In the News

In Memoriam

Sr. Kathleen Mary has been with her father at his home in Connecticut since Thursday. Mr. Coonan failed very quickly over the past week having struggled with cancer. As he was the center of his family, Mr. Coonan will be missed by his six children, six grandchildren and extended family. Sr. Kathleen Mary is appreciative of everyone’s prayers at this difficult time.

Arrangements are as follows:
Wake:	Thursday, September 2, 5-8PM Bennett Funeral Home 91 North Cliff Street Ansonia, CT 06401
Funeral Mass:	Friday, September 3, 10:30AM Assumption Church North Cliff Street Ansonia, CT 06401

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to:
Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
295 Benham Street
Hamden, CT 06514

Construction Begins on the New Athletic Field!

On August 17, excavators started clearing the way for Cor Jesu's new athletic field! Six acres will be cleared for the new field, which will allow Cor Jesu to add a freshman soccer team to the lineup. Check out the construction progress, as the field takes shape.

Class of 2010 Commencement Exercises

On Sunday, May 23, 2010, the 130 members of the Class of 2010 celebrated their four-year accomplishments at Cor Jesu’s 51st Commencement Exercises. CJA alumna Sr. Rosemary Buttice, ASCJ, a member of Cor Jesu’s first graduating class of 1960, was the keynote speaker.

The Cor Jesu Academy administration, faculty and staff congratulate the school’s newest alumnae on their contributions to the school community and the community at large. We are extremely proud of the mark they have carved on their alma mater! Congratulations, Class of 2010! “We will not forget your spirit true!”

Cor Jesu Congratulates the Top-five Seniors

Congratulations to the five highest-ranking seniors for the class of 2010:
Valedictorian: Chelsea Zavilla, who will give the Valedictory Address at Graduation
Salutatorian: Emily Siebert, who will give the Salutatorian Address at Graduation
Third-ranking Senior: Kelly Schuering, who will lead the Graduate's Prayer at Graduation
Fourth-ranking Senior: Sarah Noles, who will give the Senior Address at Honors Convocation
Fifth-ranking Senior: Rachel Zeiss, who will give the Senior Welcome at Honors Convocation

Cor Jesu Academy Students Donate Their Hair for Cancer Patients

Click here for a link to Channel 2's story, and click here for a link to Channel 5's story about this event.

They’ve gone to great lengths to grow their “locks” – an average of more than two years to be exact. And on Thursday, May 6, 2010, 27 students and one faculty member cut their long strands short. They didn’t mind, because these students believe that what they lost is minimal, compared to what will be gained by women and girls who need it more.

Thanks to the Cor Jesu club, I.M.P.E.L. (Individuals Motivated by Prayer and Energized by the Lord), and through Pantene’s Beautiful Lengths program, the student body will sponsor its first-ever “CJ Haircuts for Love” event to make life a little more manageable for people who have lost their hair through chemotherapy treatments. Stylists from Abra-Ca-Dabra Salon in South County, plus two independent stylists, will donate their time for the hair-cutting event. The girls’ hair will be donated to Pantene’s Beautiful Lengths program, which creates and provides free wigs for individuals, who are battling cancer.

For many of the students who have volunteered to have a minimum of eight inches of their hair cut, the decision to perform such a selfless act of kindness is a sense of solidarity for two fellow Cor Jesu students, who have been diagnosed with cancer within the past two years. One of the students was just diagnosed with leukemia this past January, and the other student is now in remission.

“I think that all acts of kindness are extremely important,” said Peggy Ceresia ’11. “All of us have been blessed with beautiful hair, and we don’t realize how lucky we are to have it until we see someone we care about lose theirs. This is just a small sacrifice and act of kindness that we are doing to try and help people who are suffering from cancer to have more confidence and hope.”

The reasons are also personal. “I’m donating my hair,” said Maria Llanos ’13, “because my mom had breast cancer when I was in second grade. She never lost her hair, but I met a lot of people in worse conditions than she was. Even today, I interact with my mom’s support group and am always meeting other women who are suffering from the disease. They inspired me to do what I can, even if it’s something as small as cutting my hair.”

CJ junior Julie Holtmann recognized as Youth of the Year by the Missouri State Council Knights of Columbus

Julie was honored for her service, for the example she sets for fellow high school students and for the myriad activities in which she is involved, both at Cor Jesu and outside the classroom. Julie is an honor roll student, a member of National Honor Society, plays the flute for Cor Jesu events, is a long-jumper on the Track Team and is a member of the Latin Club. In addition, she remains active in her parish Girl Scout troop and in the youth group for which she served as a facilitator for the Luke 18 Retreat. Julie volunteers with the Knights of Columbus’ annual Basketball Tournament and Free Throw Contest. She also volunteers at the Arnold Food Pantry and Queen of Apostles Retreat Center, a ministry of the Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Imperial, MO. Julie also has served as a Camp Mater Dei Vocation Camp Counselor. Congratulations!

CJ Students Hit High Notes at State Music Festival

On May 1, 2010, 17 of our girls participated in the MSHSAA State Music Festival in Columbia, MO. The girls did a fantastic job representing CJ! Both vocal ensembles and our woodwind trio received "I" or Superior Rating (which they do not just hand out at the State level). In addition, our soloists either received a "I" or "II" rating.

Below are the girls who competed:

Sophomores: Emma Gassett, Haley Kloess

Juniors: Elena Arredondo, Amy Noser, Julie Phillips, Ann Martin, Claire Mispagel, Katie Boul, Emily Hart, Mo Schaetzel

Seniors: Maureen Mahon, Ruth Altmiller, Allison Dunn, Hannah Slabaugh, Jessa Daus, Coco Fernandez, Kelly Zahn

CJ Freshmen Provide Service to the Community

Freshmen Service Saturday took place on April 24, 2010 with Freshmen students offering service to the Special Olympics Spring Games, Missionaries of Charity Soup Kitchen and Shelter, and the Sacred heart Villa BBQ.

I.M.P.E.L. Helps with Habitat for Humanity Project

Members of I.M.P.E.L., Cor Jesu’s service club for juniors and seniors, helped with Habitat for Humanity’s Building Blitz on April 17th.

Scholar Bowl Team Competes in Districts

On Saturday, April 17, Cor Jesu’s Scholar Bowl team played in the MSHSAA District Tournament at SLUH. The varsity squad advanced to the Semi-Finals, where they achieved a 4th place finish.

Cor Jesu was ably represented by Ruth Altmiller, Claire Baumer, Ande Colson,Theresa Kelly, Kate Krienkamp, Jess Sawhill, Rachel Zeiss, and Amy Zimmerman.

“We’ve come a long way from our early days, and I’m so proud of the girls!” stated, head coach, Mrs. Sue Flynn. Assistant coaches, Mrs. Kathleen Koboldt and Mrs. Elizabeth Bird, add their congratulations to the team.

The tournament culminated this year’s Academic Competition schedule. The Scholar Bowl team, with varsity and JV squads, participates in a six week fall league among private schools, as well as individual meets throughout the year.

In October, the team participated for the first time in World Quest, an annual national competition, which tests students’ knowledge of current events, geography, history, and global issues. The local competition was held at Fontbonne University and attended by teams from over 60 schools.

All students are welcome to join the Scholar Bowl team. Signup and schedules will be announced in the fall, as well as plans for an even more successful season!

Concert Choir New Orleans Tour

On March 18th, 2010, Cor Jesu’s Concert Choir members headed for the city of jazz: New Orleans! While there, the students explored the beautiful city and enjoyed the opportunity to show off their talents. They visited the WWII museum, where they heard remarkable war stories from surviving soldiers. The Concert Choir was also thrilled to work with the University Singers of Loyola University. From Loyola, the choir traveled to Ursuline Academy, an all-girls Catholic high school located in the French Quarter. There they sang with the Ursuline choir, enjoyed getting to know the other girls, and made many new friends.

Saturday’s events included tours and performances at the Oak Alley and Laura Plantations, dinner at the Hard Rock Café, beignets at Café Du Monde and explorations in the Quarter. On Sunday, the choir worshiped with the community of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church. Pastor Fr. Don Ours met with the Concert Choir before Mass and talked about the impact of Hurricane Katrina in the lower 9th ward, where St. Joseph’s is located.

Congratulations to the CJA Mock Trial Team!

Cor Jesu advanced to the quarterfinals of the State Mock Trial Competition held downtown at the Thomas Eagleton U.S. Courthouse from March 26-28, where CJA faced previous state champions, Hickman School from Columbia, MO, and took all three ballots. Cor Jesu then went against Clayton and took one of three ballots, placing the team in the quarterfinals. Drawing the side of “plantiff,” CJ’s legal eagles battled MICDS to determine which team would advance to the semifinals. Because Cor Jesu and MICDS tied on two of the ballots from the style points evaluators, the case was handed over to the judges. In the end, MICDS received the ballot and advanced to become state champions. So, in CJ’s last trial on the State level, the Mock Trial team tied the state champs in skills, style and presentation abilities – a most deserving verdict!

Congratulations to the following students and all they have accomplished this year as a Team: Ali Bennett, 2011; Rachel Berry, 2011; Lauren Boyer, 2012; Ellen Bredenkoetter, 2012; Caitlin Curcuru, 2012; Carolyn Dolan, 2011; Marie Dutton, 2013; Hannah Emnett, 2012; Mia Eppler, 2011; Emily Jaeger, 2012; Rachel Jag, 2010; Theresa Kelly, 2010; Mariela Mara, 2013; Abby MarkusLongland, 2013; Taylor Mayhall, 2011; Michelle Rabe, 2012; Amy Schmidt, 2011; Dani Sheahan, 2013; Mary Simon, 2010; and Lisa Spellmeyer, 2012. They have worked so hard and have come so far as a Team, and we are so pround of their accomplishments.

Cor Jesu Students Raise $51,060 for Seven Charities
in Just One Week!

In just one week from February 19-26, 2010, Cor Jesu Academy students raised $51,060 to benefit seven charities through the school’s annual Student Council-sponsored “Penny Queen” activities. On Friday, March 12, 2010, the students presented representatives from the designated charities with the donations at an all-school assembly.

The charities that benefited from the students’ efforts include:

• The Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus’ mission in Benin, Africa

• Ride On St. Louis

• People to People (Haiti)

• Hands that Serve

• Women for Women International

• Mexico Mission Trip

• Cor Jesu’s Endowment Fund for tuition assistance

Throughout Penny Queen Week, each class, freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors, hosted an array of activities, including trivia nights, breakfasts, lunches and dinners, bake sales, raffles and more. Representatives from each class spearheaded the weeklong fund-raising activities.

Pictured above are representatives from the organizations: Cor Jesu President Sr. Barbara Thomas, ASCJ for the Cor Jesu Endowment Fund; Principal Sr. Kathleen Mary Coonan, ASCJ for the Apostles mission in Benin, Africa; Mary Jo Burkhart for Women for Women International; Marita Wassman for Ride On St. Louis; current parents, Tom and Julie Preis, founders of Hands that Serve; and Lauren Brennan for People to People (Haiti). Not pictured are Kelly Cahalin and Caroline Becherer for the Mexico Mission Trip.

Cor Jesu students collectively have raised more than $360,000 for local, national and international charities through its weeklong Penny Queen activities since 2001, averaging approximately $36,000 per year each of the past 11 years.