Principally Speaking...
by John Colman, Principal
It has been said that service is part of the DNA here at Gloucester Catholic, and I have to agree. Reflecting on our campus activities this fall, I saw many opportunities for our students to use their God-given talents to help others.
One good example is our 35 year tradition of the Thanksgiving Food Drive. Seventy-five boxes of food, each with a supermarket gift card for perishables, were delivered to our sending parishes. The generosity and hard work of our faculty, students and staff made Thanksgiving a little warmer for many area families.
Our freshmen and sophomores, accompanied by their teachers, participated in class level service retreats. Students left the classroom walls behind and learned in a different way when they volunteered at senior centers, nursing homes, Camden city schools, and community centers. Our kids brought their energy, enthusiasm and smiles and returned with a new and personal vision of the Gospel message.
I also take pride in the academic accomplishments of our students. Three GC seniors, Joseph Lafferty, Patrick McHenry and Rollie Malfitano, earned national recognition when they were honored by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation for their outstanding PSAT scores. On December 8th, 43 juniors and seniors were inducted into our Marian Chapter of the National Honor Society. And many seniors are already hearing news of college acceptances and scholarship awards. Ram pride was at its best when our girls’ soccer team (19-1-1) captured its third state championship in five years. Congratulations to Coach Kate Ormsby and her talented players. I also applaud Coach Tony Garczynski and his staff for their able leadership on the gridiron. The Rams completed the season with a 8-3 record and made it to the state championship game for the second time in three years.
As the Christmas season approaches, my prayer is that the faith, hope and love that define Gloucester Catholic fill your home in the new year. Merry Christmas!
John T. Colman