Northwest Catholic High School “Where you know that you belong”
Greetings from Northwest Catholic High School! After you have taken a look at this booklet, I urge you to visit our campus, where you will begin to get a sense of the strong community that is NWC! Whether it is through academics, student activities, the arts, athletics or community service – there is something for everyone to learn from and contribute to in our community. Our environment helps students develop and deepen their own faith. God is at the center of all we do at Northwest Catholic. Each day begins and ends with a school-wide prayer, and our monthly Masses help all members of the community build up their faith and gain strength to handle life’s challenges. Northwest Catholic is a Blue Ribbon School recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. Our academic program is driven by our outstanding faculty members, who dedicate their lives to their field and their students. Students are invited to explore all the various disciplines in depth – and the teachers, in turn, learn from the interest and enthusiasm of the students. A genuine excitement and thirst for learning can be felt in the active classrooms of Northwest Catholic.
There are also many opportunities for students to grow and develop. Students are actively involved in Student Council, Campus Ministry, art, music, drama, athletics, and many other clubs and groups. Through this involvement, students learn more about who they are and their God-given talents. They also learn to work together and learn from each other. Over their years at Northwest Catholic, we watch our students grow into mature, faith-filled young adults, culminating in the proud moment of graduation at St. Joseph Cathedral.
We invite you to learn more by visiting our website – www.northwestcatholic.org, and we look forward to welcoming you to the place “where you know that you belong.”
Sincerely,
David Eustis President/Chief Administrator
N O R T H W E S T C AT H O L I C H I G H S CNHO OROTLH W E S T C AT H O L I C H I G H S C H O O L
PARENT SPOTLIGHT Jeffrey and Deborah Yao Hometown: Simsbury, CT Why did you choose to send your children to Northwest Catholic? As graduates of a Catholic high school, we recognize the value that a Catholic education brings to an individual. The values of kindness, compassion and acceptance are the cornerstones of a community that embraces individuals for who they are and who they may become. We chose to send our children to Northwest Catholic because its moral compass points in the same direction as ours. With small class sizes and teachers who genuinely care about the development of their students, Northwest Catholic was the perfect alternative to a large public high school or costly private prep school education. What was your children’s experience at Northwest Catholic like? We have had two children attend Northwest Catholic. The experience has been different for each of them, because they themselves are different people. Our older son (Class of 2010), a child who was easily distracted and very social, benefitted from the discipline and individual approach taken by the faculty at the school. His experience at times was frustrating but the
faculty and administration never let him slip between the cracks and pushed him, knowing and believing in what he could accomplish. He attends Washington and Jefferson College and will graduate with a Bachelor of Arts degree in history. Our youngest son (Class of 2014) is a driven and focused young man. Northwest Catholic challenged him with classes that stretched him to accomplish things academically and encouraged him to push himself to achieve academic success. NWC has given both our sons the confidence and poise to accept adversity and to adapt to any situation that they may find themselves in. How has Northwest Catholic changed or influenced your children for the better? Northwest Catholic helped develop our children into the individuals they are today. We believe that because of the education, coaching, encouragement and acceptance that Northwest Catholic provides, our sons both have grown into fine young men who have respect for themselves and others. They are both kind and accepting of others, even if the others are different from themselves. The diversity at Northwest Catholic is an important element in creating a culture of inclusion that is accepting of everyone. Our two sons are the byproduct of that environment.
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What do you feel is the value of a Northwest Catholic education? If somebody values honesty, integrity, and traditional values and also embraces Jesus Christ in their lives, then a Northwest Catholic education is highly valuable. The value that we place on a Northwest Catholic education is very high because we value the belief systems that the school exhibits daily. Would you recommend Northwest Catholic to other families? Why? We would strongly recommend Northwest Catholic High School to any family who is looking for a very high quality, private school education that has as its foundation the tenets and teachings of the Catholic Church.We would also recommend Northwest Catholic to non-Catholics because the values of fairness, empathy, integrity, hard work, accountability and responsibility are values that should be shared by all.
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT Sarah Gillespie ’13 Hometown: Manchester, CT College: Harvard University ’17 What have been your favorite classes at Northwest Catholic? Why? I’ve loved all of my science classes. The teachers have always combined knowledge with an infectious enthusiasm. I have also enjoyed my language arts courses, both English and French, since they have taught me how to best interpret and use the written language. What have you learned from your classes at Northwest Catholic? In general, I have learned time management and the importance of investing time for thorough comprehension. Which teacher has had the most impact on you and why? I cannot pick just one! They’ve all had an impact on my life.
Sarah N O R T H W E S T C AT H O L I C H I G H S C H O O L
ACADEMICS
FACULTY SPOTLIGHT Ms. Elizabeth Lynch Oates ’94 Academic Subject: Fine and Visual Arts How long have you taught at Northwest Catholic? 13 years What do you like about teaching at Northwest Catholic? I love the sense of community that is found in this school and the opportunity that I have to get to know my students on a personal level. What do you like most about the students at Northwest Catholic? The students at Northwest Catholic are open to each other and very supportive of one another. They are vested in making the Northwest Catholic community the wonderful environment that it is.
ACADEMICS • • • • •
12:1 student-faculty ratio 14 AP courses offered Honors courses in every subject area Smart Board technology in every classroom 6 National Merit Finalists and
7 National Merit Commended Scholars
in the Class of 2013
What have you learned from your students? I have learned to be humble and thankful for the blessing of being able to teach my students and watch them grow and learn.
Ms. Oates “ W H E R E YO U K N OW T H AT YO U B E L O N G ”
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT Robert Place ’15 Hometown: West Hartford, CT What sports have you been involved in at Northwest Catholic? Soccer, baseball, indoor track and basketball What have you learned from your involvement in athletics at Northwest Catholic? I have learned that every sport is a team sport and you need to trust your teammates.You can’t always win, but what really matters is that you try your best at it. What’s been the most memorable part of being involved in NWC athletics? The most memorable part of being involved in NWC athletics was making it to the semi-finals of the State Tournament for soccer in the fall of 2012. What are the coaches like at Northwest Catholic? The coaches are all supportive. They are always trying to help you get better. They really show their passion for the sport.
Robert
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ATHLETICS
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT Angela Miguel ’15 Hometown: Newington, CT What sports have you been involved in at Northwest Catholic? Girls’ Tennis What have you learned from your involvement in athletics at Northwest Catholic? It takes dedication and willpower in playing tennis. Coaches and parents can push you to do your best, but in the end it comes down to you wanting to play the sport. I have learned that it takes a team to win and succeed. Our team has come together and created a bond that is unbreakable. We are like one family on and off the court, helping and supporting one another. What’s been the most memorable part of being involved in NWC athletics? Having a 16-0 record during the regular season of tennis in 2013 and making it to the semifinals of the State Tournament. Losing in the semifinals will push us to succeed in both the regular seasons and state tournament in years to come.
Athletics • Teams offered in 24 sports •
Nine state championships from 2010-2013
• 3 All-American athletes in the Class of 2013
“ W H E R E YO U K N OW T H AT YO U B E L O N G ”
What are the coaches like at Northwest Catholic? Mr. P is a great tennis coach. He doesn’t push us to be the greatest players, but pushes us to be the best we can be. He’s always giving us pep talks on and off the court to help boost our confidence. He is like a second father to the team; he reminds us that the mental aspect of the game is just as important as the physical facet of the game.
Ramone
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT Ramone Clahar ’15 Hometown: Hartford, CT What service projects have you been involved in at Northwest Catholic? At Northwest Catholic, I have been involved in the St. Vincent de Paul Club and ConnectiKids tutoring services. In the St. Vincent de Paul Club we work on projects that will help various people in our community. Previously we had been assisting a Hartford family with various finances, including rent, with the aid of donations from members of the club and student body at large (through an after-school candy store). As a tutor with ConnectiKids, I work with young students from Hartford once a week at NWC, helping them with their homework. Why is community service important to you? Community service is important to me because I just simply enjoy helping others. I believe that each person has certain God-given gifts and it is the responsibility of each person to use those gifts in the service of others – bless others with our blessings. What have you learned from your service experience? In my service experience, I have learned that there are more people out there that are in need, in ways we cannot even imagine, than we know. Even the wealthiest individual could be in some spiritual or psychological need. Everyone can help someone; everyone should help someone. N O R T H W E S T C AT H O L I C H I G H S C H O O L
FAITH & SERVICE
FAITH • Monthly Masses • Each student goes on retreat once a year. • Service project required for graduation
• Four years of religious studies • Over a dozen service- and faith-oriented programs, including Relay for Life and the Global Awareness Club
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STUDENT SPOTLIGHT Isabelle Jacques ’14 Hometown: Enfield, CT How have you been involved in the arts at Northwest Catholic? I have been taking art classes at Northwest Catholic since freshman year. What have you learned from this experience? I have learned about the lives of famous artists, discovered new artists and developed new techniques to improve my art work. What’s been the most memorable part of being involved in the arts at NWC? The most memorable part of being involved in the arts at NWC is having the opportunity to make a self-portrait and using my creativity to incorporate objects that I like into the background.
Isabelle
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FINE & PERFORMING ARTS STUDENT SPOTLIGHT Kevin Kearns ’16 Hometown: Simsbury, CT How have you been involved in the arts at Northwest Catholic? I have participated in Chamber Choir, Concert Choir, Jazz Choir, Big Band as a pianist, Jazz Combo as a pianist, Wind Ensemble as a saxophonist, and I have had a role in the musical. What have you learned from this experience? I have learned that every aspect of music is exciting, fun, and nothing gets old. Music is infinite – you can always write, play, and sing something new, and being involved in so many groups opens up opportunities to play, sing and hear more music.
THe ARTs • Courses in art, dance, music and theater • Nine award-winning choral and instrumental performing groups • Four theatrical productions each year in state-of-the-art facilities
What’s been the most memorable part of being involved in the arts at NWC? My favorite and the most memorable groups I have participated in are the musical, Jazz Combo and Jazz Choir. Singing, dancing, acting and playing music with my talented friends is a great feeling, whether practicing or performing.
• Art studio including kilns and a Mac Lab
Kevin “ W H E R E YO U K N OW T H AT YO U B E L O N G ”
Christian
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT Christian Mackay-Morgan ’16 Hometown: Simsbury, CT What do you like most about Northwest Catholic? Why? I like the people here because they’re really nice. I also like the sports that I do every season. How easy is it to make friends at Northwest Catholic? Explain. It’s easy to make friends here because the kids are open and friendly. What surprised you the most when you first came to Northwest Catholic? What surprised me was how fast I got to know people within the first week of starting at Northwest Catholic. What’s your favorite activity that you’ve been involved in at NWC? Why? I enjoy Indoor Track because it’s my favorite sport and a lot of my friends do it with me. N O R T H W E S T C AT H O L I C H I G H S C H O O L
STUDENT LIFE
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT Roberta Linares ’16 Hometown: Hartford, CT What do you like most about Northwest Catholic? Why? I like the people at Northwest Catholic the most. They are nice and help us or others with things. I also like the sports and activities that Northwest Catholic offers. How easy is it to make friends at Northwest Catholic? Explain. It’s fairly easy to make friends at Northwest Catholic. Most of the people are welcoming and it makes me comfortable. What surprised you the most when you first came to Northwest Catholic? What surprised me the most was the amount of work. There’s not too much homework and it’s much more manageable than I was expecting. There is, however, more responsibility and more challenging work here at Northwest Catholic.
student Life • Students come from over 30 towns across Connecticut as well as several countries, including China, South Korea, Brazil and Vietnam • Over 600 students • Opportunities to travel abroad • Over two dozen clubs
What’s your favorite activity that you’ve been involved in at NWC? Why? My favorite activity was doing Indoor Track because I knew more people by the winter season. I had friends who did it with me and I met new people.
Roberta
“ W H E R E YO U K N OW T H AT YO U B E L O N G ”
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
Matt
Matt Velazquez ’06 Hometown: Southington, CT Colleges Attended: Columbia University, B.A. in History, Class of 2010; Indiana University, M.A. in Sports Journalism, Class of 2013. Current Position: Digital Sports Producer at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel in Milwaukee, WI How did Northwest Catholic prepare you for college? I had no doubt when I reached college that I was fully prepared, and my experience at Northwest Catholic had a lot to do with that. I knew that I had all the tools I needed to succeed. How did Northwest Catholic prepare you for your chosen career? I always knew that I wanted to be involved in sports journalism, and Northwest Catholic provided many outlets in which I could hone my writing and editing skills. I learned a great deal in the classroom and was inspired not only by my teachers, but by those who worked with the staff of Northwest Passages as well as my classmates. What do you remember most from your time at Northwest Catholic? I remember a lot of great things from my time at Northwest Catholic, but all of my memories have a common thread – I remember being challenged. I was challenged in the classroom by my teachers and peers, I was challenged on the football field, and I was challenged in my other extracurricular activities. No matter what I was doing at Northwest Catholic, I was always being pushed to be the best version of myself. What do you feel is the value of a Northwest Catholic education? It’s hard to quantify the value of a Northwest Catholic education. Northwest was the kind of blessing in my life that I hope everyone has the opportunity to experience.
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OUR GRADUATES American Musical & Dramatic Academy Assumption College Bentley University Berklee College of Music Boston College Boston Conservatory Boston University Bryant University Catholic University of America Central CT State University Clemson University Coastal Carolina University College of the Holy Cross College of William & Mary Connecticut College Cornell University Drexel University Duquesne University Eastern CT State University Endicott College Fairfield University
Northwest Catholic’s Class of 2013 College Acceptances Fordham University Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering George Washington University Georgetown University Harvard University Hobart and William Smith Colleges Hofstra University Husson University Iona College Ithaca College James Madison University Lehigh University Loyola University Manhattanville College Marist College Marquette University
Marymount University Miami University Michigan State University Northeastern University Oklahoma State University Pace University Penn State University Providence College Purdue University Quinnipiac University Regis College Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Rhode Island School of Design Rochester Institute of Technology Roger Williams University Sacred Heart University Saint Bonaventure University
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT Ashley Kelley ’03 Hometown: Simsbury, CT
Salve Regina University Sarah Lawrence College Seton Hall University Southern CT State University Springfield College Suffolk University Syracuse University Temple University Trinity College Tufts University University of Arizona University of Bridgeport University of California at Berkeley University of California at Los Angeles University of Colorado at Boulder University of Connecticut University of Hartford University of Kentucky University of Maine
University of Massachusetts Amherst University of Michigan University of New Hampshire University of New Haven University of Notre Dame University of Rhode Island University of Saint Joseph University of South Carolina University of Southern California University of Texas at Austin University of Virginia University of Washington Vassar College Villanova University Virginia State University Wagner College Wesleyan University Western CT State University Worcester Polytechnic Institute Xavier University and many more!
Colleges Attended: University of Connecticut, B.S. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and Molecular and Cell Biology, Class of 2007; University of Glasgow, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Class of 2012 Current Position: Associate Veterinarian at Advanced Veterinary Care in Farmington, CT. How well did Northwest Catholic prepare you for college? Northwest Catholic did prepare me for college. Offering Advanced Placement classes really helped me have a good basic understanding of Physics, Biology, and Calculus when I got into college. These classes were not so daunting for me as they may have been if I hadn’t taken them in high school. How well did Northwest Catholic prepare you for your chosen career? Northwest offered several Advanced Placement classes in the sciences that I took advantage of – in particular Biology and Physics. I remember there being a lot of hands on Biology labs with dissections, looking at plant roots, etc. and I became involved in the science club while I was there. I’ve always enjoyed the sciences – and this helped get me to where I am today. What do you remember most from your time at Northwest Catholic? I remember the extracurricular activities. While I was there I was very involved in many things - stage crew, swim team, Art Club, Voices, cross country, science club. I loved being involved in all of them and made a lot of friends that I still keep in touch with!
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What do you feel is the value of a Northwest Catholic education? Northwest gives you a great education. All of the students are willing to learn, are disciplined, and have the motivation to go far in life.
Northwest Catholic High School 29 Wampanoag Drive West Hartford, CT 06117
“Where you know that you belong”
NONPROFIT ORG U.S. POSTAGE
PAID HARTFORD, CT PERMIT NO. 246
www.NorthwestCatholic.org/Admissions Northwest Catholic High School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnicity or national origin in the administration of its educational and admissions policies, scholarships and loan programs, and athletic or other school-administered programs.