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  Public Relations Director:  Mrs. Beth Griffin
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2007 SISTER ANTONINE SCHOLARS EARN HIGH MARKS
Each year, students with the highest entrance exam scores and who demonstrate outstanding academic potential at Sacred Heart Academy are selected to receive the Sister Antonine Signorelli, ASCJ Memorial Scholarship. The Scholarship, established in 1993, honors the life, philosophy, and achievements of the Academy’s foundress and first principal by rewarding these young women. Sister Antonine Scholars are an exceptional group of women who from the very start of their academic life display the desire to learn and the will to accomplish their goals. For this, they earn of the distinction of being named Sr. Antonine Scholars and receive tuition stipends.

The 2007 Sister Antonine Scholars and their have been invited to a reception to be held in their honor on Thursday, March 8 at 3:00 pm in the library. These seven young women, who will enter the Academy this coming fall, hail from seven different towns in Connecticut. The following students are recipients of the 2007 Sister Antonine Signorelli, ASCJ Memorial Scholarship:

  • Emilia D’Albero, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Alfred D’Albero of North Haven
  • Raychel Decker, daughter of Mrs. Caroline Corniello of Northford
  • Amanda Kelly, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Shawn Kelly of Huntington
  • Megan Lynch, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Lynch of Madison
  • Ariana Silva, daughter of Mrs. Lidia Silva of West Haven
  • Lealia Xiong, daughter of Mr. Jin Ming Xiong and Ms. Shu Li of Guilford
  • Meghan Zwahlen, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Timothy Zwahlen of Fairfield

“Past recipients of the Sister Antonine Signorelli, ASCJ Memorial Scholarship have gone on to further their education in some of the most prestigious schools in the country,” according to Principal Sr. Ritamary Schulz, ASCJ. “…and many of these graduates consider Sacred Heart to be an impetus for their success. Some of our past recipients and their accomplishments include Christine Maffeo, SHA Class of ’99, a Magna Cum Laude graduate of Villanova and currently attending the University of Connecticut Medical School; ESN Megan Mercer, also from the Class of ’99, an Honors graduate of the US Coast Guard Academy, where she ranked #1 overall; and Tara Cochiarella, a ’02 graduate of the Academy, who majored in chemical engineering at Tufts and continues in their Biotechnology Masters program. Two of our current seniors, Faith Michel and Jeanne Snow both Antonine Scholars are National Merit Finalists and Faith was accepted early action to RPI and Jeanne early action to Yale,” added Sr. Ritamary.

SACRED HEART ACADEMY STUDENTS TRAVEL TO NEW ORLEANS TO PRESENT GENETIC RESEARCH AT THE AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR HUMAN GENETICS ANNUAL CONFERENCE – ONLY STUDENTS AT CONFERENCE AMONG HUNDREDS OF SCIENTISTS AND SUBMISSIONS ON GENBANK DOUBLE
Sacred Heart Academy seniors - Kalin Bilides of Northford, Melissa Fitzmaurice of Hamden, Jaime Pachesa of New Haven, and Bridget Reidy of Northford just returned from the Annual Conference sponsored the American Society for Human Genetics held in New Orleans, where the students presented their poster entitled, “Confirmation of PREDICTED and Generation of Novel Sequences for the Calcitonin (CALCR) and Vitamin D3 (VDR) Receptors in Bos taurus.” They were the only high school students presenting and were among hundreds of scientists from all over the world. This was the second of three poster presentations in a study which has focused on genes implicated in osteoporosis. The study was made possible from a grant awarded by the Bates Foundation in 2004. In the first year of the grant, the students published 2 nucleotide sequences in GenBank. This past year, the students doubled the submissions. Now, Sacred Heart Academy has partial sequences in the U.S. Government’s database for the Collagen 1 alpha1, Vitamin D3, and Calcitonin receptors, the three major genes implicated in osteoporosis in humans. The information is housed at www.ncbi.nlm.gov. and can be viewed by querying DQ114140, DQ114141, DQ519355, DQ519356, DQ659276, and DQ659277. This year’s class is now involved in the last year of the osteoporosis study with a project involving comparative genomics and is hopeful that they, too, will be able to publish their data in GenBank.
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SACRED HEART ACADEMY TO FIELD TWO TEAMS AT YALE’S PHYSICS OLYMPICS
Since the fall of 1988, the Yale University physics department, in collaboration with the University of Liverpool, has organized an annual Physics Olympics Competition for high school students. The event takes the form of a pentathlon, consisting of five 35 minute events. Each event is a task or simple experiment which the students perform as a team and for which they obtain a result or measurement. The teams are ordered based on the accuracy of their results and prizes awarded to the winning teams. The event is organized in close cooperation with the U of Liverpool, who holds a similar event on the same day making this truly an international event. This year’s Yale Physics Olympics competition will be held on Saturday, October 20, 2007 on the Yale campus.

Sacred Heart Academy will again field two teams at this year’s competition. Team Pluto will consist of Captain Emily Nastri of Cheshire, Katie Doyle of North Haven and Kristine Parolise and Leah Ciancola of Hamden and Team Mars will consist of Captain Stephanie Shaw of Wallingford, Patricia Alber of Woodbridge, and Amymarie Bartholomew and Elise Hebel of Hamden.

“This is the third time that Sacred Heart will attend the conference and the second time we will field two teams. For the first time, this year the competition has provided info on the first task so we can prepare before hand … the challenge is to build a bridge out of coffee stirrers that is light but can support a large weight. There will be students from throughout New England competing... I am confident that it will be an equally wonderful experience for these eight students as it was for our students in previous years. Last year our teams were extremely competitive and I am expecting the same this year,” commented Fred Centrella, physics teacher at the Academy. .
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TWENTY-TWO SACRED HEART ACADEMY STUDENTS DESIGNATED AP SCHOLARS BY THE COLLEGE BOARD
Students at Sacred Heart Academy-Hamden have earned the designation of AP SCHOLAR by the College Board in recognition of their exceptional achievement on the college-level Advanced Placement Program (AP) Exams. The College Board’s Advanced Placement Program offers students the opportunity to take challenging college-level courses while still in high school, and to receive college credit, advanced placement or both for successful performance on the AP Exams. About 18 percent of the more than 1.3 million high school students in 16,000 secondary schools worldwide who took the AP Exam performed at a sufficiently high level to merit the recognition of AP Scholar.

Students around the country took the AP Exams in May 2006 after completing challenging college-level courses at their high schools. The College Board recognizes several levels of achievement based on student’s performance on the AP Exams.

Thirteen students from Sacred Heart Academy qualified for the AP SCHOLAR WITH DISTINCTION AWARD by earning an average of at least 3.5 on all AP Exams taken, and grades of 3 or higher on five or more of these exams. These students are: Katherine Albis, Alexandra Bonneau, Chrystina Cappello, Leslie Capuano, Blair Destito, Mary Elizabeth DiGenova, Rachel Dorset, Kira Gustafson, Kelly Mannion, Victoria Martucci, Emily Panza, Catherine Alden Pelker, and Megan Ryan.

Three students qualified for the AP SCHOLAR WITH HONOR AWARD by earning an average of at least 3.25 on all AP Exams taken, and grades of 3 or higher on four or more of these exams. These students are: Molly Canty, Ashley Hillier and Kathleen Tuccio.

Six students qualified for the AP SCHOLAR AWARD by completing three or more AP Exams with grades of 3 or higher. The AP Scholars are: Margaret Alber, Tamara Brennan, Ashley Louis-Charles, Angelica Mack, Kaitlyn Murdock, and Allison O’Connor.

Most of the nation’s colleges and universities award credit, advanced placement or both based on successful performance on the AP Exams. More than 14,000 institutions award a full year’s credit (sophomore standing) to students presenting a sufficient number of qualifying grades. In 2006, thirty-five AP exams were offered in a wide variety of subject areas, each consisting of multiple-choice and free-response (essay or problem-solving) questions (except for Studio Art which evaluates student’s original artwork.)

The following AP courses are being offered at Sacred Heart Academy during the 2006-2007 academic school year: AP Biology, AP Calculus, AP Chemistry, AP Comparative Literature, AP French Language, AP Latin, AP Spanish Language, AP US History, AP US Government, AP Psychology.
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SACRED HEART SENIORS NAMED NATIONAL MERIT SEMIFINALISTS Sacred Heart Academy seniors Francesca Carlisle and Kelley Durham have received notification from the National Merit Scholarship Corporation that they are Semifinalists in the 2008 53rd National Merit Scholarship Program. Francesca Carlisle of Hamden is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Michael Carlisle and Kelley Durham of Guilford is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Michael Durham. More than 1.4 million juniors in nearly 21,000 high schools entered the 2008 National Merit Program by taking the PSAT, which served as an initial screen of program entrants. The nationwide pool of Semifinalists represents less than one percent of US high school seniors and includes the highest scoring entrants in each state. These two academically talented high school seniors now have an opportunity to continue in the competition for some 8,200 Merit Scholarship awards, worth $34 million, that will be offered next spring.

To become a Finalist, which is the next step in the competition, a Semifinalist must have an outstanding academic record throughout high school, be endorsed and recommended by the school principal and earn SAT scores that confirm the student’ earlier qualifying test performance. About 90 percent of the Semifinalists are expected to attain Finalist standing, and approximately half of the Finalists will be selected as Merit Scholarship winners, earning the Merit Scholar title. Merit Scholar designees are selected on the basis of their skills, accomplishments, and potential for success in rigorous college studies, without regard to gender, race, ethic origin or religious preference.
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SACRED HEART ACADEMY OF HAMDEN CELEBRATES 60 YEARS OF EDUCATING YOUNG WOMEN IN THE CATHOLIC TRADITION
Sacred Heart Academy will officially mark the opening of the school’s 60th year on Sunday, October 22, at 2:00 pm at the 60th Anniversary Mass and Celebration to be held in the Sacred Heart Academy Chapel, 265 Benham Street, Hamden. Following the Mass, the dedication of the Sacred Heart Chemistry Laboratory with special recognition to the Nastri family will take place. The entire school constituency will then join together in the Lecture Hall for a reception to celebrate this milestone in the school’s history.

Sacred Heart Academy was founded on Green Street in New Haven by Sister M. Antonine Signorelli, ASCJ as a secondary school for 17 young women in 1946. Because she desired a system of education in a place where natural beauty would playa vital role, the school moved to its present location in 1956. Sixty years later, the Academy aims to continue to attain the vision of Sr. Antonine: to challenge and support students – currently numbering just over 500 - with “Excelsior,” the school’s motto, as their mission and guide.

To ensure the future of the Academy, Principal Sr. Ritamary Schulz, ASCJ announced that the school has embarked on a major gifts fundraising initiative. “The 60th Anniversary Plan will raise funds for science, athletics and endowment for scholarships. Space will be renovated to create a new science complex to include chemistry, physics, research and prep room laboratories and upgrades to the biology laboratory. Monies raised for athletics will be earmarked for new seating, landscaping and scoreboards. Increased endowment will provide qualified students in need of financial aid the opportunity to attend Sacred Heart Academy,” according to Sr. Ritamary Schulz, ASCJ. “As science and technology advance we must improve our facilities to better prepare our students for tomorrow. Over $300,000 has been contributed thus far and our chemistry students are already deriving benefits from the new laboratory. As science and technology advance we must improve our facilities to better prepare our students for tomorrow. We thank the Nastri family of Cheshire for their leadership in helping to make this state-of-the-art facility possible. We anticipate support from additional friends of the Academy in this, our 60th anniversary year,” added Sr. Ritamary. Anniversary events have been planned for each of the school’s constituencies. “60 Days of Caring,” is a program in which students will participate by doing service on sixty separate occasions. They will also celebrate with a Birthday Bash. Area alumnae enjoyed a “Just for Alumnae” gathering to share an evening friendship, fun and food, and the Annual Alumnae Reunion Day recognized the 60th year. In progress is an historical display, which will find a permanent home in the Admissions/Development hallway. Traditional events on the school’s calendar such as the Hearts of the Community Awards Dinner and the Principal’s Circle Dinner will all pay tribute to the anniversary year.
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SACRED HEART ACADEMY HAS TWO COMMENDED STUDENTS IN THE 2008 NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
Sr. Colleen Smith, ASCJ, Principal of Sacred Heart Academy, today announced the names of two students from the Academy that have been named Commended Students in the 2008 National Merit Scholarship Program. A Letter of Commendation from the Academy and National Merit Scholarship Corporation, which conducts the program, will be presented by the principal to these scholastically talented seniors. The following young women from SHA have been named Commended Students: Jenna Allegretto, daughter Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Allegretto, and Kelly Bellaria, daughter of Ms. Lisa Blake and Mr. Michael Bellaria. Both students reside in Ansonia.

Approximately 34,000 Commended Students throughout the nation are being recognized for their exceptional academic promise. These students placed among the top five percent of more than 1.4 million students who entered the 2008 competition by taking the 2006 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test.
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NEW FACES AT SACRED HEART ACADEMY
Join us in welcoming seven new faculty members. We are pleased that they are joining our Sacred Heart Academy community and are confident that they will be an asset to the school.

We warmly welcome Jennifer Britner, the newest member of the social studies department and our new freshmen volleyball coach. She will teach Western Civilization, US History and Law. She holds both her B.S. in History and her M.A.T. in education from Sacred Heart University and has taught and coached at Hebrew Academy and in the Stratford public schools. She states that one of her goals for this year is to “make the material I teach relevant which will result in a deeper level of learning.” In her free time Ms. Britner enjoys reading and knitting.

James Haddon returns to Sacred Heart Academy as teacher and music director. Mr. Haddon earned his B.A. from SCSU, and M.A. from Fordham, both in philosophy. Further education includes an intensive course of study in Ancient Greek at Yale. Earlier in his academic career he completed training for a degree in music theory and composition at NYU. In addition to teaching at SHA, he will direct the Chamber Choir and Concert Chorus and will serve as the musical director for this year’s musical, Beauty and the Beast. Active in both the musical and technical aspects of professional theater, he has performed in countless pit orchestras. Mr. Haddon has also produced and engineered many CD projects. He is the sound designer at the Ivoryton Playhouse, has done multi-media designs for numerous venues. Jim co-wrote the script and wrote all the musical arrangements for the off-Broadway hit Mack the Knife…the life and music of Bobby Darin. He has served as music director/organist/choir master at churches in New Haven and Fairfield counties for over thirty years and is currently at St. Mary's Church in Derby. An active mariner, Jim holds a commercial Merchant Marine Master's license and works as a charter captain. He is often invited to guest lecture on the topics of music, philosophy, technology and contemporary culture. Welcome back to the Academy, Mr. Haddon.

Amy Harris, ’00 is delighted to return to her alma mater as a member of the fine arts department. Ms. Harris will teach all of the studio art courses and serve as art club moderator. She will also assist with Prism, the school’s literary arts magazine, and set design for the fall musical. She attended NYU where she majored in culture and communications with a concentration in graphic communications technology and management and obtained her teaching certificate in art education from SCSU. Ms. Harris continues to work on her own art through her jewelry business, “Chintz” that she recently created and has exhibited her artwork in several venues including the annual SHA Fashion Show. Her goal for this year is to “open the door to the art world to all of the SHA students.” We extend a warm welcome back to Ms. Harris.

Welcome to Dr. Joan Kelly, our first Director of Campus Ministry, a newly created position at the Academy. Dr. Kelly earned a B.A. in child study from St. Joseph College, an M.A. in religious studies from Catholic University, an additional MA in counseling psychology from Fairfield University, and a D.Min. in pastoral ministry and theology from the Graduate Theological Foundation. Post doctoral studies were done at Providence College, Fordham University, Old Hallows College in Dublin, Princeton Theological Summer Institute in Rome and Cambridge University amongst others. In 1992, Pope John Paul II bestowed a medal of honor on Dr. Kelly in recognition of her dedication and commitment to the teaching mission of the Church. Dr. Kelly comes to us from the Catholic Studies Program of Danbury where she was engaged in adult theological education. She is also an adjunct professor in the deacon formation program at Holy Apostles College and Seminary in Cromwell. An acclaimed lecturer throughout the state on the topic of theology, Dr. Kelly is also published extensively on this topic.

Former SHA assistant principal and alumna, Sr. Christine Kiley, ASCJ will return to teach a course in religion. Sr. Christine currently works in formation and serves on the vocation team for the Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and was formerly vocation director for the province. She earned her B.A. in History and M.A. in reading from Duquesne and an additional M.A. in theological studies from St. Louis University and is currently working on a certification in spiritual direction at Fordham University. She has taught on the elementary, secondary and college level serving in several administrative roles. She currently chairs the young adult committee for the National Religious Vocation Conference. “I thoroughly enjoy being back at Sacred Heart and I love working with youth and young adults,” commented Sr. Christine.

Sr. Janet Kofron, ASCJ has an extensive background in both teaching and parish ministry and will teach freshman seminar. She returns to Sacred Heart Academy and we warmly welcome her back. She has taught at many schools within the following states: Connecticut, Illinois, Missouri and New York and was a former principal of Sacred Heart Elementary School in New Haven. She obtained her B.S. and M.S. from Loyola University, Chicago in education with a specialization in reading. Sr. also holds an M.S. in ongoing formative spirituality from Duquesne University. She currently ministers in the Caritas Christi Spirituality Center managing and operating the Center’s book store, “The Book Stop,” which provides spirituality materials.

Sylvie Levallois-Sanchez, a native of France, will teach French II, French II Honors, French III, French IV, and AP French Language. She holds her Bachelor of Arts degree in English literature and civilization from University Caen in France. She comes to us from the Bridgeport Catholic Cluster Schools, where she taught Spanish. “I am thrilled to be teaching in my native tongue, this year,” she commented. Ms Levallois-Sanchez will also serve as moderator of the French Club. Her goal for this year is to “help her students to speak the language and to share with them her wonder about the diversity of human cultures on this planet.” In her free time she enjoys the piano, reading, travel, cooking, jazz and classical music.

A member of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, Christopher Lincoln has joined the math department. He will teach Geometry Honors and Algebra I College Prep. Mr. Lincoln earned his Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics from Rennselaer Polytechnic Institute and his M.A.T. from Sacred Heart University. He hopes to teach his students “to learn outside of the classroom as well as inside the classroom and to provide them with the necessary tools to continue on to higher level math courses.” Mr. Lincoln’s hobbies include puzzles, logic problems, games, computer and video editing.
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  Sacred Heart Academy
  265 Benham Street
  Hamden, CT 06514
  Phone: 203.288.2309   Fax:  203.230.9680
 
 

Last updated 27 September 2007