Homecoming at NFA
By: Alex Greenwald and Zo Jackson
Thisyear’sHomecomingatNFAwasfullofexcitementfromstarttofinish.Theweekendkicked offwithfootballandcontinuedwithbothJVandvarsitysoccerandfieldhockeygames.Varsity soccerlost4–1,JVsoccerlost1–0,JVfieldhockeytied0–0,varsityfieldhockeywon3–1,and thefootballteamfinishedthedaystrongwitha33–0victory.
WespoketotwostudentswhoparticipatedinHomecoming:ConnorDalbeyandDesmond Baselice.
WhenweaskedDesmond,“WhatwasyourfavoritepartofHomecoming?”Hesaid,“Working togetherwithmyteammates.”Heexplainedthatgreatsoccerteamscommunicateandpassthe ballwell,andhefelttheNFAteamdidexactlythat.Hedescribedthewholeexperienceinone word:“Fun.”
Connorsharedsimilarthoughts.HisfavoritepartofHomecomingwas“playingwithmy teammates.”Whenweaskedwhyhewent,hesaid,“Iplayonthesoccerteam,and Iwantedto supportmyfriends.”
Overall,HomecomingatNFAwasanexcitingdayfullofteamwork,schoolspirit,and memorablemomentsforeveryoneinvolved.
The Varsity Soccer Season Exceeded Expectations!
By: Jaxon Acosta
TheNFABearssoccerseasonstartedoffwithanexcitinggame,andtheyendedwithonetoo! TheirfirstgamewasagainstWaldronMercy,andtheBearscrushedthem13–0.Afteranother weekofschoolandpractice,theBearsfacedPhiladelphiaCharterAcademy.TheBearsdidnot backdownandwonagain,7–2.
TheBearslookedliketheywereontheirwaytobiggerandbetterthings.Oneplayer,Sean Loder,said,“Ifeltlikethiswasourseason.Eventhoughvarsitysoccerhadnotwoninoverfive years,Ifeltlikewiththisteamandtheeffortweputintopractices,wewouldwintheC.A.L.”
Unfortunately,theBearsdidnotwintheirgameagainstAnchile,butitwasaveryhard-fought match.TheBearsfinishedtheirseasonwithastrong 8–2–1recordandearnedthe2ndseed.
Eventhoughtheydidn’twinthechampionshipthis year,theteamstayedhopeful.Theyplannedtowork evenhardernextyearandfinallywintheC.A.L. championship!GoBears!
Get to Know the NFA JV Soccer Team
By:AlexGreenwald
TheNFAJuniorVarsitysoccerteam,madeupoftalented 5thand6thgraders,wrappedupastrongseasonwitha 4-2-2record.Theteam’ssuccesscamefromtheir consistenteffortanddedication,practicingfourdaysa weekattheWaterTowerfield.
Twokeyplayers,MikoDonisandJacksonSilverman, sharedtheirthoughtsonwhatit’sliketobepartofthe team.Mikosaidhe’sproudtorepresentNFAonthe field.“Ithinkit’sagoodexperience,andIenjoyit,”Miko said.Whenaskedtodescribetheteaminoneword,he chose“spectacular.”Hismotivationcomesfromthepeoplearoundhim.“Myteammatesinspire me,”headded.
GoalkeeperJacksonSilvermantakesprideinhisroledefendingthenet.“Ilikekeepingshots away,”Jacksonexplained.Healsoenjoysthechallengeofbothgamesandpractice.“Yes,andI likepractice,”hesaidwhenaskedaboutstarting.Lookingbackathomecoming,Jacksonbelieves theteamisgrowingstrongereveryweek.“Ithinkweimproved,”hesaid.
Withtheirteamwork,dedication,andpositiveattitude,theNFAJVsoccerplayershavebuilta solidfoundationforthefuture.Theirstrongseasonshowsthey’rereadytotakeonevengreater challengeswhentheymoveuptovarsity.
The NFA Football Team Had an Outstanding Season
By: Lorenzo Jackson
TheNFAfootballteamconsistedof hardworkingplayersingrades5–8and wascoachedbyMr.Rockenbachand CoachCorbin.TheBearspracticedfour daysaweekafterschoolontheNFA fieldtopreparefortheirgames.
TheBearsstartedtheirseasonoffwitha blowoutwinagainstJenkintown.The teamworkedtogethertomakeamazing plays,whichhelpedthemwinthegame.TheBearsthenfacedachallengewhentheylostto Rosemont.Theteampaidattentiontoareastheyneededtoimproveandworkedhardatpractice togetbetter
TheyfollowedthatlosswithanotherwinagainstJenkintownafterahugecomebackinthe secondhalf.ThentheyhadanothertoughlosstoRosemont.OnHomecoming,theNFABears showedupbetterthaneveragainstAsumptaandwon33–0.
Behindthescenes,theBearscametopracticefourdaysaweekfortwohourstolearnnewskills andrunplays.Theirhardworkreallyshowedonthefield.
WeinterviewedDavidbeforethesecondRosemontgame,andthisiswhathesaid.Whenwe askedhimhowhefeltgoingbacktoRosemont,hesaid,“Ifeelscared,butIfeelhopeful.”Going backtoRosemont,theBearslostinaclosegame.However,whentheyplayedAsumptaagain, theywoninaclosegametoendtheseasonwithastrong4–2record
The NFA Field Hockey Teams Had a Great Season
By: Peyton Barnes
TheNFAfieldhockeyteamshadagreatseason.The JVteamwasmadeupoffifthandsixth-gradegirls,and thevarsityteamwasmadeupofseventhand eighth-graders.Theypracticedfourdaysaweek, travelingtotheMountonMondays,Tuesdays,and Wednesdays,andpracticingattheNorwoodcampuson Thursdays.TheywerecoachedbyMs.Tippet,Coach Dom,andCoachDT.Ms.Tippet,CoachDom,and CoachDThadbeencoachingformultipleyearsand hadbeensuccessfulformanyseasons.Aplayeronthe team,Kylie,saidthatthecoachesencouragedthemby tellingthemto“workhard.”Thecoaches’positive attitudestowardtheteamledtogreatgrowthandsuccessfromtheplayers.TheNFABearsfield hockeyteamslookedforwardtoanothersuccessfulseason,buttheywouldhavetowaituntil nextschoolyeartoplayagain.
Get to Know NFA’s Newest
By: Joey Gallagher
Atthestartofthe2025-2026school year,theNFAcommunitywelcomedournew president,Mrs.Bonner.Sheistakingoverthe roleandresponsibilitiesofouroldpresident,Dr. Killeen.
President, Mrs. Bonner
BeforecomingtoNFA,Mrs.Bonner knewshewantedherjobtobeineducation. AftergraduatingfromSt.Joseph'sUniversity, sheknewthatteachinginaCatholicschoolwas thethingforher.ShespenttimeteachingatSt. NorbertSchoolinPaoli,ImaniCharterSchool inMountAiry,andthenSt.EugeneSchoolin CliftonHeights.ShethenfoundahomeattheAcademyofNotreDameforover20years.She taughtreligionclasses,ledthereligiondepartment,moderatedthestudentcouncil,yearbook,and tookonmanyotherleadershipopportunities.“OneofmyfavoritepositionswasDirectorof
Admissions.Iwasabletomeetfamiliesandmiddleschoolstudentsandtellthemallaboutthe school,theopportunities,andwhyIlovedit.Imissedtheclassroomandtheacademics,though.I wasthenabletoleadtheMiddleSchoolastheirDirector,andthatwasamazingtoo.That positionallowedmetoworkwithparents,students,teachers,coaches,andtheBoardof Trustees.”PresidentBonnermentioned.
Inthespringof2024,sheheardofanopenpositionatNFA.Sheresearchedourschool anddecidedtodrivethroughthecampus.Inthefallof2024,shecametoofficiallyvisit.When shesawthegardendedicatedtoSr.DeniseClifford,whowasherpreviousprincipal,better understoodNFAasasponsoredworkoftheSistersofSaintJoseph.“Imettheteachers,the students,andtheparents.Iknewitcouldbemynexthome.Ifeltlikeitwaslessofmeleavinga schoolthatIlovedbutacallingtoNFAtoleadwithhumility,kindness,andthemissionofthe SSJ."Sheshared.
Mrs.Bonnershared,“ThreewordsIwouldusetodescribeNFAare mission, innovative, and nurturing.”Shepicked mission becauseeveryoneshehasmet,fromstudentstofacultyto parents,allbelieveintheNFAmission.NFAfostersspiritualgrowthandcommitmenttothe Gospelvalues.Shepicked Innovative becauseoftheuniquedualpathlearningsystem(Primary andMontessori),enrichmentprograms,andaforward-thinkingcurriculum.Veryfewmiddleand elementaryschoolstudentsgettopicktheirclasses,whichmadeMrs.Bonnerthinkofhow studentsgainautonomyatsuchayoungage.“Nurturing becausetheAcademyisdeeply committedtothewholechild,creatingawarm,inclusiveenvironmentwherestudentsareknown, supported,andencouragedtogrowacademically,socially,andemotionally.”Shestated.
PresidentBonnershared,“IamjustthechangeagentforNFA,andIthinkastrong strategicvisionshouldincludemanyvoicesthroughoutthecommunity.Afterspendingafew monthsatNFA,IhaveageneralstrategicvisionforNFA.”Hervisionincludesdeepeningour commitmenttothegospelvaluesandthecharismoftheSistersofSaintJoseph,providingmore opportunitiestoempowertheNFAPAandalumniprogramstostrengthentherelationshipswith highschools,localorganizations,andthesponsoredworksoftheSSJ.Shealsowishestoprovide morewaystoprioritizesocial-emotionallearning,electives,andleadershipopportunitiesfrom earlychildhoodthrough8thgrade.Lookingforwaystoensureasafe,accessible,andinspiring learningenvironmentacrossthecampuses.Promotingenvironmentalresponsibilitythrough curriculum,student-ledinitiatives,andoperations.Mrs.Bonnersaid,“Aretherewaysto strengthenourdual-pathmodel(MontessoriandPrimary)tomeetdiverselearningneeds, exploreSTEAM,medialiteracy,andinterdisciplinarylearningacrossallgradelevels,and cultivatecriticalthinking,creativity,andcollaborationthroughproject-basedandexperiential learning?”
PresidentBonnerhassomebigshoestofill,butweknowshecandoit.Wearegrateful forthetimeshehasspentgettingtoknowourschoolandourcommunity.Itwillbehelpfulto hearherthoughtsontheexperiencesshe’ssharedwithussofar.Shehasmanyideasthatwill changeourschoolforthebetter.Welookforwardtoseeingalltheamazingthingsshehasin storeforNFA.
NFA Welcomes Mr. Hoey as Our New Music Teacher
By: Joey Gallagher
StudentsatNFAhavelotstolookforwardtothisyearasMr Hoeyjoinsourcommunityasour newmusicteacher HebringsastrongmusicalbackgroundwithhimtocontributetoourNFA community
Forthepastfouryears,Mr Hoeyhasbeenteachingguitar,trumpet,andvoiceforstudentsinthe greaterPhiladelphiaarea.Hehashelpedmanyyoungmusiciansgrowanddeveloptheirmusical skills.
HechosetocometoNFAbecausehebelievesinourmission.“Additionally,theentiretyofthe studentsandteachershasproventobeawarmandwelcomingenvironmentthatnurturesthe growthofstudents,families,andcommunity.”Heshared.
“Mymusicbackgroundoutsideofteachinghasconsistedoffreelancingasafull-timeperformer, soundengineer,andcontractor.”Hestated.Hereceivedhisbachelor'sdegreeinbothJazz StudiesandMusicIndustryfromRowanUniversity.Hehashadmanygreatopportunitiesto teachothers;themostmemorablewasbeingaguestlectureratHarvardUniversity.
Heisreadytoteachussomanynewthings.Heshared,“Iammostexcitedtoteachmusictheory, history,andperformancethisyearatNFA.”Whetheritbeaprivatelessonorteachingaclasson howtosingproperly,heconsidereditablessingandaprivilegetocontributethewayheis.
HeisreadytosharehisvastmusicalknowledgewiththeNFAcommunity.Andwearereadyto learnsomuchfromhim.
7th Graders Explore Philadelphia on Walking Tour
By: Beckett Chomentowski
OnNovember14,2025,NFA7thgraderstookawalkingtourthroughPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania,toexperiencethecity’srichhistoryfirsthand.Thetripgavestudentsthechanceto seehistoricalsitesandconnectwhatthey’ve learnedinclasswithreal-lifelocations.
“Thisisalearningexperienceforthe7thgraders,” saidonestudent.“Ithelpsusunderstandthe
eventsinPhillyandshowsthatthecityisfunandsafetovisit.”
Studentswereexcitedtoexplorethecity.SamFlahertysaid,“Itwassocooltoseeallthe historicalplaces.”
Anotherstudent,TylerSchoen,added,“ItwasexcitingtoseePhiladelphia.”
Philadelphiaisknownforitshistoricalsignificance.TheDeclarationofIndependencewas signedhere,andmanyoftheFoundingFatherslivedinthecity.Visitingtheselandmarkshelps studentsseehistorycomealiveandunderstandwhyPhiladelphiaplayedsuchanimportantrole inshapingthenation.
The7thgraders’walkingtourwasbotheducationalandfun,achancetolearnoutsidethe classroomwhileexploringahistoriccity!
NFA Celebrates Halloween with Spooky Fun!
By: Beckett Chomentowski, Jaxon Acosta, and Peyton Barnes
OnOctober29,theentireNFAcommunitygatheredatthelowercampustocelebratetheannual Halloweenparade.Students,families,andteachersalldressedupincreativeandcolorful costumestojoininthefestivities.Eventhelocalnewsstation,6ABC,cametocapturethe amazingcostumes!
FifthgraderDaphnesharedherfavoritecostume,saying,“Thebestcostumewasablow-up dinosaur.”Shealsoadded,“GinnyandIwereprincesses!”
Students’costumeswereascreativeastheywerefun.SomedressedupasK-popdemonhunter characters,differentkindsoffood,Screamcharacters,andevenatinyBuzzLightyear Smiles andlaughtercouldbeseeneverywhereaseveryone
Intheend,students,parents,andteacherswere
Theparadehelpedeveryonegetexcitedforthe trick-or-treatingjustafewdayslater.Itwas celebrationforthewholeNFAcommunity!
Fifth Graders Experience Middle School on VIP Day
By:JoeyGallagher
OnNovember18,fifth-gradestudentsvisitedthemiddle schoolforVIPDaytogetabetterideaofwhatit’sliketo beamiddleschooleratNFA.
Thestudentshadafunandexcitingdaylearningabout middleschoollife.FifthgraderBurkeKennedyshared, “Youarealotmoreindependent,andyouhavetoreally payattentionandfollowtherules.”Whilemiddleschoolis differentfromfifthgrade,Burkesaiditwillbeagood changenextyear.
FifthgraderWinnieRosenblumsaid,“Itwasprettyfun!I metsomesixthgradersIdidn’tknowbefore,andIsawmy oldfriendMaricel.”VIPDaygavethestudentsachanceto makenewfriendsandreconnectwitholdones.
SydneyMilleradded,“IfIcouldpickthreewordstodescribetoday,Iwouldpick:fun,cool,and fresh.”
Overall,VIPDaygavethefifthgradersatasteofmiddleschoollife.Itwasafundayfullof learning,newexperiences,andexcitementfornextyear.Wecan’twaittowelcomethemto middleschoolinthefall!
What’s Happening with Yay Lunch Prices?
By: Peyton Barnes
TheNFAlunchprogram,YayLunch,hasbeenservingstudentsforthreeyears.Butlately,many havenoticedthatpricesseemhigherthaninpreviousyears,andstudentsarestartingtowonder why.
DrinkslikePoppiandGatoradehavebecomemoreexpensive,catchingtheattentionofregular buyers.SixthgraderSiennaStosselsharedherthoughts,saying,“CanneddrinksorGatoradeare themostexpensive,butthey’reworthit.”
Eventhoughpricesarerising,manystudentsstillenjoytheirfavoritesnacksanddrinksenough tokeepbuyingthem.
Sowhytheincrease?Inflationhascausedpricestorise.Inflationhappenswhenthecostof goodsgoesup,andmoneylosessomeofitsvalue.Thismeanscompanies,includingYayLunch, havetochargemoretokeepup.
Siennaadded,“Yay,Lunchpriceswillprobablynotgobackdownbecauseofinflation,andthey needthemoney.”
Whiletheremaynotbemuchhopeforlowerpricessoon,studentscanmakesmartchoicesby buyingwhattheyneedinsteadofeverythingtheywant.
Despitethehighercosts,studentsstillappreciateYayLunchandthevarietyitoffers.Manyhope
Joey Gallagher
Jaxon Acosta
Peyton Barnes Beckett Chomentowski
Joey Gallagher
Alex Greenwald
Lorenzo “Zo” Jackson
Miss Sheridan