Welcome to the October issue of On the Hill, Mary Help of Christians Academy monthly e-newsletter. On the Hill offers an inside view of life at Mary Help and all the other remarkable things that happen on campus each and every day. Read on to see for yourself the difference a Mary Help education makes...
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Dear MHC Academy Family and Friends,
The other night at the Back to School Night, I had the joy of presenting the Annual Report. How are things going? Stellar! I can’t thank you enough for all you have done to help the Academy achieve record growth! Our Freshman classes of the past three years have grown a minimum of 25% each year.
We have moved from offering a music department to a true Performing Arts department. The Performing Arts this year will expand our partnership with our brother school, Don Bosco Prep, by building a combined strings, band, and vocal ensemble together with them. We have wonderful shows coming up this year.
As we begin October, the columns at our entryway are being demolished, in preparation for a new, wider entrance. Looking at our Open Houses, and how attendance almost DOUBLED from last year to this year, I think we are on track to an increase of even greater proportions this year. Both of these changes are a paradigm for life, aren’t they? Making improvements to ourselves so that we can open our hearts, our doors, and our home to new family members.
Welcome home.
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There's still time to register for our November Preview Day! This is THE admission event of the year with games, presentations, food, and more! A personalized class schedule is also tailored to each guest. Spread the word and sign up here.
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NATIONAL HISPANIC RECOGNITION AWARD
Litzy Sanchez, Class of 2023, excelled in College Board assessments and schoolwork to earn the National Hispanic Recognition Award, which colleges use to identify academically competitive students and underrepresented students. Eligible students must have a GPA of 3.5 or higher and have excelled on the PSAT/NMSQT or PSAT 10 or earned a score of 3 or higher on two or more AP exams and are Hispanic American or Latinx. We congratulate Litzy Sanchez for her recognition by College Board!
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BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT
A new school year means another back to school night! Sr. Colleen, began with a summary report on all the changes that have happened in the past year and explained the updates we'll be seeing this coming year. Parents then received copies of their daughter's schedule and went off to 7-minute classes where teachers gave a summary of their syllabus and answered questions. It was lively evening full of excitement and anticipation!
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S.T.R.E.A.M.
MHC Academy is excited to offer students an opportunity to explore different engineering fields and the chance to explore the ways Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts, and Mathematics intersect to create various careers and solve problems in today's world. Through collaboration with Engineering Tomorrow, brainstorming, design, testing, evaluation, and rebuilding of prototypes, students not only get to engage in fun labs, but they also learn to persevere through challenges and to find opportunities within failure.
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FIRST SCHOOL MASS
The Mary Help of Christians Academy community celebrated its first all-school mass in our brand NEW chapel on Tuesday, September 13th. Fr. Frank had personal messages for each grade level during his homily. As always, MHC Academy families were welcome to attend the mass and could also participate in realtime through the Mary Help Youtube channel.
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SALESIAN LEADERSHIP RETREAT
The Salesian Leadership Retreat is a chance for students to grow in their leadership skills, meet and pray with students from other Salesian schools, all while living Don Bosco's Oratory model of Home, School, Parish, and Playground. Each student is challenged to see how they can find Jesus in each aspect of the Oratory and how they can "Be Valdocco" today (the name of Don Bosco's first Oratory). With schools participating from NY, NJ, DC, OH, LA, and FL the fun never ends!
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FRESHMEN CLASS RETREAT
We Are One Body,” the theme of this year's Freshmen Retreat, encompassed the goal of bringing the class together as one through prayer, reflection, and fun! Students were able to make use of the ropes course on campus to further enhance their team building skills.
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PASTORAL PLAN FOR 2022-2023 - "Laudato Si"
Welcome everyone to a new school year! Our pastoral plan this year is based on Pope Francis' Encyclical "Laudato Si'". We have seven themes that we will be focusing on, Cry of the Earth, Cry of the Poor, Education for a Future, Community Participation, Spirituality in the Style of the Preventive System, Simple Salesian Living, and Economic Solidarity. Each theme will have a saint to inspire us and a call to action to help us grow in our relationship with God, neighbor, and our common home. So let us stay united this year in prayer and respond to the call to form more authentic relationships.
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FRESHMEN INDUCTION
On Wednesday, September 14th the freshmen class was officially inducted into MHC Academy by the senior class. During the ceremony, each incoming student received a candle from a senior student. Sr. Colleen, Head of School and a graduate of MHC Academy, also presented the freshmen with school pins, welcoming them to the Salesian Family.
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FAMILY AND ALUMNAE PICNIC
The MHC Academy PTG organized a fun-filled picnic with games, crafts, music, and of course great food! We also had the annual dunking of Sr. Kelly who was a great sport in raising money for the school. This was the PTG's kickoff event. Coming up there's an Oktoberfest event on October 15th. It's not too late to still buy tickets!
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STUDENT COUNCIL BONFIRE EVENT
The Student Council hosted a beginning of the year Bonfire in the lower parking lot and field. High school friends from outside Mary Help were also invited to enjoy roasting hot dogs and marshmallows. We also had the field open for sports and music for dancing!
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THE HILL COMES ALIVE!
MHC Academy is expanding its performing arts department, offering students professional-level training in all areas! Designed to build skill, artistry and music literacy at a high level of competency, students will have opportunities to learn from distinguished faculty, as well as to collaborate with students from Don Bosco Prep. The new music offerings include Concert Chorus, Vocal Music Class, Strings, Band, Liturgical Music, and Chapel Concerts. And the schedule has been arranged so that, if they wish, students may take ALL of classes at the same time. Theater will fall under the umbrella of the Performing Arts Department. To learn more details about our new programs, click here.
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CLUB FAIR
The Club Fair offers students the opportunity to see the variety of clubs available to them on Wednesdays during Advisory periods and after school. Some of our offerings this year include: Young Artists Club, All Around the World Club, Robotics, Stunt Cheer, and Sports Medicine, to name just a few!
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BOSCO CHEER
Cheerleaders performed at MetLife Stadium on Friday, September 30th, as our brothers from Don Bosco Prep defeated St. Peter's Prep 35-26 to clinch the #1 state ranking.
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DIG PINK FOR VOLLEYBALL
Our Volleyball program is hosting a Dig Pink Day on October 20th to raise awareness and funds for the Side-Out Foundation. Come and cheer our Blue Jays on at their 4pm home Game that day & don’t forget to wear your pink!
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VARSITY SOCCER
Our Varsity Soccer Team held a Car Wash on Sunday, September 18th, where the team and parents worked hard for a successful day! Come to a Home Soccer Game in October to see the teams brand new Under Armour Pink uniforms for Breast Cancer Awareness month!
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UPCOMING EVENTS
Senior Nights:
- Tennis Tuesday October 18th
- Cheer Friday October 21st
- Soccer Monday October 24th
- Volleyball Wednesday October 26th
Winter Tryouts:
- Competition Cheer - Early November
- Dance Team - Early November
- Swim Team - November 21st
- Basketball - November 21st
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If you’re on campus, look up at the Sacred Heart windows to see our Fall Senior Athletes! |
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MHC Academy
659 Belmont Avenue
North Haledon, NJ 07508
P. 973.850-7467
F. 973.790.6125
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