President's Update

Dear Families,

I hope you had a wonderful Christmas celebration with your family! The festive music, enchanting decorations, and spirited atmosphere that characterize this time of year fill us all with excitement and enthusiasm as many of us are making plans to reunite with our families and anticipating an extended break from school or work.

Each year, MC's Campus Ministry organizes a school-wide toy drive that invites students, faculty, and staff to bring in new, unwrapped toys and place them under the Christmas tree and in the sleigh in the beautifully decorated front foyer. Every morning, students arrive with bags of toys, displaying them under the tree while our front desk plays some of our favorite holiday music. The front lobby becomes a testament to the thoughtfulness of the Malden Catholic community, leaving anyone who walks through it extremely impressed and thankful.

This collective effort results in the collection of hundreds of toys, all dedicated to supporting families in need. This shining example of selfless service earned recognition from Amy Hudson, a Medical Social Worker from the Department of Children and Families (DCF) Metro North. She expressed her gratitude during our Advent Prayer Service, emphasizing the impact our community's generosity has on making a difference in someone's Christmas. Even if we don't witness the smiles, she reminded us that our contributions are shaping a brighter holiday season for others.

As today marks the tradition of crafting our New Year's resolutions and pledging to enhance ourselves or embark on new endeavors in the coming year, I propose we take a moment to reflect on the remarkable examples and achievements of 2023. Let the success of events like the annual toy drive inspire and shape our aspirations for the future. On behalf of the entire MC Administration, I'd like to wish each of you a safe and happy New Year!

Sincerely,

Jeffrey P. Smith '95, P'24, '26

At a Glance

Monday, January 1 - Tuesday, January 2

No Classes - Christmas Break

Wednesday, January 3

Day E

Classes Resume

Praying of the Rosary - 7:25 AM

Thursday, January 4

Day D

Lancers in College Day - 3 PM

Friday, January 5

Day C

Weekly Mass - 7:25 AM

MC Weekly Dining Menu

We are providing the MC weekly dining menu in the President's Update to make it easier for students to plan lunch throughout the week. The menu is also available through the Malden Catholic Mobile App along with easy access to the online portal for adding money to student lunch accounts.

School and College Counseling Reminders

Transcript Release Forms

All seniors planning to apply to a college with an early to mid-January deadline must complete a Transcript Request Form to guarantee that school counseling materials can be sent out prior to Christmas break. Seniors have access to the form via their Malden Catholic email.

College Acceptances

MC School and College Counseling would like to remind Grade 12 students to update Naviance with college acceptances. Please reach out to Ms. DelGenio with any questions at [email protected].

What's New?

MC Travel Club Italy Trip - Deposit Due 1.3

The MC Travel Club will be taking a trip to Tuscany and Rome, Italy, during April Vacation, from April 12 - April 20, and all students, parents, alumni, and faculty/staff are invited to join!

The 9-day, 7-night tour will visit Montecatini, Venice, Florence, Cinque Terre, Siena, San Gimignano, and Rome. The cost for the trip is $4,799 per person if paid by cash/check or $4,899 if paid by credit card. A deposit of $699 is due on January 3.

Please contact Mr. Caristinos at [email protected] or Mr. O'Connor at [email protected] with any questions.

Janet Singer Applefield - 1.4 at 6 PM

We are very excited to welcome Janet Singer Applefield to MC on Thursday, January 4, as she unfolds her courageous narrative as a hidden child during the Holocaust. Her story imparts profound lessons on strength and resilience in the face of bigotry and hate. The event will begin at 5 PM with a meet and greet with faculty and staff, followed by a presentation in the Thomas '66 and Olivia McDonough Performing Arts Center and a Q&A session. All students, parents/guardians, and faculty/ staff are invited to attend this great event!

Lancers in College Day - 1.4 at 3 PM 

The second annual Lancers in College Day for the MC Classes of 2020 - 2023 will be held on Thursday, January 4 from 1:30 PM - 4 PM in the cafeteria. We will distribute the 2023 yearbooks and alumni can catch up with former classmates, teachers and administrators. Please register by January 4 through this link. 

Winter Essentials Drive - 1.8 to 1.22

Malden Catholic's Campus Ministry department has teamed up with the Malden Warming Center for the annual Winter Essentials Drive. Students are encouraged to bring in winter items for each grade listed from January 8 - 22. All items should be dropped off in homeroom. This is an ideal time to look in your closet and donate winter clothing items that you no longer wear.

• Grade 9 - Lip Balm and Deodorant
• Grade 10 - Hand Sanitizer and Nail Clippers
• Grade 11 - Hand/Foot Warmers and Combs/Hairbrushes
• Grade 12 - Toothbrushes/Toothpaste and Mouthwash

Junior Class College Planning Kick-off and College Admissions Panel - 1.18 at 6 PM 

The Junior Class Parent/Guardian College Admissions Panel and Kick-Off event will be held on Thursday, January 18 at 6 PM in the MC cafeteria. This event will include a question-and-answer session with a college admissions panel, provide the framework of the admissions landscape, an overview of the entire college application process, as well as other information that will make applying to college easier.

MC’s 18th Annual Gala Celebration Tickets on Sale

Tickets for Malden Catholic's 18th annual Gala celebration are selling fast! General admission Gala tickets are $200/person through January 31. Tickets are expected to sell out quickly and the ticket price will increase to $250/ticket on February 1, so be sure to purchase your ticket soon! Please use the attached link to purchase tickets and/or become a sponsor.

What's Happening Around MC?

Advent Prayer Service/Lancer Toy Drive Pick Up

Faculty/Staff Christmas Party

MIT Presentation

Christmas Homeroom Door Decorating Contest

MC Christmas Concert

MC's Crystal 99

The first issue of the Crystal 99 is here! Editors-in-chief Emerson Tully '24 and Katelyn Cirame '24, as well as editors Kayla McAuliffe '24, Haley Talbot ‘25, and Jacqueline Smiles Rodriguez ‘25, worked extremely hard to edit and lay out student-written articles on school news, sports, the arts, and opinions. Copies of the paper can be found in the main lobby and in the Boys and Girls Learning Commons and a digital version is available on the MC website.

Malden Catholic Magazine

The Fall 2023 edition of MC's annual report, The Malden Catholic Magazine, is now available for viewing on the MC website. The magazine features engaging stories, alumni interviews and updated information regarding the 2023 school year.

Plus Ultra Awards - November

Each month, faculty and staff are asked to nominate students, faculty, or staff who they feel have done something to personify one of the five Spiritual Values of Humility, Simplicity, Compassion, Trust, and Zeal. The idea is to recognize members of our community who go More Beyond and exemplify our motto Plus Ultra. Malden Catholic is proud to recognize the following people for going More Beyond.

This month’s Plus Ultra Award recipients are:

Humility - Veer Garard '27

Simplicity - Grace Carroll '26

Compassion - Brooke Baglio '26

Trust - Mr. DJ Cacciapuoti

Zeal - Matheus Amaral '25

Sports

Winter Senior Athlete Banners - 1.4

Winter Senior Athlete Banners must be purchased from Dracut Threads by Thursday, January 4 through this link. Banners will require a two-week turnaround. The banners will be hung for the fall season and then hung outside with the senior banners from all the seasons. Seniors will be able to take their banners home following graduation. Any questions about Senior Banners may be directed to Assistant Athletics Director, Matthew Blair at [email protected].

Winter Sports

Stay updated on the athletics schedule and events by visiting the MC website or subscribing to text alerts through this link.

Tuesday, January 2

3:30 PM Boys Freshman Basketball vs. St. John's HS

5 PM Boys JV Basketball vs St. John's HS

6:30 PM Boys Varsity Basketball vs. St. John's HS

Wednesday, January 3

3:30 PM Girls Freshman Basketball @ Fontbonne Academy

3:50 PM Girls JV Ice Hockey vs Austin Prep

5 PM Girls JV Basketball @ Fontbonne Academy

6 PM Boys Varsity Ice Hockey vs St. John's HS

6 PM Boys Varsity Wrestling @ St. John's Prep

6 PM Girls Varsity Ice Hockey @ Hingham HS

6:30 PM Girls Varsity Basketball @ Fontbonne Academy

Thursday, January 4

3:15 PM Boys Varsity Swim vs BC High

Friday, January 5

3:30 PM Girls Freshman Basketball vs St. Mary's

3:30 PM Boys Freshman Basketball @ St. John's Prep

4:45 PM Boys Varsity Indoor Track @ Catholic Memorial

5 PM Girls JV Basketball vs Winthrop HS

5 PM Boys JV Basketball @ St. John's Prep

6:30 PM Girls Varsity Basketball vs. Winthrop HS

6:30 PM Boys Varsity Basketball @ St. John's Prep

Saturday, January 6

9:40 AM Boys JV Ice Hockey vs. St. John's HS

10 AM Boys Varsity Wrestling @ Whittier Quad

10:50 AM Boys Freshman Ice Hockey vs. St. John's HS

3:50 PM Girls Varsity Ice Hockey @ Notre Dame Academy - Hingham

7:30 PM Boys Varsity Ice Hockey vs St. John's Prep

Sunday, January 7

4:50 PM Girls JV Ice Hockey @ St. Mary's