September 2023

Celebrating Reunion 2023

Nearly 100 alumnae returned to St. Catharine Academy to celebrate Reunion 2023. The Classes of 1973 (above) and 1998 (below) celebrated their Golden and Silver Jubilees!

"Our SCA 25-year reunion was such a wonderful gathering," said Andrea Torchetti '98. "Being together in the gymnasium where we experienced so many special activities such as sports, music, and drama events was truly nostalgic.  We so enjoyed the luncheon and the chance to tour our former classrooms and see the new structural additions. The gifts of our Silver Jubilee medals and beautiful yellow roses was a great surprise. It was truly a lovely day and I look forward to next time!"

"It was a wonderful afternoon catching up with classmates and seeing all the updates to the school," Teri Kurtz '73 concluded.

View more of the festivities!

Meet Marie O'Shea,

Middle School Academic Dean

Marie O’Shea, academic dean of the middle school, calls this first month of school for the middle schoolers at St. Catharine's, "the early days." This year, for the first time in decades, St. Catharine Academy includes sixth to eighth graders among its ranks.

The former principal at St. Francis Xavier School in the Bronx, she says, "The students are stepping up to the plate for academic expectations. ...“It is such an interesting time of their lives....I love providing the scaffolding for them as they are growing and learning.”

Calling Middle School her passion within Catholic education, Ms. O'Shea is also teaching ELA and religion. She earned her bachelor’s degree from the College of Mount Saint Vincent and holds master’s degrees from Bank Street College of Education and Brooklyn College.

"We're off to a very good start," Ms. O'Shea concludes. We have a strong enrollment of 45. The girls have really taken to being a middle school in a high school."

For more information about the Middle School, click here.

Lia F., Grade 7, gives a thumbs up after the first day at SCA!

Juniors and Seniors participate in the U.N.'s Youth International Day of Peace

On Sept. 14, more than 60 SCA juniors and seniors participated in the United Nations International Day of Peace Event with some 700 high school and college students, UN officials, the UN Messenger of Peace, influencers, artists, media and young leaders at the United Nations Headquarters in Manhattan.

When the Sisters of Mercy Flash online newsletter highlighted the SCA trip, it wrote: " 'Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you' (John 14:27). Rooted in the Gospel, the Mercy Critical Concern for nonviolence calls us to improve our personal practice of nonviolence and peacemaking and to collaborate with organizations that foster peace, and to change violent systems and structures. Students at St. Catharine Academy attended the September 14 International Day of Peace Youth Event at the United Nations, themed: "Actions for Peace: Our Ambition for the #GlobalGoals."

 Alexandra B. '24 said, "When visiting the United Nations, I learned a lot about what it meant to earn peace and make a difference in our society. I learned the importance of contributing to a cause much bigger than I am, and what it means to be a maker of change."

Calling it a memorable experience for all, Alexandra concluded. "it meant that we got to experience the wonderful speakers and amazing presentations as a class and community."

Celebrating Mercy Day

The entire student body gathered for Mass to celebrate Mercy Day which honors the opening of the first House of Mercy by Catherine McAuley in 1827. Catherine sought to alleviate poverty and suffering, particularly among women and children. By extension, SCA students join in her spirit by collaborating with Mercy Center, Bronx, with a cereal drive to provide healthy breakfasts for Mercy Center clients. They collected 600 boxes.

Spirit Week filled with fun and creativity

Spirit Week included Decades, Characters and Barbie. See photos.

Six Students awarded

with academic honors

from College Board National Recognition Programs

(L. to r.) Kassidy Hamilton, Hannah Gomez, Alexandra Belliard,

Samia Rivera, Jocelyn Swavy, Jada Davis

Six students at St. Catharine Academy earned academic honors from the College Board National Recognition Programs. These programs celebrate students' hard work in high school and showcase their strong academic performance. The academic honors for rural area, Black, Indigenous, and/or Latino students are an opportunity for students to share their strong academic achievements with colleges and scholarship programs that are seeking to recruit diverse talent.

At St. Catharine’s, Alexandra Belliard ‘24, Hannah Gomez ‘24 and Samia Rivera ‘24, received the National Hispanic Recognition Award; and Jada Davis ‘24, Jocelyn Swavy ‘24 and Kassidy Hamilton ‘24 received the National African American Recognition Award.

The criteria for eligible students include:

• GPA of 3.5 or higher.
• PSAT/NMSQT or PSAT 10 assessment scores that are within the top 10% of assessment takers in each state for each award program or earned a score of 3 or higher on 2 or more AP Exams in 9th and 10th grade.
• Attend school in a rural area or small town, or identify as African American/Black, Hispanic American/Latino, or Indigenous/Native.

Eligible students are invited to apply on BigFuture during their sophomore or junior year and are awarded at the start of the next school year in time to share their achievements in high school as they plan for the future. At the same time, colleges and organizations using College Board’s Student Search Service™ can connect directly with awardees during the recruitment process.

Volleyball teams take to the court

The JV and Varsity teams are in the middle of their season. Watch social media for updates.

Fall High School Open Houses

Calling all alums to invite young women to visit SCA this fall. Spend A Day slots fill quickly! Give them the inside track. Want the family to explore? Join us for an Open House or Information Session.

Card Party!

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