and their parents together in prayer during Advent.
Every day at Holy Child, there are many priorities to balance: delivering an impactful, holistic education; providing a supportive, joyful, and safe learning environment; promoting student health and wellbeing; offering engaging cocurricular experiences; and encouraging our children to develop their personal faith relationship with God. Our faculty and staff would add many more items to that list, but what truly underpins all of our work and gives us purpose as a Holy Child School is our mission to nurture a community that is rooted in our Catholic faith.
I am incredibly proud of the strides we are making as a school to ensure that our Catholic values are the guiding forces in all that we do and that our Holy Child mission is experienced and celebrated at our school—and as part of our Holy Child mission, this means promoting an inclusive community, where all faiths are welcomed. Jeanne Marie Blair, our school’s first Director of Mission and Identity, has embraced her new role by identifying new opportunities to strengthen our community’s understanding of and engagement with our Catholic values and Holy Child identity. As you will read on page 10 in this issue of “Cachet,” her recent pilgrimage to formative places in Cornelia Connelly’s life was a valuable experience for both learning about and forming connections across the Holy Child Network of Schools.
We wrote the first pillar of our strategic plan very intentionally to ground the vision for the future of our school in our Holy Child mission and identity. As head of school, renewing our commitment to these aspects of our identity was one of the most important outcomes of the strategic plan. We invite you, as members of the greater Holy Child community, to join us in our renewed commitment to embrace our unique identity as a Holy Child School and remain true to our charism in the spirit and vision of our Foundress, Cornelia Connelly.
Yet, as Cornelia reminds us, “Actions, Not Words” are what matter, and it is the dedicated work of our faculty and staff that translates this vision into action. There are daily moments happening around our school that are drawing us closer to our Catholic identity and Holy Child mission that are just as impactful: Alexis Morsell, our new Director of Lower School, led her division of students and faculty in praying the rosary outside together twice a week during the month of October; we transformed our Thanksgiving prayer service into a Mass, providing our community with the opportunity to reflect and receive Communion together before the holiday break; and we will host a “learning Mass” this month to create more meaning and understanding for our students by having a priest explain why we say certain prayers and do certain things during the course of a Mass. Through these experiences, we are guided by Holy Child Goal 1 as our school “fosters a faith commitment that leads to a joyous personal relationship with God.”
I hope you enjoy this issue of “Cachet” as it tells the stories of our faculty, students, and alumni who embody our charism through their “Actions, Not Words.”
Sincerely,
Brian McBride Head of School
With our new strategic plan—Visionary Education, Virtuous Leaders—as our road map and the wind in our sails, we are making strides to strengthen the transformational power of our program, people, and place for the benefit of our students.
Featured in this issue are the voices of many contributors around Holy Child’s campus who are passionately propelling this work forward. Promoting student wellbeing through intentional practices, living our Holy Child mission through daily acts of leadership, and cultivating a strong ambassador mindset are all significant areas of work; yet it is the educators in our classrooms who are truly fulfilling Cornelia Connelly’s vision for a holistic education every day. To shape the next generation of virtuous, kind, and confident leaders, our shared goals are clear and drive collaboration throughout the school.
Cornelia Connelly, the Foundress of Holy Child Schools, recognized the vital connection between children’s health, wellness, and learning long before we had the term “wellbeing.” Shaped by her philosophy, a Holy Child education is uniquely focused on educating the whole child—mind, body, and spirit. At Holy Child, we believe that health and wellness are intrinsically linked to a child’s ability to learn and thrive in school.
Compelled by the health and wellness needs and challenges of today’s youth, Holy Child prioritizes innovative, mission-driven wellbeing initiatives that are designed to nurture, cultivate, and strengthen the wellbeing of every student. We intentionally integrate health and wellness into all aspects of our curriculum and school programming to deliver a truly holistic education. In doing so, we empower our students to explore and cultivate their wellbeing.
Excerpt from “Cultivating Confidence: How Holy Child Prepares Students to Lead with Virtue,” an article by Head of School Brian McBride in the Philadelphia Business Journal’s August 2025 Focus on Education issue.
Director of Curriculum and Learning Mollie Miller ’99 P’29’30’33 and School Counselor Becky Murray
n partnership with Dr. Adrianna Bravo, a leading independent school health and wellness expert, our Faculty and Staff Wellbeing Committee are in the process of developing Holy Child HEARTS, a comprehensive, holistic, integrated health and wellness plan for our community that parallels our broader strategic plan. Ultimately, Holy Child HEARTS will encompass our current and future wellbeing-focused programs, initiatives, and events.
learners can build a foundation for and strengthen their executive functioning. These skills are essential for understanding and managing emotions, learning from experiences to make better choices, and becoming independent and resilient problem-solvers— all of which promote wellbeing of the mind, body, and spirit.
Initiatives designed to strengthen their social-emotional intelligence, teach healthy life skills and practices, build resilience, and foster a deep sense of belonging in our community are core tenets of Holy Child’s commitment to a “whole-istic” approach to the wellbeing of
each student. When we tend to the health of each student’s mind, body, and spirit, the optimal learning environment is realized, providing a secure foundation for both academic achievements and ambitions. It is our goal that every Holy Child student graduates from our school with adaptable skills and a balanced, resilient mindset that sustains lifelong wellbeing.
EARLY CHILDHOOD: While students are capable of independently completing tasks at the start of the day—removing their coat, putting their backpack in their cubby, finding a seat on the rug—children ages 2 years and 7 months to 6 have yet to fully develop the executive functioning skills to remember a verbal to-do list and complete these steps in a sensible order. To meet them where they are and support their development, our teachers are providing simple visualizations for common tasks and condensing verbal instructions while speaking at a slower speed to allow for processing time.
The ongoing research to develop Holy Child HEARTS includes conversations with our faculty and fellow schools. Among the priorities that have emerged, we recognized the need to provide intentional skill development opportunities so that our young
Investing in intentional, science-driven, and research-backed professional development for our faculty was the first step. In the summer of 2025, Holy Child teachers received hands-on training and resources from Mike McLeod, founder of GrowNow and the creator of the Internal Skills Executive Function Strengthening Model. This model develops four core executive function skills—selfawareness, self-regulation, self-motivation, and self-evaluation— and it has inspired our teachers to bring new strategies into the classroom in support of our student strengthening skills that are developmentally appropriate.
LOWER SCHOOL: Taking visualization to the next level, our teachers are providing more visuals of the expected end product they want students to produce instead of writing detailed instructions. This encourages independent problem-solving and task completion to determine the steps needed to create the end product. Visuals of where everyday items live in the classroom, from scissors to workbooks, also support students in establishing their own classroom routines.
MIDDLE SCHOOL: Twice a week, Middle School students have a dedicated class that presents them with activities and lessons to support their executive-functioning skill development. In this class at the start of the school year, intentional time was given to show students how to make useful to-do lists in their planners, including a set amount of time to complete each assignment, to promote independent task initiation when it comes time for homework. In another class, a perspective-writing exercise opened up a conversation about self-regulation and managing emotions as students were challenged to write about a situation where they felt they were treated unfairly, but they had to describe how it must have felt to be on each side of the conflict.
On July 1, 2025, Alexis Morsell P’23’23’25 became our new Director of Lower School. Alexis is a seasoned Lower School educator who fully embraces and champions our Holy Child mission and knows our community well as a faculty member and a past parent. She brings 22 years of experience as an educator to this role, with 18 of those as a first grade teacher at Holy Child. Her engagement as a faculty member and mentor and her service on various school committees, including the Academic Council and our recent strategic planning steering committee, prepared her to take this next step in her career. She is also a member of the Mission Committee for the Holy Child Network of Schools, dedicating herself to the Holy Child mission and working collaboratively across the network with fellow educators to ensure that the Holy Child mission is lived, celebrated, and integrated into all nine U.S. schools.
How has your time as a Holy Child educator informed the way you lead today?
One of the very first things learned when I became a teacher at Holy Child, which was inspired by our Foundress, Cornelia Connelly, was to be a relational teacher. You cannot teach a child until you’ve built a relationship and established trust with them. That’s the foundation for how I approach being an educator. In my new role, it applies as well. I visit classrooms to check in with
our teachers, and at the same time, I am learning about each child’s interests beyond school. That provides me with a way to start a conversation with them that has nothing to do with their academics, because once I build that foundation with a student, then I can have any conversation with them, whether it’s “Let me help you with a math problem” or “Let me address the way you were behaving.” If a student knows you’re on their side, then you can make a bigger impact in their life.
Another lesson that shaped my approach as a Holy Child educator and leader is to envision every student in front of me as the Holy Child Jesus. It guides me to consider what virtues I need to bring into my interactions—respect, kindness, fun—with the young children entrusted to our care.
Why is Catholic education important for children’s development?
Grade school is where children receive their foundation, from academics to socialemotional learning and everything in between. By receiving a Catholic education, our children from 2 years and 7 months to age 14 are learning that faith is a vital part of their value system. At Holy Child, Catholic values and virtues are embedded into every school day, and these become ingrained in each child’s thinking, ultimately shaping their moral compass. That’s an incredible gift we give to children.
While religion class is a time that we dedicate to learning about God and our religion, it’s not the only space where lessons about the importance of faith are shared. The whole day contains moments where our faith is present and guiding us: It’s how you talk to a classmate or how you treat someone on the playground, it’s the prayers we say as a community, and it’s in the moments when you speak to God. The Catholic education that we provide reminds students from a young age that they are not alone, that God is always with them, and that they will always have a faith-based community to lean on.
What opportunities ahead for the Lower School inspire you most?
At this point in my career, I am inspired to work with teachers as they strive to be the best professional version of themselves. I want to be a resource for them and provide feedback, identify professional development opportunities for them, and mentor them in what it takes to be a Holy Child educator.
In comparison to when I was teaching, this new role allows me to reach students across Lower School—all 141 of them! My goal is to be able to make a difference to all of them and hopefully inspire them to have faith, be good people, and be kind, confident leaders in and beyond the classroom.
In our continued commitment to academic excellence, we excitedly launched our new math program, Math & YOU, across Kindergarten through Grade 4 at the beginning of the 2025-2026 school year. More than a year of research by our math teachers and members of the Academic Council led us to select Math & YOU, which stood out for its research-based instructional strategies. Our teachers dedicated time over the summer to study the curriculum and are already seeing the impact of how Math & YOU fosters a deep understanding of math concepts by making relevant real-world connections.
“Math & YOU meets students where they are developmentally and where they need to go with its sequential curriculum. For younger learners, the books are colorful and engaging, making math feel fun for them. The program is also cross-curricular as it seamlessly incorporates handwriting into math lessons.”
“Math & YOU helps our students see the real-world connections behind what they are learning. It gives consistent opportunities to problem-solve, reason, and explain their thinking, which are essential skills for long-term mathematical understanding. It also supports every learner by allowing teachers to differentiate instruction while building a shared foundation of mathematical language and thinking across grade levels.
This program builds a strong foundation for the abstract and analytical thinking students need in Middle School. Children are developing number sense, reasoning skills, and mathematical habits that will help them make the transition into our Middle School math curriculum. By the time they finish our program, students will have a stronger grasp of core concepts and the confidence to take on more-complex ideas.”
Philanthropy at Holy Child School at Rosemont is far more than financial support; it is a powerful expression of belief in Cornelia Connelly’s vision to nurture joyful learners, compassionate leaders, and confident young people of character.
Rooted in the Catholic values of service, kindness, and integrity, every gift directly supports the vibrant, purpose-driven education we provide.
Philanthropy fuels the growth of our school and the impact of our education. This is embodied by community members who contribute their time, expertise, and philanthropic gifts to the Holy Child Fund, Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC), and our Parents’ Auxiliary fundraisers.
It is a shared commitment—a way for each of us to invest in a future shaped by a visionary education and meaningful connection.
Thank you for being a part of this important work.
Rath, Director of Philanthropy
• Redirect your Pennsylvania tax dollars toward Holy Child and receive up to a 90% tax credit in return.
• Your contribution provides invaluable tuition assistance, expanding access for deserving students.
• It’s a meaningful way to invest in education with minimal cost to you!
Approaching Deadline:
To be included as a 2026 EITC participant, you have until May 1, to complete your registration and mail in your contribution. Don’t miss out!
For more information about supporting Holy Child through EITC, please contact Director of Philanthropy Michael Rath at mrath@HolyChildRosemont.org or 610-922-1021.
Learn More & Get Involved
Visiting Formative Places in Cornelia Connelly’s Life
In the fall of 2025, the Society of the Holy Child Jesus organized and led a five-day pilgrimage to Louisiana and Mississippi, gathering over 20 individuals from the greater Holy Child community to visit key sites where Cornelia Connelly lived, learned, and developed her faith in her early years. Our school’s new Director of Mission and Identity, Jeanne Marie Blair P’96’99’04, participated in the trip alongside Sisters of the Holy Child Jesus and associates, fellow leaders from the Holy Child Network of Schools, representatives from the American Province, and many others connected with the Society. Reflecting on the trip, Jeanne Marie shares, “My hope was to build connections with my fellow attendees during the trip so that I may call upon them in the future for insights and discussions. This was accomplished each evening as we debriefed and discussed what we had learned each day. Cornelia’s life was filled with many decisions, especially the 11 important years she spent living between these two states, and we often asked each other, ‘What would we have done in Cornelia’s shoes?’”
In Natchez, MS, where Cornelia and her husband, Pierce, lived with their young family, the group had the opportunity to visit Trinity Episcopal Church, where Pierce served as a minister, as well as Saint Mary’s Basilica, a Catholic parish that maintains a small archive of artifacts from Cornelia. It is important to note that Cornelia and Pierce explored three religions during their lives: They were born Presbyterians, became Episcopalians, and ultimately converted to Catholicism. So while Cornelia and Pierce were not connected to Saint Mary’s Basilica during their time in Natchez, this church has kept letters written by Cornelia to the local community detailing her life in Natchez. Upon reading the letters, Jeanne Marie remarks, “You could tell by Cornelia’s writing that she was searching for fulfillment there, wanting to be part of the community.” Yet Natchez was only one stop in Cornelia’s life journey, as she and Pierce became drawn toward Catholicism and he ultimately gave up his position at Trinity Church.
Jeanne Marie Blair P’96’99’04,
Director of Mission and Identity
“This trip was about examining the places that shaped her, her charism, the invitations in her life that kept her moving forward in faith.”
Join Us for Falcon Hill Camp: Summer 2026
9 fun-filled weeks of camps from June through August for boys and girls ages 3-13!
Our Signature Camps
Falcon Camp: Ages 2.8-3
Kinder Camp: Ages 4-5
Fun Camp: Rising Grades 1-7
New this summer:
Our Kinder and Falcon camps will run for 8 total weeks.
Science Camp: Rising Grades 1-6
Glider/RC Plane Camp: Rising Grades 5-8
Emotion Explorers Camp: Rising Grades K-4
Theater Camp: Rising Grades 5-8
Enrichment Camps
Literacy Camps: Rising Grades K-4
Math Camps: Rising Grades K-4
Strategies for Success: Rising Grades 5-6
Placement Prep & Practice: Rising Grades 7-8
The Falcon Hill Camp Experience
• Half-day and Full-day Camps
• Weekly themes and Splash Days with waterslides
• Camps led by Holy Child faculty
• Extended Day available until 4:30 p.m. daily
Considering what new insights about Cornelia she gained from the pilgrimage, Jeanne Marie says, “Cornelia talked about people believing in their God, and she herself explored three different religions. Holy Child students learn the tenets of Catholicism, but we embrace families from different faiths and cultures because we support each individual in developing their personal faith relationship. In Cornelia’s educational philosophy, faith development and academics coexist beautifully. This is how we educate children to be the best they can be.”
Through visits to Grand Coteau, LA, where Cornelia taught music at a girls’ school established by the Society of the Sacred Heart, and to the Saint Louis Cathedral in New Orleans, LA, where Cornelia received her first communion, it became evident that this pilgrimage was truly an opportunity to walk in Cornelia’s shoes and be in her presence. “There wasn’t one specific building we could point to and say, ‘She built this,’” Jeanne Marie says. “This trip was more about examining the places that shaped her, her charism, the invitations in her life that kept her moving forward in faith.” Walking through the Academy of the Sacred Heart in Grand Coteau, LA, including two rooms where Cornelia lived while teaching there, it was heartening to know that she loved her time teaching there. It was also evident how significantly the Sisters of the Sacred Heart influenced Cornelia and helped her discern that she wanted to start her own order. Jeanne Marie emphasizes, “God put obstacles in Cornelia’s life that urged her toward founding the Society. She was wise, understood life, and lived the best she could amidst the change and upheaval in her life. How remarkable that her charism and vision survived.”
Learn More & Register Today www.HolyChildRosemont.org/Summer
For additional information, please contact Director of Auxiliary Programs Derek Moorehead at dmoorehead@HolyChildRosemont.org or 215-554-6168.
1. The Class of 2036 performs the song “God Made You and Me” at the annual St. Francis of Assisi assembly, which brings together students from across Early Childhood.
2. Celebrating the Early Childhood Bubble Party during the first month of school brings joy to students in the Class of 2037.
3. Combining song, rhythm, and a story, the Class of 2034 brings life and movement to the book “Leaf Man” in music class.
4. Field Day brings out a competitive spirit in members of the Class of 2031 as they cheer on their peers.
5. The Class of 2029 departs for an overnight field trip at Camp Mason, an important communitybuilding event for our newest Middle School students.
6. During their annual Grade 8 retreat, members of the Class of 2026 participate in teambuilding exercises and reflect on their roles as leaders in the school.
At the start of the school year, we welcomed new faculty and staff to the Holy Child School at Rosemont community. These individuals are already making a positive impact in their respective divisions and departments, and we look forward to the ways in which they will contribute to our school now and in the future.
Joe Boyle (Associate Director of Philanthropy)
Back row, from left: Dan Whaley (Associate Teacher in Middle School), Tim Shell (Student Teacher in Grade 2—Fall Semester), Michael Rath (Director of Philanthropy), Maddy Ryan (Grade 4 Associate Teacher), Julian Guindon (Technology Support Specialist), and Grace Kushner (Middle School Spanish Teacher).
Front row, from left: Gracie Youakim ’15 (Grade 1 Assistant Teacher), Leigh Roselli (Middle School Science Teacher), Denise Compton ’98 (Coordinator of Parent Programs and Events), Anna Canalichio (Middle School Math Teacher), and Missy Wesner (Grade 1 Teacher).
Fall Semester Highlights
We welcomed 360 students to Holy Child for the 2025-2026 school year, and the smiles in carline on our first days echoed the joy of our community!
Our 2025-2026 Student Council
Our Faculty and Staff Welcome the New School Year
Our Weekly Holy Child Huddle
Inspired by the mission of our Buddy Program, our weekly Huddle allows students of all ages to gain confidence as leaders while spending time in the classroom with younger children.
Grade 2 Mails Letters to Their Pen Pals at Holy Child Academy, Drexel Hill
Our annual Scholastic book fair was a success thanks to the eager readers in our community as well as the dedicated parent volunteers who managed the book fair sales alongside our Librarian, Alex Wodack.
Holy
classmates and current freshmen at
their
Alumni Ryan Neff ’10 and Joe
’08 organized an Alumni Quizzo
hosted at Holy Child on Thursday, October 23. With 25 players, including alumni and past parents, Ryan led several spirited and competitive rounds of trivia.
Homecoming 2025
It Was a Beautiful Fall Weekend for Homecoming!
For Reid and Moira Smith, discovering a rich sense of community and connection at Holy Child affirmed their decision to enroll their children, Hale ’31 and Barrett ’34. After relocating from Washington, D.C., to Philadelphia’s Main Line in 2018, they began to research schools. As part of his research, Reid, who was raised in Haverford and attended Episcopal Academy, where his mother, Linda McHale Smith, worked as a teacher, reached out to his childhood friends who had attended Holy Child. He reflects, “When we moved here, what struck me was how many people had gravitated back to Holy Child and sent their children here. That was very notable to both of us.” While they could have followed the Smith family tradition of choosing EA, Holy Child’s admissions team made a positive impression on Moira at Bryn Mawr Day when Hale was only a baby, and her own Catholic education played a role in their decision. When it came time to tour Holy Child, a chance encounter solidified their decision. Reid recalls, “During our visit, we ran into Maribeth McCallion, Director of Athletics, whom I had known growing up as she was a friend of my mom’s. Maribeth welcomed us in and gave me the biggest hug, and I remember feeling confident that this would be a good fit.” Moira agrees, “There were so many little touches of connection, almost coincidences but not quite, that made joining this community so joyous. While I am new to the area, we’ve embraced the Holy Child experience as a family, and this school community has become a locus for friendships—not just for our children, but for us as well.”
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“We’ve embraced the Holy Child experience as a family, and this school community has become a locus for friendships—not just for our children, but for us as well.”
because they spark curiosity in our children. We feel like we’re part of the learning experience because of what our children bring home and share with us. It’s a testament to the great deal of care, consideration, and guidance they give to our children.”
In their words, the “vast Holy Child community reverberates throughout the area.” From seeing fellow Holy Child families at their parish to the beloved school events that fill their calendar, they love seeing Holy Child connections and knowing that no matter where they may be, there’s always a friendly face nearby. This sense of community extends further, as Moira explains: “The lessons and stories our children bring home from school spark joy beyond our immediate family. My parents relocated to this area from Kentucky, and our children enjoy sharing what they’ve learned or created at school with their grandparents.” Reid adds, “Our children love coming to school here. Because my mom was an educator, I feel a unique appreciation for the education our children are receiving. We have both been so impressed with the educators at Holy Child
One memory that stands out to them is the first time Hale led their family in grace before dinner because he had learned a new prayer at school. “One of us usually said the blessing before dinner, and in that moment, Hale was so proud to be able to contribute to our family prayer,” Moira remembers. “The religious education that our children are receiving here is so meaningful and important for them and for our family. Children have an innate way of seeing God in places where maybe adults don’t, so when children are bringing their questions and insights into Catholicism, especially at the dinner table, it’s refreshing for us as parents to examine it through a different lens.” During the 2024-2025 school year, Reid and Moira proudly stood by Hale as he received the Sacrament of Reconciliation and First Holy Communion. They recall how proud Hale was to begin receiving communion with them at Mass on Sundays. In Reid’s view, “Parents can do a great deal to raise their kids in a purposefully faithbased manner, but the way that Holy Child complements that and encourages them to grow in their faith is remarkable to behold. It’s everything we could have asked for and more.”
In a coeducational setting, the Smiths love that their children see each other during the school day and share stories and experiences. “Having to occasionally switch mixed-up lunchboxes in the cafeteria gives them a silly sibling interaction in their day.” As the younger sibling, Barrett tells stories about fun activities that PreKindergarten teacher Jacky Hunt has designed for their gym classes, and Hale will remember doing the same activity, giving them a point of connection where they can trade stories. Moira adds, “It’s so fun for us as parents because we get to hear them connect about these moments.”
“Parents can do a great deal to raise their kids in a purposefully faith-based manner, but the way that Holy Child complements that and encourages them to grow in their faith is remarkable to behold.”
The Buddy Program is another highlight for their family, as they see such strong connections forged across grades. Reid explains, “As the oldest child, it is special that Hale has an older Buddy whom he looks up to. When we see fellow Holy Child students around town, the older students make a point to say hello to both of our children, and it speaks to how decent and kind the students are to one another in this community.” Moira emphasizes, “There’s a sense of responsibility that is impressed upon the children during their time here. It is also remarkable to see how their teachers foster public-speaking skills in all of the students, making them more well-rounded. Those skills are difficult to teach later in life, and so practicing them from a young age is important for growth.”
Reflecting on other factors that led them to choose Holy Child, Reid shares, “The notion that Holy Child ends at eighth grade places an emphasis on allowing children to enjoy their childhood. That differs in some ways from my own experience growing up. Choosing Holy Child means our children will make the most of their childhood while being surrounded by well-meaning educators. There’s already so much structure in life; this place is really a solace for children. We are very positive that allowing Hale and Barrett to enjoy their childhood and early education at Holy Child is the best investment we’ve ever made as a family.”
Alex Zacney’s pursuit of a nontraditional path led him to an interesting yet critical juncture in March 2020. Days away from the initial launch date of ivee, the healthcare company he co-founded, news was swirling in New York City about a virus that was affecting communities globally. At the age of 20, Alex and his co-founder, LJ Trolio, a classmate from St. Joe’s Preparatory School, had to make an important decision about the launch.
As a business model built on the premise of making healthcare more accessible, their services were focused on bringing infusions—and eventually, primary care—into people’s homes. With conversations rising about “COVID bubbles” and limiting interactions beyond your household, potential customers were not eager to welcome healthcare professionals into their homes. Alex shares their thought process at the time, saying, “We paused the launch, gathered personal protective equipment, and worked a few contract jobs. We were facing challenging headwinds at first. When public spaces began to reopen, people weren’t interested in going to physical doctor’s offices, which were operating under capacity, meaning longer wait times. This moment is when the circumstances formed by the pandemic created a tailwind for our business.”
It was fortuitous that the ivee co-founders had a vision for homebased healthcare long before the pandemic. When asked to identify the origin of his interest in the healthcare industry, Alex reflects, “During my early high school years at the Prep, I worked as an extern for an executive at Penn Medicine. developed a close working relationship with my boss and began to hear about the companies pitching their services to the health system. I accepted a summer job with one of the vendors who was pitching Penn; this was my initial foray into healthcare.” While working on the billing side of healthcare, he gained experience in and insights about the challenges of justifying the medical necessity of certain medicines or procedures to insurance companies. “This is what inspired me to want to make healthcare more accessible. I observed so many patient care journeys through my work in the revenue cycle as well as the working relationship between the health system, providers, and insurance companies. Patients were using the emergency room as their primary care facility, which can be disastrous. It was clear that many patients were not proactive about their care for a number of reasons, and it was expensive for the insurance companies to cover.”
Based on his experience and the lessons learned through these jobs, Alex became passionate about making preventive healthcare more accessible. His background in healthcare, paired with his co-founder LJ’s experience in marketing and user acquisition, was the foundation for creating ivee in 2019. To develop the business, they had to find a route into the home healthcare market, and home infusions quickly became the answer. As ivee grew, they began to offer primary care, blood draws, and at-home urgent care, bringing primary care services to the comfort of your home. Explaining their goals, Alex describes, “Overall, we wanted to make healthcare more enjoyable for patients, even healthy people who needed a regular checkup. Another one of our goals was to take some dollars and complexities out of the
“The individual attention and small classes allowed me to develop rapport with my teachers, and I knew them as people I could go to and trust.”
expensive health system. Patients lose interest by having to jump through hoops to book, travel to, and follow up on appointments, so our vision was to improve patient outcomes by making it more easily accessible.” For individuals with chronic illnesses and parents with children especially, ivee’s services reduced the inconveniences associated with preventive healthcare. The demand for their services and the success of their company did not go unnoticed: ivee served tens of thousands of patients across several states. In early 2025, it was announced that longevity clinic Hone Health had acquired ivee.
Today, Alex and LJ remain friends while pursuing new startup ventures.
Reflecting on his 10 years as a Holy Child student, Alex recalls a tightknit yet supportive community. He credits his first alma mater with “fostering my confidence and the instinct to trust my gut” through trying new experiences beyond the classrooms and developing close relationships with his teachers. “The individual attention and small classes allowed me to develop rapport with my teachers, and I knew them as people I could go to and trust.” His memories span recess roughhousing with friends to participating in the school’s first-ever Spain trip. “At the age of 13, being able to travel to a different country without your parents is such an impactful and formative experience.” Through that trip and his Middle School Spanish classes, he remembers that Señora Peggy Stephens “came to be one of my most favorite and trusted teachers.” Connecting his Holy Child experiences to his work as a startup founder, Alex remarks, “Starting ivee, I never had any hesitations going into a venture capital pitch or a vendor meeting. Thinking back on all of my educational experiences that led up to those moments, my foundation was built at Holy Child.”
▲ Pat Colbert proudly captured this photo of her granddaughter, Jeanne Marie, at her baptism last June. Pat’s daughter, Laura Steenberg, is a 2005 graduate of Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child in Summit, NJ.
▼ Marnie Linette Gallagher shared a moment with her daughter Jane Gallagher Baker ’11 before Jane walked down the aisle at her wedding in September 2024.
▲ Giuliana Vetrano Hartwell reconnected with her former teacher, Steve Clarke, during a visit to Holy Child last spring.
▲ Adriana Vetrano Cornell and her husband, Ben, welcomed their third child, Atticus, in March 2024. Their two older children attend the Moses Brown School in Providence, RI, where Adriana works as the assistant to the head of the lower school.
▲ Andrew Helbling married Elena Dauphinais on April 26, 2025, at St. Thomas of Villanova Church with their reception taking place at the Inn at Villanova. Andrew works in Philadelphia, PA, for the Bozzuto Group, while Elena is a foreign language instructor at The Hill School in Pottstown, PA.
▲
Olivia Calamia, Esq., married Domenic Repice on Saturday, September 13, 2025, at Terrain Gardens in Doylestown, PA. The couple enjoyed a day full of love, laughter, and great food surrounded by family and friends.
▲ Andrew Wiener and Alexandria Gihorski were married on April 26, 2025, at St. Katharine of Siena in Wayne, PA. His brothers, Christoper ’09 and David ’14, were his co-best men. Andrew is completing his last year in medical school at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, with plans to pursue family medicine. Andrew and Alexandria currently reside in Philadelphia, PA.
▲ Jane Gallagher and Shane Baker were married at St. Andrew’s Catholic Church on Block Island, RI, on September 7, 2024. Chip Gallagher ’14 was a member of the wedding party.
Thomas Meis married Kristen Cardenas at The Basilica of St. Edward on December 14, 2024, in Palm Beach, FL.
Sisters Meghan Mitchell ’16 (left) and Erin Mitchell ’21 (right) shared their skills as Villanova University field hockey players by leading a field hockey clinic last spring, an experience that they donated to Holy Child’s 2025 Auction. Pictured with Meghan and Erin are Class of 2026 students Julia, Molly, and Kate.
▲ Ciara Dasher graduated magna cum laude in May 2025 from The George Washington University, where she studied criminal justice and psychological and brain sciences. She works as a paralegal at Cuneo, Gilbert & LaDuca LLP in Washington, D.C.
▲ Holy Child classmates and members of St. Joseph’s Preparatory School Class of 2025 celebrated their college commitments last spring before their graduation. Left to right: Liam Shields, Colin Peterson Michael Gabriel Niko Render-Katolik, and Matthew Hark
▼ Nicole Gunn, a senior at Marist University, completed an internship last spring at B.
Ivy Showroom in Manhattan, where she gained firsthand experience in fashion merchandising, communication, and brand strategy. A highlight of her experience was working at the MAGIC New York fashion trade show at the Javits Center in February 2025.
Michael Gabriel graduated from St. Joseph’s Preparatory School in May 2025. He is a freshman at Penn State University Main Campus studying mechanical engineering. Laura Kelly graduated from The Agnes Irwin School in May 2025, where she was inducted into the National Cum Laude Society. She is a freshman at the University of Virginia majoring in biomedical engineering.
Colin Peterson graduated from St. Joseph’s Preparatory School in May 2025. During his time there, he was inducted into the National Honor Society for Spanish. Colin is a freshman at Fairfield University studying politics.
Niko Render-Katolik graduated from St. Joseph’s Preparatory School in May 2025. During his time at the Prep, Niko was a National Merit Semifinalist and as a senior, he was selected to be an Archdiocesan Scholar and was honored at a convocation.
Niko is a freshman at the University of Notre Dame.
Mac Traynor graduated in May 2025 from Malvern Preparatory School, where he was recognized as a Commended Scholar. Mac is a freshman at the University of Notre Dame.
Noah Brand a senior at Malvern Preparatory School, was recently inducted into the Bellisini Honor Society. To receive this honor, a student must be in the top 15% of the class at the end of the first semester of junior year.
Luke Gianoukos a senior at St. Joseph’s Preparatory School, was named a National Merit Commended Student.
Teddy Gillin, a senior at The Haverford School, has committed to Cornell University for lacrosse.
Alexandra Ortiz, a senior at Germantown Academy, starred as Tanya in the school’s production of “Mamma Mia” last spring.
▼ Elizabeth Storrer and Marin Pryma starred in Agnes Irwin School’s production of “12 Angry Women” last spring. They both appeared as “Juror Number Seven” during different performances of the show.
▼ Gwen Miller a junior at the Academy of Notre Dame de Namur, received an award for her costume-making skills in June 2025 at the TooManyGames Convention, held in Oaks, PA. Gwen is also a part of the Student Leadership Diversity Conference and Model UN at Notre Dame.
▼ Haley Gonzalez and Bella Papa (pictured on the left), sophomores at The Agnes Irwin School, sold traditional Hispanic dishes and drinks with the Hispanic Student Alliance this fall to raise money for ACLAMO’s food pantry, which directly supports Latinx families that experience food insecurity in Norristown, PA.
College
Destinations for the Class of 2021
Auburn University
Boston College
Drexel University
Duquesne University
Fairfield University (2)
Franklin & Marshall College
Georgetown University
High Point University
Howard University
Miami University
Penn State University (3)
Thomas Jefferson University
University of Notre Dame (2)
University of South Carolina
University of Virginia (2)
Villanova University
Wake Forest University
The Holy Child Fund, You Are…
Empowering Educators, Enriching Minds: We invest in our exceptional faculty through professional development and resources that support an innovative, intellectually challenging program.
An 8:1 student-to-faculty ratio is more than a number–it’s a commitment. We champion and invest in our teachers who are dedicated to Cornelia Connelly’s teaching philosophy. Equipped with professional development and cutting-edge resources, Holy Child educators are inspired to meet every child’s unique needs and strengths with care. 8:1
Inspiring Innovation Rooted in Joyful Learning:
Ensuring Access, Honoring Every Student:
Each year, Holy Child students participate in a number of experiential field trips. Traveling to places like Costa Rica, Camp Mason, and Echo Hill allows students to grow in their independence, experience new cultures and perspectives, and expand their learning beyond the classroom.
Support for The Holy Child Fund empowers us to embrace bold ideas—from innovative technologies to wellbeing programs and spontaneous, curiositysparking learning experiences. Use the return envelope
Robust financial aid brings Cornelia Connelly’s vision for education to life by ensuring deserving, bright students from all backgrounds can access a Holy Child education.
In the 2024-2025 school year, 32% of Holy Child students received tuition assistance. Our holistic approach to education provides every child with experiences that develop them into faith-filled, responsible, and resilient leaders.
By giving to The Holy Child Fund, you affirm our shared belief that, as Cornelia Connelly said, we are “bound to help one another.” Your support ensures that generosity continues to define the Holy Child experience for generations to come.
For more information, please contact Director of Philanthropy Michael Rath at mrath@HolyChildRosemont.org or 610-922-1021.
Holy Child School at Rosemont Magazine
Diane Arena — June 4, 2025 — mother of Lauren Arena Gribben ’01 and John Arena ’06 and grandmother of Garrett McDonald ’22
Edward Brennan — August 9, 2025 — grandfather of Andrew Battaglini ’01 Kaitlin Brennan Barra ’04, Kristin Battaglini Seo ’05 Ted Brennan ’07 and Meghan Brennan ’10
Roxanne Davis — August 29, 2025 — grandmother of Jasmine ’17 and Jenna Vega ’19 and Mia Howard
Margaret DeStefano — July 12, 2025 — mother of Chrissy DeStefano Brunelli ’92 Jackie DeStefano Moroz ’93, Michael DeStefano ’97 and Katherine DeStefano
Alan Louderback — January 27, 2025 — father of Lynn Louderback Ellis ’74 Scott Louderback ’75
Kathy Louderback McGowan ’77, and Brian Louderback ’80
John Lucey Jr. — August 9, 2025 — father of Carole Lucey Davis ’76 and John Lucey III ’71
Patricia Moran — August 1, 2025 — grandmother of John ’20 Frankie ’24 and Mary ’26 Rouse and Harry Mariniello ’28
Lillian Powers — October 16, 2025 — mother of Louis ’87 (deceased) and Joe ’88 Powers
John Radcliffe Jr. — September 8, 2025 — stepfather of Madeleine Peter ’98 and Nicholas ’02 Franconi
William Warden — July 25, 2025 — grandfather of Caroline ’16 Lucy ’18 and Will ’22 Shannon
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
Advancement Assistant
Sarah Stirzel Cuzzolina
Contributors
Kelsey Coogan, Victoria Hopkins, Tina Abate, Joe Boyle
Photographers
Kelsey Coogan, Victoria Hopkins, Ivory Tree Portraits
Graphic Design
Kelsh Wilson Design
Please mark your calendars for the following events in the second half of the 2025-2026 school year.
Family Mass and Breakfast Sunday, March 1, 2026
Spring Auction
Saturday, March 21, 2026
Grandparents/Special Friends Day Friday, May 1, 2026
Spring Play
Friday, May 1, and Saturday, May 2, 2026
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 Development, Holy Child School at Rosemont 1344 Montgomery Avenue, Rosemont, PA 19010 Or send it by email to: alumni@HolyChildRosemont.org
