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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:
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Emilia D’Albero, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Alfred D’Albero of
North Haven
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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
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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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