A Message from the President

Dear East Catholic Family,

As the fall colors begin to emerge, our East Catholic Eagles continue to do great work in the classrooms, on the athletic fields, and on the stage. The faculty report that the new cell phone rule is making students more focused and engaged in the classroom, which is great news.

I would like to thank our Safety Committee, headed up by Dean Reilly, for their change to morning drop off procedures. It seems to be working very well, as there is much less congestion at the school’s entrance. Please remain alert as you drive through the parking lot, keeping an eye out for students walking from their cars as well as students parking in their spots.

We had a great tailgate before the football team’s first home game. It was a beautiful day, and it was nice to see so many families. Many thanks to the Parents’ Association, Club Med, the Students of Color Union, Girls’ Basketball, and other faculty and staff who had tables set up with food and beverage. We are hoping to do more of these in the future.

On Thursday, October 2nd we celebrated Mass with fourteen Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, the founding order for East Catholic High School. When the school opened in 1961 there were seven Sisters working here. Over the next 60 years, a total of 71 Sisters worked at East. We are fortunate to have one Sister still working here, and Sister Peggy is an institution at East, now in her 58th year! Following the Mass, we officially dedicated the Grotto around the statue of Mary that we salvaged from the Convent Chapel. Father Daniel blessed the Grotto and Sister Peggy said a few words with the whole school wrapped around the beautiful space.

On Wednesday, October 8th we inducted the latest group of National Honor Society members. There were 38 total inductees (7 from the Class of 2026 and 31 from the Class of 2027). The NHS officers confidently led the ceremony. Many thanks to Derek Macaluso, Kathleen DePasquale, Lucy DeCorleto, and Renee Carras for their leadership. It was, as usual, a lovely ceremony with many families in attendance to celebrate their child’s accomplishment.

Next week we will have our fall Open House on Thursday, October 16th. This is always a well-attended event. Please spread the word to friends who might be interested in sending their children to East Catholic.

Three weeks until the end of Quarter 1!

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

Peace,

Sean P. Brennan ‘85

Chief Administrator

Follow Us!

East Catholic is a busy place! There are new things happening daily with students, staff, and programs. Be sure to follow us on your favorite social media apps for the latest updates!

Facebook: East Catholic High School

Instagram: @eastcatholichighschool

Twitter: @EastCatholicHS

Saint John Neumann Award

Held on September 29th at the Aqua Turf Club, the Annual HOPES Dinner provides the Archdiocese of Hartford with a wonderful opportunity to honor the volunteers who dedicate so much time and talent.

We were incredibly proud to see East Catholic represented by two outstanding parents and leaders, Erin Button and Elie Traboulsi! Erin (Parents' Association Co-President) and Elie (Parents' Association VP & School Advisory Board Member) were recognized with the prestigious Saint John Neumann Award for their tireless service. Their commitment truly helps enrich the culture of East Catholic. Thank you, Erin and Elie, for everything you do!

National Honors Society

Our National Honor Society officers led a beautiful induction ceremony last Wednesday. Thank you to President Derek Macaluso, Vice President Kathleen DePasquale, Secretary Lucy DeCorleto, and Treasurer Renee Carras. Their dedication ensured a memorable night for the 38 juniors and seniors inducted into this prestigious honor society! Congratulations to all our new members!

Safety Presentation

Thank you to Lieutenant Monge and Sergeant Williams from the Manchester Police Department! They recently provided a crucial safety presentation to our entire student body. This session builds on the extensive training our faculty and staff received last spring. We are incredibly grateful for their continued partnership in helping to keep East Catholic High School a secure place to work and learn. We appreciate them equipping us with knowledge for any situation.

Memorial Mass

Please join the East Catholic community as we celebrate the lives of our dearly departed alumni, faculty, and staff at our Annual Memorial Mass.

The Mass will be held on Sunday, November 2nd at 2:00 p.m. at East Catholic High School.

Can't join us in person? The Mass will also be live-streamed on our YouTube channel. We will post the live-stream link on the morning of the liturgy.

Please RSVP by Thursday, October 30th if you plan to attend in person. Contact Shyanne VanAllen at (860)649-5336, ext. 6236 or email at vanallens@echs.com. We look forward to gathering as a community to honor their memory.

PSATs

Heads up, Eagles! The PSAT/NMSQT is Thursday, October 16th during the school day! Please note that we will have an 11:00 AM dismissal once testing is complete.

Please review these key reminders from the Counseling Office to ensure a smooth testing experience:

• Bring your fully-charged iPad (and your charger, just in case! We will not have extras available.)
• Student MUST complete Test Setup on Bluebook PRIOR TO Wednesday.
• Students can utilize the test tickets given out in class last week to complete practice exams within the Bluebook app. Practice is key!
• If you haven't already done so, students must make sure they log into their College Board account asap.

Good luck to all our testers!

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!

Athletics Newsletter

Read the latest Eagles Athletic News from Jon Dahlquist, Dean of Wellness and Athletics, and Jordan Jeroszko, Assistant Athletic Director: https://conta.cc/45EEOYv

Michaels Achievement Cup Award

Representatives for our student-athletes attended the CIAC 2025 Sportsmanship Conference at Aqua Turf last week. The theme was "Mission: Possible- The Sportsmanship Protocol.” The conference had 670 attendees present as “agents of change.” These students continue to influence their lives and the world around them.

Being an Eagle is about more than just the game. It’s about building a better community!

We are thrilled to be one of just 28 schools selected for the 2024-2025 Michael Jewelers Achievement Cup! This award recognizes the commitment of our Eagles Take Action group to championing sportsmanship and driving increased community service. Some of our student-athletes attended the CIAC Leadership Conference on Tuesday to receive the award. The impact of their work is inspiring. Congrats to all!

Home Opener Tailgate

Thanks to all our alumni, friends, families, and students who came out to help us celebrate the start of the football season! Now, get ready for a stretch of home action! The boys are going on a huge run with four home games in a row at Cheney Tech Field, starting Thursday, October 23rd!

Come out and cheer on the Eagles at home on:

• Thursday, October 23rd
• Friday, October 31st
• Thursday, November 6th
• Thursday, November 13th

Then, mark your calendars: We'll see you at Northwest Catholic for the Thanksgiving game on November 27th (after the Manchester Road Race, of course)! 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

Blessing of the Grotto

On Thursday, October 2nd, our community gathered for a truly special event: the formal blessing of the new Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur Grotto.

This sacred space was built to honor the profound service of the Sisters who have dedicated their lives to East Catholic since 1961. When the convent was taken down a few years ago, Sister Peggy spearheaded the effort to preserve its memory. Bricks from the original building were saved and used to build the Grotto walls, and the statue of Mary, once displayed on the convent, now watches over the space. Beneath Mary's feet, a new plaque proudly lists the names of 71 Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur who have worked at ECHS over the years.

Our monthly Mass, celebrated by Father Daniel Hackenjos, was followed by a moving blessing ceremony. 14 local SNDs were escorted to the Grotto by our Peer Ministers, where they listened to a speech from Sean Brennan, a reflection from Sister Peggy, beautiful music from our choir, and Father Daniel's formal blessing. Our entire student body surrounded the Grotto, showing the utmost reverence for this moment and the Sisters' lasting legacy.



A huge thank you to the alumni who made this possible: Mike Pardi '75 (Architectural Designs), Charlie Hathaway '93 (Concrete & Landscaping), and to the numerous donors who contributed to this project!

Junior Retreat

The Class of 2027 went to the Holy Family Retreat Center to celebrate their halfway mark through their high school years. The students rotated through workshops meant to reset and refocus the students while building camaraderie as they embark on a year filled with new challenges and opportunities.  

Service Hours

Looking to start your service hours? Multiple service opportunities are available and posted in Campus Ministry on the STRETCH board. Come and sign up for service hours with the Miracle League, St. Vincent de Paul Society, South Windsor Lions Club and the Ray Crothers Blood Drive. 

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.

Pie and Cookie Dough Fundraiser

The Parents' Association Lyman Orchards Pie Sale is officially in full swing!

Order the delicious pies you know and love for your holiday feasts or grab some cookie dough and tasty treats from the Simply Shipped Collection, all while supporting East Catholic!

How to Order:

Create Your Profile: Go to https://my.mcmfundraising.com/signup/XSKT

(If your student ordered last year, they may have an existing account!)

Share Your Link: Once logged into the dashboard, find your unique "Your Store Link," copy it, and share it with family and friends! This helps us track orders and ensure smooth pickup.

The Sale Closes: Monday, October 20th! Don't miss out!

Pickup Date: All frozen items (pies & cookie dough) will be delivered to East Catholic and available for pickup on Wednesday, November 19th. Perfectly timed for Thanksgiving!

New this year: You can purchase a pie to donate! Pies will be delivered to Hartford area homeless shelters, spreading the warmth of Thanksgiving - long after the holiday!

Questions? Email Jeanine Munoz at jnine71908@att.net

Parents' Association Meetings

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.

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 Maica Lane-Umali (Lane-UmaliM@echs.com) with any questions.

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