Visionary Education, Virtuous Leaders Presenting Holy Child’s New Strategic Plan
On the Cover: Members of the Class of 2025 perform at Holy Child School at Rosemont’s 70th commencement. Photo courtesy of Tessa Marie Images.
To know Holy Child is to know joy—we see it on our playgrounds and fields, we hear it in our hallways and classrooms, and we experience it at community celebrations and events. The second half of the 2024–2025 school year had no shortage of joyful moments as we hosted beloved annual traditions, created new opportunities for our community to gather, and guided our students to grow in their confidence, independence, and resilience.
As we strive to provide a holistic education that is grounded in the wisdom of our Foundress, Cornelia Connelly, we have also spent the past year and a half envisioning a bold future for Holy Child School at Rosemont that ensures the longevity and sustainability of our school and more importantly, the Holy Child mission. On behalf of the board of trustees, the school’s administration, and myself, we are excited for you to read our new strategic plan—Visionary Education, Virtuous Leaders—within the pages of this issue of “Cachet.” I am grateful to the many creative minds that contributed to the strategic planning process across surveys, focus groups, and interviews, and I would like to say a special thanks to the members of our steering committee, who represented all the constituencies that make up our greater Holy Child community. The dedication to our school, its Holy Child identity, and our future shone through every response, idea, and discussion, and this process reminded me of how grateful I am to be a member of this “Joyful Catholic Community.”
The four pillars of our strategic plan represent areas of priority and focus for the school. Under each pillar, there are a number of strategies that we intentionally crafted to allow the school to be nimble and responsive to the needs of our students as we prepare them to be virtuous leaders in high school and beyond. Our faculty, staff, and administration are feeling energized by the opportunities and possibilities that this plan supports, including the formation of our Virtuous Leadership program, which will connect current and new opportunities for our students to develop as leaders; the creation of a director of mission and identity position to support us in preserving and enhancing our Holy Child identity; and the development of a wellbeing plan, allowing us to strengthen our approach to educating the whole child. There are many more exciting opportunities for growth embedded within this plan, and our faculty, staff, and administration are beginning the work of developing a multiyear action plan to bring these ideas to life.
We are grateful for your continued support, dedication, and enthusiasm about Holy Child, and I hope that you will feel inspired reading our strategic plan as we envision a future of “transformative teaching, learning, and leading for the mind, body, and spirit.”
Sincerely,
Brian McBride Head of School
A strategic plan serves to outline a school’s long-term goals and priorities, yet its fundamental purpose is to articulate and facilitate the school’s mission in action. The unique mission of Holy Child School at Rosemont has its origin in the Society of the Holy Child Jesus, a religious organization founded and inspired by the vision and spirit of Cornelia Connelly and devoted to ministry through education.
Education of children was a passion for Cornelia and, as a result of her will and perseverance, an international network of Holy Child schools was developed to carry forth “an educational system based on trust and reverence for the dignity of every human being.” Cornelia’s philosophy was remarkably ahead of its time in terms of facilitating an optimum learning environment rooted in love and joy, and she developed effective teaching methods that were holistic, deeply humanistic, and evoked a distinctive spirit.
Holy Child School at Rosemont is blessed to have an extraordinary protagonist as the ultimate leader in our school’s story that is still unfolding after 75 years of educational service to our community. As we chart the future of Holy Child School at Rosemont, we should continue to learn from Cornelia’s life story and how it shaped her educational philosophy that is very much relevant to our mission today. While our present-day challenges may differ from those that Cornelia faced in the mid-1800s when she founded the earliest Holy Child schools, we are emboldened by her approach to prepare children with a timely, holistic education that will allow them to confidently lead lives of purpose beyond the halls of our school.
Engage the Holy Child community in embracing and activating the vision of our Foundress, Cornelia Connelly, and our Catholic values as guiding forces in all that we do, ensuring our Holy Child mission is experienced and celebrated at our school.
1. Create a leadership role to oversee the integration of the Holy Child mission and charism across all aspects of school life.
2. Develop a meaningful, community-wide understanding of our Holy Child mission, Goals, and teaching approach, providing onboarding, ongoing education, and activities to ensure the legacy and spirit of our Foundress, Cornelia Connelly, endures.
3. Enhance our faith education program through intentional experiences that strengthen spiritual formation, foster leadership in faith-based settings, and create meaningful connections to our Holy Child mission and Goals.
4. Identify new opportunities for collaboration within the Holy Child Network of Schools and with the Sisters of the Holy Child Jesus, contributing to the vitality of our network and Holy Child mission.
The 2024–2025 school year was marked by an exciting number of visits from fellow Holy Child students and faculty from schools within the Holy Child Network of Schools. Our campus is nestled between the Society of the Holy Child Jesus American Province and its Archives, allowing us to welcome visitors who are traveling to visit these and other Philadelphia-based landmarks. For many of the visiting Holy Child schools, a tour of the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul is another important stop: It is home to a memorial for our Philadelphiaborn Foundress, Cornelia Connelly, and the shrine of the Holy Child.
From campus tours to service activities to arts and crafts, our community enjoyed hosting fellow Holy Child students and faculty and, more importantly, the conversations that took place during these visits. Students grew in their understanding of the similarities across all Holy Child schools, with visitors remarking on the visual representations of our shared Holy Child Goals that they saw throughout their campus tours. Faculty and staff noted a common joyful spirit among all the children and exchanged ideas about service-learning and mission-education activities.
To know that there are students and educators in eight other schools across the U.S. who share in our Holy Child mission and our dedication to Cornelia’s teaching philosophy is incredibly special, but to experience that interconnectedness firsthand is remarkable and reminds us of the strength and distinctiveness of our network.
1. Grade 9 students from School of the Holy Child in Rye, NY work collaboratively with our Grade 8 students to create Easter baskets for the Sisters who reside at New Sharon, located on the grounds of the American Province.
2. Budding friendships between Grade 2 pen pals from our school and Holy Child Academy, Drexel Hill, shine through as students connect over crafts and classroom tours.
3. Our Grade 8 students lead campus tours for Grade 10 students from Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child in Summit, NJ, showcasing our Harron Chapel.
Foster a forward-thinking learning community that elevates the student experience, blending interdisciplinary, interdependent, and experiential learning with high academic standards for students to cultivate essential skills, explore their passions, and become virtuous leaders.
1. Recruit, retain, and champion high-caliber faculty and staff who are dedicated to the Holy Child mission and Cornelia Connelly’s teaching philosophy; feel deeply supported within a strong, positive employee culture; and are inspired and equipped to meet every child’s unique needs, strengths, and interests with care.
2. Prioritize professional growth for faculty and staff through robust professional development, training, and community-engagement opportunities.
3. Utilize research-informed decisions to deliver a curriculum that reinforces high academic standards while providing differentiated teaching and individualized attention and support tailored to meet each student’s strengths and needs.
4. Formally establish and articulate our Virtuous Leadership program, creating meaningful service-learning opportunities and experience-based challenges that are deeply grounded in Cornelia’s philosophy of student trust, empowerment, and service to develop faith-filled, responsible, resilient leaders who lead with “Actions, Not Words.”
5. With an emphasis on experiential and interdependent learning, provide a holistic student experience with capstone opportunities for each grade and cocurricular experiences within and beyond our campus that increase student agency, promote authentic engagement, and encourage collaborative learning.
6. Unlock new opportunities for students and faculty by assessing the school schedule and advances in technology to foster a more interdisciplinary learning environment and enrich our curriculum.
Ahallmark of the Middle School experience at Holy Child are the overnight field trips for each grade, which allow the students to forge stronger connections and build trust with one another in settings beyond our campus. Fifth grade kicks off their Middle School experience each fall with a three-day camping trip to Camp Mason in Hardwick, NJ, while sixth grade ventures to Echo Hill Outdoor School in Worton, MD. For Grades 7 and 8, this year marked a change: Grade 7 traveled to Annapolis, MD and Washington, D.C., while members of the Grade 8 class embarked on an international trip to Chilamate, Costa Rica, with guides from the World Leadership School.
The immersive and engaging six-day trip was filled with community service, cultural experiences, and opportunities to practice their Spanish-language skills. While staying at the Chilamate Rainforest Eco-Retreat, our group enjoyed day trips to visit students at an elementary school, a local farm to learn about sustainability, Lapa Verde Nature Reserve—and even ziplined through the rainforest! The students spent Ash Wednesday abroad, attending Mass at a local church, and found many opportunities to pray and reflect on what they learned and encountered each day. Kenna ’25 shares, “From my time at the eco-retreat, I learned that God is in the beauty of nature. The simplicity of life at the retreat center also
taught me that God’s presence is not only in big moments but also in quiet moments, the sounds of animals, and the generosity of people. This experience helped strengthen my understanding that God’s love is everywhere.” Throughout the trip, our students were open to new experiences, displayed leadership and confidence, and gained a greater appreciation for Costa Rican culture.
Nurture a dynamic culture of exceptional love, care, and selfless commitment through actions and service that support holistic development and wellbeing—mind, body, spirit, and heart—of every member of our community.
1. Identify and create opportunities to enrich school culture through wellbeing education by empowering students, teachers, and families to thoughtfully balance achievement and the development of character traits, such as resilience, self-awareness, and confidence.
2. Cultivate a joyful and inclusive sense of connection, recognition, and belonging within the Holy Child experience for our students, parents, faculty, staff, and alumni through intentional events and experiences to strengthen our collective partnership.
3. Proactively integrate wellbeing practices into curricular and cocurricular programs by employing strategies from our wellbeing plan to strengthen our approach to develop the whole child, especially their personal growth, health, and habits.
4. Expand cross-divisional student mentorship opportunities that build on our Buddy Program as a way to strengthen belonging in our community and culture, provide authentic leadership opportunities, and facilitate social-emotional development.
5. Actively invest in reimagining campus spaces to further support the Holy Child experience, inspire collaboration, and enhance our community’s connectedness.
Our incredibly generous community supported Holy Child’s wellbeing program at the 2024 Spring Auction during Raise Your Paddle, underscoring our community’s collective belief in the importance of educating the whole child, as our Foundress, Cornelia Connelly, urged.
To dive into this important work, we formed the faculty and staff Wellbeing Committee at the start of the 2024-2025 school year, led by School Counselor Becky Murray. With perspectives from across the school, this group of faculty and staff spent the year collaborating with and learning from Dr. Adrianna Bravo, a board-certified pediatrician with a career spanning over 20 years devoted to school-based healthcare and cultivating health and wellbeing in school communities. Dr. Bravo guided our committee through a process of reflection and research, with the ultimate goal of developing a comprehensive wellbeing plan for our school, embedded with strategies and tactics that will serve the needs and interests of our school community, particularly our students. Our shared vision is that this multiyear plan will further integrate wellbeing and wellness into the school culture, curriculum, and daily operations in a transformational way, which will ultimately make our school a healthier and more dynamic learning environment.
1. Our SpeakUp! student facilitators, representing Grades 6-8.
2. Head of School Brian McBride and SpeakUp! founder Martie Gillin P’73’75’83’86 GP’09’12’13’15’16’18’22 GGP’33.
This March, our school renewed its partnership with SpeakUp!, hosting a wellbeing-focused event for students in Grades 6-8, their parents, and faculty and staff. The unique SpeakUp! program model facilitates conversations between students and the adults in their lives, including parents and school adults, by presenting our middle schoolers with an opportunity to speak honestly about worries and challenges while also inviting adults to grow in listening and supporting them. SpeakUp! is a local nonprofit organization that has a community connection to Holy Child: Founder Mrs. Martie Gillin, a past parent, grandparent, and great-grandparent, and her daughter, SpeakUp! Executive Director Martie Gillin Bernicker, are the driving forces behind this impactful organization. Over 60 Holy Child community members attended and participated in student-led conversations focused on one of four topics—athletic-related struggles, academic struggles, friend group drama, and social media—resulting in meaningful conversations that also promoted community connections.
Strengthen and responsibly steward our financial vitality, with a focus on further developing a disciplined financial model and ensuring all initiatives are sustainably supported, reinforced, and reflect our mission commitment.
1. Seek opportunities to build the endowment, with a focus on building reserve funding and allowing for contingency plans and future strategic opportunities while enhancing our mission and providing for our long-term financial health.
2. Establish a dynamic, mission-driven auxiliary revenue model that actively strengthens the school’s financial foundation and ensures long-term sustainability.
3. Cultivate a strong ambassador mindset through purposeful outreach to current and former families, alumni, faculty, and staff—empowering them to stay actively engaged, deeply connected, and committed to advancing the school’s financial future.
4. Develop a multitiered fundraising strategy that integrates sustainable giving, donor engagement, and long-term capital initiatives.
5. With the objective to consistently meet budgeted enrollment goals, develop a strategic enrollment management plan that details strategies for attracting, enrolling, and retaining mission-appropriate students while ensuring that every tuition dollar fuels opportunities that strengthen and expand our program.
Composed of administrative and board leadership, the Core Working Group was tasked with the overall governance of this process.
Tara Hayden Buchakjian ’97 P’26’27’29
Alumna, Trustee, and Co-Chair of the Strategic Planning Committee
Sean Bergin P’23’25’27
Trustee and Co-Chair of the Strategic Planning Committee
Judi Taylor P’14’16 Chair of Board of Trustees
Kane Brenan P’16’18’23’25 Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees
Steve Schreder P’13’15’18’23
Trustee and Board Chair-elect
Brian McBride Head of School
Megan Patzuk Director of Finance and Operations
Kelsey Coogan Director of Communications and Marketing
Mollie Miller ’99 P’29’30’33 Director of Curriculum and Learning, Middle School Learning Specialist
Mark McConnon Director of Middle School
Jackie Murphy Lower School Faculty (Grade 2)
This committee represented a microcosm of our community: current and former families, students, faculty and staff, alumni, Sisters of the Holy Child Jesus, and trustees. As an advisory group, the steering committee assisted with data analysis, priority shaping, and engagement of their constituent groups.
Kathy Barton P’19’20’24
Sean Bergin P’23’25’27
Jeanne Marie Blair P’96’99’04
Kane Brenan P’16’18’23’25
Tara Buchakjian ’97 P’26’27’29
Kelsey Coogan
Lauren DeRitis P’30’31
Jenny Dziengelski
Tracy Gabor
Agnes Gayhardt P’09’12’13’15
Angelo Grecco P’28’31’33’36
Jill Gregori
Jay Greytok ’79
Jenny Johnson P’29
Erin Kreszl P’30
Sarah Leonard P’30
Brian McBride
Mark McConnon Sr. Eileen McDevitt, SHCJ
Joe McFalls ’98 P’34
Claudia McHugh ’18
Joe McLaughlin ’08
Mollie Miller ’99 P’29’30’33
Ned Moore P’27’30’34
Alexis Morsell P’23’23’25
Jackie Murphy
Megan Nolen P’23’25’28’30
Jamila Ogle P’30
Casey O’Rourke ’01 P’33’35
Megan Patzuk
Mary Petroni ’98 P’24’27
Ann Rafferty P’91’95’98’01 GP’24’27
Eilise Rouse P’20’24’26
Jessica Shorten P’25’26’27
Sr. Marcia Sichol, SHCJ
Rita Smith P’06’08
Judi Taylor P’14’16
Christy Thomson P’27’30
Catherine Elliott Travaglini ’02
Megan Trost P’22’24
Pat Walsh
The Class of 2027 performs a comedy at their annual Greek Festival, combining music, storytelling, and history to illustrate their multidisciplinary learning about ancient Greek history.
1. The Class of 2036 learns about penguins from students in the Class of 2033 as part of Kindergarten’s “winter animals” week!
2. The Class of 2035 feel the luck of the Irish as a familiar-looking leprechaun pays a visit to their classroom on St. Patrick’s Day!
3. The Class of 2034 serves up refreshing cups of lemonade to their peers for their annual Alex’s Lemonade Stand fundraiser.
4. Students in the Class of 2032 take the stage to perform a play for Earth Day, sharing the importance of caring for God’s creation.
5. The Class of 2030 proudly showcases their attire for the annual Biography Bash, where each student represents and shares about a historical figure’s accomplishments and contributions.
6. The Class of 2029 takes us on a journey through songs and dances, teaching us about the different continents, cultures, and customs they researched this year.
7. The Class of 2028 teaches us about major events, such as the American Revolution, the Boston Massacre, and the Boston Tea Party, at their annual Colonial Festival.
8. The Class of 2026 “walks us around the world” for their capstone humanities project, including performances and multimedia presentations.
Our annual Family Mass and Breakfast is a meaningful tradition for Holy Child School at Rosemont, as it provides us with an opportunity to gather and celebrate Mass together as a whole community. Father Joe Mostardi led this special Mass for us on Sunday, March 2, in the Fitzgerald Performing Arts and Athletic Center, where we welcomed current families, alumni, faculty, and staff for a morning of faith and fellowship. At the end of the Mass, we honored 11 members of the faculty and staff for milestone anniversaries in their years of service to Holy Child. Speaking about the 11 faculty and staff members, Head of School Brian McBride remarked, “There is no doubt that these individuals have been an essential part of shaping scores of Holy Child graduates into kind, confident leaders.”
Pictured are (back row, from left) Jacqueline Murphy (10 years), Megan Patzuk (15 years), Christy Thomson (15 years), Jennifer Dziengelski (10 years), as well as (front row, from left) Maribeth McCallion (20 years), Peggy Stephens (15 years), Jeanne Marie Blair (40 years), Jennifer Levin (10 years), Rebecca Robinson (10 years), Erin Toscani (15 years).
After 15 years of service and dedication to the Holy Child community, Señora Peggy Stephens retired at the end of the 2024-2025 school year. During her tenure at Holy Child, she made an incredible impact on our Middle School students as the Spanish teacher for Grades 6-8 and as a homeroom teacher. A testament to her dedication as a Spanish teacher are the highly impressive National Spanish Language Exam scores that our students achieve each year; yet, her impact as a nurturing and thoughtful educator was better-evidenced by the number of young alumni visitors who made a beeline to her classroom when visiting Holy Child. We are thankful to Señora Stephens for serving as the World Languages department chair for 15 years and for coordinating the Middle School elective program. We wish her well in her retirement!
Kit Tosti retired at the end of the 2024-2025 school year, completing 21 years of service and dedication to Holy Child as our registrar. Kit followed in her mother’s footsteps to become Holy Child’s registrar: When her mom, Tray Ashworth, retired in 2003, Kit was hired for the position and has been a warm, welcoming presence at the academic building front desk ever since. In her role, Kit helped scores of Holy Child eighth graders during the high school application process, cheering on our students as their acceptances rolled in year after year. We are thankful to Kit for serving our students, parents, faculty, and staff in so many meaningful ways during her tenure at Holy Child, and wish her well in retirement, as we know she is excited to spend time with her family and grandchildren.
On Saturday, April 26, 2025, our community gathered to support 31 members of the Class of 2031 as they received the Sacrament of First Holy Communion at St. Thomas of Villanova Rosemont Chapel. Each of the students participated in the Mass with roles, including serving as lectors for readings and prayers of the faithful, and carrying the offertory gifts.
Preceding this joyful event, the class received the Sacrament of Reconciliation on Thursday, December 5, 2024. What made that evening more meaningful for our students and their families was the experience of hosting the prayer service and receiving the sacrament at New Sharon Chapel, which is located on the grounds of the American Province of the Society of the Holy Child Jesus.
Overall, the 2024-2025 school year was a joyous time for Grade 2 students as they prepared to receive the sacraments. Prayer services provided moments of reflection and learning for students as they prepared for their roles in the Mass and the church as a whole. The celebration of both sacraments is significant to our second grade class every year, and witnessing these faith commitments within our community reminds us how we may continue to grow in our faith.
Our Commencement Mass and graduation ceremony were held at St. Thomas of Villanova Rosemont Chapel to celebrate the achievements of the Class of 2025 and welcome them as the newest alumni of Holy Child School at Rosemont. On Thursday, May 29, 2025, 23 Grade 8 students received their diplomas, with their families and our faculty and staff in attendance. The joyful celebration included speeches from our Student Council Co-Presidents Peyton Nolen ’25 and Luke Bergin ’25, who spoke about their favorite Holy Child traditions and memories, and songs performed by Grade 8 cantors, including Semaj Allen, Marcus Berlansky, Victoria Casey, and Will Morsell. In addition, five students were recognized as merit-scholarship recipients to area high schools. Our community is immensely proud of the hard work, leadership, and growth shown by the Class of 2025, and we wish them well on their next steps in education.
Academy of Notre Dame de Namur (5)
The Agnes Irwin School (3)
Episcopal Academy (2)
The Haverford School (7)
Malvern Preparatory School (3)
Radnor High School (1)
Sacred Heart Academy Bryn Mawr (1)
The Shipley School (1)
In February, our annual Service Day was reinvigorated through the introduction of new opportunities to serve our local community, thanks to the creativity and dedication of our faculty and staff Service-Learning Committee.
The day began with an assembly led by our seventh and eighth graders, who shared reflections on service as well as the history of our school’s Service Day through interviews with Holy Child faculty and alumni. Throughout the morning, students of all ages participated in hands-on service-learning projects, preparing donations and creating murals for CHOP and crafting gifts and needed items for the Sisters of the Holy Child Jesus, local community helpers, and All 4 Paws Rescue. Representatives from Greener Partners also joined us for the morning sessions, educating students about gardening science and the impact of the organization’s work around food access in our region.
In between activities, students reflected on their experiences, what they had learned, and the impact of service overall. The day culminated in the fundraiser carnival, a tradition hosted by our seventh and eighth graders and enjoyed by students across PreKindergarten through Grade 6.
A few days later, during our February in-service day, our faculty and staff embodied our culture of service and compassion by participating in hands-on service opportunities at local organizations, including Hub of Hope, the Patrician Society, and First Church Media. Our faculty and staff were proud to dedicate this in-service day to such purposeful work and spent the afternoon together reflecting on the experiences. For our students, faculty, and staff, both days provided meaningful service-learning experiences, exemplifying the motto of our Foundress, Cornelia Connelly: “Actions, Not Words.”
Cornelia Connelly’s educational philosophy highlights the importance of celebrating the dignity and uniqueness of every person, and our school’s first-ever Heritage Celebration on Thursday, April 3, provided our Holy Child community with opportunities to live out this aspect of her vision for education.
Over the course of the school year, the Faculty-Staff Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Committee, led by faculty member Christy Thomson P’27’30, shared the vision of this event with our community. A call for volunteers resulted in 18 families, including faculty and staff, generously stepping up. On the night of the event, an excited and earnest energy filled our O’Neill Gymnasium as families, students, faculty, and staff connected, shared, and learned from one another. Our presenters created colorful interactive displays focused on countries and cultures that they feel connected with, representing many of the diverse cultures, identities, and backgrounds present within our Holy Child community. The night ended with three live performances, including a taiko drum show, Irish dancing, and a Thai song played on guitar, with the latter two acts featuring some of our very own students!
Holy Child Goal 5: Holy Child Schools create a learning climate based on trust and reverence for the dignity and uniqueness of each person.
1. Presenting on Puerto Rico were Carter ’30 and his parents.
2. Presenter and performer Olivia ’27 and her parents shared about Thailand.
3. The Sizer and Gallois families teamed up to create a beautiful and educational display about the country of Columbia.
4. Everyone enjoyed the Irish dancers from McDade Cara School of Irish Dance featuring Holy Child students Harper ’31 and Erin ’27.
“For the Poetry of the Art, we must provide various occasions to allow every grade in the school to cultivate their fancy and taste.”
— Cornelia Connelly’s “Book of Studies”
April 24, 2025
On Friday, May 2, 2025, we opened our classroom doors to welcome grandparents and loved ones to Holy Child for a beloved and enduring school tradition: Grandparents’ and Special Friends’ Day. The morning began in the Fitzgerald Performing Arts and Athletic Center with a welcome from Head of School Brian McBride, followed by a preview of our Spring Play, “Madagascar, Jr.,” and a performance by our Lower School Choir. Among the pillars of Cornelia Connelly’s educational philosophy are the performing arts, and this showcase of our talented students across our Lower and Middle Schools exemplified the value of collaboration as everyone’s voices came together in a beautiful harmony.
With this special event falling during the month of May, it was only fitting that our students led a prayer service focused on the crowning of the Blessed Mother. Children offered heartfelt reflections and led
the songs and crowning of Mary, showing their loved ones how we take on active roles in our faith at Holy Child. Armed with inspiration and excitement from our morning program, grandparents and special friends then joined their students in the classroom for fun-filled learning that spanned all subjects. Students and their guests created thumbprint family trees in art, learned rhythms and dances in music class, potted plants in science class, and reflected on memories prompted by interview-style questions written in language arts.
Parent volunteers were essential to the event, guiding guests to different parts of the school to ensure that they could spend meaningful time with all the children and grandchildren who had invited them. With nearly 350 loved ones in attendance, the sense of community was palpable, and our students were eager to introduce their peers and teachers to the people who matter most to them.
The Holy Child School at Rosemont community recognizes the dedication and leadership of Board Chair Judi Taylor P’14’16 as she completes nine years of service as a member of the Board of Trustees, including the past three years as chair. Since becoming a trustee in 2016, Judi has served on countless board committees, including those focused on advancement, finance, and risk management; the school’s two most recent strategic planning committees in 2012 and 2025; as a cochair for the Campaign for Holy Child; and as a member of the Head of School Search Committee. In addition to these roles, Judi is a steadfast volunteer, supporting Holy Child’s parents’ annual Auction, and classrooms in a multitude of ways.
During her tenure on the board, Judi has epitomized what it means to be a servant leader: She selflessly stepped up to the role of Board Chair during an important time as our school leadership was changing in 2022, answering the call to serve with grace and embodying the values we aspire to teach our students about every day, including kindness, integrity, and respect. Judi’s husband, Matt, and their children attended Holy Child, and her actions as Board Chair resoundingly reflected the love and appreciation that she has for Holy Child. We thank Judi for her time, generosity, and commitment to Holy Child School at Rosemont.
This summer, the Holy Child community looks forward to welcoming Steve Schreder P’13’15’18’23 as the new Board Chair. Steve and his wife, Maria, were Holy Child parents for a total of 21 years, and Steve has served as a trustee since 2016, participating in several committees, including those focused on finance and investments, and most recently co-chairing the Head of School Search Committee. Given his vast experience on the board, coupled with his participation in the Strategic Plan Core Working Group, Steve will help chart the course for Holy Child’s future in partnership with Head of School Brian McBride and the rest of the school’s administration.
To become the chief operating officer at Elliott & Frantz, Catherine Elliott Travaglini’s ’02 path was marked by transformative learning experiences that allowed her to develop her confidence and leadership skills. A graduate of the Academy of Notre Dame de Namur and the University of Pennsylvania, Catherine credits her first alma mater, Holy Child School at Rosemont, for providing her with the earliest opportunities to develop as a leader. “Holy Child provides children with valuable learning experiences at a very early age, allowing them to begin building their confidence and how to have a voice in any setting.” With a nod to the coeducational learning environment at Holy Child, she adds, “We were taught to be leaders, especially as little girls, and I feel fortunate to have had that foundational education because I was set up for success. I trust myself and my voice as a leader.”
With her father’s recommendation and support, Catherine took an entry-level position in the family business at Elliott & Frantz, a heavy construction equipment dealership founded by her grandfather, shortly after graduating from college. She began as a service writer, transcribing notes from mechanics who assess and service the machinery. For the next seven years, she worked on various teams throughout the company, including the sales team, and gained a 360-degree perspective of the company through firsthand experiences. In 2018, she was promoted to the position of COO and worked alongside her father, remarking how lucky she was to learn about leadership from her dad.
As a leader at Elliott & Frantz, Catherine remarks on how the impactful teachers and meaningful learning experiences that she had at Holy Child have shaped her approach. Reflecting on influential figures who taught her about leadership, Catherine adds Dan Algeo, a then-Middle School teacher at Holy Child, to her list. “I was profoundly influenced by Mr. Algeo because he had a special gift for treating students with dignity, grace, and respect. From him, I learned about valuing each person’s unique abilities, which is so relevant in the workplace today because I want people to feel heard and valued for their individuality.” When asked to speak more on the most important qualities of an effective leader, Catherine shares, “If you’re going to be a leader, you have to have the trust of your colleagues. It takes self-assuredness to speak confidently and trust your instincts.”
Reminiscing on her Holy Child memories, Catherine believes that hallmark experiences at Holy Child taught her important skills and values. “I was in all the spring plays during my time at Holy Child. What an amazing experience to have at that age! It takes so much guts for a Middle School student to get on stage in front of family and friends and remember your lines—and to do it with confidence.” Hands-on service-learning opportunities stand out in her mind as well, and she shares, “We went to visit the Gesu School in Philadelphia to volunteer, and as 10-year-olds, it taught us that not every child has the same opportunities that we have, even though we only go to school a few miles apart. We learned to ask: What can we do? How can we help? I value Catholic education because it teaches us important values, especially charity and service, and I am grateful to the service experiences at Holy Child that instilled those values in me.”
Christopher McNabb is the program manager and chaplain for Catholic Hospital Ministries within the Archdiocese of Seattle, providing pastoral support for Catholic patients across five hospitals.
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Tory Gosnell married Sean Barr on October 29, 2024 at St. Thomas of Villanova Church. Left to right: Jordan Green, Lindsay Gosnell Green ’00, Skip and Lynn Gosnell, Tory Gosnell, Sean Barr, Christopher Gosnell ’05, Erica Leigh Gosnell Jackson ’06, and Tim Jackson.
▼ Emily Walsh Irving (left) was matron of honor for Tory Gosnell.
▼ Members of the Class of 2003 and their families gathered together in November 2024 on the playground at Holy Child School at Rosemont. Back row, left to right: Meghan McCormick, Chris Cox, Mike Devine, and Chris Lawlor. Middle row, left to right: Bridget Halligan Snyder. Front row, left to right: Mary Lauren Magargee Sabatino, Caroline Carlin Flynn, Kelly Appino Otte, and Allegra O’Neill Jesse
▲ Olivia Calamia graduated from Widener University’s Delaware Law School after earning her juris doctorate. She took the Pennsylvania bar exam in February 2025, and patiently awaits her results. She will be working at Pile Law Firm PLLC in Blue Bell, PA, assisting clients with will creation, estate planning, guardianships, and small-business start-ups. Olivia is looking forward to this new career path!
▼ Kelly Manning married Mike Stephens on December 7, 2024, in New York, NY, where they reside.
▲ Caitlin Livesey married Quinn Rhodes on September 28, 2024, at St. John Vianney Church in Gladwyne, PA. Brothers of the bride Sean Livesey ’05 and Michael Livesey ’05 were groomsmen. Caitlin is an architectural historian for AECOM, and the couple resides in Philadelphia, PA.
Lauren Gunn graduated from Northwestern University’s School of Communication in June 2024, with a major in theatre, a minor in business institutions, and certificates in both integrated marketing communications and undergraduate leadership. She is currently working as an account associate for SpotCo in New York, NY.
Meghan Mitchell made Villanova University field hockey history in December 2024 as an all-region pick for the fifth consecutive year and her selection to the NFHCA Division I All-Region second team. Meghan is currently working as an analyst for NewSpring Capital.
Anya Berlanska, a recent graduate of The Baldwin School, was awarded The Liz and Kate Braemer Volleyball Award in November 2024. Anya was named captain of the lacrosse team in her senior year, and she has committed to playing lacrosse for Thomas Jefferson University this fall.
Charlie Cutler recently graduated from The Shipley School and will attend Georgetown University this fall. He was all-school president in his senior year as well as co-president and co-founder of Model UN at Shipley.
Erin Mitchell, a recent graduate of Villa Maria Academy, was named to the 2024 Field Hockey All-State Team (Second Team-3A) by the PA High School Field Hockey Coaches Association. Erin has committed to playing field hockey at Villanova University in the fall.
Liam Shields, a recent graduate of St. Joseph’s Preparatory School and a member of their National Honor Society, will attend Wake Forest University in the fall, majoring in political science.
Daniela Strid, a recent graduate of Villa Maria Academy, was named Main Line Student of the Week by Main Line Media News in January 2025. Dani was executive editor-in-chief of the Villa Voice and president of the French Club, the French Honor Society, and the Quill and Scroll International Honor Society. She was also involved with Mission and Ministry, Student Integrity, the National Honor Society, and paddle tennis. Dani will attend Auburn University in the fall, majoring in business and hospitality management. She will be a member of their honors college and is a presidential scholar.
▲ Four alumni were cast in The Agnes Irwin School’s December 2024 production of “The Addams Family.” Left to right: Mrs. Helen Gambescia, Catherine Koslosky ’23 as Lurch, Elizabeth Storrer ’22 as Uncle Fester, Charlie Cutler ’21 as Gomez, Shelby Rhodes ’23 as Wednesday, and Mrs. Tina Abate.
▲ Lucas Scott is a rising senior at La Salle College High School, where he recently earned an Honors Convocation Award, became a founding member of the clay target trap shooting team, and has continuously participated in an ongoing after-school volunteer tutoring program called Rising Stars Homework Club. Lucas is a member of the FIRST Robotics Competition Robotics Team, and during his junior year, the team qualified for and competed in the world championship competition for the first time in La Salle robotics history.
In the spring of 2025, six alumnae from the class of 2023 participated in the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) fundraising challenge and, as part of their efforts, held a bake sale at Holy Child School at Rosemont during two playoff basketball games. Led by Ellie Schreder and Presley Wahl, who are both students at Episcopal Academy and were named as LLS Student Visionaries of the Year, team “Chase the Cure” raised over $58,000 for blood cancer research and were honored at an LLS event on March 13, 2025. Fellow team members and fundraisers included Audrey Bergin (Academy of Notre Dame), Finley Nolen (Academy of Notre Dame), Anna Rufo (Agnes Irwin School), and Leonie Weissenberger (Academy of Notre Dame).
Presley Wahl and Leonie Weissenberger host one of their fundraising team’s bake sales at Holy Child, benefiting the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
▲ Left to right, Lily Gilligan, Anna Rufo, Shelby Rhodes, and Jen Kelly proudly show their Agnes Irwin School class rings they received in April 2025.
▲ Lexie Choate, a rising junior at Villa Maria Academy, earned second place in the microbiology category at the Chester County Science Research Competition in March 2025. She was also able to present her research on “Preventing Cancer With Fruits” at the Delaware Valley Science Fair in April 2025.
J.D. Robinson, a rising sophomore at St. Joseph’s Preparatory School in Philadelphia, PA served as the manager of the school’s freshman basketball team. In the spring of 2025, he also made and competed on the school’s junior varsity volleyball team.
▲ Chloe Tomaszewski, a rising sophomore at the Academy of Notre Dame, starred as Gretchen in the school’s production of “Mean Girls” in December 2024. Chloe’s Holy Child classmates attended one of the performances to lend their support. Left to right: Lily Hark, Haley Gonzalez, Bella Papa, and Chloe Tomaszewski.
Representing as alumnae and current parents, our 2025 Auction Chairs Whitney Deas Bordogna ’96, Denise Fraider Compton ’98, Lauren Keleher Lashinger ’93, Kate Finegan Moser ’98, and Carrie Denny Whitcraft ’95 hosted “The Auction: A Legacy Unlike Any Other” on Saturday, April 12, 2025, at Union League Liberty Hill. This year’s auction theme underscored the concept of legacy with a title that played on the Masters Tournament, which took place the same weekend. The event was a great success, and many of our alumni, who are current parents or faculty members, were in attendance. Back row, left to right: Sr. Marcia Sichol, SHCJ, Liz Finegan McKee ’01, Caroline Keating Gilroy ’05, Paul Nolen ’95, Joe McFalls ’98, and Paul Barrett ’00. Middle row, left to right: Anne Schoemaker Vazquez ’95, Joanne Pettit Robinson ’94, Judy Wankmiller Cassidy ’59, Casey O’Rourke ’01, Sr. Mary Broderick, SHCJ, Ellen Ladner Kang ’86, Danny Fraider Furey ’01, Becky Cox Barrett ’00, and Bill Tierney ’00. Front row, left to right: Hilary Hannan Saylor ’01, Kate Finegan Moser ’98, Whitney Deas Bordogna ’96, Lauren Keleher Lashinger ’93, Denise Fraider Compton ’98, and Carrie Denny Whitcraft ’95
Our Alumnae as School Leaders
Three alumnae have been elected to Agnes Irwin School’s student council for the 2025-2026 school year! Left to right: Bailey Farrell ’24, Class of 2028 president, Liz Storrer ’22, student body president, and Shelby Rhodes ’23, Class of 2027 president.
Theodore March 2025
Kerry Clarke Gould ’01 and Jake Gould
Julia January 2025
Annie Geckle Riley ’06 and Brendan Riley
Jack January 2025
Lauren Manning Plain ’02 and Tim Plain
of 2024, left to right: Grace Fullem,
Class of 2024, left to right: George Barton, Charlie Jones, Danny Deering, and Teddy Curry.
Class of 2024, left to right: Jaidon Horvath, Margo Abboud, Aubrey Gallman, Michael Palazzi, and J.D. Robinson.
College-aged alumni panelists (left to right): Nicholas Schreder ’18 (Boston College), Phoebe Phillips ’18 (University of Notre Dame), Patrick Casey ’18 (Villanova University), Laura Wallon ’18 (Widener University), and Max Barton ’19 (Penn State University).
The theme of this year’s annual appeal was “Meeting the Wants of the Age.”
Our Foundress, Cornelia Connelly, believed that our students should be equipped with the resources and programs necessary to meet the needs of current and future generations. Gifts to the Holy Child Fund enable us to offer a responsive curriculum while being ever mindful of our mission to best prepare our children for the next step in their education. From attracting stellar educators to maintaining a modern, safe campus to offering a challenging academic program to supporting our financial aid program, gifts to the Holy Child Fund touch the lives of every one of our students.
Our sincere thanks to our current and past parents, alumni, grandparents and friends who helped us toward our goal of $350,000. Your participation and generosity are an investment in this “Joyful Catholic Community.”
All gifts to the Holy Child Fund made prior to the end of our fiscal year (June 30, 2025) will be recognized in the “Annual Report of Gifts,” which will be published in the fall. To make a gift online, please visit HolyChildRosemont.org/OnlineGiving or donate via Venmo @HolyChildRosemont
Members of the Holy Child community gathered in the Tudor Living Room on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, as we recognized those members of the 1949 Leadership Giving Society. This newly created society honors those who give annually at a leadership level ($1,000 or more) to the Holy Child Fund or participate in the EITC/OSTC program in support of our financial aid program. Thank you to all of the society members for your generosity!
EITC/OSTC:
For over 20 years, the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) and Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit (OSTC) programs have significantly impacted the lives of students at Holy Child. These programs enable you to designate Holy Child as the recipient of your Pennsylvania state tax liability and for your contribution to be used for our financial aid program.
You do not need to have a student at Holy Child in order to participate; many current and past parents, grandparents, and friends currently support this impactful program. The process is easy and the results are transformative. For more information, visit our website at HolyChildRosemont.org/EITC.
Mary Jane Kiely Collins ’71 — December 12, 2024 — sister of Margaret Kiely ’68 (deceased), Kate Kiely McDevitt ’69, Maureen Kiely Hogan ’73, and Aimee Kiely Weise ’82, and aunt of Grace ’14, Olivia ’16, and Kathryn ’18 Weise
Alicia Foote Deem ’84 — January 22, 2025
Pauline FitzPatrick ’57 — January 8, 2025
Mary Ellen Supplee Hyland ’63 — December 13, 2024
Eleanor Philler ’80 — November 14, 2024 — sister of Anne Marie Philler Lentz ’79
Nancy Barry — November 25, 2024 — mother of Bonny Barry Coddaire ’89
McArthur Branch — April 13, 2025 — grandfather of Eliana ’19 and Philip Jr. ’22 Okala
Beatrice Cirillo — February 22, 2025 — grandmother of William ’11, Brian ’12, and Christopher ’16 Hyland
Patricia Cosgrave — April 22, 2025 — grandmother of Trishie ’14, Perry ’17, and Tess ’19 Cosgrave
Maria DiGiacomo — April 23, 2025 — grandmother of Joey ’27, Mia ’30, and Leo ’34 Lashinger
Eileen Downs — December 5, 2024 — mother of Joanna Downs Miller ’85, Kathleen Downs Randall ’86, Joseph Downs ’88, Alicia Downs Rhodes ’90, Diana Downs Dauer ’93, James Downs ’95, Andrea Downs Cooper ’97, Matthew Downs ’01, Juliann Downs ’04, and grandmother of Savannah ’18, Shelby ’23, and Eden ’27 Rhodes
James Elliott — March 21, 2025 — father of Catherine Elliott Travaglini ’02
Bruce Gilbert — October 22, 2024 — grandfather of Riley ’16, Patrick ’18, and Teddy ’22 Gillin
James Gunn, Sr. — March 21, 2025 — grandfather of Lauren ’16 and Nicole ’18 Gunn
Julius Kamper — November 17, 2024 — grandfather of Alicen ’08, Paige ’10, and Spencer ’14 Davis
Michael Kennedy — January 2025 — grandfather of Hugh ’08 and Owen ’10 Phelan
Gerald Linette — August 21, 2024 — father of Marnie Linette Gallagher ’76 and grandfather of Jane Gallagher Baker ’11 and Chip ’14 Gallagher
Maureen Manion — February 21, 2025 — mother of Sean Manion ’89, Erin Manion Howe ’91, and Brian Manion ’94, and grandmother of Jake ’20 and Audrey ’22 Manion
Domenic Mariani, Sr. — February 5, 2025 — grandfather of Georgie ’22, Carina ’23, and Camryn ’23 Mariani
Robert McCallion, Sr. — January 30, 2025 — grandfather of Joe ’07 and Nora ’09 McCallion
Patricia McHugh — January 16, 2025 — grandmother of Tommy ’15, Grace ’16 and Claudia ’18 McHugh; Christopher ’07, Thomas ’10, and Sarah Jane Quigley ’14; and Trishie ’14, Perry ’17 and Tess ’19 Cosgrave
Edwin Michie, Jr. — January 23, 2025 — grandfather of Caroline Clark ’20
Eileen Miller — January 25, 2025 — grandmother of Lilly ’29, Maddie ’30, and James ’33 Miller
David Myers — April 29, 2025 — husband of Betty Hortsmann Myers ’59
Thomas Pendergast — March 18, 2025 — father of Katrine Pendergast Sutton ’90
Peggy Ranieri — January 13, 2025 — mother of Donna Ranieri Ambrogi ’68 and Gina Ranieri Carter ’69
Anne Seidner — December 21, 2024 — mother of Kristin Seidner Sherman ’93
Mary Smith — December 28, 2024 — grandmother of Laura McKenna ’09
Joan Smyth — February 16, 2025 — grandmother of Anna Rufo ’23 and Frances Smyth ’31
Debra Sutton — November 24, 2024 — grandmother of Benjamin ’29, Andrew ’31, and Luke ’33 Zelinsky
Edwin Tedeschi — December 17, 2024 — grandfather of Ryan ’16, Lauren ’19, and Jack ’22 Rischitelli
Robert Travaglini — January 27, 2025 — grandfather of Santino ’28 and Lucia ’31 Travaglini
Alexander Uribe — April 19, 2025 — father of Francisco ’99 and Mariana ’02 Uribe
Head of School
Brian McBride
Director of Admissions and Enrollment
Kathy Barton
Director of Communications and Marketing
Kelsey Coogan
Communications and Marketing Associate
Victoria Hopkins
Director of Institutional Advancement
Jill Gregori
Director of Alumni and Constituent Relations
Tina Abate
Parents’ Liaison
Allison Emery
Advancement Assistant
Sarah Stirzel Cuzzolina
Save the Date!
Please mark your calendars for the following events in the first half of the 2025-2026 school year.
Contributors
Kelsey Coogan, Victoria Hopkins, and Tina Abate
Photographers
Kelsey Coogan, Victoria Hopkins, and Tessa Marie Images
Graphic Design
Kelsh Wilson Design
Homecoming Field Hockey Games Friday, October 17, 2025
Homecoming and Fall Festival Saturday, October 18, 2025
All Souls Mass Monday, November 3, 2025
Guest Bartender Night Thursday, November 13, 2025
Christmas Concert Thursday, December 18, 2025
1344 Montgomery Avenue
Rosemont, PA 19010
610-922-1000
Parents of Alumni
If this issue is addressed to your son or daughter who no longer maintains a permanent address in your home, please send their new address to:
Office of Advancement, Holy Child School at Rosemont 1344 Montgomery Avenue, Rosemont, PA 19010 or send it by email to: alumni@HolyChildRosemont.org
