No matter the size, your gift enables the Mount to:

 

- Offer scholarships and financial aid

 

- Provide state-of-the-art technology in classrooms

 

- Maintain the school 

grounds and facilities

 

 

CLICK HERE TO MAKE A RECURRING DONATION

 

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2014 :

Harvard Club: Thursday November 13

Turkey Bowl: Thursday November 27

Career Day:

Friday December 5

  

 

Br. John Bantz '56 far right, pictured with good friends: Pat Hennessey '61, Kenny Gamble '58 and Paul Veteri '59

We would like to remember Bro. John Bantz '56: Marist Brother, Teacher, Administrator and most of all, Friend.  On the morning of Saturday, September 6, 2014, Bro. John, after a brave struggle with cancer, was called home to his eternal rest.

Those of us who were lucky enough to have known and worked with Bro. John had the full experience of his unique humanity. What comes to mind when thinking of Bro. John was that he was a man's man: strength, kindness and a love of all things Mount. 

 

As an Educator, Principal, President and Director of Development, Bro. John Bantz did it all, and he did it his way. Bro. John was also an avid supporter of all Mount sports teams, Mount's extracurricular activities and the many alumni events the Mount has had throughout the years.

As president and as director of development, Bro. John saw the Mount through many challenging economic turns. Through his attention to detail, his charming personality and razor wit, he was able to rally alumni, friends, and the community to support and further the Marist mission at Mount St. Michael Academy.

Our principal, Bro. Steven Schlitte, FMS, challenges our students to better themselves individually through the values of Respect, Integrity, Perseverance, Professional Behavior and Accountability, using the acronym RIPPA. No one at the Mount exemplified those values more than Bro. John Bantz.

Ad Astra Per Aspera 

 

 

  

Mount St. Michael Academy announced today that senior Raishawn Pitt, junior Adrian Fernandez and sophomore Imanol Fernandez have been selected as the first recipients of the Rocco B. Commisso American Dream Scholarship. 

 

L to R: Dr. Antony Miserandino, Julie Androshick Boyle, Rashawn Pitt '15, Imanol Fernandez '17, Rocco B. Commisso '67, Adrian Fernandez '16 and Bro. Steve Schlitte FMS.

The American Dream Scholarship Fund was created through a generous donation from Rocco B. Commisso, a 1967 graduate of "the Mount." Beginning with this year's winners, American Dream Scholarships will be awarded annually to outstanding Mount students entering their sophomore, junior and senior class years who have achieved academic and/or athletic success while displaying leadership and entrepreneurial qualities. The scholarships are designed to reduce the fiscal barriers for young men seeking an exceptional Catholic college preparatory education
and to build a diversified cadre of successful future leaders.

The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Mediacom Communications Corporation, Commisso is one of the most successful Italian immigrant entrepreneurs in our nation's history. Commisso visited the Mount yesterday to present Raishawn, Adrian and Imanol with their scholarships, and to speak to the student body about how growing
up in the Bronx and attending the Mount helped shape his own life's journey. 

 

 The central theme of Commisso's message to the students was the importance of hard-work. "I worked 40 hours a week while attending the Mount, and I haven't stopped working since," he said. "I have
proudly lived the American Dream and I want to help other hard-working Mount students achieve their own American Dream," he concluded.
 

Rocco poses with members of the Mount Soccer team as well as with other students who helped at the event

 

Commisso noted that the three inaugural American Dream Scholarship winners were all children of immigrant parents who overcome daily adversities to find success at the Mount. Commisso described Raishawn, Adrian  and Imanol as "exemplary role models for the other Mounties to follow, and worthy to be called American Dream Scholars."

 

 

Buzz Zaino '61 with current students in the Mount Sports Medicine Academy program. L to R: Kai Cash '15, Driton Thaqi '15, Woodley Jean -Louis '15, Raul Vazquez '15 and  Matthew Barrett '15

 

  A BIG  Mount welcomes to our new Communications Director, Lisa Bennett!!!

 

Lisa, who is part of our recruitment team, has spearheaded the Mount's online presence, strengthening our social media outreach considerably. 

 

Lisa lives on Furman Ave., just a few blocks from the Mount, and comes to the Mount from St. Jean Baptiste, an all girls school.

 Says Lisa, " it is a big transition going from an all girls school to an all boys school. There is a lot of spur of the moment activity for boys. Girls plan more! And the Mount has a lot more sports!"

 

How was the Open House? Says Lisa, "We made recruitment efforts earlier than in the past. Combined with ads on television (Bronx News 12), banner advertisements on local buses and a saturation of social media, we had an incredibly full open house." Over 700 visitors attended the Mount's  Open House on Sunday, October 4. 

 

Excited by the Mount's potential, Lisa says, "Publicity is key to getting the Mount's brand out there, as well as sharing information with parents and being as transparent as possible. " Lisa has special insight into what parents want: she and her husband have a daughter in the fifth grade at St. Barnabas!

 

Students are talking....about John Bocchichio! 

 

 

 

Mr. Bocchichio hails from Suffern, NY, is an aspiring philosopher and dedicated teacher. After high school, Mr. Bocchichio spent five years in the Marines, leaving as a Corporal. There he had the responsibility of flying with and servicing KC-130 turboprop aircrafts as an Aircrew Mechanic. After leaving the Marines, he went to SUNY at New Paltz, where he majored in English Literature and Philosophy.

Asked why he became a teacher, Bocchichio says, "I always wanted to teach because I liked learning and sharing knowledge."  Ask many of his students and they will agree that Mr. Bocchichio loves engaging in thought provoking conversations on any topic. His teaching subjects include English and American Literature, wherein he explores the thinkers of the Enlightenment, Romantic Period, Modernity and Post-Modern writers, such as George R.R. Martin, author of novel series A Game of Thrones, which was the inspiration for HBO's hit series Game of Thrones.

 

The Mount represents people from all walks of life, an aspect of the Mount with which Mr. Bocchichio relates well. He says, Mount students "remind me a lot of myself when I was younger. I grew up in a diverse, low socioeconomic neighborhood, and was in a single parent family. I was communally raised. So I relate on many levels with many of my students' hardships. My end game with students is to help foster the next generation of socially and environmentally conscious human beings." 

 

Mr. Bocchichio also moderates the Comic Book Club, the Debate Club and EnvironMount, the environmental society of the Mount. 

Living A Dream: Mount St. Michael vs. Cardinal Spellman at Rocco B. Commisso Soccer Stadium, Columbia University

 

  

Rain had threatened to put a damper on a matchup between two perennial soccer powers clashing for playoff position in the CHSAA Soccer League. This was no ordinary big game. This game took on special significance because of where it was played and why both Mount St. Michael and Cardinal Spellman were excited to play at a neutral site in the Inwood section of NYC. Thankfully, the sun broke through the clouds in what became a beautiful and  fall evening of fun and soccer competition.

 

 

 

Rocco talks soccer with the Mount team before the game

 

His academic and soccer skills opened doors at many local colleges and Rocco walked out the door of Mount St. Michael and through the door of Columbia University. Rocco starred in the classroom and on the field soccer, earning all ivy soccer honors and more importantly a spot and Columbia Business School.

 

The Mount and Rocco felt it important to impart values of athletic competition can bring such as effort, team work, honesty, and sportsmanship by allowing the boys from both Mount and Spellman to play at a stadium named in his honor. It is importance to give back by not forgetting where you came from.  Rocco met with and greeted both teams and all those in attendance. The crowd was large and lively! The venue had brought back memories of past Mount vs. Hayes Thanksgiving football games played on the Bakers Field complex in years gone by. Keep Reading

The parent of a Mount soccer player offers encouragement from the stands

The game was well played and  hard fought. The Mount opened the second half by scoring quickly and cutting the Spellman lead to 3-2. Spellman responded with a strong burst of goals that put Mount on its heels and kept the pressure on and winning the game 9-2.  Score that belied how fiercely contested the game was played. After the game Rocco spoke with spoke with both teams and told them how proud he was of all their efforts and play. How it was important they learn and improve from the experience they had on this evening.

Mount students, parents, faculty and alum came out to show enthusiastic support for the Mount! Thank you to all!!!

Years from now the memory of the final score will fade, but the excitement of playing under the lights at  a college stadium, and the life lessons learned through competition and one man's example will last a life time.

 

Click here to watch the entire replay on MSGVarsity. 

 

 

Mount  Alum Share A Culinary Delight! Abbondanza !

  

 

Peter Corritori '71, his wife Lynn and friends were pampered by well known New Rochelle chef Giorgio Giacinto '95 when Giorgio prepared a traditional and mouth watering "colazione Italia" or Italian Brunch at the home of Noella and John Farrauto '57.

 

Giorgio, the chef  owner of Da Giorgio's,  has gotten great reviews by the New York Times, Zagat's and other press. Says Zagat's: "Like Arthur Avenue" in New Rochelle, this "intimate" Italian delivers "consistently delicious", "modern" plates supplemented by a "diversified choice of specials" and a "high standard" wine list that's relatively "reasonably priced" for its quality; "knowledgeable" chef-owner Giorgio Giacinto, who "pays attention to every guest..."
 

 

Giorgio donated his culinary skills to prepare a feast for 10 at the home of the Farrautos' as an auction item at the Mount's Annual Golf Outing in June of 2014.  The lucky bidders were the  Corritoris, with a brunch fit for kings!

 

  

With the election season upon us and important decisions to be made, we would like to present Mount St. Michael Academy's own political pundit, Basil Smikle Jr. '89 to talk about current political events and take some questions and answers. The event is Thursday November 13, from 7 pm to 9 pm. Click here to register.

 

Basil Smikle Jr. is a political and policy analyst whose commentary is featured on local and national media outlets. In addition to managing his eponymous consulting firm, Basil is a Ph.D. candidate at Teachers College, Columbia University concentrating in Education and Politics where he has received multiple fellowships for his work connecting scholarly research to those most impacted by its implications. He holds appointments as an adjunct professor at Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs and City University of New York's Murphy Institute for Professional Studies.

 

Recognized as a staunch advocate for public service and education equity, he is quickly becoming part of the next generation of thinkers and policy advocates. In 2010, Basil was featured in the L.A. Times as "Harlem's New Political Elite". In his mid-30s, City Hall Magazine named him one of 50 rising stars in New York Politics. Newark Mayor Cory Booker called him a "much sought-after consultant". Rev. Al Sharpton noted that Basil is an "impressive" speaker.

 

During a brief run for New York State Senate, Basil's campaign gained national attention for his reforms in education and government. An early profile in the Wall Street Journal led to a feature in a New York Magazine cover story on the next generation of African American leaders. The New York Daily News endorsed Basil, calling him a "fresh thinking...school reformer". The New York Post "enthusiastically" endorsed saying "New York needs such vibrant leadership". Keep Reading

 

 

 

Mr. A. Joseph Foa '42: My father, A. Joseph Foa, graduated Mount St. Michael's with the class of 1942.  He was born December 30, 1925 and passed away January 13, 2013.  I have a composition notebook belonging to my father with poems that he wrote while he was a senior in 1942.  One of the poems was written about the school that he entitled "The Campus." Click here to read.

 

Mr. James J. McKenna '49 : James J. McKenna, 82, a long-time resident of Rockland County, most recently of Thiells, passed away on Sunday, May 25, 2014, at Good Samaritan Hospital with his loving family by his side. James "Jim" was born on September 6, 1931, to Patrick and Agnes (McElroy) McKenna. Jim was raised in the Bronx and was a proud graduate of Our Lady of Mercy School and Mount Saint Michael High School, where he played varsity football. 

 

He also attended Fordham University. He and Sheila O'Reilly were married in 1958 in the Bronx, and together they raised four daughters.  Jim served in the Marine Corps in 1952 & 1953 during the Korean War. In 1954 he became a member of the NYPD, which he served for over 30 years, retiring as an Inspector. He was very proud of his distinguished service in the NYPD, especially as Commanding Officer of the 47th, 46th, 75th, and 44th Precincts.

 

His last NYPD assignment was as the Commander of the 7th Division in Patrol Borough Bronx. Jim was the beloved father of: Julianne (Leonard) Higgins of Wilton, CT; Elizabeth (Philip) Adams of Cornwall-on-Hudson, NY; Meg (John) Lombard of Virginia Beach, VA; and Carol McKenna (Michael Thiemann) of West Stockbridge, MA. He was also the proud grandfather of Caroline, Sean, Philip, Brian, Robert, Christopher, Kate, Olivia, and Anika. 

 

 

Mr. Patrick J. Hunt '59: Patrick J. Hunt, 73, of Brookfield, CT, died on Saturday evening, August 30, at Danbury Hospital following a long illness. His family tells us Patrick was unwavering in his faith and an avid member of Our Lady of the Lakes Parish in New Milford, CT. He was a charter member of the Knights of Columbus Council #11386 of Manville, NJ, and a member of Council #40 in New Milford.  

 

Patrick was born in New York City on March 8, 1941, he graduated in 1959 from Mount Saint Michael Academy. He received a bachelor's degree in Math from Manhattan College in 1963. He and his childhood sweetheart, Concetta M. Prisco, were married at the Roman Catholic Church of St. Lucy in the Bronx on Jan. 26, 1963. Patrick was a longtime resident of the Bronx and parishioner of the Church of St. Lucy, where he served as lector. He and his family subsequently lived in Danbury, CT, and Belle Mead, NJ. 

 

After retiring as a director in the home office of Metropolitan Life Insurance Company in 1998, he and his family moved to New Milford, CT, and joined the parish of Our Lady of the Lakes Church. Patrick and his wife moved to Brookfield's Newbury Village in 2011. In addition to his wife, he is survived by their three children and eight grandchildren: son, Thomas P. Hunt of Whiting, VT, his wife, Anna, and their children, Victoria, Alexander and Francis; daughter, Theresa H. Krokovich of Oviedo, FL, her husband, Ron, and their children, Noelle, Ronald, and Anthony Patrick; and son, Patrick J. Hunt, Jr., of Orlando, FL, his wife, Jennifer, and their children, John and Julia. 

               

Mr. Anthony C. Di Nunzio '59: For the past 42 years I have trained over 870,000 people in management, marketing management, communication, motivation, transaction analysis, sales and people development on a one to one basis in over 100 companies in 6 different countries.

 

Mr. Edward V. Filardi '61: Aug. 13, 2014 48th wedding anniversary  to Anna Filardi.

 

Mr. Joseph C. Capozzi '69: Joseph Charles Capozzi, 63, of Hanover, passed away on Saturday, July 12, at his home after a battle with pancreatic cancer.  He was born in Manhattan to Joseph A. and Anna and raised in the Bronx, New York. Joe graduated from Mount St. Michaels Academy High School and received his Bachelors degree in business administration in 1973 from Manhattan College, the same year he married his loving wife Ellen. They lived in Hanover for the last twenty years.  

 

Joe worked the majority of his life as a V.P. of Sales and Marketing for major banks on the East Coast but later in life found his true calling of preaching and teaching the Word of God. He most enjoyed the time he was able to fellowship with family and friends.  Joe is survived by his wife of forty years Ellen, his mother Anna, his sister Terri Keenan and his children Michael, David and his wife Jen, James and his wife Lauren and Timothy. 

 

He leaves three grandchildren, Annabelle, Oliver and Myles.  

 

 

Mr. Todd C. Cirrincione '70: As a member of the MSM Class of 1970, Todd earned BS degrees in Psychology and Petroleum Engineering from Oklahoma State University.  He has worked in the Oil and Gas industry in positions of increasing responsibility in the U.S. and overseas in such places as Saudi Arabia, Australia, Papua New Guinea, Angola, Kuwait, Egypt, and elsewhere.  He and his wife, Andrea, currently call Lakewood, New Jersey home, although he lives and works in Houston, Texas as Vice President of Operations for Summit Discovery Resources.  He has two daughters, Cristen and Cara, two granddaughters, Sonora and Betty, and two step-sons, Michael and Andrew.

               

               

Mr. Michael T. Douglas '79:  Have been working with Met Life for 16 years now currently working in the Middle East based in Dubai.

               

Mr. Sean Roxbury '96 as per his classmate's email: I made an online donation of $100 to the Annual Fund as wanted to make my gift in honor of my fallen classmate Sean Roxbury '96.

               

Fr. David Casella            Fr. David Casella was a priest at Our Lady of Angels Parish with an adjoining School Our Lady of Angels which was closed on 6/2013. His passing in 2001/2 (not sure) inspired those close to him to start up a scholarship in his honor and memory.

 

 

Mount St. Michael Academy is excited to announce our new Mount Loyalty Society! Become a member by donating to the Annual Fund for at least 5 consecutive years and get discounts on select Mount Events! 

 

We are in the process of sending out cards to alum who currently qualify.

 

Consecutive Annual Fund Donations and Discount Levels are as follows: 

  

5-9 Years:    5%

 

10-14 Years: 10%

 

15-19 Years: 15%

 

20+ years: 20%

 

 

 Mark Bardini '83:

 

"I give to the Mount to support its values and high level of education. Without funds from alumni, the school could cease to exist.

I give since I recognize the strong start that I was given at Mount as a student, which continues to drive me to this day to succeed. 

 

I will always be thankful for the life lessons learned and education that I received from the teachers and administrators at the Mount.

 

 If it weren't for my education, I certainly would not have achieved what I've done today and be successful.  To this day, the best and truest friends that I have ever made have been from the Mount.  To give to the Mount takes so little, yet can mean so much to the school. "

 

 

 

WHAT IS THE ANNUAL FUND? 

 

Our Annual Fund bridges the gap between tuition and operating expenses. Your investment will provide funding for programs, activities and other expenses that the school incurs. Tuition and fees cover about 66% of total revenue collected, which is why we need to rely on your support. 

 

When you give to the Annual Fund, your dollars help fund advanced curriculum in programs like Sports Medicine,  IT and Business, as well as strengthening our athletic programs and extracurricular activities.

 

• Offer need-based financial support
• Drive excellence in curriculum and scholastic advancement
• Strengthen our athletic programs
• Provide state-of-the-art technology
• Make repairs to school facilities and grounds

 

The Bro. James Kearney,
F. M. S. Memorial Scholarship was established in June 2013 and is an award granted to a graduating senior who best exemplifies the

characteristics of this beloved teacher, former Principal and Mount Board member.  These characteristics are: great patience, attention to the needs of others and service to the Mount. 

 

Our goal is to raise $50,000 dollars for this scholarship so that it may be endowed at an amount that will yield meaningful returns in order to provide scholarships in perpetuity.

 

For more information, please call

Julie Androshick Boyle

Development Office

718 515 6400 ext. 268 

 

Please make checks payable to Mount St. Michael Academy and 

send your donation to:

 

Development Office

Mount St. Michael Academy

4300 Murdock Avenue

Bronx, NY 10466

 

 

John Valavan '45 was honored at the dedication of the Sports Medicine facility

Says Alison Zaino, "This appears to be a program with a practical vocation emphasis that our students can pursue. The Mount with its unique and extensive facilities in New York can attract and motivate talented students. Challenging programs can fulfill their aspirations." 

We are grateful to all who contributed and worked hard to make the Sports Medicine Academy a reality and a success: 

 

 

Basil was a senior aide to Hillary Rodham Clinton during her first campaign for Senate and later on her Senate staff. Mrs. Clinton called Basil a "key advisor and tremendous public servant...who makes sure all voices are heard". Ron Kirk, the former Mayor of Dallas and President Obama's current US Trade Representative, noted that Basil can "negotiate the politics of any community and knows how to marry it with sound public policy".

 

Basil began his own firm 11 years ago and has since garnered diverse clients such as, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, The William Jefferson Clinton Foundation, The Democratic National Committee, The Congressional Black Caucus, The New York Urban League, AT&T, Senator Joe Lieberman, former New York City School Chancellor Joel Klein and the New York City Center for Charter School Excellence.

 

Basil graduated with a Bachelor of Science in 1993 from Cornell University in Industrial and Labor Relations. In 1996. He received a Masters Degree in Public Policy from Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs. While there, he was awarded the Columbia University Departmental Fellowship and the Public Affairs Fellowship.

 

A child of Jamaican immigrants, Basil mentors young people in schools across this City to promote public service and education. He created a literacy program in Flushing Queens, where 5th graders are encouraged to read, write and expand their vocabulary. As a member of the community service organization 100 Black Men, Basil helped start the Eagle Academy in the Bronx, which has opened more than five schools in the tri-state area.