Monitor Mag Oct 2024 Catholic High School Showcase
C A T H O L I C H I G H S C H O O L S H O W C A S E
With a kaleidoscope of academic programs, college cooperative course offerings, highly ranked athletics and 21st century technological equipment, Catholic high schools in the Diocese of Trenton are leading the way in secondary education. Coupled with the competitive tools and scholarly opportunities is an environment that is unequivocally centered on the Gospel of Christ, allowing students and staff to live their faith boldly as they grow in insight and implement teamwork strategies.
Following are profiles of Catholic high schools in Burlington, Mercer, Monmouth and Ocean Counties.
DONOVAN CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL
The high school community of Donovan Catholic educates its students to live their faith, respect and serve others in a global society, and pursue academic excellence in a college preparatory environment. Donovan Catholic High School – It Makes a Difference 711 Hooper Avenue, Toms River www.donovancatholic.org
OPEN HOUSE: Oct. 6, 2 – 4 p.m. and Oct. 7, 6 – 8 p.m. Apply Today at www.donovancatholic.org
CONTACT: 732-349-8801| Admissions Coordinator – Lori Jensen, ext. 2429
Since its founding in 1962, Donovan Catholic High School (DCHS) has been a leading choice for motivated students seeking an individualized educational experience and discovering their purpose. DCHS is uniquely positioned to offer a safe, clean, small, secure and student-centered learning environment in the Catholic tradition of excellence.
Our mission continues to evolve to meet the goals of our school community. Guided by our Catholic faith and commitment to individualized instruction, DCHS is truly unique. For over 60 years, our students, families, alumni, faculty and staff call DCHS “family.” Our Catholic identity mirrors the teachings of Pope Francis: the principles of forgiveness, love and service to others. Students embrace opportunities to complete service hours and volunteer in our local community.
Donovan Catholic High School holds charters with the National Honor Society, Thespian Society, and the content-specific Honor Society in Science. It has also earned nationally recognized accreditation from Cognia. Our teachers, counselors, coaches and staff work collaboratively to meet the needs of every student through a wide range of course offerings, athletics, fine and performing arts, a robotics team, clubs, activities, and service opportunities.
We are proud of our Performing and Fine Arts Department. Griffin TV, anchored by our Broadcast Studio, Continued on 56
CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL SHOWCASE
produces two news shows daily. Students can choose fine arts electives during the academic schedule. Set design, photography, pottery and digital art enable our students to be innovative and creative. Our performing arts program shines on the stage thrice yearly with two musicals and A Night on Broadway.
Our student-athletes have enjoyed athletic success at every level and sport, with an excellent reputation for outstanding sportsmanship and championship wins. DCHS offers over 35 athletic teams within three seasons and was the first diocesan high school to institute the Catholic Athletes for Christ program.
Donovan Catholic offers a comprehensive academic program on a collegiate block schedule with various course offerings beyond our core college prep and honors classes, including Advanced Placement courses, Dual Enrollment College credit, and various enriching electives. We offer an engineering program called Project Lead the Way and a winning Robotics Team. DCHS has partnered with Ocean County College (OCC), Georgian Court University and the University of Delaware to allow students to take dual college credit classes while still in high school. The class of 2024 was awarded over $40 million in college scholarships.
Our Finance Lab hosts 20 Bloomberg Terminals, allowing students access to real-time data from markets worldwide and news, research, and powerful analytics used by top finance, business, and government decision-makers. Students will create a well-developed equity portfolio and participate in the Bloomberg Trading Challenge, developing a strategy and executing trades; students will also be able to earn a Bloomberg Market Concepts certification through a standardized examination.
NOTRE DAME HIGH SCHOOL
Dedicated to academic excellence and nurturing a dynamic Catholic community that prepares students for college and instills a commitment to personal growth and service.
CONTACT: Laura Sarubbi, 609-882-7901 | admissions@ ndnj.org
Notre Dame High School was founded in 1957 and offers a powerfully well-rounded college preparatory experience for young men and women in grades 9–12. Notre Dame provides an education grounded in Catholic Values in the spirit of the Sisters of Mercy, aiming to empower students within a positive and supportive community.
The school’s commitment to academic rigor, innovative technology, athletics and the arts ensures students a myriad of experiences. With 28 athletics teams and over 50 co-curriculars, 40 Honors, and 20 Advanced Placement courses, Notre Dame provides unlimited opportunities for students to explore, create, lead and serve. The campus exudes energy, and the spirit of the community is strong, making it a place where young men and women can learn, grow, and thrive.
Notre Dame welcomes students with diverse interests, abilities and strengths, offering them the appropriate academic challenge and empowering them to reach beyond their comfort zones. The school’s ultimate goal is to prepare students for lives of fulfillment and service. Your future starts at Notre Dame High School.
RED BANK CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL
Join the Tradition
112 Broad Street, Red Bank www.redbankcatholic.org
CONTACT: Kristen Amnott, 732-747-5113 | admissions@ redbankcatholic.com
Red Bank Catholic is a vibrant, beloved, Catholic co-educational institution with a deep tradition, an extraordinary spirit and a record of achievement in the classroom, on the athletic fields, onstage and beyond.
RBC was founded in 1927 in the heart of the city of
RED BANK CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL
CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL SHOWCASE
Red Bank. With 181 courses offered, including 20 Advanced Placement, 32 Honors, 21 dual-enrollment college-level courses and Capstone project opportunities, each student’s schedule is tailored around their individual strengths and interests, and 100 percent of our graduates continue to higher education or career preparation programs.
The vast array of extracurricular opportunities offered at RBC includes our 28 competitive varsity sports, our award-winning performing arts programs, more than 35 clubs and activities, and our semester-long internship program, in which over 800 students have participated since 2007.
Red Bank Catholic’s students come from more than 50 towns and 70 schools. They are young men and women of competence, compassion, commitment and curiosity, and together with over 15,000 alumni, they make up the “Casey Family.”
ST. JOHN VIANNEY HIGH SCHOOL
Ignite, Serve, Explore, Inspire
540A Line Road, Holmdel www.sjvhs.com
OPEN HOUSE: Oct. 19, 9 a.m. and Oct. 24, 7 p.m. Register at www.sjvhs.com/openhouse
CONTACT: Patti Gilmartin, 732-739-0800 x 155 | gilmartin@sjvhs.com
SAINT JOHN VIANNEY HIGH SCHOOL
St. John Vianney is a co-ed Catholic high school operated by the Diocese of Trenton that provides a Catholic education by igniting intellectual growth, serving those in need, exploring passions and inspiring a commitment to know God. SJV’s vibrant community offers outstanding academics and exceptional extracurricular activities, including first-rate athletics. As a Catholic school, we go beyond just academics and activities. SJV educates the whole person – mind, body, and spirit.
SJV promotes an educational environment that supports the growth of each of our students. We provide an advanced curriculum with a student-to-faculty ratio of 15:1. A 4x4 block schedule format allows students to accelerate their learning to an advanced level and remediate weaknesses in any curricular area. We offer many levels in all subjects, including college preparatory, Honors, Advanced Placement, and Dual Enrollment.
We also offer qualified students the Early College Academy and Business Academy. The Early College Academy allows students to graduate with 64 college credits and an Associate Degree in Computer Science or Social Science. The Business Academy combines college courses from the University of Delaware, Georgian Court University and Brookdale Community College with real-life experiences through speakers, field trips, and both on and off-campus business initiatives. Starting in Spring 2025, St. John Vianney High School will introduce the Air Force Junior ROTC program for 9th to 12th-grade students. The program aims to develop character and instill essential life skills based on the Air Force’s core values. SJV is also excited to introduce our new Pre-Law Academy in Fall 2025. Following in the footsteps of our other academies, it will be a combination of Advanced Placement and Dual Enrollment courses with a capstone project senior year.
Additionally, our campus is technologically advanced to provide seamless learning, and all students receive tablet computers equipped with the latest educational software. SJV also has athletic fields, a lighted turf athletic stadium, a 12,000 square-foot fitness center, and a state-of-the-art performance theater – facilities that help support our 35+ student clubs and 30 sports programs.
St. Rose High School is a vibrant, co-ed shore community where faculty and families are dedicated to pro -
viding students with a faith-based, high-quality Catholic education.
Our rigorous curriculum offers a comprehensive range of academic pathways, including College Prep, Honors and Advanced Placement courses. Thanks to the generous support of alumni and friends, we have continuously enhanced our academic offerings.
In addition to an innovative drop schedule, St. Rose provides unique opportunities in Business through our Institute of Financial Leadership, which is part of the Wharton Youth Program. Our Performing Arts Academy shines both on stage and in the classroom. Athletics and extracurricular activities are central to the St. Rose experience, with over 25 varsity sports and numerous JV and freshman programs that encourage student-athletes to apply their dedication beyond the field.
Our school is also proud to offer a growing robotics program, engineering courses, and a wide variety of student-led clubs, ensuring students are challenged in innovative and collaborative environments.
At St. Rose High School, we strive to meet the needs of every student, creating an enriching Catholic experience where each individual is known, valued, challenged, and inspired to be more.
CHRISTIAN BROTHERS ACADEMY
An outstanding Catholic day school for boys on the high school level
CONTACT: Jennifer Maccarella, 732-747-1959 x 217 | admissions@cbalincroftnj.org
Christian Brothers Academy has built a reputation rooted in excellence, basing our educational philosophy on the Lasallian tradition. We focus on developing every aspect of our students through unique activities both in and out of the classroom. Our faculty is committed to a rigorous academic curriculum, while helping each student reach his full potential.
The principles of faith and service remain ever-present in our community, always giving our students a chance to help those who are less fortunate. Over the past five years, each graduating class has averaged over 100 hours of service per student, which greatly exceeds the 70 hours required for graduation. Meanwhile, our championship-winning athletics and dynamic extracurricular activities allow for our students to foster an unparalleled brotherhood during their time at the Academy.
HOLY CROSS PREPARATORY ACADEMY
The only independent co-ed Catholic preparatory school in Burlington County 5035 Route 130 S., Delran www.hcprep.org
OPEN HOUSE: Oct. 22, 6 – 8 p.m. One lucky eighth grade student will win a $1,000 grant. Pre-registration available at https://hcprep.org. Please note, registration is not required. Entrance Exam: Nov. 2 or Nov. 3
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Wednesday November 6 6:30 p.m.
To register:
CATHOLIC
CONTACT: Darian D’Alfonso, Director of Admissions & Outreach, 856-461-5400 ext. 3054, ddalfonso@hcprep.org or admissions@hcprep.org
VISION: To serve as the premier Catholic institute for education and leadership in South Jersey and beyond.
MISSION: To inspire young men and women to become resilient leaders and lifelong learners through wisdom and holiness.
Holy Cross Preparatory Academy offers a collegiate-style block schedule of single-semester courses, ensuring students feel comfortable when they step into their first college classes. Each student is provided a laptop and access to class material online to enhance the learning process.
Through partnerships with Rowan College of Burlington County, Seton Hall University and Holy Family University, HCPA offers dual-credit courses totaling up to
ST. AUGUSTINE PREPARATORY SCHOOL
60+ college credits. Our Guidance Office utilizes Naviance to help students through the college application process and provides students the opportunity to meet with college admissions counselors during the annual College Fair and regular visits from universities. Our teachers also provide summer sessions on campus to help students complete additional college requirements, such as essays and resumes.
Specialized classes are offered in engineering (STREAM), forensic science, graphic design and accounting. Visual and performing arts allow students to explore their talents in our studio, inside the dark room or on the stage. The proud athletic history at Holy Cross is visible in the numerous sectional and state titles lining the walls of our gymnasium. Lancer Nation ensures that positive values and our shared faith are integrated throughout all activities, with teams and clubs regularly participating in group service projects, Masses or prayer services.
STUART COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL OF THE SACRED HEART
A Sacred Heart independent Catholic girls’ school for grades K-12 with a co-ed preschool for ages 2 and 3 and a junior kindergarten program 1200 Stuart Road, Princeton www.stuartschool.org
INFO SESSIONS AT 9 AM: Thursday, Oct. 10, Tuesday, Oct. 29, Wednesday, Nov. 13. Register at www.stuartschool.org/visit.
CONTACT: 609-921-6118, hnastro@stuartschool.org.
Founded in 1963, Stuart Country Day School of the Sacred Heart is an all-girls, college preparatory, Preschool – Grade 12 independent Catholic school whose mission is to prepare young women for lives of exceptional leadership and service.
With a highly personalized and innovative curriculum, superb faculty, and the space given to grow in their faith, Stuart girls graduate as compassionate and empowered global citizens who are driven to be forces of change in our world.
and hear about our program, see the school with a student ambassador and chat with current parents and VVA alumnae. Pre-Registration required at www.villavictoria. org/admissions/open-house/
Villa Victoria Academy, established in 1933, is one of the oldest, all-girls Catholic schools in New Jersey. The high school provides girls with small, college-prep classes with individualized attention. The mission of Villa is to respect the inherent dignity of each individual, to educate the whole person, instill character and confidence, and to empower young women to reach their full potential and influence the world in a truly Christian manner.
Villa is owned and operated by the Religious Teachers Filippini and draws students from both New Jersey and Pennsylvania to its 44-acre campus. Faculty and staff include lay men and women and our religious sisters. Villa operates a traditional schedule of eight classes per day for 40 minutes each. Recent updates include a TV studio, a state-of-the-art dance studio, and a strength, training and conditioning room.
Financial aid is available to all students, and scholarships are available to those entering ninth grade. The High School Placement Test for potential applicants will be held Nov. 2 and Nov. 23. ($40) In addition, VVA will be offering an HSPT Test Prep Class for any boy or girl in 8th grade.The cost is $80 for five classes and the first class is Oct. 15 from 5-6:30 pm. Contact the Admissions office to register for either or both.
CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL SHOWCASE
CAC forum offers support for student-athletes
SKeynote speaker Mike Sielski, sports columnist for The Philadelphia Inquirer, chats with students during a break. Marianne Hartman photos
A group discussion between Mike Sielski and student athletes.
ome 180 student-athletes from Catholic high schools around the Diocese as well as one school from the Metuchen Diocese, and eighth graders from two grammar schools gathered with their coaches, teachers and chaperones, for the annual Catholic Athletes for Christ Leadership Summit Oct. 1 in St. Robert Bellarmine Co-Cathedral, Freehold.
Hosted by the diocesan Department of Catholic Schools, this year’s forum featured keynote speaker Mike Sielski, sports columnist for The Philadelphia Inquirer. His topic was “Sports and Spirituality.”
Sielski shared stories of famous athletes whose Catholic faith helped them through challenging times in their careers. Two of his books include “The Rise: Kobe Bryant and the Pursuit of Immortality” and “Fading Echoes: A True Story of Rivalry and Brotherhood from the Football Field to the Fields of Honor.”
Another forum feature was the celebration of Mass by Father Christopher Colavito, diocesan director of vocations and chaplain of Notre Dame High School, Lawrenceville.
Forum organizers noted it’s the first time that eighth grade students were invited to attend. There was student representation from St. Joseph School, Toms River, and St. Benedict School, Holmdel.
Mike Sielski, second from right, meets with Department of Catholic Schools staff from left, Bonnie Milecki, assistant superintendent of School development and operations; Dr. Vincent de Paul Schmidt, superintendent; Dennis Guida, diocesan coordinator of Catholic Athletes for Christ, and Daniel O’Connell, assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction.
Don’t miss The Monitor’s
Sports coverage online
BY RICH FISHER Contributing Editor:
Swimming standout Molly Cullen also a soccer star for St. Rose
Donovan Catholic girls volleyball still rolling after graduation losses
Notre Dame field hockey making positive strides with baby steps
New story every Friday!
Go to TrentonMonitor.com and click on NEWS>SPORTS.
Sunday, October 20 11:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. 145 Plainfield Avenue, Metuchen, NJ 08840 Pre-register online at www.stjoes.org/openhouse
St. Rose senior Molly Cullen is going to Texas Christian University for swimming, but she is also one of the Shore Conference’s most dangerous scorers in soccer. Photo courtesy of Michael Scotto
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