Cachet Magazine: Summer 2023

Cachet

Learning to Lead

Developing Tomorrow’s Leaders

Pictured: The full cast of our 2023 Spring Play, “Seussical Jr.,” performs the opening number of the show.

On The Cover: Tom Lengel P’12 poses with a few members of the Class of 2034 on their last day of school, which is marked by a celebratory watermelon-themed picnic!

A Message From Tom Lengel

Dear Friends and Supporters,

One of my favorite books when I was a young child was “The Little Engine That Could.” For those who may not remember that book, which was published in 1930 (no, my parents weren’t reading me a first edition!), when the little engine was faced with pulling a large train over a steep mountain, its mantra was “I think I can, I think I can”. . . and it did.

To some degree, Holy Child School at Rosemont is that little engine. We compete with some of the best public schools in Pennsylvania and with private schools that date back to the 19th century. Yet, I and many others “think [we] can” compete, and we have done so quite well. I am proud of our outcomes, especially our standardized test scores, our scores on the National Spanish Exam, and our high school placement results.

Other outcomes and anecdotes make me even more proud. Those include the fact that we have 51 children of alumni enrolled in the school — an incredibly high number and a testament to the impact that Holy Child made on their parents. I am proud of our recent First Communion celebration for our second graders and the deep impression it has made on families. This spring, I was proud to hear from a family who, seeking admission in 2024, said that they heard of us because everyone in the mom’s exercise group had recommended Holy Child! (And it is not coincidental that admission to Early Childhood is full, with numerous applicants already for 2024. Admission for those entry years is becoming “Manhattan like”!) All of these anecdotes testify to the strength of the school and the loyalty of our alumni and current parents.

Of the five schools where I have worked over the past 42 years, one was good, three were excellent, and this one is outstanding. Some may think that assessment reflects recency bias, but I don’t think it does. As I have said many times, we are not perfect (no school is), but we are better than everyone else out there — public, private, and parochial.

I will miss so much about this wonderful school community, and I wish my successor, Brian McBride, well as he takes over as head of school.

Thank you for partnering with me and us for these past 10 years that I have been privileged to serve as head. I will miss you and the children a great deal.

With deepest gratitude and appreciation for your support — past, present, and future — I remain sincerely yours,

Thomas G. Lengel P’12 Head of School (2013-2023)

Learnin g to Lead:

Educating and Developing Tomorrow’s Leaders

Empowering children to have confidence in their own gifts is one of the key strengths of the faculty at Holy Child School at Rosemont. Our educators use experiences in and beyond the classroom to provide students with opportunities to perform, act, serve, and lead, guiding them to try new things and discover their talents. By doing so, they support our children as they learn about themselves in an environment that is “based on trust and reverence for the dignity and uniqueness of each person,” as our Holy Child Goal 5 states.

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Growth in confidence, knowledge, and understanding of their own gifts contributes to the way our children develop as leaders. At every age, Holy Child students are provided with opportunities to learn and practice what it means to be a leader. Collaborating over service-learning projects, playing and sharing on the playground, and expressing one’s self through creativity and art are experiences that students across all three of our divisions participate in; while the opportunities are differentiated by age and skill level, these experiences are central to the holistic education that we prioritize in our curriculum. Beyond the traditional learning accomplished through reading, writing, research, and problem-solving, our children are practicing the soft skills that are essential to developing leaders: communication, collaboration, public speaking, and teamwork.

Developing Leaders in the Early Years

Throughout the year, Early Childhood and Lower School performances and prayer services incorporate speaking parts for children, such as sharing a welcome with the families in attendance, leading prayers and songs, or explaining the instruments they are using. Public speaking in front of a crowd, coupled with the responsibility of knowing one’s lines and cues to speak or sing, are growth opportunities for our budding leaders. In the classroom, Early Childhood and Lower School students are assigned duties that empower them to act as leaders, such as serving as a line leader or door holder. These classroom roles teach children responsibility — knowing when and how to perform their duty and taking ownership over it — and give them practice leading by example for their peers, which is important for leaders of any age.

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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.

3. Students from the Class of 2031 perform the annual Easter play for their moms and mother-figures.

Acting as Leaders and Role Models

Lower School and Middle School introduce new opportunities for our children to act as leaders. When students cross the bridge from Kindergarten to Grade 1, they are welcomed into the Buddy Program, where they are paired with Grade 5 Buddies. First graders look up to their Buddies as role models and leaders during prayer services and Masses; at the same time, Grade 5 marks the start of being the older Buddy in a pair. Our fifth graders are challenged to be leaders, especially in front of their younger Buddies, and they grow to understand the influence that they have. In addition to the Buddy Program, our Lower School and Middle School students have the chance to participate in Student Council, which invites them to serve as student body leaders and representatives in a multitude of ways: Student Council class representatives and co-presidents lead the charge on service-learning projects, such as our annual Service Day and Thanksgiving food drive; they speak at select assemblies, prayer services, and Masses; and they organize spirit days and special events to bring students together, including an all-school “Pajama Day” and a Middle School movie night hosted in the cafeteria. The Middle School Student Council representatives are also given unique opportunities to lead by welcoming and meeting with guests of the school, including alumni and visitors from the Society of the Holy Child Jesus and the Holy Child Network of Schools. In these moments, they speak confidently and with poise to groups of adults, oftentimes people they have just met, representing our school and student body well.

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They speak confidently and with poise to groups of adults, oftentimes people they have just met, representing our school and student body well.

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–Student from the Class of

Unique to the Middle School experience at Holy Child are the opportunities to participate in our three-season, no-cut athletics program and our Spring Play. While calling upon students to utilize different talents and gifts, both cocurricular programs present new experiences to our Middle School students who are developing as leaders. As team members or cast members, children make commitments to a greater group of people, which often means making individual sacrifices, such as dedicating free time to practice so that the larger production is better and stronger in the end. In challenging moments, such as missing a free throw or forgetting a line, teammates and castmates show up for one another, offering kindness and encouragement to try again. Even without the title of “captain” or a lead role in the play, our children act as leaders in moments when they boost team morale, lend a helping hand or a listening ear, and treat everyone in the group with respect and kindness, ultimately living out the motto of our founder, Cornelia Connelly, “Actions, Not Words.”

4. A group of boys from the Class of 2023 perform a song on stage at the Middle School Talent Show.

5. Two girls from the Class of 2024 share what they learned about African folktales through storytelling in front of an audience of their peers.

6. Buddies from the Classes of 2029 and 2025 collaborate on a project during our annual Service Day.

We asked some of our students, What are the qualities of a great leader?

“ A great leader is someone who can make sure everyone who they are leading feels safe and comfortable.”

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Student from the Class of

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“ A great leader is someone who listens to others and is open to ideas and opinions beyond their own.”

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“ A great leader is someone who is socially intelligent, sets a good example for others, and knows how to act with kindness.”

–Student from the Class of 2024

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A great leader is someone who is a kind friend, includes others, and makes sure that everybody is doing the right thing.”

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Student from the Class of 2027

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An Interview with

Tom Lengel P’12

After 17 years of service to the Holy Child School at Rosemont community, including 10 years as head of school, Tom Lengel P’12 sat down for an interview to reflect on his time as the leader of our school and community. Among his reflections here and, more importantly, his actions during his tenure, it is clear that our community has meant a great deal to him and that our identity as a Holy Child school guided his approach to education and leadership. In an interview published in “Cachet” 10 years ago when he began his term as head of school, Tom was asked, “How would you like to be remembered?” His answer rings true to the legacy he created: “As somebody who cared and did his best, living by setting a good example.”

What will you remember most about Holy Child School at Rosemont?

I will remember the growth and development of many things: our children, the faculty and staff, the physical campus, and myself as a leader. I think fondly about the children who have grown up here from the time they enrolled as nursery students (what we now call Young Falcons and Falcons) to their graduation day when, as young men and women in eighth grade, they received their diplomas from me — that’s the growth that I find so rewarding to witness. It has also been gratifying to welcome young men and women into our community as educators and see them grow and develop into faculty leaders as well as mothers and fathers in their own right. I have reflected on how our physical campus has grown immensely, beginning with Sister Mary Broderick, SHCJ, who had the great vision to lead the academic center expansion. Sr. Mary’s vision also gave us the opportunity to grow and develop the depth and breadth of our academic program, and our most recent campus expansion project has afforded us so many more resources to continue to “Nurture Excellence in this Joyful Catholic Community.”

You have been part of this school community for 17 years; what does community mean to you?

Community means everything; it’s our special sauce. I’ve said many times that there are a lot of great schools in our area, but it’s the palpable sense of community here that makes us stand out, along with our Holy Child identity. I love hearing from our many parents who are alumni and who say that while the school’s physical appearance has changed in significant ways, the sense of belonging and community still feels the same — that is the ultimate compliment. I talk about our community when interviewing new faculty and staff, and I love it when they stop by my office a few months into the job and say, “You talked about community when I interviewed, but I really feel it in a way that I haven’t felt at other schools where I’ve worked.” Our sense of community is something that we are very intentional about, and we do it well.

Reflecting on our school traditions, where do you feel the sense of community is most palpable?

So many traditions come to mind: our Christmas Concert, the Spring Play, Sledding Day, Honors Convocation, Homecoming, and Fall Festival. Honors Convocation is a celebration designed for the student community, and at this event the Grade 8 students are

1. Even as head of school, Mr. Lengel P’12 enjoyed the tradition of Sledding Day with our students!

2. Reading a book to each grade in Early Childhood was an important annual tradition.

honored in front of their peers as leaders and soon-to-be graduates. It is one of the special ways in which we as a community honor the Grade 8 students each year, along with the Grade 8 prayer service and graduation. In addition, you can really sense our community at Homecoming and Fall Festival. The celebrations during that weekend begin with our older children competing fiercely in field hockey and football on Gaffney Family Field, and continue with a fun afternoon during which the younger and older children come together with their families on Algeo Field for face painting, dancing, and games. At Fall Festival this past year, I was talking with a parent on Algeo Field, looking out over the Fitzgerald Performing Arts and Athletic Center and Gaffney Family Field. The parent asked me, “Aren’t you proud of this?” I responded, “Yes, I am proud of that.” Then I turned around to look at all the children running around and playing together at the festival, and I said, “I am even more proud of this.”

How has being a leader of a Holy Child school influenced your faith and your life?

Sister Eileen McDevitt, SHCJ, the director of the Holy Child Network of Schools, has said to the heads of schools in our network that more and more, Holy Child schools are families’ parishes. As head of school, I felt the responsibility as the spiritual leader of our community to make sure that we emphasized the spiritual education

and development of children. I cherished our prayer services, and in my welcoming remarks I sought to educate the children about the history and meaning behind our Catholic traditions and the signs and symbols of our faith. It was an important responsibility that I took seriously, and I have always prayed for the strength, wisdom, and courage to be a strong and effective leader.

Looking back on your 17 years serving Holy Child School at Rosemont, what are you most proud of?

Of all the ways that the school has grown and developed during my time as head of school, I am proud of three things in particular: our school’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the almost 100% increase in students and families of color who have enrolled here since 2013 and how welcomed and included they are in our community, and the creation of our affinity group for single mothers, which provides them with a space to meet and support one another.

Whatever I have achieved is due in great measure to the work of so many others as well. I want to thank the faculty, staff, and Holy Child families, with special thanks to the Board of Trustees and Senior Leadership Team. During my time as head of school, I have worked with four chairs of the Board: Gordon Cooney ’73 P’17, Bob Shields P’83’86’89’93 GP’19’19’21, Arnie Schneider P’10’12’15, and Judi Taylor P’14’16. All of them have been incredible friends, thought partners, and leaders, and I have learned a lot from each of them. The Senior Leadership Team deserves a ton of credit as well; anything I have achieved is because of them, and I could not have succeeded without the current and former members of the school’s administration.

3. Board Chair Judi Taylor P’14’16 and Tom P’12 pose for a photo during the Family Mass and Breakfast on Sunday, March 12, 2023.

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Hallmarks of Holy Child

The Class of 2028 proudly showcases their attire for the annual Biography Bash, where each student represents a historical figure and shares information on that person’s accomplishments and contributions.

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1. The Class of 2034 decorates hearts for a special Valentine’s Day activity.

2. The Class of 2033 excitedly listens to their guest storyteller, The Cat in the Hat, read “Green Eggs and Ham.”

3. The Class of 2032 hosts their annual Alex’s Lemonade Stand fundraiser and serves a refreshing cup of lemonade to the Class of 2029.

4. Students in the Class of 2030 take the stage to perform the play “The Little Red Hen,” sharing the importance of friendship and caring for one another.

5. The Class of 2027 takes us on a journey through songs and dances, teaching us about the different continents, cultures, and customs they researched this year.

6. The Class of 2026 teaches us about major events like the American Revolution, the Boston Massacre, and the Boston Tea Party at their annual Colonial Festival.

7. The Class of 2025 performs a comedy at their annual Greek Festival, combining music, storytelling, and history to illustrate their multidisciplinary learning about ancient Greek history.

Around School

8. The Class of 2024 leads us through performances, readings, and prayers to highlight the contributions of notable Black creators and leaders during our Black History Month Assembly.

9. Students in the Class of 2023 help distribute ashes to the Class of 2031 during our Ash Wednesday Prayer Service.

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Celebrating Faculty & Staff Milestone Years of Service

Pictured are (back row from left) Jessica Shorten P’25’26’27 (16 years), Diane Hren (5 years), Kathy Barton P’19’20’24 (5 years), and (front row from left) Brooke Choate P’23’26 (5 years), Dominique Cortese P’26’29 (10 years), Evan Paul (10 years).

On March 12, 2023, at our Family Mass and Breakfast, we honored six members of our faculty and staff who celebrated milestone anniversaries for their years of service at our school. The Family Mass and Breakfast is a beloved community event, bringing together current and former families, faculty, and staff for a morning of faith and fellowship. For the second consecutive year, the Mass was celebrated by Father Bill Woody, an alumnus from the Class of 2003, in the Fitzgerald Performing Arts and Athletic Center. Adding to the sense of community, our students, faculty and staff, and current families led different parts of the Mass, from prayers to readings to songs. It was a joyful celebration for our entire Holy Child community, and we extend our thanks and congratulations to the dedicated faculty and staff who were honored at this event!

A Conversation With Jackie Murphy

experienced prayer services and Masses as community members. We begin each school year by learning about all the different parts of the Mass, and then they take on different roles for the prayer services and Masses that our grade hosts. These experiences lead them to fully understand how all the pieces of the puzzle come together to create a complete celebration, and they take ownership over their roles such as dressing the altar and serving as cantors. The children come to understand how each part of the Mass is important, and that their contributions in these roles make a complete Sacrament.

A Little About Jackie Murphy

Favorite Food: Chicken Marsala

Hobbies: Kayaking at Marsh Creek State Park, running, and spending time outside. Fun Fact: Before becoming a teacher and while living in West Virginia and Kentucky, she worked for Appalachia Service Project, a non-profit organization that “inspires hope and service through volunteer home repair and replacements in Central Appalachia.” Through managing construction projects, she gained experience in home improvement work.

Bucket List: She would love to visit the Grand Canyon!

Favorite Cornelia Connelly quote: “Generosity, generosity, generosity, must be the beginning and ending of our life.”

The 2022-2023 school year marked Jackie Murphy’s eighth year of teaching Grade 2 at Holy Child School at Rosemont. She is a guiding light to the second-grade children each year as they grow in their faith and receive the Sacraments of Reconciliation and First Holy Communion. With a total of 11 years of teaching experience in Catholic schools, Jackie has a deep understanding of what it means to be an inspiring religious educator. Every year at Holy Child, she leads a new group of second graders through the process of developing their personal faith commitments and welcomes the greater Holy Child community into the process.

What brings you joy about teaching Grade 2 students?

I love to witness the children’s growth throughout their second-grade year, especially how they grow in their faith. Before entering Grade 2, the children have

I also love seeing their growth through our classroom discussions: We read a different Bible story each week in religion class, and as the year goes on, the students become more reflective and vocal in their responses. They begin to draw connections between the messages and lessons embedded in the Gospel readings and their daily life experiences. I enjoy seeing how they put these lessons into practice — like being the one to take the first step and apologize when you are disagreeing with a friend — and sharing with their teachers and friends when they make these connections for themselves.

What are some of your favorite Grade 2 traditions that coincide with the Sacramental Program?

One of my favorite traditions during the Grade 2 year is when the children create their own lamb artwork at home with their families. The spiritual meaning behind the lamb is that we are each a member of Jesus’ flock, and the class creates a flock of lambs before receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation. This tradition invites the whole family to get involved, and it sparks excitement around

the child’s preparation for the Sacraments. The children take pride in their creations and excitedly show them off at school, which brings back memories for the older students who experienced this same tradition years before. We also invite the faculty, staff, and students to write holy cards to the Grade 2 students, which brings the community together to support the second graders for this special occasion.

How does the mission of Holy Child influence your role as an educator?

When I first applied to be a Grade 2 teacher at Holy Child, everyone said how lucky I would be to work alongside Judy Cassidy. That is absolutely true, and she modeled many great Holy Child lessons for me, including how to be a positive member of the community, how to best guide our students, and how to speak to each child with dignity and respect. I worked at St. Rose of Lima Catholic School before coming to Holy Child; since working here, I have grown as a religious educator and my approach to teaching is inspired by Cornelia Connelly’s motto, “Actions, Not Words.” I strive to teach the children how the messages and lessons in the Bible connect to their daily lives, and how they can put their faith into action every day.

Milestone Moments

Celebrating Our Faith

On Saturday, April 29, 2023, our community gathered to support 32 members of the Class of 2029 as they received the Sacrament of First Holy Communion at St. Thomas of Villanova Rosemont Chapel. Each of the students participated in the Mass through various roles, including serving as lectors for readings and prayers of the faithful, and carrying the offertory gifts. Preceding this joyful event, the class received the Sacrament of Reconciliation on Thursday, December 1, 2022, at Rosemont College’s Chapel of the Immaculate Conception.

Overall, the 2022-2023 school year was a joyous time for our Grade 2 students as they prepared to receive the Sacraments. Prayer services provided moments of reflection and learning for students as they prepared for their roles in the Mass and the Church as a whole. The celebration of both Sacraments is significant to our second-grade class every year, and witnessing these faith commitments within our community reminds us how we may continue to grow in our faith.

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Celebrating Our Achievements

Our Commencement Mass and graduation ceremony were held at St. Thomas of Villanova Rosemont Chapel to celebrate the achievements of the Class of 2023 and welcome them as the newest alumni of Holy Child School at Rosemont. On Thursday, June 1, 29 students received their diplomas with their families and our faculty and staff in attendance. The joyful celebration included speeches from our Student Council Co-Presidents Shelby Rhodes ’23 and Conor Morsell ’23, who spoke about their favorite Holy Child traditions and memories, and joyful songs performed by our Grade 8 cantors, including Lexie Choate ’23, Makenzie Marlowe ’23, Julian Marmolejos ’23, Gwen Miller ’23, Shelby Rhodes ’23, and Katie Savitsky ’23. In addition, eight students were recognized as scholarship recipients to area high schools for their academic excellence. Our community is immensely proud of the hard work, leadership, and growth shown by the Class of 2023, and we wish them well on their next steps in education.

Class of 2023 High School Destinations

The Academy of Notre Dame (7)

The Agnes Irwin School (4)

Archbishop Carroll High School (1)

Archmere Academy (1)

The Baldwin School (1)

Downingtown East High School (1)

Episcopal Academy (2)

The Haverford School (5)

La Salle College High School (1)

Malvern Preparatory School (1)

Monsignor Bonner & Archbishop

Prendergast Catholic High School (2)

Villa Maria Academy (1)

William Penn Charter School (2)

Developing Leaders Through Service-Learning

Integrated into our school’s curriculum are lessons and opportunities for service-learning, which allow our students to grow as leaders while giving back to a greater cause. Service-learning experiences also connect us to our Holy Child Goals, particularly goals 4, 5, and 6, which are centered around compassion, community, and personal growth. One organization that our school has partnered with for over 10 years is the Patrician Society, which is the largest emergency food cupboard in Montgomery County. Throughout the 2022-2023 school year, our school has taken part in many service-learning projects centered around donating and making food to benefit the economically disadvantaged people in our community who are supported by the Patrician Society, including:

• Our Thanksgiving food drive, led by our Lower and Middle School Student Council and supported by our entire Holy Child community;

• Our annual Service Day, which brought together Buddies for a sandwich-making activity, followed by a student-led carnival where proceeds were donated to four Middle-School-selected charities, including the Patrician Society; and

• New this year, a Middle School elective called Caring and Creating for a Cause that made many meals and hosted various fundraisers to give back to the food pantry.

The common theme among these service-learning experiences is providing our children, especially Middle School students, with the chance to develop as leaders. Working collaboratively toward a shared goal and supporting others along the way allows our children to take action with compassion for those with greater needs in our region.

An Interview with Our New Head of School, Brian McBride

he uses in his leadership tool kit. By asking people to share their 4 H’s — their history, heroes, heartbreak, and hopes — colleagues are able to learn about each other’s backgrounds, ultimately building trust and deeper relationships.

What parts of your personal and professional history have brought you to this point in your career?

reflect on these years of my career, recognize how formative it was for my professional development, and see how it prepared me to be head of school: I gained a 360-degree perspective on the internal and external affairs of independent schools, learned the skills to hire and retain talented people, and was reminded of the importance of relationships through it all.

On July 1, 2023, Brian McBride joined the Holy Child School at Rosemont community as our eighth head of school. His 33-year career in independent school education afforded him experiences as a teacher, advisor, coach, and administrator. Brian, his wife Lisa, and sons Gavin, Tucker, Shane, and Brennan are excited to get to know our Holy Child community, and Brian brings with him a relationship-first approach to leadership. Before his first day, he sat down for an interview to reflect on what prepared him for the opportunity to become our eighth head of school. Discussing the importance of relationships, Brian emphasized the utility of his adaptation of a 4-H exercise, which

My father was an educator and coach for The Haverford School, and my journey started there, as my siblings and I were raised with the campus as our backyard. I learned from my father’s example the importance of relationships, especially connecting with your students and colleagues, and this lesson was relevant to many aspects of my early career. I attended The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania on an ROTC scholarship; after graduation, I spent four years in the Navy as an officer, where I essentially earned my degree in people management and learned valuable leadership lessons as 85 people were entrusted to my care. After the Navy, an opportunity to teach math at The Haverford School brought me back to the campus that I knew as home; there, I found work that I loved, serving as an educator, coach, and mentor to young men across Grades 9-12.

My transition from educator to school administrator was a pivotal time in my career. I worked as an administrator for 12 years at the McDonogh School in Maryland and gained experience in enrollment management, student life, and athletics; following that opportunity, my family and I moved back to Pennsylvania, and I worked as the associate head of school for external affairs at Haverford for another 12 years. I

Who are some heroes and mentors who have been integral to your path?

My parents — Donald and Joanne McBride — are my heroes. My four younger siblings, my parents, and I grew up as a close-knit family, having dinner together every night, and I credit my parents for teaching us the importance of family and faith. We were raised Catholic, and through challenging times of my life, I have leaned on the foundation of faith that my parents instilled in me.

I also consider my father to be one of my mentors and my ultimate hero. Throughout my career, I sought advice and guidance from him because of his years of experience in education. I have been blessed with having tremendous mentors during my career, including Bo Dixon, who gave me my first opportunity as a teacher. I worked alongside him at both Haverford and McDonogh where, at each school, he had served as head. Bo taught me a great deal about leadership and how to effectively lead school communities.

As you reflect on the past, what is one heartbreak that has shaped the way you lead your life?

My father’s Parkinson’s diagnosis was a particularly challenging time of my life. Family is incredibly important to me, and so we moved back to Pennsylvania to be closer to

my parents. I was grateful that my father and my sons were able to enjoy more time together at the end of his life. During this time, I turned to my faith for support, and I became a daily communicant at Our Mother of Good Counsel in Bryn Mawr. I deepened my relationship with God to cope, reflect, and heal when my father passed away. Through prayer and discernment, I realized that there was an opportunity to combine my professional experience and my faith to better serve God. I believed that leading and serving a Catholic school was the way to fulfill that calling. While I have worked at many nondenominational schools in my career, most recently Concord Academy in Massachusetts, I truly feel that Holy Child is an amazing school and the right fit.

What are your hopes for the future of Holy Child School at Rosemont?

I have known the value of a Holy Child education for many years; I saw it evidenced in the Holy Child graduates who we admitted to Haverford’s Upper School when I worked there. I am excited to be here and feel that I can be an effective leader because my values and faith align with those of the school and the people in our community. I strive to build on all of the great things that Tom Lengel established during his tenure and to continue “meeting the wants of the age,” as Cornelia Connelly urged. My hope for the future is to continue developing and shaping young learners at Holy Child, supporting their talents and highlighting their potential, especially during the transformative educational years that they spend at our school.

Read more about Brian’s professional history on our website: www.HolyChildRosemont.org/ headofschool

Exploring Technology and Design Through Middle School Technology Class

On the third floor of the Academic Building lives our MAD Lab — the Media, Arts, and Design Lab — where technology classes are taught to Middle School students. However, the moniker for the class does not fully represent the range of rich and complex subject areas explored in the MAD Lab, including computer science, coding, 3-D design, augmented and virtual reality, engineering, and physics. Rooted in project-based learning, our Middle School technology classes provide students with hands-on experiences that make room for creativity, exploration, and discovery. An added bonus is that there are two teachers in the classroom, Joe Savitsky P’23 and and Pat Mangan, and they are able to develop the curriculum together and work with students in small groups on exploratory pursuits that run tangential to the lesson of the day. Creativity and collaboration are key components of every technology class, but understanding the inner workings of their creations is what enables our students to ask critical questions.

Middle School faculty member Joe Savitsky P’23 shares how the discovery process in tech class stands apart from other subjects, saying, “What I like to listen for is when the students ask, ‘What if…?’ In other subject areas, students ask these questions and find answers through their teachers and research. In tech class, students can answer these questions for themselves by experimenting with modifications to the design of the project, gaining a greater understanding of the inner workings of everyday things.”

One example from this school year is when our Grade 8 students assembled Bluetooth speakers; beyond learning and discussing the necessary parts that create a speaker, the students also explored the science of sound waves and Bluetooth technology. In a full-circle moment, our Grade 8 students used one of the class-made Bluetooth speakers to play music for the whole student body in a packed O’Neill Gymnasium during the Homecoming Pep Rally.

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Tomaszewski Family: Why We Are a Holy Child Family

The Tomaszewski family has been part of the Holy Child School at Rosemont community for 10 years since their son, Frankie, first enrolled at our school in 2013 for Kindergarten. Parents Frank and Tina knew that they wanted a private, Catholic education for their children, Frankie and Chloe, because they both attended Catholic school themselves and knew its advantages: A close-knit, nurturing environment meant closer relationships between the students and their teachers. While a student-led tour on an impromptu visit to Holy Child was influential in their decision to enroll initially, the way that their children feel known and cared for within our community has been a recurring reminder for them of the value of a Holy Child education. “The teachers always find ways to connect with the children and their interests,” Tina shares. “Helen Gambescia, our children’s third-grade teacher, bonded with Frankie over their shared love for the Philadelphia Phillies, and even after his third-grade year, she found ways to stay connected with him through his love for Philadelphia sports. Those relationships are meaningful to our children.”

The closeness of the Holy Child community is something that the Tomaszewski family has valued about their experience as well.

Frank and Tina credit Back-to-School Nights and class parties as important opportunities to connect with fellow parents and build relationships. Tina reflects, “We got to know the families in our classes early on, and those relationships have been reinforced over the years as we came together for school events. Our children

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grew up together over the course of their time here. We always enjoy going to talent shows and class performances not only to see our children, but to see their peers as well.” Beyond these events, parent volunteer opportunities have been important to Tina and Frank as ways to get involved with the community and connect with their children’s teachers. Frank adds, “Holy Child finds ways to welcome parents into the school as volunteers, chaperones, and guest speakers. I had the opportunity to chaperone the third-grade Phillies game field trip for both Frankie and Chloe’s classes. Following Pope Francis’ visit to Philadelphia, I served as a guest speaker for Judy Cassidy’s secondgrade class, sharing photos and stories because my work at CBS3 afforded me the chance to capture some moments during his visit. All of these opportunities to engage with my children and their classmates were special experiences for me as a parent. Holy Child has the best-fit faculty and staff for the school, and I enjoy getting to know all of them through being involved.”

With children who are involved in a multitude of cocurriculars at Holy Child, including the Spring Play and our athletic programs, Frank and Tina have seen firsthand how these experiences have

contributed to their children’s growth, particularly the development of their leadership skills. “Whatever you pursue in life, you need to have confidence in yourself,” says Tina. “Holy Child builds confidence in children by providing an environment where they can confidently speak their mind in class or perform on stage in front of a crowd. What’s even better is that they begin teaching these skills at a young age.” Reflecting on how these skills have prepared Frankie, a rising sophomore at La Salle College High School, for his education beyond Holy Child, Frank emphasizes, “[Frankie] learned to be an advocate for himself. Because he had great relationships with his teachers at Holy Child, he feels confident approaching his teachers now and finding ways to develop relationships with them.” With Chloe entering her eighth-grade year at Holy Child this fall, the Tomaszewski family reminisced on what they cherish most about our school community. As Tina puts it, “We know that our children are cared for, loved, and nurtured at Holy Child. That is the most reassuring feeling as a parent.”

Pictured from left to right: Frank, Tina, Chloe ’24, and Frankie ’22 Tomaszewski

Welcoming Grandparents and Special Friends into Our Classrooms: An Enduring Tradition

On Friday, May 5, 2023, we opened our classroom doors to welcome grandparents and loved ones to Holy Child for a beloved and enduring school tradition: Grandparents’ and Special Friends’ Day. Our PreKindergarten through Grade 8 children hosted their grandparents and special friends in their classrooms for an exciting day filled with hands-on learning experiences.

To start the day, Middle School students and science teacher Craig Berman offered tours of the NEST — our Nature, Exploration, and Science Territory — to our guests. Following the NEST tours, we invited our students, faculty, staff, and guests to the Fitzgerald Performing Arts and Athletic Center for a prayer service focused

on the crowning of the Blessed Mother. Head of School Tom Lengel P’12 offered a welcome before our children led us in song, prayer, and reflection. Keeping with tradition, the opening session included an outstanding musical performance by the 80-person cast of “Seussical Jr.,” our 2023 Spring Play.

For the rest of the day, grandparents and special friends joined their students in the classroom for fun-filled learning that spanned all subjects, including social studies and religion in Kindergarten, Spanish and language arts in Grade 4, and art and technology in Grade 7. Parent volunteers were essential to the event, guiding guests to different parts of the school to ensure that they could spend meaningful time with all of the children and grandchildren who had invited them. With over 250 loved ones in attendance, the sense of community was palpable, and our students were eager to introduce their peers and teachers to the people who mattered most to them.

Alumni

Alumni Spotlight Erik Muhlenhaupt

’03

When Erik Muhlenhaupt ’03 sat down for this interview, he was in the midst of teaching rope technician school to the Technical Rescue Operations Team in Fairfax County, Virginia, seen most recently in the news for their work as Virginia Task Force 1 in Turkey earlier this year, following the earthquake. As one facet of his career, he trains new members for technical rescue teams, ensuring that these professionals are equipped to help and best serve others during rescue missions. In addition to serving as an educator, Erik is a firefighter and paramedic for the City of Fairfax (VA) Fire Department, and he is the founder and lead instructor of his company, High Stakes Rescue. His career is the embodiment of Cornelia Connelly’s motto, “Actions, Not Words,” and he shared how his path was guided by the lessons and values learned at Holy Child School at Rosemont.

Erik Muhlenhaupt ’03 has an impressive career history that was in part sparked by his decision to join his hometown’s volunteer fire company when he was in eighth grade at Holy Child School at Rosemont. As part of the junior firefighter program, Erik rode firetrucks to calls and began to observe how the professionals handled emergency situations and, more importantly, helped others. “Communities view the fire department as a resource that they can call when they have a problem. We see everything from benign problems to people experiencing medical emergencies to building fires. In technical rescue, we are tasked with helping people in whatever possible entrapment they are in from car wreckage to building collapses,” Erik shares. A Holy Child student from Kindergarten through Grade 8, Erik feels strongly that the values taught at Holy Child have stuck with him throughout his life. “Holy Child taught us from a young age the meaning of service and how to give back to others because you have the capabilities, talents, or means. The teachers impart these values to children, helping them understand these values in the context of daily life, because it is ultimately our responsibility to give back to others.”

Reflecting on his time at Holy Child, the biggest things that stand out in Erik’s memories of our school are the teachers and the relationships he had with them. Two Middle School teachers in particular stood out in his memory, Steve Clarke and Dan Algeo. “I still have memories of the lessons they taught us, especially the life lessons unrelated to what we were learning in the classroom. They had a holistic approach to teaching us things we needed to know as we were growing into our own; they taught the whole person, not just the standard subject areas.” Erik sees the small size of our school community as a strength

and opportunity to make a huge impact on the students, sharing, “It’s the teachers and the attitude of selflessness that pervades the education offered at Holy Child. Beyond being a Catholic school, Holy Child shapes its students foundationally, making them into good people.”

These foundational teachings of service and selflessness are a common thread through Erik’s career as he serves others in his community as a firefighter, paramedic, and instructor through High Stakes Rescue. However, he admits that developing himself as a leader took time, experience, and perspective. “When I first

Alumni-in-College Panel

On Friday, May 12, 2023, Olivia Calamia ’09, president of the Alumni Association, moderated a panel of four Holy Child School at Rosemont alumni who are rising college seniors. The panelists spoke to our Grade 7 and 8 students about their educational experiences after Holy Child, including their journeys through high school to college. Pictured left to right are the panelists Meghan Mitchell ’16, who attended Academy of Notre Dame ’20 and Villanova University ’24; Aidan Gallary ’16, who attended Harriton High School ’20 and Boston College ’24; Andrew Tornetta ’16, who attended The Haverford School ’20 and Wake Forest University ’24; Kyla Edmonds ’16, who attended Merion Mercy Academy ’20 and Temple University ’24; and Olivia Calamia ’09

became an officer at the volunteer fire company where I worked, I was young, right out of college. It took some time for me to realize that a title alone doesn’t make you a leader; being a leader requires taking an altruistic approach to your work and understanding it’s not only about you, it’s about the team, the people that you’re in charge of, and your responsibility to them.” Erik earned a master’s degree in sports psychology from California University of Pennsylvania, which taught him lessons about team mentality, performance enhancement, recovery, and mental health. He relates it to his current work, saying, “Fire departments act and function very much like a sports team. I studied leadership in my courses and applied that knowledge to the realm of team performance for the groups of people that I lead and teach.” Talking about his role as an educator, Erik recalls the perspective a friend shared with him about how teaching and leadership connect. “If I’m a rescuer, I can help one person at a time. When you realize you’re an effective teacher and leader, you discover that you can amplify your impact on others by sharing what you know. Once in a while, I hear from a former student from an EMT, paramedic, or rescue class I’ve taught who does something really awesome for others. It’s a good feeling to know that through my actions, I may have influenced them in a way that allowed them to perform that rescue or help someone in need.”

“Holy Child taught us from a young age the meaning of service and how to give back to others because you have the capabilities, talents, or means.”

Alumni Legacy Reception

The inaugural Legacy Reception took place on Tuesday, November 15, 2022. At this event, alumni parents who have children in the current Grade 8 class were recognized. We are grateful to these alumni families who have chosen to continue the legacy of their Holy Child education. This year’s honorees were Finley Nolen ’23 and her father Paul Nolen ’95, and Shelby Rhodes ’23 and her mother Alicia Downs Rhodes ’90

Left to right: Brian Rhodes, Eden Shelby Rhodes ’23, and Alicia Downs Rhodes ’90

Left to right: Christopher ’30, Megan, Peyton ’25, Finley ’23, Paul ’95, and Liam ’28 Nolen

Class Notes

A reception and celebration with family and friends followed at The Union League of Philadelphia. Paul is a managing director at Incentrum Group and Jennifer is an attorney at Cipriani & Werner. The couple resides in Manhattan, NY.

2003

1987

Brian McCloskey received the Ignatian Award, one of St. Joseph’s Preparatory School’s highest honors bestowed upon faculty and staff who have completed 20 years of service at St. Joe’s Prep. Brian is the director of financial aid and is a rugby coach at the Prep.

1998

▲ Rob Keleher virtually visited with the Class of 2027 this spring, which includes his nephew Joey Lashinger. Rob shared his knowledge of Japanese culture with the class as part of their Grade 4 continents curriculum.

2005

▲ Bob Manning married Emily Viola at the New York Athletic Club on October 29, 2022. The couple resides in New York City. Bob was recently promoted to vice president with the Philadelphia Legacy Team at Morgan Stanley.

▲ Paul Creedon and Jennifer LynchCreedon were married Saturday, June 4, 2022, at Saint Thomas of Villanova Church.

▲ Peggy O’Brien Vaughan (pictured second from right) is happy to share that her daughter, Tara Vaughan, married Brian Thornton on October 1, 2022, at The Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul in Philadelphia, PA, followed by a reception at The Union League of Philadelphia.

Class Notes

▲ Caitlin Petrakis married Chase Stephens at St. David’s Episcopal Church on December 3, 2022. The reception took place at Overbrook Golf Club. The couple met in Chicago, IL, while Caitlin was studying for her master’s degree at the University of Chicago. Chase grew up in Wisconsin and attended Northwestern University for his undergraduate degree and stayed in Chicago after graduation. They moved back to Philadelphia, PA, in March 2020 and now live in the Fairmount area.

▲ Samantha Siegfried married Graham Parsons on January 21, 2023, in Palm Beach, FL. The reception took place at The Everglades Club. Emily Siegfried ’11 was maid of honor and Caroline Troncelliti ’08 was an attendee. Samantha and Graham met at Dickinson College.

▲

▲ Paige Marshall married Dan Trexler on October 15, 2022, in Charleston, SC. Carly Cox Palumbo ’07 was a member of the bridal party and Abby Sarmiento ’07 attended the celebration. Back row left to right: Brad McMahon ’94, Greg Marshall ’97, Nancy Marshall, Megan Marshall ’11, Mart Marshall, Paige Marshall, Dan Trexler, Janet Marshall, Courtney McMahon Donnell ’00, Bill Donnell, Drew McMahon ’97; Front row left to right: Lily Marshall, Bryn Donnell ’29, and Kirby Donnell ’32.

2009

Dante Clementi completed his bachelor of arts and master of arts degrees in philosophy at Johns Hopkins University during the inaugural year of the combined BA/MA program. He went on to Boston College and completed a master’s degree in theology and philosophy. Then, in the fall of 2021, he departed for the University of St. Andrews in Scotland as a research PhD student. Dante passed his qualifying exams and his probationary thesis, and is now a PhD candidate ABD (All But Dissertation).

Dante has been quite fortunate to work with Dr. Judith Wolfe and Dr. George Pattison, an international Kierkegaard scholar. He is looking ahead to a career in research and teaching or writing.

Left to right: Samantha Siegfried, Steve Siegfried, Emily Siegfried ’11, and Linda Siegfried.

▲ Kelly Manning is engaged to Mike Stephens, whom she met at Bucknell University. A December 2024 wedding is planned in New York City.

Owen Phelan has been living in Amsterdam, Netherlands, for the past year and a half, working for a software company called Datadog. Owen regards Amsterdam as “an absolutely beautiful and quaint city” where he is able to ride his bike everywhere. At his job, he has met a large population of fellow expats from many different countries and hears 10 languages throughout his office on a typical day. Owen was named the top sales engineer MVP in 2022; he attributes his skill for presenting products in an engaging and entertaining way to the performing arts opportunities he had at Holy Child through participating in Spring Plays and musical groups.

Larissa Wietlisbach graduated from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania in May. She begins her residency this summer with the University of Chicago’s plastic surgery program.

2011

Chris Abate works at the Bryn Mawr Film Institute. He was recently promoted to the position of theater manager and also serves as the projectionist. He is currently living in South Philadelphia.

Maddie Keane works in tech sales as a smalland-midsize-business account manager for UiPath. She lives in the Philadelphia area, plays team handball with a Philadelphiabased team, and assists the Academy of Notre Dame golf team in her spare time.

2015

▲ Malenne Kelly (center) is a recent Presidential-Scholar graduate of the University of Richmond, where she majored in economics. She was selected as the winner of the Westhampton College Distinguished Leadership Award at the University of Richmond for her work on various diversity and inclusion initiatives in the Robins School of Business. After graduation, Malenne returned to Philadelphia, PA, to join Stout as an analyst.

Kayla Pierre was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to Colombia, South America, where she will be working as an English teaching assistant. Kayla recently graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a double major in political science and economics and a certificate in global studies.

▲ Lauren Gunn starred as Agatha Trunchbull in Northwestern University’s winter production of “Matilda the Musical.” She also served on the executive board for the production as the co-marketing director. A rising senior theater major and business minor at Northwestern, Lauren took her first major role offstage in October 2022 as producer for the school’s fall musical, “Into the Woods.” In March, she performed the role of Mrs. Lovett in “Abandon All Hope: A Musical Comedy” at Chelsea Table & Stage in New York City, and in April, she performed at the Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre in Chicago, IL.

▲ Will Keane danced for 46 hours in Penn State’s 2023 THON, representing the Ohana organization. As a dancer, he did not sit, sleep, or get off his feet for the entire 46 hours. He was joined on the floor by his sister Maddie Keane ’12 for a few late-night and early-morning hours. In total, 2023 THON raised $15 million “For The Kids” battling childhood cancer. Will has been elected executive chair of Ohana for his upcoming

senior year. He is a marketing major with a minor in Spanish.

Bobby Parillo is a rising senior at the University of Notre Dame majoring in chemical engineering, where he made the Dean’s List in the fall 2022 semester. He is enjoying his time at Notre Dame and lived in Knott Hall this past year.

2017

▲ Tristan D’Elia will be attending Manhattanville College in the fall, as he recently committed to play for their NCAA men’s ice hockey team. After going undefeated and winning the state championship as a high school senior, and racking up 102 points in his final two seasons, he went on to play junior hockey for the past two years, winning a national championship.

2018

▲ Laura Wallon completed her freshman year at Widener University, where she is studying neuropsychology. She is an Apogee Scholar, made the Dean’s List, and was invited to join the National Psychology Honors Society. She was elected director of communications for Widener’s Student Government Association and is on the Publications and Marketing Committee. Laura was also elected social media chair for Widener’s chapter of the National Council of Negro Women and is involved with Latinos Unidos and the Black Student Union.

2019

Jamia Nelson graduated from the Agnes Irwin School and has committed to playing softball at The University of South Florida. During her junior season, Jamia earned Second Team All Inter-Academic League and Second Team All-Main Line Honors. She was also selected to the All-Delco Honorable Mention Team in 2022. In addition to playing on the Agnes Irwin softball team, Jamia has played for the Newtown Rock and Chaos softball clubs. Academically, Jamia received honors in Grade 9 and high honors in Grades 10 and 11.

▲ Eliana Okala was presented the Silver Key Award for her photography portfolio, “The Beauty Yet to Unfold.” The Scholastic Art and Writing Awards is a program that identifies exceptional creative talent across the U.S. Eliana will attend Southern Methodist University in the fall.

Mariel O’Leary graduated from Merion Mercy Academy in June and earned Distinguished Honors during her senior year. Mariel was a member of Merion’s swim team. She will attend St. Joseph’s University in the fall, majoring in political science.

Davis Peterson, a recent graduate of St. Joseph’s Preparatory School, was named Pansini Law Group Scholar-Athlete of the Week in April. The award recognizes senior and junior lacrosse players who excel in academics, service, and athletics. While at St. Joe’s Prep, Davis was captain of the varsity lacrosse, varsity cross-country, and varsity squash teams. Davis received first honors in all four years and was a member of the National Honor Society. He enjoyed participating in many service opportunities, including tutoring, Mission and Ministry at the Prep, and Kids Smiles, which is a nonprofit dental center in West Philadelphia. Davis plans to major in economics at Boston College in the fall.

▲ Thalia D’Elia will attend Robert Morris University this fall, playing for their NCAA women’s ice hockey team. Thalia just wrapped up her youth career last month with a career-high 56 points this season, playing defense for the Philadelphia Junior Flyers. Thalia also finished her career winning backto-back USA Hockey National Silver Medals and one Bronze Medal (2019).

Maia Salas is headed to Duke University in the fall, where she is planning to major in biology. Senior year at the Academy of Notre Dame was a busy one for her: Maia is the founder and served as the president of the Asian American Alliance, and she was president of the Diversity Club, a Student Ambassador Officer, and a member of the Honor Corps. Maia has consistently been on

the Distinguished Honor Roll and won First Award at the PJAS Regional Science Competition for her experiment on powering up microbial fuel cells with urine; this May, she competed at the PJAS State Science Competition at Penn State. She was also a member of the Notre Dame Varsity A-Team Mathletes, this year’s Archdiocesan League champions.

Julia Youakim graduated from the Academy of Notre Dame and was named a Commended Student by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. She will be attending Boston College this fall.

2020

2021

Charlie Cutler, a rising junior at Shipley School, starred as Jason W. (first cast) and Damian (second cast) in Shipley’s production of “Mean Girls.”

▲ Patch Shields graduated from Archmere Academy and will attend Fordham University in the fall as a psychology major. Patch was awarded a Golden Key Award for his digital art portfolio as part of the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards.

Reid Shields graduated from Archmere Academy and will be an engineering major at Lehigh University this fall.

I’Jaaz Abdul-Malik, a rising senior at the Episcopal Academy, was awarded two Silver Key Awards and an Honorable Mention for his photography submissions as part of the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards. I’Jaaz is also a vestry member, which means he speaks during chapel services, and he is involved with community service at Episcopal. He is a member of the football team and was named Second Team All Inter-Academic League and was third in the league for tackles. I’Jaaz hopes to use his success in photography and football as he looks ahead to college.

Nick Gianoukos completed his third year of rowing at St. Joseph’s Preparatory School and was elected president of the school for his upcoming senior year. He is also a National Merit Commended Scholar.

Eddie Wright, a rising senior defender for Harriton High School soccer, is a second-year captain and was named MVP. He was named First Team All-Central League selection as well as First Team for the 2022 All-Main Line high school boys’ soccer team.

Mary Neilly, a rising junior at the Agnes Irwin School, creates her own line of jewelry, which can be found on her website, neillyjewelry.com.

Our Alumni Council

▲ Cousins Patch and Reid Shields during their spring student-exchange trip to Spain.

Jack Swalley graduated from Harriton High School in June, where he was a member of varsity golf and varsity basketball teams. He will attend the Elfer School of Management at the University of Arizona in the fall, majoring in business.

Not

Thank you to Olivia Calamia ’09 for her service as president of the Alumni Association for the past three years. We are grateful for the dedication and support Olivia has shown to the Holy Child School at Rosemont community.

▲ Laura Kelly ’21, Audrey Manion ’22, Jen Kelly ’23, and Meg South ’21 stop for a photo at the Holy Child varsity field hockey championship game last fall.

Alumni Council members left to right: Joe McLaughlin ’08, Brendan McGeehin ’01, Persia Ali ’96, Whitney Deas Bordogna ’96, Catherine Elliott ’02, Andrew Wiener ’09, Chris Wiener ’09, and Patrick Devine ’01

pictured: Kathleen Shields Anderson ’93, Olivia Calamia ’09 (President), and Stephanie Hayden ’02

Births

March 29, 2023

Mary

March 5, 2023

Caroline

March

Kerry

September

Katie

December

Kristin

Madison

November 23, 2022

Becky

Elizabeth Barrett

Cox Barrett ’00 and Paul Barrett ’00

Helen Farrell Heist

28, 2022

Heist ’91

Gia Clarke Gould

14, 2023

Clarke Gould ’01 and Jake

Maeve Kimball Pister

Kate Crenny ’07 and Kaiser Pister

Finley Matthew Craven

20, 2022

Boova Craven ’02 and Matt

Sebastiano Sylvia July 1, 2022 John Sylvia ’99 and Maryellen

Elizabeth Leigh Gilroy

Keating Gilroy ’05 and Greg

Albert Quinn Rowley January 16, 2023 Lindsay Chipego Rowley ’98 and Kevin Rowley ’98

Thank you to the members of our community who generously gave to this year’s Holy Child Fund: We surpassed our goal of $250,000. All donors who made their gift by the fiscal year end (June 30, 2023) will be recognized in the “Annual Report of Gifts” published in the fall.

The Holy Child Fund impacts EVERY STUDENT at Holy Child and adds significant support to our annual operating budget. Your commitment enables us to provide a warm, nurturing environment that propels the academic, social, and spiritual growth of our students. We are blessed to have so many alumni, current and past parents, grandparents, and friends who believe in and support Cornelia Connelly’s vision for education.

For more information about The Holy Child Fund, contact Director of Advancement Jill Gregori at jgregori@HolyChildRosemont.org. To make a gift online, visit HolyChildRosemont.org/ onlinegiving, or donate via Venmo @HolyChildRosemont

Condolences

John Adams ’92 — December 28, 2022 — brother of Christopher Adams ’02

Richard Gallagher ’65 — October 27, 2022 — brother of Tom Gallagher ’63

Ann Hagan ’67 — November 16, 2022

Luigi Bifulco — December 31, 2022 — grandfather of Mia ’29 and Elena ’33 Bifulco

Frederica Broomfield — November 14, 2022 — grandmother of Mykael ’16 and Avery ’21 Canady

Jane Goggin — January 1, 2023 — mother of Suzanne Goggin Carlin ’79, Garrett Goggin ’80, and Brendan Goggin ’85, and grandmother of Kelly Goggin ’11

Richard Hopkins — February 26, 2023 — grandfather of Patrick ’13, Matthew ’15, and Christian ’18 Hopkins

Margaret McFillin — November 8, 2022 — wife of Pat McFillin ’72

John McGarry — January 3, 2023 — former faculty member and coach

Elizabeth Michell — March 19, 2023 — stepmother of Rick Michell ’73 and step-grandmother of Alex Michell ’08

John Milan — January 7, 2023 — grandfather of Marion Boyd ’13

Roderick Morrison — November 16, 2022 — and Roberta Morrison — January 24, 2023 — grandparents of Taylor ’14 and Amber ’17 Morrison

Mary Louise O’Brien — February 28, 2023 — mother of John O’Brien ’65

Erwin Ortiz — April 2023 — grandfather of Skylar ’18 and Alexandra ’22 Ortiz

Ann Padova — January 12, 2023 — grandmother of Tommy ’19, Aidan ’19, Jack ’20, and Bella Gallagher

Mark Ries — December 11, 2022 — husband of Becky Noone Ries ’89

Mary Simone — January 16, 2023 — mother of Valerie Simone ’76 and grandmother of Andrew ’09, Christopher ’09, and David ’14 Wiener

Ann “Mickey” Taylor — December 25, 2022 — mother of Bill Taylor ’67, Tim Taylor ’68 (deceased), Marge Taylor Dolan ’70, Ann Marie Taylor McShea ’73, Jeanne Taylor Vinovich ’77, and Matt Taylor ’78, and grandmother of Danny ’14 and Brendan ’16 Taylor

Marilyn Weems — January 26, 2023 — grandmother of Ellie Weems ’28

Cachet

Holy Child School at Rosemont Magazine

Head of School (2013-2023)

Thomas G. Lengel

Head of School

Brian McBride

Associate Head of School, Director of Middle School

Diane Hren

Director of Admissions and Enrollment

Kathy Barton

Manager of Communications and Marketing

Kelsey Poholsky

Communications and Marketing Associate

Victoria Boland

Director of Institutional

Advancement

Jill Gregori

Director of Alumni and Constituent Relations

Tina Abate

Director of Leadership and Planned Giving

Sr. Mary Broderick, SHCJ

Parents’ Liaison

Allison Emery

Advancement Assistant

Sarah Stirzel Cuzzolina

Contributors

Tina Abate, Kelsey Poholsky, Victoria Boland

Photographers

Victoria Boland, Kelsey Poholsky, Bradley Digital, Tessa Marie Images

Graphic Design

Kelsh Wilson Design

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 by email to: alumni@HolyChildRosemont.org