacy Moms Celebrate

Annual Mother/Daughter Tea Back by Popular Demand!

On Sunday, March 16, AHA hosted the annual Alumnae Mother/Daughter Tea. Cindy Lou Who, Thing 1 and Thing 2 made an appearance and posed for photos, to the delight of the children (which included daughters, granddaughters, nieces and cousins of alumnae). After tea and a light lunch, the attendees were treated to the matinee performance of Seussical the Musical.

This year’s Alumnae Mothers Dinner was held at Fresh & Fancy Farm in New Milford. A very special thank you to Meg Low ’03, who worked tirelessly to prepare a fabulous farm to table dinner for this special night. The evening was a celebration of the past, present and future legacy moms as well as a thank you to Patti Hill for serving as Alumnae President and for AHA President, S. Patricia for all that she had done with alumnae during the year.

In attendance were: Suzanne Rittereiser Anderson ’88 with her mom Pat Rittereiser, Karen Sullivan Camporeale ’88, Kathryn Gartland Chambers ’66, Kristine Murray Diverio ’85, Johnna O’Rourke DiPalma ’85, Maureen Reuter Gallo ’80, Arleen Pancza Graham ’68, Maureen Davis Havlusch ’85, Geralyn Parent Haws ’82, Patti McGovern Hill ’78, Daniela Lodes Kelly ’75, Laura Wescott Kraytem ’79, Sheila Thornton Labita ’87, Rosaleen Mulvey Lane ’81, Karen Franklin McSherry ’75, Jean Benzenberg Mullooly ’83, Mary Lou Donohue Owens ’85, 5 Heaney Saxenian ’80, Renee Norfleet Ramirez ’85, Margaret Sister Patricia Murphy, SSND and Dorrie Voulgaris.

Save the Date!

The AHA Parents’ Athletic Association cordially invites you to attend a very special evening on Saturday, November 8, 2014.

Two new members will be inducted into the AHA Athletic Hall of Fame: Jennifer De Lucia Garofalo ’91, the first AHA basketball player to reach 1,000 points, and Patrick Dunne, AHA’s famed bowling and golf coach who not only initiated both teams at AHA but has won numerous awards including Coach of the Year and Coach of the Decade. You won’t want to miss this great event honoring two key members of the AHA athletic program.

Patrick Dunne

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Jennifer De Lucia Garofalo ’91

Strategic Plan: AHA 2020 Last spring, the AHA Board of Trustees and key members of the Holy Angels community met to create a plan that will be a guiding force for the future of the Academy. The results of surveys that gathered input and insights from all constituencies, students, parents, alumnae and faculty, were reviewed and used to structure this blueprint of the coming years. The purpose of this strategic plan is to delineate the financial, organizational, facilities and related elements needed to provide the strongest possible platform in support of the Academy of the Holy Angels’ mission-specific purposes and outcomes.

BOARD OF TRUSTEES 2014-2015 Sharon Slear, SSND, Chair Joseph Bonito Joseph Branciforte Deborah Cerullo, SSND Edward V. Chapel Kathleen Cornell, SSND

Major Themes 1. Mission fulfillment – To strengthen the financial, organizational, and facilities frameworks needed to enable young women to reach the fullness of their potential and to assist them to direct their gifts to building Earth.

2. Student recruitment and student retention – To strengthen mission-specific messaging to the Academy community and beyond, in order to attract and retain young women who will prosper in the Academy’s academic and cultural setting.

3. Career-long faculty professional development – To place renewed emphasis upon the faculty professional development program, both financially and in terms of enhanced quality-of-return to the AHA classrooms.

Tara Del Gavio Dr. Stephanie Bille Donohue ’72 Mary Fitzgerald, SSND Melinda Hanlon Mary Nugent Henninger Patricia McGovern Hill ’78 Thomas Kohli Margaret Ellen Mahoney, SSND Edward Malley

4. Facilities – To develop a campus master plan designed specifically to provide new and/or remodeled structures tailored to the implications of the AHA mission; to launch and complete the resulting construction project(s).

James McCarthy

5. Board of Trustees structure and function – To organize and populate the Board of Trustees in ways designed to ensure sustained governance-level focus on the AHA 2020 strategic plan.

Susan Craig Scott, MD ’66

6. Financial stability – To enhance further the critical finance-specific marker for stability: the percent coverage of operations expense with hard income.

Robert E. LaBlanc, Trustee Emeritus

Dr. Diana Morejon Hon. Reena Raggi ’69 Maria Iannuccillo, SSND, Provincial Council Liason

WE HEARD YOU! AHA formally launched a new and improved website this summer. For the past six months, the website team has worked tirelessly to redesign the site in order to improve navigation and accessibility. The site was restructured to address the needs of all of AHA’s constituencies, alumnae and current and prospective families.

We thank those of you who were surveyed and asked to contribute feedback on the workings of the site. Your input was critical to this redesign.

We are already hearing rave reviews about all of the new changes in place, and we hope you’ll want to rave about it too!

A Word of Thanks This website could not have been completed without the dedication and skilled talents of the AHA web team. Many thanks to the team for all of their hard work and dedication.

The web team is pictured below (L to R) during their “launch” celebration.

George Ballane – Director of Technology Dorrie Voulgaris – Director of Alumnae Relations Jillane Ferreira – Director of Communications Trish Murphy – Web and Social Media Content Manager Jennifer Verdonck – Assistant Director of Admissions Theresa Young – Technology Assistant (not pictured)

new website for AHA Take it with you!

No one can argue that technology has changed dramatically over the last decade, and it is AHA’s goal to continue to be a pioneer by using the latest platforms available to improve the student/family experience. Since many more of you are accessing the internet through your phones and tablets, the new site was designed to be responsive on all devices.

This is for YOU

The site content, layout and structure were a major consideration as our team worked to focus on the needs of our audience – YOU! There is now easy access to our most popular pages (Calendar, Athletics, Arts, Offices, etc) with convenient drop-down menu screens for easier navigation. You are encouraged to use the ‘share’ functionality that is available on each page. If you see something you love, share it! You will also find easy access links to Holy Angels’ social media accounts.

Things to Expect

A website should always be considered a work-in-progress, and the AHA site is no exception. Here are just a few things to keep in mind:

Haiku – Remains to be the hub of life for students, parents and faculty. There have been no changes to your

login for Haiku. New families will receive their login information via email early in the school year.

News/Calendars – There are a number of ways to see what is happening at AHA, from the calendar link and news section on the home page, to our new and improved News/Events page. Be sure to bookmark holyangels.org/about-us/events Alumnae Logins - All previous alumnae login information is no longer valid.

Please be sure to register for the new site to access the online alumnae directory, individual giving history, Echoes archive and much more. It is simple – just go to the ALUMNAE link up top, then click on Alumnae Login and choose New User Registration at the bottom. Any questions about activation should be emailed to alumnae@holyangels.org.

Current Parent Logins All previous parent login information for the AHA website is no longer valid. Parents – be on the lookout for an email from AHA with login instructions.

Our new design works seamlessly with your desktop, tablet and phone!

sophomore, junior & senior angels take a break from their studieS...

prom season 2014

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talent show

college fair

mother-daughter fashion show

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Non-profit Org U.S. Postage PA I D New Britain, CT Permit No.5

315 Hillside Avenue Demarest, New Jersey 07627

s p o n s ore o re d by t h e school si sters of notre d a me

in memoriam ALUMNAE Nancy Bernet Bourdon ’62 Sister of Phyllis Bernet Hayes ’64

Kathleen McCloskey Chambers ’62

George T. Brown, Sr.

John Peter Mercer

Father of Judith Brown O’Brien ’69

Grandfather of Kristen Krajewski ’07

Josephine Gallo Mother-in-law of Maureen Reuter Gallo ’80

Michael Molinaro

and Grandmother of Meghan Gallo ’12 and

Father of Maryann Molinaro Marcello ‘65

Ellen Stoldt Green ’54

Christina Gallo ’16

Sister of Susan Stoldt Dunn ’60 and

Annie Giambalvo

Nancy Stoldt Walsh-Devito ’63

Mary Hines ’68 Sister of Frances Hines Falk ’69 and Ellen Hines ’70

Joanne Roe O’Mealia ’45 Rosemary Powers Purdue ’48

and Jennifer Krajewski ’09

Grandmother of Nicole Giambalvo ’14

Filomena Granato Mother of Maria Granato Pellicone ’76

Donald Gray Father of Mary Ann Gray Anzenberger ‘87 and Father-in-law of Stacie

Sister of the late Margaret Powers Gidez

Kivlehan-Gray ’89

’42 and Aunt of Maura Gidez Kilner ’84

John Harney

Patricia Schweighofer ’66

Husband of Elyse Deublein Harney ’48

Ann Winters Shershin ’45

Frank Ix

Gene Pagnozzi Grandfather of Hayley Allen ’18

Thomas Patterson Father of Janet Patterson Bourbin ’86

Helen Pubylski Mother of Helen Ann Pubylski ’61

Helen Price Mother of AHA Board Member Tara Del Gavio

John Stavola Father of Marie Stavola Giorgio ’69

Rita Vassallo Mother of Jo-Ann Vassallo Cooley ’88

Sister of the late Mary Winters Beecher ’41

Father of Courtney Ix Thompson ’70,

Charelle Cusberth Zipay ’73

Catherine Ix ’84

Robert Wilson

William Keck

Husband of Mary Jeanne McCarthy

FAMILY & FRIENDS Nabil Abbasi Father of Shereen Abbasi ’01

Boro Atanasoski Father of Aleksandra Atanasoska ’15

Joseph Azelby Father of Theresa Azelby Matsen ’78

Alison Ix Lutes ’76, Suzanne Ix ’80 and

Husband of Nicole Grace Keck ’77

Edward Korzun Brother-in-law of AHA faculty member Colette Domingues

Charles McGovern Uncle of Mary Beth McGovern Budra ’72, AHA Board Member Patti McGovern Hill ’78, Lindsay Hill ’08 and Sheila Hill ’13

and Stephanie Vassallo ’91

Wilson ’58

Patricia Woodward Mother of Bernadette Woodward Fasano ’83

Peter Henry Zecher Father of Darren Zecher Lilley ’75

?

Are you the

correct recipient of

tidings

READERS: The Post Office does not forward Tidings. Postal regulations require the school to pay for every copy not deliverable as addressed.

Please notify us directly of any changes of address, giving both the new and old address.

PARENTS: If this publication is addressed to your daughter and she no longer maintains a permanent address at your home, please notify the Alumnae Office at 201-768-7822 x211 or at alumnae@holyangels.org.

Academy of the Holy Angels has made every effort to verify the accuracy of the data contained herein. We apologize for any errors or omissions and ask that you bring them to our attention for subsequent correction.

Submissions for In Memoriam should be sent to the Office of Alumnae Relations: 315 Hillside Avenue, Demarest, NJ 07627 or emailed to alumnae@holyangels.org.