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Bridging the Gap Staying ahead of the academic, social curves key for summer programs
G
uarding against learning loss between spring and fall has long been important to help keep students prepared for the next grade – especially following 18 months of pandemic effects. To that end, schools in the Diocese of Trenton have offered programs that address students’ academic needs while providing a safe and fun environment where learning feels like recreation. Stuart Country Day School of the Sacred Heart, Princeton, offered girls in grades five through nine the skills they need to prepare them for a life of leadership and service. BY EMMALEE The #LEADLIKEAGIRL camp, ITALIA held July 26-30 on the school’s Contributing Editor and Princeton campus, was a first-time CHRISTINA collaboration between the school’s LESLIE “Girls Take Charge” program and the Correspondent National Center for Girls’ Leadership, which aims to instill the standards of values, intellect, agency/advocacy, collaboration and vision. “[It] is committed to preparing girls for lives of exceptional leadership and service,” explained NCGL director Bonnie Milecki. “All curricula is focused on middle school girls and their social, academic and leadership development, and custom designed for this age group with their diverse skills.” St. Mary Academy, Manahawkin, has hosted its weekly Knights Summer Camp – now in its third year – for both St. Mary students and public school children from the surrounding community. Its popularity is a testament to the program’s success. “Because we were open last summer and didn’t have any cases and/or outbreak of COVID-19, our [enrollment] increased drastically,” attested Lizanne Coyne, principal of St. Mary Academy. “We went from having two groups of 10
Students in St. Mary Knights Summer Camp, Manahawkin, show off their STEM-based project: smash-proof egg cages built with straws and other common materials. Courtesy photo
campers each week last summer, to six groups of 12 each week this summer.” Following the current recommendations of the New Jersey Department of Health, the Knights Summer Camp has operated safely amid the pandemic for two summers, giving the school an opportunity in 2020 to implement recommendations before the academic year began in September. WHAT’S IN STORE Mentors and educators in Stuart’s #LEADLIKEAGIRL camp led group discussions to learn the girls’ definition of
Continued on 55
Young women participate in the #LEADLIKEAGIRL camp held July 2630 on the campus of Stuart Country Day School of the Sacred Heart, Princeton, a program that focuses on instilling the standards of values, intellect, agency/advocacy, collaboration and vision. Courtesy photo August 2021 THE MONITOR MAGAZINE 25
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A New Day for TCPA
BY ROSE O’CONNOR Associate Editor
F
or the Trenton Catholic Preparatory school family, the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony July 27 provided the opportunity for school families, alumni and supporters to reflect on their past and look toward their future. Rising 7th grade student Jameson Haque is ready “to get back to school with a lot of familiar teachers and staff. I’ve been here since kindergarten and consistently seeing the same smiling faces makes it feel more like home.” Miya Ratliff, who will be in the fourth grade in September, can’t wait for Art class, because as she explained proudly, “I am an artist.”
Father Daniel Cahill, former school chaplain, provided the Invocation and Benediction at the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony. Rose O’Connor photos
“Seeing the same smiling faces makes it feel more like home.” These seem like common back-toschool student musings, but for the students at TCPA, being able to attend the school in September was uncertain. It was announced by the Diocese in January that Trenton Catholic Academy, formed as a regional Pre-K-12 school in 2005, would not reopen its doors in September due to long-standing financial shortfalls that were exacerbated by the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. Founded in 1962 as St. Anthony High School and later renamed McCorristin Catholic High School after its founder, the school was established as Continued on 28
Marty Flynn, athletic director, Anne Reap, Lower School director, and Joanne May, Upper School director, cut the ceremonial ribbon at Trenton Catholic Preparatory Academy.
26 THE MONITOR MAGAZINE August 2021
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Fresh start for Hamilton school Continued from 26
part of the re-structuring of the Catholic schools in the city of Trenton. After months of receiving donations from supporters, individuals and corporations, while also working with diocesan officials, local township administrators and alumni, the newly established Board of Trustees was happy to announce that the school would reopen in September as Trenton Catholic Preparatory Academy, an independent Catholic school. Lower School director Anne Reap acknowledged the work done by volunteers as she spoke during the ceremony. “Today it is about our families who fought for this school – school parents, as well as our alumni, faculty and staff, members of our community, our Diocese and most importantly, the members of our TCPA Boards. Pope Francis established the Year of the Family last March on the Solemnity of St. Joseph. How fitting during this Year of the Family that we can truly live the joy of God’s love found in our now extended Iron Mike family.” Reap also read remarks from Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., who shared his wishes for a “glorious occasion and much success” and asked for “God’s blessing on the faculty, staff,
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alumni and students.” Upper School parent Noraima Hernandez shared the significance of the school. “TCPA is very important to the community because it provides an affordable, faithbased education Hamilton Twp. Mayor Jeff Martin pledges his for our children continued support to TCPA as he addresses atin a family type tendees. Rose O’Connor photos setting. Our children learn not only to respect others, but to respect themselves, which is so important in today’s society.” The ceremony included speakers from the school administration, TCPA Board of Trustees and representatives from Hamilton Township, including Mayor Jeff Martin and alumni Fred Dumont, director of community and economic development, and Councilman Rick Tighe. Mercer County Commissioner Nina Melker presented a proclamation to TCPA to mark the significance of the day. Board President and alumna Margaret Raymond-Flood thanked the numerous supporters of TCPA acknowledging that their hard work and dedication proved to be fruitful. “I am elated. Knowing that the legacy of this school will live on has brought me to tears,” Ann Marie Williams-Gray, fellow Board trustee and alumna, shared. The day was about remembering the past, but also looking ahead to the future. “We have added several exciting new classes to the course offerings to be taken both in person and through Catholic Virtual. We will be reinstating clubs during the school day and after school,” Upper School director Joanne May shared. Reap echoed her colleague. “I am looking forward to welcoming back our students to a full-service school, which will include our strong academics, after school clubs, robust athletic programs, service opportunities and before and after school care. This is only the beginning of a slate full of new opportunities for our students.” Paul Pennacchi, alumnus and Board member offered, “Wasn’t it a great day? After all the hard work the Board put in over the last six months, it doesn’t get better than this,” he said. Trenton Catholic Preparatory Academy is now accepting registrations for the fall. Prospective families should visit www.trentoncatholicprep.org for more information.
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Knowles embraces new role in Catholic Schools Office BY EMMALEE ITALIA Contributing Editor
T
hough Michael Knowles’ appointment to associate director of school development and operations in the diocesan Office of Catholic Schools is new, working in Catholic education certainly isn’t. “My six years at Trenton Catholic Academy provided me the opportunity to appreciate fully the gift of Catholic education,” Knowles emphasized. “I was afforded the unique opportunity to be involved in all aspects of school operations and development. In a way, TCA defined the role for me here in the Diocese.” As former president of the Hamilton school, Knowles understands the value of meeting the technological and spiritual needs of Catholic school students, particularly during COVID-19.
“Catholic education has led the way over the last 18 months,” he explained. “The pandemic impacted all of us. Our schools Michael Knowles were able not only to adapt – they thrived. The commitment and passion of our school leaders enabled our students to embrace technology solutions that not only served us well in the short-term but [also] prepared us for the future.” Knowles joined the TCA staff in 2015, serving as both marketing director and community relations liaison. He also worked as the school’s Project Lead the Way / STEM curriculum coordinator as well as its first upper school robotics moderator. In Catholic schools particularly,
Knowles enjoys “the fact that we are here to meet the needs of our students entrusted to us in mind, body and soul … I truly believe this is God’s plan for me.” Calling Hamilton home, Knowles and his wife, Genevieve, are active members of Sacred Heart Parish, Trenton, where he has served the parish community over the years in faith formation and social justice ministries. The couple have three adult children and two grandchildren. Knowles enjoys being an avid runner and grandfather. “Catholic schools truly meet the academic, social, emotional and spiritual needs of our children,” he reflected. “Education is all about preparing our students for the future. Catholic education is about preparing our students for their future in heaven. It is our task to serve our students in a way that they will be responsible contributors to society while living out the Gospel values.”
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THE DIOCESE OF TRENTON is committed to the initiatives outlined in the U.S. Bishops’ Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People and to its own policies and guidelines in regard to the reporting and investigation of sexual abuse allegations involving minors. If you have been sexually abused as a minor by a member of the clergy or anyone representing the Catholic Church, or if you know of someone who was, you can report that abuse through the diocesan
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Guida named diocesan Catholic Athletes for Christ coordinator BY CHRISTINA LESLIE Correspondent
A
lifelong Catholic educator with decades of coaching experience will now coordinate an organization for male and female athletes which professes that faith and sports go hand in hand. Dennis Guida, retired president/ principal of Holy Cross Preparatory Academy, Delran, has been named the diocesan coordinator of Catholic Athletes for Christ as of Aug. 1. Guida succeeds longtime volunteer CAC moderator, John McKenna, who died on June 21. Dennis Guida “CAC offers athletes the chance to strengthen their faith and devotion to Christ,” observed Guida. “They are leaders in the school; this can give them an outlet. An estimated 2,000 student athletes in the Diocese belong to CAC chapters in Notre Dame High School, Lawrenceville; Trenton Catholic Preparatory Academy, Hamilton; Christian Brothers Academy, Lincroft; St. Rose High School, Belmar;
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Trinity Hall, Tinton Falls; St. John Vianney High School, Holmdel; Red Bank Catholic High School, Red Bank, and Donovan Catholic High School, Toms River. Both Stuart Country Day School of the Sacred Heart, Princeton, and Mater Dei Prep, Middletown, have expressed interest in forming chapters. “I was in on this on the ground floor when it was first brought up by the Bishop in 2008,” Guida continued, recalling the program’s inception in the Diocese of Trenton as the nation’s first high school level chapter. The CAC aims to serve Catholic athletes by sharing the Gospel of Christ in and through athletics while exemplifying the core virtues of charity, honesty, humility, meekness, moderation, purity and sportsmanship. Launched on the college level in 2006, the national organization’s website explains their goal is “to provide an integrated network of sports-oriented clergy and lay people to serve Catholic athletes, coaches and staff in the practice of their faith [while] utilizing the unique platform given to them to reach the world for Jesus Christ.” Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., serves on the national organization’s episcopal board, and recognized the need for such a faith-based program in the schools of the Trenton Diocese. In conjunction with CAC president and founder Ray McKenna, he formed the first high school chapter in the nation in 2008. Guida holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from University of Scranton, Scranton, Pa., with a bachelor’s degree in political science and a master’s degree in education with a social studies certification from Marygrove College, Detroit, Mich. He spent 40 years in various roles at Holy Cross Preparatory Academy (formerly Holy Cross High School), before becoming president/principal. He coached multiple sports in the Diocese of Camden for 27 years. After retiring from Holy Cross in 2018, he served as a consultant for the Trenton Catholic schools. Guida and his wife, Eileen, have been married for 43 years, and have four children and two grandchildren. His goals for the diocesan Catholic Athletes for Christ include forming a chapter in those schools which do not yet have one, continuing the chapters’ frequent meetings and service projects and strengthening CAC’s connection to the lives of the Catholic student athletes in the Diocese. “On the front burner is to repeat the ‘Father and Son Retreat’ in January, and perhaps having a similar program for mothers and daughters,” Guida added. Schools without a CAC chapter can contact their member school through their athletic director or campus ministry for more information on starting a chapter.
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