Seizing New Opportunities to Provide a Transformational Education
On the Cover: The Class of 2030 proudly shows their school spirit at our annual pep rally, which kicked off ur 2024 Homecoming celebrations.
For the past nine months, we have been engaged in an important school-wide endeavor, our strategic planning process. From this inclusive and enlightening process, we strive to produce a bold, strategic, and actionable vision for the future of Holy Child School at Rosemont. Concentrics, our consultant in this process, has emphasized a P.A.I.D. framework for determining our strategic priorities: preserve, activate, innovate, and decide. Looking through these lenses helps us evaluate the emerging strategic themes, especially as we make decisions about the priorities that will form the pillars of our plan. As head of school, this approach to decision-making resonates with me — this is how the best schools intentionally decide how to evolve, adapt, and respond to the dynamic educational landscape.
Preserving our bedrock strengths must also be balanced with activating and engaging our existing resources in new ways. Determining opportunities to innovate also requires Holy Child to consider which new initiatives will allow us to provide a relevant, transformative educational experience.
All the creative, smart ideas generated through the first three components of the framework must then go through the decision filter as we consider what is reasonable and actionable given our likely resources in the next five years. This approach for determining strategic priorities, supported by comprehensive input from all school constituent groups, has guided the strategic planning Steering Committee in our discussions.
underway, as Mollie Manno Miller ’99, in her new role as director of curriculum and learning, is conducting a schoolwide curriculum review. The newly formed Student Support Team, under Mollie’s leadership, is taking intentional steps to improve our student support services across academic and social-emotional support, with student wellbeing as a priority focus. Central to this was the formation of our Wellbeing Committee, which, guided by School Counselor Becky Murray, is in the process of developing a comprehensive strategic vision for student wellbeing at Holy Child, which will complement our greater, school-wide plan.
It is exciting to recognize that among the emerging strategic priorities, we have already begun to address a few opportunities this school year, particularly ones that are important to our current families. By offering significantly more and new after-school clubs, which promote growth and development as our children explore areas of interest, we are enhancing the student experience and continuing to look for new opportunities that will benefit them. In addition, efforts to strengthen, develop, and coordinate our academic program are
In tandem with these improvements and visions for the future, the spirit, courage, and vision of Cornelia Connelly is alive and well at Holy Child, and we must ensure that her vision for education will live on in perpetuity. Our Catholic identity as a Holy Child School remains a defining characteristic and priority in the midst of our strategic planning process, and I am certain that our plan will underscore the critical importance of remaining a mission-driven school. Once completed this spring, our strategic plan will be shared with you, and we extend our gratitude to all those who have contributed to this important process. The best way I can describe this school is by saying that Holy Child is an extraordinary community of uncommon love and care in action, and I am proud to be part of a school that embodies these words every day.
Sincerely,
Brian McBride Head of School
Conducting experiments during our Afternoon Innovators summer camp.
2.
Twirling around the playground at Kinder Camp.
“Enhancing the student experience” — If the 2024–2025 school year could be summarized by a guiding message, this phrase is it. At the conclusion of his first year as head of school, Brian McBride presented this idea as both an objective and a challenge to Holy Child School at Rosemont’s faculty, staff, and parents, inviting creative thinking about how to utilize our community’s talents, strengths, and interests to shape a unique and impactful student experience. Throughout the summer and fall, it became evident that this invitation to “dream big” for our students was inspiring to many, leading to initiatives and programs that embody the Holy Child Goals of caring, community, and friendship. By gathering our students together in new and different ways through summer camps, more after-school activities, and our weekly Holy Child Huddle, we have discovered new connections across grades and divisions that only serve to strengthen the community that we live and learn alongside each day.
1. During the celebration of Ascension Thursday Mass, the Class of 2027 leads the prayers of the faithful.
2. The commitment, sportsmanship, and leadership shown by the players of our championship-winning Varsity A Boys’ Basketball team was a huge part of the team’s success this season.
Seizing the opportunities to enhance our student experience and maximize the use of our facilities, Holy Child created a new position, the director of auxiliary programs, and this summer, hired Derek Moorehead P’36, who brings a wealth of Main Line–based experience in creating and operating children’s programs and camps. In his role, Derek oversees student experiences throughout the year, such as after-school programs, including clubs and the Extended Day program, and our summer camps. Beyond these responsibilities, he works directly with outside organizations, including club sports teams and professional associations, that rent Holy Child’s campus facilities for practices, tournaments, workshops, and events. Inviting organizations to rent our campus facilities provides the school with revenue-generating opportunities, further offsetting the costs of educating our students, and serves as a complement to our enrollment efforts, as new and different people in our region experience Holy Child’s campus firsthand.
3. Students from the Class of 2031 perform the annual Easter play for their moms and mother-figures.
Learning
Refreshing vocabulary and writing skills at a Literacy Camp.
Derek joined the Holy Child community at the beginning of the summer, allowing him to manage our newly expanded eightweek summer camp program alongside our summer camp director, Kevin Coyle. Holy Child’s summer camps are defined by a variety of engaging and exciting programs for children between the ages of 3 and 13. Offerings included joy-filled programs with project-based learning — such as Afternoon Innovators, Art Camp, and Science Camp — and programs with important educational objectives, such as our literacy camps for Kindergarten through Grade 4 that reinvigorate students’ reading and writing skills to combat the “summer slide.” Additional classroom-based programs focused on strengthening executive functioning skills and preparing students for high school placement tests, addressing topics that are relevant to Middle School-aged students. Our traditional summertime programs, including Summer Fun Camp and age-specific camps for Early Childhood students, offered boundless opportunities for play, arts and crafts, and water activities on the hottest of summer days. While schools may be thought to be quiet during the summer, the peals of laughter coming from our classrooms, playgrounds, and fields from June through August countered this idea.
In preparation for the school year, current parents were surveyed to generate ideas about what after-school clubs would excite our students the most. Faculty and staff were also invited to share areas of expertise and interests beyond the classroom, allowing Holy Child to uncover new possibilities for expanding our club offerings. The combination of ideas yielded an impressive lineup of fall clubs that spanned the months of September and October: 10 unique experiences serving students across Kindergarten through Grade 8. Our faculty led five of these clubs, and members of our community contributed their expertise to offer experiences like Cooking Club, led by our inhouse CulinArt Chef Anthony Tullio; Robotics Club, instructed by Holy Child parent Katelyn Jaxheimer P’35’31’30; and Dance Club, led by Holy Child parents Lauren Keleher Lashinger ’93 P’27’30’34 and Lauren DeRitis P’29’30. Our students were able to explore new interests, connect with students across divisions and grades, and take pride in the skills that they developed, whether it was baking a cake, coding a robot, or learning a new style of dance.
Practicing lab safety during an experiment at Science Camp.
A cornerstone of our educational philosophy at Holy Child School at Rosemont is providing children with many opportunities to try new experiences. After-school clubs historically met for the greater part of the semester, but our mission to enhance the student experience invited creative thinking. As a result, we offered fall clubs through September and October, then hosted a second round of clubs during the month of November. The feedback from our parents has been overwhelmingly positive: 167 students participated in our fall clubs, and 46 students signed up for our November clubs. This allowed our children to try an activity that they may have missed earlier in the semester, such as STEAM Club or Sports and Games Club, or one of our new offerings, such as MathCounts or Girls’ Robotics. As Derek summarizes, “Our auxiliary program offerings are diverse and round out a Holy Child School experience by engaging students across grades with a variety of passions and ambitions. We want to make the campus feel alive all the time with joyous, purposeful activity. In the summer especially, we want our students to stay on campus as long as possible and have the summer months be as full and busy as the school year.”
Discovering new moves in Chess Club.
To further encourage student participation and promote exploring new interests, an intentional change was made to the school’s schedule this year. Considering the effects of this change was important to Holy Child, but the resulting ripple effect has positively impacted our after-school clubs, our athletics program, and our community.
Prior to this change, Tuesday afternoons were set aside for faculty and staff meetings, including committees focused on service-learning, worship, and diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, as well as divisional meetings for faculty. Moving this dedicated meeting time to Wednesday mornings then created more opportunities for our faculty and staff to lead clubs and
and coding in STEAM
host additional sports practices on Tuesday afternoons. Guiding these decisions was Holy Child’s commitment to offering a well-rounded education, and as our after-school clubs expanded to include experiences for Middle School students, the value of giving students across Grades 5–8 a breadth of cocurricular experiences came into focus. This fall, our middle schoolers who played field hockey or football were also invited to register for one of our clubs during their season.
The positive effects on our Tuesday afternoons were evident; the next challenge was reimagining our Wednesday mornings while preserving our school start time. Creating a rotating meeting schedule ensured that each Wednesday morning only a subset of our faculty and staff were in a meeting, and all others were available to work morning carline and welcome our children into school. In addition to the meeting rotation, our students can expect one of two variations of their Wednesday morning: One week we gather for a community assembly in the Fitzgerald Performing Arts and Athletic Center (PAAC), and on alternate weeks children come together in their classrooms for activities that exemplify the mission of our Buddy Program while creating new connections with friends across grades and divisions. On Wednesday mornings, you may find Grade 8 students in the PreKindergarten classroom, reading books in pairs; third and seventh graders comfortably sprawled on the floor while playing
math games; or a choir of students across all three divisions learning a new song together in the PAAC. Called the Holy Child Huddle, these Wednesday morning gatherings unite our community and spark moments of mentorship between our students in a way that is reminiscent of a team coming together to rally around one another. Read more about our Holy Child Huddle on pages 16–17.
Creating more joyful opportunities for our students to connect, serve, and play is an important objective that reaches far beyond this school year, and the progress that we are making this year is indicative of a bright future for our Holy Child community. Our faculty, staff, and students continue to look for new and different ways to enhance the student experience, and we are confident that our strategic plan will also shed light on ideas that we have yet to explore.
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.
to right: Derek Moorehead P’36 (Director of Auxiliary Programs), Matt Pattison (a student-teacher from Rosemont College focusing on Middle School social studies), Kaitlin Till (Grade 3 assistant teacher and Extended Day staff ), Ellen Ladner Kang ’86 (Grade 1 teacher), and Mark McConnon (Director of Middle School).
1. Students in the classes of 2036, 2035, and 2034 excitedly play with bubbles with their friends at our annual Early Childhood Bubble Party!
2. On the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, patron saint of animals, students in the Class of 2033 happily hold up their stuffed animals for a blessing at a gathering in the Harron Chapel.
3. Students in the Class of 2032 eagerly browse books at the annual Book Fair.
4. At our annual Buddy Picnic, students in the Class of 2031 gather to eat lunch and make memories with their Buddies in the Class of 2027.
5. Students in the Class of 2030 compete in a refreshingly cool race during Field Day.
6. Students in the Class of 2029 enjoy the Prayer Grotto as a space for reflecting and writing during religion class.
7. Members of the Class of 2026 sing in the choir at our annual Mass of the Holy Spirit.
8. During their annual Grade 8 leadership retreat, the Class of 2025 reflects on their roles as leaders in the school community through small-group discussions and prayer.
Mollie Miller Director of Curriculum and Learning
Our Holy Child faculty are well known for their care and commitment to students, and it is a sentiment echoed by parents and alumni as a standout feature of our school community. This year, our school’s commitment to our students was further underscored by the decision to form the Student Support Team, composed of Director of Curriculum and Learning Mollie Miller ’99 P’29’30’33, Learning Specialist Brooke Choate P’23’26, and School Counselor Becky Murray. As Holy Child staff members for many years, they were frequently brought together by their work to serve our students; however, uniting them as a team was an important step to capitalize on the synergy between their work with students. Ultimately, the goal of Holy Child’s Student Support Team is to address the academic and social-emotional needs of our students, empowered by our foundress Cornelia Connelly’s vision for a holistic education.
Brooke Choate Learning Specialist
Understanding that connectivity among the team members is key to their success, Mollie, Brooke, and Becky created a united database and established regular team meetings so that they can more easily exchange updates and information about student support services. These changes have resulted in an improved flow of communication among the team members and with teachers, keeping faculty well informed about students in their classes who are receiving additional learning or social-emotional support. By streamlining their exchange of information, the Student Support Team will be able to dedicate more time to new initiatives.
In her new role as the director of curriculum and learning, Mollie oversees the team and continues to serve as both a learning specialist and a math teacher. Applying a big-picture approach in her new role, Mollie will be assessing the overarching curriculum at Holy Child and identifying opportunities to create more curricular connections across grades and divisions. A project within the curriculum review that has already begun is the establishment of a task force to research and recommend a new math program for our Lower School. Grade-level representatives, division directors, and Brooke and Mollie as our learning specialists comprise this task force, which is actively researching and gathering feedback from local schools on recommended math programs. In addition, examining our school’s Educational Records Bureau (ERB) test data is a helpful tool in this process, allowing the task force to identify where there are learning gaps and how best to fill them.
Becky Murray School Counselor
On the counseling side of the Student Support Team, Becky is focused on student wellbeing. Addressing student-level and class-level social-emotional needs continues to be a cornerstone of her work as our school counselor; however, in partnership with the newly formed faculty and staff Wellbeing Committee, Becky is identifying new opportunities to weave wellbeing education into everyday lessons as well as envisioning the future of Holy Child’s Wellbeing Program. This fall, Becky began leading proactive wellbeing lessons for students around social-emotional and physical health, teaching students about the connectivity between maintaining these areas of health and how one affects the other. It is evident that the elements of our Wellbeing Program — mind, body, spirit, and heart — are prominent in the work that our Student Support Team is doing to best serve our Holy Child students, and we look forward to seeing the positive impact that they continue to make on our students’ personal growth.
A student’s transition from “learning to read” to “reading to learn” is a critical part of their early education, and this shift typically begins in Grade 3. The skills involved with reading to learn set students up for success as novels, textbooks, and research become integral sources for learning. Three years ago, Holy Child School at Rosemont addressed the first part of this equation — learning to read — by thoroughly researching and then adopting an evidencebased reading program across Kindergarten through Grade 2: the SuperKids Reading Program. Learning Specialist Brooke Choate P’23’26 explains, “SuperKids intentionally offers this approach because they recognize the importance of phonics instruction at a time when children’s neural circuitry is still developing. By third grade, the groundwork for reading has been laid, and children continue building upon their skills while also reading to learn other subjects.”
After Holy Child adopted the SuperKids Reading Program, our Reading Task Force, composed of faculty and administrators, shifted its focus to identifying a segue reading program for Grades 3 and 4, recognizing the value of a curriculum rooted in the science of reading. Additional research and recommendations from fellow educators led the group to discover the Read Side by Side Program, whose founders partnered with the creators of SuperKids to design a similarly formatted reading program. Better yet, this partnership between the two reading programs ensures that there is an intentional bridge in the reading programs between Grades 2 and 3, resulting in a multi-week, reading-skills review at the beginning of third grade. Following this review of their foundational reading skills, students are introduced to the novel-based program offered by Read Side by Side.
An evidence-based program, Read Side by Side uses high-quality chapter books that introduce different genres and styles of writing to continue developing students’ reading and writing skills. Each unit begins with a shared read-aloud book, where teachers model strategies that students will employ with a second independentreading book in the unit. The independent reads are all focused on the same subject matter, such as the story of Rosa Parks; however, the program provides teachers with three levels of text complexity, allowing them to intentionally assign each student a book that meets them where they are. Our teachers and learning specialists are constantly evaluating students’ progress within each unit and have the flexibility to adjust the challenge level for each student based on the learner’s progress.
The lessons around the independent reads bring students together for Book Club, where they address prompts, often through writing, to identify themes, conflict, and the turning point of the story. This text-structure approach to comprehension engages students by challenging them to “read like detectives using the CIA approach”: collect, interpret, and apply. With each independent read broken down into quadrants, students will collect details about the characters, settings, and important events in the first quarter of the book; interpret the author’s message or theme as well as the turning point of the story in the second and third quarters; and then apply their findings to synthesize and evaluate the ending of the book. Employing what they’ve learned, students write short pieces connected to their findings, such as summaries, comparing and contrasting, and connecting cause and effect. As Brooke shares, “The ultimate goal of Read Side by Side is to equip our students with a framework and tools that they can carry with them into Middle School, where reading to learn and synthesizing that newfound knowledge are an essential part of the curriculum.”
Central to our Holy Child mission, service-learning experiences allow our children to act as leaders, gain perspective, and practice teamwork while developing a more compassionate worldview. Service-learning is embedded into our school curriculum, and we invite our community to participate in hands-on service throughout the school year, from volunteering to hosting collections to benefit others. Better yet, stories of our students serving others outside of school year — and during their summer, no less — underscore the character development that our students experience through lessons in and beyond our Holy Child classrooms.
On a hot July day, Middle School students TJ ’25, Luke ’25, and Carter ’26 could be found walking the Wildwood boardwalk with new friends they made while volunteering with the Helen L. Diller Vacation Home for Blind Children. This organization provides families that have visually impaired children with the opportunity to enjoy a weeklong vacation, supported by camp counselors who live on-site throughout the summer and volunteers whose assistance is vital to ensure the success of special outings. As volunteer guides, our students partnered with children of similar ages who have visual impairments and accompanied them to the boardwalk’s water park and amusement park. The experience provided our students with a newfound perspective, underscored by TJ’s reflection: “Our buddies were very open to answering questions about living life with visual impairments. We were able to learn about how they handle everyday activities that we might take for granted,” TJ explains. “Through this service experience, I became aware of and more grateful for what I have.” Carter adds, “It was nerve-wracking at first to be a guide, but we became friends throughout the course of the day. At the water park, my buddy and I went down a water tube slide together, and it was his first time ever experiencing that! That moment made me feel especially good about my actions that day.”
Inspired by the impact of our PreKindergarten Lemonade Stand fundraiser, which benefits Alex’s Lemonade Stand each year, Elle ’33 asked her parents if she could host her own lemonade stand this summer in Beach Haven, NJ. Elle chose her beneficiary to be Compassion Cafe, a Beach Haven–based cafe providing meaningful employment and job training for adolescents and adults with disabilities. Her Fourth of July weekend lemonade stand was a success, and Elle was personally thanked by the cafe’s owner for organizing this fundraiser. Elle’s parents share, “We are thankful for the incredible experiential learning that Holy Child provides. It is evident that Elle’s PreKindergarten teachers Rita Smith and Joanne McGee are teaching ‘the joy of giving back’ to the next generation!”
On Friday, November 22, 2024, Holy Child School at Rosemont was honored by CASA Youth Advocates at their annual gala, hosted at Drexelbrook Event Center. Holy Child is CASA’s first Community Impact Award honoree, and we were recognized for our Advent Angel Project gift collection, which the school has hosted annually since 2022, benefitting CASA children and youth during the holiday season.
When Holy Child was chosen for this recognition, Head of School Brian McBride shared, “The Holy Child schools in our network share a central mission of service, with service-learning being a key part of our school community. It’s so important for our students and families to join together in service to others. Helping children and youth in need during the Advent season is a wonderful hands-on lesson for our students.”
In December 2023, Holy Child’s community of families, faculty, and staff generously supported 175 CASA children and youth by fulfilling their Christmas wish lists. This December, we proudly exceeded that number, serving 275 children! Our community’s commitment to this meaningful service project is inspiring, and we are grateful for every person who gives to this collection each year.
Walking down the hallway on a Wednesday morning at Holy Child, you may find our Middle School students reading to PreKindergarten children, helping second graders with their daily journal, or playing math puzzles with fourth graders. On other Wednesdays, our community can be found gathered in the Fitzgerald Performing Arts and Athletic Center (PAAC) auditorium saying the prayer of Cornelia Connelly, listening to a student reflection, or learning a new song together. Whatever you encounter on a Wednesday morning at Holy Child, the sense of joy is palpable.
This school year, our faculty and staff have committed themselves to developing new and different ways to enhance the student experience at Holy Child. Starting our Wednesday mornings together is a new initiative — we call it the Holy Child Huddle — that creates opportunities for cross-grade and crossdivision connections. These experiences also extend the mission of our Buddy Program, inviting our students to act as leaders and role models for their peers. Traditionally, Grade 6 and Grade 2 serve as Buddies; however, some of our sixth graders now begin their Wednesday mornings in the Falcons classroom, extending the reach of our community and introducing our blossoming sixth-grade leaders to a group of younger children, who welcome their companionship during circle time.
Every other Wednesday, our PreKindergarten through Grade 8 classes gather in the PAAC to hear the morning announcements, pray and say the pledge of allegiance, and enjoy a themed assembly run by Grade 7 teacher Patrick Walsh. The most notable part of each Holy Child Huddle assembly is the reflection given by a member of our community, primarily our Grade 8 students. Challenged by their homeroom teachers to share a personal story that represents a moment of realization or personal growth, our Grade 8 students have written thoughtful reflections, and
each assembly presents an opportunity for our students to hear vulnerable and authentic reflections from the leaders of our student body. They share lessons that they have learned about using mistakes as learning opportunities and how challenges can promote growth, illustrating “Actions, Not Words” for our community through their experiences.
When Kate Senior enrolled as an undergraduate student at Rosemont College, she knew that she was continuing a family legacy, following in her mother’s footsteps to become a Rosemont alumna; yet, what she did not know is that she and her husband, Mark, would choose a Holy Child education for their own children one day, creating a family tradition rooted in faith, values, and the mission of Cornelia Connelly. “Our family recognizes and appreciates the Sisters of the Holy Child Jesus and what they offer in terms of providing a high-quality education,” Kate explains. “Touring Holy Child School at Rosemont was so enchanting, and we knew we had found a safe and loving environment where our children would receive a great education.”
In 2017, Kate and Mark enrolled Henry ’27 in Kindergarten and Alice ’29 in Falcons at Holy Child. They admit that private school wasn’t part of their original plan, but there were many compelling reasons to choose Holy Child. “We live in one of the best public school districts in the country,” shares Mark, “but we fell in love with this school and were so impressed with its thoughtful design, emphasis on the arts, and the way children maintain a sense of childhood while growing in a familiar, supportive environment through eighth grade.” They also note small classes as an important quality because of the specialized attention that teachers can offer our students, further developing them as learners and leaders. Mark continues, “The school shapes students as leaders in many ways, especially through the Buddy Program; athletics, which build confidence and social connections; the performing arts; and grade-level prayer services and performances where they practice public speaking. We see our children participating in Ash Wednesday by distributing ashes and doing readings at Masses, which are all special experiences
“Touring Holy Child School at Rosemont was so enchanting, and we knew we had found a safe and loving environment where our children would receive a great education.”
because the students take an active role in the school’s faith traditions.” Kate adds, “We appreciate how every child is given an opportunity to practice public speaking, allowing them to get over any initial nervousness and hone their skills. We know those skills will stay with them throughout their lives.”
Testaments to their belief in a well-rounded Holy Child education are the many cocurriculars in which their children are involved: Alice enjoys playing field hockey and participating in our Lower School choir, while Henry plays trumpet for the jazz band and has participated in student council. Emphasizing the positive aspects of athletics, Kate and Mark feel that “there are lessons that can be taught in a classroom, but you can learn them even better out on the field or court.” Beyond this, the Urbanski children are active participants in Holy Child’s summer camps, which Kate and Mark
feel confident sending their children to because Henry and Alice “are coming to a familiar place and with friends and trusted teachers they know.”
Another notable quality of the school that continues to stand out to the Urbanski family is how students are taught digital citizenship. As Kate shares, “Technology presents new challenges for parents because it’s not something we grew up with. Holy Child’s approach to this recognizes that we cannot keep children away from technology and instead educates them on how to use the tools properly and apply critical thinking. My children know to ask, ‘What’s the source of that information?’ We were looking for a place that cared about educating us and our children on these matters, and the parent education tools offered by Holy Child have been valuable, even resulting in discussions among parents and within families.”
The question, “Is this the best school for our family?” has always been followed by a resounding yes for the Urbanski family. Kate and Mark express that they “wanted to enroll their children in a place where the educators were really good at their jobs because we appreciate that expertise and defer to it.” As they encounter people in the area with Holy Child connections, Mark says, “You can feel good about people who have a relationship with the school because you know what kind of person they are. Meeting Holy Child graduates and seeing all the alumni who send their children here
“We appreciate how every child is given an opportunity to practice public speaking, allowing them to get over any initial nervousness and hone their skills.”
says a lot about the community.” Kate shares, “We have found Holy Child to be a self-selecting community considering the many great schools in our area. Being here is such a joy as we meet other parents and see our children with their friends, knowing there are common interests and values among us. My Catholic education has been a real anchor for me, and it’s wonderful to know that we are able to provide that for Henry and Alice, recognizing they’ll have that same foundation moving forward. In some ways, choosing this school feels like I am reconnecting with Cornelia Connelly and her mission.”
1. Left to right: Jack Rischitelli ’22, Conor Morsell ’23, Harry Neilly ’23, Michael Abboud ’22, Will Kelly ’22, Noah Brand ’22, Rocky Corrigan ’24, Teddy Curry ’24, and George Barton ’24
2. Steve Clarke ’73 P’01’03 carves up some Halloween fun at Fall Festival!
3. The Varsity field hockey team defends the goal from rival team Villa Maria Academy.
4. Lily Gilligan ’23, Katie Savitsky ’23, and Lexie Choate ’23.
5. Members of the Class of 2021, left to right: Gavin Kyle, Michael Gabriel, Colin Peterson, Liam Shields, and Jimmy Koslosky
6. Blocks by the Varsity football team allow the Falcons to score against Ancillae-Assumpta Academy.
7. Members of the Class of 2024, left to right: Jaidon Horvath, Aubrey Gallman, Caroline Kain, Isabella Scott, Margo Abboud, and Michael Palazzi
19, 2024
Class of 2003 alumni reunited with their teachers. Back row, left to right: Bill Cascarina, Helen Gambescia, Stephanie Clarke ’03, Steve Clarke ’73, and Ron Duska
Front row, left to right: Judy Wankmiller Cassidy ’59, Caitlin Finnegan ’03, Kelly Appino
Otte ’03, and Andy Franz
Back row, left to right: Emily and Michael Duffy ’99, Katie Murphy
DeSplinter ’99 and Mike ’99 and Caroline Tadeo. Front row, left to right: Jim Miller and Mollie Manno Miller ’99, Katie Connolly Smith ’99 and Pat Smith and Meghan Boova Gillispie ’99, and Brad Gillispie
The third annual Legacy Reception took place on October 15, 2024, recognizing alumni parents who have children in the current Grade 8 class. We are grateful to these alumni families who have chosen to continue the legacy of their Holy Child education. This year’s honorees were Cece Gaffney ’25 and her father, Ed Gaffney ’82; Peyton Nolen ’25 and her father, Paul Nolen ’95; Ashlan Ruggiero ’25 and her mother, Heather Boylan Ruggiero ’86; and Connor Vazquez ’25 and his mother, Anne Schoemaker Vazquez ’95.
Back row, left to right: Megan, Paul ’95, and Peyton ’25 Nolen. Front row, left to right: Christopher
Head of School
Brian McBride, Ed Kaier
, and former Head of School Sr.
Congratulations to Helen Meeks Horstmann for being named to the inaugural Sacred Heart Academy Hall of Honor. Helen was a recipient of the Goal V Award, given to an SHA alumna who shares her gifts and talents. The ceremony and dinner took place in September 2024.
▲ James Wankmiller enjoyed catching up with former Head of School Sr. Marcia Sichol, SHCJ, this fall.
Michelle Lordi was recently appointed the lecturer of music and director of the jazz vocal ensemble at Princeton University. She is an accomplished vocalist, educator, and bandleader who has received international accolades. Learn more about Michelle’s music at linktr.ee/michellelordi. In addition to her music, Michelle is busy keeping up with her three children, John, Vivian, and Leo, and their endeavors.
▲ Cross-country Holy Child connections! Mary Kang Keller, daughter of Ellen Ladner Kang ’86, moved to San Francisco, CA, with her husband, JD Keller, much to the delight of Stephanie Luttrell Stanko ’86 and family. Mary and JD have joined the same parish as the Stankos, and Miss Mary and Miss Stephanie are co-teaching faith formation classes for children in Kindergarten through fourth grade. Some of the children will receive First Reconciliation and First Eucharist, the same sacraments that classmates Ellen and Stephanie received together a long time ago. Ellen visited Stephanie for a fast and fun visit in August, watching Mary run the San Francisco marathon.
Joanne Pettit Robinson and husband, Brian, welcomed their fourth child, Joseph, on May 20, 2024, and then celebrated their oldest son, J.D. ’24, on his graduation from Holy Child School at Rosemont on May 30, 2024. Joanne and Brian’s son Brady and daughter, Allie, also attend Holy Child and are in fourth and
third grade, respectively. Joanne works for Vanguard in Malvern, PA as a client account executive in their retirement plans division.
▲ Michael Duffy married Emily Johnson on February 3, 2024, at St. Patrick’s Church in Philadelphia, PA. The couple resides in Bryn Mawr, PA.
▲ Meghan Magargee Brescia and her husband, Alex, welcomed Angelo “Sonny” Pasquale on June 21, 2024. Sonny joins big brother Louis and big sister Clementine. The family resides in St. Louis, MO.
▲ Kate Wiber Carter and her husband, Jordan, are the proud parents of Annabel, pictured here, and twin boys Julian and Nolan, born June 28, 2024 (See their photos on page 30.) The family resides in Boston, MA.
▲ Nicole Marchetto (right), MD, MPH, and board certified in obstetrics and gynecology and reproductive endocrinology and infertility, works for Shady Grove Infertility and sees patients in Chesterbrook
and Lancaster, PA, and Newark, DE. She was recently named a top doctor by “DelawareToday” magazine. Nicole lives in Chadds Ford, PA, with her husband and 2-year-old daughter. She continues to participate in activities at Holy Child and enjoys spending time with her friends from the Class of 2002.
Dan Ruggieri was named one of the Philadelphia Business Journal’s “40 Under 40” honorees in May 2024. He is currently the managing director, head of corporate strategy, at FS Investments. Dan is also a member of Holy Child’s Investment Policy Committee of the board of trustees.
▲ Shannon O’Neill married Billy O’Brien on Saturday, September 9, 2023, in Wittman, MD. Her sisters, Allegra ’03 and Lawrencia ’12, were her matron and maid of honor, respectively, and her two brothers, Brian ’00 and Julian ’08, were groomsmen. Shannon’s niece Evie was the flower girl.
Cousins Casey Hare ’99 and Joe Madsen ’06 collaborated to create their first project, which debuted in September at the 2024 Philadelphia Fringe Festival. Joe wrote and directed and Casey was the producer for “Dixie Cup Seance” for the stage.
▲ Maria Tucci Wright and Jeffrey Wright were married on May 11, 2024, at St. Norbert Church in Paoli, PA. Her sister, Emily Tucci ’09, was the matron of honor. Maria works as a marketing writer for Bentley Systems, an infrastructure software company, and currently lives in Malvern, PA, with her husband and their cat, Pistachio.
▲ Grace Ann Crenny married Ryan Klingert on May 4, 2024, at St. Matthias Church, the same church where her parents, Patty and Kevin Crenny, were married. A reception was held at Overbrook Golf Club. Left to right: Alex Sullivan ’08, Katherine Clark ’08, Grace Ann Crenny Klingert, Ryan Klingert, and Brian McDonough ’08
▲ Siblings Kevin Crenny ’03, Grace Ann Crenny Klingert, Mary Kate Crenny Pister ’07, and Ryan Crenny ’13.
▲ Marissa Dallara recently graduated from Nova Southeastern University’s Dr. Kiran C. Patel School of Allopathic Medicine, with a medical degree of doctor of medicine. She is currently completing her General Surgery Residency at Lehigh Valley Health Network in Allentown, PA.
▲ There were plenty of Holy Child family and friends in attendance to celebrate the wedding of Brian McDonough and Diana Rachii at Our Mother of Good Counsel Church and Overbrook Golf Club on September 7, 2024. Back row from left: Joe McLaughlin ’08, Alex Sullivan ’08, Ashleen McDonough Loughnane ’06, Brian McDonough ’72, David Wietlisbach ’08, best man Michael Eichert ’08, and Nick Mensack ’12. Front row from left: Rory Magargee ’06, Diana Rachii, Brian McDonough, former first-grade teacher Lynn Gosnell, Cristin McDonough ’10, and Grace Ann Crenny Klingert ’08
▲ Christopher Wiener married Lindsay Grier on September 7, 2024, in Charlotte, NC. Christopher’s brothers, Andrew ’09 and David ’14, were co-best men, and classmate Rob Moore ’09 was a groomsman. Chris and Lindsay reside in Charlotte, NC.
▲ Paige Davis married Roger Jeannotte on September 27, 2024.
▲ Classmate Larissa Wietlisbach is pictured here with the bride, Paige, at the wedding reception.
Zachary DeCarlo became a doctor of chiropractic medicine in December 2023 and opened his chiropractic and wellness practice in Conshohocken, PA. Zachary is engaged to Rachel Waite, and the two Penn State alums are planning an early 2026 wedding.
▲ Grace Schiavone celebrated her start of medical school at the Sydney Kimmel Medical College (SKMC) at Jefferson University following SKMC’s white coat ceremony. For Grace and her classmates, the July 26, 2024, ceremony signifies their commitment to the study and practice of medicine. After the Class of 2028 recited the Hippocratic oath, family members assisted Grace and her classmates with donning their white coats. Grace graduated in 2020 summa cum laude from Fordham University with a degree in visual arts and a concentration in photography. She spent the past year working as a research assistant in Jefferson’s department of neurosurgery. Now as a student of SKMC, Grace loves living in the heart of Philly!
▲ Elizabeth Dallara recently became engaged to MJ Tricolli in September 2024 on the beach in Avalon, NJ. She was accompanied by her sisters, Marissa Dallara ’09 and Laura Dallara ’11.
▲ Eustace DeCarlo (center) is pictured here at the alumni reunion in October with Diana Bayer (left), former cafeteria manager, and his third-grade teacher, Helen Gambescia (right). He graduated with an associate degree in photography from Harcum College in December 2023. Eustace is currently a freelance photographer, with his portfolio including professional headshots and real estate listings.
▲ Malenne Kelly, a member of Holy Child’s EITC/OSTC subcommittee of the board of
trustees, visited Holy Child in October and said hello to her third-grade teacher, Helen Gambescia. Malenne works as an intellectual property analyst with Stout.
Aidan Gallary graduated from Boston College in May 2024. Upon graduating, Aidan became the chief operating officer for Integral, a performance marketing agency that focuses on venture-backed companies. Aidan had worked for the parent company, Slope Agency, since his freshman year at Boston College as the operations lead and then chief of staff. In college, he was also a leader in campus ministry and service programs.
▲ Rachel Kelly graduated from the University of Limerick in Ireland with firstclass honors in August 2024 and recently started her master’s degree program at the University of Galway, studying human resource management. A highlight from her undergrad experience was having the opportunity to study in Barcelona, Spain, for six months. One of Rachel’s proudest achievements was receiving the highest grade possible for her thesis, titled “Addressing the Impact of Extending Voting Rights to Irish Citizens Living Abroad.” After finishing her undergraduate degree, she spent the summer traveling around Europe before starting her graduate program. Pictured left to right: Will ’22, Jennifer ’23, Liam, Rachel, Helen, Laura ’21, and Melissa ’25 Kelly
▲ Jasmine Vega is currently in her senior year at West Chester University, studying sociology, and with an interest in educational counseling. While attending school, she works as a full-time personal caregiver for families in the area, keeping children engaged in educational activities and playful interactions! She’s also a student ambassador and tour guide for West Chester University’s admissions team, giving tours throughout the week to prospective students and volunteering at open house events. Recently, Jasmine has been invited to the International Honors Society for Sociology, also known as the Alpha Kappa Delta organization, and is now a member! This past summer, Jasmine had the opportunity to intern for the nonprofit organization 12+, which helps mentor students in inner city communities, mainly in Philadelphia, PA, and Camden, NJ. She had the pleasure of working both remotely and on site with 12+, helping them prepare for the school year and supporting recent high school graduates as they completed their tasks before embarking on their new journeys. During her free time, Jasmine attends Women in STEM meetings along with Black Student Union events held at West Chester University.
Emma Woodcock had a dynamic final semester at St. John’s University, including her internship with USA Football as a community programs intern after a previous internship with the Philadelphia Eagles. Selected from over 400 applicants, Emma earned herself the opportunity to fill this sole position. Chosen as one of 10 students to participate in a Career Trek experience to the NFL Headquarters, Emma had the opportunity to network and learn from professionals across various departments,
such as player personnel, game operations, and sponsorships. In addition to her studies and internships, Emma works one-on-one with an individual with special needs, fostering meaningful experiences and trust. As a December 2024 graduate, Emma is eager to embrace the next chapter of her career.
▲ Jenna Vega is a sophomore at Penn State University, majoring in early childhood education and development. She works in the Office of Education and Social Equity on campus, which fosters a welcoming space for all students. Jenna is actively involved in several organizations: BLK Elites Dance Company, a hip-hop team that empowers the Black community through innovative dance; Island Fever, a Caribbean dance team that celebrates cultural diversity and showcases Caribbean music and dance; and the Eminence Modeling Troupe, where she performs in runway shows and school events. She was featured in “Sovereign” magazine, a fashion and creative publication at Penn State that highlights the talents of students of color. This opportunity allowed her to model in various shoots, showcasing her style and promoting diversity in fashion. Passionate about her heritage, Jenna cherishes the chance to connect with her community while pursuing her interests.
Reilly Pryma received the Phi Beta Kappa Association of Philadelphia Award at his graduation from The Haverford School in June 2024. He is currently a freshman at the University of Chicago.
Charlie Cutler, a senior at The Shipley School, was elected all-school president for the 2024–2025 school year. In May 2024, he received the Harvard University Book Award, given to “an outstanding junior with excellence in scholarship and achievement in other fields: school spirit, ability, scholarship, and influence.” Charlie also earned the highest possible ACT composite score of 36. About one-quarter of 1% of students who take the ACT earn a top score.
▲ High school seniors Cara McGowan (Harriton High School), Anya Berlanska (The Baldwin School), and Meg South (The Baldwin School) were student leaders for our Grade 8 retreat in September 2024.
▲ Teagan Cook, a junior at the Episcopal Academy, announced her verbal commitment to play Division I lacrosse at Georgetown University, class of 2030.
Stacy Garcia, a junior at Shipley School, received admittance to The National Society of High School Scholars and is president of the Black Student Union for a second year.
▲ Claire Trost, a junior at Academy of Notre Dame, participated in a school trip in June 2024 to Italy and Greece, visiting Florence, Rome, Nafplio, and Athens.
Elizabeth Storrer, a junior at The Agnes Irwin School, was the recipient of The Leadership by Example Award in June 2024. This award is given to one member of the ninth-grade class and one member of the 10th-grade class who do not hold titled leadership positions, and who have demonstrated the values of honesty, integrity, inclusivity, and ingenuity that The Agnes Irwin School holds as paramount to good leadership. Liz is also a member of the Student Ambassador Leadership Team and the tennis team.
▲ Audrey Bergin ’23, Claire Trost ’22, and Finley Nolen ’23 were recently inducted as Academy of Notre Dame de Namur student council representatives for their respective classes.
▲ This past summer, Lexie Choate (center) received a scholarship from Founding Forward, a national nonprofit charity that offers immersive programs for students and teachers; it is called the Service Learning in Public Policy program (SLIPP). She participated in the public health track during the weeklong program, held on the organization’s campus in Valley Forge, PA. Together with her SLIPP pod, Lexie spent the week exploring public policy and took part in an in-depth analysis of policy solutions. Examining the health issues dominating
public consciousness and their role in creating effective constitution health policies was bolstered by a visit to Lankenau Hospital in Wynnewood, PA, where the group heard firsthand about challenges faced by doctors, nurses, and administrators. On the final day, the participants presented their research and findings, and then welcomed former New Jersey Senator Diane Allen as the closing keynote speaker. Lexie is currently a sophomore at Villa Maria Academy High School.
J.D. Robinson, Michael Palazzi, and Jaidon Horvath started their freshman year together at Saint Joseph’s Preparatory School in Philadelphia, PA.
Nora Trost is a freshman at the Academy of Notre Dame and manager for the field hockey team.
At Holy Child’s first-ever Guest Bartender Event on Thursday, November 21, 2024, Sister Mary Broderick (right) serves up a drink to (from left to right) Casey O’Rourke ’01 P’33’35, Danny Fraider Furey ’01 P’35, and Mark Cox P’00’03’07 GP’31’33.
Claire August 2024
Catherine Elliott Travaglini ’02 and Chris Travaglini
Philomena September 2024
Erringer Helbling ’04 and Brian Miranda
Liam June 2024
Ashleen McDonough Loughnane ’06 and Patrick Loughnane
Julian and Nolan
June 2024
Kate Wiber Carter ’02 and Jordan Carter
Mac May 2024
Casey O’Rourke ’01 and Annie O’Rourke
Joseph May 2024
Joanne Pettit Robinson ’94 and Brian Robinson
Angelo June 2024
Meghan Magargee Brescia ’02 and Alex Brescia
“Generosity, Generosity, Generosity — must be the beginning and ending of our life.” Cornelia Connelly
Throughout our history, the members of our Holy Child community have always responded generously so that we can continue to offer an exceptional, faith-based education to our students in a nurturing, joyful environment. We have two annual initiatives that significantly impact the lives of our students and help us continue Cornelia Connelly’s vision.
For 75 years, our school has grown while keeping the current needs of our students at the forefront. We continually evaluate what is best for each child while staying true to our educational philosophy. However, tuition revenue only covers 66% of the cost to educate each student. The “gap” is filled by generous contributions from our community to the Holy Child Fund as well as proceeds from our Parents’ Auxiliary events.
The Holy Child Fund, also known as the annual fund, supports the school’s operating budget and benefits every one of our students. In addition to providing funding for enrichment programs, upgrading technology, and maintaining safe and welcoming facilities, the Holy Child Fund also supports our financial aid program for those who would otherwise not be able to receive a Holy Child education. This year, our goal is $350,000.
All gifts are valued and greatly appreciated. Please join our alumni, current and past parents, grandparents, faculty, staff, and friends in giving a gift this year. Our appeal ends on June 30, 2025, and all gifts will be recognized in the “Annual Report of Gifts,” which is published in the fall.
Would you like to have a say in how your taxes are spent? If you pay Pennsylvania state taxes, participating in the EITC/OSTC program allows you to direct your taxes to Holy Child School at Rosemont. The funds raised through this program are used to supplement our financial aid program for those families who qualify. Last year alone, over $850,000 was raised — and since 2003, we have raised over $10 million. Space in the program is limited and applications are now being accepted for the 2025 tax year. For more information, please contact Jill Gregori in the Advancement Office at 610-922-1021 or visit our website at HolyChildRosemont.org/EITC.
Use the enclosed envelope to send gifts by check or credit card.
Give online at
HolyChildRosemont.org/onlinegiving or by Venmo @HolyChildRosemont
For gifts of stocks or securities, contact the Advancement Office at 610-922-1021.
John McConnell, Jr. ’66 — November 4, 2024 — brother of MaryAnn McConnell Knewstub ’64 (deceased), Kate McConnell ’68, and Jane McConnell Greenspun ’72 (deceased)
John Sigismondi ’70 — April 16, 2024
Albert Wankmiller ’67 — August 9, 2024 — brother of Judy Wankmiller Cassidy ’59, Janet Wankmiller DiTomo ’61, Jackie Wankmiller McNevin ’66, and Jim Wankmiller ’68, and uncle of Denny Cassidy ’85, Jen Cassidy Buckland ’86, Matt Cassidy ’90, Tricia Cassidy DeLisi ’93, Emily DiTomo ’90, and Joe DiTomo ’92
Marie DePersia — July 23, 2024 — grandmother of Lauren Lehane Travers ’95 and Lydia Lehane Heying ’98
Theresa Ertel — August 2, 2024 — grandmother of Sydney ’14, Luke ’16, Courtney ’18, Matthew ’19, and Lilly ’21 Wolfington, and Ryan Ertel ’22
Thomas Kachurak — June 7, 2024 — grandfather of Augustin Kachurak ’30 and Aleksandria Shemanski ’33
Aileen Kain — October 14, 2024 — sister of Patrick ’91 and Daniel ’95 Kain
Nancy Ann Ranken Moffitt — March 20, 2024 — former longtime music teacher at Holy Child School at Rosemont
Joseph Moore — September 26, 2024 — father of Anne Moore Willcox ’69 and Beth Moore Mahoney ’71
Charles Porrini — July 21, 2024 — and Eleanor Porrini — September 6, 2024 — parents of Karen Porrini ’68
Margaret “Peggy” Reilly — November 8, 2024 — mother of Elizabeth ’83 and John ’85, and grandmother of Annabelle ’18, Margaux ’20, Teddy ’22, and Susie ’24 Reilly
Earl Rineer — August 16, 2024 — grandfather of Ian Westerfer ’92
Mary Schnabel — August 15, 2024 — mother of Ann Schnabel Gignac ’63 (deceased), Dan Schnabel ’65 (deceased), and Paul Schnabel ’66
Henry Troth, Jr. — September 12, 2024 — grandfather of Mac ’21 and Cece ’25 Gaffney
James Woodcock — July 3, 2024 — grandfather of Emma Woodcock ’17
Head of School
Brian McBride
Director of Admissions and Enrollment
Kathy Barton
Director of Communications and Marketing Kelsey Coogan
Communications and Marketing Associate
Victoria Boland
Director of Institutional Advancement
Jill Gregori
Director of Alumni and Constituent Relations
Tina Abate
Parents’ Liaison
Allison Emery
Advancement Assistant
Sarah Stirzel Cuzzolina
Save the Date!
Please mark your calendars for the following events in the second half of the 2024–2025 school year.
Contributors
Kelsey Coogan, Victoria Boland, Tina Abate
Photographers
Victoria Boland, Kelsey Coogan, The Flawless Focus, Hunter Nichols Productions
Graphic Design
Kelsh Wilson Design
Family Mass & Breakfast Sunday, March 2, 2025
Spring Auction Saturday, April 12, 2025
Grandparents/Special Friends Day Friday, May 2, 2025
Spring Play Friday, May 2, and Saturday, May 3, 2025
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 in your home, please send their new address to:
Office of Advancement, Holy Child School at Rosemont 1344 Montgomery Avenue, Rosemont, PA 19010 or send it by email to: alumni@HolyChildRosemont.org
