Welcome Back from PresidenT, Michael F. Baber

Dear Sacred Heart Greenwich families,

I am delighted to extend a warm welcome to new and returning families as we embark on our 175th academic year at Sacred Heart Greenwich! This anniversary calls us to celebrate the dynamic vision that has shaped our school and is a powerful cause to forge ahead with courage and confidence. Founded in 1848, Sacred Heart Greenwich holds the distinction of being the third oldest school in the Sacred Heart network in the United States. This strong foundation continues to empower our students, equipping them with the wisdom and courage to transform the world.

Our anniversary is a testament to the unwavering dedication to faith, intellect, justice, community, and wisdom inspired by our foundress, St. Madeleine Sophie Barat. To commemorate this milestone for this academic year, we proudly feature 175 within our ribbon heart logo to honor our history while looking ahead to the future. I invite you to visit our dedicated 175th Anniversary web page to learn more about ways to celebrate, including Mass of the Holy Spirit on September 27, First Friday Mass on October 6, and Celebration of the Heart on October 12. These events are the first of many opportunities where we will honor St. Madeleine Sophie's enduring vision of educating girls and young women. As we celebrate, we reaffirm our commitment through our strategic plan, Pursuing Excellence, in all aspects of education. We take immense pride in blending timeless values and traditions with forward-thinking approaches in education.

As we launch our five-year strategic plan, we have been working closely with the Board of Trustees to form an implementation committee, and we are eager to share more information with you in the coming weeks. A pivotal step driven by this strategic plan has been the transition to a distributive leadership model, which emphasizes collaboration, partnership, and a unified approach to education. This summer, Mrs. Jenn Bensen, Associate Head of School for Student Life, and Mr. Kevin Bailey, Associate Head of School for Teaching and Learning, and I have been diligently reviewing and fine-tuning our curriculum and student offerings, with a singular focus on ensuring a seamless and exceptional academic experience for your daughters. Their dedication, and the support of our division heads, Mrs. Meghan McMahon, Head of Upper School; Mrs. Mary Frederick, Head of Middle School; and Mrs. Kathy Dunn, Interim Head of Lower School, along with all of our Sacred Heart educators, have been invaluable in this transformative process.

Thank you for entrusting us with the education and well-being of your daughters. We are honored to partner with you in their success. If you have any questions or need further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me at president@cshct.org

Cor Unum,

Mr. Michael F. Baber
President

BACK-TO-SCHOOL INFORMATION BY DIVISION

Click on Your Division to Read More.

Lower School

Welcome to the Lower School for the 2023-2024 school year!

Dear Lower School Students and Families,

I hope this message finds you well and enjoying the remaining days of summer. I understand that the end of summer can be bittersweet, but I am excited to share some updates and preparations for the upcoming school year.

Over the past couple of months, our dedicated faculty and staff have been hard at work to ensure that we have a fantastic year ahead filled with transformative learning experiences. We are also thrilled to welcome 38 new students to our Lower School community. I’m confident that new and returning students will be delighted to see their new classrooms and meet their new friends.

In preparation for the start of the school year, our Lower School homeroom teachers will send out welcome postcards to their students. If your child has not received one by August 23, or if you are away from home and would like to know your daughter’s section, please let us know, and we will ensure you receive the necessary information.

I also encourage you visit the links below for important back-to-school information and to log into the Parent Portal to complete any outstanding forms. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or need assistance with any of the forms or information.

We eagerly anticipate the start of the new school year and look forward to embarking on another incredible learning journey together. Thank you for your continued support, and enjoy the remaining days of summer!

Warm regards,

Kathleen Dunn ‘73 P'10 P'11
Head of Lower School

GENERAL LOWER SCHOOL INFORMATION:

Barat Center Back to School Information
New Student Orientation and Back to School Events
Back to School Information (Schedule, Supplies, Snack Info, Important Dates, etc.)
Summer Assignments (Rising 1st-4th Grade)
Tiger Times Registration will be Shared in Coming weeks
Student Handbook will be Shared in the Coming Weeks
Campus Ministry Schedule
Parents' Association Welcome Letter
Parents Support Sacred Heart Greenwich

Middle School

Welcome to the Middle School for the 2023-2024 school year!

Dear Middle School families,

I hope you are enjoying a rejuvenating summer. I am excited to connect with you as the new Head of Middle School. Together with our dedicated new Middle School administrative team, Ms. Candice Willie-Lawes (Assistant Head of Middle School for Student Life) and Ms. Stefania Sicilia (Middle School Administrative Assistant), I have been working tirelessly over the summer to ensure an exceptional school year ahead.

I am eager to meet each and every one of your daughters and support their growth through our program. My commitment is to create a Middle School environment that embodies structure, learning, joy, and kindness while injecting a healthy dose of fun. We want our students to approach each day with excitement and enthusiasm. To align with our Goals and Criteria, we have planned several exciting experiences to enrich our Middle School program.

Dynamic Class Programming: (Goals I, II, III) We will prioritize "class building," fostering strong relationships between students and encouraging self-discovery. Our curriculum will combine academic excellence with real-world application, ensuring an engaging learning experience through new clubs and activities, field trips, and overnight trips for grades 6-8.

Change to our Cell-Phone Policy: (Goal II,V) We will be asking students in Middle School to turn in their phones each day upon arrival. Phones will be redistributed to students at the end of the school day. This policy is in line with many research studies that show the negative effects of cell phones on student learning and building positive social relationships, especially among those in the middle grades. Studies indicate that even when not in use, cell phones can have detrimental effects on students' attention spans, focus, and overall academic performance. We know it will take some getting used to, but our goal is to create a more focused and conducive learning environment, improve students' learning outcomes and promote better interpersonal connections. We appreciate your support in implementing this policy to enhance the educational experience for our Middle School students.

Newly Designed Discipline Structure: (Goal V) In addition to our academic focus, we are implementing a new discipline structure that promotes a positive and inclusive atmosphere. We believe that discipline should be educational and restorative, rather than purely punitive. Our approach will focus on teaching essential life skills such as responsibility, empathy, and self-regulation while maintaining a safe and respectful environment.

Enhanced Advisory Program: (Goal V) In grades 7-8, we are thrilled to announce our partnership with The Social Institute, an online learning platform that empowers students to navigate their social world — social media and technology — to fuel their health, happiness, and future success, providing invaluable support for our advisory programming. This partnership will equip our students, parents, and teachers with essential tools to navigate technology both online and offline. Grades 5-6 will focus on enhancing organization and study skills, fostering a deeper understanding of responsible technology use, and preparing students for success in the ever-evolving digital landscape.

Parent Education: (Goal IV) As part of our commitment to a strong school-home partnership, we will be hosting a parent book club. Our first event will focus on the book, Middle School Matters, by Phyllis L. Fagel, LCPC, which will take place on October 11th. We invite you to attend this inaugural parent book talk, as we delve into important topics relevant to Middle School and parenting.

Together, we will create an environment that nurtures your daughters' growth, fosters a love for learning, and prepares them for future success. We have provided you with detailed back-to-school information below and please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions.

Enjoy the remainder of your summer, and we look forward to welcoming you and your daughters to an amazing year! Be sure to click on the green box below which includes key back-to-school information and important links for the Middle School.

Best,

Mrs. Mary Frederick
Head of Middle School

Please Click Here for Important Back-to-School Information

ADDITIONAL MIDDLE SCHOOL INFORMATION:

Upper School

Welcome to the Upper School for the 2023-2024 school year!

Dear Upper School Students and Families,

I hope this message finds you well after a summer full of adventure and rejuvenation! I am thrilled to be joining the Sacred Heart Greenwich Upper School community as the Head of the Upper School during this momentous 175th anniversary milestone year. I hope you are looking forward to the start of a wonderful 2023-2024 school year in just a few weeks as well!

As a graduate of Newton Country Day School of the Sacred Heart, I feel blessed to be coming home to my Sacred Heart roots. I absolutely loved my Sacred Heart high school experience and it is my hope that our Upper School students will cherish their years at Sacred Heart Greenwich as well. These years will be rich with rigorous courses, enriching extracurricular activities, Sacred Heart traditions and the long-lasting bonds and community that will be created together.

The 2023-2024 Upper School Student Council has proclaimed their theme for the upcoming year: “Lead with Love!” You can learn more from our Student Body President, Jane Murphy, in her letter to the student body. The spirit of this motto will be a guiding direction for all of us and a call from our Student Council to move with love, empathy, kindness and respect.

In line with our theme this year, RSCJ Janet Stuart once said, “People will do great things if they are stirred with enthusiasm and love.” I look forward to partnering with you, our families, as your girls move through Upper School at Sacred Heart Greenwich. I have full confidence that through this partnership and our collective love and enthusiasm for our girls, we will ensure that they have a memorable high school experience, as well as one that fully prepares them academically and personally to take on their next journey in college and beyond.

I'm looking forward to seeing you at various events throughout the month of September (see key dates below)! Please note that on Friday, September 29, all Upper School parents are invited to a division-wide coffee hosted by the Parents’ Association. Parents will have the opportunity to hear from President, Michael Baber, Associate Head of School for Student Life, Jenn Bensen, Associate Head of School for Teaching and Learning, Kevin Bailey, and meet the Upper School Leadership Team to learn about the collective vision for this academic year. This event will also provide the opportunity to hear from the Parent Association representatives, class parents, and event chairs about the many exciting programs in which parents can be involved during the upcoming school year. This year, following the Parents’ Association coffee, we are also providing an additional break out meeting for freshmen parents and families to meet with the Upper School Leadership Team. At the end of the first month in the Upper School, this is an opportunity for our team to share more information about life in the Upper School and a time to answer any questions that you may have.

The faculty and I have enjoyed preparing for the return of students and cannot wait to have our hallways and classrooms full of our girls’ energy! It is going to be another wonderful year in the Upper School at Sacred Heart Greenwich! Be sure to click on the green box below which includes key back-to-school information and important links for the Upper School.

Best,

Mrs. Meghan McMahon
Head of Upper School

Please Click Here for Important Back-to-School Information

ADDITIONAL BACK-TO-SCHOOL INFORMATION

2023-2024 Back-to-School Form Checklist

If you have not already done so, please be sure to complete all forms on the Parent Portal by Wednesday, August 30th.

Health Office forms
Forms and permission slips by division
Emergency Contact updates

PARENT RESOURCES

Back to School

Sacred Heart students working on a class assignment together.