Mount Saint Michael Academy Kicks Off Football Season with New Field
The Academy of Mount Saint Michael kicked off its football season this Saturday on their newly commissioned turf field. The field is a part of the new Phyllis and Angelo Mozilo ’56 Sports Complex, which was made possible by generous benefactors and alumni who say they are setting the stage for Mount’s future success.
> Click here to view Bronx News 12 Coverage!
Westchester Students Host Donation Drive for Hurricane Dorian Victims
Sacred Heart School Hartsdale students do us proud! A group of students organized a charitable drive – even presenting their mission to their local city council – in order to collect supplies for victims of Hurricane Dorian in the Bahamas. The group recalled what it was like to be hit by Hurricane Sandy, and wanted to take a proactive step to help those affected in the Bahamas.
> Click here to view the Fox News Coverage!
32nd Annual Westchester Dinner for Catholic Schools Featured on New York 1
The Inner-City Scholarship Fund held their 32nd Annual Westchester Dinner for Catholic Schools last evening. The event was attended by Timothy Cardinal Dolan, as well as Superintendent of Schools Michael Deegan. Fios News 1, Lower Hudson Valley, was on the scene to capture highlights from the evening including speeches from Cardinal Dolan and a John F. Kennedy Catholic High School student on the importance of making Catholic education available for those who cannot afford it. They also filmed an interview with Mr. Deegan.
- Click here to view the video!
- Click here to visit the event photo gallery!
Timothy Cardinal Dolan Names Michael J. Deegan Superintendent of Catholic Schools
Timothy Cardinal Dolan, Archbishop of New York, has named Mr. Michael J. Deegan as Superintendent of Catholic Schools in the Archdiocese of New York. Mr. Deegan, who has been serving as interim superintendent, will assume the role immediately. A Bronx native, Mr. Deegan is veteran educator, who has spent his entire career serving the Archdiocese of New York.
“As Catholic school systems across the country rise to face the challenges of our modern cultural and educational landscape, we are blessed to have Mr. Deegan guiding the archdiocese’s schools,” said Cardinal Dolan. “He is a person of deep faith, possessing an innovative pedagogical vision and decades of operational management. Our Catholic schools are a treasured jewel of the Church, and I believe they will be in good hands through Mr. Deegan’s service.”
> Click here to view the full press release
Our Lady of Lourdes School Celebrates 100 Years of Quality Education!
Celebrating a century in educating and guiding young students in New York, The Manhattan Times interviewed students and teachers at Our Lady of Lourdes in Hamilton Heights on their first day of school. Our Lady of Lourdes has over 300 students from Pre-K to 8th Grade, and is expanding its Enrichment programs, including science, technology and the arts, to help students succeed in high school and beyond. The school is expanding its STEAM program; offering a dance program taught by a professional dancer with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater; and partnering with teaching artists from the New York Philharmonic for music instruction.
> Click here to read the full article.
Staten Island Kids Tell Us: What Makes A Teacher Great?
The Staten Island Advance interviews Sacred Heart students on their first day of school, asking “What makes your teacher great?”
Click here to view the video!
Transfiguration School in Tarrytown Celebrates its 70th Year!
Celebrating its 70th year, Transfiguration School in Tarrytown was founded in 1949 by the Carmelite Friars. Today, the school is thriving, with 160 students attending Pre-K through 8th grade. Students of the school benefit from the well-rounded curriculum, and the individualized attention afforded by smaller class sizes. And they graduate with top-notch test scores. Principal Margaret Kazan says, “It’s not just teaching for academics. We teach to the whole child.”
> Click here to read the full article.
Many Surgeries and 13-Year Relationship Inspire St. Elizabeth School Alum To Follow Doctor’s Footsteps
Amber Hamilton is a former student at St. Elizabeth School in Washington Heights, and the 25-year-old Weill Cornell Medical College graduate was recently accepted into a highly competitive eight-week research fellowship program at Hospital for Special Surgery. Amber is truly an inspiration, having dealt with her own rare disease from a young age. She used her experience as motivation to help others, and St. Elizabeth School as well as the entire Archdiocese of New York could not be more proud of her!
> Click here to read the full article
Catholic Schools Report Significant Rise in Test Scores
The Catholic Schools in the Archdiocese of New York are pleased to report that their student scores on state exams continue to improve, year over year, in both Mathematics and English Language Arts (ELA). This successful year continues a now five-year trend in which Catholic Schools’ test scores outpaced those of New York State, New York City and most charter school averages.
The New York State Education Department (NYSED) recently released test scores for 2019, and grades 3-8 show 53.7 percent of students met or exceeded proficiency standards in Mathematics, and 57.7 percent in ELA. These levels represent an increase from 2018 of 4.1 and 1.4 percentage points in the respective disciplines.
Catholic School Teachers Advise Students Heading Back to School
Catholic New York interviewed three of our teachers on how to prepare for the start of the school year next month. Educators who teach all different age groups weighed in, including: Kyle O’Donnell, a science teacher and assistant principal for academics from Cardinal Spellman High School; Roberto Placido, who teaches math for grades five through eight at Our Lady Queen of Martyrs in Manhattan; and Linda Ballew, a kindergarten teacher from Blessed Sacrament on Staten Island (pictured above).
Click here to view the full article: Teachers Offer Tips to Equip Students Heading Back to School
Superintendent Offers Student Success Tips: ‘Work, Play, Prayer’
Superintendent of Schools Michael J. Deegan was interviewed by Catholic New York as a part of their Back to School issue. Mr. Deegan spoke about everything from the improved NYS test scores achieved by Catholic Schools across the Archdiocese of New York, the Pope’s reflections from his visit to Our Lady Queen of Angels School in East Harlem in 2015, and the exciting new programs we have to offer for the upcoming year.
> Click here to view the full article: ‘Work, Play, Prayer’ Requisites for a Successful School Year, Says Interim Superintendent
Substantial Equivalency Alert: What Families Should Know
The Archdiocese of New York, along with the New York State Catholic Conference recently issued an important message for families regarding the Substantial Equivalency guidelines being considered by the State Education Department (SED). Click here to view this important information, and to get involved!
Students From China Join St. Clare’s Summer STEM/Robotics Program
St. Clare School in Staten Island’s 12th Annual Summer STEM & Robotics Adventure Program hosted some visitors this July. Four children from Xiamen, China joined the camp as part of a five-day cultural exchange program. The visiting students demonstrated origami and got to interact with students and faculty on the campus.
> Click here to view the full article
Cardinal Dolan Makes a Pitch at Catholic Education Night
Cardinal Dolan attended the ninth annual Catholic Schools Night at Dutchess Stadium on June 17th, an event that raises money for Catholic Schools in the Northern Westchester/Putnam/Dutchess region. To honor His Eminence’s attendance, the Hudson Valley Renegades gave out baseballs branded with a St. Patrick’s Cathedral logo. Cardinal Dolan gladly greeted and signed these baseballs for students, and he also threw the first pitch.
> Click here for the full article
Class of 2019 Valedictorians and Salutatorians
Each year, Catholic New York salutes the hard work and dedication of seniors graduating from Catholic high schools in the archdiocese. The valedictorians and salutatorians of each school are recognized for their academic achievements in the published listings.
Shown above: Valedictorian Abraham Castillo and salutatorian Jason Williams led the 135 graduates in the Class of 2019 at St. Raymond High School for Boys in the Bronx.
> Click here to view the whole list.
CNN’s Jim Sciutto Returns to Regis High School for Debate Prep
CNN’s Chief National-Security Advisor Jim Sciutto returned to his alma mater Regis High School to help the seniors on the debate prep for Nationals. Sciutto was a former member of the debate team in the eighties, and he was invited back by his former debate coach and current Director of Admissions, Eric Di Michele, to assist with the practice.
> Click here to read the full article
Students Go to Their Phones for New Eddy Awards Program
St. Patrick’s School on Staten Island won seven awards, including Best Elementary News Team, at the 46th annual Eddy Awards May 17 at the ITV Studios in Yonkers. Maria Regina High School in Hartsdale won five awards, including Best High School News Team for their show, “The Water Crisis: Thirsting for Justice.”
Above: A broadcast is shown of the work of Eddy award-winning elementary anchorpersons Salvatore Agro and Avamichelina Hodgens of St. Patrick’s School, Staten Island, during the 46th annual Eddy Awards, held on May 17 at the ITV Studios in Yonkers. > Click here to read the full article.
> Click here to view the complete video of the 2019 Eddy Awards Show!
Archdiocese of New York Holds Regional Field Day
On May 8 the Archdiocese of New York welcomed nearly 1,000 students and faculty from 26 Catholic schools across the Archdiocese to its annual Regional Field Day. Participants gathered for Mass in the gymnasium of St. Joseph’s Seminary (Dunwoodie) in Yonkers New York. Fun and games, from tug-of-war to three-legged races, followed outdoors on the seminary grounds. > Click here to read the full article.
> Click here to view News 12 Video
Our Lady of Lourdes School Welcomes Renowned Author
Our Lady of Lourdes Elementary School in Harlem was featured on Fox 5’s “New York Minute” segment after a special visit from renowned children’s author Chris Grabenstein. Our Champions for Quality Education department coordinated the author’s visit through their Page Turners program.
Click here to view the Fox 5 News Segment.
Page Turners promotes the literary arts by bringing celebrated authors right into the classroom. Novelists, poets, creative non-fiction writers, illustrators and science writers engage with students through readings, lessons and creative writing workshops. In many instances, an author’s work celebrates his or her own heritage. The setting of each Page Turners class allows the author to demonstrate to all students how writing can enhance their lives. Click here to find out more about Page Turners.
The Ferrante Quintuplets 10 Years Later (Photo: SILive)
The Ferrante Quintuplets — the only set of five children born in one delivery in Staten Island University Hospital history — are all playing basketball for Saint Christopher’s School in Grant City.
Smallest born, Amanda is positioning to be center as now tallest of the five.
> Read more: https://www.silive.com/news/2019/04/where-are-the-ferrante-quintuplets-10-years-later.html
> Read more: Tiny miracles: A decade later, Ferrante quintuplets reunite with hospital staff — https://www.silive.com/news/2019/04/tiny-miracles-a-decade-later-ferrante-quintuplets-reunite-with-hospital-staff.html
Mass for the High School Class of 2019 at St. Patrick’s Cathedral
Prayer for Class of 2019 Seeks ‘Grace and Mercy in the Years Ahead’.
His Eminence Cardinal Timothy Michael Dolan celebrated Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral for nearly 4,000 seniors from Catholic high schools across the archdiocese April 3-4.
At the Eucharistic Liturgy for the Class of 2019 on April 4, Cardinal Dolan reminded the assembled students that “these are days of gratitude,” referring to “the sentiments that are in your heart now and which are going to be rolling around in your heart and soul for the next two months as you prepare for final exams and for graduation, and for departure from the high school that you’ll soon call alma mater.”
Click here to view full article
Archdiocese of New York Names Interim Superintendent of Catholic Schools
Timothy Michael Cardinal Dolan, Archbishop of New York, announced that Mr. Michael J. Deegan, Deputy Superintendent, will assume the position of Interim Superintendent until a search is completed and a new superintendent has been installed. In the coming months, Cardinal Dolan will name a new Superintendent following the retirement of Dr. Timothy J. McNiff after his more than 10 years of service. > Click here for the full press release
A dedicated and experienced educator, Mr. Deegan has served the Church in Catholic education for almost forty years. A Catholic school principal for more than 20 years, he has taught at Iona Grammar School in New Rochelle, Power Memorial Academy in Manhattan, and Sacred Heart School in Manhattan. He has also served as principal at both St. Francis Xavier School and St. Jude School (both in Manhattan) and headmaster of Iona Grammar School.
In 2004, Edward Cardinal Egan, Archbishop of New York, appointed Mr. Deegan Director of Inner City Schools to help oversee the 122 elementary and secondary inner-city schools then serving more than 60,000 children. His responsibilities were in the areas of finance, institutional advancement, curriculum development and strategic planning. In 2013, he was appointed Deputy Superintendent of Schools, and continues to serve in that role.
32nd Annual Bronx Science Fair Hosts Borough’s Best and Brightest
Nearly 300 students participated in the 32nd annual Bronx-wide Science Fair which was held on Thursday March 28th, at 4:00 p.m., at Mt. St. Michael Academy, 4300 Murdock Ave., Bronx, NY.
Students from grades kindergarten through eighth represented 34 different schools from the Northeast and Northwest Bronx Catholic School regions with a total of 239 projects concentrating on STEM (Science, Technology Engineering and Mathematics) education.
Winners were announced at a special awards ceremony: congratulations to all the winners!
Eighth Grader Pens Second Book on Success
Denar Ralph, an 8th grade student at Mount Saint Michael Academy has accomplished a great deal in his short life. In 2017 he published his first book titled, Climbing the Ladder to Success. A year later, he released his second self-published book: The Daily Climb: 31 Days of Inspiration to Help You Climb Your Ladder to Success. Congratulations, Denar!
Click here to view Bronx News 12 Interview!
The Archdiocese of New York Seeks AdvancED School System Accreditation
On March 19-21, the Archdiocese of New York hosted an AdvancED External Review Team that reviewed the system and a cross section of its schools to evaluate the system’s adherence to the AdvancED Accreditation Standards and to make a recommendation for AdvancED School System Accreditation.
The team found that the Archdiocese of New York met the requirements for accreditation and announced that it will be recommending the system for AdvancED School System Accreditation. Their recommendation will be reviewed and acted upon by the national AdvancED Accreditation Commission later this month.
> Click here to read full release
