On Friday, January 31st, MSS renamed the Mother Seton Learning Center to the Seton-LaCroce Learning Center in honor of Eugene and Julianne LaCroce.

Gene and Judy have a long and distinguished history at Mother Seton School. Judy is a former Mother Seton School middle school language arts teacher (1977-1986), and Gene volunteered his finance and budget expertise to the Daughters of Charity. Most importantly however, the LaCroce's five children were educated at Mother Seton School- Gene, Jr. (MSS 1974), Maria (MSS 1976), Regina (MSS 1977), Kathy (MSS 1981), and Jim (MSS 1988).  The LaCroce family's commitment and lifelong dedication to Catholic education mirrored Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton's educational mission and vision.  

The mission of the Seton-LaCroce Learning Center is to provide academic support, direct intervention, and guidance for MSS students Pre-K through 8th grade. The Learning Center serves students with documented disabilities, students who need reading and/or math support, or students who are reading above grade-level and in need of additional enrichment. 

The Seton-LaCroce Learning Center is staffed by Ann Beirne, Director, and Alexis Burns, Special Educator, who are both trained in the Orton-Gillingham Approach, a reading method to assist students with dyslexia. MSS has also created a sensory path, a colorful, creative and playful trail for kids to follow to help build sensory connections in the brain as well as assist with behavior and focus. Early intervention in reading and professional development for teachers are also priorities of the Seton-LaCroce Learning Center.

Thank you, LaCroce Family--you have truly made a difference! To donate to the Seton-LaCroce Learning Center, click here.

(back row l-r) Brian Stitely, Nathan Stitely, Julia Stitely, Ann Beirne, Director Seton-LaCroce Learning Center, Alexis Burns, MSS Special Education Teacher, Rev. John Lesnick, Pastor of St. Joseph's, Taneytown, Dan Hallinan, MSS Board President, Jennifer Buchheister, MSS Director of Advancement (front row l-r) Maria Vershel, Julianne LaCroce, Eugene LaCroce, Kathy Stitely, Kathleen Kilty, MSS Principal

Congratulations to our young alums on their first semester achievements! 

Saint John's Catholic Prep High School Honor Roll

President's List (GPA 4.0):

Grade 9- E.J. Lowry and Brendan Guinan (MSS 2019)
Grade 10- Megan Adams and Deanna Thompson (MSS 2018) 
Grade 11- Jack Guinan (MSS 2017) 

Grade 12- Emma Adams (MSS 2016).

Honors with Distinction (3.5 GPA, no grade lower than B):

Grade 10- Devon Thompson (MSS 2018) 

Saint Maria Goretti High School Honor Roll

Distinguished Honors

Grade 10- Zoe Kean (MSS 2018)

Grade 11- Bridget Collins (MSS 2017)

Grade 12- Luke Szukalski (MSS 2016)

Honors

Grade 12- Vy Tran (MSS 2016)

Delone Catholic High School

Commendable Effort- Kailee Crouch (MSS 2017)

Thomas Johnson High School First Semester Honor Roll

Grade 9- First Honors: Annika Guenther, Beckett Tayler (MSS 2019)

Grade 10- Second Honors: Nam Pham (MSS 2018)

Grade 11- First Honors: Larisa Tayler, Averey Johnson; Second Honors: Sydney McCarron (MSS 2017)

Catoctin High School First Semester Honor Roll

Grade 9- First Honors: Helen Hochschild, Grant Kelly, Mackenzie Orndorff; Second Honors: Jameson Doll, Nathan Kovalcik (MSS 2019)

Grade 10- First Honors: Keola Evans, Jacob Hartness, Brendan Ott, Raphaela Smaldone; Second Honors: Mia Ferraro, Sean Himes (MSS 2018)

Grade 11- First Honors: Grace Kovalcik; Second Honors: Garrett Malachowski, Sean Mazaleski, Carson Sickeri (MSS 2017)

Grade 12- First Honors: Quinn Alley, Jonathan Glass, Jeremy Hochschild, Daniel McCarthy; Second Honors: Lauren Haller, Evan Ott, Jean Pembroke (MSS 2016)

Our MSS alumni students making the National Honor Society at Catoctin High School:

Senior Inductees- Daniel McCarthy and Evan Ott (MSS 2016)

Junior inductees- Emily Dewees, Natalie Bosche and Grace Kovalcik (MSS 2017)

Congratulations to all of you on your impressive scholastic awards!

Former MSS Vincentian Marian Youth members Jacob Hartness (MSS 2018) and Beckett Tayler (MSS 2019) donated their time to assist the Seton Family Store during the Christmas break. The Seton Family Store (formerly the Seton Thrift Store) is now located behind Mother Seton School at 226 E. Lincoln Avenue. Great job, boys! 

Eilis McCormick (MSS 2015) made the Dean's List in the Engineering School at Catholic University. 

Brendan (MSS 2013) is on the Honor Roll at Slippery Rock University, where he is a junior majoring in Parks and Resource Management. 

Good work, Eilis and Brendan!

Carrie is a young woman with a full plate! The Junior at Longwood University in Farmville, Virginia is not only a soccer star but also an aspiring neurologist who has managed to combine her two passions in a fascinating way. Carrie plays defense for the Longwood Lancers, and is a two time All-Big South defender, as well as the reigning Big South Scholar-Athlete of the Year. While helping propel her team to victories with her "unmatched physicality and aggressiveness" 

(Longwood Lancers release), Carrie, a biology major, also maintains an impressive 4.0 GPA. Recently, she had the opportunity to intern at a hospital in Buenos Aires, Argentina, for five weeks. Carrie rotated through different units, including pediatrics and infectious diseases, observing surgeries, meeting with patients and assisting doctors in their rounds. As one of the few Americans at the hospital, Carrie found soccer to be the key to breaking the ice and bonding with both her peers and her patients. While most Argentinians are already huge soccer fans, the fact that Carrie's time at the hospital coincided with the Women's World Cup added even more excitement to their normal enthusiasm for the sport. She enjoyed seeing "how sports transcend the actual playing field" to allow her to relate and build bridges with her patients and peers.

Congratulations, Carrie, on your outstanding athletic and academic accomplishments!

Photo by Mike Kropf from Longwood University website