Fall News
Congratulations Ms. Moran!
Congratulations to Guidance Counselor Jessica Moran on her engagement to Kevin McCaig! Best wishes.
SDA Women’s (Alumnae) Choir to host Cabaret Night 11/15
The SDA Women's (Alumnae) Choir will host its annual Cabaret Night on Saturday, November 15, 2008, at 7:30 p.m. in SDA's ELAN auditorium. The night will include live music, guest artists, incredible performance for all music lovers, refreshments (BYOB), and a raffle to win Voices of Winter, the choir's recently released CD of Christmas songs! Alll are welcome; admission is $10.
For more information about the Women's Choir, please contact sda_womens_choir@yahoogroups.com.
Saint Dominic Academy celebrates its 130th Anniversary
Saint Dominic Academy marked its 130th anniversary with special events and a Eucharistic Liturgy on October 23, 2008.
A special program designed to observe this milestone was transmitted onto televisions that students watched in their homerooms.
The program started with Principal Deborah Egan honoring SDA volunteer Claire Baker of the Class of 1940 and interviewing her about what life at SDA was like during that time. A video of SDA’s 1940 graduation ceremony was shown.
Next, Ms. Egan read a congratulatory letter from Most Reverend John J. Myers, Archbishop of Newark. Archbishop Myers also sent a certificate with the Apostolic Blessing of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI bestowed upon
Then, alumnae on the faculty, as well as student Spirit Committee members, shared their favorite memories of SDA, many of which included themes of sisterhood and SDA as a “second home.”
Class of 1972 alumnae Cheryl Cox and English teacher Pat Criaris shared experiences of their time as students at SDA from 1968 – 1972.
The morning’s in-school program concluded with a fun Scavenger Hunt organized by the Student Council. Students searched for answers to questions around the school, and especially on SDA’s new History Wall.
The entire SDA community then came together for a Eucharistic Liturgy at Saint Aloysius Church celebrated by the Most Reverend Thomas A. Donato, D.D., Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Newark and Regional Bishop for
During his homily, Bishop Donato praised the work done at
At the conclusion of the liturgy, Principal Egan introduced Sr. Arlene Antczak, O.P., Prioress of the Sisters of Saint Dominic of Caldwell, who shared her impressions of her 21 years at SDA. During her introduction, Ms. Egan shared the words of her former teacher, “A teacher’s words last for generations.” The “teach from your heart” advice that she later received from Sr. Arlene “changed my life,” Egan added.
“Saint Dominic Academy has always been at the forefront of the Women’s Movement,” Sr. Arlene told those gathered, as she reminded everyone that SDA was founded to meet the needs of the daughters of German immigrants in 1878, more than forty years prior to when women got the right to vote. SDA’s credo is “Empowering women for leadership since 1878.”
Sr. Arlene also shared the story of how
Later in the evening, the administration, faculty and staff of SDA gathered with honored guests and members of the Caldwell Dominican community for an evening prayer service and the Dedication of Saint Dominic Academy's new History Wall. The wall is located on the first floor of Alumnae Hall, and tells the story of the 130 years of education and ministry in the halls of the Academy.
Members of SDA's "SOFAR" club (Student Organization for Animal Rights) visited the Mylestone Equine Rescue in Phillipsburg, NJ, in October to learn about horses that have been rescued. The Equine Rescue helps abused and neglected horses, and educates the community about their plight. SOFAR members will sponsor a horse during the academic year, and are anxiously awaiting a picture of their horse. The group will receive updates on its care, and may make another appointment to visit the rescue. SOFAR members also look forward to reading Mylestone's quarterly reports and website updates.
The following students participated in the trip: Lauren Ruiz - President, Jaime Lee Eve - Vice President, Lana Foord - Treasurer, Kristine Abarowez, Renee Antonio, Elisea Arroyo, Rebecca Borja, Marie Czirbik, Brittany Feminello, Kaitlyn Flaherty, Megan Mahoney, Amaris Rodriguez, Briana Silva, and Samantha Walker. Ms. Vivian Ferraro, moderator of the club, chaperoned the trip.
Peer Ministers read to students at Primary Prep Elementary
Six members of
The Pearson Foundation, along with Penguin Group, is underwriting the official book of Jumpstart’s campaign, and sought to set a new record for the number of children reading the same book in a single day – the Viking Children’s classic Corduroy.
The following Peer Ministers participated: Anne Coyle, Kady Farinola, Alison Hernandez, Florianna Heun, Megan Lee, and Gabrielle Sepulveda.
For more information, visit
www.jstart.org, and
Seven SDA Alumnae Designated AP Scholars
In September,
Two alumnae qualified for the AP Scholar with Honor Award by earning an average grade of at least 3.25 on all AP Exams taken, and grades of 3 or higher on four or more of these exams. These alumnae are: Kerri Rogers and Maryann Savulich.
Five alumnae qualified for the AP Scholar Award by completing three or more AP Exams with grades of 3 or higher. The AP Scholars are: Clarise Brown, Maria Kristina Melgarejo, Elizabeth O’Connell-Thompson, Carlie Tynan, and an alumna who wishes to remain anonymous.
Students took exams in the following areas: Art History,
The College Board’s Advanced Placement Program provides motivated and academically prepared students with the opportunity to take rigorous college-level courses while still in high school, and to earn college credit, advanced placement, or both for successful performance on the AP Exams. About 18 percent of the 1.6 million students worldwide who took AP Exams performed at a sufficiently high level to also earn an AP Scholar Award. Congratulations to all!
Senior Named Commended Student
SDA Senior Radha Nayak has been named a Commended Student in the 2009 National Merit Scholarship Program, and will receive a Letter of Commendation. She is recognized for the exceptional academic promise demonstrated by her outstanding performance on the qualifying test used from program entry. About 34,000 Commended Students place among the top five percent of more than 1.5 million students who entered the 2009 competition by taking the 2007 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSAT). Congratulations, Radha!
Senior Named National Hispanic Recognition Program Honorable Mention
The NHRP was initiated in 1983 to identify outstanding Hispanic/Latino high school students. Students recognized by the NHRP are at least one-quarter Hispanic/Latino and have achieved a minimum PSAT/NMSQT/PAA score for their region.
Senior Named Outstanding Participant in
National Achievement Scholarship Program
Senior Lydiah Mokaya has been named an Outstanding Participant in the National Achievement Scholarship Program. She scored in the top 4 percent of more than 150,000 Black Americans who requested consideration in the 2009 program when they took the 2007 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT). The National Achievement Scholarship Program was initiated in 1964 specifically to honor academically promising Black American high school students. Congratulations, Lydiah!
Faculty Member Named Dominican Associate
Religion teacher Mrs. Jayne Branagan was named a Dominican Associate at a formal ‘Ceremony of Commitment as Associates’ held on September 26 at the Motherhouse in
Dominican Associates are Christian women and men, clergy and lay persons, who are called to live out the charism and mission of the Dominican order. They do not take vows, but make a commitment to be partners with vowed members.
“I decided to become an Associate because I love the Caldwell Dominican Community in general and
She looks forward to incorporating her commitment as a Dominican Associate into her freshman religion classes, which cover St. Dominic and the charism of the Dominican Order.
Mrs. Branagan, who attended high school at SDA and has taught here for 10 years, joins Principal Deborah Egan, who is an Associate of the Dominican Sisters of Hope. Congratulations, Mrs. Branagan!
Women’s Choir releases Christmas CD
In observance of
The guests of honor during this special anniversary-year gala were the former principals of Saint Dominic Academy: Sister Anne Francis Moon, O.P., Sister Alice Matthew Thees, O.P. '43, Sister Mary Agnes Sullivan, O.P., Sister Arlene Antczak, O.P., Jane Albert, Sister Bettyanne Schultz, O.P. '49, and Sister Viven Jennings, O.P.
Below are some images of our gala celebration.
School Named after SDA Faculty Member
Spanish teacher Mrs. Carmen Jimenez has had the high school that she founded in the
In response to the need for a neighborhood high school, Mrs. Jimenez founded the Liceo Secundario Vespertino Las Charcas public school in 1981, and served as principal there until 1986. Prior to that, the neighborhood school only went to the 8th grade, and children would have to move to
Mrs. Jimenez teaches Spanish II and III and International Baccalaureate Spanish I and II. She is moderator of SDA’s Multicultural Club, which runs the annual Multicultural Show and International Food Festival.
Mrs. Jimenez has been teaching at SDA for 11 years. “SDA is like my family and my home. It is very important to me because I pour my heart into it. Teaching Spanish is my passion,” she says. “This award will continue to challenge me to do my best,” she adds.
Mrs. Jimenez is married to Miguel Rafael Jimenez, and has two sons, Miguel Rafael and Nicholas Jose. The couple lives in
Mandarin Chinese added to SDA’s course offerings
Bus Service planned for
SDA on Facebook!
Calling all alumnae! Come visit us and share some of your favorite SDA memories on our new Facebook page. Become a fan of
Visit us at:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jersey-City-NJ/Saint-Dominic-Academy/32130541658?ref=mf.
We hope to see you there!