Jump Rope For Heart

Students and faculty participated in Jump Rope For Heart, raising money and awareness for the American Heart Association.

Easter baskets for St. Vincents

Students in Mrs. Scalo's seventh grade class made bunny baskets filled with a stuffed animal and a heartfelt card and prayer for the residents of St. Vincent's nursing home. A group of students also hand delivered the baskets to residents for Easter.

100 Christmas Stockings

SCS eighth grade student Alex U. gave back to the community this Christmas by soliciting donations and stuffing 100 Christmas Stockings which are going to the Human Needs in Montclair, NJ. Alex is the Vice President of Kids Helping Kids, a subgroup formed from Families Helping Families, a non-profit organization which helps families in need in Essex County.

9/11 Service Project at St. Catherine’s

Eighth grade students at St. Catherine of Siena School gathered early on Saturday, September 11, to honor the spirit of giving back on Patriot Day by participating in a service project for the school. Students painted brightly colored game markings on the playground for the younger grades to enjoy. Shown above, Deanna D. and Kelly M. begin to paint a hopscotch board on the blacktop.

Service to others

St. Catherine of Siena School eighth grade students (from left to right) Thomas C., Mairead C., and Julia R. collect over $325 on behalf of the student body to support the GI Go Fund on September 11. The students of St. Catherine’s resolved to follow President Obama’s declaration that September 11 be a National Day of Service for all Americans as a way of remembering our nation’s heroes. The proceeds collected went to the GI Go Fund, a non-profit fund whose purpose is to help those in the military returning from operation Enduring Freedom or Iraqi Freedom to assimilate back into society. A portion of the fund also goes to homeless veterans.

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 serve in Civil Air Patrol

St. Catherine of Siena School students (shown left to right) Patrick F., grade 8, and Michael B., grade 7, both have a love of aviation and the United States military. They are preparing for their future by rising to the challenge of cadet membership in the U.S. Air Force Auxiliary, Civil Air Patrol.

Patrick joined the cadet program in April 2007. Since joining, Patrick has worked his way up to the rank of Chief Master Sergeant. He now leads his squadron’s color guard team. Patrick has been on 5 orientation flights, flying to places like High Point, New Jersey, and the Poconos. He attended basic encampment at McGuire Air Force base last summer and is hoping to attend a glider encampment this coming summer.

Michael became a cadet in February 2008 and has recently been promoted to the rank of Senior Airman. He has been on an orientation flight, flying to Princeton, New Jersey and is a member of the color guard team. He is planning to attend a week-long basic encampment at McGuire Air Force base this summer.

The Civil Air Patrol is the auxiliary of the United States Air Force. It has three missions: aerospace education, emergency services, and the cadet program. The cadet program is for young people between the ages of 12 and 21 who are interested in aviation. Cadets learn about space and aviation, participate in air shows and model rocketry, and go on orientation flights in both powered and glider aircraft.

Jump Rope For Heart

St. Catherine of Siena School joined with the American Heart Association to sponsor a Jump Rope For Heart event on February 6 in Siena Hall. Students got their bodies moving and their hearts pumping while jumping rope, hula hoops, and hurdles. This year, St. Catherine of Siena School students raised over $5,700 for the American Heart Association. Shown above, kindergarten student Isabella M. enjoys doing jumping jacks with her class.
Jump Rope For Heart engages elementary students in jumping rope while raising funds to support lifesaving heart and stroke research. This educational program teaches physical fitness and promotes the value of community service to students and their families. It shows students that they can contribute to their community's welfare. 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 (AAHPERD).

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.

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 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..

Christmas Pajama Drive

Students in St. Catherine of Siena School’s sixth grade class held a school-wide pajama drive on December 16. They collected new and gently used pajamas which were then donated to The American Red Cross. Shown from left to right, James K. and Deanna D..

SCS Daisy Scouts

SCS Troop 161 welcomed thirteen new Daisy Girl Scouts during an investiture ceremony held on December 2 at St. Catherine of Siena School. Shown left, Girl Scout Leader Lisa Kelly pins Nicole K., grade 1, during the ceremony held in the school library.

Pancakes and Smiles

St Catherine of Siena School held its annual Pancake Breakfast on Sunday, November 16, in Siena Hall. Flipping flapjacks in the kitchen were fathers (from left to right) Rich Sanducci, Henry Trautfetter, Mark Ranges, Lou Tafuri, Cliff Potters, Michael Downey, and Dwight Thomas.