Welcome Back from PresidenT, Michael F. Baber

Dear Sacred Heart Greenwich families,

I am delighted to extend a warm welcome to both new and returning families as we embark on another exciting academic year at Sacred Heart Greenwich! Our 175th-anniversary celebrations last year beautifully united our community in honoring our legacy and vision. As we look ahead, we are filled with renewed enthusiasm and promise for the year to come.

Continuing the dynamic vision that has shaped our school since its founding in 1848, Sacred Heart Greenwich remains committed to empowering our students with the wisdom and courage to transform the world. Guided by the timeless values and traditions inspired by our foundress, St. Madeleine Sophie Barat, this year's theme, "Courage and Confidence," reflects our dedication to fostering an environment where students are encouraged to take bold steps, face challenges head-on, and grow in their self-assurance.

We are thrilled to welcome an increased enrollment and a cohort of exceptional new educators who bring fresh perspectives and expertise to our community. We are also excited to introduce Mrs. Caitlin O'Neill as the new Head of Lower School. Mrs. O'Neill’s leadership and dedication to excellence will undoubtedly enhance the educational experience for our youngest students. She has been working diligently with Mrs. Mary Frederick, Head of Middle School, and Mrs. Meghan McMahon, Head of Upper School, throughout the summer to ensure a smooth transition and a cohesive academic experience. We encourage you to visit our dedicated back-to-school website and look out for letters from your Division Heads, which will include important information and introductions to new faculty members.

We have made significant progress in advancing our Strategic Plan, "Pursuing Excellence," particularly in the areas of Advance, Engage, and Invest. These pillars guide us in creating an environment where our students can thrive academically, socially, and spiritually. Click here to view our dedicated webpage and read my recent communication, which includes a Year One recap.

I am excited to announce the appointment of Mr. Thomas A. McCarthy as our new Director of Advancement, effective September 3, 2024. McCarthy, a seasoned leader with over 18 years of experience in educational advancement, brings a wealth of expertise in advancement, fundraising, capital campaigns, alumni and external relations, data analytics, and strategic planning. He will be instrumental in helping us advance our Sacred Heart mission with energy, fidelity, and creativity. Most recently, he served as the Director of Institutional Advancement at the Convent of the Sacred Heart, 91st Street in New York City, where he advised the Head of School and Board of Trustees on effective advancement strategies and resources. Prior to his role at 91st Street, McCarthy served as Vice President for Institutional Advancement at Mount St. Michael Academy in the Bronx, NY, and held various roles at Manhattan College, including Director of Alumni Relations and Annual Giving. Click here to read the full press release.

The latest edition of our annual magazine, Horizons, has recently been mailed. This special edition celebrates 175 Years of Pursuing Excellence and features inspiring stories from the Sacred Heart Greenwich community, showcasing our students and educators embracing the Goals and Criteria, both on campus and globally. It also highlights the remarkable impact our alumnae are making in their communities, including the achievements of Christina Huchro '14, and Elizabeth Yeager, '21. If you haven't received your issue yet, you can view the electronic version of Horizons here.

Throughout the summer, our leadership team has been diligently planning and refining our programs and student offerings to ensure an exceptional academic experience for your daughters. Their dedication has been invaluable in preparing for a transformative and successful school year. We look forward to seeing you at our upcoming events, including:

Friday, September 20 at 10 am: Mass of the Holy Spirit and the Commissioning of our Class of 2025 Eucharistic Ministers
Back to School Nights:
- Lower School - Wednesday, September 11 at 5:30 pm
- Middle School - Thursday, September 19 at 6:00 pm
- Upper School - Thursday, September 26 at 6:00 pm
Friday, October 4 and Saturday, October 5: Homecoming & Reunion

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.

With Courage & Confidence,

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 2024-2025 school year!

Dear Barat Center and Lower School Families,

I hope you are doing well and enjoying a wonderful summer. I would be remiss if I did not start this letter by thanking the inspiring Kathy Dunn for her years of service and the path she has forged for me as we enter this year. I also want to thank each of you for the incredibly warm welcome and support I have felt in these past few months. It is truly an honor to be joining this remarkable community, and I look forward to getting to know each of you and your children as we enter a new school year together. Here on King Street we are already busy getting ready for your September arrival, and as I gaze out of my office door, I am truly delighted at the thought of these halls soon being filled with the bustle and joy of our students. It is my deep belief that every child has a unique ability not only to succeed but to thrive, and it is our privilege as Sacred Heart educators to help all children who enter our school community uncover their unique gifts to then share with the world. I look forward to doing that in partnership with you.

When I was going through the interview process last winter, I came onto Campus for a full day of interviews. The second to last meeting I had that day was with Lower School faculty. I was asked to present an example of a shortened faculty meeting, and at the end of that meeting, we opened the floor for a Q&A. One of the questions I asked the faculty was if there was anything they wanted to make sure I knew before I walked out of Salisbury Hall that day. There was a beat of silence, and then one teacher spoke up and said, “We are a family here. Really, we are. You need to know that.” Over the past few weeks, I have started meeting 1-1 with every Lower School faculty member and that statement absolutely rings true. I have heard countless stories of how this community supports one another, lifts each other up, and challenges one another with courage and confidence. Our teachers embody these values, which are highlighted this year in our all-school theme, and in turn, our students have a Lower School experience that embraces the Sacred Heart Goals and cultivates a space for students to reach their full potential.

We have some exciting news here on King Street to celebrate:

Barat Center enrollment has increased to 32 students for this academic year. Therefore, we have developed a new team structure to support the growing program and are moving from a team with two lead teachers and two assistant teachers to one with four lead teachers and an assistant teacher. Ms. Frederica McGannon will continue her wonderful work as a lead teacher alongside Ms. Cynthia Mansfield, Ms. Lindsay Wund, and please join me in welcoming Ms. Elizabeth Villar. In addition, Ms. Diane Flieger will move from a part-time assistant to a full-time assistant.
Mrs. Ada Vega will be joining Mrs. Jeannine Tocco as the assistant teacher in Kindergarten.
Ms. Bridgit Murray got married this summer and will be joining the second grade team as Mrs. Bridgit Cahill.
Mr. Sean Lowery will continue to teach violin as well as help both the first grade and second grade teams as an assistant teacher.
Ms. Avery David and Mrs. Nancy Parra will continue as assistant teachers, but they are moving to third grade and fourth grade respectively.
Ms. Maggie Goodwin will also be joining the fourth grade team as a lead teacher.
Middle School teacher Ms. Wei Zhao will be joining our team of specialist teachers to teach our fourth graders French this year.
Finally, please join me in extending a warm welcome to our new Lower School faculty member Ms. Allison Sparks who will teach library and technology.

Kindly take some time to review the important information outlined in the “Lower School Back-to-School Information” green box at the bottom of this letter. (Barat Center parents, please note the Barat Center supply list which includes items your child should bring to Orientation.) In addition, please complete a new form which has just been posted to the Parent Portal: Lower School Car Pickup Authorization. And finally, our Barat Center and Lower School homeroom teachers are in the midst of writing individual postcards to your children welcoming them back to school. If your child has not received a postcard by Friday, August 23, please let me know, and we will ensure you receive any necessary information.

I look forward to seeing you soon:

Tuesday, September 3: All Barat Center and Kindergarten students, as well as new students in Grades 1-4 & their parents are invited to Orientation from 8:30 - 10 am. Students may wear their own clothes.
Wednesday, September 4: We look forward to welcoming all Barat and Lower School students at 8 am for the first day of school! To note: Barat Center students have a half day for the first week, and dismissal is 12 pm. Students in Kindergarten-Grade 4 have a full day. Kindergarten dismisses at 3 pm, and Grades 1-4 dismiss at 3:10 pm.

In the meantime, I hope the remaining weeks of summer are full of time spent with loved ones, lots of reading, and a ton of fun. We will eagerly be awaiting your arrival on campus! Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions.

With gratitude,

Mrs. Caitlin O’Neill
Head of Lower School

Please Click Here for Important Lower School Back-to-School Information

GENERAL LOWER SCHOOL INFORMATION:

Middle School

Welcome to the Middle School for the 2024-2025 school year!

Dear Middle School families,

We can hardly believe the school year is just a few weeks away! As Michael mentioned in his letter earlier, we will be guided this year by the theme of "Courage & Confidence". I am genuinely excited to introduce this theme to the girls, as it serves as a powerful foundation for us all as we help them to tackle challenges head-on and embrace new opportunities with unwavering confidence. This year is shaping up to be an amazing experience as we have some exciting changes and updates to our Middle School program that we will be rolling out through the year.

First, we have some new members of the community and some others moving into new roles. We are thrilled to announce that Heather Palladino is moving into the role of Middle School Dean of Students. With over 20 years of experience as a math teacher and as a 5th-grade lead teacher, Heather brings valuable expertise to our team and will be our point of contact for all discipline related issues. Please join me in congratulating and welcoming Heather as she takes on this new role.

We are also delighted to welcome several new and returning teachers to our team. We are excited about the wonderful contributions these educators will bring to our community.

New Teachers

Jennifer Elgin - 6th-grade Math teacher and coach
Sophia Gelard - Middle School PE teacher and coach.
Flynn Reed - 5th and 7th-grade Science teacher and coach
Cinnamon Sparks - Maternity Leave replacement for 5th and 6th-grade English.
Megan Monaghan - Grade 5, History, English, Math Teacher (Returning to the classroom after working in our communications department)
Mary Musolino- 8th-grade Science teacher (Returning to Sacred Heart)
Wei Zhao- Middle School Chinese teacher (Was the Middle School - assistant teacher)
Summer Merritt - Middle School Art teacher (Started with us in April)

Please be sure to click the "Important Middle School Back-to-School information" green box at the bottom of this letter which includes additional important information you will need for the start of the school year. I would like to highlight a few items:

New Daily Schedule: By now you should have seen our letter from July sharing our new schedule. The details can be found in the Back to School information and we look forward to seeing you on the first day of school at 8:30 am with pickup at 2:35 pm (our early dismissal day).

Middle School Attendance Updates: At Sacred Heart Greenwich we strongly believe that regular school attendance and participation are essential for student learning and that absences other than illness or emergencies are detrimental to a student’s learning. Participation in class work is essential to the progress of individual students and the class as a whole. It is very important that you familiarize yourself with our attendance policy. While this is in the family/student handbook, this document walks you through our updated Middle School attendance policy. Please review it with your child.

Together, we will work hard to encourage our girls to take bold steps, try new things, and confidently express their own unique voices fulfilling the objective of a Sacred Heart Education “to develop people of integrity whose actions align with their values and beliefs”.

As we prepare for the return, we want to remind you of our Key Contacts list that you should use if you ever need support from us. Additionally your daughters will be hearing from their advisors in late August which will surely get them excited for the year ahead. Enjoy the remainder of your summer, and we look forward to welcoming you and your daughters to an amazing year!

Best,

Mrs. Mary Frederick
“Coach Fred”
Head of Middle School

Please Click Here for Important Middle School Back-to-School Information

ADDITIONAL MIDDLE SCHOOL INFORMATION:

Upper School

Welcome to the Upper School for the 2024-2025 school year!

Dear Upper School Students and Families,

I hope this message finds you well after a summer full of joy and rejuvenation! I am thrilled to welcome you to the 2024-2025 school year in the Upper School at Sacred Heart Greenwich and cannot wait to see everyone back on campus in just a few weeks!

The 2024-2025 Upper School Student Council has proclaimed their theme for the upcoming year: “Believe to Achieve!” You can learn more from our Student Body President, Mackenzie Gillen, 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 believe in and embrace the potential of ourselves and our entire community.

In line with our Upper School theme is our all school theme of “Courage and Confidence” shared by Mr. Baber. These words from our Foundress, St. Madeleine Sophie, still ring true hundreds of years later as we ensure that our girls have an Upper School experience that embraces the Sacred Heart Goals and traditions and cultivates the space for them to reach their full potential. It is an Upper School experience that also fully prepares our girls academically and personally to take on their next journey in college and beyond and transform the world with their Courage and Confidence.

In addition, as we work to build a community that thrives from connection and support, we would like to draw your attention to the updates to the Upper School cellphone and smartwatch policy as shared in Mr. Baber’s cellphone and smartwatch policy letter. We believe this opportunity allows us to provide an optimal learning environment for girls and strengthen our community in the Upper School at Sacred Heart Greenwich. Removing the distraction of cellphones will foster deeper social connections between students and faculty and will promote improved attention span, focus, and overall academic performance. We believe this improvement will also empower students to take advantage of all of the wonderful resources and opportunities that the Sacred Heart Greenwich community and campus have to offer.

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! As we prepare for the return, we want to remind you of our Circle of Support, both Academic and Social-Emotional and the Key Contacts you should utilize. I would like to draw your attention to two major shifts in the Upper School Leadership Team and congratulate both Ms. Karen Panarella and Mrs. Sarah Bergin on their new roles.

Ms. Panarella’s role is now the Assistant Head of Upper School for Student Life.

In this role, she is responsible for enhancing student life and fostering a positive atmosphere that encourages belonging, growth, and community in the Upper School. She will uphold high expectations, embrace the Goals and Criteria, and address the social-emotional development, personal growth, leadership advancement, and overall success of our students. Please note, there is no longer a Dean of Students in the Upper School.

Mrs. Bergin’s role is now Instructional Dean.

As the Upper School Instructional Dean, Mrs. Bergin is a member of the Upper School Leadership Team. In partnership with the Head of Upper School and the Associate Head of School for Teaching and Learning, she serves as an instructional leader and support for faculty. The role involves cultivating teacher growth through classroom observations, feedback, co-planning, and professional development. As the Instructional Dean, Mrs. Bergin embraces innovative pedagogical practices and the Goals and Criteria as the foundation for teaching and interactions within the community.

I would also like to draw your attention to the Community Service coordinators in the Upper School for the 2024-2025 school year.

As Assistant Head of Upper School for Student Life, Ms. Karen Panarella, will coordinate Upper School community service opportunities, programs, partnerships and collaborations with other schools and organizations. Ms. Panarella will also be responsible for managing student community service hours.
Mrs. Aixa Candanosa, Upper School Academic Dean, will coordinate Upper School community service learning trips, such as those to Lourdes, New Orleans, Dominican Republic, etc.

Finally, I would like to welcome the newest members of the Upper School faculty community:

Ms. Sarah Caro, Upper School Learning Specialist
Ms. Elizabeth Fancher, Upper School French
Mrs. Alisa Harrison, Upper School Math
Mrs. Kathleen Rokis, Upper School Science
Mr. Colby Verge, Upper School Learning Specialist
Mrs. Julie Zhu, Upper School Chinese

Please be sure to view the important information you will need for the start of the school year outlined in the “Upper School Back-to-School Information” green box at the bottom of this letter.

I hope you are looking forward to the start of a wonderful 2024-2025 school year in the Upper School at Sacred Heart Greenwich in just a few weeks! Please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions.

Best,

Mrs. Meghan McMahon
Head of Upper School

Please Click Here for Important Upper School Back-to-School Information

ADDITIONAL BACK-TO-SCHOOL INFORMATION

2024-2025 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 21st.

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

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