St. Joseph Hill Academy High School Digital Magazine

ST. JOSEPH HILL ACADEMY An All-Female Catholic College Preparatory High School Under the Direction of the Daughters of Divine Charity

850 Hylan Boulevard Staten Island, New York 10305 (718) 447-1374 ext. 9100 www.stjosephhillacademy.com

Our Mission St. Joseph Hill Academy, a Catholic high school, in keeping with Christian values and the traditions of the Daughters of Divine Charity, seeks to educate and empower young women to be confident, independent thinkers with strong character and leadership qualities, who stand ready to meet society’s challenges.

"We, as a community of educators and families, are working together to empower our students to be faith-filled loving individuals who support their classmates and peers. We hope that these important values will carry them through life knowing that the friends they have made here at St. Joseph Hill Academy will last a life time and be their foundation for the future.”

“With the help of God and the Holy Spirit, along with our exceptional administration, faculty, and staff, we will continue to work together to maintain the high standards and expectations of St. Joseph Hill Academy in all areas - - academic, spiritual, and social - - all with the goal of giving our students the best high school experience we can provide in a safe environment.”

Sister Mary Coffelt, F.D.C., President

Mrs. Maria Molluzzo Principal

457 Students 2 Pathways STEM and Humanities $42.3 Million in Academic Scholarships for 119 Class of 2020 Graduates

11 AP Courses 27 College Credit Courses

100% Received Academic Scholarships in Past 3 Years

THE HILL EXPERIENCE EXCELLENCE

ENRICHMENT

14 Athletic Teams

EMPOWERMENT

80% Catholic

40 Student Clubs

All Religious Backgrounds Welcome

29,000 Hours of Community Service

2 Four-Day Kairos Retreats for Juniors and Seniors

EXCELLENCE

ACADEMICS St. Joseph Hill Academy has a long tradition of offering challenging curricular programs that seek to meet the individual needs of students by offering a highly customizable experience. With a selection of College Preparatory, Honors, College, and AP Courses, Hill is equipped to challenge students of varying abilities.

Every Hill student will complete four years of the core academic subjects listed below and all students are programmed to earn an Advanced New York State Regents Diploma. In addition to the core courses, applicants can choose between our STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) Pathway or our Humanities Pathway. The Pathway forms the foundation for each student’s academic program.

Hill is a technology-forward high school with each student obtaining a laptop beginning freshman year. Every classroom is equipped with state-of-the-art Poly Studio USB Cameras and two large-screen televisions to ensure synchronized learning with remote students.

ALL HILL STUDENTS TAKE FOUR YEARS OF CORE ACADEMIC SUBJECTS Mathematics Science History/Economics

HILL IS ABOUT CHOICE. Academics are challenging at Hill, but there is a support system in place to help each student choose a program that emphasizes her strengths, while still providing her with a foundation that will guide her through life.

Mrs. Maria Molluzzo Principal

English World Languages Religion

STEM PATHWAY The STEM program of study immerses students in science, mathematics, engineering and technology, while emphasizing critical thinking and ingenuity. Beginning freshman year, students will engage in 3D Computer-Aided Design (CAD), introductory programming, and robotics. This forms the foundation for selecting higher-level coursework detailed below. The program is balanced with numerous arts and humanities electives including a two-year sequence in fine arts as well as courses in theater, music, psychology, law, and language studies.

STEM College and Advanced Placement Courses: College Algebra & PreCalculus, Anatomy & Physiology, AP Biology, AP Calculus, University Calculus I, Advanced Chemistry, AP Computer Science Principles, Computer Programming, Digital Electronics, Engineering Design, Biomedical Engineering, Environmental Sustainability, and AP Physics.

For more on Hill’s STEM Pathway visit: stjosephhillacademy.com/STEM/

HUMANITIES PATHWAY The humanities program of study encourages learning from multiple perspectives, enabling students to make connections across disciplines. This Pathway emphasizes developing critical readers, effective writers, and articulate speakers through the study of literature, art, social studies, communications, and theater arts. Beginning freshman year, students will refine their speech and writing, paying particular attention to persuasive, analytical, journalistic, and dramatic techniques.

This will prepare students for the challenge of higher level coursework listed below. The program is supplemented with a 2-year sequence in fine arts or music appreciation and balanced with a range of STEM electives.

Humanities College and Advanced Placement Courses: American Literature, AP Art History, AP English Language and Composition, AP English Literature and Composition, AP Government and Politics, Italian, Law, Marketing, Musical Theatre, Psychology, AP Psychology, Sociology, Spanish, AP US History, AP World History, and World Literature.

For more on Hill’s Humanities Pathway visit: stjosephhillacademy.com/humanities/

COVID-19 REOPENING

Hill’s commitment to its students and to excellence can be seen in our school’s swift response and adaptation to the Covid-19 pandemic. From the beginning of the crisis, Hill ensured all students would continue to learn by mirroring classroom learning as closely as possible. While fully remote, students were learning bell to bell, through mostly live Zoom classes and some videotaped instruction. Students of all grade levels were regularly consulted by Mrs. Molluzzo on what worked and what did not, in a collaborative effort to continuously improve the remote experience.

Hill committed to safely reopening in September 2020. We have adopted a hybrid model with separate Cohorts who come to school, in person, every other school day. Hill's Zoom learning has greatly improved through our purchase of cameras for each classroom that can focus in on the teacher and the board, and additional TV monitors that display our remote learners.

On remote days, with the addition of cameras and televisions, students feel as if they are in the classroom with the teacher and other students. Our students know Hill has done everything to ensure the entire Hill community stays healthy and safe.

Hill has given students certainty and consistency in the middle of chaos.

ENRICHMENT

SPIRITUALITY “Try first to do yourself whatever you expect others to do.”

Mother Franziska Lechner, Foundress of the Daughters of Divine Charity Following the mission of the Daughters of Divine Charity, Hilltoppers strive to “Make God’s Love Visible” in everyday life.

Mass is regularly planned by students working with Campus Ministry. Students can also personally interact with the Daughters of Divine Charity by becoming Junior Associates.

Hill offers annual off-campus retreats for each grade level.

Unique to high schools on Staten Island, Hill offers two separate four-day off-campus Kairos retreats for junior and senior students.

Kairos retreats are known as “God’s Time.” They are grounded in the Catholic faith, though all faiths are welcome. Kairos retreats are led by senior students and adult leaders that range from Hill faculty and staff to Hill alumnae who have experienced a Kairos retreat. It is a way to build community with others and grow in your relationship with God.

SERVICE

Hill takes Catholic Social Teaching beyond the classroom and into the community.

Service is an integral part of a Hill student’s experience, and the student body completes over 29,000 hours of community service each year. Known as Hill’s Angels, our students actively volunteer their time and talents to several charitable endeavors including: Kids for Kids, Special Olympics, Project Hospitality (a local outreach center for those in need), Trashbusters (in conjunction with the NYC Sanitation and Parks Departments), the Friends of Staten Island Organization, the American Cancer Society, Habitat for Humanity, and the Seton Foundation for Learning (a pre-k through eighth grade elementary school for developmentally disabled children housed on Hill’s campus).

The sense of purpose and maturity the students gain from these endeavors is invaluable.

The Covid-19 pandemic has put limitations on inperson community service but has certainly not stopped Hilltoppers. Students have found creative ways to help our community as we face the collective and unprecedented challenge of the Covid-19 pandemic. Hilltoppers have sewn masks, made face shields, wrote cards to first responders and nursing home residents, and cooked and delivered food for those in need in in the Staten Island community. Our student body’s enthusiasm during a global crisis was inspiring.

ATHLETICS FALL Cheerleading Cross Country Track Soccer Tennis Volleyball WINTER Basketball Bowling Indoor Track Swimming SPRING Flag Football Intramural Golf Lacrosse Outdoor Track Softball

In the past several years, over 15 students received Division I and II scholarships in swimming, basketball, track, soccer, and golf, adding to Hill's strong athletic history that includes Varsity Club and Jaques Award Winners.

Hill prides itself on our exceptional dedication and sportsmanship in addition to our athletic accomplishments.

St. Joseph Hill Academy has an extensive sports program for student athletes. Our school competes in the New York Archdiocese Catholic High School Athletic Association. Our interscholastic program provides our students with the opportunity to develop physical, emotional, intellectual, and social skills.

ACTIVITIES At St. Joseph Hill Academy, there are 40 student clubs spanning an array of student interests and hobbies.

Moderated by faculty members, some of Hill's many clubs focus on: Global Awareness - Girls Learn International Science and Technology - Robotics Team and Science Club Culture - Spanish, Italian, and Asian Clubs Writing - “The Peak” (literary magazine) and "The Hilltopper" (yearbook) Public Speaking - Forensics (Speech & Debate) and Mock Trial Communication - Hill TV and "The Summit” (newspaper) Arts - Drama Club, “Hill Singers”, Dance Team, and Art Club Student Government - Hill Student Council

Students are enriched through their involvement and creation of clubs. It provides the opportunity to meet students with similar interests across grade levels and to make friends doing what they love to do.

Juniors and seniors have the option to travel abroad, exposing them to new cultures and languages, and one of the most anticipated Hill experiences is the senior trip to Disney World.

Student activities are evolving and adapting to the Covid-19 pandemic by continuing to meet on Zoom. Our outstanding performers showcased their talents on virtual awards shows, our Student Council organized a virtual Color Wars celebration (with t-shirts dropped off by faculty and students) and Green Fashion show, and our students received the news through our Zoom Hill TV shows and a special pandemic issue of our Summit Newspaper.

Visit stjosephhillacademy.com/clubs/ for a full list of all current clubs including student-made videos.

EMPOWERMENT

St. Joseph Hill Academy empowers students by educating the whole woman: academically, spiritually, and socially.

The friendships you make at Hill, you make for a lifetime. Hill graduates are, as the School’s mission states, “confident, independent thinkers with strong character and leadership qualities ready to face society’s challenges.”

HILLTOPPER FOR LIFE "I graduated from St. Joseph Hill Academy High School in 2017, and I am currently a clinical year Physician Assistant student in an accelerated program. St. Joseph Hill prepared me to be a hard worker and to have compassion in addition to academic excellence. I developed a sense of community and learned the importance of service to others. My time at St. Joseph Hill provided me with values that have resided in me as I strive to become a member of the healthcare community. I treasure my experience as a Hilltopper, and I am proud to say that my path to becoming the best version of myself started at St. Joseph Hill Academy."

Noelle Angela Mele Class of 2017

How Hill Alumnae Describe Hilltoppers

THE HILL ADVANTAGE Hill ensures successful college admissions for our students, academic achievement in college, and career success for our graduates. Hill has established itself with college recruiters as a premier New York City school.

CLASS OF 2020 119 graduates $42.3 million dollars CLASS OF 2019 121 graduates $42.5 million dollars CLASS OF 2018 96 graduates $35.6 million dollars

College guidance begins in freshman year, when students and parents are invited to create an individualized plan to meet college and career goals. This includes assistance with the development of talent-based portfolios in art, music, theater, communications, and graphic design. Student athletes are carefully guided through the Posse and QuestBridge Scholarship programs that yield full-tuition scholarships.

Many Hill graduates have saved a year or more in college tuition expenses because of the variety of AP and College credits they received while at Hill.

SUMMUM BONUM

For more information to apply, visit www.StJosephHillAcademy.com or Contact an Admissions Representative at Admissions@stjhill.org