Student Accomplishments
GCHS Students Distinguish Themselves
Freshman Daniel Petito Named "Young Catholic Leader"
The Dr. David T. Coghlan “Young Catholic Leader” Award recognizes outstanding eighth grade students who plan to attend a diocesan high school. Gloucester Catholic is pleased to announce that Daniel Petito, a recent graduate of Saint Margaret’s School, is the recipient of one of the 2011 scholarships. Students were asked to respond to Dr. Coghlan’s comments regarding the goals of a Catholic school education.
“The Catholic school or classroom has as its goal for students much more than material gain, career success or even intellectual accomplishment. What is expected of graduates is that they use the formative opportunities extended to them to forge a meaningful contribution to Church and society. Catholic education can be said to have worked only when the world and those who are in it have benefited from what
graduates have done with what has been given to them.” (David T. Coghlan)
By Daniel Petito ‘15
My nine years of Catholic education along with my involvement with my parish has contributed much to my life. Attending Catholic school every day has helped me to understand the meaning of the cross. Looking at the cross on a daily basis has been an extremely motivating factor in my life. The death of Jesus on the cross has taught me what the word sacrifice actually means. My purpose here on Earth is to live a life of sacrifice for others. As I get ready to enter high school, one of my main goals is to strive for holiness as a contributing individual in society.
As a young boy attending mass, praying as a family, and praying on my own has helped me become a positive role model for my brother and sister. Even though I fall at times, I do my best on a daily basis to emphasize my faith through my actions and words. Whether it’s helping them with their homework, reading to them, or teaching them how to play sports, I feel the need to give up my time so that they can understand the meaning of sacrifice.
Extending myself outside my family is also very important. We have been blessed as a family to live in a neighborhood with many elderly neighbors. Our neighbors are unable to cut grass or shovel snow. Helping my neighbors with these chores has been a very rewarding experience for me. After shoveling two feet of snow or cutting grass on a hot day, I love to see the smiles on their faces when they show their appreciation for what I have done.
The same feeling holds true during my volunteering experiences with the Saint Vincent De Paul clothes drive and the Knights of Columbus breakfasts. Those experiences have shown me how so many people are in need. What I have learned through those volunteer experiences will definitely help me with my future goals in high school and beyond. Serving the poor and the needy has increased my gratitude for all the Lord has given me.
Every summer my father takes my family to the St. John Neumann Shrine in Philadelphia. As I walk through his museum I am amazed at all the contributions that St. John Neumann made in his little time on Earth. St. John Neumann is my favorite saint due to his unselfish characteristics and love for the church. St. John Neumann was the main reason I decided to become an altar server a few years ago. I chose St. John Neumann as my Confirmation name because I know he will help me become a Catholic contributor in society as I progress through high school.
Looking back on my years at St. Margaret’s, I feel that I have done my best to follow the cross of Christ. It is important to me that I carry myself in a respectful way while I am in school. Reading at school mass, being Jesus in the Stations of the Cross, and being voted as the most Christian in my grade has had a major impact in my life. As I enter high school at Gloucester Catholic, I plan on being part of the pro-life group and volunteering my time for community service projects.
What I have learned as I finish my time at St. Margaret’s School is that the Lord will contribute to my life as I contribute to the lives of others. My years of Catholic education can be summed up by the quote from Mother Teresa, “it is more important to be faithful than successful.” The cross will be for me as it was for Christ; proof of my love for family, community, school, and church.
All throughout my life I have lived in a strong Catholic environment. My family has put me through Catholic school along with my two younger siblings. I want to attend a Catholic High School to grow deeper in my understanding of the faith and to recognize my proper calling in life. My goal when I grow up is to practice medicine and eventually get a job at Children’s Hospital in Philadelphia where I can serve the sick children and hopefully bring them healing. I want to get a job in Philadelphia because my favorite saint once lived and served there, St. John Neumann. I will work hard to achieve my goals as I attempt to do the will of Jesus.
Harris Will Lead 2011-2012 Student Council
Congratulations to the newly elected officers and members of the 2011-2012 Gloucester Catholic Student Council!
PRESIDENT: Chris Harris
VICE PRESIDENT: Christopher Sacchetti
SECRETARY-TREASURER: Joe Solecki
SENIOR LEVEL REPRESENTATIVES:
Robbie Alessandrine, Brian Kutza, Claudia Gallagher, Catherine Cavalier Jake Turner and Armani Lee.
JUNIOR LEVEL REPRESENTATIVES:
Meagan Bonner, Kelly Coppola, Kathleen Golden, Katie O’Shea Kameryn Short, Brandon Wethman.
SOPHOMORE LEVEL REPRESENTATIVES:
Lauren Gappa, Glenn Garrison, Rachel Haines, Emily Lyons, Prina Patel, William Simila.
Volunteerism
Freshmen and sophomores spent a day volunteering in the city of Camden as part of
their annual Service Retreats in October. The days began with prayer services and
then students fanned out throughout Camden and its environs to show their Ram spirit
in a variety of service activities.
Live the Gospel, Feed the Hungry!
"Live the Gospel, Feed the Hungry" once again set the theme for the 2010
Annual GCHS Thanksgiving Food Drive. 
Student Council members packed
more than 60 baskets of food, each with a grocery story gift certificate for
perishables, and distributed them through our sending parishes.
Homecoming 2010
King Dan Golden and Queen
Morgan Carrero reigned over
the 2010 GCHS Homecoming
Festivities on November 6. The
King’s Court included
William DeFoney, Michael Mangino, Angelo Montenegro
and Michael Scharle. Members of
the Queen’s Court were Nicole
Barone, Erica Garr, Korrie
Harkins
and Jillian Monahan.
More than 800 GCHS students
and their guests attended the
Homecoming Dance!
People to People Ambassador
GCHS Senior Rebecca Fillman represented the USA
as a People to People Ambassador in Europe during the
summer of 2010. Rebecca traveled with 30 area high school
students in the “Mediterranean Traditions” program
and visited Spain, Italy and France. Highlights of
the three week trip included a tour of the Vatican,
rappelling down a castle wall; learning to cook in
Italy; sports with Spanish teens and a three day stay
with a Spanish family.
Rebecca was recommended to the program by GCHS
English teacher, Mr. Kevin Heil; Spanish teacher,
Mrs. Diana Flynn; and Religion teacher, Mr. Ed
Beckett. All students were required to submit letters
of recommendation and successfully complete an
interview process. They were required to attend four
orientation meetings with program leaders and fellow
delegates and learned about the geography, history
and culture of the destinations and how to prepare
for the journey. Successful completion of online
lessons is also required in order to participate in
the program.
President Dwight D. Eisenhower founded the People
to People Program in 1956. Having served as
a military commander, Eisenhower believed that
ordinary citizens of different nations could make
a difference where governments could not. People
to People Student Ambassador Program is based
in Spokane, Washington and has been coordinating
travel for over 50 years.
Senior Rebecca Fillman spent
three weeks touring Europe and
representing the USA as a People
to People Ambassador. Here
Rebecca does her part to hold up
the Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy.
Tri-M International Theatre Society Inducts New Members
Thirty three GCHS students were inducted last year into Gloucester Catholic’s chapter of the
Tri-M International Theatre Society.
Congratulations to these talented students!
Seniors
- Kiersten Fowler
- Claudia Gallagher
- Arianna Heins
- Sara Messina
- Julia Porado
- Brittany Price
- Daisy Ward
Juniors
- Briana Reed
- Alexandra Goetz
- Patrick Hill
- Siobhan McGirl
- Amy Pinardo
- Kayleigh Schmid
- Tommy Berardi
- Bridget Heisler
GC Students Attend State Conferences
Six Gloucester Catholic students had a first hand experience in civics as delegates
to t he Annual New Jersey American Legion Girls and Boys State Conferences.
Jessica
Francis attended Girls State at Georgian Court College and
Joe Delengowski, Matt DiGiacomo, Dan Golden,
Anthony Magazzeni and Angelo Montenegro attended Boys
State on the campus of Rider University. Marissa Wood was the alternate delegate
to Girls State. The conferences brought together high school leaders from throughout
New Jersey and took place during the last week in June. Girls and Boys State are
mythical fifty-first states organized and administered to educate young adults about
the duties, privileges, rights and responsibilities of American citizenship. During
the week of activities, students run for elected office and govern on the local,
county and state level. Both programs are sponsored by local American Legion Posts
and are designed to give young people a better understanding of our state and local
government.
Gloucester Catholic salutes these students for their accomplishments
outside the classroom.
Puja Patel ‘13 has been selected to participate in the National Youth Leadership Forum on
Medicine in June. Puja has received a scholarship to attend the 10 day program on the campus
of Villanova University. She will join outstanding high school students from around the nation
and interact with medical professionals from the University of Pennsylvania, Thomas Jefferson
University, the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and Drexel Medical College.
Chris Rehrig ‘14 joined 50,000 Boy Scouts from around the world at the National Boy
Scout Jamboree in Fort Hill, Virginia in July. The 10 day event will feature activities, such
as rappelling, kayaking, canoeing, fly fishing, archery and swimming, as well as leadership
activities and training.