MSJ AUGUST 2014 NEWSLETTER

MSJ '14 Graduates were awarded 2.2MM in college scholarships which averages to $142,280 per student! Saint Michael's College offers MSJ graduates enrolling at the College an automatic $20,000 scholarship ($5,000 per year).

News

Preparing for the Back-to-School Transition

In a few weeks school will be back in session! Starting a new school year can be an exciting and stressful time. A great way to avoid the stress is to ease your teen back into the routine by properly preparing ahead of time with these tips:

Get them to bed on time by setting a solid routine a week before the first day of school.

Implement a meal planning strategy by setting aside one or two hours over the weekend to prep healthy meals for the week.

Prepare a study area by creating a special homework area at home free of distractions.

Here are additional resources for parents that will make the transition for the upcoming

school year a smooth one.

2013-14 Annual Fund Raises Over $200,000!!

We wish to thank to all who contributed to the 2013-2014 Annual Fund, it was a very successful year. Over $200,000 in donations went go directly to providing the opportunity for our students to have an MSJ education. In addition, the MSJ Development Office raised over $25,000 through it's several events. Without our loyal donors, and this year with many new donors, we would not be able to provide this education without raising our tuition considerably. You make all the difference! Thank you from the bottom of our hearts!

MSJ Summer Open House & Cookout

Prospective Families Invited to Join the MSJ Community for Fourth Annual Event

On Tuesday August 19th, from 6 - 8 pm, Mount Saint Joseph Academy will hold a cookout for all interested students and families at historic Saint Peter's Field, located on River Street in Rutland. Hamburgers, hot dogs, and salads will be served. (Rain date 8/20/14)

MSJ Principal Sarah Fortier, faculty members, coaches, and current families will be on hand to answer any questions you may have, socialize and celebrate summer! If you are a family with a student who will be in 6th grade or above next year, please consider attending. The event will give you the opportunity to see first-hand the community atmosphere that characterizes MSJ. No RSVP is required, but you may call the school at (802) 775-0151 for more details.

Honor Our Past is October 2, 2014!

The Sixth Annual Honor Our Past event, to benefit Rutland Catholic Schools, will be held on October 2, 2014 at the Holiday Inn! This has turned into a great community event drawing hundreds of people to honor alumni, faculty, and volunteers, and to catch up with old friends! This year's event will honor:

Jennifer Bagley, MSJ's longtime Drama Director and English teacher who made the MSJ Drama program one of Vermont's best
Fletcher Wilson, M.D., MSJ '86, a physician who has been recognized for his international humanitarian efforts
The MSJ Athletic Association, a group of dedicated volunteers who work tirelessly to provide our students with the highest quality athletic opportunities and facilities.

Cocktails will be served at 6 PM, followed by a buffet dinner at 7 PM. Tickets are $75 per person. Contact MSJ at 802 775-0151 ext. 112 or Kathy Bove at kbove@msjvermont.org for tickets or for more information. We hope to see you there!

Charles C. Stevens is Named New MSJ Guidance Director

Mr. "Chip" Stevens brings with him impressive multi faceted experience and great enthusiasm to the position.
Mr. Stevens' background includes a BA from Hobart College, English/History; M. Ed in Administration and Planning and Social Policy from the Harvard Graduate School of Education as well as a twenty-five-plus year career in education. His vast experience includes high school and college administrative work, teaching middle/secondary levels, as well as coaching alpine skiing. Additional interests include theater in the areas of both acting and technical support as well as music and musical performance.

Mr. Stevens was the Guidance Director at MSJ from 2003 - 2008 and states, "I am really excited to begin my next chapter at MSJ working with old and new friends and colleagues and also to meet current MSJ students and families."

He has spent the last four years at Okemo Mountain School as a college placement counselor and English teacher. Mr. Stevens' personal life includes time with his family, wife Kelley and two step-children, Cameron and Aislinn; he can also be found with the Pico Ski Club as a long-time development-level alpine coach.

The MSJ Community is looking forward to an exciting year under the direction of Principal Sarah Fortier along with Mr. Charles Stevens as the new Guidance Director. They both invite interested students and parents to get in touch with them by calling (802) 775-0151.

STUDENT NEWS

MSJ Baseball Players named MVL All League All-Stars!

MSJ Athletes were among those named as All League All-Stars for the Spring 2014 Baseball season. Named to the Marble Valley League "D" Division All League First Team were Shane Protivansky, Jonah Farrow, and Zak Lanzillo. Josh Wasilewski was named as an Honorable Mention.

Returning International and Diversity Students

Robert Tian will be returning to MSJ, from China, for his third and final year. Robert (Rob-Dog) has made many friends here, has enjoyed Vermont, and considers it his second home. Robert is looking forward to applying to colleges and snowboarding again this year.

Dante Smith, also a senior this year, is returning to MSJ from New York, for his second year at MSJ. Dante is also looking forward to the college application and decision making process this year. He will be returning to school early this year to begin training with the MSJ Football team.

Lorie Dorce is returning to MSJ, from Haiti for her second year. She will be a junior this year, and will be a big help to our new student from Haiti, who will be a senior. Lorie, a High Honors student in her sophomore year, looks forward to continuing to excel academically at MSJ, as well as continuing to compete with the Soccer and Softball teams.

Darius Brown Jr. is returning to MSJ for his second year, from New York City. Darrius will be a sophomore this year, and is looking forward to taking Drivers Education classes and competing with MSJ's Track and Basketball teams.

Host Families Needed!
MSJ needs families to host students from Haiti, China and New York City! Stipend is included. Contact Carrie Savage at csavage@msjvermont.org

ALUMNI AND FRIENDS

Hart Continues Mountie Tradition of Civic Involvement

Brian Hart ('99), who had a great academic career at MSJ,serves as an Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner in Washington, DC and has announced that he is a candidate for Washington DC Council At-Large. Brian has a degree in Economics and English from Amherst College, and is also a graduate of Georgetown Law. He is currently a practicing attorney with Paul, Weiss LLP. Hart has said of his MSJ experience: "I think, unlike any other place, MSJ provides students with exceptional opportunity. My senior year I got the chance to be part of three state championships in sports, and act in a play at the Vermont drama festival. Most would probably agree that not many other schools have the ability, and willingness, to offer that range of opportunities to their students."

MSJ Yearbooks are Online!!

MSJ Yearbooks are online through the Rutland Historical Society Website from 1939 through 2014! Find them under "Yearbook Archive" section on the MSJ website, www.msjvermont.org, or here.

Do you have alumni and friends news? Awards, births, graduations? We want to know! Please send it to development@msjvermont.org.

Class Reunions

2014-2015 Reunions!

Let MSJ assist in your reunion planning! Opportunities to tour the school are available and we can provide you with alumni contact information to help get the word out! Contact Kathy Bove: kbove@msjvermont.org.

Class of 1959 - 55th Class Reunion!

September 5th & 6th at the American Legion in Rutland at 7:00pm, and Saturday night at the Palms at 7:00 pm. $45.00 includes both nights. Please call Tom Navin at (802) 773-7670 or email him at MSJClassof1959@aol.com or call Paul Courcelle (802) 773-7134, or Pat Ryan Berlickij at(802) 468-5842.

Class of 1974 - 40th Class Reunion!

September 12 at Wally Sabotka's new Southside Steakhouse (former location of South Station) starting around 6:30 pm to whenever. Cash bar. This is an informal gathering in the lounge/bar area. No food is planned. Just cocktails and stories of past, present and future!

September 13, 2014. Golf is planned for those who are interested. Please contact Vic Shappy for further information about tee times and costs (vshappy@VMSGC.com) no later than Monday, September 8th.

The REUNION will take place at the Rutland Country Club in the banquet room starting with cocktails and hors d'oeuvres at 6PM with a fabulous buffet dinner following at 7:30 PM. Cost is $35.00 per person, and RSVP and payment is to Vic Shappy. Contact him at vshappy@VMSGC.com to find out the RSVP info he needs.

The Class of 1984 - 30th Class Reunion!

Friday Night, September 12

Happy Hour 5:00 - Submuloc Lounge in the K of C building, Floor 2

Bowling 7:00 - Bring the family! Post Bowling 9:00 - Carolyn (Heald) Babbitt is hosting at her house, 12 Laverne Drive, Rutland. BYOB

Saturday Night, September 13

Knights of Columbus Hall 7:00 Hors D' Oeuvres and cash bar. The cost is $20. Please send checks to Carolyn Babbitt, 12 Laverne Drive, Rutland

Please RSVP to all by August 23 to galaxygraphicsvt@myfairpoint.net or call Katrina at 802.779.8026

Class of 1994 - 20th Class Reunion!

August 15th-17th at the Edgewater Resort on Lake Bomoseen. Friday night there will be a mixer at the Fishtail Tavern; there will be no cover charge. On Saturday at 4 p.m., Father Luke Austin will perform Mass. On Saturday evening, the reunion will occur lakeside, beginning with cocktail hour at 6 p.m., followed by dinner and dancing. There will also be an optional brunch on Sunday for $12.00 per person (tax included). You will have the option of paying for the Saturday night event by mail or online. All other events will be a-la-carte. Reservations to stay at the Edgewater should be made directly with the hotel as soon as possible. For more information, please contact Justin Cannella (justin.cannella@pnc.com); Deana Tommola (dtommola@gmail.com); Chris Ryan (kriskul@gmail.com), or Tom Valente (valentetom@hotmail.com). More details and tickets for Saturday night are available at: http://www.rhsmsj94.com/.

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If you are interested in checking out our previous newsletters, you can find them here.
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