Photo courtesy of Father Andrew White School
Archdiocese of Washington
Kristen Haley, a middle school science teacher at Father Andrew White, S.J., School in Leonardtown, MD, received a surprise visit in March from WUSA 9 meteorologist Topper Shutt and Andre Francis, director of strategic communications at Washington Gas. The two presented Ms. Haley with a $5,000 Eco Challenge Grant to fund an environmental science project to restore local aquatic vegetation.
The grant is part of a collaboration between WUSA 9 and Washington Gas, supporting local student-led initiatives that promote environmental stewardship and education. Ms. Haley, who holds a degree in environmental science and a master’s in education, will use the funds to develop a submerged aquatic vegetation project with her students. This next phase of the project involves growing native underwater grasses in a classroom environment before transplanting them into Breton Bay, a nearby tributary of the Potomac River.
The project began with a fish tank, which Haley inherited from the school’s former media specialist. She turned the tank into a hands-on learning tool where students contribute to the ecosystem by bringing in oysters, mussels, mud crabs and even a blue crab, which lived in the tank for several months.
Diocese of Green Bay
In February, the Golden Apple Award was presented to Mrs. Shawna Fischer, a dedicated fourth grade teacher at Holy Family Catholic School.
Accompanied by Green Bay Area Catholic Education (GRACE) President Kim Desotell and principal Sarah Sharkey, representatives from the Greater Green Bay Chamber, WLUK-TV FOX 11 and the Green Bay Press Times joined in the presentation. The Golden Apple Award recognizes excellence in teaching and is a testament to Mrs. Fischer’s unwavering dedication to her students, colleagues and her passion for Catholic education.
Archdiocese of Detroit
Notre Dame Prep (NDP) can boast 10 student-artists who earned a total of 19 awards in this year’s Scholastic Art & Writing Awards competition for the Southeastern Michigan region, handed out annually by the New York City-based Alliance for Young Artists & Writers.
According to NDP upper school art teacher Talan Wall, his students earned six Gold Key awards, the highest honor of the regional competition, eight Silver Keys and five Honorable Mention awards out of the more than 4,500 entries from southeast Michigan and the Thumb.
A noteworthy roster of past winners includes Tschabalala Self, Kay WalkingStick, Andy Warhol, Sylvia Plath, Truman Capote, Richard Avedon, Robert Redford, Joyce Carol Oates, Stephen King and John Updike.
To read more about NDP, the competition and to see the students’ impressive artwork, go to https://www.ndprep.org/scholastic-art-awards.
Photos courtesy of Pinecrest Academy
Archdiocese of Atlanta
In May, Catholic schools around the country had eyes on Rome and the papal conclave. The students from Pinecrest Academy in Forsyth, GA, learned all about electing a new pope. Students walked through the steps, including a papal blessing and a ride in the popemobile (a golf cart driven by the head of school, Mr. Rodgers).
Following what the real cardinals do before the conclave—discussing the needs and the challenges facing the Catholic Church—second graders brainstormed about the needs in the second grade, lower school, all of Pinecrest Academy, the world and the Church.
While in the conclave in the Lower School (a.k.a. Sistine) Chapel, Miss Sarah Gagnier, PreK3-8 campus minister, read the cardinals’ needs and requests, then everyone prayed a rosary for the cardinals to be inspired by the Holy Spirit to elect the right person as pope.
As members of the conclave were in prayer, Fr. Matthew Kaderabek, PreK3-8 priest, collected the votes and stepped outside to burn them. Second grade cardinals emerged from the chapel and everyone waited for white smoke to emerge.
As the white smoke appeared, Fr. Matthew declared, “Habemus papam! We have a pope!” He announced “Pope David,” second grader, David Levergood, as the new leader of the Catholic Church, who quickly vested and made his first appearance to the crowds, immediately blessing his flock.
Pope David was driven back to the lower school, where visitors had requested an audience with him. He was interviewed and returned to his classroom, as his public papal duties were completed for the day.
In celebration of the election of a new pope, all students received “Lolli-Popes” as a treat.
Members of the winning team from Columbus Bishop Hartley High School hold the Battle of the Books championship trophy.
Photo courtesy of the Office of Catholic Schools, Diocese of Columbus
Diocese of Columbus
The first Diocese of Columbus Battle of the Books for high schools took place at Newark Catholic High School, where high school students from St. Charles Preparatory School, Cristo Rey Columbus, Bishop Hartley, Fisher Catholic, Newark Catholic and St. Francis DeSales were the well-read participants. Bishop Hartley took home the first-place trophy and St. Charles finished a close second.
Battle of the Books is a national organization that holds a local competition. This year, the diocese separated from the national Battle, offering local Catholic high school students a reading list of quality literature that aligns with Catholic values and faith.
The list of 21 books ranged from fiction to fantasy and non-fiction to poetry, including the works of C.S. Lewis, Mary Shelley, J.R.R. Tolkien, William Shakespeare, Charles Dickens and others.
Photo courtesy of St. Francis High School
Diocese of Monterey
Saint Francis High School is one of five schools in California recognized as a 2025 California Green Ribbon School (CA-GRS) Green Achiever (www.cde.ca.gov). This top-tier designation celebrates the school’s outstanding efforts in minimizing environmental impact, promoting health and wellness and delivering impactful environmental education.
The award acknowledges individual schools and school districts for their environmental excellence and commitment to fostering a culture of sustainability. Saint Francis earned this recognition by implementing a wide range of initiatives and improvements, all grounded in efficient planning to meet the school’s long-term goals.
Read more about Saint Francis’ dedication to the environment at: https://www.sfhs.com/about-us/press.
