Catholic Schools Week Jan 2016

A special supplement of THE MONITOR

January 14, 2016

National Catholic Schools Week • Jan. 31-Feb. 6 Across the Diocese of Trenton and throughout the nation, Catholic schools are celebrating what makes them unique: values-based, wellrounded education that forms sound minds and healthy bodies, centered around our Catholic faith. This year, we celebrate the ‘Communities of Faith, Knowledge and Service,’ which are passionately pursuing excellence in all aspects, receiving local and national awards and shaping the leaders and saints - of tomorrow.

GROWING, IN FAITH • Schools

find creative ways to serve more students • S-8 Joe Moore photo

COLD CASH • Nearly 1,000 plunge into Atlantic to support Catholic schools • S-10 Jeff Bruno photo

ALSO INSIDE:  Bishop O’Connell, JoAnn Tier share ‘Good News’ of Catholic education • S2-3  Schools plan events to celebrate week • S4  Asbury Park school introduces peer-led virtue program • S12

Photo courtesy of Our Lady of Mount Carmel School

 S chools incorporate Holy Year of Mercy into activities • S16  F eature section: Catholic schools ‘Achieving It All’ • S25

S•2 CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK

A MESSAGE from

THE MONITOR • JANUARY 14, 2016

BISHOP DAVID M. O’CONNELL, C.M. Ministrare Non Ministrari

Our Catholic schools: ‘Fruit that will last’

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ver 50 years ago, the Second Vatican Council described the purpose of the Catholic school as creating “for the school community a special atmosphere animated by the Gospel spirit ... (Vatican II, “Declaration on Christian Education, 8”).”

A half-century later, the National Catholic Educational Association has as its recurring theme for Catholic Schools Week 2016, “Catholic Schools: Communities of Faith, Knowledge and Service.” Those three aspects of Catholic education always find their source in Jesus Christ. “Everything that happens in Catholic schools ... should lead to an encounter with the living Christ (Congregation for Catholic Education, “Educating Today and Tomorrow: A Renewing Passion, III,” 2014).” Such an encounter gives rise to faith, permeates knowledge and inspires service within

the Catholic school community. In the Diocese of Trenton, our Catholic primary and secondary schools pursue this three-fold mission as a means to evangelize the young people entrusted to our care in close collaboration with parents. The family is the first Catholic school, and parents, the first and most important teachers of the Catholic faith. Pastors and parish priests work generously with dedicated teachers and staff in the Catholic school to hand on and deepen the seeds of faith planted within the family home. Those seeds are watered and nurtured in our Catholic schools producing “fruit that will

last (John 15: 16):” a community of faith, knowledge and service that reaches far beyond classroom doors. As Bishop, I cannot thank parents enough for their sacrifice and trust in making Catholic education possible for their children. I cannot thank parish priests enough for their support of Catholic education. I cannot thank teachers and staff enough for their work and witness to all that Catholic education can and does offer. I cannot thank enough the benefactors without whose generosity our Catholic schools might not be able to keep their doors open. It is all of you, along with our students, who create and sustain the Catholic school communities mentioned earlier, communities animated by the Gospel and leading to Christ. I cannot imagine the Catholic Church without its schools. I hope we never have to!

‘Communities of Faith, Knowledge and Service’ Catholic schools provide benefits to society and Church Patrick T. Brown Associate Editor

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atholic schools have it all, as the slogan goes, but ‘having it all’ takes on an added dimension when you look at the national scope, impact and benefits of the Catholic school community across the United States. According to statistics provided by the National Catholic Educational Association, a voluntary association representing Catholic school educators and institutions, there are just under 6,600 Catholic schools across the nation, including nearly 5,400 elementary and middle schools and nearly 1,200 secondary schools. Together, they provide $24 billion in financial savings for the country, based on the average public school per pupil cost. But beyond the strictly pecuniary benefits, the virtues and values formed

in Catholic schools impact our nation and its future leaders in ways too innumerable to count. That impact is being recognized in this year’s National Catholic Schools Week, running from Jan. 31 to Feb. 6, which will focus on the theme “Catholic Schools: Communities of Faith, Knowledge and Service.” Many states throughout the union recognize Catholic Schools Week in a special way, including New Jersey. In years previous, Gov. Chris Christie signed a proclamation celebrating Catholic schools for educating “millions of New Jerseyans in preparation for their responsibilities as residents of this State and as members of society,” and he is expected to proclaim something to similar effect this year as well. In addition to graduating leading members of civic society, Catholic schools also are prime sources for future leaders in the Church – a 2012 study from Georgetown University’s Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate found that 26 percent of male Catholics born after 1982 (so-called “Millennials”) who attended Catholic primary or secondary school had considered becoming a priest. For those with no history of attending a Catholic school, only nine percent had contemplated a vocation to the religious life. Additionally, Millennial Catholics who attended a Catholic secondary school were eight times more likely to attend weekly Mass than those who never attended a Catholic school. Despite these benefits to local, state,

and national communities, Catholic schools do face the challenges of declining family size and the ongoing impact of the recession of family income and school tuition. For example, CARA found more than 213,000 students enrolled in the fourth grade in Catholic schools across the United States in 2000. By 2013, that number had fallen to just above 140,000. But in the face of these challenges, Catholic schools continue on their mission of building communities of faith, knowledge and service. Parents clearly see the value of a Catholic education. A national poll in 2006 found that Catholic parents listed the following factors as “very important” factors in convincing them to choose a Catholic school for their children: quality religious education, a safe environment, quality academic instruction, discipline and order, a sense of community, and See Families • S-6

JANUARY 14, 2016 • TrentonMonitor.com

CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK S•3

A MESSAGE from

JOANN TIER Moderator of Catholic Education, Superintendent of Catholic Schools

Investing in the Future

Accreditation process brings value to Diocese, schools, students

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eaching is an art. Teachers look into the eyes of a child to determine understanding. In so doing, they make a connection far beyond conveying basic instruction. The child knows the teacher cares and is invested in him. Whether teaching bouncy 4-year-old preschool students or imparting knowledge to graduate students, making a connection, motivating, inspiring and delivering the educational concepts are all part of this respected pedagogy. Catholic school teachers, invested in the students whom they teach, are relentless in their pursuit of providing an exceptional 21st century educational experience. With this end-result as a goal, school communities in the Diocese of Trenton completed a year and a half AdvancED Accreditation Study and hosted a team of educators from Nov. 1-4, as part of the accreditation process. AdvancED is an internationally recognized accreditation agency that incorporates a standards-driven and studentcentered approach with an emphasis on increasing student performance and growth as well as school improvement. AdvancED accreditation provides the tools to nurture and support individual school improvement while aligning school improvement with diocesan improvement goals. AdvancED has accredited over 32,000 institutions in 71 countries and serves over 20 million students worldwide. Educationally, there are no silos in which teachers or schools operate distinctly, independently and detached from others. With systemic and sustainable improvement, administrators and faculty work in pursuit of a shared vision that all learners realize their full potential. To that end, a comprehensive selfassessment of each school was initiated in the spring of 2014. Areas of focus included Catholic identity and the foundational areas of AdvancED standards - purpose and direction, governance and leadership, teaching and assessing for learning, resource and support systems and using results for continuous improvement. Surveys were conducted with parents, faculty, staff and students to learn their perspectives relative to the standards. The school documents were uploaded for members of the visiting team to review prior to the November 2015 visit. With the arrival of the team, interviews were conducted with Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., diocesan leadership, pastors, principals, parent representatives and community members representing 270 stakeholders. Ten schools in the Diocese were visited

The Diocese of Trenton exceeded the average of all schools in the AdvancED Network in areas of :  T eaching and Learning Impact • DOT: 276 • AdvancED: 269  Leadership Capacity • DOT: 325 • AdvancED: 293  R esource Utilization • DOT: 300 • AdvancED: 283

GREAT TEAMWORK • JoAnn Tier, diocesan superintendent of Catholic schools, shares the results of the AdvancED Accreditation Study with school representatives Nov. 4 at the Chancery. Joe Moore photos

HIGH MARKS • Eddie Krenson, chairman of the AdvancED external review team, noted the Diocese of Trenton offers ‘a wellmanaged, active, innovative and supportive learning environment’ for its students. by members of the external review team to observe student learning in action. The Effective Learning Environment Observation Tool (ELEOT) was utilized to assess student engagement. The results of this assessment illustrated that schools in the Diocese of Trenton exceeded the AdvancED Network Average in the areas of: • Equitable Learning (DOT-2.81; AdvancED Avg.- 2.69); • High Expectations (DOT-3.06; AdvancED Avg.-2.81); • Supportive Learning (DOT-3.28; AdvancED Avg.- 3.07); • Active Learning (DOT-3.12; AdvancED Avg.-2.94); • Well-Managed Learning Environment (DOT-3.40; AdvancED Avg. -3.14); • Digital Learning (DOT-1.91; AdvancED Avg.- 1.83) In Progress Monitoring and Feedback the score was slightly below the network average (DOT-3.06; AdvancED Avg.-3.08). While exceeding all but one of the

“Catholic school teachers...are relentless in their pursuit of providing an exceptional 21st century educational experience.” averages for the AdvancED network of schools and scoring positive results, educators see the wisdom in concentrated focus on improvement and growth in the areas of digital learning, progress monitoring and feedback, equity of learning and active learning environments to better meet the needs of today’s students. The team visit concluded Nov. 4 with Eddie Krenson, chairman of the External Review Team and vice-president of the Non-Public School Services for AdvancED, presenting an exit report delineating powerful practices and improvement priorities for the Department of Catholic Schools and its 39 schools. Powerful Practices (strengths) included the following: • Administrators and educators, under the leadership of Bishop O’Connell, exhibit a strong sense of Catholic identity which permeates the diocesan climate and culture. • A collaborative and collegial spirit is apparent among those in leadership with attentiveness to individual initia-

 T he AdvancED Network average composite score: 284  Index of Education Quality (IEQ) for the Diocese of Trenton: 295 tive. • The Diocese demonstrates effective use of available resources to support its schools including a comprehensive marketing program, the services of a grant writer and the Catholic Alumni Partnership, which provides a strong alumni database for its schools. • The Department of Catholic Schools raises awareness among administrators to secure all services and resources available at the federal, state and local levels. Support services such as teacher aides, nurses and special educational resource teachers are additional assets that contribute to school resources. • There is meaningful engagement and empowerment of families in their child’s learning. • The use of Genesis, Power School and similar programs give parents access to student progress. Recommended Opportunities for Improvement included the following: • Teaching and Assessing for Learning –School surveys conducted with parents, teachers and students revealed the potential for greater improvement in monitoring and supporting teachers’ instructional practices to deliver a 21st century learning environment. This supports the need for differentiated instruction, active and engaged learning, student-directed learning and equitable learning opportunities. As lifelong learners, teachers will have access to professional development to utilize and incorporate 21st century instructional modes that are necessary to support See Tier • S-20

S•4 CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK

THE MONITOR • JANUARY 14, 2016

CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK EVENT ROUND-UP Catholic schools around the diocese have announced the following events, open to the public, to celebrate Catholic Schools Week. For more information on activities during the week, which runs from Jan. 31 to Feb. 6, visit their websites. BURLINGTON COUNTY HOLY CROSS ACADEMY, Delran • Jan. 31, Mass with choir singing, 9 a.m., open house, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Feb. 1, Harlem Wizards game, 6:30 p.m., co-sponsored with St. Paul School, Burlington, for tickets, email www. holycrosshighschool.org, (proceeds from the game will be shared among seven Burlington County schools including: Holy Cross, Burlington; St. Paul, St. Joan of Arc, Marlton; Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Maple Shade; Our Lady of Good Counsel, Moorestown; St. Mary of the Lakes, Medford; Sacred Heart, Mount Holly, and St. Charles Borromeo, Cinnaminson); pregame tour of Holy Cross School, 4 p.m., email admissions@holycrosshighschool.org; Feb. 5, Mass, 9 a.m., pep rally, 11 a.m., gym. The school is located at 5035 Route 130 South. For information, call 856-461-5400. OUR LADY OF GOOD COUNSEL SCHOOL, Moorestown – Jan. 31, Alumni Mass, 10:30 a.m., open house, noon to 2 p.m.; Feb. 1, open house, 9 to 11 a.m.; Feb. 4, National Blue Ribbon 2015 Mass, 10 a.m.; Feb. 5, pep rally, 10 a.m., gym. The school is located at 23 W. Prospect Avenue. For information, call 856-235-7885. OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL HELP SCHOOL,

Maple Shade • Jan. 31, open house, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The school is located at 236 E. Main St. To schedule a tour or for information, call 856-779-7526 or visit www.olphparish.com. SACRED HEART SCHOOL, Mount Holly • Jan. 31, open house, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Feb. 5, open house, 9:30 to 11 a.m. The school is located at 250 High St. For information, call 609-267-1728.

MERCER COUNTY PRINCETON ACADEMY OF THE SACRED HEART SCHOOL, Princeton • Jan. 23, information tour with school leaders, 8:30 a.m. The school is located at 1128 Great Rd. To register, visit www.princetonacademy.org. For information, call 609-921-6499. ST. ANN SCHOOL, Lawrenceville • Feb. 3, open house, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Faith Development Center, tours to follow. The school is located at 34 Rossa Ave. For information, call 609-8828077 or visit www.st-ann-school.org. ST. PAUL SCHOOL, Princeton • Jan, 21, Feb. 18 & March 17, school tours, 9 to 11 a.m. The school is located at 218 Nassau St. To schedule a tour, call 609-921-7587. ST. RAPHAEL SCHOOL, Hamilton • Jan. 31, open house, 12:30 to 2 p.m.; Feb. 11, open

We are ...

house, 5 to 7 p.m. The school is located at 151 Gropp Ave. For information, call 609-585-7733 or visit www.srsnj.org. STUART COUNTY DAY SCHOOL OF THE SACRED HEART, Princeton • Jan. 24, open house, 1 to 3 p.m. The school is located at 1128 Stuart Road. For information, call 609-9212330 or visit stuartschool.org. TRENTON CATHOLIC ACADEMY, Hamilton • Feb. 2, open house, 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. The school is located at 175 Leonard Ave. For information, call 609-586-3705 or visit www. trentoncatholic.org. VILLA VICTORIA ACADEMY, Ewing • Feb. 4, admissions info session, 1 to 2:30 p.m. The school is located at 376 West Upper Ferry Rd. For information, call 609-882-1700 or visit www.villavictoria.org.

MONMOUTH COUNTY HOLY CROSS SCHOOL, Rumson • Jan. 31, open house, 11:30 to 1 p.m.; Feb. 26, open house, 9 to 10:30 a.m. The school is located at 40 Rumson Rd. For information, call 732-8420348 or visit www.holycrossschoolrumson.org. MATER DEI PREP, Middletown • Feb. 3, open house, 6:30 p.m. The school is located at 538 Church St. For information, visit

Academic Excellence. Spiritual Growth.

• 2012 National Blue Ribbon School Of Excellence

• Proven Successful pre-K-8 Co-Ed School

• Nurturing Catholic School Environment • Dedicated & Experienced Faculty • Affordable Tuition and Financial Aid

Celebrating

135 years of Catholic Education

School Tours: Jan. 21 • Feb. 18 • March 17 9:00am - 11:00am

materdeiprep.org, contact Christine Altland at 732.671.9100, ext. 17, or caltland@materdeiprep.org. ST. BENEDICT SCHOOL, Holmdel • Jan. 30, open house, 6 to 7 p.m.; Feb. 3, open house, 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The school is located at 165 Bethany Rd. For information, call 732-2645578 or visit www.stbenedictholmdel.org. ST. CATHARINE SCHOOL, Spring Lake • Jan. 15, open house, 9 to 11 a.m. and 1:15 to 2:15 p.m.; Jan. 31, prospective family information session for all grades, 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Feb. 23, open house, 9 to 11 a.m. and 1:15 to 2:15 p.m.; new for 2016-17 pre-K program. The school is located at 301 Second Ave. For information, call 732-449-6199 or visit www. stcatharineschool.org. ST. JEROME SCHOOL, West Long Branch • Jan. 31, Mass, 9 a.m. followed by open house, 10 a.m. to noon. The school is located at 250 Wall Str. For information, call 732-222-8686. ST. MARY SCHOOL, Middletown • Jan. 31, open house, 1 to 3 p.m. The school is located at 538 Church St. For information, call 732-6710129. ST. VERONICA SCHOOL, Howell • Jan. 31, Mass, 10:30 a.m., church, open house and See CSW Round-up • S-6

JANUARY 14, 2016 • TrentonMonitor.com

Catholic Schools

CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK S•5

HAVE it ALL!

FAITH • ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE • ATHLETICS • SERVICE • COMMUNITY

“Think about the world in which your children live. Now picture how different that world would look in Catholic School.” -Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M.

Registration is now underway in the Catholic schools of the Diocese. Schedule a visit at a school near you. CatholicSchoolsHaveItAll.org FOR MORE INFORMATION about the schools of the Diocese and to VIEW A VIDEO MESSAGE from Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., go to CatholicSchoolsHaveItAll.org

S•6 CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK

THE MONITOR • JANUARY 14, 2016

Families, society, Church reap benefits of thriving Catholic schools Continued from • S-3

to attend a four-year college, compared to 39 percent of seniors graduating from public schools. If you’d like to join in the conversation about Catholic schools, their communities, and the benefits they offer to local communities and communities of faith, use the hashtag #CSW16 on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube or Pintrest.

reasonable tuition. These appealing characteristics are what makes a Catholic education so valuable and treasured by hundreds of thousands of parents across the United States. The NCEA’s data show that nationwide, 32 percent of Catholic schools have waiting lists for admission. Virtually all students enrolled in a Catholic high school receive a diploma at the end of their schooling, compared to only 78 percent of public school students, and 85 percent of Catholic school graduates go on

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registration, 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., cafeteria; Feb. 1, morning prayer service and flag ceremony to honor those in public service and the military, 9:30 a.m., gym; Feb. 2, pep rally and volley ball game, 1:30 p.m., gym; Feb. 5, Mass, 9:30 a.m., church, Mercy day video, 1:30, gym; Feb. 6, family fun night, 6 p.m., gym. The church is located at 4215 Hwy. 9 North and the school is located at 4219 Hwy. 9 North. For information, call 732-364-4130.

ALL SAINTS REGIONAL CATHOLIC SCHOOL, Manahawkin • Feb. 2, open house morning session, 9 to 11 a.m., evening session, 6:30 to 8 p.m., classroom visits, tours of the facility to learn about the philosophy, curriculum and special programs. The school is located at 400 Doc Cramer Blvd. For information or directions, call 609-567-3800, email asrc@asrcs.org or visit www.asrcs.org. DONOVAN CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL, Toms River • Feb. 18, open house, 7 to 9 p.m. The school is located at 711 Hooper Ave. For information, call 732-349-8801 or visit www. donovancatholic.org.

CATHOLIC SCHOOLS HAVE IT ALL!

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OCEAN COUNTY

Source: Broughman, S.P. and Swaim, N.L. (2013). Synder, T.D., and Dillow, S.A. (2014). SMS CSW-OH Monitor Ad 10x6pt75.pdf

CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK ROUND-UP

STM ARY ES. O R G

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ST. DOMINIC SCHOOL, Brick• Jan. 31, Mass, 9 a.m., open house and registration, 10:30 a.m. to noon; Feb. 2, pre-school, three year old & kindergarten to grade three, open house and registration, 9 to 11 a.m. and 1 to 2 p.m., new family registration pre-school to grade eight, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Feb. 3, open house, pre-school, four year old and grades four to eight, 9 to 11 a.m. and 1 to 2 p.m., new family registration, preschool to grade eight, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Technology Club, iPad/tablet instruction and troubleshooting class for adult parishioners, 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.; Feb. 5, Mass, 11 a.m. The school is located at 250 Old Squan Rd. For information, call 732840-1412 or visit stdomschool.org. ST. JOSEPH SCHOOL, Toms River • Jan. 31, Mass, noon, followed by open house, 1 to 3 p.m. The school is located at 711 Hooper Ave. For information, call 732-349-2355, ext. 2012 or visit www.stjoeschooltr.org. ST. PETER SCHOOL, Point Pleasant Beach • Jan. 31, Family Mass, noon, open house, 1 to 2 p.m.; Feb. 1, open house and kindergarten registration, 9 to 11 a.m. The school is located at 415 Atlantic Ave. For information, call 732-892-1260 or visit www. stpschool.org.

JANUARY 14, 2016 • TrentonMonitor.com

CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK S•7

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S•8 CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK

THE MONITOR • JANUARY 14, 2016

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Room to GRO

Schools find new ways to welcome greater number of students By Christina Leslie, Staff Writer and Rosemary Daniels, Correspondent

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visitor can step outside St. Ann School, Lawrenceville, take a mere five footsteps across a metal platform, open another door and enter a place that calls to mind the wildly popular world of Harry Potter. A mobile classroom in the rear of the main building now holds one of two classes of fourth grade students and their teacher. A tour of the climatecontrolled, 24’ x 40’ space, quickly puts to rest any qualms about holding classes outside the brick-and-mortar school. The building’s bright, open layout and maroon-and-white color scheme provide an updated, cheery environment in which to learn. File cabinets, bulletin and whiteboards, 18 student desks, and, most importantly, the Crucifix mounted on the wall, remind a visitor the classroom is an extension of the Lawrenceville Catholic elementary school and its motto, “Where faith and knowledge meet.” In decorating the space, fourthgrade teacher, Kelly Meyer, had the popular children’s book character Harry Potter in mind. Her teacher’s desk is labeled “Headmistress Office,” and a poster board listing “House Rules” refer to the students as “wizards.” A “Hogwarts” school pennant is mounted above a whiteboard upon which a pair of Harry’s signature round spectacles hang, and Meyer has whimsically rested a broom against the mobile classroom’s outer wall (“That’s my ‘Firebolt,’” Meyer explained, referring to the boy wizard’s means of transportation.) The mobile classroom is one example of a local school’s response to a welcome challenge – how to accommodate a growing enrollment. On the other side of the Diocese, a Monmouth County school that is facing the same challenge has taken another approach that might well win a hypothetical award for “most

Joe Moore photo

WELCOME ADDITION • At left, Trinitarian Father Gerard F. Lynch, pastor of St. Ann Parish, Lawrenceville, blesses the school’s new mobile classroom Dec. 5. The 24’ x 40’ space, above, holds the school’s fourth grade class and is used for staff development days.

Photo courtesy of St. Ann Parish

creative use of space.” St. Leo the Great School in Lincroft has repurposed much of the educational space within the original footprint of the 57-year-old building. Conference and faculty rooms have been relocated, a library has been expanded, and classrooms were moved to the core of the school to keep sequential grades in close proximity, all to fulfill the school’s mission statement of nurturing students “in pursuit of faith and knowledge.”

Good news for Catholic schools Increasing enrollment is a universal goal among all Catholic schools – in the Diocese and across the nation – but has been a particular priority and focus since the School Sustainability initiative commissioned by Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., in 2013. The initiative set benchmarks for school viability and provided consultation and support to help schools meet their financial and enrollment goals. Key among the recommended measures was a strong marketing effort to recruit and retain

more students. These efforts have drawn some new families to the Catholic schools of the Diocese, but the results are incremental and build over time. According to administrators, the factors driving some of the most significant enrollment hikes in the last two years stem from the closing of three schools at the end of 2014. Many students from the closed schools were welcomed into neighboring schools and added to their rolls. Figures detailing enrollment for kindergarten through eighth grade students during the 2015-2016 school year, obtained from the diocesan Department of Catholic Schools, reveal that a number of schools in all four counties of the Diocese experienced double-digit growth, including St. Ann and St. Leo the Great; Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Maple Shade; St. Gregory the Great Academy, Hamilton Square; St. Joseph, Toms River; St. Veronica, Howell; Trenton Catholic Academy, Hamilton, and St. Ann School, Lawrenceville. St. Rose School, Belmar, added an astounding 93 students to its rolls, attributed to the transfer of students from two schools which closed their doors at the conclusion of the 2014-2015 school year: St. Denis School, Manasquan, and Holy Family School, Lakewood. JoAnn Tier, the Diocese’s moderator of Catholic education and superintendent of schools, commented, “It is a difficult and sad thing when a Catholic school has to close. But we are heartened to see that so many families connected to those closed schools have chosen to stay with Catholic education and have been welcomed by their neighboring Catholic schools.”

Hogwarts in Lawrenceville COMFORTS OF HOME • The St. Ann fourth grade classroom, headed by teacher Kelly

Meyer, is decorated in a Harry Potter motif and enjoys the same security and communications features as the main building. Joe Moore photo

John McKenna, principal of St. Ann School, noted gains of about two dozen transfer students this year from the now-shuttered Incarnation-St.

James School, For multimedia coverage on this story, visit Ewing. St. Ann’s, TrentonMonitor.com recognized by the United States Department of Education and the PHOTO GALLERY Council for American Private Education as a 2010 Blue Ribbon School of Excellence, is enjoying the highest enrollment in 10 years with 336 students. In an interview with The Monitor, McKenna outlined plans to accommodate the projected student population in the school, which first opened in 1964. At St. Ann’s, the mobile classroom used for the fourth grade is handicappedaccessible and equipped with the same security and communications features as the rooms in the main building. “We can call the office or 911 from here,” said Jill Lisi, director of admission and marketing. The mobile classroom will also be used after school hours and on staff development days for meetings and presentations. “Moving forward, we are hoping to [have] two sections of every grade,” reported McKenna, noting that the school’s fifth and eighth grades are the only single-section grades. “Next year, we will need an additional fifth grade and eighth grade classroom. “A study is now being done as to whether an additional mobile classroom might be needed … for the 2016- 2017 school year,” the principal continued, “and to evaluate the space needs of our student population for next year and years to come.” Meyer explained the utilization of the mobile classroom by the school’s two fourth grades. The students switch classes for social studies and science, and they attend classes in technology, art, music and gym in the main building, she explained. Pausing during her mathematics class on constants and variables, Meyer expressed her comfort teaching outside the main building. Meyer, a veteran to teaching who is new to the staff of St. Ann School See Expansion • S-28

CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK S•9

JANUARY 14, 2016 • TrentonMonitor.com

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S•10 CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK

THE MONITOR • JANUARY 14, 2016

Polar Plunge

PREPARED TO PLUNGE •

Catholic schools from across the region, such as Mater Dei Prep, Middletown, participated in the 10th annual Polar Plunge to raise money for Catholic education. Jeff Bruno

draws 1,000 to brave chill, support Catholic education Story by Lois Rogers, Correspondent

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photos

ry skies for an hourand-a-half. That’s what organizers of the 10th annual Polar Plunge for Catholic Education prayed for as the cloud of stormy weather forecasts gathered in the days before the major Jan. 10 fundraiser sponsored by the Ancient Order of Hibernians Patrick Torphy Division.

Their prayers were definitely answered. After a rainy night, the last minute downpour that buffeted the greater Long Branch area about an hour before the event cleared up in a timely fashion. With their spirits completely undampened, an estimated 1,000 plungers and their supporters gathered on the promenade outside Rooney’s Ocean Front Restaurant.

LANCERS ON THE SHORE • Students from St. John Vianney High School, Holmdel, bore their banner proudly before joining the estimated 1,000 who plunged into the Atlantic Ocean.

CHILLY CLERGY •

“We’d like to see every Catholic school in the state participate.”

As flags and pennants of 26 Catholic schools from the Trenton Diocese and around the state waved in the stiff breeze and cries of support blended with the skirl of bagpipes all along the beach front, plungers of all ages strode purposefully down the sodden sand to the sea where huge waves awaited them. Then, they broke into a raucous run and splashed around in the water on this unseasonably warm day when the temperatures flirted with the ‘60s, their challenge accomplished. In no time, most of the plungers were heading back up the beach toward Rooney’s for the after party or home to catch up on school work. Father Vincent Euk, pastor of St. Veronica Parish, Howell, was among the clergy, religious, teachers, administrators, parents and students who met the challenge. He and other St. Veronica participants gathered on the beach after the plunge noted their motto: “Freezin’

Msgr. Kenard Tuzeneu, pastor, St. Mary Parish, Barnegat, reacts to the cold during the Polar Plunge in Long Branch Jan. 10.

CHEERING FOR CATHOLIC EDUCATION •

Members of the cheer team from Notre Dame High School, Lawrenceville, demonstrate their support for the swimmers during the event, which has raised over $850,000 over the past decade.

For photo gallery, go to

www.TrentonMonitor.com

for A Reason,” to raising funds for St. Veronica School. PTA members Elia Landino and Eidel Dacquel said that when “it comes to our school,” diving in the water is a small price to pay for helping. “We had 40 children show up and everyone sponsored Father. It’s a great event,” said Landino, noting that a great drawing card for the event is the fact that the money the schools raise through pledges goes directly back to them. The event began a decade ago with just two northern Monmouth County schools participating – Mater Dei Prep and St. Mary School, Middletown. Since its inception, the Polar Plunge for Catholic Education has raised approximately $850,000 which does not include the

proceeds from the Jan. 10 event. Jim Shaw, who conceived the event and has stayed with it throughout these years, expressed his joy in the fact that it has flourished. “We have schools from throughout the Diocese [of Trenton] and now from around the state, from Roselle Catholic to Hudson Catholic to St. John Vianney in Colonia,” he said. “We’d like to see it grow,” he said. “We’d like to see every Catholic school in the state participate.” First held in 2007, the event focuses on raising funds schools can earmark to support a range of assistance including scholarships, emergency financial aid to families, endowments and various facility upgrades. The AOH raises roughly $6,000 each year to cover

the cost of the event itself, leaving the schools to directly benefit from all the funds they raise by plunging in, Shaw said. Marie and Martin Dwyer who have been helping to organize the Polar Plunge crew from All Saints Regional Catholic School, Manahawkin, for six years, see it as a great way to raise money for Catholic schools. As Dwyer recalled his own parochial school days, fundraising generally consisted of parents working Bingo. The couple’s three children – Martin, Jr., 10, a fifth grader in All Saints, Charlotte, 12, in seventh grade there, and Madeline, who graduated from All Saints Regional and now attends Donovan Catholic, Toms River – have all taken the plunge over the years, he proudly noted. See Plunge • S-18

CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK S•11

JANUARY 14, 2016 • TrentonMonitor.com

SAINT CATHARINE SCHOOL open house dates Jan. 15th 9:00 - 11:00 am & 1:15 - 2:15 pm Feb. 23rd 9:00 - 11:00 am & 1:15 - 2:15 pm

prospective family information session for all grades Jan. 31st 11:30 am - 2:00 pm

new for the 2016 - 2017 school year Pre-K Program Saint Catharine School excels in providing an opportunity for every child to shine - where students flourish, gaining an intellectual curiosity, resilience, and success to top high schools.

faith + knowledge + service

explore with us Excellent pastoral care

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Award winning sports programs Extra curricular activities: art, band, chess, choir, cross country, and more

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Differentiated instruction

stcatharineschool.org

S•12 CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK

THE MONITOR • JANUARY 14, 2016

Asbury Park school implements peer-led virtue program By Mary Stadnyk Associate Editor

T

he way Sister of St. Joseph Jude Catherine Boyce sees it, the best way to encourage children to do the right thing is by way of presenting them with positive challenges rather than emphasizing the negative consequences that could result from poor choices or inappropriate behavior. In Our Lady of Mount Carmel School, Asbury Park, where she is principal, Sister Jude has a program in place for the students that “provides a systemic way of accomplishing that endeavor.” At the start of the 2015-2016 school year, Sister Jude introduced the “Virtue-Based Restorative Discipline” program, written by Lynne M. Lang, the director of school climate for the Archdiocese of St. Louis. The book is a spiritual approach to developing discipline in children, and seeks to cultivate virtue while providing a rich foundation for fostering faith both at home and in school. Noting that she learned of this “unique program” while attending last year’s National Catholic Educational Association convention in Orlando, Fla., Sister Jude explained that the Virtue-

Based Restorative Discipline approach “helps to build a safe, positive and welcoming environment for all.” The technique offers suggestions on how to inspire children to perform simple acts of kindness, help teachers to recognize warning signs and empower parents. The program, she continued, lays a foundation of spirituality for parents and children; educates children on virtues and integrates them as part of the solution; strengthens their relationship with God and others, and creates high accountability and high responsibility for solving conflicts. To implement Virtue-Based Restorative Discipline in Our Lady of Mount Carmel School, Sister Jude asked teachers to read copies of the book during the summer. At the initial faculty meeting of the school year, the teachers participated in a process of reflection and sharing on Scripture passages concerning the virtue of kindness. After discussing how to convey the information to students, it was decided to have the eighth graders participate by developing monthly lessons on different virtues for grades kindergarten through six. The first presentation was held in November and focused on wisdom, which the students decided would be the school’s “umbrella virtue” for this

Virtue &Values

LESSONS FOR LIFE • Our Lady of Mount Carmel School students use different tools to teach their peers about different virtues. Photo courtesy of Our Lady of Mount Carmel School school year. The virtue for December was patience and January’s is justice. To reinforce the concept of virtues, Sister Jude noted that parents had been invited to join in a prayer session twice a month that is based on the same virtues that their children are studying in school. The virtue of the month is also

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remembered during morning prayer and as an added incentive, each month one student per classroom receives a certificate and a free snack for his or her witnessing the virtue of the month. Sister Jude explained that another component of the program addresses when students act inappropriately. “When using this program, I have witnessed students’ realization of the need to make amends and heal relationships that were damaged by their actions,” she said. She recalled one example of when a friend of a student shared an embarrassing experience about the student with others. “The child who shared realized the damage that was done to her friend and went out of her way to make amends,” said Sister Jude. Reflecting on his first experience with Virtue-Based Restorative Discipline, eighth grader Marco Hernandez said he feels that the program is “something unique.” “Every day, students learn from their teachers, but when we, as eighth graders, teach the younger students, they participate well and it seems to catch their interest,” he said. “We are still children so that helps us in knowing what will attract the attention of the younger students,” Hernandez said, noting that the use of video clips and using crossword puzzles helps to generate more momentum in the younger students. Emphasizing how important it is for every child to learn virtues, Johana Audelo-Riano said that as eighth graders, “we would like younger children to know the meaning of the virtues and express the virtues through their actions.” “When we present our lesson to our assigned grade, we strive to make our lessons as enjoyable as we can. We know See Virtues • S-14

CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK S•13

JANUARY 14, 2016 • TrentonMonitor.com

SAINT LEO the GREAT SCHOOL 2012 NATIONAL BLUE RIBBON SCHOOL

Celebrates Catholic Schools Week with over 50 years of Academic and Athletic Excellence 550 Newman Springs Rd., Lincroft, NJ 07738 732-741-3133 • www.saintleothegreatschool.com

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S•14 CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK

THE MONITOR • JANUARY 14, 2016

Virtue &Values

Saint Dominic School Brick, New Jersey

(732) 840-1412 www.stdomschool.org

Christian Brothers schools launch new partnership with Catholic Relief Services

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145 Plainfield Avenue, Metuchen, NJ 08840

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he Brothers of the Christian Schools District of Eastern North America (DENA) announced its partnership with Catholic Relief Services and its Global High School (GHS) program. The partnership is designed to strengthen the Catholic identity of Catholic high schools in the United States, encourage high school students into active global citizenship, and engage entire school communities in the mission of Catholic social teaching. The Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools in the Northeast are the first religious order to imbue its Lasallian charism and values into the Global High School initiative. In development for more than a year, Dr. Kristin Witte, director of Catholic educational engagement for CRS, and Maryann Donohue-Lynch, associate executive director for DENA’s Office for Mission and Ministry, collaborated to create a program that was mutually enriching, promoting Catholic social justice, and advocating for the global poor. “The Global High School Program that launched in April of this year has 35 schools that have joined,” said Dr. Witte. “One of the hopes was that the program could be adapted to support and strengthen the charism of religious order high schools. The Christian Brothers of DENA are the first to accomplish this program adaptation.” “We are extremely pleased to be the first religious order to infuse its mission into the Global High School initiative,”

said. Donohue-Lynch. “As a global Lasallian family in over 80 countries, we are called to provide a human and Christian education, safeguard the rights of children, and cultivate peace. By participating in the international humanitarian work of Catholic Relief Services, and the global mission of our Lasallian family to go beyond our borders, our students will recognize the Church’s commitment to serve the most vulnerable.” The partnership and GHS program were unveiled to DENA’s more than 15 secondary schools in October following a month long global Lasallian peace project. Among the schools was Christian Brothers Academy, Lincroft. Four of DENA’s Lasallian schools have already begun the process of applying for the GHS entry Silver Level, in which, among other requirements, the schools will participate in a CRS program, such as Food Fast, a hunger awareness experience for Catholic youth. Another program would be DENA’s Twinning initiative, where schools are partnered with an English speaking Lasallian ministry in Africa to raise funds creatively for scholarships and infrastructure while creating meaningful and lasting international relationships. “The fact that both CRS and DENA’s Christian Brother ministries are strengthened by this partnership is a real gift,” said Witte. For more information on the CNS-DENA Global High School Program, visit bit.ly/CRS-DENA-GHS.

Virtues in action is new focus Continued from • S-12 that as a school, we can live a virtuous life,” said Audelo-Riano. Sister Jude said she believes that “we have only begun to touch the surface of this program.” “There are great depths to be explored in this area. I truly believe by the time our kindergarten students who are learning about wisdom and patience now will only have grown in virtue and experience of God by the

time they are presenting the lessons in virtue as eighth graders,” she said. “My hope is that students will grow in virtue and make wise choices for their lives in the light of this provided knowledge,” Sister Jude added. “I hope our parents will also work with the program, reinforcing it at home. A future hope is that our children will grow eventually as parents and continue the process for generations to come.”

FAITH BONDS •

Students find many examples of virtues in Bible stories. Photo courtesy of Our Lady of Mount Carmel School

CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK S•15

JANUARY 14, 2016 • TrentonMonitor.com

Saint Jerome School Believe! Endeavor! Achieve! Celebrating Catholic Schools Week 9AM Mass followed by

Open House

Sunday, January 31, 2016 10AM - Noon Everyone Invited 250 Wall Street West Long Branch

Fosters... Catholic Teachings Christian Formation Academic Achievement Critical Thinking Technological Acuity Creative Expression Good Sportsmanship

Red Bank Catholic . . . A Twenty First Century Catholic Education Red Bank Catholic, a leader in Catholic education since 1879, continues to innovate, explore and expand. A Members of our athletic teams and more than 60 clubs and activities perform community service together. Fourteen of our clubs are dedicated to service and religious interest. RBC is the only official high school affiliate of the Maryknoll Missionary Society. A Over 300 courses are offered online through Virtual High School. RBC students are currently enrolled in everything from Genes and Disease to Kindergarten Teaching Apprenticeship. A Our internship program pairs students with mentors who offer practical experiences in various professions, ranging from local attorneys and hospitals to investment banks and Standard & Poor’s in New York City. A We continue our tradition of developing accomplished student-athletes. We compete in 29 varsity sports and have 48 levels of teams. This year, four of our fall athletic teams won state championships. A Early morning Mass is offered in the high school chapel; whole class Masses are held in historic St. James Church. A Our performing Arts Department offers opportunities for students of all skill levels to participate in dance, music and theater. Our award-winning choir performed at Carnegie Hall the past two years and some of our recent graduates earned full scholarships to Joffrey Ballet.

We are Caseys... Are You? Red Bank Catholic • 112 Broad Street • Red Bank, NJ 07701 • 732-741-1774 • www.redbankcatholic.org

S•16 CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK

THE MONITOR • JANUARY 14, 2016

Holy Year of Mercy Students live out Holy

Year through service, prayer

C

atholic schools from around the Diocese are getting creative in their efforts to learn more about the Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy and make the year which was designated by Pope Francis to more meaningful in their lives. Helpful and colorful teaching tools included decorating designated doors in several school buildings acorss the Diocese. Just as Pope Francis opened the Holy Doors in St. Peter’s Basilica to mark the beginning of the Year of Mercy, the door to the main entrance in Pope John Paul II Regional, Willingboro, was decorated with promises made by students to show mercy for others, according to Catherine Zagola, principal. The door in the school also serves as a symbolic reminder to students of the Holy Doors that that were designated in churches around the world, including those that were designated in 13 parishes in the Trenton Diocese by Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M. Other schools that have decorated doors include Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Maple Shade, and St. Veronica, Howell. Teaching and finding ways to implement the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy is another way educators are emphasizing the Year of Mercy to their students. Recognizing that 2016 will be “especially important for the Church” with the observance of the Jubilee Year of Mercy, as well as Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si’, St. Gregory the Great Academy, Hamilton Square, has adopted “Reflecting Mercy and Creation” as the school theme for the 2015-16 academic year. To further students’ understanding about the Year of Mercy, the students are performing specific Works of Mercy each month throughout the school year. Teachers will also present aspects of the Holy Father’s encyclical and explore how he calls on all people to respect creation in various ways. One example of how the academy is implementing works of mercy occurred in October when students focused on “Visiting the Sick.” Throughout the month, students solicited donations from families and friends to sponsor “Chemo Care Bags” that they prepared and then gave to patients in the Cancer Institute of New Jersey at Robert Wood Johnson Hospital, Hamilton.

The students were able to donate the bags in memory of or in honor of a loved one who had suffered from cancer. Items that were included in 31 Company totes included tissues, lip balm, warm socks, ginger tea, a blanket, hand sanitizer, moisture drops and a journal. As a service project, the fifth-grade Girl Scout Troop prepared the more than 70 bags and helped to deliver them to CINJ. In St. Veronica School, Howell, Resurrection Sister Cherree Power, principal, said that during the academic year, the school will center on one Corporal Work of Mercy each month and then for the last three months, focus on the Spiritual Works of Mercy. Citing an example of a work performed, Sister Cherree said that in September, the students focused on “Visiting the Imprisoned,” during which they used the month to pray for prisoners and their families. They also sent cards and donated Bibles to a local prison. Looking ahead to February, when the focus will be on “Give Drink to the Thirsty,” Sister Cherree said that students have been collecting water bottles for a local food pantry. Another activity will have the entire student body participating in the week-long H2O project proposed by the National Catholic Educational Association’s activities for Catholic Schools Week. School families will be asked to drink water instead of other beverages throughout the week and donate the money to Catholic Relief Services, which will assist with the digging of wells for clean water. Also SHARING THE WORD • St. Veronica, Howell, students pack Bibles to send to prison inmates. planned for FebruPhoto courtesy of St. Veronica School

CARING FOR THE SICK •

St. Gregory the Great Academy students proudly display the Chemo Care bags they prepared and donated to patients in the Cancer Institute of New Jersey at Robert Wood Johnson Hospital, Hamilton. Photo courtesy of St. Gregory the Great Academy

MAKING THE POINT • The door to the main entrance of Pope John Paul II Regional School, Willingboro, was decorated with promises made by students to show mercy to others. Photo courtesy of Pope John Paul II Regional School ary will be a dance party in the school gym. The older students will escort their younger grade partners to the event and the “entrance fee” will be their donation to the H2O project which will be placed into a well as they enter the gym. Sister Cherree noted that the theme of mercy will be enhanced during Catholic Schools Week. Activities will include a scavenger hunt on the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy and will involve faculty and staff placing posters, pictures or artifacts of an assigned act of mercy on display. Older students will be paired with the younger students and will travel throughout See Students • S-25

JANUARY 14, 2016 • TrentonMonitor.com

2010 Blue Ribbon School of Excellence

CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK S•17

Sacred Heart School Sacred School 250 High Street 250 High Street Mount Holly, Holly, NJ Mount NJ 609-267-1728 609-267-1728

Educate your child’s mind, heart and soul at a faith-based, private school ranked in the top 10th percentile of the nation.

Open House Wed., Feb. 3, 2016 Presentation at The Faith Development Center, 9am & 7pm, tours to follow. The entrance to The Faith Development Center is located in the rear parking lot of the church.

Visit our Open House: VisitJan our31st Open House: Sun, ~ 11am-1pm Sun, Jan 31st ~ 11am-1pm Fri, Feb 5th ~ 9:30am-11am

Fri, Feb 5th ~ 9:30am-11am Sacred Heart School Mount Holly, NJ

34 Rossa Avenue, Lawrenceville, NJ 08648 • st-ann-school.org • 609-882-8077 Accreditation by the AdvancED Accreditation Commission

Sacred Heart School Mount Holly, NJ

Our Lady of Perpetual Help School Our of Help Our Lady Lady of Perpetual Perpetual Help School School

Open House Open House “Enables students to celebrate God-given talents by serving others in the Spirit of Christ and growing into lifelong learners” Sunday, Jan. their 26th

Sunday, Jan. 26th 10am -2pm OPEN HOUSE 10am -2pm

• StructuredOctober before and aftercare Sunday, 2015 Tuesday, Jan.4,28th extended school program Tuesday, Jan. 28th 8:15 -11am Schedule a tour today! -11am • Offering8:15 programs for Early

Childhoodbefore Development 3, 4 • Structured and aftercare and 5 year old Full and Schedule a Half Day extended school program Schedule Programs tour today!a • Offering programs for Early tour Skills today! • 21st Century and3,S.T.E.M. Childhood Development 4 and 5 year old Fulland andAlgebra Half Day • Advanced Math Our Lady of Perpetual Help School enables students to celebrate their Programs Classes Our Lady of Perpetual Help School enables students to celebrate their

God given talents by serving others in the Spirit of Christ and growing

OPEN HOUSE

God given talents by serving in families the Spirit of Christ and growing • Integrated technology in all grades into life-long learners. For overothers 85 years, have been choosing Our • Fine Arts Program including Visual into life-long learners. For over 85 years, families have been choosing Our Lady of Perpetual Help School for our high academicSunday, standardsJanuary and • Advanced Math and Algebra Arts, Music, Choir, Band, Strings, 31, 2016 Sunday, October 4, 2015 Lady of Perpetual Help School highoffers academic standards and commitment to Christian values.for Ourour school nursery (3 years old) Classes Theater and Media Arts 10am 2pm old) commitment to Christian values. school offers nursery (3to years through 8th grade students an Our affordable education that embraces • Art and music infused through 8thbyenrichment grade students an affordable education that embraces a tour today! technology challenging students to become global Schedule thinkers for the

technology by challenging students to become globalfull thinkers for the 21st century. We offer day Nursery, 21st century. Weand offer full Our day Nursery, Lady of Perpetual Perpetual Help Help School School Pre-Kindergarten Kindergarten classes Join the legacy. Our Lady of Join the legacy. Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten classes Shade, NewStreet, Maple Shade, NJ 236 E. Main Main The difference is inside. and are located in Maple236 E. Maple Shade, NJ The difference is inside. and are located in Maple Shade, NewStreet, Jersey, close to all bridges. 856-779-7526; www.olphparish.com 856-779-7526; www.olphparish.com Jersey,extended close to allschool bridges. • Structured before and aftercare program. Structured before and aftercare extended school program. •• Offering programs for Early childhood Development 3, 4 and • 5 Offering for Early childhood Development 3, 4 and year oldprograms Full and Half Day Programs year old Full and Half in Day • 5 Integrated technology allPrograms grades

S•18 CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK

THE MONITOR • JANUARY 14, 2016

Plunge raises support for Catholic education

HIS JOURNEY BEGINS HERE.

Continued from • S10

INFO TOUR WITH SCHOOL LEADERS January 23 - 8:30 a.m.

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The Dwyers said they appreciate the fact that the annual event gets everyone involved – from families – extended and immediate – to faculty, staff and administration. “Involving everyone is a way of passing it on so that the next generation will be involved,” Dwyer said. Like many students who were drying off from their plunges, Charlotte and Martin Jr., said what they enjoyed most about the day was that it raises awareness of Catholic schools. And indeed, this was a message impossible to miss in the general Pier Village area where hundreds of tee-shirts and caps, not to mention scores of pennants, proclaimed the alma maters of the participants. Post-plunge, Diane Wargo, head cheer leading coach of Notre Dame High School, Lawrenceville, and three of her 10th graders stood on the promenade soaking up the joyous atmosphere. “Best friends” Lauren Hess, Ashlin Miller and Hayley Horvath agreed they wanted to participate because “it’s fun and it’s for a good cause.” This year, the good cause earmarked by Notre Dame was tuition assistance for families with unexpected financial emergencies. “We want to be able to help them stay,” said Wargo who noted that the school’s 90 plungers and supporters raised nearly $10,000 toward that goal. In New Monmouth’s St. Mary

School, the goal was $20,000 toward completing the school’s WiFi access, tech upgrade and adding air conditioning to areas of the school that don’t have it. “We exceeded our goal,” an enthusiastic Ann McNamara, PTA president, exclaimed. “We reached $21,000 - even though the weather was bad, everyone turned out.” The contingent from St. Mary included McNamara’s husband, Matthew and their children, Grace, a sixth grader at the school and Thomas, who is in third grade. “They all plunged … Husbands go in the water for this,” said Ann McNamara, a St. Mary alum who added it’s her job to remain on the shore and man the towels. Some 250 people – students, faculty, staff, family and friends – jumped in for St. Mary School. “It’s one of the largest showings there and we are thrilled.” To boost enthusiasm and participation at the school, principal Craig T. Palmer, organized a contest among the grades in which the winning grade would have a day at the movies. “The results are still being calculated,” McNamara said. “But everyone put their heart and soul into it. They got so into it. So we’re still discussing things and we think because we exceeded the number, we may give the whole school a break.”

Saint John Vianney High School

We bring out the best in boys.

Be a part of our Future…. Creating leaders Building Faith Leading the Way 540A Line Rd., Holmdel, NJ 07733 www.sjvhs.com, 732-739-0800

CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK S•19

JANUARY 14, 2016 • TrentonMonitor.com 6388_PVI_CSW_Monitor 1/8/16 11:14 AM Page 1

PAUL VI H IGH S CHOOL is proud to be a part of

Catholic Schools Week 2016 Catholic Schools: Communities of Faith, Knowledge and Service

Catholic Schools Week Celebration!!! Monday, February 1

Holy Cross and St. Paul’s of Burlington host the HARLEM WIZARDS @ 6:30PM Purchase Tickets @ www.holycrosshighschool.org

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Thursday, February 4

Faculty Appreciation Day!

“Let us thank all those who teach in Catholic schools. Educating is an act of love; it is like giving life.” -Pope Francis

Student Appreciation Day!

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Notre Dame teachers put what they teach into a moral and theological context each day in the classroom. Daily prayer and active participation in youth-oriented school liturgies play a role in developing spirituality and moral development rooted in faith in everyday life. Participate in Kairos, a special four day retreat for seniors. Become a Campus Minister. Join with Athletes for Christ. Come to know the joy that comes from inner peace. Come to pray.

Come to know

Notre Dame High School 601 Lawrence Road, Lawrenceville, NJ 08648 609.882.7900, ext. 139 or 183

Visit our website at www.ndnj.org to learn more about our school.

S•20 CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK

THE MONITOR • JANUARY 14, 2016

Tier: Forward-thinking educational environment leads to students’ success Continued from • S-3

today’s students. • Resource Utilization – A process to track the procurement and effective use of resources, such as cooperative purchasing, is to be initiated throughout the system. Improvement Priorities, areas the Diocese must address within two years, include the following: • Conduct benchmark research with other diocesan school systems of like size and mission to identify potential alternative funding resources to reduce the differential between tuition and the cost to educate a child. • Define and implement a systematic protocol for data analysis from multiple assessments and train administrators and instructional staff in the protocol, interpretation and use of data to guide instructional decisions. • Study the feasibility of replicating the 2012-2013 Commission Study to determine the level of progress achieved from the recommendations of the original study and to identify priorities that need to be addressed in the next cycle of diocesan planning. The AdvancED External Review Team reported a composite score of all areas addressed throughout the AdvancED Protocol. This consisted of scores for 33 benchmarks and seven

ELEOT environments. It is related with pride that the Diocese of Trenton exceeded the average of all schools in the AdvancED Network in areas of Teaching and Learning Impact (DOT276; AdvancED -269), Leadership Capacity (DOT-325; AdvancED-293) and Resource Utilization (DOT-300; AdvancED-283). The AdvancED Network Average composite score is 284. That final number, the Index of Education Quality (IEQ) for the Diocese of Trenton, is 295. We salute our educators for their commitment to the educational process and to student learning. The successful results distinguish the forward-thinking diocesan educational environment! In summarizing the characteristics of educators in the Diocese, the AdvancED visiting team described leaders and educators as fervently Catholic, passionate, mission-driven, effective, vibrant and child-centered. The team applauded the Department of Catholic Schools and its 39 schools for exceeding the AdvancED network averages on the ELEOT observation tool (the instrument for classroom observation) and the three domains including the overall Index of Education Quality Score Ratings. The AdvancED Accreditation Commission is scheduled to meet Jan. 28 to review the diocesan study and the

external review team’s recommendation that the Diocese of Trenton earn the distinction of accreditation by AdvancED. When affirmed, the accreditation will be proudly displayed in all schools as an indicator of competencies and achievement. Sincere thanks are extended to Bishop O’Connell for his support of the study and his continued support of Catholic schools. Thanks are given to all who took part in the AdvancED Accreditation Process including members of the steering committee, pastors, administrators, the PTA, school board members, parents, and the wider parish and school communities. In reflecting upon and absorbing the expansive information obtained in

the study, a comprehensive review and discussion will take place Jan. 26 with principals and members of the Department of Catholic Schools. Beyond the systemic improvement priorities that will be addressed, discussion will center on the 21st century learning skills and instructional processes to be implemented so that teachers can be agents of change in facilitating student improvement. The AdvancED study provides a tool to continue self-evaluation and the assessment of learning. It provides a blueprint to serve as a guide in making informed decisions for student improvement so that each student may realize their full potential. Teaching, indeed, is an art.

For a full and fun report of how the Catholic schools of the Diocese celebrated Catholic Schools Week, stay connected to TrentonMonitor.com

and watch for a special section in the Feb. 11 print edition.

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S•22 CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK

THE MONITOR • JANUARY 14, 2016

Christmas Blessings Photo Courtesy Our Lady of Sorrows School

As part of their service requirement, the seventh and eighth grade students in the National Junior Honor Society of Our Lady of Sorrows School, Hamilton, organized a food drive for the Christmas season. Donations of canned goods, cereal, pasta and more were collected from the classrooms each morning and separated into boxes for each family. Thanks to the generous donations from families in the school, the Honor Society, under the guidance of faculty advisor Ms. Melissa Stuono, was able to help nine area families with baskets of groceries for Christmas.

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CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK S•25

St. Dominic School science teacher wins award, $1,000 grant

S

t. Dominic School, Brick, has many teachers to be proud of, and now they have a state-wide award to prove it. Joanne Arnold, a teacher in the school, was nominated and chosen to receive the Dave Cochran Award of Excellence from the New Jersey Association for Educational Technology. She will receive a $1,000 grant to implement a science, technology, engineering and math based project at the school. Arnold supports STEM in her science classroom and is looking forward to increasing STEM opportunities school-wide. STEM/robotics helps teach real world lessons such as design

and systems thinking, engineering, project-based learning, problem solving and collaboration. All of the skills are combined through the use of robotics and help engage students in various learning opportunities while preparing them for future STEM careers. With the funding from the grant from NJAET, Arnold will purchase Cubelet Kits for students in grades kindergarten through third. The students will be able to experiment in creating remote-controlled constructions and interactive projects using sensors and action blocks. In addition, the Cubelets will provide intuitions about the behavior of complex systems and teach basic

concepts of robotics. The Dave Cochran Award of Excellence is an honor of Dr. David Cochran, who recently retired after serving as an NJAET executive board member for the past 25 years. As an educator, he served as director of math, science and technology in the Montgomery Township School District and assistant professor in Georgian Court University, Lakewood. Cochran also served as the chief learning officer and publisher of Daval Publications, LLC, publisher of Spigot Science for Kids and Classrooms, a themed interdisciplinary online publication for students in upper elementary and middle school.

GROWING ‘STEMS’ • Joanne Arnold, who teaches science at St. Dominic School, Brick, received a state award for excellence. Photo courtesy St. Dominic School

CBA Chess Team continues legacy of excellence By David Karas Correspondent

I

n the 44 years that the Chess Team at Christian Brothers Academy, Lincroft, has been in action, the team has risen to become one of the best in the nation. “The students are hard-working, intelligent, respectful, and fine young men,” said Patrick Melosh, who has been a math teacher at CBA for 34 years. A 1975 alumnus of the school, he became a member of the chess club not long after it began in 1971. “Their accomplishments nationally are very impressive especially since the members of our team only started playing chess in ninth grade and compete against others who have been playing since they started grade school,” Melosh said. “The chess team’s accomplishments have been tremendous, and I am very proud of all of them.” Melosh and fellow coach and chess expert Brian Meinders have much reason to be. At this year’s New Jersey State Grade Championships, the team of seniors Luke Drennan, Daniel Giammanco, Chris Giordano, Chris Wall and Stephen Calandrino dominated their division. Drennan also claimed the title of top 12th grader in the state, while Giammanco took third, Giordano took fourth, and Wall and Calandrino took fifth and eighth places, respectively, in the rankings. The 10th grade team of Daniel Draganoff, Marc Sorrentino, Michael Gilbride, Andrew Mullaghy, and Kenny Skelton also won first place in their division, with strong individual showings from Draganoff, who placed third, and Sorrentino and Gilbride, who placed seventh and tenth, respectively. Juniors

National Grade Championships in Orlando, Florida, with the seniors placing second and sophomores placing fourth in the nation. There, the team of seniors Drennan, Giammanco, Giordano, Wall and Calandrino placed second in the country, and sophoCHECKMATE • The Christian Brothers Academy senior Chess Team mores Draganplaced second at a national competition in Orlando, Fla., with their coach calling their achievements “tremendous.” Photo courtesy Christian off, Sorrentino, Skelton, NoBrothers Academy taro, BrenTyler Gentile, Chris Zachariah and Nick dan Fitzgerald, Bermudez, Gilbride, Karris placed second in their division, Greenwald and Dalton placed fourth with Gentile ranking ninth individually. nationwide. And most recently, the team The team was recently recognized achieved its highest placing ever at the locally by the Monmouth County Board

of Chosen Freeholders for their accomplishments. Not prepared to rest on their laurels just yet, members of the chess team are already gearing up for the next set of challenges, including a championship in New York in January, the Shore Chess League Championships in February, State Team Championships in March and the National Team Championships held in Atlanta in April. “My hope is that the students learn how to compete and exhibit good sportsmanship towards others,” said Melosh. “We like them to feel what it is like to be part of a team. Many of our graduates have bonded with their teammates and they continue to stay in touch with each other and have remained friends after graduating from CBA.” For Wall, an Eatontown resident and member of St. Leo the Great Parish, Lincroft, being part of the chess team has been “very fulfilling.” “The best friends I have at CBA come from the chess team, and these friendships will span past high school,” said Wall.

Students create ‘culture of mercy’ with powerful acts Continued from • S-16

the building to find the works of mercy. To close out Catholic Schools Week, there will be a “Day of Mercy” in which students in the lower grades will present skits based on Scripture passages that underscore a particular work of Mercy. Seventh grade will reflect on “How one act of mercy can spread and permeate to others, creating a culture of mercy” and the eighth grade will center on “Situations of mercy that we face in our

everyday lives and how we are saved by God’s mercy. Therefore, we must share this mercy with others.” The skits will be filmed and edited into a video to be shown to parents and family members. In St. Joseph School, Toms River, Mary Jo Delaney, teacher coordinator of Catholic Schools Week, has taken the lead from Pope Francis’ recent book The Name of God is Mercy in which he states that the best way to teach children mercy is to share stories of Jesus and the parables. The eighth

graders will decorate the classroom doors of the primary grades depicting the parables. Over the month, the students can learn the parables, and discuss them in class. “If students are really going to understand the purpose of these projects, they have to be taught the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy,” Sister Cherree reflectively asserted. “Pope Francis said the time has come for the Church to take up the joyful call to mercy once more – and that means each of us!”

S•26 CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK

THE MONITOR • JANUARY 14, 2016

St. Rose, Mother Teresa students take part in regional debates By David Karas Correspondent

FRIENDLY DEBATERS •

S

tudents in St. Rose of Lima School, Freehold, and Mother Teresa Regional School, Atlantic Highlands, went head to head with peers from a number of area schools this fall, participating in the Jersey Shore Debate League. The Nov. 21 meet, held in Barkalow Middle School, Freehold, featured a great deal of success among the St. Rose delegates, with Cassandra Dalton, Thomas Rose and Zachary Schiavone taking first in all four debates, and Miranda Dalton, Eric Ticse and Nicholas Stevens coming in fourth place in two of the debates. “I am so proud of these students for the tremendous effort they put forward after a full day of school work,” said second-grade teacher Kathy Wall. “They were a bit discouraged after losing the first debate in October, but decided to work harder and learn from their mistakes. I was so happy to see all their hard work bring them success.” The team from Mother Teresa went

Ryan Kennedy, left, and CJ Patrizio, along with Gwen Altenburg, not pictured, students at Mother Teresa Regional School, Atlantic Highlands, participated in regional debates. Photo courtesy of Mother Teresa Regional School

1-4 for the day Nov. 21, but Katey Patrizio, language arts teacher and debate team coach, said that she was proud of their performance considering that the meeting was the first debate for two of the three participating students. Patrizio said that students in her school have participated in the past in what was called the Garden State De-

bate League, which split due to growth this past year to create the Jersey Shore division. Participating students prepare the opposition and proposition of four topics, spending three weeks before each debate working on their strategy. On the day of the debate, Wall said, a topic is announced and positions assigned,

and students quickly prepare to debate teams from other schools. “The students meet two to three days a week after school to practice presenting the opposition and proposition of all the topics,” said Wall, who works with the students, as does Mark Dalton, a parent of two of the students on the team and a former high school debater himself. Patrizio spoke about the various benefits the students derive from participating in debates. “On an academic level, the students learn about issues that are important in our world today. They learn how to research and gather information and form and defend an educated opinion based on that research,” she explained. “On a social level, students gain confidence in their public speaking and feel comfortable expressing an opinion that might be different than others in a civilized manner.” She added, “I have seen children in this program go from being barely able to speak in the first debate of the day to engaging in lively debate, actively questioning opponents and defending their own arguments by the end of the day.”

OLS student engages after school program in Christmas service project By David Karas Correspondent fter-school programs often include movies, athletics and space for homework to be done. But the program in Our Lady of Sorrows School, Hamilton, often includes another element: service to the community. “I feel while the children are at ASP we should still be providing them the same faith-based structure that they receive during their school day,” said Francesca Gioe, director of the after school program – which includes some 150 of the school’s 234 students. “I

A

COLOR A SMILE • Gianna Casterline,

who is the reigning East Coast USA Pro-Supreme, joined with classmates to send troops overseas cards during the Christmas season.

Photo courtesy of Our Lady of Sorrows School

feel it is very important to incorporate service into our program.” On Dec. 11, students in the program teamed up with OLS third-grader Gianna Casterline, who is the current reigning East Coast USA National ProSupreme 2015. Casterline recruited her classmates in the program to join her in a special initiative – Color a Smile – to color cards and pictures to be sent to troops deployed overseas, aimed at helping to brighten their spirits during the holiday season. An organization that has facilitated the sharing of some 1 million cards in its 25 years of service, Color a Smile distributes donated pictures to sol-

diers overseas, the elderly in nursing homes, and anyone who might be going through a difficult time in their lives. Gianna shared her inspiration to help organize and participate in the service project, noting the Christmas season as paramount. “I feel sad that everyone cannot be with their family at Christmas,” she said, “but I’m happy that I could help to try and make them happy.” The Color a Smile project is far from the only altruistic initiative that Gianna is taking on during her time holding the title of East Coast USA Pro-Supreme. “As part of her reign, she has the opportunity to participate in appear-

ances and volunteer activities that will allow her to make a difference,” said her mother, Christine. In September, Gianna baked 80 cupcakes by herself, selling them at a family yard sale and raising nearly $116 for the American Cancer Society. And in October, she donated some of her pageant gowns and shoes to the Miss Amazing Pageant, which allows those with special needs to take part in the pageant experience. And in the early part of 2016, Gianna is planning to organize a fundraiser to support One Simple Wish, a Ewing-based nonprofit which grants the wishes of children in foster care. Fifth-grader Sienna Morreale, a Hamilton resident and member of Our Lady of Sorrows-St. Anthony Parish, was happy to be part of the service project. “I feel very happy that I am able to make men and woman overseas smile when they get our projects,” she said. “It puts the people who receive our project in the Christmas spirit since they may not see their family for Christmas.” Isabella Devine, a second-grader and member of the school parish, shared a similar reflection. “I feel it is worthwhile because I am doing something for someone else to make their day better,” said the Bordentown resident. “I am so happy I will be able to put a smile on someone else’s face for Christmas.”

CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK S•27

JANUARY 14, 2016 • TrentonMonitor.com

St. Dominic School students show stock market savvy By David Karas Correspondent

P

ack your lunch. Complete your homework. Check the NASDAQ before the markets open for the day. The daily routine of some students in St. Dominic School, Brick, took on some new elements as they students spent the past several months filling their new roles as day traders on the stock exchange. Eighth-grade students in social studies and religion teacher Mara Tiernan’s class spent the fall participating in the New Jersey Stock Market Game, a free program that allows students to engage in a virtual and educational stock experience, to her classroom. Tiernan has involved students in the program for more than a decade, and with great success. A team of students won first place in the Middle School Southern Division of the fall session, with students Megan Barnes, Lindsey DeLuca, Sydney Stoughton and Taryn Turnbach diligently working to research companies to invest $100,000 in their own portfolio.

The cohort yielded a nine-percent growth during the 10-week session, which included 100 teams from throughout the region. “During the session, there is rarely a day that we do not have an enthusiastic conversation about the market’s trends, stocks increasing and decreasing in value, and portfolio equity,” Tiernan said. “The students truly enjoy competing against each other and realizing that decisions they make can affect their portfolio and in turn, their ranking.” She also spoke about the success her teams have had in the competition. “We have been very fortunate over the years to have won so many times,” she shared. “It truly is a testament to allowing students to be engaged in realworld decision-making skills through authentic learning opportunities.” As a lead-in to the competition, she teaches her students an introduction to the game, with basic information about supply and demand, buying and selling shares, corporations, stocks, bonds, credit and other related topics. Once registered, the students can

Dozens of students in Trenton Diocese qualify for national merit recognition

S

tudents from Catholic high schools in the Diocese of Trenton have exhibited their exemplary academic development by earning the designation of Commended Student or Semifinalist in the 2016 National Merit Scholarship Program. The students numbered amongst the 1.5 million students nationwide who entered the 2016 competition by taking the 2014 Preliminary SAT/ National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. The PSATs assess reading, writing, language and mathematics test scores and are used as a factor in college acceptance decisions. Of the total competitive field, about 34,000 scored among the top five percent of entrants, earning them a Commended Student designation, while about 16,000 are qualified as Semifinalists who qualify for further scholarships and national recognition. The schools and their Commended Students or Semifinalists are: St. Rose High School, Belmar • Commended: Maura Cahill Holy Cross Academy, Delran • Commended: Katherine Dearstyne, Grace Grady

Trenton Catholic Academy, Hamilton • Commended: Richmond Aririguzoh Notre Dame High School, Lawrenceville • Semifinalist: Daniel Moyer • Commended: Madeleine Biache, Melissa Gabriele, Shuyu He, Kathleen Hickey, Timothy Low-Beer, Christine Mayer, Lynn Oseguera, Julia Panko, Sophia Pastore, Alexander Smith, Nicholas Stefaniak Christian Brothers Academy, Lincroft • Semifinalist: Christopher Mulvaney, Matthew Timo • Commended: Matthew Baldes, John Burgess, Luke Drennan, Brendan Galvin, Daniel Giammanco, Andrew Goumas, Michael Gualario, Christopher Hayes, Bjorn Kvaale, Timothy Mikulski, Charles Olsen, Corbin Richardson, Matthew Smith, David Thuel, James Timko, Christopher Wall Mater Dei Prep, Middletown • Commended: Ryan Curley, Daniel Toth Donovan Catholic High School, Toms River • Commended: Hope Dormer, Valeri Natole Villa Victoria Academy, Trenton • Commended: Alison Stewart

RETURN ON INVESTMENT • From left to

right, Taryn Turnbach, Lindsey DeLuca, Megan Barnes, and Sydney Stoughton stand in front of a statue of St. Dominic, their school’s namesake. Photo courtesy Mara Tiernan

begin buying and selling through the game’s website, which includes lesson plans, statistical information and research, as well as current stock price listings. Tiernan’s students break up into groups and work together to try to achieve the most successful portfolio of holdings, she explained. Stoughton, the team leader of the winning group, spoke about the work they put into the game.

“Our team researched several stocks that we thought would perform well, (and) we checked them every week and made some minor adjustments,” she said. “Overall, we paid attention to market trends and tried to buy low and sell high.” The winning team will be recognized in June during an awards ceremony in The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey, Galloway.

Donovan Catholic hosts Southern New Jersey History Bowl

S

tudents in Donovan Catholic High School, Toms River, didn’t have to leave the comfort of their school building to compete against 28 teams from across New Jersey and Pennsylvania for the annual Southern New Jersey History Bowl. For the fourth time, the Toms River high school hosted the Dec. 12 tournament – one of many held across the United States and beyond. Among the participating schools were Mater Dei Prep, Middletown, and St. Joseph, Metuchen, a school in the neighboring Diocese of Metuchen. The students “gain an appreciation of how everything is a part of history – music, art, science – not just wars,” said Kathleen D’Andrea, vice principal of Donovan Catholic. “The questions cover all subjects, [and] they also learn that competition is fun, even if they don’t win.” Fortunately for the students in Donovan Catholic, winning has been fairly common in recent years – with students qualifying at the tournament and being invited to compete in the National History Bowl in Washington,

D.C., in each of the past four years. The program was launched four years ago by David Madden, a graduate of Ridgewood High School who had participated and won on the television game show ‘Jeopardy!’. The event includes students competing with buzzers and answering questions about U.S. and world history. Organizers say their goal to promote history education at a global level. Participants also had the chance to take a qualifying exam for the U.S. Geography Olympiad and History Bee during the daylong program this year. “Dave Madden knows our school very well and it is a perfect location for the South Jersey tournament,” said D’Andrea. She said the Toms River school will host next year’s competition, as well.

S•28 CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK

THE MONITOR • JANUARY 14, 2016

Expansion allows for more students CARE OF CREATION •

Continued from • S-8

this year, explained the trailer had been built during the summer, opened in November, and was blessed by St. Ann pastor, Trinitarian Father Gerard F. Lynch, during a Dec. 5 ceremony. She smiled and concluded, “It was well worth the wait. This is beautiful.”

St. Leo students plant in their transformed courtyard, used for science instruction, one of the many repurposed areas on the Lincroft school campus. Photo

Musical chairs…. and walls The growth in enrollment in St. Leo the Great School followed a more traditional trajectory. After an initial drop-off reaching back more than 10 years, the school has experienced consistent growth. A net gain of nearly 20 students in the last three years necessitated the changes to the campus capacity.

courtesy of St. Leo the Great School

Photo by Pittelli Photography Photo by Pittelli Photography Photo by Pittelli Photography Photo by Pittelli Photography

CNS ile photo by Karen Callaway, Northwest Indiana Catholic CNS ile photo by Karen Callaway, Northwest Indiana Catholic CNS ile photo by Karen Callaway, Northwest Indiana Catholic CNS ile photo by Karen Callaway, Northwest Indiana Catholic

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St. Leo’s has long sponsored three classes each in their kindergarten and fifth through eighth grades, but just two sections for grades one through four. For most schools, retaining students after kindergarten can be challenging. Approaching the 2013-2014 school year, St. Leo administrators were pleasantly surprised to learn that nearly 100 percent of the kindergarten students had re-registered for the fall term, along with some new additions. St. Leo principal Cornelius Begley and director of operations Mary Koury knew this required some strategic planning. They outlined a strategy which would make the most of the usable space available in the 2012 Blue Ribbon School of Excellence. Begley explained that the school has been repurposing unused and underused space, relocating non-classroom resources and concentrating its classrooms into the main wings of the building since 2013, Begley explained. As of September 2015, there are three sections of each grade, kindergarten through eighth, as well as seven preschool classes. “We’re fortunate to have adequate space to reconfigure within our building,” Begley stated. “Our goals are to continue to increase enrollment and upgrade our classrooms, while creating a collaborative educational environment across the grades.” The changes in the school allowed for expansion and the addition of a media center with state-of-the-art technology. In addition, the offices of the parish’s religious education department were moved upstairs in a space dedicated for them, making it easier for these students and their families to contact staff, even when classes are not in session, by circumventing the main educational space. The school now hosts five pre-kindergarten classrooms, each with its own restroom facilities. A new entryway added in the preschool area welcomes students with a vibrant wildlife-themed mural by St. Leo the Great art teacher, Laurie Miller. Additionally, a courtyard area in the center of the school was transformed last summer into a beautiful outdoor resource, with planting beds and a table for science instruction. The courtyard has been certified as a national wildlife habitat by the National Wildlife Federation, and St. Leo the Great School expects to see its extensive use in the spring. With careful planning, the school capabilities were maximized, all school resources were maintained, and classroom facilities were increased, all while keeping the primary grades in close proximity to each other. Begley remarked, “We wanted to make sure all the classes were big enough to support their unique learning environment.”

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WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE • This wildlife mural, painted by St. Leo art teacher Laurie Miller, adorns the school’s stairwell near the preschool area. Rosemary Daniels photo