Alumni

Connections Across Generations Why Alumni Chose Holy Child for Their Children

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Community. It is a word that defines the people who make up the past, present, and future of Holy Child. And it is also a feeling: a sense of friendship, interconnectedness, and warmth that is experienced in the hallways, at prayer services and masses, during performances and events, and beyond our campus. The Holy Child community is often connected across many generations; further evidence of this are the alumni who have chosen Holy Child for their children. With a total of 57 children of alumni enrolled for the 2022–2023 school year—a record number—we have asked a few alumni to share timely reflections about the impact of their Holy Child education on their lives and the educational choices they made for their children.

Remembering their own fond experiences at Holy Child served as a starting point for many alumni who were considering educational options for their children. The timeless messages about friendship, respect, and faith that are woven throughout lessons, prayer, and our Holy Child Goals were something that stayed with Persia Ali ’96, mother to London ’30, long after Persia’s time at the school. “The messages we were taught about friendship, how to be kind, and our motto, Actions Not Words, are still relevant, and even more so in the present day,” reflected Persia. “I wanted these same values to be instilled in London,” she shared, which was an important factor in her decision to choose Holy Child for her daughter.

Beyond the classroom, cocurricular activities encourage participation through no-cut policies, including the Spring Play and athletics, and teach values through collaboration. Dan Kain ’95, father to Caroline ’24 and Meredith ’27, and a former Holy Child athlete, remarked, “For our football team, our record didn’t matter as much because we all loved being there together. Camaraderie, teamwork, and accountability are important skills that I took away from those experiences.” The formative years that children spend at Holy Child are influential in shaping who they become, and Dan attested, “Those experiences on the field helped shape certain character traits of mine that are still part of me today.” Paul Nolen ’95, father to Finley ’23, Peyton ’25, Liam ’28, and Christopher ’30, was an athlete alongside Dan on several sports teams during their years at Holy Child. Emphasizing his view of our athletic program as a means for growth, Paul shared, “What is most important is giving children the opportunity to be part of a team and try

1. Persia ’96 and London ’30 Ali.

2. BACK: Finley ’23, Peyton ’25, Paul ’95, Megan, Liam ’28, and FRONT: Christopher ’30 Nolen.

3. Meredith ’27, Dan ’95, and Caroline ’24 Kain.

4. BACK: Steve Compton, Christina O’Malley P’98’01 GP’29’31, Denise ’98, and FRONT: Reagan ’31, and Harper ’29 Compton.

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sports in a supportive environment, build their confidence, and let them be leaders. The same is true of the Spring Play and other cocurricular activities because every participant has an important role.”

Gaining confidence through cocurricular activities is a common experience that these alumni had during their time at Holy Child and wanted for their children as well. Since enrolling her daughters, Denise Fraider Compton ’98, mother to Harper ’29 and Reagan ’31, has seen how Holy Child continues to inspire confidence, among other soft skills. “Grade-level performances teach children the importance of preparations, like studying and practicing, and how to speak in front of an audience. What I couldn’t have predicted,” Denise reflected, “is the confidence that my daughters exude at their ages. Confidence and public-speaking skills are instilled in children early on at Holy Child, and help prepare them for later in life.” Building on this thought, Paul added, “Holy Child emphasizes soft skills like public speaking and makes sure that each student goes beyond his or her comfort zone every once in a while in order to grow and build confidence.”

Shared experiences between parents and their children include school traditions such as participating in Student Council and the Lower and Middle School Buddy Program, and both programs are centered on service, friendship, and most importantly, community. Denise, who stays connected with her Holy Child friends and even one of her former Buddies, is a champion of the Buddy program, and noted its importance. “It brings together different grade levels for activities and assemblies, teaching the children how to forge connections and build relationships,” said Denise. “Relationship-building is an important soft skill to have, both personally and professionally.” In addition to her own friendships, Denise’s mother is still friends with fellow Holy Child parents, which underscores “the strength of our community.” Persia has observed “a community within the greater Holy Child community” forming among the parents in London’s grade level, which contributes to the sense of family and friendship at school events and performances.

These alumni parents are already seeing the benefits of a Holy Child education for their children, attributing personal growth to the uplifting learning environment that is fostered by our teachers. Persia commented that she is already seeing signs of growth as London excels academically and is becoming more confident. She added, “My daughter is open to trying new things, and part of that is attributed to learning in a setting where children are taught it’s okay to make mistakes because you try different approaches to see what works best.” Similarly, Dan noted, “There are moments when I reflect on the positive atmosphere at the school and my daughters’ happiness. Knowing the culture and community, and having one hundred percent confidence in the academics …There is no question that my children are at the right school.” Paul, who has children across all three divisions, has seen the ways that young learners are supported and encouraged. He added, “What I really like about Holy Child is that the community is strong, thoughtful, and supportive. When one student needs a little extra support, it is there for him or her. I want my children to gain confidence and leadership traits, but I also want them to be supportive classmates and team members and help others grow as well.”

Homecoming 2021

1. Our varsity football team celebrates the win under the scoreboard on our new Falcon Field.

2. Head of School Tom Lengel P’12 cuts the ribbon on our new turf field while some of our Grade 8 varsity field hockey and football athletes look on. For the first time in the modern history of our school, our homecoming football game and festivities took place on our campus.

3. Harold Simmons

welcomes back alumni Khiya Salley ’21, Charlie Cutler ’21, and Cecilia Fehrenbach ’21. 4. Patrick Casey ’18 and Nicholas Hark ’18.

5. Class of 2021 alumni: Michael Gabriel, Liam, Shields, Chris Kelly, and Gavin Kyle.

6. Tripp Adams ’19, Brian Kim ’19, Max Barton ’19, Spanish teacher Peggy Stephens, and Eliana Okala ’19.

7. Class of 2020 alumni: Teddy Fenlin, Garrett Wahl, Nick Gianoukos, Greg Phillips, Jack Gallagher, Liam Reich, Isabella Casey, Grace Klenn, and Hannah Neilly.

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Visit With Santa

Alumni and friends visited with Santa on December 12, 2021, in our new Fitzgerald Performing Arts and Athletic Center.

Family Mass

Father William C. Woody ’03 Celebrates Family Mass

We were honored to welcome home Fr. Bill Woody ’03 to celebrate our annual Family Mass on February 27, 2022, in our new Fitzgerald Performing Arts and Athletic Center.

Eileen and Joe Downs P’85’86’88’90’93’95’97’01’04 GP’18’23’27, Jo and Joe Keleher P’93’03 GP’27’30’34, Jeanne Marie Blair P’96’99’04, Mary Lourdes Woody P’01’03’04’06, Fr. Bill Woody ’03, Judy ’59 and Denny Cassidy P’85’86’90’93, Helen Gambescia P’94’98, trustee Irene Hannan P’01’93 GP’32, and former Head of School Sr. Mary Broderick, SHCJ.

Fr. Bill Woody ’03 delivers his homily.

Fr. Bill Woody ’03

congratulates his former Grade 2 teacher, Judy Cassidy ’59, on her 45 years of teaching at Holy Child School at Rosemont.

Fr. Bill Woody ’03 and Head of School Tom Lengel P’12. Kathleen Shields Anderson ’93, Tricia Cassidy DeLisi ’93, Judy Cassidy ’59, and Lauren Keleher Lashinger ’93 P’27’30’34.

Alumni Panel 2022

On a Friday afternoon in March, Olivia Calamia ’09, president of the Alumni Association, moderated a panel of four alumni who spoke to our current Grades 7 and 8 students about their professional and educational experiences. Pictured here from left to right are Tara Hayden Buchakjian ’97 P’26’27’29, senior vice president at CBRE, a commercial real estate firm; Olivia Calamia ’09, assistant director-analyst regulatory products at Moody’s Analytics and law student at Widener University Delaware Law School; Bob Ruggieri ’92, assistant general counsel, ARCO Design/Build Industrial; Matt Rafferty ’01, first vice president, wealth management advisor, Merrill Lynch Wealth Management; and Frances Temple-West ’83, associate director interior design program, assistant teaching professor, Drexel University.

25th Reunion Classes of 1995, 1996, and 1997

On March 19, 2022, three classes of alumni gathered in celebration of their 25th reunions, two of which were previously postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was a joyful evening full of reminiscing and reconnecting with friends and former faculty.

Carrie Denny Whitcraft ’95 P’32, Paul Nolen ’95 P’23’25’28’30, Kathy McCloskey Neff ’82 P’10’11’13, Sean McCloskey ’95, former Head of School Sr. Mary Broderick, SHCJ, Kevin McKeon ’95, John Rafferty ’95, Steve Clarke ’73 P’01’03, and Rita Smith P’06’08. Ann Rafferty P’91’95’98’01 GP’24’27, Eileen Downs P’85’86’88’90’93’95’97’01’04 GP’18’23’27, and former Head of School Sr. Mary Broderick, SHCJ.