Empowering Students To Discover Their Voices: In the Classroom and On the Stage
On the Cover: Members of the Class of 2027 paint watercolors alongside members of the Class of 2037 for a mural that was donated to brighten the hallway of the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia as part of our school’s service-learning program.
Pictured: Cast members from our 2026 Spring Play, “Shrek, Jr.,” perform “I’m a Believer” on the Cassidy Stage.
Departments
A Message From Brian McBride 2
Around School 2
Alumni 22
Features
A Backstage Pass to the Holy Child’s Annual Spring Play 4
Milestone Moments 16
Celebrating Culture and Community at Holy Child 18
Alumni Spotlight 22
Class Notes 25
A Message From Brian McBride
To Our Friends and Supporters,
I am often inspired by the actions of the people in our community, but I want to share the words of two students who inspired me this spring. During his homily at our First Holy Communion Mass, Rev. Robert Murray asked our second graders, “Why do you think your parents chose to send you to Holy Child?” There were a number of sincere answers from our students, but one response resonated with me. One child replied, “They wanted me to learn how to grow up to be good.” Wow! Leave it to a second grader to capture the essence of our mission as a Catholic school: to inspire our students to do the greatest amount of good.
On a sunny weekday afternoon, a high school admissions representative spoke to our seventh graders, who were beginning their high school search process, and asked them about the qualities they were looking for in a school. One student responded, “I am looking for a high school that will meet me where I am and lift me up.” Another wow! In many ways, these two student comments capture what we strive to do at Holy Child School at Rosemont. As my father used to say: “Out of the mouths of babes!”
Reflecting on these moments, it is not surprising that our students made these remarkably insightful observations because I am confident they believe Holy Child fulfills these ideals. Among all the lessons and values we want to teach and instill in our students, we strive to meet students where they are and lift them up while helping them grow into good people.
The stories within the pages of this “Cachet” highlight the transformative experiences that promote student growth, from the performing arts to school-wide cultural celebrations to experiential field trips. Most importantly, our teachers stand at the center of each experience, imparting lessons, nurturing growth, and instilling confidence. Holy Child teachers bring enthusiasm, joy, and love to these experiences in a way that I have not seen at any other school, and they are truly the positive changemakers in our children’s lives. Without their guidance, care, and devotion to our Holy Child mission, we could not successfully realize our vision to inspire kind, confident, and virtuous leaders.
I hope you enjoy reading the stories of student growth and success in this issue of “Cachet,” as well as the stories of the extraordinary educators who make it all possible.
Sincerely,
Brian McBride Head of School
Child School at Rosemont Rendering by Kevin Ohlinger
A BACKSTAGE PASS TO HOLY CHILD’S
The Spring Play is a beloved school tradition that celebrates Cornelia Connelly’s dedication to the performing arts, yet the name is a misnomer. The annual springtime production is, by definition, a musical, filled with bold and beautiful songs that allow our students’ voices to shine. What truly goes into the making of the Spring Play is the work of many dedicated students, parent volunteers, faculty, and staff, whose harmonious collaboration leads to a one-of-a-kind production each and every year.
In honor of this year’s play, “Shrek, Jr.,” we are pulling back the layers of the onion to uncover the contributions of our community members who create on-stage magic.
Annual Spring Play
Selecting the Production
While auditions are taking place around the end of January each year, our director of the play, Pat Walsh, and music director of the play, Erin Toscani P’26’29’31, are already thinking about the following year’s production—that’s how far in advance the planning process begins. “We choose upbeat shows with positive messages for our students to learn from,” shares Erin. “With over three quarters of our Middle School students participating, we look for shows with the capability to feature large ensembles. Our big cast of enthusiastic students is one aspect that makes Holy Child’s productions outstanding.” Because Pat and Erin are also Holy Child teachers, they know the strengths and talents of the students who will be participating and seek out shows that will make each year’s unique group of students shine. It certainly helps that both of them are lifelong and self-proclaimed theater people.
Auditions and Rehearsals
Audition workshops are held in the winter for any students who want to hear and review the music for the show prior to auditions. These workshops help students feel more prepared as they will sing, either alone or with a friend, and read a part independently as part of the audition process. In addition to the workshops, one could argue that every grade-level performance leading up to this moment—from “The Little Red Hen” play to the Colonial Festival—serves as a form of preparation. In every grade, our students have opportunities to practice their public speaking or memorize lines to deliver on stage.
Unveiling the Spring Play is an exciting communitybuilding moment for our students. While historically the show was revealed in an assembly with only Middle School students, we know from experience that our younger students are often our most enthusiastic audience members. In the fall of 2025, we announced “Shrek, Jr.” in front of the whole student body at our weekly Wednesday morning Holy Child Huddle assembly, which Pat emcees each week. He explains, “Presenting the play to the full student body is one of our end goals of the production, so it made sense to share the big announcement with everyone at a weekly Huddle assembly so they could share in our excitement. The show is as much for them as it is for those of us performing it.”
One unique aspect of Holy Child’s Spring Play audition process is that the whole cast is present for auditions. From the first day, the cast members begin to build camaraderie by cheering each other on at auditions. This care and support is seen throughout rehearsals. Tucker ’26 describes this, saying, “The sense of community made me feel like it’s okay to fail but it’s not okay to give up. During play rehearsals when I forgot a line, nobody got mad. Instead, they reminded me what it was and then let me try it again.” By having a cast of students across fifth through eighth grades, new friendships form across grade levels. Ellie ‘28 shares, “The play provides you with opportunities to have conversations with other Middle School students you might not normally take classes with. As a fifth grader, I didn’t know the eighth graders well until play rehearsals, which gave us a chance to spend more time and get to know each other.”
There are typically nine weeks of rehearsals, spanning March through early May, and Pat, Erin, and their team are running rehearsals Monday through Thursday each week. Different from a typical school production, the full cast is not called for every rehearsal, affording students the flexibility to continue participating in other after-school clubs, activities, and sports.
Pat observes, “As a member of a sports team or a cast member in the play, our students practice being a contributor to something larger than themselves. You may be great at free throws or sing beautifully, but at the end of the day, it’s about how you work with others as part of a team or a cast that leads you to success.”
For the past decade, Pat has taken the lead on conceptualizing the show, costumes, and set design and coordinates the blocking—in other words, directions for the actors, such as “move to stage left.” Erin teaches the students all of the show’s music, managing the music tracks and working in both small groups and with the full cast to match their singing to the soundtrack. Reflecting on her nine years as the music director of the play, Erin shares memories of the former Middle School music teacher who served in the role, Sharon Potter. “She was the one who established the music director role for the play, seeing how it was necessary and complemented the work of the play director,” Erin remarks. While Sharon left teaching in 2013, she continued as Holy Child’s music director for the play until 2017, overseeing many magical productions during her tenure.
Countdown to Opening Night
Around mid-April, the full cast is called to the majority of rehearsals. The culminating week of rehearsals, known as tech week, is a highly anticipated time that generates the most buzz among the cast members. Students stay after school to eat dinner together and the rehearsals transform into a true show, complete with sound, lights, costumes, and makeup. Reflecting on his four years as a play cast member, Joey ’26 shares, “Tech week was such an enjoyable time when all my friends came together, worked hard, had fun, and tried to steadily improve our play in the final days. There is no greater feeling in this world than Opening Night, getting ready with all your castmates, and cheering everybody on as we present the play for the first time. During this time, the loving and supportive community shines its biggest and brightest.” While our students provide the talent, other key elements of the Spring Play are brought to life primarily by a group of dedicated parent volunteers, faculty, and staff.
It Takes a Village
Every family with a child in the cast volunteers in some way to make the show possible. They contribute by developing props, building and painting the set, creating the costumes, running concessions, assisting with hair and makeup, and much more. Often, our Holy Child faculty and staff are the individuals leading these teams, and some amazing collaborations have resulted from this. For the production of “Shrek, Jr.,” we were fortunate to have Jillian Gabel, our Middle School music teacher, as the primary costume designer working alongside Lauren South P’21’24, who has been closely involved with costume design for the past 8 years. Pat created an overall set design concept, and Dan Sides, our director of facilities, turned Pat’s vision into a physical product with assistance from his team and Andrew Thomson P’27’30. This year, Maggie Stewart, our Young Falcons teacher who is becoming our Lower School art teacher, served as the lead artist for scenery design and Imani Nelson P’19’22’26 and Amy Cordes P’26 made significant contributions to large-scale props and set design. “There are so many elements of the play that we rely on our colleagues and parent volunteers to help bring them to life, everything from painting the set to glueing feathers on a costume,” Pat says.
In the wings and behind the scenes, we have professionals who work with the crew on choreography, sound design, and light design. To assist the students backstage, two notable Spring Play producers include Holy Child teachers Helen Gambescia P’94’98 and Judy Cassidy ’59 P’85’86’90’93. While they lend a hand with costume changes and microphone adjustments, they are often tasked with keeping backstage laughter to a minimum as students dance to the songs without uttering a word. Our students also serve as stage crew, learning the cues and the set pieces for each scene while deftly changing them out in the dark. As for the spotlights, these are also student-run, providing Middle Schoolers with opportunities to be involved if they don’t want to be centerstage.
1. “Shrek, Jr.,” 2026
2. “Madagascar, Jr.,” 2025
3. “Finding Nemo, Jr.,” 2024
4. “Shrek, Jr.,” 2026
5. “Finding Nemo, Jr.,” 2024
6. “Seussical, Jr.,” 2023
6
It’s Showtime!
In early May each year, the Spring Play is debuted to our students in a matinee performance, which is the first true experience the cast has with a live, energetic audience. Following this, there are two full performances across Friday and Saturday nights for family, friends, and alumni, where the cast members hone their skills and make the story come alive on stage. Pat shares, “Throughout tech week, the elements begin to click into place like a puzzle. We add the costumes, the lights, and the microphones, and when we turn the lights off on the Cassidy Stage before the show, the students feel the magic. We spend all of tech week preparing for an audience, so once the matinee arrives, there’s such a wave of anticipation that fuels the cast.” In these moments, Pat and Erin also observe how students become leaders, remarking, “The eighth graders who have done the Spring Play before truly set the tone for the younger students, and we see this most prominently during tech week and the performances. Our eighth graders step up as leaders and the younger members of the cast see them as role models, following their lead.”
Hallmarks of Holy Child
The Class of 2033 takes the stage in the Okala Family Multi-Purpose Room to perform “The Little Red Hen” play, which illustrates Holy Child Goal 2 by reminding us of the power of kindness and teamwork.
1. The Class of 2035 learns about the importance of giving back by hosting the annual Alex’s Lemonade Stand, while also practicing their counting and learning about coin values, shapes, and sizes as they collect generous donations from our community.
2. Historical figures walk the halls of Holy Child as members of the Class of 2031 host the annual Biography Bash, a showcase of presentations and incredible costumes!
Around School
3. Bringing social studies lessons to life, members of the Class of 2030 recreate key sites from the Lewis and Clark expedition using a combination of art supplies and natural materials collected from around campus.
4. Colonial Festival inspires the Class of 2029 to bring together lessons from social studies, music, and language arts into a performance that both educates and entertains their audience.
5. Members of the Class of 2028 deliver compelling and comedic performances at the annual Greek Festival, where they present on ancient Greek history and mythology by creating unique skits and songs.
Recognizing Rita Smith P’06’08 for 45 Years of Service to Holy Child
After dedicating her entire 45-year teaching career to Holy Child School at Rosemont, Rita Smith retired at the end of the 2025-2026 school year. For a teacher as devoted as Rita, it may surprise you to learn that she grew up afraid of going to school. Rita chose to pursue a degree in education from Cabrini University because she wanted to create a better learning environment than the one she grew up with, where children were excited to participate and learn. What makes Rita’s story special is how she rose above this challenge and created something good from it, which mirrors the life story of our Foundress, Cornelia Connelly—a beautiful parallel between two incredible educators.
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Tell us about your early days as a Holy Child teacher.
As a recent college graduate in 1981, I distinctly remember walking in the door to the Tudor Building for my interview and I immediately had a good feeling because I heard children. Back then, hearing children in schools was rare because the teacher was in command of the class. Talk about Cornelia being a visionary: Hearing children who are excited to learn is what education should be.
Our head of school at the time, Sister Helen McDonald, SHCJ, hired me to become a Holy Child teacher. She told me, “I don’t know much about what you do as a teacher, but I trust that you will do it.” I soon discovered that my first classroom was directly outside Sister Helen’s office—and had no doors! I began my teaching career in a class with 12 four-year olds and spent 28 years teaching in that room, which now serves as our Young Falcons classroom. What I remember most about my first year was that Sister Helen used the word “trust.” That spoke volumes about who the Sisters of the Holy Child Jesus are as a group of religious women and educators.
What will you remember most about Holy Child School at Rosemont?
In a word, our community. Even when you don’t realize it, your colleagues, fellow parents, and students are there for you. I experienced some health challenges during my years at Holy Child, and how our community responded was both generous and supportive. More importantly, the people who have come into my life have stayed; the connections you make here are lasting.
At Holy Child, how we approach relationships is centered around putting the person first, and this connects to Holy Child Goal 5, which emphasizes “trust and reverence for the dignity and uniqueness of each person.” No matter how big or small, the way people take care of one another in this community mirrors the values that Cornelia wants us to instill in the children we teach.
There were not many young teachers working here when I started, so the benefit was that my mentors were Holy Child legends, like Dan Algeo and Judy Cassidy. There was a trust and a freedom to do your job as an educator, which I came to appreciate and incorporate into my style of leadership.
How has being a leader and teacher at a Holy Child school influenced your faith and your life?
As a Holy Child teacher, I have renewed my focus on the living Jesus, as Cornelia did. She challenged us to ask ourselves as educators, “How do we see the Holy Child of God in each student we teach?” By keeping the Holy Child Jesus front and center in our minds, there is an optimism in our approach to Catholic education. We are creating a safe, homelike environment for children; we are seeing the best in every person; and we are helping one another in moments of difficulty. Cornelia had so many challenges in her life yet found such a joyful way of teaching. I am inspired by the strong woman of true faith that she was.
Teaching my own sons, Michael ’06 and Joseph ’08, allowed me to understand how all the teachers at our school commit to making this place feel like home. Holy Child teachers have a skill for finding where and how each child shines, nurturing that, and recognizing it, no matter if it’s on the stage, in the classroom, or on the field or court. It was a great experience for my boys to receive a Holy Child education, and I loved sharing in their school experience here.
Looking back on your 45 years serving Holy Child School at Rosemont, what are you most proud of?
I am proud of the Early Childhood division that I built. When I came to this school, we only offered PreKindergarten and Kindergarten. I helped develop the nursery program, which laid the foundation
for the Young Falcons and Falcons classes. I am also proud of the teachers I have had the opportunity to mentor. While some of them are teaching in other divisions now, the most valuable lessons that I shared and that I see them living to this day are lessons rooted in Cornelia’s educational philosophy.
When I became the Director of Early Childhood, my faculty appreciated that I was still “one of them,” as I remained a PreKindergarten teacher. Holding both roles as a teacher and a leader provided me with a unique perspective, and my teachers learned that if I am going to make you try something, I’ll try it too. I’ve been told by a teacher that I always listened when they wanted to try something new and encouraged them to go for it. This is how I embody the trust that I was first given as a teacher by Sister Helen.
Lastly, I am proud of the alumni who choose to send their children to Holy Child. It is a testament to a thriving school and allows us to continue upholding Cornelia’s philosophy. Our alumni are part of the culture keepers of the school community, and it brings me so much joy to see them walk their child into school on the very first day.
Celebrating Robin Beaver Haines for 27 Years of Dedication to Holy Child
Seated in her office with a view of her alma mater, Rosemont College, blossoming in the spring, Robin Beaver Haines reflected on the 27 years of her career that she dedicated to Holy Child School at Rosemont, which, like her alma mater, was similarly founded by the Sisters of the Holy Child Jesus. Her familiarity with Cornelia Connelly and the Holy Child mission led her to our school over two decades ago, when she was originally hired as an instructional technology specialist by Sister Mary Broderick, SHCJ. Her relational style of leadership was one of many characteristics that propelled her to become the school’s director of technology, a position she held for 12 years. With a master’s degree in library science from Drexel University, Robin always brought order to the systems and teams that she worked with. And like most school staff members, she wore many hats over the years, serving as the webmaster, computer lab manager, photographer, technology curriculum designer, and mentor for the robotics team, and on committees for strategic planning, Pennsylvania Association of Independent Schools accreditation, the Mission Effectiveness Process within the Holy Child Network of Schools, and diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. Robin retired at the end of the 2025-2026 school year, but her impact on our community was profound, especially considering all the ways that technology has evolved in the past quarter century.
During your 27 years at Holy Child as a member of the technology team, you witnessed technology evolve significantly and had to adapt many times. What moments stand out in your memory?
I am lucky in my career that something new, novel, and exciting always came along. I often moved through phases of “I need to learn and conquer this new technology” to “I’ve got this” to “I’m satisfied with this, what’s new?” While there have been many technological advances—personal devices, Wi-Fi, gadgets for the school’s maker spaces—a shift that stands out in my memory is in 2009 when I worked with teams from ADVIS as a fellow with a program called Powerful Learning Practice. We collaborated on a project that taught me a great deal about educational social media, like blogging and Twitter, which were brand new at the time. Twitter became a source where I could learn about new technology advancements that I wanted to explore further. It was the first time that you could interact with the internet, not just consume it. This was major for people working in education because it created an opportunity for educators to learn from one another, exchange ideas, and build content together. Blogging and group discussion built a collaborative, online environment for teachers.
How has your faith influenced your role as a leader?
When Holy Child’s last director of technology and my boss, Jim Breslin, was preparing to retire, he encouraged me to apply for his position. By that time, I had gained a lot of leadership experience beyond work, serving as the chair of my local library board and the Media Arts Council, helping with strategic planning for the Borough of Media, and leading several committees for my church.
Once, while debating a matter on one of these committees, a friend I looked up to in my church community asked an important question: “Whether the decision makes sense or not, we need to consider, is it right?” Talk about living your faith! Reflecting on her question, I saw how it was rooted in faith and service to others, and that’s how I wanted to act as a leader. Every decision should be balanced with business acumen, social and societal influences, and so on, but her words inspired me to always advocate for what is right.
In leadership, I also believe that relationships are how you make inroads with the people around you. In my life, in all things, I always start by building relationships and trust. As a leader, people have to understand that you have their back, they need to understand “the why,” and then you need to work together toward your goals. I feel
very blessed with every iteration of the tech team that I’ve worked with at Holy Child, and I’m proud of each of them and the work we accomplished together.
Your connection to the Holy Child mission runs deep. Tell us about the contributions you made to the Society of the Holy Child Jesus and the Holy Child Network of Schools.
Because of working at our school and its connections with the Society and Network, I had the opportunity to get involved with many ancillary projects that I am proud of. I served on several mission effectiveness committees, which allowed me to visit and learn about fellow Holy Child schools in our network.
I also worked closely with Sister Eileen McDevitt, SHCJ, who served as the director of the Holy Child Network of Schools for over 40 years. Together, we built the Cornelia Connelly Digital Library. Initially, I spent two summers working in the Society’s archives and scanning documents, and I continue to stay engaged, making updates and adding resources. Being part of this archival project also afforded me the opportunity to travel to Oxford, England, where Cornelia Connelly established the first Holy Child school.
Closer to home, there was a period of time when we took Middle School students to New Sharon, located across the street from our school and on the grounds of the American Province of the Society. The purpose was to provide technology support to the Sisters living there, but seeing the students and Sisters build relationships was very special. Through all these projects and then some, I was fortunate to become well acquainted with many of the Sisters and contribute to the Society’s work.
Having been part of this school community for over two decades, what will you remember the most?
The students, the people, and the connections I’ve made here will stick with me. The community has always been close, and we rise to the occasion for one another. You cannot go through anything in your life without getting support from the Holy Child community. Even if you don’t publicly share what you’re going through, our closeness and care mean that someone knows or senses that something is going on and they will be there to check in and have your back.
What I will remember and miss are the little interactions throughout the day where you catch up with a colleague or celebrate a moment in someone’s life. My office is situated next to the Lower School art room, and something I’ll look back on and miss is hearing all the silly things the children say when they’re lined up and waiting to enter the classroom.
One of the things I loved about working in education is seeing the children grow up around you, and recently, seeing them come back to Holy Child as adults with their own children. The cyclical nature of the school year always provides you with a chance to revisit traditions or projects, and what a gift to be able to try something new or different when these moments come around each year.
Celebrating Faculty and Staff Milestone Years of Service
OAlexandra Wodack
years), Katie Griffin (5 years), Rita Smith (45 years), Maureen Keenan (5 years), Zulema Barcelata (5 years), Ellen Gorman (5 years) and Kelsey Coogan (5 years).
ur 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. Rev. Bill Woody ’03 traveled “home to Holy Child” from Boston, to lead this special Mass for us on Sunday, March 1, 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 Mass, we honored seven members of the faculty and staff who are celebrating their five-year anniversaries at Holy Child and recognized two Holy Child legends who retired at the end of the school year: We extend our gratitude to Rita Smith (45 years) and Robin Haines (27 years) for their dedication to Holy Child. Congratulations to these members of the Holy Child community!
Pictured from left to right: Sarah Stirzel Cuzzolina (5 years),
(5
More Than Educators— They’re the Heart of Holy Child
Holy Child teachers are extraordinary people. Through classes, clubs, and sports, our students are guided by educators who do so much more than teach—they encourage curiosity, build confidence, and care deeply about who each child is becoming.
During Teacher Appreciation Week (May 4-8), we invited our community to reflect on their Holy Child experience and invest in the faculty who continue to make Cornelia Connelly’s mission possible.
We are grateful to those who supported The Holy Child Fund this year. Your generosity made it possible for us to allocate all remaining gifts through June 30 to be directed entirely toward faculty support, providing vital classroom resources, professional development, and support that empowers our teachers to go above and beyond for our students.
Thank you for supporting and celebrating those who dedicate themselves to their students and to living the Holy Child mission.
Milestone Moments
Celebrating Our Faith
On Saturday, April 25, our community gathered to support 32 members of the Class of 2032 as they received the Sacrament of First Holy Communion at St. Thomas of Villanova Rosemont Chapel. This beautiful celebration involved each and every child as they led their families and friends in the Mass readings, prayers, and songs.
Preceding this joyful event, the class received the Sacrament of Reconciliation on Thursday, November 20, 2025. 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.
Moments
Celebrating Our Achievements
The month of May was an important time of growth and reflection for the Class of 2026 leading up to their graduation. The students began the month with a weeklong class trip to New Mexico led by the World Leadership School. They explored the rich culture of the region by spending time with students and local artisans at the Pueblo de Cochiti and taking in the vibrant landscape, with a hike in Bandelier National Monument as a notable experience. Weeks later, members of the Class of 2026 celebrated their final prayer service at Holy Child with their parents by their sides, where they beautifully performed “I’ll Always Remember You” by Miley Cyrus. That same day, the class embarked on a half-day retreat, where they participated in personal and group reflections about their time at Holy Child and the immense personal growth they experienced at our school. The culminating event was their graduation Mass and commencement, hosted on Thursday, May 28, at St. Thomas of Villanova Rosemont Chapel. The greater Holy Child community was delighted to celebrate 21 members of the Class of 2026 as they graduated from their first alma mater.
Cla ss of 2026 High School Destinations
Archbishop
The
Friends’ Central School
The
Malvern Preparatory School
Springside Chestnut Hill Academy
St. Joseph’s Preparatory School (3)
John Carroll High School (2)
Agnes Irwin School (5) Conestoga High School
Haverford School (3)
(5)
Gathered at the Table:
Cele brating Culture and Community at Holy Child
Cornelia Connelly’s educational philosophy highlights the importance of celebrating the dignity and uniqueness of every person. At Holy Child School at Rosemont, we amplify this mission of inclusivity and belonging by teaching our children about the rich history of cultures and countries around the world, which influence the food we eat, the music we play, the art we appreciate, and much more. Through cultural heritage month celebrations at Holy Child Huddle assemblies and our second annual Heritage Celebration, these stories come to life and allow us to collectively live out this aspect of Cornelia’s vision for education.
Heritage Celebration and Grade 7 Capstone Project
The theme of our second annual Heritage Celebration was “Gather at the Table: A Celebration of Food and Heritage.” Nine countries and cultures were represented by generous volunteers, including Holy Child families, faculty, and staff, showcasing the many diverse cultures, identities, and backgrounds present within our community. Attendees enjoyed sampling pan de dulce and tamales from Mexico; cozonac, a sweet bread made in Romania; florecitas
from Puerto Rico; kimchi and japchae dumplings from South Korea; shortbread from Scotland; and an array of cheeses and wine from France and Italy.
Complementing this year’s Heritage Celebration was a beautiful performance by our Grade 7 students, who shared their capstone humanities projects with all families in attendance. After studying various countries and cultures, each student created a video about a country or culture they identify with, using their own narrative, family photos, and music. These presentations were on display as QR codes, enabling event attendees to watch presentations before the performance. The night concluded with our seventh graders taking the stage to drum, sing, and dance, incorporating songs and rhythms from a variety of the countries they studied.
Cultural Heritage Month Celebrations at Our Holy Child Huddles
During the 2025-2026 school year, Holy Child students shared presentations on four topic areas at Holy Child Huddle assemblies to promote understanding, belonging, and community: including Disabilities Awareness Month, Native American Heritage Month, the Lunar New Year, and Black History Month.
Our fourth and eighth graders led the discussion about disabilities awareness, sharing with their peers what they learned about the history of the Paralympics and adaptive sports equipment as well as their firsthand experiences playing goalball, which is a specialized Paralympic team sport designed for athletes with visual impairments. At the assembly, students heard from disability advocate Katie Samson, who shared her story of becoming paralyzed and the lessons it taught her—namely, how people with disabilities are some of the world’s greatest problemsolvers because they face many barriers. Through her story of resilience, she explained to our students how growing up as an athlete, she learned how to fail. However, she broke down the word fail into a positive acronym: first attempt in learning. This lesson and growth mindset proved to be valuable throughout Katie’s life. She also introduced our students to the backstories of everyday items designed for people with disabilities that benefit everyone, from Velcro to closed captions on television to talk-totext technology. It was an incredible talk that led all our students to reflect on the theme of resilience.
In celebration of the Lunar New Year, our Early Childhood students immersed themselves in cultural activities to learn more about this annual festival honored by many Asian cultures to mark the beginning of a new year. Students colored dragon masks, molded homemade playdough into “dumplings,” read a book about
the symbolism of oranges, and practiced using chopsticks. Taking what they learned, our Early Childhood students presented in front of their parents and peers at a Holy Child Huddle assembly. They led a vibrant procession, complete with a Lunar New Year dragon (pictured above), which was handmade by two of our incredibly creative Early Childhood teachers, Maggie Stewart and Kaitlin Till.
During a February Holy Child Huddle assembly, students from Grades 2 and 6 shared a thoughtful presentation in honor of Black History Month, connecting their learning to Holy Child Goal 5, which emphasizes “trust and reverence for the dignity and uniqueness of each person.” Buddy pairs in these grades learned about the history of the Underground Railroad and how freedom quilts were an integral part of sharing decoded messages by reading the book “The Patchwork Path: A Quilt Map to Freedom.”
To supplement their learning, Director of Technology Robin Haines, who is a talented quilter and sewer, taught our second and sixth graders about the art of quilt making, and Christy Thomson, one of our Kindergarten teachers, shared a virtual tour of her childhood home, which served as a stop on the Underground Railroad. Inspired by the storytelling designs of freedom quilts, students in Grades 2 and 6 brainstormed ideas for a quilt that would tell the story of “the Holy Child student journey,” spanning Young Falcons through Grade 8, and worked together to create patches for the quilt.
Holy ChildHappenings
Spring Semester Highlights
Celebrating Successful Basketball Seasons
Practicing Mindfulness
With Ms. Hunt
Every Monday morning, our Early Childhood teachers gather their students for Mindful Monday—a time to set intentions for the week through mindfulness practices in order to develop the mind-body connection.
Congratulations to both of our Varsity A teams on their Catholic Academy League championship victories. This is the first time in 20 years both teams earned the title in the same season!
A St. Patrick’s Day Tradition
Our students had the luck of the Irish when a familiarlooking leprechaun paid a visit on St. Patrick’s Day!
Visiting Cornelia Connelly’s Grave in Mayfield, England
Holy Child students Alice ’29 and Henry ’27 traveled to England with their family over Christmas break and made a special trip to The Mayfield School, an independent Catholic school founded by Cornelia Connelly that also serves as her burial site. This visit was incredibly meaningful for the whole family, as Alice and Henry’s mom, Kate Senior, and grandmother, Anne Marie Senior, are both graduates of Rosemont College, an institution founded by the Society of the Holy Child Jesus.
Welcoming Grandparents and Special Friends
Our students across PreKindergarten through Grade 8 excitedly hosted their loved ones in their classrooms on Friday, May 1.
Schooling the Competition
To celebrate the success of their sports equipment collection to benefit Leveling the Playing Field, our 8th graders challenged the faculty and staff to a basketball game before spring break. The faculty and staff clinched the win by one point, but we were most proud of the 8th graders leading this service-learning initiative.
We are grateful to this year’s Auction Chairs for planning and hosting a wonderful “Secret Garden Soiree” on Saturday, March 21, where our community demonstrated their generous support of Holy Child.
Hosting the Annual Arts Festival
Inspired by Cornelia Connelly’s commitment to the fine and performing arts, our school was alive with families, artwork, and the sound of music on Thursday, April 23, for the annual Arts Festival!
Stellar Alumni in Action Erin Hayes, Ph.D. ’14
As she worked toward her doctorate in astronomy at the University of Cambridge in Cambridge, England, Erin Hayes was offered the opportunity to step back into a fourth grade classroom. Through her Gates Cambridge Scholarship, a prestigious postgraduate grant awarded to only 80 scholars each year, 25 of whom come from the U.S., Erin was recommended to provide an interactive astronomy presentation that used art to express the scientific process to elementary school students. “What made this teaching experience so fun for me and the students was that the curriculum was drawing connections between art and science, which are my two favorite subjects,” she shares. “One of the reasons I love working in astronomy is that it’s an outward-facing science that the public enjoys and it sparks interesting discussions. When you’re teaching children about space, it’s easy to get them excited, and you never know what kind of doors it will unlock for them.”
It seems like living and studying abroad was written in the stars for Erin, especially as she reminisces on an influential trip she made during her seventh grade year at Holy Child. She participated in the school’s first-ever Spain trip with Peggy Stephens, our then Middle School Spanish teacher, as one of two seventh graders, while the rest of the group was eighth grade students. Erin recalls it being a formative experience, explaining, “None of my close friends were going on the trip, and I hadn’t traveled without my parents before, so I was a bit nervous.” She adds, “My mom encouraged me to go, and once we arrived, I found it to be so magical that we were exploring the rich history of a place that was new to us.” Living in Cambridge continued to inspire Erin, and she says, “When I walked around Cambridge, I was walking among many buildings that are older than the United States. It excites me and inspires me to know that there’s so much to discover and understand about history and people and culture.”
Erin’s next adventure will continue to feed her curiosity and inner travel bug, as she has accepted a postdoctoral research position at the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia. She will continue studying observational astronomy with a focus on exploding stars, or “supernovae,” in distant galaxies. Her work consists of data analysis, statistical modeling, and coding as she seeks to measure distances in the universe, with supernova explosions serving effectively as rulers for measurement. High-powered telescopes in Hawaii and Chile supported her research at Cambridge as she observed the colors and brightnesses of stars in the dramatic and exciting final
phase of their lives. Why are the telescopes in Hawaii and Chile, you might be wondering? Erin explains, “The telescope requirements for this research are specific, requiring high elevation past some of the atmosphere because it can be difficult to see through and there’s minimal light pollution.”
Erin found her passion for astronomy when an astrophysics course was offered in high school as an alternative to AP physics. She remembers being excited about math and science even before that time, when she was a student of Karen Grossman, a former Holy Child teacher who taught Middle School science. In high school at The Agnes Irwin School, Erin found astrophysics to be an exciting
introduction to astronomy at an important time for the field at large. “While I was taking this astrophysics course, there was a significant discovery in the field of astronomy. Researchers had observed the signature of two black holes merging, resulting in ripples in spacetime. These observations backed predictions that were made by Albert Einstein,” she notes.
After being accepted to the University of Pennsylvania for her undergraduate studies, Erin participated in an admitted students visit day, where she had a fateful encounter with a physics professor who encouraged her to take his introductory physics course. Erin not only thoroughly enjoyed the class but was intrigued by her professor’s research on supernovae, and he happened to have an opening in his lab. “That introductory physics course changed my whole trajectory, and I found the right mentor at the right time.” She adds, “I am not surprised that I ended up in a field of science given how enthusiastic I was about science as a child, with Holy Child’s science fair standing out as a fond memory.”
While the fourth graders Erin taught in Cambridge drew their interpretations of the expanding universe, Erin reflected on how her experiences at Holy Child are shaping her approach to teaching. “I try to build personal connections with students. Without thinking about it, I am emulating the way my Holy Child teachers, especially Dan Algeo, taught us and established meaningful relationships with us.”
As a lifelong dancer and most recently a member of the University of Cambridge’s competition dance team, Erin also expressed her feeling of connection to the arts in that moment. Recounting her memories from Holy Child, Erin fondly remembers her years participating in Holy Child’s Spring Play. Among her performances
“What made this teaching experience so fun for me and the students is that the curriculum was drawing connections between art and science, which are my two favorite subjects.”
in Holy Child’s productions of “Seussical,” “The Little Mermaid,” and “The Music Man,” a stand-out memory in Erin’s mind is from one of the performances of “The Music Man” during her eighth grade year. “Someone forgot their entrance and I was on stage all alone. I had to improvise my way through that moment, and I remember Tom Lengel, the head of school at the time, acknowledging that moment of vulnerability at the end of the show.” Reflecting on her years at Holy Child, Erin recognizes how her teachers and experiences beyond the classroom prepared her with essential skills. “One of the things Holy Child nurtured in me—in the most kind and compassionate way—was my resilience,” she remarks. “Our teachers encouraged us to pursue learning beyond the classroom through the arts and sports by asking us, ‘How can you make the most of your time at this school?’ As we were given more challenging opportunities, there were also more opportunities to fail, but it was all done within a safe, nurturing environment that developed our resilience.”
Erin also sees how her love for the arts has complemented her scientific career, adding, “Research is quite a creative process as we come up with new ideas and test theories. Learning to be creative and explore freely means taking risks and subjecting yourself to potential failure, but your resilience is what propels you.” Performing on stage also prepared her to present her research in public, which is an essential part of her career. She remarks, “The skills that students learn through the performing arts prepare them in ways they may not anticipate. Whether it be public speaking or the inspiration and confidence to bring creativity into the workplace, the arts are just as important to education as the core subjects of math and science. I am an advocate of a holistic education, which is what Cornelia Connelly’s educational philosophy offers to Holy Child students.”
Holy Child Community and Alumni Gatherings
Bringing Our Community Together in West Palm Beach, FL
On Thursday, February 26, Tom ’63 and Lindy Gallagher generously hosted members of the greater Holy Child community for a reception. Pictured from left to right: Director of Philanthropy Michael Rath, Head of School Brian McBride, Lindy Gallagher, Tom Gallagher ’63, Shelley and Dan Boyce P’09’11’13, Keri Boyce ’09, Board Chair Steve Schreder P’13’15’18’23, and Kathy Murphy P’96.
Hosting the Beloved Alumni Kickball Game
In the midst of graduation season this May, our alumni from the Class of 2022 returned to Algeo Field for an after-school kickball game against the Class of 2026. Most of these students were Buddies during their overlapping years at Holy Child, so there were heartfelt hugs and reunions before everyone took their places on the field for a fun-filled game.
Sharing Insights on Our Alumni Career Panel
We are grateful to (pictured from left to right) Ryan Neff ’10, Katie Alburger Christopher ’95, and Troy Sams ’93 for sharing their time and expertise with our students!
Alumni Children Receiving First Communion Together
At First Holy Communion in April, seven alumni parents watched proudly as their children received the sacrament together. Pictured from left to right: Hilary Hannan Saylor ’01, Katie Manno Pagliaro ’94, Brendan McGeehin ’01, Carrie Denny Whitcraft ’95, Courtney McMahon Donnell ’00, Andrew Miller ’04, and Anne Begier Van Eijk ’83 (not pictured).
Class Notes
1983
In February, David Boreanaz was announced as the lead role in “The Rockford Files” television show reboot on NBC. David will play the role of Jim Rockford on the show, which is centered around “a charming and witty private investigator solving cases around Los Angeles.” David is best known for his starring roles in the “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” spinoff “Angel” and for the hit Fox procedural “Bones.”
1993
Patrice Hayden Meagher, founder and CEO of MilkMate, was named to Inc. magazine’s 2026 Female Founders 500 list for her work in expanding workplace lactation solutions.
1995
Lauren Cahill serves as the senior vice president at Grubb Properties, where she oversees large-scale real estate development projects in New York City, NY. This spring, she was recognized with a Woman of Influence award, presented by GlobeSt. Lauren remarks that “this recognition reflects the incredible teams I’ve had the privilege to work alongside and the support of mentors and colleagues at Grubb Properties, who continue to challenge and inspire me.”
1997
▲ Tara Hayden Buchakjian and her eldest daughter, Kate ’26, were presented with alumni legacy pins at our last Holy Child Huddle assembly of the 2025-2026 school year.
2009
Emily Tucci moved to San Francisco, CA, to pursue a career with Pottery Barn Kids as head design manager. She is delighted to have the opportunity to pursue her passion of pattern design and use her talent to illustrate animals, florals, and nature. Emily continues to create for her own Fox & Willow Design Studio, where her mission is “to reflect the spirit, personality, and unique stories inherent in the natural world by utilizing handcrafted illustrations.”
Casey Zacney moved to Helena, MT, in 2025 and is working for Montana Audubon as a Big Sky Watershed Corps member. In her role, Casey works with the conservation and science team, focusing on citizen science projects while assisting with communications.
2011
▲ Zachary DeCarlo married Rachel Waite on January 3, 2026, at St. Norbert’s Church in Paoli, PA. Siblings Eustace ’14 and Ginna ’16 DeCarlo were members of the bridal party as was Maddie Keane ’12
2013
After living in Philadelphia for four years and working for Comcast as an advertising account executive, Colin Browning moved to New York City, NY, in early 2026 to pursue a career in production and entertainment. Colin is working as a production assistant on “Mornings with Maria,” a daily business news and market analysis show hosted by Maria Bartiromo at Fox Business.
Class Notes
2013
Tess Phillips works for Overtime, a sports media company based in Brooklyn, NY, as an associate programming manager. In her role, Tess manages quality control and publishing across all of Overtime’s YouTube and Snapchat channels, and she also produces original content for Overtime’s football pages, where she is the primary talent and frequently travels to cover featured athletes and games.
2018
Megan MacFarlane graduated from the College of the Holy Cross in May. Megan will continue her education at the University of Notre Dame’s ESTEEM Graduate Program. This accelerated master’s program encompasses engineering, science, technology, and entrepreneurship.
2019
Eliana Okala is a rising senior at Southern Methodist University, where she studies civil engineering and will be pursuing her master’s degree in the same subject through the Lyle School of Engineering. This summer, she joined Enovis Corporation in Austin, TX, as an intern to learn about biomedical engineering, including surgical product design, manufacturing, commercialization, and end-user applications. Additionally, Eliana was initiated into Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., where she serves as treasurer.
2020
Isabella Casey completed her sophomore year at Bucknell University, where she studies political science and is a member of the women’s basketball team. This past season, Isabella appeared in all 30 games for the Bucknell Bison with 29 starts, and in March, she was named to the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team.
2022
Noah Brand graduated from Malvern Preparatory School in May and will be attending Boston College in the fall.
Will Kelly enjoyed a busy and successful senior year at The Haverford School. During his senior season on Haverford’s soccer team, Will and his teammates won the Pennsylvania Independent Schools Athletic Association tournament, and he completed an internship at Wick Capital Partners for his senior project. He will attend Boston College this fall.
Garrett McDonald graduated from St. Thomas Aquinas High School and will be attending the University of Florida this fall, studying in the College of Design, Construction and Planning as he pursues a major in construction management. Garrett expresses that Holy Child helped him pave the way into his high school career, where he proudly maintained a 4.8 GPA, participated in many clubs, and was inducted into numerous honor societies.
▲ Jayden Nelson graduated from The Agnes Irwin School in May. Jayden looks forward to attending The University of Mississippi this fall, where she will pursue a degree in exercise science with a Spanish minor and play on the Ole Miss softball team.
Philip Okala Jr. is a recent graduate of The Haverford School. During his four years at there, Philip thrived academically and in athletics and the performing arts. He was a member of the Signet Society and of Haverford’s
a capella group, the Notables, where he also served as vice president, and was selected twice for First Team All-InterAcademic football. This past year, Philip played lead roles in the fall and spring theater productions, “A Few Good Men” and “Ragtime,” respectively. He has committed to attend Amherst College this fall, where he will play football, major in economics, and minor in philosophy and theater.
Leading up to her graduation, Alexandra Ortiz pursued a senior capstone project at Germantown Academy this spring driven by the essential question, “How can music be used as a universal tool in education?” As part of her research, Alexandra returned to Holy Child and observed Erin Toscani, our Early Childhood and Lower School music teacher, in the classroom and had the opportunity to visit the Cornelia Connelly Center in New York City, NY, with Erin. Marin Pryma graduated from The Agnes Irwin School in May and will be attending Georgetown University in the fall.
▲ Avery Ruggiero graduated from the Academy of Notre Dame de Namur in May and will attend Lafayette College this fall to study neuroscience and play on the college’s field hockey team.
Kameron Carson graduated from Episcopal Academy in May and has committed to play football at Widener University this fall. In April, Kameron was a featured speaker at “SpeakUp! Connect,” an event to celebrate 25 years of SpeakUp!, a local nonprofit organization that works with schools and
communities to facilitate meaningful and honest student-led conversations.
Photo credit: Melissa Kelly Photography
Ava Schlich graduated from Episcopal Academy and will attend Wake Forest University this fall, where she plans to study biomedical engineering and finance. During her time at EA, Ava was named a National Merit Commended Scholar and an AP Scholar with Honor, and she was inducted into the Spanish Honor Society. Additionally, Ava served in a number of leadership roles, such as president of the Girls in STEM club, co-editor-in-chief of the yearbook, and founder and president of the EA Board Game club. Some of Ava’s favorite highlights from her time in high school were her school trips to Denmark, Germany, and Switzerland; working as a summer camp counselor; playing squash and tennis; and her time spent studying Alzheimer’s at Vanderbilt University’s Summer Academy Programs for Talented Youth.
At The Haverford School this spring, the three finalists running for student council president were classmates Kaedon Jacobs, Raymond Kresge, and Mac Brenan. Mac was elected president for the 2026-2027 school year.
Alumni
2023
▲ Conor Morsell is a rising senior at The Haverford School, where he is a two-sport athlete, playing on the basketball and lacrosse teams. This past basketball season, Conor earned Second Team All-Inter-Ac honors, and he was honored as one of two Markward Club Scholar-Athletes and Unsung Heroes, which is an outstanding achievement award given to Philadelphia-area studentathletes by the Markward Basketball Club. During the spring lacrosse season, Conor was named All-American, All-State, and All Inter-Ac. Conor has committed to play Division I lacrosse for the University of Notre Dame.
▲ Ellie Schreder is a rising senior at Episcopal Academy. As a member of the lacrosse team, she was awarded the Pennsylvania Area Schoolgirls Lacrosse Association’s All-Academic award, and she will become captain of the team for the spring 2027 season. Ellie has committed to play Division I lacrosse at Bucknell University.
Presley Wahl is a rising senior at Episcopal Academy and a member of the girls’ soccer team. Presley and her teammates had a record-setting 2025 season, finishing a perfect 12-0 in league play, winning both the InterAc and Pennsylvania Independent Schools Athletic Association state championships. Presley was recognized as First Team AllInter-Ac and named team captain for the fall 2026 season.
▲ Raymond Kresge ’23, Mac Brenan ’23, and Jack Rischitelli were inducted into The Haverford School’s Cum Laude Society in the spring.
▲ Members of the Class of 2023 gathered for a photo before The Agnes Irwin School’s junior prom. Pictured from left to right: Kaedon Jacobs, Shelby Rhodes, Henry Cagliuso, Jen Kelly, Harry Neilly, Anna Rufo, and Mac Brenan
Class Notes
Holy Child alumni from the Class of 2023 were well represented at the Academy of Notre Dame’s prom. Pictured from left to right: Finley Nolen, Kaedon Jacobs, Audrey Bergin, Conor Morsell, Leonie Weissenberger, Mac Brenan, and Maggie Morsell
▲ Prom season continued to serve as a de facto class reunion for the Class of 2023. In attendance at The Haverford School’s prom are Holy Child classmates (pictured from left to right): Dwyer Corrigan, Jen Kelly, Henry Cagliuso, Fiona Peterson, Shelby Rhodes, Mac Brenan, Anna Rufo, Presley Wahl, Audrey Bergin, Conor Morsell, Leonie Weissenberger, Maggie Morsell, Finley Nolen, Kaedon Jacobs, and Harry Neilly
▲ JD Robinson is a rising junior at St. Joseph’s Prep, where he plays on the volleyball team. In his sophomore year, JD was named co-captain of the JV volleyball team.
2025
▲ Peyton Nolen is a rising sophomore at the Academy of Notre Dame de Namur, where she played JV field hockey, squash, and JV lacrosse during her freshman year. Peyton is a member of the Cradles to Crayons club, SpeakUp!, and Global Scholars. She is spending her summer in Avalon, NJ, where she’ll be working at the Fishin’ Pier Grille for the third season in a row.
College Destinations for the Class of 2022
Amherst College
Auburn University
Boston College (2)
Bucknell University (2)
Cornell University
Fairfield University
Georgetown University (2)
Lafayette College
Lycoming College
Syracuse University (2)
The University of Alabama
The University of Mississippi (2)
The Pennsylvania State University
The University of Tennessee
Trinity College
University of Florida
University of Notre Dame
University of Pittsburgh
University of Richmond
University of Virginia
Virginia Tech
Wake Forest University
West Chester University
Wheeling University
Widener University
Births
Jack December 2025
John Arena ’06 and Mary Robins
Alexander with big sister Valerie October 2025
Anna Temple-West Felldin ’07 and Mike Felldin
Eleanor March 2026
Chris ’08 and Paige Carnall
Grace February 2026
Michael ’99 and Emily Duffy
Expanding Access, Changing Lives— Thanks to You!
A Record-Breaking Year for EITC at Holy Child
We are filled with gratitude as we reflect on the incredible growth of our EITC program. Thanks to the commitment of our community, we saw a significant year-over-year increase in tax credits in calendar year 2025, raising just over $1.6 million redirected to Holy Child. This collective generosity does more than balance a budget; it changes lives by providing vital tuition assistance and ensuring a Holy Child education remains accessible to deserving students.
Condolences
Marjorie Lombard Finley ’66 — April 6, 2026
Daniel McAlaine ’98 — March 21, 2026
Salli-Ann Barbaro — January 12, 2026 — former Grade 1 teacher
Harry Begier Jr. — April 2, 2026 — father of Anne Begier Van Eijk ’83 and grandfather of Carolyn Jacobus ’32
Michelle Echenique — June 4, 2026 — mother of faculty member Chelsea Wallace and grandmother of Daniel ’34 and Nico ’37 Wallace
Phillip Go — April 14, 2026 — grandfather of Maia Salas ’19
Joseph Greco — March 26, 2026 — grandfather of Gwen Miller ’23
Aurora Gunn — January 9, 2026 — grandmother of Lauren ’16 and Nicole ’18 Gunn
Eugene Helbling — November 22, 2025 — grandfather of Errin Helbling Miranda ’04 and Andrew Helbling ’08
Rose Marie Knight — March 20, 2026 — grandmother of Ella Rose Knight ’21
Anne McAlaine — April 15, 2026 — mother of Daniel McAlaine ’98 (deceased)
Donald McCulloch Jr. — January 1, 2026 — grandfather of Abby-Lee ’32 and Josephine ’34 McCulloch
John McGovern — March 27, 2026 — grandfather of Ryan ’26 and Brayden ’30 Aquilante
Jeffrey Morrison — February 5, 2026 — grandfather of Danny ’24 and Emma ’28 Deering
Henry Nichols — March 27, 2026 — father of Emily Nichols ’92
Lillian Powers — October 16, 2025 — mother of Louis ’87 (deceased) and Joe ’88 Powers
Bernard Prusak — January 18, 2026 — father of Bernard Prusak ’87 and Alice Prusak Levine ’91
John Radcliffe Jr. — September 8, 2025 — stepfather of Madeleine, Peter ’98, and Nicholas ’02 Franconi
Dorothy Schneider — February 25, 2026 — grandmother of Katie Schneider Assaf ’10, Mikayla Schneider ’12, and Jessica Schneider ’15
Wayne Von Feldt — February 3, 2026 — grandfather of Danny ’14 and Brendan ’16 Taylor
Cachet
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 Philanthropy
Michael Rath
Associate Director of Philanthropy
Joe Boyle
Coordinator of Parent Programs and Events
Denise Compton ’98
Assistant Director of Philanthropy: Alumni and Constituent Relations
Rachel Howard
Advancement Assistant Sarah Stirzel Cuzzolina
Please mark your calendars for the following events in the first half of the 2026-2027 school year.
Contributors
Kelsey Coogan, Victoria Hopkins, Rachel Howard, and Tina Abate
Photographers
Kelsey Coogan, Victoria Hopkins, and Tessa Marie Images
Graphic Design
Kelsh Wilson Design
Homecoming Field Hockey Games Friday, October 16, 2026
Homecoming and Fall Festival
Saturday, October 17, 2026
Guest Bartender Night Thursday, November 12, 2026
Christmas Concert Thursday, December 17, 2026
Holy Child School at Rosemont Magazine
1344 Montgomery Avenue
Rosemont, PA 19010
610-922-1000
HolyChildRosemont.org
Parents of Alumni
If this issue is addressed to your son or daughter who no longer maintains a permanent address at 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
