During the Holy Cross spring break (March 25-29), 18 girls and three faculty/staff chaperones attended the Urban Challenge Immersion service trip in Camden, NJ through Romero Center Ministries. During the trip, the group worked in a community garden, at a community thrift store, at a home for individuals with physical disabilities, at a nursing home and adult daycare, and in the classes of a head start program. During the evenings, the group had time for reflection on their experience and prayer as a group.
Romero Center Ministries provides Catholic education and retreat experiences inspired by Archbishop Oscar Romero’s prophetic witness. The Urban Challenge Program is an urban, service-learning, immersion experience rooted in the Catholic faith tradition.
Three Holy Cross students in the Moreau Options Program: Shannon Hughes '21, Joelle Packard '20, and Breanna Vitak '19 are members of the “JOY Supernovas,” a Special Olympics cheerleading team. The team that has been chosen to represent the United States at the upcoming inaugural world championship event for Special Olympics cheerleading. The team includes 17 athletes with intellectual and developmental disabilities, ranging in age from 13 to 30. They will compete against 80 other countries.
WJLA-News 7 recently ran a feature story on the team.
"School is a profound part of life, not merely a prelude to it, it gives the students ideal opportunities to live normal, healthy, intellectual lives in social conditions equally ideal... we will not promise you happiness. We will not wish you security. For we remember that 'security is mortal's chiefest enemy'. And we know that you can be secure only when you can stand everything that can happen to you. If your school has prepared for this, it has been a good school." -Sister M. Madeleva (Wolff), CSC
On Wednesday, April 4, the Academy recognized the 37 girls in the Class of 2017 who completed the Madeleva Scholars Program during a special evening reception. The students have been working towards the achievement since their Freshman year.
The Madeleva Scholars Program provides a structure enabling students to achieve most fully those qualities articulated in the Mission Statement of The Academy of the Holy Cross: courage, compassion, and scholarship. The program is named in honor and recognition of Sister Mary Madeleva, CSC, a noted member of the Sisters of the Holy Cross, and is unique to the Academy. In addition to maintaining at least a 3.0 grade point average, students must follow criteria for academics, service, leadership, athletics or activities, and enrichment. These requirements include additional service hours performed; enrichment learning activities taken in the summer; and a 10-page research paper written on a topic of the student's choosing.
During the reception, six of the seniors spoke about their experience in the program and discussed their papers—Belane Ayelework, Yvette Kiptoo, Leah McNamara, Emily Orem, Cecilia Rogers, and Lucy Young. Following the presentations, the Madeleva Scholars received their certificate and a ribbon that they will wear with their caps and gowns at the commencement activities.
Abigail Elizabeth Akers
Lourdes Amaro
Belane Ayelework
Lauren Elizabeth Barclay
Katherine Ellen Beall
Arianna Josephine Checchia
Claire Elizabeth Anne Coyle
Nicole Cac-Loan Dao
Maria Vitoria Da Silva
Josephine Victoria De La Oliva
Mary Rose DePont
Emily Jane Dimond
Madeline Hope Doukouris
Leslie Annetta Fontaine
Caroline Anne Howley
Mairead Elizabeth James
Julie Marguerite Joseph
Clare Elizabeth Kimiecik
Yvette Jepkonga Kiptoo
Haley Corinne Krause
Maria Agnes Maloney
Victoria Martinez
Leah Marie McNamara
Sara Marie Melley
Elizabeth Hellen Myers
Munachiso Ifunanya Nwokike
Grace Darcy O'Connor
Emily Rose Orem
Katherine Sofia Pawlowski
Martha Philipos
Dulmi Kalara Ratnasiri
Cecilia Ellen Rogers
Camille Patricia Schmidt
Mira Alexandra Comilang Varghese
Eleasa Ilene Woodson
Lucy DuZhen Young
Olivia May Young
During their Professional Day on Friday, April 5, Holy Cross faculty arranged to visit with colleagues in their academic disciplines around the area. The opportunity allowed faculty to observe and discuss ideas and pedagogy.
English department faculty member Iryna Sirota-Basso participated in a workshop at the Writing Salon at the National Gallery of Art where she worked with Sezanne's painting Chateau Noir during the workshop.
English department faculty member Megan Minogue visited Marymount University.
Members of the science, technology and math departments held a STEM retreat in the morning and had their off-campus visits in the afternoon.
Performing Arts department Dance instructor and choreographer Donna Reese '77 visited Strathmore and met with instructors and administrators of City Dance. While there, she toured the Music Center at Strathmore and two floors of dance studios with information about City Dance curriculum.
Art department chair Rebecca Cornelius toured the art studios at the University of Lynchburg including the printmaking and design studios and the wet photography lab and darkroom.
The College Counselors attended the Holy Cross College Counseling Association college tour in South Bend, IN, where they visited Saint Mary's College, University of Notre Dame and Holy Cross College with other Holy Cross high schools across the United States. While there they encountered three alumnae who served on a student panel for the seminar: Grace McCarthy '16 (at Saint Mary's), Theresa Rogers '17 (at Notre Dame) and Sam Miller '18 (at Saint Mary's) served on a student panel for our tour about their experiences in South Bend and represented AHC so well; the other counselors we are with were so impressed by them!
The School Counselors attended the Maryland School Counseling Association conference in Annapolis, which included sessions on helping students with trauma, helping prepare students for college and careers after high school, and how to be more culturally competent counselors.
Education Technology teacher Maria-Rose Cain met with the Publications Teacher at the Charles Smith Day School.
The History department worked on the standards for the new course offerings for the 2019-2020 school year and developed a scope and sequence chart of skills that students will have in place at graduation.
Director of Campus Ministry Linda Ruszkowski toured Retreat Centers including Camp Wabanna in Edgewater, MD.
(L-R) Nicole Dao ’19, Ella Torp ’19, Bria Fuller ’19, Melanie McNamara ’19
On Monday, April 9, Holy Cross recognized four seniors who will play sports in college next year.
Nicole Dao '19 will be playing volleyball at New York University next year. Nicole has been a member of the Varsity Volleyball team and also plays on a club team outside of school. In 2015 and 2016 she was named to the Second Team All-WCAC. After the 2017 season Nicole received several accolades: AHC Tartan Award, First Team All-WCAC, Honorable Mention All-Met and was a recipient of the Coach Sheahan Award.
Bria Fuller '19 has committed to playing basketball at Trinity College in Connecticut next year. As a member of the Holy Cross Varsity Basketball team for four years, Bria was a dominant player on offense. Following her sophomore season, she was honored at Holy Cross with the Offensive Player of the Year award. Her junior year she was voted Third Team All-WCAC. In her senior year Bria reached her 1,000th point milestone, was named a Holy Cross MVP, and was voted Second Team All-WCAC.
Melanie "Mel" McNamara '19 has committed to playing soccer at the Division I level at Marquette University in Wisconsin next year. Mel has been a member of the Holy Cross Varsity Soccer team through her four years in high school and also plays on a club team outside of school. Mel's accolades during her career on the team here include: being named to the WCAC All-Conference Second Team twice, First Team once and Honorable Mention once, The Washington Post All-Met Honorable Mention and the Maryland All-State Honorable Mention.
Ella Torp '19 will be continuing her basketball career at The Catholic University of America next year. Ella has been a four-year member of the basketball program here at Holy Cross. She won the Most Improved Award during both her freshman and sophomore year on the team. She has also been a dedicated member of the Cross Country and Track & Field teams. Ella is excited to play as a Cardinal next year!
This is the second recognition ceremony for Holy Cross seniors who have committed to play sports in college. Six seniors were recognized at an assembly in November 2018.
On Monday, April 8, The Moreau Chapter of the National Honor Society inducted 74 new members from the Classes of 2019 and 2020. During the ceremony, the officers of the NHS gave explanations of the four traditions: scholarship, service, leadership, and character. The candidates recited the NHS pledge and each received a certificate and pin. President Katy Prebble gave congratulatory remarks and NHS member Cecilia Rogers '19 gave a reflection on the impact the National Honor Society has had on her.
2019 National Honor Society Inductees:
Jacqueline Adedokun '20
Campbell Bellaman '20
Colby Bellaman '20
Caitlin Bendit '20
Preetam Bhutani '20
Rebecca Bisrat '20
Catherine Connolly '20
Ryann Cuddy '20
Caitlin Cullinane '20
Kalaya de Leon '20
Sienna DeGross '20
Christine Egan '20
Isabella Fontana '20
Carmen Futch '20
Catherine Hunt-Neu '20
Caroline Ionata '20
Ruth John '20
Annette Johnson '20
Cassidy Keehan '19
Lauren Kosiorowski '20
Valerie Kuzma '20
Jessica Madruga '20
Madeline Mara '20
Kierra Marshall '20
Olivia Mascari '20
Katelyn Menjivar '20
Rose Milano '20
Grace Miller '20
Anna Owens '20
Nana Owusu-Koranteng '19
Katherine Pawlowski '19
Mi Phan '20
Rosalena Pollak '20
Kristen Puglisi '20
Jenna Rizik '19
Katherine Rose '20
Catherine Sarca '20
Fiona Sheridan '20
Elisa Terman '20
Alyssa Vetter '20
Rose Weisgerber '20
Shelby Wilson '20
Natalie Young '20
Holy Cross welcomed the grandparents and special friends of the Class of 2022 on Friday, April 12. The guests were entertained by music and dance performances and a trivia game "Are You Smarter than a LOTA." This was the largest group in attendance for this annual event.
A special Pinning Ceremony was held on Monday, April 15 to recognize the outstanding work of the 11 Class of 2019 International Baccalaureate Diploma Candidates. As part of the ceremony, candles were lit symbolizing the three areas of the IB Diploma: Theory of Knowledge, Extended Essay, and Creativity, Action, Service. After receiving their IB pins, which they will wear at graduation events, the candidates received a blessing from their families and teachers. After the ceremony, the girls signed an IB banner which has been signed by previous Holy Cross IB Diploma candidates.
Class of 2019 IB Diploma Candidates
Belane Ayelework
Mary Claire Basso-Luca
Maria Vitoria Da Silva
Josephine De La Oliva
Martha Hrdy
Yvette Kiptoo
Catherine Kiyonaga
Haely Krause
Marin Larkin
Sydney Parbs
Mira Varghese
Catherine Sarca '20 has been selected to participate in the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute's (CHCI) R2L NextGen Program this summer in Washington, DC. She was selected as one of 50 attendees from over 500 applications that were submitted nationwide for the program based on her commitment to leadership, interest in civic engagement, and desire to give back to the community. The participants explore public policy issues from a variety of perspectives, develop a broader understanding of the complexities of policymaking at the national level, as well as learn about relevant and pressing public policy issues facing the Latino community. During the program, they will explore the capital, visit Congress and meet key Latino leaders.
CHCI was established to develop the next generation of Latino leaders by offering educational and leadership development programs, services, and activities that promote the growth of participants as effective professionals and strong leaders.
