Community

As the 2010-2011 School Year comes to a close I realize how long it has been since I've posted a blog ~ the year seems to have flown by especially since we have been back from Easter Break! Since Easter Union Catholic has come together to celebrate Junior and Senior Proms, May Crowning, held a Meet the Coaches Night and crowned a new Mr UC, hosted a Golf Outing, celebrated multiple Conference, County and State Athletic Titles, selected our new ambassadors and big brothers and sisters, said good-by to the Class of 2011 and hosted a "right of passage" breakfast for our juniors ~ to say it has been busy is to say the least. However, today I'd like to focus on two events that took place that I think give you the essence of who UC is ~ We are a Community!

The Spring Concert ~
The UC Spring concert always has a theme; when I asked Mr. Frio (music director) what the theme was this year, he told me it was Halloween. Wow Halloween in Spring..."outside the box" to say the least. Mr. Frio explained that the students this year were really passionate about the music from that time of year and therefore, Mr. Frio allowed them the freedom to express themselves! To say that is was a fabulous concert would not even begin to convey how much fun it was ~ Here we sat on May 17th with a stage decorated with pumpkins, cobwebs and students decked out in their favorite Halloween costumes. The music was lively, fun and everyone loved it ~ A Community of Creativity!

Relay For Life ~
Union Catholic High School has one of the largest SMAC (Student Movement Against Cancer) groups in the area and The Clark Relay For Life held at Arthur L. Johnson this past weekend tapped into the "UC Community" by using SMAC students to help pull off one of their most successful Relays. Over 100 Union Catholic students came together (even our graduated seniors) to raise money and walk all night in support of finding a cure for cancer. You could see Union Catholic students throughout the school grounds doing everything from walking for their team, face painting, selling luminary and working the food stand. Even a severe thunderstorm and down pour couldn't dampen their enthusiasm! Even though their night was cut short by the storm, the UC Community raised over $15,000 for Cancer Research.....great job kids!!

I think the reason these two events stuck out to me this spring is that it emulated one the Union Catholic Core Values ~ "COMMUNITY"! Whether it is a community of students free enough to express themselves musically or a community raising money for a cause that has touched so many of our lives. As I stood on the track Friday night at Relay ready to do the "Survivors" lap, I felt truly blessed to be there with the UC kids....The theme this year was "More Birthdays" I am happy to say that as a survivor I have celebrated 14 more birthdays ~ not just my birthdays but the birthdays of my five children and now a grandson; so thank you UC Community for being committed to a cause that is so close to my heart!


As I write this blog the last exam has just finished and the school year is officially over for our Union Catholic Community ~ Safe and Healthy Summer Everyone!

Locked In and More

This has been a busy week at UC, not that all our weeks aren't busy!

The week began with a tag day in celebration of World Language Week which also brought, International Bake Offs, Poster Contests and Carnivale. Carnivale is a celebration much like Fat Tuesday, the day be before Lent begins. Students, faculty and staff gathered in our gymnasium for a beautiful prayer service and the distribution of ashes on Ash Wednesday.

Tuesday, we welcomed the Class of 2015 Scholarship Winners and their families at a reception held in our main foyer. Music was provided by two of our music students, Mark and Tatiana and families were greeted by some of our Emerging Leaders and Student Ambassadors. Mr. & Mrs. Hartnett spoke beautifully about the impact Union Catholic has had on their son Brian who will be heading to Notre Dame next year and their freshman son TJ who is already making his mark at UC. Annie, a junior at UC, also addressed families and shared her experiences in the Distinguished Scholars Program. It was wonderful to feel the energy in the room and to see how excited the Class of 2015 is to be coming to UC!

We were happy to welcome these same students and so many more at the Union Catholic Lock-In on Friday night. Class of 2015 students poured into UC and jumped right into a night of fun, food, games and getting to know all their future classmates!!

Thursday faculty, parents and alumni attended the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick Annual Dinner where Assistant Principal Jim Reagan was presented with the Distinguished Service Award....congratulations Mr. Reagan!!

Saturday we saw the Union Catholic Irish Vikings carrying Ireland's County Banners down the center of Union in the Union County St. Patrick's Day Parade. Thank you to the Parade Committee for the beautiful Irish Viking Sweatshirts!!!

Union Catholic's Emerging Leaders were also busy on Saturday working the first annual St. Bartholomew 5K. Congratulations to St. Bart's on a successful event!

Union Catholic's Track and Field Team spent the weekend at the NY Armony where Nike hosted the indoor National Meet...congratulations UC Track!! Spring sports began this week as well ~ how exciting it was to see so many of the Vikings all out practicing on that beautiful field!

With so much happening....UC is definitely....Where you want to be!!

UC WOWS

So many exciting things happen on a daily basis here at UC...Sister Percylee calls them her "UC Wows" and this week was an especially exciting week.

All our seniors have been logging all their colleges acceptances and scholarship offers in the guidance office and we are so very proud of each of their accomplishments ~ Notre Dame, Boston College, Villanova, Lehigh, Georgetown...their futures all look so bright. However, we in the admissions office were anxiously awaiting with one of our senior ambassadors for news from his top choice and Thursday he received the news!! He has been appointed to the United States Naval Academy - congratulations Vinnie - we are all so very proud!!

Thursday was also the day that one of our seniors joined the ranks of few by scoring his 1,000 point in a game on the road against RC. A celebratory breakfast with his teammates followed the next day and he has gone on to break the school record of points scored in a high school career ~ Congratulations Bryan!!!

Sunday, baseball coach and long time UC friend, Coach Burns was inducted into the Union County Baseball Hall of Fame ~ Congratulations Coach on all you have done for the UC Community.

And as we approach St. Patrick's Day, we were so excited to hear that this years Leadership in Service Award for the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick is going to Assistant Principal, Jim Reagan ~ Enjoy the dinner Mr. Reagan and thank you for all you have done and continue to do for the students of UC!

As the week wrapped up, our students skyped with Archbishop Meyers, celebrated Black History Month, competed and won individual State Track and Field Titles at the "Bubble" in Toms River. Every day life at UC is anything but ordinary...extraordinary things happen every day! I'll try to keep you up to date! however, it is no reason why.....UC IS WHERE WE WANT TO BE!!

Personality Plus!

Each new class brings its own personality to the UC Family and the Class of 2015 is no exception. If I had to think of a word that descripes the Class of 2015 it would be perseverance. This winter has made it less than easy to visit their prospective high schools, attend events or even get to registration....yet they did.

They had danced the night away at the Accepted Students Dance, had their questions answered on Q&A Sunday and braved icy conditions to attend registration! Saturday's registration was buzzing with excitement as our newest members greated each other, picked up their Class of 2015 T-shirt (designed by UC Alum and art teacher Becky Venezia Schroppe), bought their UC hoodies and signed up to attend the Class of 2015 Lock-In!!

Why wouldn't they be excited ~ UC will offer them an opportunity to learn in a 21st Century learning environment, help them to grow spiritually and socially, challenge them to give back to their community and have a lot of fun along the way!

The Class of 2015 made it very clear....UC IS WHERE THEY WANT TO BE!