It was all hands on deck for Service Day on Wednesday as members of the Mount community rolled up their sleeves to aid clients served by a wide variety of local organizations.
On February 25, members of the Forensics Speech & Debate Team attended the Catholic Forensics League's National Tournament where they competed in the Grand Qualifying Tournament against six other schools at DePaul Catholic High School in Wayne.
The Mount Junior State of America chapter attended their Winter Congress in Arlington, VA from February 24 to 26.
“Our students experienced a congressional simulation, they wrote and debated bills in committee. In addition to bill writing, participants explored avenues for change, including service, community building, and equity,” said Joanne Cadigan-Peters, Social Studies Department Chair and the JSA Moderator. “My chapter received a grant from the Amanda Rose Laura Foundation to attend this convention. We are extremely grateful for their generosity.”
On March 5, Dani Carter '25, Olivia Chow '23, Meghan Dwyer '26, Sophia Latini '23, Kayla Marion '25, Livia Minaides '23, and Catherine Ritter '25 competed at the Meet of Champions at Gloucester Institute of Technology in Sewell. Coach Megan Decker reported the following accolades:
Mount students engaged with representatives from over 60 colleges and universities on the afternoon of Tuesday, March 7, where they learned about boundless opportunities for the next step in their educational journey.
Join us on Friday and Saturday, March 24 and 25, at 7 pm in the Sister Lisa Gambacorto Theater where our talented Mounties will take the stage in Seussical!
Congratulations to the Mount Saint Mary Academy Mock Trial team upon being designated SOMERSET COUNTY CHAMPIONS! On the evening of February 22, our Legal Lions defeated Montgomery at the Somerset County Courthouse. June Gill '24 was awarded Best Attorney, but everyone played a huge role in this victory.
The Students of Color Affinity (SOCA) group at Mount Saint Mary Academy sponsored two visits to the Center for Creativity in Westfield (formerly The Rialto Theater) in February to explore significant historical figures and milestones during the “African American History in Westfield from 1720” exhibition and documentary event.
On February 17, S. Lisa Gambacorto, RSM, Ed.S. (Directress) and Assistant Directresses Denise Materia and Jacqueline Muratore congratulated members of the Mock Trial team for advancing to the finals after defeating Bridgewater in the semi-finals this week.
On the afternoon of Wednesday, February 15, Mount Saint Mary Academy hosted over 40 girls in grades 5 - 8, competing in the annual Winter Invitational Junior Forensics Competition.
Alumnae excelling in a wide variety of career endeavors returned to the Mount on Friday, February 10, to share their expertise and advice with students during Career Day.
Members of the Peer Ministry Leadership Team and Club met Thursday to complete a banner representing the Sisters of Mercy’s Critical Concern of Racism. The group also collaborated with the Students of Color Affinity to create flyers featuring Black Americans (a project led by Shelby Carmant ’25), their biographies, and quotes on unity.
On Friday, February 10, the following members of the senior class who are eligible to be recognized as Cum Laude Society members, determined by their mid-year cumulative GPA, were recognized.
Did you know that three of our Mounties are currently ranked number 1 in the respective events in track and field? Congratulations to Payton Kochanski '23, Jordyn Collie '23, and Mackenzie Daly '26!
On Friday, February 3, members of the Future Medical Professionals Club at Mount Saint Mary Academy in Watchung visited the Rutgers-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School anatomy lab.
This week, the Mount Saint Mary Academy community was bustling with enthusiasm in celebration of Catholic school education. Monday afternoon's Liturgy was followed by a talent show on Tuesday. On Wednesday, students celebrated the U.S. and added red, blue, and gold to their uniforms. Thursday followed with a celebration of vocations, featuring an ice cream social with the Sisters of Mercy on campus. The week concluded with a spirited basketball game with students and faculty/staff members. Throughout the week, Find the Lion and Penny Wars were held.
On Saturday, January 28, nine members of the Mount's Speech and Debate team competed at Ridge High School in the New Jersey Speech & Debate League. A record turnout of over 700 students from six states including New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Vermont and Arkansas, gave our young ladies some great competition as well as an opportunity to learn different styles in presentation, gesturing, facial expression, vocal variation and piece selection.
Congratulations to the members of the Mount Basketball team and Coach Ryan Shellhammer! The team was victorious in being designated Skyland Conference - Valley Division (Champions).They captured the program's third consecutive division title when they won their game against Pingry (42-38) on January 24.
Congratulations to the Mount's Mock Trial team which won over Somerville at the Somerset County Courthouse on the evening of February 1, with Sarah Mooney '25 being named Best Attorney! Our plaintiff side, led by June Gill '24 and Anne Tighe '24, competes against Pingry on Tuesday! Wish our Legal Lions good luck!
Two senior student-athletes at Mount Saint Mary Academy confirmed their Offer of Admission and commitment to continue careers in college. They were celebrated during a special gathering in Mother Mary Patrick Gymnasium with friends, coaches, faculty, staff and administration on the morning of Monday, January 30.
Dr. Joseph Bonk, Department of English Chairperson at Mount Saint Mary Academy in Watchung, announced that the 2022 edition of Echoes literary magazine, themed "Refuge," was awarded the designation of “Excellent” by the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) Recognizing Excellence in Art and Literary Magazines (REALM) Program on January 21. The Mount has received distinctions of "Merit," "Excellent," and "Superior" since 2011, according to Dr. Joseph Bonk, English Department Chair and Echoes advisor.
On the morning of January 21, four students from Mount Saint Mary Academy in Watchung were presented with St. Timothy Awards by Bishop James F. Checchio of the Diocese of Metuchen during a special ceremony held at St. Francis Cathedral in Metuchen. The honored students are: Marina Cialdella ‘23 (nominated by Blessed Sacrament/Martinsville), Kayley Moran ‘23 and Rebecca Ryan ‘23 (both nominated by Mount Saint Mary Academy), and Gianna Savatta ’24 (nominated by St. Mary/Stony Hill).
Mount Saint Mary Academy has earned the College Board’s 2022 AP Computer Science Female Diversity Award for expanding young women’s access to AP Computer Science Principles (CSP). This award has been garnered by the Academy since 2018.
On January 17, Matt Ashburn, President and Founder of ReachOut and a student at Seton Hall University, visited Mount Saint Mary Academy to distribute “stress kits” to juniors Zoe Daly ‘24 and Zoe Schack ‘24. The kits contained puzzles, stress balls, journals, play dough, kinetic sand, and a variety of other activities and materials aimed at reducing anxiety and improving mental health.
The 62 seniors of the Class of 2023 are being welcomed to many college and universities already with offers of admission from over 85 different colleges and universities!
An incredibly insightful presentation by Mount Saint Mary Academy alumnae from the Classes of 2020, 2021, and 2022 was offered to seniors during the "Return to the Mount" in the S. Lisa Gambacorto Theater.