Eighth Grade Ring Ceremony

St. Catherine of Siena School’s eighth grade class received school rings at Friday's Catholic Schools Week Mass held January 30. Shown above, teacher Carmine Barbarito stands with Father Robert Gelinas as he blesses the rings.

Family Fun Night

St. Catherine of Siena School concluded their annual Catholic Schools Week celebration with Family Fun Night on Friday, January 30 in Siena Hall. Students in grade seven and eight set up stations for games, crafts, and face painting. Families were then treated to a Laser Light Show in the gym. The free event was sponsored by the Home School Association. Shown above, first grade student Emma T. poses with her parents on Family Fun Night.

St. Catherine Geographic Bee Winner

Seventh grade student Anthony P. has won the St. Catherine of Siena School National Geographic Bee, held on January 30. He will attend a state-level Geographic Bee to be held in the spring. Each year thousands of schools in the United States participate in the National Geographic Bee using materials prepared by the National Geographic Society. The contest is designed to encourage teachers to include geography in their classrooms, spark student interest in the subject, and increase public awareness about geography. Schools with students in grades four through eight are eligible for this entertaining and challenging test of geographic knowledge.

School Spirit Day

St. Catherine of Siena School celebrated School Spirit Day on Thursday, January 29. Students in every grade participated in Physical Education events. The day concluded with a volleyball game played by the eighth grade class. Shown left, eighth grade student Kristen R. is about to serve with teammate Kerrianne M. cheering her on.

Class Service Day

St. Catherine of Siena School’s seventh grade class made rosary beads for the elderly as a class service project on January 27. Shown left, Sherri Freitas shows off the seventh grade’s beautiful bead work. All of St. Catherine's students worked on service projects in their classroom as part of the school’s Catholic Schools Week Celebration.

Father Charlie Day

St. Catherine of Siena School celebrated "Father Charlie Day" on Monday, January 26. Students in every grade made presentations to the Pastor celebrating his eighteen years of love and service to the school. The quilting elective students and teacher Beth Hogan presented a hand-made quilt to Father, depicting the school building on one side and filled with student signatures on the other.

Arithmeticals

St. Catherine of Siena School students were treated to an assembly presented by the “Arithmeticals” on January 23 in Siena Hall. Students were engaged with mathematical equations, puzzles and contests. Shown left, kindergarten student Luke M. gives a thumbs up to the audience while holding the number five.

All eyes on the new President

Fifth grade student Monica D. watches the television in St. Catherine of Siena School’s library as Barack Obama is sworn in as 44th President of the United States, on January 20. The entire student body and staff watched the inauguration on televisions and Internet throughout the school.

Fifth grade science lab

Matthew S. and Paul James S. made and experimented with Nonneutonian fluid during Mrs. Cicchetti's fifth grade science lab on January 16. The goal of the class was to better understand the states of matter.

Congratulations!

St. Catherine of Siena School's sixth grade student, Alex U., won the gold medal in his age group at his fencing school’s Christmas Tournament in December. Alex also won the gold medals in the September and October school tournaments in 2008. He started fencing in May at Lilov Fencing Academy in Montclair and his weapon of choice is the saber. Alex was introduced to fencing during the summer of 2007 when he attended the summer camp for the Academically Gifted and Talented Youth Program at Montclair State University. Congratulations Alex!

Announcing…

Eighth grade student, Nick D., begins the student-run morning announcements at St. Catherine of Siena School on Wednesday, January 14. SCS started the morning announcement program to encourage students to become more comfortable with public speaking.

Snowmen

Mrs. Mulieri’s pre-k-4 class created their own winter bulletin board. First they each cut a part of the snowmen and then they cut a snowball.

In the hall, the decision was made as to where each part of each snowman would be placed. When the snowmen were finished, each child “threw” a snowball onto the bulletin board.

It looks like the snowmen are having a snowball fight!!!

Basketball clinic scores big with students

St. Catherine of Siena School's basketball clinic met early Saturday morning, January 10, for another session of power-packed skills and drills for students in grades kindergarten through 3. The clinic is organized and run by parent volunteer Dwight Thomas. Volunteer coaches Gina Tighe, Megan Nattini, Lou Tafuri, Scott McGowan, Harvey Ahn, Cliff Potters and Diane Raum work with the children to sharpen their speed, agility, ball handling, and shooting skills. Shown top left, Coach Gina Tighe helps 3rd grade student Alexa S. work on her footwork while Coach Scott McGowan, shown bottom left, helps kindergarten student Anthony B. sharpen his shooting skills at the basket.

Snowflake decorations

Parent volunteer Karen Peiser puts the finishing touches on the decorations for the front doors of school. The intricate snowflakes were hand-cut by daughters Ava and Olivia in grade 2.

SCS announces open house

St. Catherine of Siena School in Cedar Grove has announced an open house for preschool to eighth grade will take place on Tuesday, January 27 from 9:30 to 11:00 am, Wednesday, January 28 from 9:30 to 11:00 am, and Sunday, February 1 from 1:30 to 3:00 pm.

St. Catherine of Siena School is fully accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. The school is committed to the Roman Catholic tradition of education providing a challenging and competitive academic curriculum within a nurturing environment.

The school offers a full-day kindergarten, a teacher led before and after-care program, and a hot/cold lunch program. The school also offers Mimeo Xi / Smart Board technology in each classroom as well as Extreme Thinking (enrichment program), foreign language instruction, music, art, physical education, technology lab, science lab, and public speaking to enhance the school’s core curriculum. The school is handicap accessible and has a nurse present five days a week.

The preschool program offers three year old children a morning and afternoon session, two days a week. The four year old program is offered three days a week, with a lunch program. Visitors to the open house can see the three-year-old program in session Tuesday, January 27. The four-year-old program is in session on Wednesday, January 28.

The open house will give visitors an opportunity to visit classrooms, talk with other parents and faculty about the school’s curriculum and philosophy. Registration opened January 5. For more information, visit scs-school-cedargrovenj.org or call the office at 973-239-6968.

SCS students "JUMP" start the New Year!

On Monday, January 5, St. Catherine of Siena school students and staff held an assembly to "JUMP" start the New Year with Jump Rope For Heart. Jump Rope For Heart is a national educational fund-raising program that is sponsored by the American Heart Association and the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. St. Catherine’s will hold its first Jump Rope For Heart on Wednesday, January 28 in Siena Hall. Ready to jump rope is Principal Celine Kerwin and second grade students, from left to right, David M., Thayah A., Brian D., and Emma C..