On Monday, seniors processed into the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception to place ornaments they crafted last week on the Christmas tree which was later blessed and illuminated during a Liturgy marking the solemnity of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. Monsignor William Benwell celebrated the liturgy with the Mount community.

Stephen Muratore, Chairperson of the Mathematics and Computer Science Departments, reported on December 6 that Mount Saint Mary Academy attained Platinum Star designation in the W!se (Working in Support of Education) Financial Literacy Program. The news was revealed during the 2024 MoneyPower Conference at FINRA (Financial Industry Regulatory Authority) in New York City.

Madeline Albrittain, World Languages Department Chairperson, announced that Manuela Roncancio-Roldan '25 and Aashrita Banerjee '26 have received the Global Seal of Biliteracy - Working Fluency for Spanish.

Before departing for Thanksgiving break, our Peer Ministers led a beautiful prayer service in the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception.

On the morning of Wednesday, November 13, nine members of the senior class received athletic recognition in the Mother Mary Patrick Gymnasium. The students were recognized for committing to the opportunity to continue their careers as student-athletes at the collegiate level. 

Members of the Mount's Civic Engagement Club (formerly known as JSA) and AP U.S. Government and Politics (APGOPO) classes organized an Election Fair, which was held on Election Day. This event aimed to deepen our school community’s understanding of voting rights history and the election process, fostering awareness among our future voters.

Envisioning the plight and sadness of children suffering from cancer who are spending their days in hospitals, facing treatment, and feeling sadness compelled Isabella Law ’26 and Isabella Vitorino ’26 sought to establish a Cancer Kids First (CFK) chapter at the Mount.

A special Mount tradition and celebration of sisterhood occurred this morning in the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception as juniors received their class rings during a special Mass led by Monsignor William Benwell. 

Thank you so much to all our parent and student volunteers who joined the Mount administration, faculty and staff to welcome our prospective families on October 20th for our annual Open House. We registered over 160 grade 5, 6, 7 and 8 potential candidates who came to learn more about Mount academics, athletics and activities in this spiritual environment filled with support and focus on the whole student.

A new club at Mount Saint Mary Academy, Women of the Word is a Bible study group which aims to be a welcoming environment for all students who are interested in connecting with their peers on a spiritual level. While students learn about scripture in Sophomore Theology class, Women of the Word offers opportunities for students to look at scripture in a more casual setting with other students who are also interested in growing in their faith. The group is open to all students, regardless of their level of experience with scripture. The goal is to find a supportive community where everyone can grow together and learn more about God.

Every 10 minutes, somewhere in our world, an adolescent girl dies as a result of violence. There are young women being denied the right to an education, forced to marry as young as 8 years of age, discarded and deemed less than their male counterparts. According to Sister Deirdre Mullan, RSM the Mercy Girl Effect can make effective change to turn this plight around.

The College Board announced that Mount Saint Mary Academy has been named to the 2024 Advanced Placement® Program (AP®) School Honor Roll, earning Platinum distinction. Platinum is the highest level in a program that includes bronze, silver, gold, and platinum categories. Mount Saint Mary Academy exceeded the criteria for Platinum recognition across all AP School Honor Roll metrics.

On the afternoon of Mercy Day, members of the school community reconvened in the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception to recognize and applaud student leaders for the 2024-2025 academic year.

In every corner of the Mount campus, Mercy was celebrated this week with a wide assortment of service activities that challenged the school community to step forward and aid local organizations for residents in need. Students competed by grade level to earn service points as they made donations of books, food, drinks, and clothing to organizations.

Following our Mercy Day Liturgy, Shelby Carmant ’25 (Student Council Executive Board President) offered a special presentation to recognize the 25 years of leadership and commitment of Sister Lisa Gambacorto, RSM, Ed.S., Directress as well as Sister’s 45 years as a Sister of Mercy.

On September 18, Jacqueline Muratore (Assistant Directress for Faculty, Curriculum, and Planning) and Elizabeth Roper (Director of College Counseling and Cum Laude Secretary) provided the following seniors with their letters of invitation to the Cum Laude Society. Sister Lisa Gambacorto, RSM, Ed.S. (Directress and Cum Laude President) was also on hand to offer congratulatory wishes to the honored students.

The Operation Smile International Student Leadership Conference (ISLC) was attended by Mounties Isla Bernens '26, Sabrina Cialdella '27, Elizabeth Corrigan '25, and Makena Muchiri '27 at Emory University in Georgia from July 22 to 28. During the conference, the Mount was presented with the prestigious 2024 Pillar of Action Award.

Mount Saint Mary Academy has reported that two students – Madison E. DeFrancisco '25 and Grace A. Prayias '25 -- have been named Semifinalists in the 70th Annual National Merit Scholarship Program Competition. 

Following the traditional "clapping in" of the Class of 2028 from the Mount Building to the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception, the school year was officially ushered in at Convocation.

Mount Saint Mary Academy is pleased to congratulate the 69 students recognized by the College Board as AP Scholars. The 2024 AP Exam results allowed 23 students to be named as AP Scholars with Distinction, 13 students were named as AP Scholars with Honors and 33 students were named as AP Scholars. 

On the eve of their graduation, members of the senior class and their parents gathered in Immaculate Conception Chapel for a Baccalaureate Mass which was led by Reverend Monsignor William Benwell. Reverend Monsignor Patrick Dubois also served as a celebrant. Senior Class President, Isabelle Fretz '24, offered welcome remarks.

Congratulations to the Mount Saint Mary Academy Class of 2024! Commencement Exercises were held on Saturday, June 1, in Immaculate Conception Chapel where diplomas were conferred to the 69 seniors and special awards were distributed.

Congratulations to Josie Heim ’27, who received special recognition from the American Classical League and the National Junior Classical League for achieving a perfect score on the National Latin Exam.

On May 28, Mount students participated in a portion of the Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Route, which is the eastern arm of the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage (NEP). Each of the four routes on the NEP will meet this summer at the National Eucharistic Congress in July. 

On Wednesday and Thursday, 14 Mount juniors received special college recognition and book awards.

The Mount community gathered on the evening of May 22nd at The Pines Manor to recognize the accomplishments of student-athletes during the 2023-2024 academic year. 

June Gill '24 is one of 26 recipients of the Stamps Eminence Scholarship at Ohio State University. She is also one of only nine recipients from out-of-state and the only New Jersey student to garner this award.

Social Studies Department Chairperson, Joanne Cadigan-Peters, presented Rachel Castela '24 with the Excellence of American History award from the Basking Ridge Chapter of the Daughters of American Revolution (DAR).

The academic/extracurricular accomplishments of our students as well as the professional and volunteer efforts of our Mount community were lauded and recognized on the evening of Monday, May 20, in Immaculate Conception Chapel during our annual Academy Awards Night.

On the morning of May 3, two members of the Class of 2024 were celebrated by administration, coaches, family and friends in Mother Mary Patrick Gymnasium for their athletic commitments to colleges and universities.

Lieutenant Commander Lindsey Beates (pictured left, United States Naval Academy ‘10, United States Navy Reserve, Blue and Gold Officer), presented Amelia Benjamin ‘24 with her Certificate of Appointment to the United States Naval Academy on the morning of Monday, April 29. Amelia was celebrated in the Parlor of the Mount building while surrounded by her family, school administration, faculty, and friends.

We cannot believe how quickly the time has gone by! Our Class of 2024 is almost ready to graduate! Before that happens, we are excited to share a special keepsake photograph of our senior Mounties wearing the sweatshirts which reflect their college choices. We are so incredibly proud of each of you!

Reese Hannon ‘24 and Denise Materia (Assistant Directress and Athletic Director) were honored at the Skyland Conference Scholar-Athlete Awards Ceremony on April 29th. Reese received the Carl Weigner Scholar-Athlete Award, and Ms. Materia was honored with the Skyland Conference Service Award for her 40 years as the Mount’s Athletic Director. We are so proud of you both!

A special May Crowning Liturgy was celebrated last Friday morning in Immaculate Conception Chapel by the Mount Saint Mary Academy community, led by Monsignor William Benwell. The proud grandparents of freshmen and sophomores also attended the Liturgy.

Lila Keller '25 was recently awarded the Angela Intili-Stokes Music Scholarship in the amount of $1,500 to foster her passion for music, her faith, and the arts.

Buddies on the Hill, a Mount club started by Kathleen Altobelli ’24, Emma Szabo ’24, and moderated by Julia Pierce (Enrollment Management Associate, Student Council Moderator), held its prom on Tuesday evening at St. Joseph's High School in Metuchen. Buddies on the Hill teamed up with Falcons & Friends a club at St. Joe’s last year, an organization created to include individuals with special needs into our community. These past two years have been so rewarding and a success for the program!

Donna Toryak, Director of Enrollment Management, shared that the hill was alive with the sounds of grade 6, 7 and 8 siblings sharing their day at the Mount on Friday, April 12. The annual Mount Sisters Shadow Day was a huge success as the girls endured picture taking upon arrival in the foyer, attended classes together, enjoyed treats in the Snack Shack during CWP and socialized during lunch with their sisters’ classmates.

Students and their families gathered in Immaculate Conception Chapel on the evening of Wednesday, April 17, for Honors Convocation. During the program, students were inducted into the Art Honor Society, Tri-M Music Honor Society, National Computer Science Honor Society, English Honor Society, Mathematics Honor Society, Science Honor Society, World Language Honor Societies (Italian, Spanish, Latin), National Honor Society, and The Cum Laude Society.

In the span of one half day, the Mount Saint Mary Academy community bands together to illustrate the importance of the Mercy Core Values - Inspired by Faith and Compelled by Mercy - by reaching out to improve the lives of others in need during Service Day. This annual event, which was held on April 10, featured separate grade levels under the advisement of faculty/staff in different shifts, assisting various organizations on and off campus. 

The 49ers may have lost the 2024 Super Bowl but at the MOUNT, it was the 27ers and 26ers who were victorious in our Cereal Super Bowl! CONGRATULATIONS to the freshman and sophomore classes for donating the most boxes to benefit our drive for Starfish Food Pantry in Plainfield. The entire Mount community including members of the Class of 2028 heeded our call and we were able to help fill the food pantry shelves with about 275 boxes. Arrangements are being made to award those classes with a dress down day for the grade 9 and 10 students as a reward for their participation. Thanks so much to all for your support for this year’s annual Cereal Super Bowl!

We appreciate the compassion, guidance, leadership, and Mercy spirit demonstrated each and every day by our Catholic Sisters of Mercy at Mount Saint Mary. On Thursday, balloons and cards were gifted in gratitude and in honor of #CatholicSistersWeek to Sister Lisa D. Gambacorto, RSM, Ed.S. (Directress) and Sister Lee Ann Amico, RSM (Student Center Moderator). Thank you for all that you do!

There were so many exciting options for students to consider as they attended the annual College Fair in the Mother Mary Patrick Gymnasium on March 12 where they were greeted by representatives from over 70 colleges and universities. To view the list of the representatives, click here.

On Friday, February 16, members of the Future Medical Professionals Club had the opportunity to become immersed in key scientific and medical issues during their visit to the Rutgers-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School anatomy lab with Dr. Michael Bernard, science teacher.

On February 20, Sister Lisa D. Gambacorto, RSM, Ed.S. (Directress and President of the Mount’s Chapter of the Cum Laude Society), Jacqueline Muratore (Assistant Directress of Faculty, Curriculum, and Planning), and Elizabeth Roper (Director of College Counseling and Chapter Secretary of the Cum Laude Society) recognized the seniors elected to the Cum Laude Society for the Class of 2024.

On the evening of January 31, Elizabeth Roper and Eileen Honicky of the College Counseling Department hosted “College Conversations: Student-Athletes,” a virtual information session for students and families. Joined by Nicole Valk, Senior Admissions Manager and Athletic Liaison Manager of the Office of Admission and Recruitment for the University of Wisconsin-Madison, attendees were provided information, resources and advice on the college admission and recruitment process.

In an effort to promote awareness about the importance of students taking care of themselves, the Mount's Student Assistance Committee hosted Wellness Day on Thursday, February 1. A wide variety of workshops were offered to give students the tools to support their physical and mental health. The day began with a motivational presentation entitled "Choose to Love, Choose ALOHA," from keynote speaker Kevin Wanzer. His empowering message focused on love, laughter, and leadership.

The Sister Lisa Gambacorto Theater was filled Tuesday evening with accepted students and their families who were eager and excited about becoming a part of the Mount community. The Accepted Students Reception was organized by Donna Toryak (Director of Enrollment Management) and Julia Pierce (Enrollment Management Associate) with special comments delivered by Sister Lisa Gambacorto, RSM, Ed.S., Directress.

It was a meeting of the math minds at the Mount during the Annual Math Competition between young women from area schools competing on our campus and young men competing at St. Joseph High School in Metuchen on January 27. Student and faculty volunteers facilitated the event with Jacqueline Muratore (Assistant Directress for Faculty, Curriculum, and Planning) as well as tours for attending parents with Julia Pierce (Enrollment Management Associate).

Mount Saint Mary Academy has earned the College Board’s 2023 AP Computer Science Female Diversity Award for expanding young women’s access to AP Computer Science A and AP Computer Science Principles (CSP). The Academy has been recognized by the College Board for its excellence in educating young women in AP Computer Science since 2018.

It was a musical morning at the Mount on January 17 as the Cornell University Chorus and Glee Club visited the Mount as a stop during their Northeast Tour. After rehearsing in Chapel, they held a Master Class for members of our Chorale, doing vocal warm-ups and teaching them one of their tour songs and a South African song of prayer entitled, “Bawo, Thixo Somandla.” Before departing, the ensembles performed for each other and the Cornell Chorus and Glee Club sang the Cornell Alma Mater.