Saint Dominic Academy Alumna Chosen to Present Research at Saint Michael’s College
The administration and faculty of Saint Dominic Academy extend their congratulations to Alumna, Katie Healy ’07, currently a senior at Saint Michael’s College in Colchester, Vermont, who was chosen to make a presentation of research in her chosen field of Theater Arts at the annual Dean’s Reception for Dean’s List Students. The presentations were in the form of posters and electronic displays. Healy was chosen by her respective department and was one of only 40 students to receive this honor. Her research topic concerned the Professional Summer Theatre at Saint Michael’s Playhouse.
The reception took place on Saturday, April 9th at Saint Michael’s College. Administrative and faculty members of the Saint Michael’s College community, as well as family members of the students being honored, were in attendance. The reception was followed by a ceremony honoring both Dean’s List students and the research presenters.
Healy has worked for the Saint Michael’s Theater Department for the past four years, and was also on the Dean’s List all four years. In addition, she has been nominated to the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival for the past four years.
Saint Dominic Academy Glee Club Champions Again!
Fifty Saint Dominic Academy students took Myrtle Beach by storm and were declared Choral Sweepstakes Award winners at Heritage Festivals national music competition. The awards were presented at Medieval Times in Myrtle Beach on Saturday, April 16th after the choir enjoyed dinner and the jousting of knights.
This was the 20th consecutive year that the choir, directed by Joseph P. Napoli, has participated in an April competition. The choir has won sweepstakes (also known as the Grand Championship award) in 9 of those competitions; including four in the last five years.
Saint Dominic Academy had entries in three categories at the festival; Show Choir, Chamber Choir and Women’s Choir. Awards are based on the scores submitted by three adjudicators who evaluate the performances according to national standards of choral excellence.
The Show Choir, who danced and sang a Michael Jackson medley choreographed by seniors Aiden Connell and Raven Lyles, achieved a second place ranking and silver 89 rating. The Chamber Choir, locally known as The Dominoes, achieved a second place ranking and gold rating. The Women’s Choir, locally known as The Glee Club, achieved a first place ranking and a gold rating.
The Choral Sweepstakes Award is determined by combining the scores of the two highest rated groups; Saint Dominic Academy’s double gold rating scores were higher than any other composite score at the music festival. Also, the gold ratings include an invitation to perform at the Heritage Festival of Gold, held at Carnegie Hall next spring.
A weary but victorious group returned to Jersey City late the following evening, and began preparing for their Spring Concert which was held on Sunday, May 1st at Saint Aloysius Church in Jersey City.
Saint Dominic Academy to hold 14th Annual Spring Thaw Race
Saint Dominic Academy held its 14th Annual Spring Thaw Race on Saturday, March 19, 2011 in Liberty State Park at the Railroad Terminal. Proceeds from the run help to benefit all of SDA’s sports programs. Featured event included the 1 Mile run/walk; a 5K run on a USATF certified course and a short Kiddie run. Students and staff participated taking home a slew of medals and having a great time supporting each other! For more information on next year's event (to be held March 17th, 2011), please contact Saint Dominic Academy at 201-434-5938 and speak to Athletic Director, John Nagel at ext. 50 or Advancement Director, Kate Lillis Magnus at ext. 42.
Past winners of the SDA Annual Spring Thaw Race include: Dr. Chris Bennett, coach of CBA, who ran a four-minute mile with the NIKE Farm Team and who also ran at CBA and North Carolina, Carolina Liane Sullivan Rae ’90, Hudson County Hall of Famer and standout at Portland State University, highly acclaimed distance runner, Joseph McVeigh, and current SDA Track Coach Patrick McMonagle, who ran at Saint Peter’s College.
Saint Dominic Academy Alumna Honored at Seton Hall University Stillman School of Business
Saint Dominic Academy congratulates Alumna, Earlene Cruz, 2010, on her collegiate success at the Stillman School of Business at Seton Hall University. Cruz was recently honored at the school’s Beta Gamma Sigma Induction Ceremony and Awards Presentation for her first place entry in the BGS Freshman Essay Contest. Cruz, who was a student in the prestigious International Baccalaureate Program at Saint Dominic Academy, graduated as the Valedictorian of her class.
Spring News
Saint Dominic Academy Students and Bailey School First Graders Become Pen Pals
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The smiles on the faces of the Bailey School first graders and the anticipation on the faces of their Saint Dominic Academy pen pals was enough to light up the room on the day in early May when students from the two schools met for the first time after exchanging a series of letters during March, April and May.
The SDA students were learning about the importance of audience in their Writing Intensive Class taught by Mr. Joseph Babico, while the first grade youngsters from Mrs. Pat Foran’s class were learning how to write letters. As the first grade students sharpened their communication skills using invented spelling, they also added little drawings to personalize the letters that they sent. The SDA girls replied with enthusiasm and the program moved along swiftly from week to week.
“My students were eager to receive the letters,” noted Mrs. Foran. “And they wanted to write back immediately. It was a great way to get the children to write for real world purposes” she concluded.
The multi letter project culminated in a meeting at Saint Dominic Academy where the students shared some bakery treats and beverages. The SDA students presented their young “pals” with some small tokens of affection and appreciation: a small writing pad with the SDA “Blue Devil” on the front cover, two pencils and some popular stickers. The first graders gave their SDA pen pals a unique series of personalized puzzles.
The festivities closed with a group picture of each pen pal standing or sitting next to her partner. Each student received an individual copy of the picture to make the event more memorable. As the first graders headed for their school bus, teachers could hear students saying, “Could we stay a little longer”? or “When can we meet again?”
A bulletin board bearing the title “Pen Pal Roundup” prepared by Mrs. Foran and Title One teacher Mrs. Serkin, who also assisted in the overall project, lights up the Bailey School hallways. There are two students pictured together, a smiling SDA student and her beaming first grade pen pal.
One other person who deserves credit for this successful real world lesson in writing and communication is Mrs. Denise Babico, who volunteers at both Saint Dominic Academy and Bailey School. As a retired teacher with years of experience in grammar school, she helped the SDA girls to appreciate the essence of letter writing to students some ten or eleven years their junior.
SDA junior, Stephanie Guerrero said of the experience, “Meeting our pen pals was a fun and exciting experience. Despite the age difference there wasn’t an awkward moment at any table. It was nice being able to reconnect with childhood memories.”
Saint Dominic Academy Sophomore Accepted to Study at The Sorbonne in Paris in Summer 2011
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The administration and faculty of Saint Dominic Academy extend warm congratulations to SDA sophomore, Sarah Gaddis, who was recently accepted to study at The Sorbonne in Paris in Summer 2011. The Summer Study at the Sorbonne affords students the opportunity to immerse themselves in the French language and experience the French culture with the option to earn college credits.
Gaddis will attend challenging classes, experience weekend travel adventures, and make new, international friendships with students from around the world. Gaddis, who plans to attend college at The Sorbonne following the completion of her high school career at Saint Dominic Academy says of her impending studies in Paris:
“I am looking forward to learning about the monuments in Paris, French history and the architectural development of such a great city. I am also excited about making international friends while increasing my French vocabulary.”
SDA French Teacher, Mrs. Denise Scholz is very proud of the linguistic accomplishments of Gaddis stating, “The Summer Study at the Sorbonne program will bring Sarah even closer to her goal of becoming fluent in French. I look forward to working with her in French III class upon her return. I have no doubt that she will have made much progress in her French studies.”
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