St. Catherine students recognized for volunteer service

St. Catherine of Siena School seventh grade students, Haley and Michael B., have been honored for their exemplary volunteer service with a President’s Volunteer Service Award.

The award, which recognizes Americans of all ages who have volunteered significant amounts of their time to serve their communities and their country, was presented by The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program on behalf of the President’s council on Service and Civic Participation.

Twins Haley and Michael B. earned their award by participating in Military support since 2005. The students have collected Christmas cards, candy, treats, socks, and underwear to mail to troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, working with the Adopt A Platoon organization. Not only did they support troops overseas but they also gave similar support to individuals in the Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Last spring Haley and Michael also organized a yard sale with their friends and raised $800 for Operation Home Front Helping Military Families, New York/New Jersey Chapter. The students also raised $600 in a yard sale for the National Hydrocephalus Organization for research, to honor a close friend of the family.

Sponsored by Prudential Financial in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals, the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards honor young people across America for outstanding community service activities. More than 250,000 young people across America have been considered for these awards since the program began in 1995.

St. Catherine students participate in state band

St. Catherine of Siena School will be well-represented in the Future Musicians All-State 30th Anniversary celebration. The concert will be held on April 4, 2009 at 3 PM in The Collins Arena of Brookdale Community College in Lincroft. More than 300 young musicians will represent over sixty schools served by the Future Musicians, Inc. program, providing music instruction for the private and parochial schools in NJ.
St. Catherine student Kerry F. will perform with the Festival (beginner) Band on flute, and Alex U. (alto sax), Ken B. (tenor sax), James K. (clarinet), and Austin T. (trumpet) will play with the All State Band. Ken and Austin will also be featured with the All-State Jazz Ensemble. Shown left to right, Kerry F., Austin T., Ken B., Alex U. and James K.
The concert is open to the public. Tickets are $10, available at the door.

Digging into dinosaurs

St. Catherine of Siena student Roma M. shows off the green stegosaurus she made while learning about dinosaurs in Mrs. Giaquinto's preschool four-year-old class.

Forensic competition winners

Our forensics team coached by Ms. Irwin and Mr. Ganter had a great success this year with many of our students in the finals at every meet. Special congratulations go out to the students who competed in the tournament held on March 25, 2009. Awards were given to Alyssa F. of the 8th grade who was the Third Place Winner for the combined Year, Kimberly T. in 7th grade who was Tenth Place Winner for the combined year, and Patrick C. in the 8th grade who in the Humor Competition came in First Place with his Dane Cook presentation that commanded the room. Eighth grade students Bridget V. and Caitlin C., along with seventh grade students Julia R., Mairead C., and Maria S. also did St. Catherine’s proud in competitions by improving their scores each and every meet. We are confident all our forensic students will only get better as they continue.

Rocket to the moon

St. Catherine of Siena preschool four-year-old student Adam M. shows off his rocket ship and lunar landing model that he made while learning about space and the solar system in Mrs. Mulieri's class.

Congratulations fifth grade girls basketball

St. Catherine of Siena's fifth grade girls basketball team won second place in the G-4 championship game held at St. Leos in Elmwood Park on Sunday March 15, 2009. Shown above Coach Domenic Schiraldi distributes trophies to the team while Assistant coach Margo Preziosi cheers the girls' on. Players shown, center left to right, Makena B. and Dominique S.

Scones for all

Jeaneen Dwyer shares the art of making traditional Irish scones with the students of St. Catherine of Siena School on St. Patrick’s Day, using her grandmother’s famous secret recipe. Dwyer is the grandaughter of Katie Reilly, whose Irish soda bread and scone mix is distributed locally in stores. Shown with the sixth grade class, front left to right, Paige B., Elizabeth D., back left to right, Michael D., Jeaneen Dwyer.

Freedom essay winners

Congratulations to sixth grade student Graceann D. and eighth grade student Maggie C. who each won second place in their division for the Cedar Grove Elks Lodge #2237 2008-2009 Americanism
Essay Contest "What Freedom Means to Me".
Graceann won second place in Division I (Grades 5 and 6) and Maggie won second place in Division II (Grades 7 and 8).

Dr. Seuss birthday!

St. Catherine of Siena School kindergarten students celebrated Dr. Seuss's birthday with a visit from the Cat in the Hat, Thing 1, and Thing 2. Students enjoyed hearing a story read to them and were able to ask questions afterword. Eighth grade students Carley D., Kerrianne M, and Kristen R. played the characters. Shown left to right, Kristen R., "Thing 2" with kindergarten student Brandon D.

Congratulations sixth grade girls!

Congratulations to St. Catherine of Siena School's sixth grade girls basketball team who took home the Second Place trophy in the final game of the GIL basketball league championships on Sunday, March 1. The girls played an incredible game! Shown left to right, Deanna D., Nina R., Jennifer J., Paige B., Coach Mike Rosella, Elizabeth D., and Kelly M. Special thanks to all the fifth grade girls who "played up" during the season and during the championship games.