A Message from the President

Dear East Catholic Family,

Everyone seems to be hitting their stride for the 2025-26 school year. It was great to see so many parents on campus for Back to School Night. The night went well, and many parents commented on how impressed they were with our teachers. We are blessed to have so many excellent mentors for your children.

We also had great turnout for our first Parents’ Association meeting of the year. The dates for all future meetings are listed below. Please try to come a join in learning about ways to get involved. If nights are not good for you, please consider coming to a Coffee and Conversation meeting with me and other administrators throughout the year. Those dates are also listed below. Hope to see you at one or the other!

One month into the Fall Sports season, we are off to a great start. Here are the records for our teams as of 9/25/25:

               Girls Soccer                7-0-0 (currently ranked #1 in the state for Class L)

               Boys Soccer                5-2-2 (currently ranked #12 in the state for Class S)

               Field Hockey               0-5-2

               Football                       1-1

               Volleyball                     6-2 (currently ranked #15 in the state for Class S)

               Girls Swimming           3-1

               Cross Country             The team has 35 co-ed runners. A big squad!

Girls and boys soccer teams are both playing at Trinity Health Stadium in Hartford this afternoon and evening. Both teams are playing Manchester High School. The girls’ game begins at 4:00, and the boys will follow at 6:15. Please come out and support. On Saturday, the football team has their first home game against Branford at 12:00 noon. Please join in on the tailgate happening in the senior lot beginning at 10:00 am.

On Thursday, we had an all-school assembly with the Manchester Police Department to do some Active Shooter training. While we hate to have to cover such a difficult topic, we want to do all we can to make our school as safe, but also prepared, as we can. The students were very attentive, and we would like to thank Lt. Monge and Sgt. Williams for their time and excellent presentation.

We also had our annual Club Fair on Thursday afternoon. 17 Clubs set up tables in the cafeteria, so students could learn more about the various club opportunities offered here at East. I would like to thank the moderators and club members for their work in preparing for the fair. Please encourage your sons or daughters to get involved.

Should you have any questions, concerns, or celebrations, please be in touch.

Peace,

Sean P. Brennan ‘85

Chief Administrator

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A Message From Dean Reilly

Dear Parents and Students,

To help ease morning traffic congestion and ensure a smoother, more efficient drop-off process, we are implementing a new arrival procedure that will begin on Monday, September 29th.

The main front circle will be closed for all morning drop-offs. Instead, parents have two new options for dropping off students:

• Option 1: Back Circle Drop-Off - Please drive past the front of the school and proceed to the back circle located near the gym. Staff will be present to help guide traffic and ensure a quick drop-off.

• Option 2: Junior Lot Loop - You may also complete a full loop around the junior lot and drop your student off at the entrance by the music wing.

We understand that change can be an adjustment, and we appreciate your cooperation as we work to implement this new system. Our goal is to reduce the long lines on the main roads and get students into the building and parents on their way as quickly as possible.

Staff members will be out in both areas to help direct traffic and answer any questions you may have during this transition. It is our hope that this new procedure will improve the morning drop-off experience for everyone.

An additional reminder email will be sent on Sunday evening.

Thank you for your understanding and support

All students in grades 9-11 have been registered for the PSAT, which will take place during the school day on October 16th. This will be an early dismissal day for them, while seniors will have the day to work on their classes and college essays.

All students taking the PSAT should have the Bluebook App downloaded and be ready with pens, water, a snack, and a good night's sleep. If you have any questions, please reach out to the counselors.



College representative visits started last week, and we've had a great showing so far! Mrs. McLaughlin has done an amazing job of getting a full calendar of visits ranging from Sacred Heart to High Point to UConn. We've taken over a teachers' lounge to create a College Exploration Room, and we would love to see you all there! You can find more information on these visits, as well as scholarship and college fair information, on Naviance and Google Classroom.

Stage East

East Catholic High School's Stage East presents: The Play That Goes Wrong! Get ready for a night of laughing until your sides hurt.

When:

Friday, October 24 at 7:00 PM

Saturday, October 25 at 1:00 PM (matinee)

Saturday, October 25 at 7:00 PM

Where: East Catholic Auditorium

Tickets: $10 at the door

Don't miss this hilarious production!

Please reach out to Mrs. Quackenbush (quackenbushj@echs.com) with any questions.

Calling All Musicians!

Couldn't fit ensembles into your schedule this fall but interested in being part of the band or choir? You can still join in!

Band rehearses before school on Mondays from 6:50- 7:30. Students that play a Band instrument (e.g. flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, French horn, trombone, tuba, percussion) should attend. This group performs at two school concerts, a spring music festival, and numerous sporting events.

String Orchestra rehearses before school on Mondays from 6:50- 7:30. Students that play a Band instrument (e.g. flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, French horn, trombone, tuba, percussion) should attend. This group performs at two school concerts, a spring music festival, and several school events.

Stage Band is a beginner to intermediate level jazz band that meets after school on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2:15-3:15 PM. It is open to students who play a traditional jazz-band instrument (i.e. saxophone, trumpet, trombone, piano, guitar, bass, drums). This group performs at three school concerts and several jazz festivals.

Concert Choir rehearses on day 3 during flex period. This choir is open to anyone who would like to sing. No previous experience is necessary.

Liturgical Choir rehearses on day 4 during flex period. This choir performs at all school masses and is open to all students.

Please reach out to Mr. Brudz (brudzd@echs.com) or Mr. Link (linkr@echs.com) with any questions.

ALL STUDENTS are welcome!

Soccer Double Header at Trinity Health Stadium

East Catholic Soccer is bringing the heat Friday night at Trinity Health Stadium, Home of the Hartford Athletic! Watch our Girls (4:00 PM) and Boys (6:15 PM) take on Manchester in what's sure to be an epic night of soccer!

Tickets just $5 general admission and ECHS students get in FREE! Come through and make some noise for our Eagles! Wear NAVY!

Home Opener Tailgate

Get ready to show your Eagle pride! We're kicking off the new football season with a special Friends & Family Tailgate before the first home game. Join us for a day of community, food, and football as our Eagles take on Branford!

Event Details:

• Date: Saturday, September 27th
  
• Time: Tailgate starts at 10:00 AM
  
• Location: East Catholic High School Senior Lot
  
• Kickoff: Noon at Cheney Tech Field
  

Bring your favorite game-day snacks, beverages, and games, and meet us in the senior lot! This is a great opportunity to connect with one another and cheer on the next generation of East Catholic Eagles.

While the tailgate itself is free to attend, we'll have a variety of delicious items and spirit wear available for purchase (using cash or Venmo) to support our school and teams! Tickets to the game can also be pre-purchased at the tailgate at the Athletics tent.

Please note: Cars must remain in the senior lot until at least 12:30 PM. For everyone's safety, we do not want cars navigating through active tailgates.

To help us with our planning, RSVP by using the QR code in the flyer below or the link here: https://forms.gle/ab35xjjEM77vh62D8

We can't wait to see you there!

Go Eagles!

Fall Sports

Our Fall sports are underway! Goodluck to all our teams this season! You can find the most up-to-date sports schedules here: FusionPoint Sports (fpsports.org)

Select your team using the drop-down in the banner at the top and subscribe!

Please contact Jon Dahlquist (dahlquistj@echs.com) with any questions.

Get Your Gear!

Ready to cheer on your favorite teams?! Create your own spirit wear for games and pep rallies! Choose the product and design for the front and it will ship right to your home.

Order here: BSN Spirit Gear

South Park Inn Shelter Meal

Campus Ministry prepared its first shelter meal of the year on September 18th for the South Park Inn. Fr Daniel stopped in to help alongside our new Campus Minister, Mr. A.J. Rocco, who was joined by Mrs. Cavanaugh and students- Jane Chomick, Alex Shah, Ryan Cline, and Bryce Abrahams. They cooked up some Spanish rice and broccoli with roasted chicken for the individuals at South Park Inn.

On September 24th, a team of volunteers prepared another delicious meal for South Park Inn! Thank you to Jordyn Trombley, Bailey Anderson, Michael Adduci, Ahmere Grant, Luke Tetreault, and Colin Recker!

Freshman Retreat

On September 16th, our Campus Ministry and Peer Ministers hosted the freshman retreat with the theme "Through the Storm." The day focused on building a strong foundation to navigate life's challenges. Senior Alex Musiitwa shared how his own foundation has led to success at East Catholic, while Junior Cora Tierney spoke about overcoming personal struggles. The freshmen participated in group activities and ended the day by celebrating Mass with Fr. Daniel.

If you know of a student interested in attending East Catholic High School, please be sure to share their important dates with them:

Open House: Thursday, October 16th

Register here for the Open House: https://forms.gle/HLmcmQh9ye6NsXAZ9

*Entrance Exams:

Saturday, October 25th at 8:30 am

Saturday, November 8th at 8:30 am

Saturday, December 6th at 8:30 am

Register here for the exam: https://forms.gle/pypER9JDfHy4DWuE6

*These 3 exams are important for consideration of merit scholarships. (Other financial aid options are available.)

Please contact Chad Malone '08 (malonec@echs.com) or Abby Diemar '00 (diemara@echs.com) with any questions.

Welcome Back!

We can't wait to see some new faces, as well as our returners, at our Parents' Association Meetings this year! Remember, ALL are invited! Come to hear updates on the school, learn about upcoming events, and meet some fellow parents and guardians!

Be a part of the success of the 2025-2026 school year!

For more information on upcoming events and volunteering opportunities, visit

East Catholic High School - Parents Association (echs.com)



Any questions? Email echsPA@echs.com.

BINGO TONIGHT!

Our annual Purse Bingo event is Friday, September 26th, in the East Catholic Cafeteria, and you don't want to miss it! Join us for a fun night of games, friends, and the chance to win a fabulous designer handbag! All proceeds from the event will directly support ECHS Project Graduation for the Class of 2026.

This is a wonderful opportunity for our community to come together for a great cause. Whether you're a bingo pro or a first-timer, you're guaranteed to have a great time!

Event Details:

Date: TONIGHT! Friday, September 26th

Location: East Catholic Cafeteria

Time: Doors open at 6:00 PM, Bingo starts at 7:00 PM

Tickets: $40 in advance, $45 at the door

Feel free to bring your own drinks and snacks to enjoy throughout the evening.

Ready to play? Purchase your tickets TODAY: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/purse-bingo-13

Uniforms and Spirit Wear!

The Rainbow Graphic Spirit Store is open monthly from the 1st to the 15th!

Place your orders here: Home | East Catholic (inksoft.com)

We also have our in-house Eagles' Nest in the front lobby! Click here to purchase items and pick-up in school: Home | Eagles Nest (square.site)

Please reach out to Helen Tully (tullyh@echs.com) or Shyanne VanAllen (vanallens@echs.com) with any questions!

The 2025-2026 School Calendar has been posted to the ECHS website and portal.

Please reach out to Mary Suter (suterm@echs.com) with any questions.

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