A Message from the President

Dear East Catholic Family,

Spring greetings from the Hill! I hope everyone had a relaxing Spring Break. We continue to remain busy and fully engaged as the school year progresses quickly. Friday marked the midpoint of the 4th quarter, so if you are behind in any work, now is the time to catch up.

On Wednesday, we had our “Evening of Recognition,” a new title for our combined Academic Awards, Book Prizes, and Senior Awards. It was well-organized by our School Counselors, department chairs, and administration. Dozens of students were duly recognized for their accomplishments in the classroom, in our arts programs, in Campus Ministry work, and on the athletic fields. Parents reported the event was a success!

We had our annual Blood Drive on Thursday. Over 30 students, faculty, and staff donated, and everything went well. If you were not able to make it, please consider giving at another time and/or place. Also on Thursday, the whole school listened to speeches from members of the class of 2026 who are seeking election in all-school government positions. Voting will commence over the next two days, and we will announce the winners next week.

Thank you to all who donated to the Project Graduation Textile Drive. If you have been driving around with donations in your car, you still have two more days to drop them off! Volunteers will be waiting by the garage bays to take the items off your hands before and after school on Monday and Tuesday.

We have some events coming up that I wanted to highlight. On Monday, April 28th, we will be welcoming our incoming freshmen for an orientation at 6:00 pm. Parents will meet with administrators in the auditorium, while students will mingle with our current student ambassadors. We look forward to meeting the Class of 2029 and their families. Two days later, we will have “Coffee and Conversation with the President” at 8:00-9:00 am in the conference room. This is a new initiative. Parents are invited to come and visit with me to hear about what is going on at East. Hope to see many of you there. On May 1st we will have our Spring Concert and Art Show at 7:00 pm. And on Friday, May 2nd, we have an 11:30 dismissal. The Parents’ Association will be sponsoring their annual Teacher/Staff Appreciation Luncheon. The Junior Prom is also on Friday.

That’s it for now. Please be in touch with questions, comments, concerns, or celebrations!

Peace,

Sean P. Brennan ‘85

Chief Administrator

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Skating Champion



Over the first weekend of April, Valerie Yakimishan and her CT Cutting Edge High School skating team absolutely crushed it at the 2024/2025 U.S. High School Eastern Sectionals in Burlington, VT, taking FIRST PLACE in only their second season!

Adding to their incredible achievements, the team was also named CT State Champions in the NEICC Eastern division for the 2024/2025 season! Valerie was a powerhouse, personally contributing a massive 50 of the team's 190 points, earning an amazing 2 GOLD and 2 SILVER medals across the 7 events she participated in!

As a founding member of the CT Cutting Edge HS team since its start in the 2023/2024 season, Valerie has been instrumental in their success. In their debut season, the team also clinched the CT State Championship title and placed 3rd at Eastern Sectionals.

A dedicated skater for 10 years in freestyle, ice dance, and high school team, Valerie's commitment and talent are truly inspiring. Competing at and placing in a U.S. Figure Skating sectional event is a monumental accomplishment!



Let's give a massive round of applause to Valerie and the entire CT Cutting Edge High School skating team for this incredible achievement! Way to go!

Dancing in Dublin

Congratulations to Michael Jensen! Over April break, Michael was the only dancer from Cassin Academy in West Springfield, MA, to represent at The Irish Dancing World Championships (or "Worlds") in Dublin, Ireland! Over 5,000 dancers compete, and the event draws about 25,000 spectators from over 30 countries.

After qualifying at Regionals in Hartford last November and placing 4th, this was his first time on the world stage. He placed 40th overall by competing in both hard- and soft-shoe categories! He's now gearing up for Nationals in Washington DC this summer, where he'll be joined by Simon Forcucci! 

Junior Class Book Drive

The Junior Class Executive Board organized a fantastic used children's book collection in March, resulting in a whopping 14 boxes of books! These were sorted and donated to Goodwin Elementary School in East Hartford, where a wonderful kindergarten teacher runs a monthly book swap, allowing each student to take home a free book. Our donation was so large that this month, students will get to choose at least two books! Thank you to our amazing community for your incredible support!

Tri-M Music Honor Society Fundraiser

Support the talented musicians of East Catholic High School Tri-M with a sweet treat at Sweet Frog on May 6th! Be sure to mention us and 20% of your order comes back to support our music program.

Spring Concert and Art Show

The Spring Concert and Art Show is taking place on Thursday, May 1st. The work of our Visual Arts students will be on display in the lobby before our musicians open the curtain at 7:00pm. Please join us in celebrating their talents!

Pope Francis

We at East Catholic High School join the global community in mourning the loss of Pope Francis during this sacred time. We recognize the profound impact His Holiness had on our faith and the values we strive to instill in our students – values of service, compassion, and seeking justice for all. His death on Easter Monday, a day following the joyous celebration of Christ’s resurrection and new life, carries a particular weight for the Catholic community worldwide. May his soul rest in peace and rise in glory.

Eternal God, we commend to your loving mercy the soul of Pope Francis. We thank you for his service to your Church, for his dedication to spreading your Gospel, and for his example of compassion and humility. Grant him eternal rest, and let perpetual light shine upon him. Comfort those who mourn his passing, and strengthen us all in our faith. Through Christ our Lord, Amen.

Senior Retreat

The Class of 2025 had their final East Catholic retreat on April 22nd at Holy Family Retreat and Conference Center in West Hartford. They rotated through panels on mindfulness, healthy habits and mental health, and enjoyed a spiritual walk through the facility’s beautiful labyrinth. Father Matt had an inspiring homily for the group as they embark on graduation one month from today!

Eagles vs. Eagles Baseball

East Catholic takes on Enfield at Dunkin' Park, home of the Hartford Yard Goats, on Tuesday, May 6th at 3:30 PM. Tickets are just $5 cash at the gate or $6 on GoFan using the link here: https://gofan.co/event/3569106?schoolId=CT17379

Don't miss out on the action!

7th Annual CT Distance Fest

On Wednesday, April 16th, Braeden Knotts and Riley Larkin ran the 7th Annual CT Distance Fest at Xavier High School. Braeden ran the 5000m for boys in 16:08 and Riley ran the 5000m for girls in 19:20. Nice work!

Earth Day in Action

The East Catholic boys golf team traded their clubs for rakes this weekend to help beautify Tallwood Country Club. They showed their commitment to the environment and respect for their "home" course by volunteering their time to keep it pristine.

AP Exams

AP testing will be happening May 5th through the 16th. Parents and students will be receiving an email about the schedule and procedures. Please read through the information carefully. 

Class of 2025



Seniors, it is imperative that you keep your Naviance up-to-date. As you hear back from colleges and make your final decision, log on to Naviance to update all of your application statuses and where you plan to attend next year. We love to highlight the accomplishments of the class of 2025 collectively! Your colleges will also start asking for final transcripts. In order to have that ready as soon as possible, we need you to update where you will be attending as soon as possible.

Evening of Recognition



Wednesday evening was special as we celebrated our scholars' remarkable achievements! Students across the grades were recognized with academic awards, scholarships, and special honors. For our graduating seniors, the night held extra significance as they received well-deserved accolades marking the culmination of their four years of dedication. Congratulations to each and every one!

Blood Drive

Another successful blood drive in the books! Thank you to all the staff, students, and teachers who made time to donate!

The Tom Malin Eagle Invitational

The 34th Annual Eagle Invitational is back at Blackledge on Friday, June 13th! The website is live for registration! Please join us as we gather for a day of golf and fundraising for athletics and recognize the numerous contributions of this year's honoree, Chris Malone '78!

The early bird pricing ends on May 1st! Make sure to sign up TODAY!

Visit the event site here: 2025 ECHS Tom Malin Eagle Golf Invitational

Annual Appeal

East Catholic is thriving as a school community. We continue to send our well-prepared graduates off to excellent colleges and universities, our athletic and arts programs continue to shine, and our community finds strength in each and every member. Our $7,000,000 budget for the coming year includes a $1,000,000 Annual Appeal goal, a threshold we were able to surpass last year. I hope you will join your fellow Eagles in making a gift to our wonderful school!

Donate here: 2024-2025 EAST CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL ANNUAL APPEAL

Monthly Meetings!

Our next Parents' Association Meeting is on Tuesday, May 6th at 6:00pm in the first-floor conference room. 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 2024-2025 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.

Krispy Kreme Fundraiser

If you placed an order for Krispy Kreme donuts, don't forget to meet us in the Senior Lot on Thursday, May 1st at dismissal to pick them up!

Thank you for your support of Project Graduation!

New Families Orientation

We are excited for those who have completed their enrollment packets and have registered to be part of the Class of 2029! On Monday, April 28 at 6:00pm, we are inviting those who are now fully enrolled to join us for the Accepted Students Orientation. Parents and guardians will receive information about the upcoming year, samples of our Tommy Hilfiger will be available to try on for sizing, and students can begin to mingle with their future classmates! We look forward to getting to know our incoming freshmen!

If you know of a student interested in attending East Catholic High School, please be sure they have experienced our "Eagle for a Day" program and shadowed a current student!

Register here: Shadow Day Registration

All prospective families and students who have completed the application packet, submitted transcripts from their current school, and taken the Entrance Exam should be hearing from the Admission Department soon!



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

Uniforms and Spirit Gear!

The Rainbow Graphic Spirit Store is open every month from the 1st through 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 2024-2025 School Calendar has been posted to the ECHS website and portal.

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