Dear Families,
Ernst Shackleton set out to be the first person to traverse Antarctica. His ship, Endurance, crushed by the ice and sunk in 1915, was discovered this week 10,000 feet underwater in the Weddell Sea. Shackleton and his crew aboard the Endurance never reached the continent. Instead, they were left stranded on the ice and set out on one of the most amazing stories of survival. Ernst led his 27 men in harsh and hopeless conditions for just over two years which has become an inspirational story that I highly recommend researching.
Researchers commented that the Endurance looks as if it only sunk yesterday. The cold-water temperatures prevented wood-eating organisms from surviving, allowing the ship to be preserved. I found it fascinating to see the images of a ship that had not been seen for over 100 years. It is a testament to Shackleton and men’s iron will to survive and overcome their circumstances. The wreck will be filmed and surveyed for a future documentary.
These images from the past help us remember those who have come before us. As I mentioned last week, my mother recently moved to an assisted living facility. In the process of downsizing, she found herself donating or discarding many items that had been in her home but I asked her to keep family photographs. Dutifully, she placed them all in a large box and shipped them to me. I was surprised to open a box full of many photos that I had not seen before.
One image stood out from the rest. It is a photo of my grandparents and their twelve children (my mother was the second oldest) on the steps of The Basilica of Saint Mary in Minneapolis on Christmas circa 1954. This photograph is one of the rare times all twelve children of the McHugo Family were captured together. My twelve aunts and uncles had all made a significant difference in my life over the years and this photo brought back a flood of memories.
This photo to me represents Malden Catholic to me in many ways. I think of Malden Catholic as a family with strong traditions and unwavering support. There is a strong sense of belonging with individuals who believe in developing the greatest potential in each and every one of us. Despite the challenges, opportunities, wins and losses, we have a strong sense of community and support each other in moving forward.
Hebrews 12:1 tells us since we also have such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let’s rid ourselves of every obstacle and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let’s run with endurance the race that is set before us. It is important to remember those who have come before us so we can move with endurance toward the life that Our Lord has set before us.
Thank you for your support,
John K. Thornburg
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Monday, March 14
Day 6
Dress Up Day
Tuesday, March 15
Day 7
Jersey Day
Wednesday, March 16
Day 1
Luau Day
Grades 9 and 10 Leadership Activity - 12:55 PM
Meeting for Grades 11 and 12 - 12:55 PM
Pep Rally - 1:35 PM
Thursday, March 17
Day 2
Mass celebrating the Feast Day of St. Patrick and the Feast Day of St. Joseph - 1:00 PM
Dress Down Day
Friday, March 18
Day 3
No School - Faculty Professional Development Day
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Mission of Deeds Annual Buy-a-Bed - 3.14 to 3.25 |
For many years, Malden Catholic has collaborated with Mission of Deeds as a service site for our student volunteers in support of the annual Buy-a-Bed campaign. Mission of Deeds is a non-profit charitable organization in Reading that gives beds, furniture and household items, free of charge, to people in need in over 90 Boston-North communities.
Members of Malden Catholic's Campus Ministry team are inviting MC students to support this year’s Buy-a-Bed Drive by donating any amount to the charity in Theology class by March 25. Theology teachers will accept daily cash donations and every contribution goes a long way toward buying a bed. Let’s see which Theology class can contribute the most!
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Spirit Week - 3.14 to 3.18 |
Malden Catholic Student Council is sponsoring Spirit Week to celebrate the feast days of both St. Patrick and St. Joseph.
Monday, March 14
- Dress Up Day - Students may wear professional attire as if they were attending a job interview or work event
Tuesday, March 15
- Jersey Day - Students may wear the jersey of their favorite team or an MC jersey
- La Colaborativa's 3V3 Basketball Tournament - 2:30 PM in the gymnasium
Wednesday, March 16
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Luau Day - Students may wear appropriate tropical or Hawaiian attire
- Leadership Activity - 12:55 PM
- Pep Rally - 1:35 PM in the gymnasium
Thursday, March 17
- Mass celebrating the Feast Day of St. Patrick and the Feast Day of St. Joseph - 1:00 PM
- Dress Down Day - Students may wear green for St. Patrick's Day
Friday, March 18
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No School - Faculty Professional Development Day
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Senior Basket Forms - Due by 3.14 |
It has become an annual tradition for Malden Catholic underclass families to support the graduating class through the Senior Basket Program. This program provides unique and thoughtful baskets of gifts and goodies to MC Seniors. Underclass families are invited to adopt a Senior and create a basket based on the student's individual preferences and interests. The completed basket will then be either delivered by the host family to the Senior's home or dropped off at MC for the student to pick up. A short prayer service will be held on Sunday, May 1 at the front of the school will be held to to launch the basket deliveries.
Grade 11 parents (and Senior parents who express interest in participating) are invited to participate in the program first, and have received an invitational email from program coordinator, Mrs. Jeannine Reardon. Should we need additional host families, the program will be opened up to Grade 10 host families via an email invitation.
The program is optional and any Senior who wishes to participate must submit the attached form to Mrs. Reardon by Monday, March 14.
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La Colaborativa's 3V3 Basketball Tournament - 3.15 at 2:30 PM |
Be sure to sign up for La Colaborativa’s 3V3 Basketball Tournament which will be held on March 15 starting at 2:30 PM in the Doherty Gymnasium. Up to 16 teams can sign up during lunch periods during the week of March 7 and the cost is $20/team. Teams will need to register with a team name and fees will be collected at the time of registration. The following rules apply:
- 3 – 4 players may register for each team
- At least 3 of the registered players must be present at the start of the game or the team will forfeit
- No more than 1 varsity basketball player may be on a team
- Teams must have at least 1 player from each Division
- Teams may include faculty/staff
- Faculty and staff will be referees
- Games to 7 by ones
- Teams can wear team uniforms
- The 3V3 Championship Game will be held during the Spirit Week Pep Rally on March 16
- Donations will be recommended for spectators and all proceeds from the 3V3 Tournament will go to support La Colaborativa.
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Final NE Math League Contest - 3.15 |
The final NE Math League contest of the year will take place on Tuesday, March 15 after school in Room 207. New team members are welcome to attend! |
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Gala Auction Volunteer Meeting - 3.15 at 6:00 PM |
Starting on April 14, 2022, Malden Catholic will begin auctioning off a number of fun and unique items to raise money in support of MC students and school programs. Parent volunteers are needed at this time to help collect auction items for the Gala.
Access Code: 536-572-261
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Headmaster Holiday - 3.21 |
When the Bishop visited MC in December, he granted all students, faculty and staff a day off of school at the Headmaster's discretion. Headmaster Thornburg has granted a day off for students, faculty and staff to rest and rejuvenate on Monday, March 21.
Enjoy the Headmaster Holiday!
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MC Book Club Meeting - 3.22 at 6:30 PM |
The MC Parent Book Club Meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 22 at 6:30 PM via Zoom. The March MC Book Club will be discussing Mary Jane, a funny, wise, and tender novel about a fourteen-year-old girl’s coming of age in 1970s Baltimore, caught between her strait-laced family and the progressive family she nannies for—who happen to be secretly hiding a famous rock star and his movie star wife for the summer.
Meeting ID: 930 703 9967
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MC Leadership Series Featured Speaker: Mercedes Ramirez Johnson - 3.23 at 1:15 PM |
We are honored to welcome Mercedes Ramirez Johnson, who will speak live to the MC student body on Wednesday, March 23 at 1:15 PM as part of the MC Leadership Speaker Series. Mrs. Johnson is a survivor of a commercial airplane crash and now shares her story of "second chances" in schools and organizations across the U.S. and Canada.
Mercedes poses the question: what will you do with your second chance? Many people feel so overwhelmed by daily pressures and obligations that they find themselves in Survival Mode, operating with the assumption that there will always be a tomorrow in which they can fix today’s problems, right today’s wrongs and take care of the truly important things they wished they’d done today. Second Chance Living™ is a transformational program that moves participants to put their challenges in perspective and to carefully consider how the choices they make will profoundly affect their future. Mercedes’ message focuses on personal success, overcoming challenges and finding authentic fulfillment. Through her gripping, poignant and yet humorous account of her plane crash and long-fought recovery, Mercedes proves that everyone can achieve their dreams.
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National Honor Society Induction Ceremony - 3.24 at 6:30 PM |
The Brother Gilbert Chapter of the National Honor Society is pleased to announce that this year’s NHS Induction Ceremony for new members will take place on Thursday, March 24, 2022 at 6:30 PM. Each inductee will be able to invite two guests to this event. |
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Grades 9 & 10 Semi-Formal Dance - 3.25 at 7 PM |
The Malden Catholic Semi-Formal Dance for Grades 9 and 10 will be held on Friday, March 25 from 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM in the MC gymnasium. There will be a DJ, appetizers and refreshments for the students. Information regarding the Semi-Formal arrival, dismissal and attire policies can be found through this link. The Semi-Formal permission slip can be found through this link.
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MC Parent Club New Date - 3.29 at 6:00 PM |
Please note that the date for the next MC Parent Club meeting has been moved to March 29 at 6 PM. This meeting will be held in the cafeteria, where we will discuss the MC Summer Internship Program, along with opportunities and the application process.
Official Parent Facebook Group
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Grade 11 Prom - 4.1 at 6:00 PM |
The Malden Catholic Grade 11 Prom will be held on Friday, April 1 from 6:00 PM - 10:00 PM at Spinelli's Restaurant on Route 1 South, Lynnfield, MA. There will be a DJ, buffet dinner and photo booth for the students. Student Code of Conduct forms, permission slips, and checks for the ticket price of $60 will need to be submitted by Thursday, March 17 at 2:15 PM in the cafeteria to Ms. Verrocchi and Mr. Grocki. Information regarding the Grade 11 Prom arrival, dismissal and attire policies can be found through this link.
Please note that permission slips are required to take outside guests to the dance. Please see Ms. Verrocchi or Mr. Grocki with any questions.
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Purchase Tickets for MC's 90th Gala Celebration - 4.28 at 6:00 PM |
Tickets for the Malden Catholic's 90th Gala celebration are now available through this link. General admission Gala tickets are $175/person and Malden Catholic families receive a $75 discount by using the coupon code - PARENT90TH.
This amazing evening will be held on Thursday, April 28 at 6 PM in the Doherty Gymnasium and the event includes a Plus Ultra Award presentation, dinner and dancing to the sounds of the band, "Soul City"! 2022 is a momentous year for Malden Catholic – we are celebrating our 90th anniversary and the first class of Girls Division students to graduate in May 2022 along with the Boys Division. Truly, Malden Catholic is Leading Beyond all Expectations…generations of extraordinary young adults have and will continue to flourish from the education provided by this outstanding institution. The school has fostered and will continue to create men and women that exemplify leadership, character and success.
In this tradition, we are delighted to celebrate a couple who personify these pillars - Dr. Daniel J. McCarthy ’50 and Mrs. Margaret T. (Noonan) McCarthy GC ’50 as our Plus Ultra Honorees. Longtime benefactors of the school, Dr. and Mrs. McCarthy MC & GC 1950 have established scholarship funds for Malden Catholic Girls and Boys Divisions as well as a fund in memory of Margaret’s cousin Margaret M. Dunphy 1961. They are also members of the Plus Ultra and the Saint Francis Xavier Societies. We are most grateful to Margaret and Dan McCarthy for their tremendous dedication and commitment to Malden Catholic.
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What's Happening Around MC? |
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Malden Catholic would like to provide support for the people of Ukraine by donating much-needed supplies. We are looking for the following items to be dropped off in the front MC lobby by Thursday, March 24. |
- Children and Adult Pain Relievers: Ibuprofen, Tylenol, Aspirin, Vitamins
- Gauze
- Cotton Balls
- Bandages/Bandaids
- Butterfly Strips
- Eye Wash
- First-Aid Kits
- Medical Adhesive Tape
- Tweezers
- Anti-bacterial Ointment
- Antiseptic Wipes
- Emergency Blanket
- Gauze Pads
- Feminine Hygiene Products
- Toothpaste/Toothbrushes
- Liquid Soap
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Please contact Dr. Baccari or Ms. Callahan with any questions. |
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International Women's Day |
We would like to thank our special guest speaker, Sr. Nancy Kehoe, RSCJ, PHD, and all who joined us last Sunday for our annual Women's Day of Recollection. We would like to give special thanks to the Women's Day Committee including Chairperson, Kathleen McGourthy, and the entire committee who worked so hard to organize this community-building event!
The general theme for the event was self-care and wellness in our post-pandemic environment. Sister Nancy Kehoe conducted an interactive conversation with Women’s Day participants, first asking them “What questions do you come with?” She gathered about five questions on a varied range of topics – “How to deal with people now afraid to go out?”; “What stresses are students experiencing?” and “How to deal with someone who is introverted and “enjoyed” lock-down?” before moving into a prepared presentation explaining that the pandemic has permanently changed our lives (there is no going back to normal) and as we adjust to this, we need to take care of ourselves and one another.
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Malden Overcoming Addiction, a non-profit that helps Malden residents cope with substance abuse, visited MC students during "Stop the Stigma Day" to raise awareness and encourage acceptance. We would like to thank Mr. Paul Hammersley, Addiction Recovery Specialist for the City of Malden, for sharing this important message with MC students. |
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Congratulations to the MC Mock Trial team for a decisive victory over Gann Academy in the MASS BAR state tournament Elite Eight last week! The team will move on to the Final Four this week. Way to go and good luck! |
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Influenced by The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, MC's Introduction to Engineering class led by Mr. Reardon, completed their "Build-A-Robot Arm" project: an exercise where students worked in teams of three or four to design and build a working robot arm and then presenting it to the class.
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Valerie Umipig '25, Daniel Rodriguez '22, and Mishel Duque '25 built a working Tesla coil, an electrical resonant transformer circuit designed by inventor, Nikola Tesla. The Tesla coil is used to produce high-voltage, low-current, high frequency alternating-current electricity that the students made from scratch by soldering components on a circuit board. Check out the video of the MC students testing the coil for the first time.
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Students enjoyed five days of prayer, fellowship, team-building and leadership development at the XBSS Student Retreat at the Holy Family Retreat Center in West Hartford, CT this past week. The retreat ended with a day of service in nearby soup kitchens, shelters and other service agencies. Students were asked to develop a plan for how they would bring the spirit of the Xaverian charisms back to Malden Catholic. This was a life-changing retreat for the students! |
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The MC Drama Club will perform "The View From In Between," a play about the character, Allison, who must learn to grieve, accept, and move on while her life progresses in the Realm of the Living.
The play was written by Alexa DoVale '23 and Emma Lafontaine '23 and will be presented at the Massachusetts Drama Festival on Saturday, March 9 at Marshfield High School at 2:00 PM.
This was the first time that Alexa and Emma have written a play and they found the process both challenging and rewarding. "Having enjoyed the experience of playwriting, we both have decided that this will be part of our future career plans," stated Alexa and Emma. They would like to thank everyone who made this play production such a huge success!
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Jared Sinatra and Michael Azzari Sign National Letter of Intent |
Congratulations to Jared Sinatra '22 for signing a National Letter of Intent to play baseball at Keene State College. We would also like to congratulate Michael Azzari '22 for signing a National Letter of Intent to play baseball at Brandeis University. Way to go, Jared and Michael!
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MC Athletics Tournament Policy
All MC students are asked to abide by the MC Athletics Tournament Policy which can be found through this link.
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MC Spring Sports Tryouts
Spring sports tryouts will be held on Monday, March 21.
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