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Our Lady of Grace Catholic Academy in Brooklyn today hosted a “Wear Lime Green” donation dress-down day to show their support and raise money for 7th grader Marco Wilen who has recently been diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.
In addition to the dress-down, the fundraiser included the sale of desserts and treats donated by Frost-A-Cake. There was also a basketball tournament for the students of grades 4-8, featuring a Free Throw and Three-Point contest which was also part of the fundraiser.
Financial donations are still being accepted and can be made by sending a check payable to Our Lady of Grace Catholic Academy in Brooklyn with “Marko” written on the envelope, or through Venmo @OurladyofGraceschool-AlumniAss. All funds raised will support his family and medical-related expenses.
Kelly Wolf is the Principal of Our Lady of Grace Catholic Academy located in the Gravesend section of Brooklyn.
Treats Donated by Frost A Cake to support the Our Lady of Grace fundraiser for 7th-grade student Marko Wilen.A picture of some of the students who participated in the lime green dress-down day and basketball tournament to raise money for their fellow student.Marco Wilen and a friend played basketball during the fundraiser to help him pay his medical expenses due to his recent diagnosis.
The Most Reverend Robert Brennan, Bishop of Brooklyn, has announced the selection of Deacon Kevin McCormack as the new Superintendent of Schools for the Diocese of Brooklyn. The appointment is effective as of July 1, 2022.
Deacon McCormack will be replacing Dr. Thomas Chadzutko, who is retiring as of August 31, 2022, after serving as Superintendent for the past 18 years.
“The schools and academies of the Diocese of Brooklyn have been blessed by the many years of steady, strong, and devoted leadership of our Superintendent Dr. Thomas Chadzutko. He truly has championed the growth of our schools and academies through teacher professional development, technology, and curriculum enhancements. Today we see the success of Catholic schools throughout Brooklyn and Queens because of his work. I am confident Deacon Kevin McCormack will expand on that success, given his exemplary work leading Xaverian and his clear commitment to Catholic Identity,” said Bishop Robert Brennan.
Deacon Kevin McCormack has served as the Principal of Xaverian for the last 15 years, having previously served there as an English and Religion teacher. For 30 years, he was also an Adjunct Instructor of Theology at Molloy College and was the co-host of the WABC radio program Religion on the Line from 2006 to 2018. Deacon McCormack is a graduate of Cathedral College and holds a Master of Arts in Theology from the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception, and a Master of Science in Educational Leadership from Fordham University.
“Over the last 37 years at Xaverian, working with tremendous students and their families, dedicated staff, faculty, administrators, and devoted alumni – and especially with my friend President Alesi, I learned what makes a Catholic School great. I am grateful that Bishop Brennan has placed his trust in me to build upon the formative work of Dr. Chadzutko and continue the blessed tradition of excellence in Catholic education,” said Deacon Kevin McCormack.
Dr. Thomas Chadzutko’s career in Catholic education in the Diocese of Brooklyn began in 1985 when he was named Principal of Blessed Sacrament Catholic School in the Cypress Hills section of Brooklyn. Following his tenure as Principal, Dr. Chadzutko entered diocesan administration, serving more than seven years as a District Superintendent, and more than two years as a Deputy Superintendent. On July 1, 2003, he was named Interim Superintendent. On June 4, 2004, then Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio officially appointed Dr. Chadzutko to serve as Superintendent of Schools.
“Leadership and progress never exist in isolation. I have been blessed with pastors, principals, and staff that share the faith and the mission of Catholic education. I am fortunate to be able to reflect on the many joys that this position has afforded me. The greatest joy is the knowledge that our work has impacted the lives of hundreds of thousands of students over the past three decades. I am honored to have been a piece of the puzzle that has shaped the next generation of the faithful,” said Dr. Thomas Chadzutko.
Xaverian has also issued a press release today pertaining to this announcement as well as the selection of their new principal. The full release can be found here: https://xaverian.myschoolapp.com/ftpimages/765/download/download_7659111.pdf
The Diocese of Brooklyn is home to 70 Catholic elementary academies and schools, as well as 15 Catholic high schools, throughout Brooklyn and Queens, with a combined enrollment of 30,894. There are 19,613 elementary students and 11,281 high school students. For more information regarding Catholic education in the Diocese of Brooklyn, visit catholicschoolsbq.org.
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Bishop Robert Brennan has named Deacon Kevin McCormack as the new Superintendent of Schools for the Diocese of Brooklyn effective July 1, 2022.
The Office of Catholic Schools for the Diocese of Brooklyn is excited to announce that two Brooklyn Catholic schools won top honors at this past weekend’s First Lego League City Championship, which featured STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) projects from 75 Catholic and public schools from across the five boroughs.
St. Saviour Catholic Academy, in Park Slope, took home the First Place trophy, and St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Academy, in Windsor Terrace, placed second in the contest. The theme of the competition was “Cargo Connect,” with each team having to identify a problem and develop a program and robot to solve it.
The first-place winners, “The Demericorns,” from St. Saviour Catholic Academy’s Class 8A, will now be heading to the national competition in Texas this spring. The students’ project focused on mail delivery in medical facilities, looking to assist with the burden on medical staff and trying to limit potential contagion spread through the use of robots.
St. Saviour Catholic Academy Class 8B students, the “Car-Go Vroom” team, placed fourth in the First Lego League City Championship. These students designed a robot to help clean and care for cattle during the shipping process.
“A great big congratulations to our 8th grade First Lego League students and their coach, Mr. Christopher Demera, on their achievement! Yes, those 7:15 mornings paid off,” said Susan McCabe-Walsh, Principal of St. Saviour Catholic Academy.
St. Saviour Catholic Academy’s first-place winning team “The Demericorns” take a picture with their trophy.The two winning teams from St. Saviour Catholic Academy; “The Demericorns” which placed first in the competition, and the students from the “Car-Go Vroom” team which placed fourth in the First Lego League City Championship.Students from St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Academy with their project on display at the competition.The second-place “Innovation Project Award” trophy was presented to the St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Academy team.
Students of the St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Academy’s eighth-grade robotics team, under the leadership of robotics coach and teacher Lisa Nitzsche, tackled the issue of package theft. Their project created a QR scanner that would allow delivery personnel into a mailbox, or a locker, outside of a home.
“It really ties in with caring for others and thinking of others. A lot of the robotics skills they learned through this project, the teamwork, the problem solving and research, and the use of different technologies, has prepared them for their education going forward,” said teacher Lisa Nitzsche.
The FIRST LEGO League guides students through STEM learning and exploration.
Catholic Telemedia Network (CTN), a service of DeSales Media Group, will host the 4th Annual Great Diocesan Read Aloud next week, March 7-11, 2022, with 80 classes from 40 Catholic schools and academies throughout Brooklyn and Queens participating.
This year, 30 authors from around the world will be reading their published work including award-winning authors Laura James, Jennie Englund, and Derek Keilty. The Most Reverend Robert J. Brennan, Bishop of Brooklyn, and Dr. Thomas Chadzutko, Superintendent of Schools, will be among the special guest readers. Congresswoman Grace Meng and Laurie Windsor, representing Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis, will also be featured guest readers.
“The Great Diocesan Read Aloud is an opportunity for students to share an experience through a story, and in many cases, to have the unique opportunity of hearing the words read by the person who crafted them. We are thrilled with the increased participation of children’s authors from many genres, and the eagerness of our guest readers to ‘step’ into our classrooms,” said Gina Krainchich, Director of Educational Media Services for CTN.
The goal of the Great Diocesan Read Aloud is to encourage school participation in National Reading Month. Guests will be virtually welcomed into classrooms to read their favorite children’s books throughout the week. The program aims to inspire students to enhance their love of reading by showcasing books they may not have selected to read on their own.
The Great Diocesan Read Aloud highlights the integration of technology and literacy to expand the world of reading beyond the classroom doors. During each 30-minute classroom “visit,” students will have the opportunity to ask questions to their guest readers and better foster a relationship between reading and curiosity.
DeSales Media is the communications and technology arms of the Diocese of Brooklyn.
The students at St. Gregory the Great Catholic Academy in the Bellerose section of Queens, for the eighth year in a row, have participated in a schoolwide campaign, “Valentine’s for Veterans.” Each year, special notes and handmade cards are sent to different Veteran Administration medical centers. This year, the students of St. Gregory the Great Catholic Academy made nearly 200 cards.
“My first experience was working with another teacher who had Veterans in her family. She made Valentine’s with her class every year and brought them to the VA Hospital. Since then I have heard stories of how some Veterans were victims of neglect and I thought that I wanted to make a difference,” said teacher Michele Morano who organizes the project.
“Being a member of the military is definitely a calling, just as teaching is. So, I decided after that first encounter with my co-worker, that I would make Valentine’s for Veterans every year. It is something so small and simple that has such a huge human impact. Over the years I have had students, brownie & Girl Scout troops, and religion classes contribute to this project as well,” continued Morano.
Fourth-grade students commented on the project upon its completion saying:
“I think they will be happy because sometimes they’re all alone and this will make them happy,” said Bryce.
“They would feel happy to know we are thinking about how they risked their lives for us, and giving them something in return lets them know they are loved,” said Quinn.
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St. Gregory the Great Catholic Academy students making Valentine’s Day cards for Veterans.A Kindergarten student making a Valentine’s Day card to be sent to Veteran.
Dr. Miguel Martinez-Saenz, President of St. Francis College, made a special visit to Bay Ridge Catholic Academy this morning to officially launch a new partnership between the college and elementary academy. This collaborative opportunity has been designed to enrich the academic programs at both schools.
Dr. Martinez-Saenz joined Bay Ridge Catholic Academy Principal Gary Williams, and St. Francis College Assistant Vice President Robert Oliva in visiting classrooms from Pre-K through the eighth grade. Dr. Saenz also met with Monsignor John Maloney, Pastor of St. Anselm Roman Catholic Church, Father Kevin Abels, Pastor of Our Lady of Angels, and members of the Bay Ridge Catholic Academy Board including Chair Vincent Iannelli and member George Prezioso.
“I know this will be a flourishing experience and I know the students at Bay Ridge Catholic Academy will benefit immensely. I am proud to say that this is the only such grammar school partnership with Saint Francis College. We are eager to embark on this distinguished alliance to advance the educational opportunities at our school,” said Dr. Gary Williams, Principal of Bay Ridge Catholic Academy.
“Building these kinds of relationships is important and it is never too early to engage students. It is never too early to inspire people to dream and get them focused on the importance of service to others. It was inspiring to see the future right in front of us, and I think we have an obligation to get that future orientated in a positive way. The students at St. Francis College will have the opportunity to come in and be role models for these young folks. This is what we are committed to; this is our values in action,” stated Dr. Miguel Martinez-Saenz, President of St. Francis College.
The partnership will include student teachers from St. Francis College, as well as student volunteers assisting at Bay Ridge Catholic Academy in their field of study. There will also be tutorials in subject areas, class trips to the science and communication arts labs at the college, and a foreign language after-school program. The collaborative summer program will feature a science program, CPR training, and E-Boot camp.
“St. Francis College is a college of opportunity and we are constantly seeking opportunities for our students to go out into the community to make a difference in the world. This partnership allows us to do that, whether by student teachers, mentors, tutors, or simply having Bay Ridge Catholic Academy students experience a day in the life of a college student. We are providing opportunities for our young people in our Diocese,” Robert Oliva, Assistant Vice President of St. Francis College.
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Dr. Miguel Martinez-Saenz, President of St. Francis College, visiting an eighth-grade class at Bay Ridge Catholic Academy.Dr. Miguel Martinez-Saenz, Bay Ridge Catholic Academy Board Chairman Vincent Iannelli, Robert Oliva, Assistant Vice President at St. Francis College, and Gary Williams, Principal of Bay Ridge Catholic Academy.St. Francis College President Dr. Miguel Martinez-Saenz took a photo with the fourth-graders at Bay Ridge Catholic Academy after sharing some inspiring words.Monsignor John Maloney, Pastor of St. Anselm Roman Catholic Church, Father Kevin Abels, Pastor of Our Lady of Angels, Bay Ridge Catholic Academy Board member George Prezioso, join Dr. Miguel Martinez-Saenz, Robert Oliva, and Principal Gary Williams for a photo.Bay Ridge Catholic Academy Principal Gary Williams, with Dr. Martinez-Saenz, visiting the eighth-grade students.
Dr. Thomas Chadzutko, Superintendent of Schools for the Diocese of Brooklyn, has issued the following update on Catholic schools and academies throughout Brooklyn and Queens in light of this morning’s snowstorm:
“Our schools are open today because of our dedicated faculty and administrators who are capable of an immediate switch to remote learning utilizing the technology we have in place and the robust online learning platforms.
Our students are learning and our educators are teaching. Our Catholic schools and academies did not skip a beat because of today’s snow.”
The Diocese of Brooklyn, which includes Queens, has over 20,000 students enrolled in their 70 Catholic schools and academies.
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A student from a Brooklyn Catholic school logged on for remote learning on a snowy Friday, January 7, 2022.
BROOKLYN AND QUEENS CATHOLIC SCHOOLS TO MAKE RAPID AT-HOME COVID TEST KITS AVAILABLE
Dr. Thomas Chadzutko, Superintendent of Schools for the Diocese of Brooklyn, has issued the following statement regarding the availability of at-home COVID test kits for students, faculty, and staff of Catholic schools and academies throughout Brooklyn and Queens:
“Catholic schools and academies throughout the Diocese of Brooklyn, which includes Brooklyn and Queens, have received a supply of at-home COVID tests from New York City and are awaiting a delivery from New York State. Our schools will begin distribution upon further information from the Department of Health to ensure the most efficient use of the test kits for our school families.
The Diocese of Brooklyn Schools Office reminds any student or teacher who feels ill to stay home, and for those in school, wear your masks, maintain social distancing, and practice good hand hygiene. Our schools have and continue to show true leadership throughout this pandemic in an effort to keep everyone safe.”
Our Lady of Grace Catholic Academy, located in the Gravesend section of Brooklyn, recently hosted a special “Math Day” celebration. The students dressed up as math symbols, characters, numbers, mathematicians, and equations.
The day’s highlights included:
*The students in grades 6, 7, and 8 learned about Sierpinski triangles, bringing their math skills to life by building 3-D pyramid towers.
*Grades 4 and 5 learned about Grandfather Tang’s story, a book by Ann Tompert, which is about the use of tangrams, the traditional Chinese art form, to expand pastel illustrations. They were challenged to make squares out of shapes given to them and later create different animals and objects. These students will use these creations to write a story.
*First grade learned about shapes and created frogs using different shapes.
“As a staff, we discussed our need to expand our teaching of Geometry. We began to build a foundation in grades 1 and 2, making art time into geometric time, and then we made it even bigger by creating Math Day all about geometric shapes! I think the pictures speak for themselves of all the activities students were able to do with shapes,” said Kelly Wolf, Principal of Our Lady of Grace Catholic Academy in Brooklyn.
The photos attached are courtesy of Our Lady of Grace Catholic Academy/Diocese of Brooklyn.
Photo #5 show the extra-large Sierpinski triangle created by the middle school students of Our Lady of Grace Catholic Academy to celebrate Math Day.
NEW CURRICULUM LESSON CHALLENGES CATHOLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS TO EXTRACT THEIR OWN DNA
The students at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Academy, located at 111-10 115th Street in the South Ozone Park section of Queens, will have a chance to extract their own DNA as part of a hands-on lesson and activity, this Wednesday, April 14, 2021, at 12:45 p.m.
Students will use soap to help dissolve the cell membrane and use salt to break up protein chains that hold nucleic acids together, thus releasing the DNA strands. The challenge is for the students to extract their own DNA which will be floating on top of the solution. The students have already been introduced to Captain Barrington Irving’s Regenerative Medicine Expedition, to the Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Raleigh, North Carolina, where he learned about the role of DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid).
Students of grades 3, 4, and 5 will be participating in the hands-on activity. The materials to be used as part of this experiment include dish detergent, table salt, rubbing alcohol, food coloring, and plastic cups, along with a number of tools including gloves, a magnifying glass, a wooden craft stick, and a measuring cup.
The lesson is part of The Flying Classroom STEM supplemental curriculum recently incorporated in schools within the Diocese of Brooklyn. Captain Irving, the first Black person to pilot a plane around the world solo, and at the time the youngest, is the founder of The Flying Classroom program.
Members of the media are invited to attend and asked to notify the Diocesan Press Office of their attendance.
