Headmaster Update
John Thornburg
Headmaster
thornburgj@maldencatholic.org
Dear Families,
 
My father was an avid boater. From trying to catch “Wally Walleye” to demonstrating prowess on water skis, our family spent a lot of time on the water. Our summer vacations consisted week-long experiences at resorts located on beautiful, crystal-clear Minnesota lakes. On every trip, my father either towed his favorite speed boat or rented one. I have very fond memories of our time on the water!

My mother was our family safety officer. She had a healthy respect of the potential dangers that could befall her children while out on the water and made sure we always wore a life preserver. As everyone knows, these large, orange flotation devices are not comfortable to wear - especially for children - but my mother insisted... so we complied. 

One summer at the resort, my parents decided to hold a fishing contest. My father and I took one a small sailboat out and my mom and sisters took another one. My father was more lenient, so when were were out on the water, I removed my life jacket. 

Surprisingly, thirty-minutes into our fishing trip, the sailboat capsized. When I came to the surface my father and the sailboat had drifted away and I was out in the middle of the lake without a life preserver. Fear set in quickly! I was not a great swimmer.

Meanwhile, my father was able to right the boat and attempted to make his way to me. He made one pass, but I was unable to grab his hand as he flew by. My heart sunk as I watched my father and the boat travel farther and farther away. My mother’s concerns haunted me as I did my best to stay afloat. 
 
Turning around, my father made his way to me again, this time tossing my life preserver. I grabbed it and held on tightly - as if my life depended on it, which it did!  That very life preserver kept me afloat until my father was able to position the boat so he could pick me up.
 
I learned an important lesson that day while bobbing up and down in the lake... although life preservers are uncomfortable and rarely needed on the water, they are invaluable tools that should not be taken for granted.
 
My story correlates directly to MC’s efforts to mitigate the risk of COVID-19 in our community. I see the vaccine much like a life preserver – it reduces the risk of danger when danger arises. The more individuals we have vaccinated at our school, the less risk to our community. It is critical to increase the number of vaccinated students at Malden Catholic to ensure the safety of all. Please make sure your child is vaccinated if their physician advises it is safe to do so.  

We will be hosting a COVID-19 Update Webinar on Tuesday, October 26, at 6:30 PM. I will be providing an update on the Malden Catholic’s status in our efforts to mitigate the virus in our community plus other special guest speakers. Please register for the seminar and join us for this important presentation. 

Thank you for your support, 
 
John K. Thornburg 
At a Glance
Monday, October 25
Day 5
MC Parent Club Meeting 6:00 PM - Cafeteria
 
Tuesday, October 26
Day 6
MC COVID-19 Update 6:30 PM - GoToMeeting
 
Wednesday, October 27
Day 7
 
Thursday, October 28
Day 1
Halloween Costume Day
First Quarter Ends
 
Friday, October 29
No School 
Faculty Staff Retreat at Endicott College
MC Spotlight
Faculty Spotlight: Ms. Liesl MacGregor - Biology Teacher
Dear Malden Catholic Community,
 
I am very excited to be part of the community at Malden Catholic and to share my love of science with the Grade 9 students. I have been teaching for 22 years and 16 of those years have been in Catholic education.

A life-long learner, I have taught Biology, Chemistry, Anatomy & Physiology, Environmental Science, and Psychology; I am always up for the challenge of a new elective. I attended Susquehanna University where I was a student-athlete and earned my Bachelor's degree in Psychology. I moved to Massachusetts to continue my education at Northeastern University where I received my BS in Nursing. In fact, my first career was in Endocrine Research.

I truly enjoyed teaching in a single gender classroom when I taught at Presentation of Mary Academy in Methuen because it allowed me to design a curriculum tailored to the specific needs of the students in a relaxed and welcoming environment. Every day I witnessed students succeed and establish relationships that continued long after graduation: one of the many benefits of a Catholic education.

My husband and I have 4 adult children. As each child has ventured off on their own path, we have replaced our empty nest with 2 rescue dogs, Stanley and Charlie. I am looking forward to an amazing year and meeting all of the Malden Catholic families!
 

Ms. Liesl MacGregor
Ms. Liesl MacGregor
What's New?
Registration Link for PCR Testing and Curative Offers No Cost COVID-19 MC Kiosk
Monday Morning Testing for Unvaccinated Students - REGISTRATION LINK FOR PCR TESTING
Malden Catholic will continue to use PCR surveillance testing. Testing opens at 7 AM and students will enter through Door 7 to the gym. Please check-in at the testing tables, do a self-swab test and drop the test in a box. Students do not have to wait for test results. They may proceed to their first period class. Students who arrive after 7:45 AM and have a first period class will be assigned a detention.

No Cost COVID-19 Morning 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.
College Visits
This year, many colleges have elected to visit Malden Catholic in person, along with several schools that will be visiting virtually. We encourage all Grade 11 and Grade 12 students to sign up in advance in Naviance and attend these visits, which will be held at 2:20 PM on the following days:

Ben Franklin Institute of Technology
Monday, October 25 - Room 106
University of South Carolina, Columbia
Monday, October 25 - Room 121
University of South Carolina, Columbia
Tuesday, October 26 - Room 106
Rochester Institute of Technology
Tuesday, October 26- Room 121
University of New Hampshire, Durham
Wednesday, October 27 - Room 121
Wentworth Institute of Technology
Wednesday, October 27 - Room 106
Anna Maria College
Thursday, October 28 - Room 125
Husson University
Thursday, October 28 - Room 106
Niagara University
Thursday, October 28 - Room 121

Interview Day - Assumption University on 11.1
Assumption University will be conducting one-on-one interviews on Monday, November 1st at Malden Catholic.

All seniors who are submitting applications are highly encouraged to make an appointment for an interview. Interview sign up sheets are located in the School Counseling Department.
Baby Clothing Drive - 10.25
Students, faculty, staff and administration are collecting baby clothes and accessories for infants 18 months and under through November 7. The clothing items received will be donated to Friends of the Unborn Maternity Home in Quincy, so please give generously.
MC Parent Club - 10.25 at 6 PM
We will be hosting the MC Parent Club meeting on Monday, October 25 at 6 PM in the cafeteria. Mr. James J. Grocki Jr., the Assistant Principal for Student Life, will be the guest speaker. He will discuss the many ways students can enhance their MC experience this year by becoming involved with a variety of co-curricular activities. All parents are invited and encouraged to attend.
Photo Retake Day - 10.26 and Senior Portraits
Students in Grades 9 – 12 who did not get a photo for their ID cards or would like to retake their photos will be able to do on Tuesday, October, 26 at 8 AM. If your son or daughter would like to have their photo taken, please email Mrs. Andrea Tracey at traceya@maldencatholic.org by Monday, October 25. Students must receive permission from a parent/guardian to retake their picture. 

For anyone who has not not yet taken a Senior portrait, please sign up for a time through this link:
COVID-19 Parent Update Meeting 10.26 at 6:30 PM
In preparation for the winter months, Malden Catholic will be hosting an important COVID-19 Virtual Update Meeting that we will be held via GoToMeeting on Tuesday, October 26, at 6:30 PM. The goal of this webinar is to clearly communicate the responsibilities each one of us has in making sure our students have the opportunity to maintain in person learning this winter. All MC families are expected to attend.

This 60-minute live webinar will include a review of our winter policies and information provided by our guest speakers, Dr. David King and Dr. Flor M. Amaya.

Dr. David King is a a board-certified trauma surgeon and critical care intensivist. Since the start of the pandemic, Dr. King has become a nearly full-time intensive care doctor treating hundreds of COVID-19 patients at MGH. He has published several peer-reviewed scientific research papers on COVID-19 and is on the COVID-19 advisory boards for the City of Boston, United States Department of Defense and the United States State Department.

Dr. Flor M. Amaya is the Director of Public Health for the city of Chelsea. She has a Doctor in Physical Therapy (DPT) from MGH Institute of Health Professions and a Master of Public Health (MPH) from the Boston University School of Public Health. Dr. Amaya has over 10 years of experience coordinating public health initiatives to mitigate health disparities. Prior to joining the city of Chelsea, she worked as a homecare physical therapist. Dr. Amaya is a native of Chelsea and has collaborated with community-based organizations to lead the COVID-19 vaccination efforts in the city. 

Please register for MC COVID Update on Oct 26, 2021 6:30 PM EDT at:
Halloween Costume Day - 10.28
Next Thursday, students are encouraged to participate in MC's free Halloween Costume Day. Please keep in mind the following guidelines:

  • No costume masks, face paint, canes, sticks, or weapon-like items of any kind are allowed.
  • No fake blood or other substances will be allowed. 
  •  Students may not wear anything suggestive or provocative in nature.
  • No underwear as outerwear will be allowed. 
  • Students who wear leggings/leotards/yoga pants must wear shorts over them.   
  • If dresses of any kind or any length are worn, shorts must be worn underneath.  
  • Nothing that promotes the use of illegal substances or activities, derogatory or disrespectful or portrays violence. 
  • Students must show respect to other students by not touching, defacing or insulting other students' costumes. 
  • Students must show respect for others by not choosing costumes that are insensitive and/or offensive to the diverse backgrounds represented by others at our school. 
  • Any student choosing not to participate must be in regular dress code for the day. 
  • Anyone who does not follow the Halloween Dress Code will be subject to the dress code violation consequences or further disciplinary action and may be sent home to change.  
Hugh O'Brien Leadership Seminar Essay due 11.9
The 2022 MA HOBY (Massachusetts Hugh O’Brien Leadership Seminar) will be held in person at Bentley University on June 10-12, 2022. Four seats are currently available (2 for boys and 2 for girls) to represent Malden Catholic at the event.

To apply, please write a 500 word essay on the following topic: "Describe the most rewarding and challenging aspects of being a leader at Malden Catholic and the community." Essays are due to the School Counseling office by Tuesday, November 9. They can be brought to Mrs. DelGenio’s office or emailed to her at delgenios@maldencatholic.org.

The winners will be selected by the School Counseling Office and the Administration. Students will be notified on November 12th. Please apply only if you can commit to attending on the June 10-12 dates.  
ALS/MS Walk for Living - 11.12 from 12 -3 PM
Malden Catholic will participate in the Leonard Florence Center for Living’s ALS/MS Walk for Living. for the 8th consecutive year. The ALS - MS Walk for Living supports The Leonard Florence Center in Chelsea and will take place on Friday, November 12, from 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm on the track of Brother Gilbert Stadium. To participate and receive Walk for Life t-shirt, we ask that students register at school with a $15 registration fee by Monday, October 25. Credit card registration may also take place on-line for students or parents with the “Malden Catholic” Team. Please make sure your name is visible on Team fundraising page. Adult registration is $20. Adult t-shirts come with a $25 registration-donation on our Team page. Brother Thomas Puccio is listed as MC Team captain. Every dollar raised goes directly to support the financial needs of the Center, which provides 24/7 care for those living with ALS or Multiple Sclerosis. As an added incentive, students will receive one (1) Christian Service hour for each hour they walk the track.

ALS has touched the lives of many in our Malden Catholic community. This summer we mourned the death of Tim Paquette ’07, son of Nurse Elizabeth Paquette and Swim Coach Rick Paquette. Some of you may have seen recent media spots on Chris Snow (MC ’99), bravely living through his several-year ALS diagnosis as normally as possible with family. Xaverian Brother Joseph Comber, recently deceased, lived his last three years at the Leonard Florence Center, with the care of Brother Timothy Hoey, former MC Social Studies Chair. Through this Walk we honor Tim, Chris, Brother Joe and their companions Every single dollar raised goes directly back to patient care and programs for the ALS and MS residents at Leonard Florence.
What's Happening Around MC?
2021 Alumni Soccer Game
We had a terrific turn out for the annual Malden Catholic alumni soccer game. Players from the Class of 1972 to the Class of 2016 hit the field and enjoyed a competitive game of soccer! Some of the evening's attendees traveled in from as far away as Florida and California!

Thank you to Coach Scott Elias for organizing this event and to everyone who joined in the fun!
MC's Math Team
The MC Math Team competes in a series of monthly contests sponsored by the New England Mathematics League and the first competition was held this month. Each contest consists of 6 challenging problems that may involve algebra, geometry, probability, number theory, or other areas of mathematics. Each student has 30 minutes to complete the 6 problems. The team’s score is based on the top 5 individual scores. Nine MC students competed in this month's contest: Lily Baglio, Jake Haggerty, Eric Lou, Eavan Flood, Zihan Li, Shawn Xiao, Huy Le, Valerie Umipig, and Jordyn Meehan. Each of MC’s mathletes gave a strong performance.

Here is one of the problems from this month’s contest: In a set of primes, each digit from 1 through 9 is used exactly once in the set, and 0 is not used. What is the least possible sum of these primes?
Brother Thomas Puccio Receives Award of Recognition
Brother Tom Puccio received an Award of Recognition at the annual XBSS Chief Administrators' meeting this week. We congratulate Brother and thank him for his 35 years of service and dedication to Malden Catholic!
LancerPalooza Video
Check out the attached Lancer Palooza video that captures the excitement of our school-wide celebration last week!.

We would also like to give a special thanks to the Rotondo family for donating the themed ice cream sundaes and the Frati family for supplying the Italian Ice cart. We are so grateful to these families for providing treats for the student body!
Sports
Fall Season
Winter Sports Registration is now open at FamilyID.com
Boy’s Registration Link:
Girl’s Registration Link:

Senior Banners
We are honoring MC Senior athletes this year by hanging banners outside for the remainder of the fall season and indoors during the winter season. Seniors will be able to bring their banners home on graduation week. Senior parents can order their student's banner through the following link: https://www.dracutthreads.com/product/custom-banners/

Monday, October 25
Girls Varsity Field Hockey @ Ursuline Academy | 4:00 PM

Tuesday, October 26
Girls Varsity Soccer @ St. Joseph Prep | 3:30 PM
Girls Varsity Swimming @ Ursuline Academy Girls Catholic Conference Championship at Dedham Pool | 4:30 PM

Wednesday, October 27
Girls Varsity Cross Country Notre Dame Academy Girls Catholic Conference Championship Bare Cove Park | 4:00 PM
Boys Freshman Soccer @ Marblehead High School | 4:00 PM

Thursday, October 28
Boys JV and Varsity Soccer Home vs Greater Lawrence Tech | 4/6:00 PM
Girls Varsity Volleyball Fontbonne Academy  Varsity Only | 5:30 PM (Senior Night 5:15 PM)

Friday, October 29
Girls Varsity Swimming Home vs Notre Dame Academy | 3:30 PM (Senior Night 3:00 PM)
Girls JV and Varsity Soccer @ Milford High School | 4:00 PM
Girls Freshman, JV and Varsity Volleyball Ursuline Academy | 4/5:00/6:15 PM
Boys Varsity Football @ Boston College High School | 6:00 PM

Saturday, October 30
Girls Varsity Cheerleading Wilmington High School Wilmington Cheer Tournament | TBD
Boys Junior Varsity Football Home vs Boson College High School | 9:00 AM
Girls Junior Varsity Soccer Ursuline Academy | 10:00 AM
Girls Varsity Soccer Home vs Ursuline Academy | 11:30 AM