Principally Speaking...

John Colman, Principal

These are exciting days at Gloucester Catholic. We closed the last academic year with double state championships and record breaking academic accomplishments. And, we will usher in the coming school year with a junior high and plans for a new athletic campus. The Dominican tradition and Ram Pride are alive and fueling the success of Gloucester Catholic Junior-Senior High.

History is being written as Gloucester Catholic extends its program to include a junior high. This expansion comes as a result of the unfortunate closing of our next-door neighbor, Saint Mary’s School. The junior high will maintain an independent identity while taking advantage of many opportunities within the high school. We are happy to welcome our incoming seventh and eighth graders to Gloucester Catholic’s student body.

I am also pleased to announce that we will soon break ground on the new Gloucester Catholic Athletic Complex. The Diocese of Camden has granted us the use of 75 acres of land adjacent to Gloucester County College in Deptford. The proposed athletic campus will be built in phases over three to five years, and will include fields, a stadium, a clubhouse with locker rooms, restrooms, and a kitchen/concession area. Our goal is for the Rams to finally have home field advantage.

I take this opportunity to applaud our Class of 2011 on their outstanding accomplishments. The highlight of every academic year is graduation and this past year was no exception. Commencement ceremonies for our 161 graduates took place on May 26 with Joseph Delengowski as valedictorian and Cassandra Ehinger as salutatorian. The Class of 2011 was a cooperative, congenial and accomplished group of young adults and we wish them well as they now move on in life as Sons and Daughters of Gloucester Catholic High School.

Another proud moment came on June 11 when both the Ram baseball and softball teams captured their respective Non-Public B State Crowns. In the baseball championship, the Rams defeated Newark Academy 14-2 in five innings, capturing their 15th title, extending their state record, and finishing among the top teams in the country in two national polls. The softball team defeated Morris Catholic 4-0 and took their second straight state title, eighth overall. For their outstanding accomplishments, the baseball team was named Courier-Post “Team of the Year” and rookie softball coach, Tom Sullivan ‘79, was named “Coach of the Year” by the Philadelphia Inquirer. Talk about Ram pride!

Gloucester Catholic bids farewell to two long-time staff members. Dr. Jay Simmons of our science department and School Nurse, Mrs. Angie Worley, have retired. Both of these dedicated individuals made a lasting impression on our students and we thank them for their extraordinary contributions over the years. The Guidance Office has some changes. Mrs. JoAnn Walsh and Mr. Tony Powers will ease into retirement working on a part-time basis; while Mrs. Cara Buckland and Mr. George Bakey will assume full-time positions. Mrs. Buckland is the new Director of Student Personnel Services.

These are exciting days... enrollment is growing, our campus is expanding, and activity and accomplishment abound in our hallways. I am grateful for the hard work and dedication of so many who have brought Gloucester Catholic to this point in history. And I ask for the continued prayers and support of all members of the Gloucester Catholic Family as we launch our 85th year of educating in the Catholic tradition.

John T. Colman