Principal's Newsletter

“Children are travelers in an unknown land and we are their guides. Guide them well.”-R.Fisher  

June 24, 2010

Dear Parents/Guardians, Students and Friends of Bishop Dunn,

       It seems like I have been trying to catch up with everything that needs to be done in the last weeks of school, but somehow I finally got one thing completed on time – this last newsletter of the year! Usually (I think for at least the past five year), it doesn’t get sent out until a week after school is closed. Maybe it’s that extra day we added on at the end, this year?? In any case, here’s the rundown of some of the events and activities that made the last week of school so busy, along with some end-of-the-year lists of accomplishments. And since there’s too much to include on one page, it spills over onto the back for those who get this note in hard-copy form. While I don’t plan to send my next note home until late July or early August, I suggest you look at our website periodically over the summer for special announcements. If anything is put on the website that I feel is really worth your attention, I may also send a reminder through our Immediate Response Information System (IRIS) for you to check our website.

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GRADUATES GET BIG SEND-OFF: Our 8^th graders celebrated their graduation on Tuesday with a special Mass and awards ceremony at St. Mary’s Church, officiated by Father Bill Scafidi. Thanks, first of all, to Miss Brigid Killelea and Mrs. Susan Trieste, who did the bulk of the organizing and coordinating work for the special day’s events, and to Miss Marianne Sheridan, who did all the “filling in”, with some creative computer work added by Mrs. Donna Perk, in producing the nearly 100 certificates given out Tuesday and during the class’s awards dinner the previous Friday. All who attended also appreciated the beautiful music provided by Mrs. Trieste’s choir and the school’s Troubadour ensemble, directed by Mrs. Ada Margoshes and Mr. Grant Konno. During the graduation ceremony special awards were given out to a number of students. Gabriella Javinett and George Konno were joint winners of the Principal’s Award for overall academic excellence and for being tied with the highest grade point average for the school year.  The Bishop Dunn Memorial School Award was given to George Wyand. The award is presented annually to a graduating student who “best demonstrates the spirit of Bishop Dunn by his or her strong faith, genuine kindness and respect for others.” John Paul McLoughlin received a special award for outstanding service to the school, and three other students, who were selected by their own peers, received Jena Cassalina Memorial Awards. Jena was a former Bishop Dunn student who died two years ago following a long battle with cystic fibrosis. Receiving awards for best representing the virtues exemplified by Jena of perseverance, courage, and individuality were Morgan Jackson, Ian Scully, and James Terotta. Also given “Lifetime Awards” at the awards dinner and recognized again at the graduation for having been students at Bishop Dunn Pre-Kindergarten or Kindergarten were: Emma Anderson, Italo Carrieri-Russo, Edward Dennis, Gabriella Javinett, Tayler Kissam, George Konno, John Paul McLoughlin, Kristin Morehead, Molly O’Brien, and JT Whritner. The ceremony was completed with the awarding of graduation certificates to the following students: Emma Anderson, Alex Beckham, Sean Booker, Kailyn Caldwell, Italo Carrieri-Russo, Cooper Casiano, Anthony DaSilva, Edward Dennis, Madison Dill, Rebecca Hayen, Chris Introcaso, Michael Irish, Morgan Jackson, Gabriella Javinett, Tayler Kissam, George Konno, Leonardo Maniscalchi, John Paul McLoughlin, Kristin Morehead, Molly O’Brien, Ian Scully, James Terotta, Grant U, JT Whritner, George Wyand, and Joshua Yeadon.

RACE RESULTS FINALLY (ALMOST) IN: It wasn’t a last week activity, but we are still collecting donations for our annual Race for Education, which was held late last month. To date more than $11,500 has been raised. Winning gold medals for completing the most laps for their grade group were 7^th grader Patrick Burke, who completed 21 laps and 5^th grader Jack O’Brien, who had the highest lap total for the school of 26. Tied for first for completing 10 laps in the Grade 1 and 2 group were 2^nd graders Miguel Bagtas, Emmanuel Davis, and Charles Godwin and 1^st grader Michael Kissam.  The big winners in collecting sponsor money for the school for the race, who will receive $50 Target gift cards for there efforts, were: Pre-Ker Matthew Petrollese ($420); 1^st grader Bobby Havner ($355); 5^th grader Roman Pianka ($315); and 6^th graders Julie Costigan and Ryan Guarneri (tied with $245 each). Congratulations to all the boys and girls for a great job, and to their parents, relatives and friends for their wonderfully generous financial support.                                                                                                             

FINAL HONOR ROLL ANNOUNCED: I am pleased to announce (also earlier than ever) our final quarter Honor Roll for the year – on the day when report cards are sent home. Making Principal’s List for having an average of 95 or higher and no grades below 90 were: 6^th graders Danielle Gonzalez-Wu, Brian Rhee, Alexander Gormley, Sam Schorno, and Mackenzie Wyant; and 7^th graders Michael Cooke and Gracie Foster. Achieving First Honors status for having grade averages of 90 or better with no individual grades lower than 85 were: 6^th graders  David Adams, Kayli Berardinelli, Isabella Boccadoro, Cassie Cook, Jordan Crinieri, Alexandra Ellingson, Jordan Giordano, Kailey Loughran, Amanda Salvatore, Patricia Whelan, and Sean Youngberg; 7^th graders  Patrick Burke, Jenna DiVenuto, Carly Feldstein, Ally Galli, Abby Hastings, Meaghan McKay,  Kate Mead, Brandon Rawlins, Ryan W, and Danny Yancewicz; and 8^th graders Gabriella Javinett, George Konno, Kristin Morehead, Ian Scully and George Wyand. Receiving Second Honors recognition for having averages of 85 or higher and no grades under 80 were: 6^th graders Ishaan Brissette, Julie Costigan, William DeTorres, Ryan Guarneri, Kyle Morehead, Nicolas Mongelli, and Edward Muschio; 7^th graders Lauren Bayer, Michael Fleckenstein, Antonio Harris, Douglas Indzonka, Colin Loughran, Isabella Saffioti, and Tess Stepakoff; and 8^th graders Italo Carrieri-Russo, Edward Dennis, Madison Dill, and Molly O’Brien.

BEST BITS OF THE BARD:  Another wonderful event that was squeezed into a very busy last week was our annual Shakespeare Reader’s Theatre, led by our upper grade language arts instructor, Miss Brigid Killelea, and featuring members of our 6^th grade class. Reading, remembering and beautifully acting out scenes from the bard’s best works at Wednesday’s presentation were: David Adams, Kayli Berardinelli, Isabella Boccadoro, Danielle B, Denzel B, Ishaan Brissette, Cassie Cook, Julie Costigan, Jordan Crinieri, Jack Cuneo, William DeTorres, Alexandra Ellingson, Katherine Garcia, Melissa Garcia, Isabelle Frank, Jordan Giordano, Danielle Gonzalez-Wu, Alexander Gormley, Ryan Guarneri, Erica LaMela, Troy Lois, Kailey Loughran, Nicholas Mongelli, Kyle Morehead, Jake Pappas, Tyler Peterkin, Brian Rhee, Amanda Salvatore, Sam Schorno, Iris Stewart, Aaron Supple, Stanley U, Patricia Whelan, Henry Wyand, Mackenzie Wyant, and Sean Youngberg.

MATH ACES HONORED:  Top ranked students, who honed their academic skills in a year-long “First in Math” Internet-based instruction game, were announced earlier this week by our technology director, Mrs. Donna Perk, who organized and coordinated the school’s participation in this national program.  The top 20 students from Bishop Dunn, in order of points accumulation, were: David Adams (4,903 points), Rachel Irish (4,800), Eddie Muschio (3,357), Joaquin Bagtas (3,294), Brielle Maxwell (3, 193), Adrian Broe (3,047), Alexandra Ellingston (2,728), Ryan Bayer (2,655), Jordan Giordano (2,640), Sam Schorno (2,540), Michael Irish (2,467), Brenden Bready (2,333), Denzel B, (2,319), Danielle B (2,068), Alliana Lightbody (1,979), Maureen Casiano (1,948), Joan Stein (1,822), Sean Hertel (1,753), Kiana Carver (1,738), Gabriella Palladino (1,669).

STEPPING OUT: An artistically and athletically exciting demonstrations of student talent took place last night when step-dancers, under the tutelage of Ashley Gilnak, performed a variety of jigs, reels and other step-dance moves. Bishop Dunn students who took part in the performance were: Brendon Bready, Connor Bready, Ishaan Brissette, Francisca Chillino, Logan Eberling, Alexandra Ellingson, Cynthia Fioriti, Alliana Lightbody, Michael LoBiondo, Kailey Loughran, Evelynn Najork, Quinn Ratinski, Arnaz Reza, Hunter Scholfield, Patricia Whelan, Danny Yancewicz and Ava Zappone.

SUMMER SHOPPING A BREEZE: Finally, this is my last reminder for the school year that you can continue to support Bishop Dunn all summer long by making any of your online purchases through Bishop Dunn’s own new online shopping website,  www.shoptoearn.net/BDM, , which can also be accessed from the homepage on our own website, www.bdms.org, will connect you to more than 1,000 stores and services that will send cash back to our school each time you shop with them by first linking to their online sites through our web portal.