New Administration Appointed for All Saints Catholic Academy in New Haven

HARTFORD, Conn. – (May 5, 2020) The leadership has been announced for All Saints Catholic Academy (ASCA), the newly created World School to be located at the current site of St. Francis and St. Rose of Lima School at 423 Ferry Street in New Haven. All Saints Catholic Academy is being formed from the merger of three New Haven Catholic elementary schools: Catholic Academy of New Haven, St. Bernadette School, and St. Francis and St. Rose of Lima School.

The new administration will be led by Sr. Diane Mastroianni, ASCJ who has been appointed as the first principal of All Saints Catholic Academy. Sister Diane comes to ASCA with a background rich in Catholic school education and a deep commitment to serving in a city setting. With ties to the New Haven area, Sister is looking forward enthusiastically to meeting the families of All Saints Catholic Academy and to building a strong faith community. She will be working in partnership with Reverend Christopher Ford, Pastor of Our Lady of the Assumption Parish in Woodbridge who has been appointed Chair of the newly formed All Saints Catholic Academy School Board.

As of July 1, 2020 Sister Diane will come to ASCA from Our Lady of Pompeii School in New York City where she has served as principal since 2016. Prior to that appointment, Sister served as the principal of Santa Maria School in the Bronx from 2006-2016. Her career in Catholic elementary school education began with several positions as a middle school teacher at schools in both New York and Rhode Island. Sister graduated from Notre Dame High School in Fairfield, CT, and went on to earn her bachelor’s degree at Southern Connecticut State University as well as two master’s degrees from Fordham University.

In her application for the position, Sister Diane described the importance of creating a welcoming environment, “I do believe that the image of an open door and the words faith, academics and community speak to the heart of my philosophy of Catholic education. It goes without saying that the academics we provide are second to none…When a child walks into the school, first and foremost they know that they are loved. They become part of a faith community that inspires all from the youngest to the oldest to reach their full potential.” Sister is firmly committed to working collaboratively with each ASCA family to help every child find success.

Former principal and St. Francis School alumnus, Victor Vessicchio will continue to be a presence at the school, supporting ASCA families as they transition to a new instructional model. He is excited to assist Sister Diane as she builds lasting school and parish relationships, creating a safe and welcoming haven for students and their families.

According to Sister Mary Grace Walsh, ASCJ, Ph.D., Provost for Education, Evangelization and Catechesis in the Archdiocese of Hartford, “The creation of All Saints Catholic Academy ushers in a new era for Catholic elementary school education in New Haven, providing area children with an outstanding global education and a solid foundation in faith.”

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New Catholic Academy to Open in New Haven

HARTFORD, Conn. – (February 5, 2020) The Office of Education, Evangelization and Catechesis of the Archdiocese of Hartford recently announced the creation of a new Catholic school to open in New Haven in September 2020. The new school, All Saints Catholic Academy, will be located at 423 Ferry Street, the current site of St. Francis and St. Rose of Lima School. All Saints Catholic Academy will be a Kindergarten – Grade 8 World School, seeking accreditation to become an International Baccalaureate School (IB) where students learn in an environment that prepares them to live and thrive in a global world.

All Saints Catholic Academy will be formed from the merger of three New Haven Catholic elementary schools: Catholic Academy of New Haven, St. Bernadette School, and St. Francis and St. Rose of Lima School. The decision to merge the schools into a new entity follows a comprehensive study undertaken by the Archdiocese, with recommendations from an Ad Hoc Committee, to determine the best way to continue providing Catholic educational opportunities to the families seeking it in the New Haven area.

The study, combined with consultation among the New Haven Catholic school pastors, identified both the continuing importance of Catholic school education to New Haven and the need to provide students with a global perspective in order to prepare them to be tomorrow’s leaders. Despite the local demographic shifts which have made school viability increasingly more difficult to achieve with the current number of schools in the area, the merger and subsequent opening of All Saints Catholic Academy will ensure that Catholic elementary education remains accessible to all New Haven families.

Students at all three existing schools, as well as new students, will be invited to enroll at All Saints Catholic Academy, which will offer numerous instructional benefits: students will focus on learning languages (English, Spanish, world languages) with an emphasis on communication skills; engage in hands-on, project-based assignments using the methods of engineering design; become inquisitive thinkers, problem solvers, and global citizens; and learn how to care for one another, their community, and their world. The philosophy of teaching and learning at All Saints Catholic Academy will be based on the foundation of social emotional intelligence and a growth mindset, supported by a strong Catholic identity and the principles of Catholic Social Teachings.

In addition, All Saints Catholic Academy plans to engage in collaborative partnerships with higher education institutions, providing students with the motivation and skills to succeed. The Academy will also have an accomplished advisory board, including committees focusing on marketing and advancement. Faculty, staff, and administration will be required to reapply for positions at the school, and those selected will receive professional development in the new instructional model.

The school’s central location puts it within four miles of both St. Bernadette School and Catholic Academy of New Haven, easily accessible by bus for students of both schools, since students residing in the City of New Haven receive free busing. Tuition assistance support will also be available for families in need.

The name All Saints Catholic Academy was chosen to honor the heritage of all the New Haven schools that have proudly borne the names of many Saints. Registration for interested students will be starting shortly, and additional information will soon be available at this site:
AllSaintsNewHaven.com.

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ASCA is seeking a Director of Community Engagement. Please review the following job description and if you have an interest in the position, send an email with your resume and letter of interest to oeecschools@gmail.com.

Position Summary:

The Director of Family and Community Engagement will be the direct liaison between All Saints Catholic Academy (ASCA) and the families of its enrolled students. This staff member will work to bridge the gap between home and school by helping parents obtain the information and resources they need to ensure their child’s academic and social success. The position is responsible for creating strong partnerships with parents/guardians in order to support student achievement, school retention, and a culture of engagement. The Director will also build positive relationships between the Academy and community stakeholders in New Haven, in order to increase positive school visibility and identify opportunities for student educational enrichment and mutual school/community cooperation.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Foster a culture of community in which all stakeholders work together to fulfill the school’s mission and vision.
2. Serve as a school/family liaison, connecting parents/guardians to important information and available resources to ensure a successful academic experience.
3. Maintain awareness of student/family concerns to facilitate positive and rapid response by school administration.
4. Engage parents/guardians to be full partners with the school by encouraging open and continual communication between them and the school community.
5. Provide early intervention to students/families in the event that problems or difficulties arise.
6. Assist in the development of parent/guardian organizations such as the Home and School Association and Academy Ambassadors to support positive relations within the school community and beyond.
7. Develop opportunities (activities, events, organizations) to strengthen the engagement of students/families in the ASCA community, supporting both school retention and strong enrollment management.
8. Assist the principal in administering a yearly survey to gauge the level of parent/guardian satisfaction with the school and to develop strategies responding effectively to those concerns and recommendations that may surface.
9. Assist the School Board in identifying and recruiting active committee members from among the parent/guardian community, the alumni community, and the local business and professional communities.
10. Build positive relationships between the local business/education community and the school in order to strengthen student learning and achievement, increase positive visibility, and create opportunities for the engagement of those entities with the school.
11. Serve as the ASCA representative in local community organizations such as the Chamber of Commerce.
12. Provide support to other staff members in their efforts to recruit students and to raise philanthropic funds.
13. Provide workshops for the parent/guardian community to support their parenting skills as they partner with ASCA to educate their children.
14. Oversee the parent volunteer program (ASCA Ambassadors), identifying appropriate activities, providing guidance for the completion of those duties, and creating means of recognition for the work of these volunteers.

Knowledge and Skills Needed:

1. Bachelor’s Degree
2. Experience in elementary education
3. Excellent communication skills, written and oral
4. Knowledge of and enthusiastic commitment to the school and its mission
5. Ability to interact with the internal and external school communities: strong interpersonal skills
6. Experience working with diverse populations
7. Bi-lingual skills preferred
8. Ability to be a highly collaborative self-starter
9. Ease in working independently and with volunteer committees

Working Environment:

1. Weekend and evening work hours may be required
2. Travel may be required