August 30, 2012
HEAD BACK TO SCHOOL FOR THE 2012 - 2013 SCHOOL YEAR
The 2012-2013 school year begins on Wednesday, September 5, 2012 for Archdiocesan students who attend its 123 elementary schools, 17 high schools and four schools of special education. This school year begins on the heels of several key announcements including an agreement being reached between the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and the Faith in the Future Foundation to have the Foundation assume strategic and operational management of 21 Archdiocesan schools, and the appointment of two new Superintendents.
Wednesday, September 5, 2012: First Day of School at 8:00 a.m. - 8:30 a.m.
Archbishop Ryan School for the Deaf, 4251 "L" Street, Philadelphia, PA 19124
The 2012-2013 school year marks the 100th anniversary of Archbishop Ryan School for the Deaf. Ms. Jacqueline Coccia, Superintendent of Elementary Schools, and Mr. H. Edward Hanway, Chairman of the Faith in the Future Foundation, will greet students as they arrive for their first day of school.
Thursday, September 6, 2012 at 9:15 a.m.
Mater Dei Catholic School, 493 East Main Street, Lansdale, PA 19446-2898
Archbishop Charles Chaput, O.F.M., Cap. will lead a prayer service and bless the new Mater Dei Catholic School. Mater Dei Catholic School is a new regional school formed from the mergers of Saint Rose of Lima School in North Wales (Montgomery County) and Saint Stanislaus School in Lansdale (Montgomery County).
Tuesday, September 11, 2012 at 8:00 a.m.
Little Flower Catholic High School for Girls, 1000 West Lycoming Street, Philadelphia, PA 19140-2199
In celebration of the Mayor's Education Month, The Honorable Michael A. Nutter, Mayor of Philadelphia, Carol A. Cary, Ed. D., Superintendent of Secondary Schools and H. Edward Hanway, Chairman of the Faith in the Future Foundation, will address Little Flower students, focusing on the importance of education, service, setting goals and working hard. Following the presentation, Mayor Nutter, Mr. Hanway and Dr. Cary will tour the school and visit with students.
Faith in the Future Foundation Announcement:
On August 21, 2012 the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and the Faith and the Future Foundation, announced that an agreement-in-principle had been reached to create an independently managed Catholic school system encompassing 17 high schools within the Archdiocese as well as its four schools of special education. The Foundation will assume strategic and operational management of these 21 Archdiocesan schools effective September 1, 2012 and focus on major fundraising, enrollment management, marketing and cultivating best practices in leadership and education.
New High School Presidents:
In early August 2012, the Office of Catholic Education announced the appointments of three new presidents to lead Bishop McDevitt High School (Wyncote, Montgomery County), Saint Hubert Catholic High School for Girls (Northeast Philadelphia), and Pope John Paul II High School (Royersford, Montgomery County).
Mr. Stephen Finley, Sr. brings with him over 16 years of business management and executive experience from Merck to Bishop McDevitt High School. Mr. Finely also has significant fundraising experience having served as co-chair of the Bishop McDevitt High School Science 2000 Project for new labs and two terms as co-chair of the Parents Annual Giving Fund.
Mr. Francis Farrell comes to Saint Hubert Catholic High School for Girls from Manor College where he was Division Chair of the Liberal Arts School. Mr. Farrell has great strengths in strategic planning.
Prior to being named the President of Pope John Paul II High School, Dr. Louis Giuliano was the Assistant Director of Educational Financial Services for the Office of Catholic Education for the past 22 years. Dr. Giuliano has also taught in the Graduate Programs of Thomas Jefferson University and Villanova University.
Announcement of New Superintendents of Secondary and Elementary Schools:
On July 19, 2012, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia Office of Catholic Education announced two new Superintendents: Dr. Carol Cary, the Superintendent of Secondary Schools, and Ms. Jacqueline Coccia, the Superintendent of Elementary Schools. Dr. Carol Cary brings more than 20 years of experience to her new role. Previously, Dr. Cary was the Director of Secondary Curriculum, Instruction and Professional Development for almost five years in the Office of Catholic Education (OCE), where she was responsible for supervising the academic administrators and the curriculum committee members; identifying and implementing strategic initiatives resulting in student achievement gains, increased professional development and student-centered approaches to learning.
Ms. Coccia brings 13 years of experience in Catholic education to her new role, most recently as the Director of Elementary Education. Ms. Coccia's responsibilities included coordinating strategic planning efforts for OCE and the Office of Catechetical Formation, assisting elementary school principals in the implementation of the Common Core State Standards, providing support to pastors, principals, teachers and parish and regional elementary schools, and mentoring first-and second-year principals.
Dr. Cary and Ms. Coccia were chosen to lead the Archdiocese's 17 high schools and 123 elementary schools respectively through an exhaustive search process that included consultation from Dr. John DeFlaminis, Executive Director of the Penn Center for Educational Leadership, and Mr. Edward Hanway, Chairman of the Faith in the Future Foundation.
Highlights from Archdiocesan Schools:
For the fifth year, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia will welcome guest teachers from China, who will teach Mandarin Chinese to students in Archdiocesan High Schools. These guest teachers will provide Mandarin instruction at Lansdale Catholic High School in Lansdale (Montgomery County), Bishop Shanahan High School in Downingtown (Chester County), Roman Catholic High School for Boys in Philadelphia, Little Flower High School for Girls in Philadelphia, Cardinal O'Hara High School in Springfield (Delaware County) and John W. Hallahan Catholic Girls' High School, Philadelphia. This program is in conjunction with the College Board and Hanban.
The International Studies program at West Philadelphia Catholic High School has been given the 2012 Outstanding Program of Excellence award by the Pennsylvania Council for the Social Studies. This is West Philadelphia Catholic High School's 10th year in the program. The award will be presented in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania in October 2012. Program directors as well as representatives of the school administration and students whose projects and accomplishments have made the program so successful. The student projects include the creation of websites, documentary videos and a self-published book.
Upcoming Event:
Crystal Tea Room, Wanamaker Building, Broad and Juniper Streets, Philadelphia, PA 19107
The Distinguished Graduate/Hall of Fame event will honor the following five individuals who exemplify what a Catholic School graduate should be. Mr. Tim Chambers, Director, Screenwriter, Producer, The Mighty Macs; Chief Executive Officer, Tango Traffic; Partner, Quaker Media and Graduate of Cardinal O'Hara High School, Delaware County. Mr. Gerald P. Cuddy, President and Chief Executive Officer, Beneficial Bank; Graduate of Saint Bernadette of Lourdes School, Drexel Hill, Delaware County and Monsignor Bonner High School, Drexel Hill, Delaware County. Mr. James Hirschmann, Jr., Chief Executive Officer, Western Asset Management Co. and graduate of Archbishop Wood High School, Warminster, Bucks County. Ms. Jane Metzler, Anchor/Reporter Fox News Radio and graduate of Bishop McDevitt High School, Wyncote, Montgomery County. Brother Richard Kestler, FSC, President of West Philadelphia Catholic High School and graduate of La Salle College High School, Wyndmoor, Montgomery County. For more information about this event, please visit www.PromiseFulfilled.org.
Editor's Note: For more information about schools in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia please visit www.catholicschools-phl.org. For information about the Faith in the Future Foundation please visit www.faithinthefuture.com/splash/
Contact
Meredith Wilson
Communications Specialist
215-587-3747