John Thornburg
Headmaster
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Dear Families,
It has been a very busy and exciting week here at Malden Catholic. Since Thanksgiving break, we have held our winter athletic tryouts, a "Decades Dress Down Day" to help raise funds for MC Make-A-Wish Club's efforts and we celebrated St. Francis Xavier's Feast Day with a Mass and announced our Ryken Award recipient, Mr. Paul Moran.
Additionally, we decided this year to enhance our MC lobby Christmas decorations. Our staff had plans to set up the new Christmas tree in the foyer after school on the last day before Thanksgiving break with the goal of surprising the students with a beautifully decorated entrance are when they returned. After the bell rang, the staff began decorating the tree and a group of students who were waiting in the cafeteria spontaneously came out to ask if they could help. It wasn't long before a dozen or more students were gathered around the Christmas tree carefully attaching new ornaments and holiday ribbons. A few students began singing "We Wish You A Merry Christmas," and then another student swiftly turned on some holiday music on Spotify to accompany the singers. Just like Rockefeller Center, in a short period of time the fully decorated tree was lit and met by a round of applause. It was an incredibly heartwarming moment!
I was so touched and impressed by our students. These young men and women felt comfortable enough to jump right in and decorated the new tree with joy. Our staff welcomed them and provided everyone with enough space to enjoy the process. Our students collaborated and took turns preparing and hanging the ornaments. It once again reinforced the fact that Malden Catholic is not just a school - it is a family. Every time I see the tree in the foyer, it reminds me of our outstanding staff, faculty and exceptional students. Plus, this very positive energy can be felt throughout the entire building as we progress towards Christmas break.
May your family experience the same joy this Christmas season!
Warmly,
John K. Thornburg
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P.S. I want to thank our families for their support with this past Monday's all-school COVID testing. The entire process went smoothly, and we had zero positive cases. This reflects your support in our effort to keep our community safe and healthy. I would like to give special thanks to Mr. Jeff Smith and Mrs. Elizabeth Paquette for their outstanding leadership as well. |
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Monday, December 6
Day 1
COVID-19 Testing for Unvaccinated Students - Gym at 7 AM
MC Parent Council Meeting with Advent Prayer and Bow-making - 6 PM
Tuesday, December 7
Day 2
MC Experience Night (Class of 2026) - 6 PM
MC Make-A-Wish Club Create & Escape at the Irish American Club - 6:30 PM
MC Book Club - 6:30 PM
Wednesday, December 8
Day 3
Activity Schedule
Immaculate Conception Mass - Mass Attire
Thursday, December 9
Day 4
Christmas Shorts Play - 7:00 PM
Friday, December 10
Day 5
Rosary - 7:30 AM
Door Decorating Contest Ends
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Faculty Spotlight: Ms. Darian Radzikowski - Social Studies Teacher |
Dear Malden Catholic Community,
I joined the Malden Catholic faculty this year as a History teacher. Although I am new to the profession, I have been thrilled to work with the diverse group of Malden Catholic students and staff.
I am a recent graduate of Boston University where I earned my Bachelor's degree and Columbia University where I earned my Master's degree. During my undergraduate studies, my primary focus was on 20th century American history, with a minor in French. As a student, I was drawn to history because it allows us to contextualize human culture, emotions, morality and identity. To me, history is an indispensable area of study because it defines the human experience.
As an educator, I have an emphasis on content-knowledge, collaboration and practical skill-building. My classroom is an area that caters to needs of a diverse community of learners, and I differentiate the teaching process to meet each students' needs. Most importantly, I enjoy developing a meaningful relationship with my students so as to encourage a holistic learning environment.
Social studies as a discipline demands that educators foster inquiry, debate, skepticism, cooperation and citizenship skills. As such, I provide a forum for open and honest communication in the classroom, and deliberately make space for all kinds of research, questions and discussion.
Thank you for welcoming me into the MC team with open arms! The first quarter has been amazing and I look forward to getting to know all of the Malden Catholic families as the school year unfolds.
Darian Radzikowski
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Monday Morning Testing for Unvaccinated Students
Malden Catholic will continue to use PCR surveillance testing. Testing opens at 7 AM and students will enter through Door 7 to the gym. Students who arrive after 7:45 AM and have a first period class will be assigned a detention.
MC Mask Policy
Students are responsible for bringing their own masks to school. Every student needs to arrive at school with either a cloth mask or multiple disposable masks.
Unfortunately, the school does not have enough masks available to meet the recent demand of students who have forgotten their mask, those who wish to simply change masks during the day or students who tear masks intentionally. Please note that MC will only provide masks in the event of an emergency.
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No Cost COVID-19 Testing at MC
Testing is available on Mondays from 7 AM - 3 PM, Wednesdays from 9 AM - 5 PM, Thursdays from 11 AM to 7 PM and Saturdays from 8 AM - 4 PM. You can schedule an appointment through this link: https://cur.tv/malden.
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MC Santa Toy Drive - 12.6 to 12.17 |
The Department of Children and Families (DCF) is an organization that works in partnership with families and communities north of Boston to keep children safe from abuse and neglect. MC has been supporting DCF for over 30 years and we look forward to continuing this holiday tradition. The 2021 Malden Catholic Santa Toy Drive will run through through Friday, December 17th.
Please drop off new, unwrapped toys at the MC Christmas tree in the foyer. The toys will be loaded onto DCF trucks following the Christmas Prayer Service in December.
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Coats for Kids and Families - 12.6 to 1.7 |
Malden Catholic's Campus Ministry department has teamed up with Anton's Cleaners and Jordan's furniture for Coats for Kids and Families.
Students are encouraged to bringing in gently used coats (for any age) from now until January 7, 2022. All coats collected will be cleaned by Anton's Cleaners then given to people in need of warm coats during the winter months. Collection boxes will be located in the lobby. This is an ideal time to look in your closet and donate a coat that you no longer wear.
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MC Parent Council - Advent Prayer and Bow-making - 12.6 |
This Monday, December 6 at 6 PM, the Parent Club meeting will feature guests, Dr. Stephen Baccari and Nurse Elizabeth Paquette. Dr. Baccari will lead us in an Advent prayer and Mrs. Paquette will give us a bow-making lesson so attendees can make wreaths and packages shine this holiday.
The event will be held in the cafeteria and we ask that you bring your favorite wire edge ribbon to make holiday bows. Please bring 5 yards of ribbon for small bows and 10 -15 yards of ribbon (or a large roll of ribbon) for larger bows.
Official Parent Facebook Group
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MC's Make-A-Wish Club will host a Holiday Craft Event in collaboration with Create & Escape on December 7 at 6:30 PM at the Irish American Club in Malden. Registration for this event closed on December 1. All individuals who have registered for this event are encouraged to wear holiday attire.
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The December MC Parent Book Club Meeting will take place on Tuesday, December 7 at 6:30 PM at the Keran's family home in Stoneham. The group will be reading The Twelve Dates of Christmas by Jenny Bayliss. You may attend in person or dial in through the attached link: https://sanofi.zoom.com/j/9307039967. (Meeting ID: 930 703 9967.)
Book Club members will also make wreaths for the holiday that evening. The cost for the wreath workshop is $50 which includes all materials. Except, please bring a pair of wire cutters & sharp scissors that will cut ribbon. You can pay on the night of with check/cash. Please email [email protected] with the "potential" color scheme you think you're looking for. Red/Green, Silver, Gold, Burgundy, etc. The club will also hold a Yankee Swap for those who attend ($30 limit). For more information or to R.S.V.P., please contact [email protected]
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Christmas Shorts Play - 12.9 |
This Christmas, the Performing Arts Department of Malden Catholic invites you to join and celebrate the season with us as the MC Drama students perform a delightful collection of Christmas skits entitled, Christmas Shorts, on December 9 at 7 PM in the cafeteria.
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La Colaborativa Candy Cane Gram - 12.13 to 12.16 |
Wish someone special a "Happy Holidays" greeting this season by sending a note and candy cane for $1 from December 13 - 16. The candy canes will be distributed on December 17. You can purchase your Candy Cane Gram at lunch periods and before and after school. All proceeds go to benefit La Colaborativa, an organization that empowers Latinx immigrants to enhance the social and economic health of the community and its people.
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Holiday Christmas Spirit Week - 12.15 |
Malden Catholic Student Council is sponsoring a Holiday Christmas Spirt Week that begins on December 15.
- Wednesday, 12.15 - Christmas socks with regular MC uniforms
- Thursday, 12.16 - Red, green or white tops with uniform pants/skirts
- Friday, 12.17 - Ugly Sweater Dress Down Day
We look forward to seeing everyone's very creative holiday attire during the week before Christmas!
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MC Christmas Concert - 12.16 |
On December 16, the Malden Catholic Choir, Drama students, the MC A Cappella Singers and the Malden Catholic Dance Company invite you to attend the annual MC Christmas Concert. The Choir and Drama students will perform the Christmas Cantata “The Advent of Hope, The Birth of Peace," the MC A-Cappella Singers will perform traditional Christmas favorites such as "Carol of the Bells" and the MC Dance Company will showcase choreography to beloved Christmas classics. This is an event not to be missed!
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MC's Crystal 99 - Coming Soon
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The first issue of the Crystal 99 newspaper will hit newsstands next week. Editors-in-chief Courtney Casaletto and Brooke Langis and managing editor Lilah Paige, as well as editors Emerson Tully and Katelyn Cirame, worked extremely hard to edit and lay out student-written articles on school news, sports, the arts and opinions. The Crystal 99 will be located in the main lobby and in the Boys and Girls Leaning Commons, so be sure to pick up a copy. A digital PDF version will also be made available on the MC website.
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What's Happening Around MC? |
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MC Make-A-Wish Club Decades Dress Down Day |
This week, MC's Make-A-Wish Club sponsored Decades Dress Down Day at MC and here are a few of the outstanding outfits! |
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Campus Ministry launched this year's Pizza and Prayer series in the cafeteria this week. We had a great turnout and students were invited to expand their spirituality while listening to and discussing scriptures and reflecting upon their personal and shared experiences. |
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Special thanks to the members of the Diversity and Inclusion Club along with several Theology classes and helpful friends who designed and attached Positivity Notes to the students' lockers this week to promote the cheerful energy of the season. Students have enjoyed the encouraging messages reflected in these colorful locker accents!
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The liturgical season of Advent, we know, calls us to a condition of “watchful readiness,” “preparedness” not simply for the birth of Jesus at Christmas but for his return as “king” and “judge” when, in the last days, we will all be called to judgment. There’s certainly an irony that this call for thoughtful reflection comes during days that for many of us have become frantic with activity – busy with work, family, shopping, decorating – and the list goes on! I suppose precisely because of that “busy-ness,” there is no better time to take some reflective breaks! The start of Advent gives us several special opportunities to pause and put things in perspective. Those occasions are the December 3rd Feast of St. Francis Xavier – embedded in what we call “Founder’s Week” at our Xaverian Brother’s Sponsored Schools -- and our December 8th observance of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception.
Founder’s Week marks the November 26, 1871, death of Theodore James Ryken, founder of the Congregation of the Brothers of St. Francis Xavier, and celebrates the work he started, and we continue today. St. Francis Xavier’s Feast puts us in touch with our School’s deepest roots, through the qualities of one of the Church’s greatest missionaries, the person whose zeal became part of the founding impulse for Ryken’s Congregation. Through remembrance of Xavier, we express thanks for the Brothers who have ministered in his name and for the schools like Malden Catholic they have established. We celebrate, too, the legacy of dedicated laymen and women who now continue the Mission.
The Feast of the Immaculate Conception – through the Gospel reserved for December 8th -- reminds us of Mary’s willingness to empty herself of personal interest and become the vessel for bringing Jesus into the world. Her humble reply to God’s will, “Behold the handmaid of the Lord, be it done to me according to thy word,” invites us to listen for ways God may be speaking to us each day and to respond in selfless ways.
Thankful for models like Mary, Xavier, and Ryken, may we begin this Advent season with a continued “watchful readiness” for ways we can act on God’s plan for us. The wonder of Christmas is that our God is among us, and that God has so graced us that we are able to share His love. May the preparations of Advent remind each of us of a God near at hand – Baby, King, and Judge – who invites us to manifest His care to a needy world.
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We would like to thank Bishop Reed for celebrating Founder's Day Mass with our entire community. |
Congratulations to Paul Moran on winning the 2021 Ryken Award! |
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Monday, December 6
2:30 PM Winter Team Picture Day for Boys Track, Girls Basketball, Boys Basketball and Wrestling
5:30 PM Wrestling Parent Meeting in Learning Commons
Tuesday, December 7
7:00 PM Girls JV and Varsity Basketball Scrimmage @ Danvers High School Bus 5:30 PM
Wednesday, December 8
3:45 PM Boys Varsity Ice Hockey @ Exeter High School at Rinks At Exeter No Transportation Needed
8:00 PM Girls Varsity Ice Hockey @ St Mary’s Jr/Sr High School-Lynn at Connery Rink Bus 6:30 PM
Thursday, December 9
4:00 PM Girls Varsity Ice Hockey Boston Latin Academy/Fontbonne at Shea Rink
Friday, December 10
3:30 PM Girls Freshman Basketball @ Quincy High School
4:00 PM Boys Varsity Indoor Track @ Tri-County Invitational
5/6:30 PM Boys JV and Varsity Basketball Home vs Dracut High School Home
5/6:30 PM Girls JV and Varsity Basketball @ Quincy High School
6:10 PM Boys Freshman Ice Hockey @ St. John's High School at New England Sports Center
Saturday, December 11
9:20 AM Boys Junior Varsity Ice Hockey Home vs Chelmsford High School
10:00 AM Boys Varsity Wrestling @ Greater Lowell Tech High School Quad Meet with Woburn, Greater Lowell, and Concord Carlisle
2:30 PM Boys Varsity Ice Hockey @ Smithfield Rhode Island
7:50 PM Girls Varsity Ice Hockey Woburn High School at O'Brien Rink
Sunday, December 12
11:00 AM Boys Freshman Ice Hockey @ Marblehead High School at Cronin Ice Rink
1:20 PM Girls Varsity Ice Hockey @ Andover High School at Breakaway Ice Center
5:30 PM Boys Varsity Ice Hockey @ Prout School at Schneider Arena
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