January 2024

Join us in honoring

Coach Sandie Capifali

on Saturday, April 13, 2024

A look at Coach Capifali's career:

Sandie Capifali, known to players as "Coach Cap," coached basketball for more than four decades, beginning at St. Barnabas Elementary School and retiring after nearly 30 years of leading St. Catharine Academy’s teams. She was Iona College’s first women’s basketball coach from 1974-1984.

Coach Capifali led the Iona Gaels from a team that didn’t even have uniforms to a team playing in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) League in the then new Mulcahy Center. She had a winning record at Iona of .536. A member of the MAAC Hall of Fame, Coach Capifali now competes as a competitive tennis player with the United States Tennis Association.

Coach Capifali says she has worked with so many wonderful assistant coaches and players over the years and is grateful that many have kept in touch. “I think I am blessed that I was able to teach some who became doctors and lawyers and teachers and coaches,” she says, explaining that she always coaches a player for what they can be, not what they are. 

Save the date and join us to honor Ms. Sandie Capifali. More details for this event will follow shortly.

Alumnae share their college experiences with seniors

Pictured left to right: Sr. Ann M. Welch, RSM, Mrs. Carmela Melucci, Naomi Walters, Farida Ahmed, Anh Huynh, Angelina Persaud, Liz Nunez, Gabriella Aviles and Sr. Patricia Wolf, RSM '62

Young alumnae returned to SCA in early January to share their college experiences with the Class of 2024. Their advice ranged from being sure to meet with professors during office hours to making sure to bring a shower caddy.

The college students told the seniors how different college schedules are from the more structured high school schedule and suggested different ways to take control of their schedules. They told them there were grateful for how St. Catharine's prepared them to study, learn and build relationships.

Thank you to this year's presenters:

• Farida Ahmed ‘23, pre-med, CUNY Sophie Davis Biomedical Education Program
• Gabriella Aviles ‘23. psychology, Mount Holyoke College
• Anh Huynh '23, pre-med, Barnard College/Columbia University
• Liz Nunez ‘23, architecture. New York Institute of Technology
• Angelina Persaud ‘21, chemical engineering, Manhattan College
• Naomi Walters ‘23. pre-med, Fordham University

Middle School kicks off Catholic Schools Week with an Open House

SCA faculty, staff and students hosted potential families during an Open House on Jan. 28 to kick off Catholic Schools Week. They observed classrooms, including the STEM Lab and met with club and team leaders, ranging from Choir to the Gaming Club to CYO basketball players. To learn more about the Middle School, click here.

Robotics Team wins Judges Award in first two competitions of season

The Robotics Team has been awarded the Judges' Award at their first two VEX competitions of the season. They also reached the quarterfinals. Watch social media for updates throughout the season.

SCA Earns College Board AP 

Computer Science A

Female Diversity Award

St. Catharine Academy is one of 225 schools in the country who earned the College Board AP® Computer Science A Female Diversity Award for improving gender representation during the 2022-23 school year. Schools honored with the AP Computer Science Female Diversity Award have expanded girls’ access in AP computer science courses.

Read more.

Jocelyn S. '24 named

News12 Scholar Athlete

Jocelyn S. '24 was named a News12 Scholar Athlete in January. President of the Student Council, she is already weighing options for college with acceptances to Penn State and Fordham University.



Watch the video.

Varsity Basketball update

The Varsity basketball team now has a record of 6-4 with a league record of 3-4. Watch for game highlights on social media.

Join us at Career Day on March 11, 2024 to share your experiences with students. Contact Sr. Patricia Wolf, RSM '62.