The NAZ Newsletter

A monthly newsletter for the parents and families of Nazareth Academy High School

Important Dates

Tuesday, November 20 C Schedule 100 Hours of Service Liturgy

Wednesday, November 21 No Classes - Thanksgiving Break Foundress Blessed Franciszka Feast Day

Thursday, November 22 Happy Thanksgiving No Classes

Friday, November 23 No Classes

Monday, November 26 No Classes Principal’s Holiday

Tuesday, November 27 Classes Resume Giving Tuesday Operation Santa Claus Begins

Tuesday, December 4 “B” Schedule 1:00 PM Dismissal

Tuesday, December 11 Operation Santa Claus Liturgy Special Schedule Sunday, December 16 Candlelight Christmas Concert 4:30 PM in Chapel

November 2018

Nazareth Academy High School ~ 4001 Grant Avenue ~ Philadelphia, PA 19114 ~ 215.637.7676 ~ NazarethAcademyHS.org

Embracing Faith, Family, and Education

Last Month’s Recap

Thank you to our Music-Theater students and the faculty, staff, volunteers

and parents who helped make our annual school play so memorable this

year. From October 25th to October 28th, five performances of Disney’s

High School Musical were performed by our terrific students and staff in

front of a packed crowd. Great job to all involved and thank you for

sharing your talents!

On Thursday, November 8th, our juniors, the Class of 2020, received their

Nazareth school ring during a beautiful Mass in Chapel. Thank you to all of

the parents and family members that attended the evening. Thank you to

out Junior moderators for organizing this special event.

On Friday, November 9th our annual Naz-A-Thon dance marathon took

place and continued to impress. Congratulations to the committee and all

involved with Naz-A-Thon that helped raise over $196,000 for Children’s

Hospital of Philadelphia and for inspiring our students to give back to those

less fortunate.

President’s Report Mrs. Denise LePera

Last Sunday the provincial leadership of the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth visited their

ministries in Philadelphia. Mr. Meredith and I were thrilled to greet them on a beautiful Sunday

afternoon and share stories about our wonderful students. They were happy to be with us and

asked us to share with you that they remember Nazareth Academy High School and our faculty,

students and families in their prayers.

Taste of the Town Raffle Information

As a reminder, we are asking each student to sell a minimum of 5 raffle tickets at $20 each.

This fundraiser is supporting our Interactive SmartBoard initiative.

There will be incentives for students who sell the most tickets and for homeroom participation.

This fundraiser last year helped provide 11 new interactive Smart Boards. Our plan is to con-

tinue upgrading the Smart Boards in every classroom ~ so help make this fundraiser a success!

Each ticket will contain two (2) 3-digit numbers and is based on the PA 3-digit evening lottery

(straight only).

The drawing dates will be:

December 3, 2018 Green Tickets December 4, 2018 Pink Tickets

December 5, 2018 Blue Tickets December 6, 2018 Yellow Tickets

The winner will receive a $150.00 gift certificate to each 8 restaurants listed on the ticket along

with $100.00 spending cash for each restaurant with a $2,000.00 value per drawing.

The restaurants featured are as follows:

Del Frisco’s Steakhouse Fogo De Chao Morimoto Buddakan

The Capital Grille Ruth Chris Maggiano’s El Vez

***In the event that all tickets are not sold for a particular night, we will draw a winning ticket

from those sold. The winner of this consolation prize will receive (1) $150.00 gift certificate of

their choice from the list of restaurants, along with $100.00 spending cash.

Giving Tuesday

The annual day of giving, which always takes place the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, is sched-

uled for Tuesday, November 27th this year. Giving Tuesday, fueled by social media, kicks off

the charitable season, when many focus on their holiday and end-of-year giving.

Supporting our Nazareth girls is the perfect way to kick off the charitable season!

Click this link to make your Giving Tuesday gift early this year!

EITC

What business owner wouldn't prefer to provide scholarships to Nazareth Academy High

School than pay Pennsylvania State Tax? If you are a business owner, know someone who is

either the owner, Chief Executive Officer, or Chief Financial Officer, please contact me at

President@NazarethAcademyHS.org to learn more.

Have a happy, healthy and blessed Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving

As Thanksgiving nears, we have much to be thankful here at Nazareth Academy High School.

We are thankful for the successful visit of the Middle States Visiting Team last month. The

team was most impressed with our students and our school. Nazareth met all twelve standards

established by Middle States and the team recommended full reaccreditation in its final report.

This official reaccreditation will be issued by Middle States in the spring. As I shared with our

students, a Middle States visit is about “We are who we say we are.” We are blessed that the

visiting team agreed with that assessment.

We are most thankful, of course, for our talented students. Since our last newsletter, our

Performing Arts Department brought the house down with multiple performances of Disney’s

High School Musical On Stage. Our fall student athletes completed their seasons, with cross

country and soccer competing well in Districts. Our students never stopped moving their feet

at Naz-A-Thon, raising over $196,000 for CHOP in the fight against childhood cancer. As we

speak, our Community Service Corps is gathering donations from the homerooms for the

Thanksgiving Food Drive. Our junior class solidified their role as school leaders at Ring Mass,

receiving their beloved Nazareth school rings at a beautiful liturgy.

Our school and students are so busy, it is nice to take a breath, reflect, and be thankful for who

we are and what we have accomplished, as well as all of God’s blessings that we are given

each and every day.

Principal’s Perspective Mr. James Meredith

Advent

Every year during Advent, as a family we display the stable scene like most families do. A few

years ago, when our youngest daughters were toddlers, they would take the miniature figurines

and incorporate them into their games when they were playing with their toys. It was not un-

common for me to find a miniature of a first century shepherd caring for Peppa Pig. One day,

my daughter Abby was frantically searching through her toys. I did not really take notice until

I heard her proclaim, “I found him. I was looking and looking and I finally found him. I found

baby Jesus!”

The pure innocence and unbridled joy struck me dead in my tracks, not easy to do during the

hustle and bustle of the holiday season. For me, Abby’s proclamation encapsulated Advent per-

fectly. Whether we are young or old, we are all waiting for Jesus, just as Mary and Joseph

waited for Jesus to complete the Holy Family. My prayer for you and your family during Ad-

vent is that you continue to find Jesus in your hearts.

Calendar Updates

Please note the following calendar changes:

Monday, November 26, 2018 is now a Pr incipal’s Holiday. School will not be in ses-

sion that day.

Tuesday, December 4, 2018 is now a B Schedule with 1 PM dismissal. At 1:15,

representatives from Minding Your Mind will conduct the “Just Talk About It” program

for our faculty and staff. The program focuses on student mental health. Minding Your

Mind will conduct a similar program for our parents on Wednesday, December 5 at 6:30

PM.

Policy Update

For any student function at Nazareth Academy High School, such as the Father-Daughter

Dance, alcohol is prohibited. Alcohol will not be

served by the school and may not be brought to

school by the parent(s).

Office of the Campus Minister

Hello Nazareth Family!

My name is Shannon Donnelly and I am Nazareth Academy’s newly hired Campus Minister. I am so thrilled to be a part of this beautiful school to help the girls grow in their relationship with Christ and reach their full potential. I will be coordinating the school’s religious events such as the Masses, Confessions, and Eucharistic Adoration opportunities, as well as other events the girls need for their spiritual development. I will be facilitating a Respect Life Club to promote the sacredness of life. Our first event will be the Stand-Up for Life Dinner in Philadelphia on Sunday, November 18th. Advent Confessions will take place the first week of December and will follow with weekly discussion groups on how to find greater happiness this Christmas season. My hope is that my efforts can help spread the goodness of faith, family, and education. I can’t wait to get to know all of you and your daughters!

If you or your daughter ever needs guidance or information on how to cultivate a deeper faith, please feel free to reach out at any time vie email at sdonnelly@nazarethacademyhs.org or by phone at 215.268.1061.

Recent Professional Development Opportunities

Like our students, we as educators are lifelong learners. In addition to many professional de-velopment opportunities that our teachers have taken on their own, here are some faculty, de-partment, or small group professional development sessions that have already happened or are on the docket:

Lunch & Learn Sessions (small group)

November 13: Flip Classroom

November 27: Smart Notebook 18.

December 4: Game-Based Learning Tools

December 11: Windows 10 Features

After School Sessions (small group)

November 15: Flip Classroom

November 28: SmartBoard IQ

December 5: Game-Based Learning Tools

December 13: Microsoft Forms

Department-wide Session

November 6, Counseling Department: Seven C’s Model of Resilience and the proven effects of childhood trauma and adverse childhood experiences on the brain, body, and behavior throughout the lifetime

Faculty-wide Sessions

November 14: Stop the Bleed, presented by Jefferson University Hospital

November 14: Continuing the Mission

November 14: The PSAT and the National Merit Scholarship Competition

December 4: “Just Talk About It” Student Mental Health

January 2: STREAM Education (all day session)

Academic Affairs Mrs. Patricia Quinn

Fall Semester Updates The final Fall Deficiency Reports will be sent out on Tuesday, November 27th, and are due to be signed and returned to the issuing teacher by Tuesday, December 4th.

Grade Point Averages (GPA) are calculated on the semester grades.

Midterm Examinations for classes that are held the entire year and Final Examinations for the Fall Semester classes will be held from Tuesday, December 18th until Thursday, December 20th. We are very fortunate to have this examination schedule and students are not permitted to switch any examination days or times. Please refer to pages 10 and 11 in the Student Handbook. Students only need to come to school during these days and times as their examination schedule dictates.

NAHS December Examination Schedule 2018

Tuesday, December 18 (2-60 minute examinations)

8:10 AM Warning Bell

8:15 AM Prayers, Attendance, and Announcements

8:30-9:30 AM Block 1 and Block 1 Classes meeting M, W, F

9:40-10:40 AM Block 2 and Block 2A

Wednesday, December 19 (2-60 minute examinations)

8:10 AM Warning Bell

8:15 AM Prayers, Attendance, and Announcements

8:30-9:30 AM Block 3 and Block 3A

9:40-10:40 AM Block 4 and Block 4 Classes meeting M, W, F

Thursday, December 20 (3-60 minute examinations)

8:10 AM Warning Bell

8:15 AM Prayers, Attendance, and Announcements

8:30-9:30 AM Block 1 Class meeting T, Th, F

9:40-10:40 AM Block 3B

10:50-11:50 AM Block 4 Class meeting T, Th, F

Friday, December 21

No School-Faculty Clerical Day

Exam Make-Up Day

Grades Due by 2:00 PM

Student Life Mrs. Diane Budd

Uniform Update

The Panda Pit now has a supply of regulation socks (navy and white) and navy tights. Any stu-

dent who is in need of the regulation socks/tights can purchase them in the Panda Pit.

Helping Our Students Manage Stress

What I’ve noticed over the past few weeks is concerning as stress levels are rising with the girls.

Grades, deadlines, projects, challenging academic classes, part time jobs, social life, personal

issues, extracurricular activities and now the holidays! To a certain extent, this is normal and

expected, but teaching our children how to deal with everyday stressors is a skill worth noting.

As we know stress becomes a problem when it begins to affect us in negative ways. Physical

effects like headaches, stomach troubles, overwhelmed by worries, trouble sleeping, or easily

irritated are some signs of stress. These experiences are not pleasant, and can get in the way of

personal goals. Teenagers have to learn ways to manage their stress so they can remain healthy

to pursue their dreams.

When I speak with the girls they freely share with me some of their daily stressors, parents

pushing them to boost their GPA, teachers pointing out a less-then-stellar test score, their own

drive to get into their first-choice college. This academic pressure can overwhelm even the most

put together teen. Most of the time stress is directly related to fear. Fear can be a powerful

motivator, but it can also create stress. Fear of not doing well enough in high school, fear of not

getting into college, fear of not getting a good job, etc.

Learning how to cope with daily stressors is a skill we need to teach our children. Emphasizing

things like taking time for self-care starting with basic biological needs, getting enough sleep so

the body can cope with stress, non- harmful substances, and eating healthy. Also, it helps to take

time from the fast paced day to enjoy creative activities.

Learning to take assignments one baby step at a time can also help reduce stress. Chunking

work into manageable smaller portions will feel less overwhelming and more manageable.

Lowering one’s goals can also lower stress levels. By this I mean instead of setting a goal to get

the highest grade in the class, set a goal to work to one’s potential and be satisfied with the

performance.

I try to tell the girls that they need to change their thinking – you can’t get stressed unless you

believe your thoughts. The power of negative thinking can be paralyzing. Break away from the

task at hand and do a fun activity for fifteen minutes. Ask yourself “What did I do for fun when

I was six years old?” No matter how hard our children push themselves, nobody can maintain

constant focus, eventually they will burn out.

At Nazareth, we take responsibility in helping our students manage stress. Many of us have a

hard time relaxing and sometimes just being in the moment can be difficult. Most of us believe

we have to keep busy all the time, and this can create stress and disappointment. Parents,

administration, and teachers can be supportive and offer guidance in time-management, positive

coping skills, with focus on teaching responsibility. This goes a long way in strengthening our

children for the present and for life.

From the Counseling Department

Parent Assembly

On December 5th, at 6:30pm in the Performing Arts Center, there will be a Parent Assembly

on Mental Health for Teens. This is part of the Minding Your Mind “Just Talk About It”

program. Please join us for this important presentation. This presentation is for parents of

students in all grades.

Guidance Activities

On December 5th, the Counseling Department will be hosting Guidance Activities for each

grade level during the “C” schedule. Freshman will have a speaker from the Attorney

General’s Office; Sophomores will be having a speaker from Minding Your Mind; Juniors will

have a large group informational session on College Planning; and Seniors will attend a

presentation at Holy Family University on Transitioning to College presented by WOAR.

Freshman Guidance (and beyond…)

The Counseling Department has been working with each student in the Freshman class to

create accounts on Naviance, https://naviance.com, CollegeBoard https://collegeboard.org and

Kahn Academy www.kahnacademy.org.

Students who are enrolled in Freshman Guidance this semester were able to complete this

during their half-block. All other Freshman, as well as any transfer students and/or

international students, will be called to Counseling this semester to complete this task.

All Freshmen are being assisted by Counseling in linking their CollegeBoard and Kahn

Academy accounts. This becomes important as Kahn Academy is the official PSAT/SAT

practice site for CollegeBoard. Upon receiving the results

of the October PSAT, which was administered to grades 9,

10, and 11, all students will be able to go to their account

and receive personalized feedback. Official SAT Practice

See also this link for information on this important

assessment.

Naviance, College Board, and Kahn Academy offer a variety of tools that will assist your

Student in career discovery, major discovery and college choice. We encourage you to visit

and explore these websites to see what they have to offer.

In addition, students have had instruction on good study habits, time management and

organization. Healthy relationships, interpersonal communication, including positive and

negative peer interaction, are being discussed as well. These topics are presented via direct

instruction, and group discussion. The remaining topics will focus on stress management and

career and vocation exploration.

HOBY

Applications for the Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership Seminar (HOBY) are now available to all

sophomores. The HOBY Leadership Seminar is a three-day conference that is a fun, interactive

leadership training. This conference focuses on building and expanding leadership skills. The

students will have the opportunity to stay on a college campus and explore leadership from

three perspectives: individual, group and society. They will discover how leadership can lead

to social change as they bond and create relationships with other sophomores from across the

region. Participation in this seminar also reflects highly on a college resume. This year, HOBY

will be held at Albright College in Reading, PA from June 14th to June 16th, 2019.

Two students from Nazareth Academy High School will be chosen by a team of faculty mem-

bers, and the primary student will be awarded a scholarship while the second student will need

to fund the conference if they choose to attend. A sign-up sheet is located outside Ms. Ray-

mond's office in the Counseling Suite. Applications were sent to all girls who have signed up

on Monday November 5th, and applications were returned to Ms. Raymond by Wednesday

November 14th. For questions or concerns, please contact Ms. Raymond at 215-268-1079 or

lraymond@nazarethacademyhs.org.

November College Corner

November College Corner was distributed to all juniors, seniors, and their parents this week. If

you have not already, please check your email for this important information.

From the Athletic Deparment

Uniform Return

Any soccer player who has not returned both new navy and white uniforms, as well as the old

navy and white uniforms, and their pinnies, will be unable to receive their report card.

Winter Sports Tryout Information

Winter tryouts begin officially began on Friday November 16th. This is a reminder that in

order to tryout, students have to register via Family ID (https://www.familyid.com/pages/

home) and the PIAA physical form must be submitted to the athletic department as soon as

possible. If a student athlete played a fall sport, she does not need to submit another PIAA

form.

Nazareth Academy High School Parents Association (NAPA)

Save the Date!

Girls’ Day Out

Sunday, February 10, 2019

1:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Nazareth Academy High School Gym

Fliers will be handed out after Thanksgiving

Welcome to the Nazareth Family!

Hudson Wyatt Emmett

7 pounds, 8 ounces

October 25, 2018

Newborn son of Mrs. Jamie Emmett, Volleyball Coach

Jamie Padraig Gallen

9 pounds, 2 ounces

October 29, 2018

Newborn son of Mrs. Kat Gallen, Science Chair

Click Here To Read the 2017-2018 Annual Report

and School Magazine