Gratitude Report 2023 by Judaen Brown

PRIDE PRIDE in our past

GRATITUDE REPORT GRATITUDE REPORT

December 2023

An update on where we have been and where we are going since our opening as New Haven’s successor school in 2020

Legacy Brunch on May 21, 2023, Draws Crowd to Celebrate Catholic Education in New Haven

It was a dream that came to fruition – to bring together friends and alumni from the 17 original Catholic elementary schools of New Haven for one big reunion (see listing of schools on page 8). As the one remaining Catholic elementary school* of the city, All Saints Catholic Academy (ASCA) was poised to coordinate this event with the help of many hearts and hands. The date for the Legacy Brunch was set: Sunday, May 21, 2023. With a large number of alumni spread across the greater New Haven area, we were confident we could reach the minimum number of 285 attendees for the brunch at Anthony’s Ocean View. We were extremely pleased, however, when the event sold out with over 500 registrations!

The celebration began on Sunday, May 21, with a 10:30 am Mass at Saint Bernadette Church celebrated by Archbishop Blair. Students from ASCA’s 3rd and 4th grade classes formed the greeting committee and the choir, which sang a lively customized litany of the saints at the offertory that invoked the saints of the legacy schools. Guests then took a short trip down the road to the beautiful Anthony’s Ocean View for a 12pm brunch Msgr Gerard Schmitz, Committee Chair and proud alumnus of St Francis School, kicked off our time together with a warm welcome before we said grace In between mingling, reminiscing, and sharing conversation, guests enjoyed the running slideshow of photographs from all 17 legacy schools

Speakers included Val Mara (Superintendent of Schools), Sr Diane Mastroianni, ASCJ (Principal of ASCA), Msgr James Shanley (Vicar for Clergy), and Fr Christopher Ford (Board Chair), who all spoke about the connection between the cherished memories being shared today and th ongoing mission of Catholic education for the next generation of studen Each of the 17 schools was represented at the brunch and, though gues were seated with classmates, there were connections and re-connectio happening at every turn “It’s a small world,” was heard repeatedly as peop who attended schools once in competition with each other (pg 4)

*New Haven is also home to St Martin de Porres Academy, a Catholic school that serves 5th to 8th graders and operates independently of the Archdiocese

Collaborative Strategic Planning Retreat Days Set Goals and Objectives for Future Success

During the Strategic Planning Retreat Days of November 3-4, a group of 60+ stakeholders gathered at All Saints to create goals and objectives which will form the strategic plan titled “Pride in Our Past, Promise for Our Future.” Once that work is officially approved by the Board, the plan will be shared with the larger community. Until then, we would like to take a step back and bring you along through the collaborative process that brought us to this place.

In February of 2023 we were thrilled to receive full accreditation from New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC). At the recommendation of the Visiting Team, the Board of Directors began the process of developing a comprehensive strategic plan to guide the school towards further excellence. We engaged with Partners in Mission (PIM), a consulting firm which works with Catholic schools across the country, and our facilitators, Kathleen Casey and Mary Claire Kasunic, have expertly led us through each step. Justin Murphy, ASCA Board Member, accepted the role of Steering Committee Chair and has given countless hours to the project. We have been incredibly blessed by his commitment, ip. (pg. 4) Steering Committee, from left to

right: Justin Murphy, Kathleen Casey, Sr. Diane Mastroianni, Sherri Criscuolo

Wetoo can become Wetoo can become

FROM THE PRINCIPAL

DearFriendsofAllSaints,

These words of Blessed Clelia Merloni make up our school motto Blessed Clelia founded the Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in 1894, a community of religious sisters who have served in New Haven legacy schools since 1936 and who serve at All Saints today

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Fr. Christopher M. Ford, Chairman of the Board

Gail T. Bellucci, Advancement Chair

Sr. Kathleen Mary Coonan, ASCJ

Kathleen Cooney, Nominating Committee Chair

Michael Donahue

Diane Dow

A.J. Funaro

Fr. Hector Rangel, Pastor

Matthew Luciani

Justin Murphy, Strategic Planning Committee Chair

Scott Nugent

Joseph Schreck, Finance Chair

Ron Shea, Recording Secretary

Sheila Wade

We also thank these individuals who have served previous terms on the Board: Amey Marella, Karen Talamelli Cusick, and Gloria Vega. Fr. John Lavorgna was also a devoted member of the Board before his tragic death May he rest in peace

FACULTY AND STAFF

Sr. Diane Mastroianni, ASCJ, Principal

Susy Villacis

Lisa Whitfield

J.C. Boynton

Sr. Deborah Lopez

Sr. Cathy Phillips

Anna Lombardo

Corinne Cioffi

MaryEllen Masiello

Alexa Capone

John Ruggiero

Sherri Criscuolo

Audrey Whitfield

Ray Guarino

Cheryl Anastasio

Susan Van Cott

Steven Mendoza

Emily Mansi

Richard Scialabba

Yomaira Montalvo

Amy Melillo-Ruocco

Kate Griffiths

Debbie Connelly

Gloria McPherson

Asia Goubourn

Oswaldo Guarnizo

Joanne Turonis

Debbi Robin-Amendola

Terri Santillo

Katherine Heimann

ItiswithgreatprideandjoythatIsharethisGratitudeReport withyou.Uponopeningourdoorsin2020weknewthetaskwouldbe greataswebecametheofficialsuccessorschoolofNewHaven The traditionoffaithformation,academicexcellenceandservicewere nowourstouphold.Andasyoucanseeinthesepages,wearewell onourwaytoassuringthatthislegacycontinuesforyearstocome.

WhatanhonoritistoserveasthefirstprincipalofASCA.These yearsdemonstratewhatitmeansforacommunitytocometogether tosupportCatholicEducation.Openingamidapandemicheldmany challenges;however,thegreatestgiftofcovidisthatitcreateda unifyingforceamongallthoseweencounteredwhetherinthe building,withourfamiliesorwiththosereachingouttolendahand. WeareblessedtohavetheSt.FrancisChurchcommunityrightnext door WithFr HectorRangelasitspastortheChurchisthrivingand providesmuchsupportbothspirituallyandintheupkeepofour building.NowwiththeformationoftheBlessedMcGivneyParishwe aresurroundedbycommunitiesthatsupportandguideus.Welook forwardtothecontinuedgrowthoftheserelationships.

Forover140yearsourbuildinghaswelcomedanimmigrant population.Thiscontinuestodayaswehavemanycountries representedinourstudentpopulation Thefacesandthecountries mayhavechangedovertime,butthedesireforastrongmoral foundationrootedintheCatholictraditionhasnot.Hence,AllSaints continuestoprovidethenecessarycomponentsofwhatfamilieswant most:tocreateabetterfuturefortheirchildren.

IfirmlybelievethebestyearsforAllSaintsareyettocomeas wordcontinuestospreadofthegreatthingshappeninghere Wecan onlycontinuethesegoodworkswiththesupportofourcommunity bothlocalandwide. Everydollarallowsustocontinuethelegacyof CatholicEducationintheFairHavencommunity.Pleaseconsider supportingAllSaintsCatholicAcademyasyourinvestmenttoday allowsustoformtheleadersanddifferencemakersoftomorrow

OurLegacyBrunchhasshownthatthereisgreat“PrideinOur Past”andthesuccessofourstrategicplanningprocessdemonstrates thatthereisincredible“PromiseForOurFuture”Eachoftheseevents broughtoldandnewfriendstogethertodaretodreamgreatthings forourschoolcommunity.Iaskyoursupportinallowingthesedreams tobecomearealityforAllSaintsCatholicAcademy

AsweprepareforthebirthofEmmanuel,Godwithus,know thatyouandyourlovedonesholdaspecialplaceinmyprayers.Iwish youandyourfamiliesaMerryChristmasandaBlessedNewYear BlessingsandPeace,

Why do families choose ASCA?

Academics

Rigorous curriculum

Small class sizes

Experienced & dedicated faculty

Safe, nurturing environment

One-to-one technology

Spanish, Music, Art, Gym

Catapult Intervention Program

Afterschool enrichment programs

Faith & Community

God-centered environment

Daily prayer and religion class

Catholic faith formation

Monthly all-school Mass

Welcoming and diverse

Service is lived and taught

Teaching of Christian values

Religious sisters on staff

Family activities

It’s

official - ASCA It’s official - ASCA is fully accredited! is fully accredited!

Bythe

Bythe Numbers Numbers

All Saints Catholic Academy received the official Certificate of Accreditation from the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) in February, 2023. Thank you to the entire school community for helping us to achieve this!

Family Support

Generous financial assistance

Affordable before and after school care (7am-6pm)

Free bus service for New Haven residents

Weekly family newsletter

Spanish translation of all family communication

> 23-24 Enrollment: 152 students

> Catholic students: 72%

> New Haven residents: 88%

> Receive financial aid: 92%

> Annual tuition cost (23-24): $4,500 ($1,275-$4,315 lower than Catholic elementary schools in neighboring towns)

I am happy to serve in this capacity because I am committed to the Church’s role in educating children in New Haven. I not only believe in the mission but also firmly believe that the model we have developed is financially sustainable. As a result of the combination of a dedicated and capable Administration, Faculty, Board and families, the school is flourishing and the Catholic mission of educating children to know, love and serve God continues on as it has for the last 170 years!

Fr. Christopher Ford, Chairman of the Board of Directors, was Pastor of Our Lady of Assumption Parish in Woodbridge when ASCA was established, and is now Chancellor of the Archdiocese and Pastor of St. Peter Claver Parish in West Hartford.

Mission statement: Rooted in the Catholic tradition, All Saints Catholic Academy empowers K-8 students to become lifelong learners through a rigorous academic program that promotes communication and collaboration. With prayer and service at the center of who we are, students are prepared to live and thrive in our global community as future leaders and difference makers.

Legacy Brunch, cont‘d from pg. 1 ...now celebrated their common ground. Indeed, each of the schools had its own unique history and traditions, but the shared experience of being educated in a Catholic school has proven to be an incredibly strong bond. Also present at the brunch were religious sisters from 7 of the 13 communities that had served at the legacy schools throughout the decades. As a parting gift, each attendee received a copy of the special keepsake booklet created especially for the event.

This wonderful event was made possible by the generous sponsorship of 58 businesses and individuals (please see the listing on our website) Though fundraising was not the main goal of the event, the net amount raised through sponsorships and gifts was $62,443 In addition, we are deeply grateful to Saint Stanislaus Parish for its

We are hoping to organize a few regional gatherings of legacy alumni in spring/ summer of 2024! If you would be interested in receiving more information, or to volunteer to help, please send an email to legacy@asca.eduk12.net or call 203-747-8863.

its major gift of $500,000 in honor of the Vincentian Fathers who served at Saint Stanislaus from 1904 to 2022. The Legacy Brunch was dedicated to all the deceased faculty, staff, religious, and administrators of the legacy schools - especially in memory of Fr. John Lavorgna, alumnus of St. Francis School and supportive Board member of All Saints Catholic Academy. May they and all the faithful departed rest in peace. You can read more at www.AllSaintsNewHaven.org/legacy

Strategic Planning, continued from pg. 1

The Partners in Mission model views the life of a school through a framework of 8 domains essential for school success: Academics, Advancement, Catholic Identity, Enrollment & Marketing, Facilities, Finances, Governance & Administration, and Student Life. A completed strategic plan sets priorities for each of these areas but only after taking an honest and thorough look at where the school stands through the engagement and involvement stages

Various methods were used to bring as many voices as possible to the table, including online surveys, roundtable discussions, and interviews Domain chairpersons, assisted by staff liaisons, compiled all these findings into a summary report which became the springboard for identifying key issues and opportunities and setting vision statements in advance of the Retreat Days of November 3-4.

At the evening session of Friday, November 3, the cafeteria buzzed with the excitement of greeting familiar faces and making new connections. Saturday began early with a prayer invoking the patron saints of the legacy schools. From this prayerful experience, Partners in Mission led our 60+ key stakeholders through the process of the day’s work. We branched out into domain groups which met in classrooms to brainstorm, discuss, and draft goals and objectives. Each domain group then paired up with another to offer feedback and fine-tune their work. We broke to enjoy lunch together and then had another pair and share session before gathering once again in the cafeteria to report back to the large group So many wonderful ideas were shared, and there was a palpable sense of accomplishment after such a collaborative and inspiring experience

None of this would have been possible without the generous people who gave up their Friday and Saturday to participate. The group included faculty, staff, Board members, parents and students from All Saints as well as donors, legacy alum, and outside community members. We had present one former and two current Superintendents, teachers and faculty from neighboring educational institutions, Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and professionals from various fields and backgrounds. The days were filled with an amazing energy and hope as we came together with one common vision: to chart the course for All Saints for the next five years! We extend our sincere gratitude to everyone who has been involved and we look forward to sharing and implementing the plan in the near future.

Top: Parents and Board members smile together after roundtable discussions on March 2023 Middle: ASCA Faculty and staff meet with domain chairs to share their perspectives. Bottom: The Enrollment & Marketing domain group at the Retreat Day on Saturday, November 4 takes a moment for a photo between conversation

W*Because this is the first time we are publishing a listing of donors, the dates reflect all contributions made during the first three and a half years of our operation as All Saints Catholic Academy.

Every effort has been made to ensure proper acknowledgment. Please contact Sr. Cathy Phillips at 203-747-8863 if you discover an error or omission.

for gifts made between July 1, 2020 July 1, 2020 indicates deceased

Left: A Kindergarten student on “Dress like a teacher” day of Spirit Week proudly shows off his calendar skills. Right: After our monthly all-school Mass, the students who were nominated by their teachers for demonstrating the virtue of the month receive a Student of the Month certificate. Each month we highlight a different virtue. Students are standing with Sr. Diane, Principal, and Fr Hector, priest of Blessed Michael McGivney Parish in New Haven and administrator of St Francis and St Anthony Churches

Left: Learning the value of service to others is part of our mission statement. During the month of “Socktober,” students collect socks for the homeless Center: Students sing hymns and carols at the school Christmas concert in St Francis Church Hall

Right: A graduating 8th grader and his parents enjoy the breakfast reception for families after the Graduation Mass.

The Legacy of Catholic Elementary Education in New Haven:

Wanttoseethislarger? Findthismapandmore onourwebsiteat: www.allsaintsnewhaven.org/legacy

In chronological order by founding year:

1. St. Patrick School/Hamilton Street School (1853-1968)

2. St. John the Evangelist (1864-1969)

3. St. Francis (1881-2009*)

4. St. Boniface (1893-1971)

5. Sacred Heart (1895-1995*)

6. St. Louis (1898-1962)

Moved to West Haven in 1962

7. St. Mary (1904-1986)

8. St. Peter (1911-1995)

9. St. Rose of Lima (1916-2009*)

10. St. Stanislaus (1923-1993*)

11. St. Anthony (1936-1971)

12. St. Michael (1936-1993*)

13. St. John the Baptist (1937-1973)

14. St. Aedan (1950-2008*)

15. St. Martin de Porres (1955-1988)

16. St. Brendan (1956-2008*)

17. St. Bernadette (1957-2020)

*Combined Schools:

St Michael-St Stanislaus (1993-1995)

Sacred Heart-St Peter (1995-2007)

St Aedan and St Brendan (2008-2020)

St Francis & St Rose (2009-2020)

Memorial/Honorary Gifts

Many of the donors listed made their gifts in memory or in honor of someone Due to space, we could not list all of those names, but they are recorded and held in esteem.

We would also like to acknowledge the following deceased individuals who directed memorial gifts to All Saints Catholic Academy:

Susan Blakeslee

Eileen Callahan Durkin

Cheryl Coppa

Richard Dolan

Charles J. Doyle

Daniel Kirby

Fr John Lavorgna

Jean R Lyons

Mary H. O'Doy

Dr. Robert J. Schreck

Kathleen Twohill Franco

Pasquale Young

May they rest in peace and may their families and loved ones be blessed.

PlannedGiving PlannedGiving

Making a gift through your will or trust is a simple yet lasting way to make a difference in the lives of countless students. Because your gift is a charitable contribution that qualifies for tax benefits, planned giving can benefit you and future students at the same time. Types of planned giving include: wills or living trusts, securities, IRAs or 401(k)s, life insurance policies, and real estate or personal property. All Saints Catholic Academy can be added simply to your will with one or two sentences expressing your wishes. Sample language: I give and devise to All Saints Catholic Academy, Tax ID # 85-2020653, [the sum of $ ] OR [ % of my estate] to be used for its general support. For more information about planned giving and to talk about how you can make a lasting impact for generations to come, please contact Sr. Cathy Phillips, ASCJ, at srcathy@asca.eduk12.net or 203-777-5352.

Afterschool Enrichment Programs

Our first academic year began in the middle of the pandemic when the focus of schooling everywhere was making sure that students were still learning. Staying on top of ever-changing guidelines and ensuring to the best of our ability that everyone stayed safe and healthy was of paramount importance. Teaching and learning during covid was difficult for everyone involved but we stayed the course. We maintained inperson instruction throughout the pandemic while also providing remote learning to students as needed.

Since our opening in 2020, the afterschool Kidcare program has been available daily from dismissal at 2:15pm until 6pm. Having a safe place for their children to stay after school and be cared for is a priority for many of our families due to work schedules and the difficulty and expense of finding childcare. As we ’ ve continued to expand in this post-covid reality, Sr. Diane saw the need to work to close the enrichment gap for our students by providing parents with purpose-based programs they can afford. In fall of 2022, she appointed Audrey Whitfield, the 6th grade homeroom and middle school teacher, to be Director of Afterschool Enrichment Programs.

The enrichment programs have taken off with great excitement! Program groups meet weekly after school. The topics vary widely from crafts to coding to Chinese, and every trimester new topics are introduced for each age group (see below for what’s being offered now). Students sign up for the programs of their choosing which are typically 45 minutes long and take place between 2:15 and 5:00pm. Currently, each program only costs $10 per trimester and the adult running the program can either volunteer their services or receive a modest stipend. This system allows us to offer programs to every family who wants to participate.

Between applying for funding and working out schedules, supplies, and staffing, Miss Audrey has worked tirelessly to get the Enrichment Programs off the ground. She is dedicated to growing and expanding the programs for the benefit of students, their families, and the wider community. Many other teachers have jumped right in and are working hard to provide excellent programs for our students. Since the launch of Afterschool Enrichment Programs, student participation has grown substantially. In the fall of 2022, 33% of students at ASCA were participating in at least one enrichment program. In the spring of 2023, that percentage increased to 48%. We hope to see the same growth this year.

Indeed, the effects of covid on school aged children have been far-reaching. Young people are still recovering from significant learning gaps as well as playing social and emotional catch-up. Afterschool Enrichment Programs at ASCA are designed to be enjoyable while also engaging students in project-based learning and collaborative opportunities that will prepare them with skills for life – one more way that we are aiming to reach our students and families beyond the classroom.

Top: Keva plank challenges require creativity, communication and persistence. Middle: Students in the Stem Challenges program work at constructing different types of bridges. Bottom: Miss Audrey Whitfield, 6th grade homeroom and middle school teacher, and Director of Afterschool Enrichment Programs

The list of enrichment programs offered in 2023 included:

Stem Challenges

School Newspaper

Fuse Beads

Keva Plank Challenges Sensory Play Coding and Robotics

MakeaGift MakeaGift

Your gift will help to: provide tuition assistance to families in need expand programs and opportunities for students improve and enhance the school facilities and more!

We’ve come a long way, but we need your help to keep going!