Cheverus Stories

Dear Friends, 

Today, I announce that Beth Hanley, our director of admissions, will step down August 31, 2022 and Greg Szkarlat, director of campus ministry, will retire at the end of the school year. 

Beth joined Cheverus in 2016 as director of communications and has served as director of admissions for over five years.

Beth has reimagined and reinvented the Cheverus admissions process and has creatively responded to the changing admissions environment. She speaks from the heart when she shares her passion for our mission and what differentiates Jesuit education. She is a trusted resource as she accompanies families through the admissions cycle and beyond. Beth celebrates our students and truly cares for their personal, academic, and spiritual growth. Her warm, welcoming, and highly personalized approach has made families from all backgrounds feel welcome as they explore Cheverus.

As an institution, we have benefited immeasurably from Beth’s involvement in myriad aspects of school life. Beyond her success in admissions, her leadership of the Italian exchange program created an opportunity for our students and families to be global citizens and strengthened the bonds of the global Jesuit network. As a Kairos leader, faculty and staff retreat leader, Arrupe advisor, service chaperone, ardent fan, compassionate member of  the Cura Personalis Committee, dedicated member of the Leadership Team, proud parent, and tireless ambassador for Cheverus, Beth embodies what it means to live the Magis. 

We are deeply grateful for her dedication to strengthen recruitment and efforts to make the admissions process more approachable and less stressful for families, but we are perhaps most grateful for her cheerful and loving presence in our community. 

Fortunately, Lillian still has two more years, so Beth will continue to be on campus frequently supporting Cheverus and our mission as an active parent and volunteer . 

A lifelong Catholic educator, Greg Szkarlat came to Cheverus in 2004 from the Campus Ministry Team at DePaul University in Chicago. Working with young adults at the college level formed Greg’s vision for the possibilities of student leadership, and fortunately for Cheverus, Greg’s passion for this work has never waned during his time with us. Because of Greg, Cheverus develops strong Catholic leaders. Students have active roles in liturgies, act as “directors” on retreats not only for underclassmen but also for their peers on Kairos, and deliver speeches at graduation about their relationship with God. Behind all of these confident, articulate young Catholics has been a Director of Campus Ministry who has followed and modeled Christ’s example of servant leadership. 

On our retreats and in our Campus Ministry Office, Greg creates a welcoming and warm environment perfect for teenagers to explore their faith and share their thoughts in a spiritual manner. As the founder and moderator for the Stag Alliance - Cheverus’ LBGTQ affinity group - Greg has been a pioneer in supporting students who have often felt marginalized in our community. Greg has a gift for making students know that they are being heard and that what they have to say is important. As one of Greg’s colleagues wrote, “Greg’s strength is that he is committed to the ideal that we are to be people ‘with’ others.  Being ‘for’ others is important.  To do things for others is necessary and admirable.  To be with others, for Greg, is what creates the heaven on earth that he believes is possible.” 
 

The searches for a new director of admissions and director of campus ministry will begin immediately. We look forward to celebrating Beth and Greg at our end-of-the-year events in June. 

For Cheverus,

Fr. Robert J. Pecoraro, SJ 

In celebration of Catholic Schools Week, Karaoke Night returns! 

The World Language Club will host Karaoke Night on Wednesday, February 2, as part of the events for Catholic Schools Week. Tickets are $5 and proceeds go to Maine Needs, a local nonprofit dedicated to helping families in Maine meet their basic needs. All Cheverus students, faculty, and staff may participate as performers or as spectators! If you are interested in performing, please contact Emily Banks with your song choice and group members.

Thank you to Mr. Burke and the St. Brigid School - Portland, Maine community for welcoming a group of our students, who are proud St. Brigid's alumni, to meet with the 8th graders to talk about the transition to high school. Thank you for the very warm reception -- our students truly enjoyed the visit to their beloved school! Thank you to Arina Matkevich, Caris Welsh, Elle Cooney, Grace Kutz, Jack Fenton, and Sophia Scola for making the trip.

This Lent, the Key Club and Campus Ministry are partnering on an Easter Basket Drive. Together with The Root Cellar, Cheverus students will assemble Easter baskets for the kids of Greater Portland. The baskets will be filled with traditional Easter trinkets and treats, as well as practical items.

Each week, for the remainder of Lent, the Cheverus community is asked to contribute to each weekly-designated age group. The drive starts Monday, March 1, with baby/infant products.

Here is the schedule:

• Week One: March 1-5 — Babies/Infants
  (wipes, pacifiers, diapers, formula, rattles/hand toys, teething rings, etc.)
   
• Week Two: March 8-12 — Toddlers
  (pull-ups, toothbrushes, toothpaste, fun soaps, superhero Band-Aids, socks, board books, small toys, etc.)
   
• Week Three: March 15-19 — Elementary School
  (toiletries, socks and underwear, arts & crafts, crayons, activity books, reading books, etc.)
   
• Week Four: March 22 -26 — Middle School
  (card games, more mature activities, toiletries(deodorant, soaps, etc.), socks and underwear, tech accessories, etc.)
   
• Week Five: March 29-April 1st — Candy
  (hard candy, lollipops, bagged candy (M&Ms, jelly beans), snack-size candy bars, gum, gummy snacks, etc.)

All items donated can be dropped off during morning check-in in the boxes set up in the Atrium Community members are asked to contribute what they can, but this is not a required project for students.

Did you know that every 2 seconds someone in the U.S. needs blood?

Help save lives.

The Cheverus National Honor Society will be hosting a Red Cross Blood Drive on Friday, March 12 from 9:00 AM-2:00 PM at St. Pius X Church, 492 Ocean Ave, Portland.

This blood drive is open students all eligible students (feeling well, at least 17 years old (16 with a signed permission slip) have not donated blood in the last 56 days - see eligibility criteria), Cheverus families and friends. Please spread the word!

Click here to register  for an appointment:

The SPONSOR CODE is 'CHEVERUS'.

The zip code is 04103.

Fill out the American Red Cross RapidPass on the day of the blood drive:

The Ignatian Solidarity Network's Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice -- the largest annual Catholic social justice gathering in the United States -- will take place virtually this year from October 24 to October 25. This year's IFTJ theme is "Prophetic Resilience: Breaking Down • Building Up," and will focus on our calls to break down all that separates us from the love of God as we build up our individual and collective capacities for healing and justice.

The Cheverus delegation will be participating remotely on Cheverus' campus this year. Participation in the Teach-In will cost $50-$75. Please speak to Mr. Szkarlat if cost is an issue for you. The conference will run from noon - 8:00 p.m. on Saturday and noon - 5:00 p.m. on Sunday. Dinner will be included.

Please fill out this application.by Friday, September 18, if you are interested in attending. If you are selected to attend the conference this year, you will need to pay an initial deposit of $25 by Friday, September 25. The remaining deposit will be due Friday, October 9.

Click here to visit IFTJ site for more information.

Have you seen the decoy dogs on the snow-covered fields? These are canine decoys. The weather-resistant cut-outs have effectively - and humanely - kept Canada geese off our the fields since before the snow blanketed them.  

Canada Goose feces can cause property damage, compromise the safety players on the fields, and have the potential to pose health threats due to the presence of disease-causing organisms. This program to deter resident geese is in its first year, and has been effective thus far. 

Check out this retrospective video from 2019. 

It is as if the ferry Captain Henry Lee travels back in time over the course of the six-mile trip from Bass Harbor, Maine to Swan’s Island. The island is just as you think it would be: a place of raw beauty with a pace of life directed by the tides, gulls flying overhead, the smell of the sea in the air, and a horizon dotted with islands. 

This spring, nine students had the opportunity to participate in a science immersion project on Swan’s Island. Students worked with marine biology and environmental science teacher Ms. Erika Rhile and Dr. Peter Petraitis, biology professor emeritus from the University of Pennsylvania. 

Students were introduced to fieldwork in the intertidal zone of the island. Their research findings contributed to long-term baseline research for a National Science Foundation grant-funded study. The research project, focused on the ecological mechanisms that maintain stands of algae and beds of mussels and barnacles in the Gulf of Maine as distinct, self-sustaining communities, is in its 17th year. Essentially, researchers are investigating what makes certain areas of the shore between the high and low tide marks become fertile ground for rockweed, mussels, or barnacles. 

The work at the various sites across the island is at the mercy of tides; only when it was low tide did the work begin. Ms. Rhile and Dr. Petraitis, the principal investigator, led the group of students from site to site along the shore. The task of spotting the resin disks and ceramic tiles screwed into the rocks under the thick piles of seaweed draped across the stoney shore seemed akin to finding a needle in the haystack for the students. But Rhile and Petraitis know these sites well. They have worked along these shores for over twenty years. 

Ms. Rhile knew the shortcut through the woods to Fine Sand Beach and navigated the group over the granite outcropping to the wide swath of rockweed on the edge of the tidal pool. Almost instinctively, she directed the group to just the right rock. Trying not to slip, crouched on their knees, the students searched for the resin disks and ceramic tiles below the Ascophyllum nodosum and Fucus vesiculosus. Pushing aside the fronds, students placed quadrats on the rocks and called out counts for different species, while other students recorded the data. Once the number of mobile and non-mobile species were recorded, the resin disks and tiles were removed and tucked away securely. The students examined these under a microscope back at Petraitis’ house, a turn-of-the-last-century white clapboard house on the north side of the island. 

The resin disks are handmade tools of the trade used to mimic the rocks upon which baby mussels land after a swirling journey through the ocean. The handmade ceramic tiles are about two inches square with a grid imprinted on each one. Under the microscope, the students counted baby barnacles, mussels, and other species on these landing spots. Groups of students used the two microscopes set up in a room at the back of the house while Ms. Rhile entered data on her laptop, assisted by a student, at the kitchen table. One student called for Rhile to confirm his observation that no barnacles were on the tiles he examined under the microscope. Rhile checked and confirmed that the tile was empty. All of this student’s tiles were empty.

Over a family-style dinner at the dining room table, just off the original 121 year-old kitchen, Dr. Petraitis talked to the students about his research. He said his data show that mussels have seen a steady decline in the years he has been conducting research. He said, “mussels aren’t forming because of the acidification of the Gulf of Maine and gastropods are experiencing the same thing.” 

This year, the numbers were low all around. “Part of the Swan's Island trip is learning about the interconnectedness of a community based upon the ocean. What we see in the tide pools is a microcosm of what's going on out in the ocean,” said Ms. Rhile. “This spring's lack of barnacle recruitment led to some hypotheses of what that might mean on a grander scale. If their free-swimming larva are being affected in the water column, what does that mean to other species’ larva, like lobsters?” she said.

“From my perspective, I love offering this immersion since it gives students a real sense of what science truly is -- the tedious data entry, the dirty fieldwork, the exciting finds...they are all a part of the reality of research. Although most kids come away with a sense of ‘I wish school was like this every day!’, some kids also get a feeling of ‘this isn't my cup of tea’ - and that's great, too,” said Rhile. 

While the research is focused on the natural communities of mussels competing with barnacles, there was another community being cultivated around the shared meals, on hikes across the island, and during fieldwork over the three days. This experience created deeper relationships among the students and with their teacher. In fact, retired science teacher Hank St. Pierre served as chef on this trip because he enjoyed these trips so much in the past, and he had the chance to reconnect with many students he taught. 

On the drives from site to site, many of the islanders recognized the “Stag Van.” Ms. Rhile, a long-time summer resident on the island, stopped a number of times to exchange a quick hello and share updates with island residents. Just 300 reside on the island over the long Maine winters and lobstering is the primary occupation. 

Over the course of the three days, Rhile gave the students a sense of what island life was like: the planning involved when there is only a small market on the island, the logistics needed to head off island including the string of cars parked along Ferry Street, why restaurants have a hard time surviving on the dry island, and the impact changes in the ocean have on islanders. The Maine Master Naturalist couldn’t help but point out the best spots for chanterelles and shared some friendly advice to avoid stepping on the skunk weed, “it really smells, trust me.” These conversations exposed the students, many staying on a Maine island for the first time, to a community in Maine with an umbilical connection to the ocean that surrounds it. 

Ms. Rhile also shared her story of how she ended up working on research on the intertidal zone on a small island off the coast of Maine because she was open to an opportunity, one that certainly transformed her life. A Pennsylvania-native, she was studying biology in college, visiting Swan’s Island one summer, when a chance encounter with Dr. Petraitis at the island post office began a series of events that eventually led to their 23-year working relationship.

There is a lesson there, too, outlined in the Grad at Grad: being open to growth. She said that this immersion trip, “introduces students to something that either they fall in love with or don't,” and this “is a life lesson. Either way, the students are involved in tangible results--publications where they and Cheverus High School are acknowledged.” 

In fact, the Cheverus student’s ongoing involvement in this research has been recognized and lauded by NSF grant reviewers: “the involvement in this research by high school students led by their teacher is highly admirable.” Still another reviewer observed, “The inclusion of a high school teacher and high school students each year goes far beyond many NSF funded projects that I have reviewed.”

Ms. Rhile’s passion for her work, the outdoors, and the small, “magical” island off the coast of Maine is a gift she gives each student who participates in the Swan’s Island marine biology trip. It is a lesson outside the classroom that educates the whole person. These students had a chance to learn about the day-to-day work of a marine biologist, but also experienced life on a Maine island first-hand. With Ms. Rhile’s guidance, the boys and girls witnessed the beauty and grandeur of our state and the important role the ocean plays in the Maine way of life and had a real-life science experience. 

Click the photo above to see more photos from this Swan's Island marine biology immersion trip this past spring. 

Click image above for the full album of photos from the assembly. 

The following students were recognized during the Underclassman Awards Assembly on May 23, 2018:

• Undergraduate of the Year -- Julia Ryan
• Cheverus Award -- Junior Class -- Nicholas Galeucia
• Cheverus Award -- Sophomore Class -- Victoria Bossong
• Cheverus Award -- Freshmen Class -- Marshall Fowler
• Phi Beta Kappa Award -- Quinton Hastings

College Book Awards

• Assumption College -- Grace Ellwell
• Boston College -- Sarah Cummings
• Brandeis University -- Nathan Jacob
• Catholic University -- Daniella Niederneyer
• College of the Atlantic -- Michael Luna
• Dartmouth College -- Maddie Williams
• Fairfield University -- Maeve Swift
• George Washington University -- Aidan Treutel
• Harvard University -- Julia Ryan
• The College of the Holy Cross -- Emma Gallant
• Le Moyne College -- Harrison Bell
• Randolph College -- Ethan Hunt
• Rensselaer Medal -- Tyson Matthews
• Rochester Institute of Technology Computer Medal -- Matthew Scanlon
• Springfield College -- Nicholas Galli
• St. Anselm College -- Brendan Fedrizzi
• St. Michael’s College -- Caroline Taylor
• St. Michael’s College -- Luke Knowles
• St. Thomas University -- Caty DuDevoir
• Stonehill College  -- Alexandra Hammond
• Suffolk University -- Emily Broome
• Williams College -- Daniel Haskell
• Yale University -- Nicholas Galeucia

Faculty Recognition

The Duffy Award has been presented annually to a teacher since 2005 in recognition of dedication to teaching and support of Cheverus High School students. The inaugural Driscoll Award is presented in memory of Mrs. Pat Driscoll to a Cheverus staff member in recognition for his or her support of Cheverus High School, its students, and its Mission.

• Duffy Award -- Ms. Kathy Little
• Driscoll Award -- Mrs. Karen Connick

Art Show Awards

• First Place --Ellen Han
• Second Place -- Ava Rausch
• Student Choice -- Tyson Matthews

Music Awards

• Maine Music Educators Association (MMEA) District 2 Band -- Cosima Curran
• MMEA District 2 Orchestra  -- Lydia Niedermeyer
• MMEA District 2 Chorus -- Emily Bontatibus, Robert Crean, Kiera Delahanty, Brendan Fedrizzi, Lindsey LeFevre, Colby White
• MMEA District 2 Honors Jazz Choir -- Emily Bontatibus, Anna Humphrey, Elizabeth Wales, Colby White
• MMEA All-State Chorus -- Elizabeth Wales
• MMEA All-State Jazz Choir -- Robert Crean, Anna Humphrey, Elizabeth Wales, Colby White
   

State Drama Festival

• Judge's Award for Scenic Design & Constructionn: Cast and crew of "Haunted by Goats"
• All-Festival Cast Award -- Maiya Koloski

National Merit Program Recognition

The following students will be recognized as commended students or semifinalists by the National Merit Program next fall.

• Maeve Swift
• Aidan Treutel
• Madeline Williams

Math Awards

• Superior Achievement in the New England Math League 

  Victoria Bossong
  Margaret Earley

History & Social Sciences Awards

• DAR Award in American History -- Tyson Matthews
• Maine Lions Speak Out Contest, 2nd Place -- Danielle Whyte

Athletics Recognitions

The following students were named to the All-Conference Teams for Spring 2018, Fall 2018 and Winter 2019 :

Class of 2020

• Chris Cimino -- Baseball (2018 Spring)
• Caroline Taylor -- Softball (2018 Spring)
• Alex Hammond -- Softball (2018 Spring)
• Emma Gallant -- Outdoor Track (2018 Spring), Soccer, Indoor Track
• Nicholas Galli -- Basketball
• Julia Ryan -- Indoor Track
• Sean Tompkins -- Outdoor Track (2018 Spring), Football, Indoor Track

Class of 2021

• Neve Cawley -- Girls Lax (2018 Spring)
• Victoria Bossong -- Outdoor Track (2018 Spring), Indoor Track
• Helena Bolduc -- Outdoor Track (2018 Spring)
• Giovanni Fornaro -- Outdoor Track (2018 Spring), Indoor Track
• Mia Kratzer -- Soccer
• Nolan Sanborn -- Basketball
• Dylan Morrison -- Basketball
• Brim Peabody -- Swimming
• Sophie Schuele -- Indoor Track
• Mackenzie Turner -- Cross Country
• Ella Davie -- Basketball

Class of 2022

• Frank Morang -- Indoor Track
• Lillie Singleton -- Basketball

Campus Ministry Recognitions

Junior Retreat Leaders

• Harrison Bell
• Gavin Callahan
• Luke Knowles
• Poni Lako
• Julia Ryan
• Grace Shimansky
• Jackson Wilson
• Hannah Woodford

Eucharistic Minister -- Michael Luna

Rosebud Immersion Trip, June 2018

• Declan Danzig
• Emily Huntington
• Caitlin Kennedy-Jensen
• Julia Ryan
• Luke Knowles

Ignatian Family Teach-In, 2018

• Sarah Cummings
• Ella Davie
• Emma Dyer
• Nick Galeucia
• Luke Knowles
• Miki Morin
• Joseph St. John

Arrupe Leaders Summit, 2019

• Harrison Bell
• Sophie Schuele
• Danielle Whyte
• Estella Mutoni

Portland Immersion, 2019

• Ella Cimino
• Emily Elowich
• Meghan Foster
• Evangelo Kapothanasis
• Ava Rausch
• Nate Rogers
• Colby White

Borderlinks, 2019

• Austin Bergeron
• Liam Bulger
• Gavin Callahan
• Felicia Ceesay
• Jack Chaput
• Emily Huntington
• Lowrina Ismael
• Abigail Jennings
• Poni Lako
• Maeve Swift
• Grace Tourville

Gold, Silver and Bronze Academic Awards

Gold, silver, and bronze awards are selected for every class and are based on each teacher’s assessment of the student who has performed best and contributed the most to the class. 

Gold Awards

Students who achieve academic distinction in three or more classes earn a gold award.

Class of 2020

• Grace Elwell -- English, Chemistry, Marine Biology, Spanish
• Nick Galeucia -- AP Biology, Chemistry, Spanish, Math
• Daniel Haskell -- AP Language, History, Chemistry, Theology
• Nathan Jacobs -- History, AP Chemistry, Human Anatomy & Physiology
• Maddie Williams -- Math, Chemistry, Spanish

Class of 2021

• Victoria Bossong -- English, Jazz Band, History, Chemistry, AP Physics, Theology, Spanish
• Miryam Keller -- Biology, Watercolor, Piano Lab

Class of 2022

• Jack Herman -- Intro to Art, History, Theology, Spanish
• Clare MacDonald -- Coding, Math, Piano Lab, History, Global Science, Theology, Spanish
• Lydia Niedermeyer -- String/Chamber, English, History, Math, Theology
• Emma Tweed -- English, History, Math, Theology, Spanish

Silver Awards

Students who achieve academic distinction in two classes earn a silver award.

Class of 2020

• Harrison Bell -- English, French
• Emma Levesque -- Math, Chemistry
• Erin Libby -- English, History
• Michael Luna -- Math, Computer-Aided Design
• Julia Ryan -- Chemistry, Theology

Class of 2021

• Ella Davie -- Theology, Mandarin
• Teddy Michaud -- English, French
• Colin Micucci -- Drawing & Painting, Biology
• Ava Rausch -- Studio Art, Theology
• Sophie Schuele -- English, History
• Tellie Stamaris -- English, Theology

Class of 2022

• Paige Cutler -- English, Theology
• Sarah Earley -- History, Math
• Wyatt Header -- Math, Spanish
• Cassie Novak -- English, Global Science
• Patrick O'Brien -- Watercolor, French
• Odan Strock -- Architectural Design, Intro to Art
• Sophia Thees -- Math, Global Science
• Anna Vozzelli -- Computer-Aided Design, Theology

Bronze Awards

Students who achieve academic distinction in one class earn a bronze award.

Class of 2020

• Joe Bauer -- Spanish
• Chace Cameron -- French
• Sarah Cummings -- Human Anatomy & Physiology
• Caty DuDevoir -- Digital Photography
• Brendan Fedrizzi -- Concert Band
• Ally Fernandez -- Spanish
• Emma Gallant -- Theology
• Ethan Goodman -- Math
• Keegan Haley -- Chemistry
• Alex Hammond -- Physics
• Anna Humphrey -- Choir
• Lauren Jordan -- History
• Caitlin Kennedy-Jensen -- Theology
• Alexi King -- Math
• Joe Macaluso -- English
• Daniella Niedermeyer -- Theology
• Keagan Rice -- Math
• Landon Roma -- Concert Band
• Lydia Rue -- History
• Erin Schnupp -- History
• Jackson Wilson -- Math

Class of 2021

• Liam Allen -- Drawing & Painting
• Austin Bergeron -- Biology
• Nicholas Bither -- Jazz Combo
• Helena Bolduc -- English
• Jenna Booth -- Math
• Neve Cawley -- Digital Photography
• Francesca Chace -- Watercolor
• Ella Cimino -- Cheverus Choir
• Sam Clark -- History
• Nate Cook -- Jazz Combo
• Margaret Earley -- Drawing & Painting
• Nick Giancotti -- Math
• Logan Granger -- Spanish
• Ellen Han -- Math
• Will Herman -- Spanish
• John Hight -- Math
• Donald Mahoney -- Drama
• Brim Peabody -- Biology
• Danielle Whyte -- Theology
• Anthony Zerillo -- History

Class of 2022

• Emily Bontatibus -- Jazz Band
• Cialy Charbonneau -- Architectural Design
• Cosima Curran -- Math
• Aidan Fedrizzi -- Global Science
• Connor Haskell -- Math
• Delilah Hastings -- Mandarin
• Sam Heinzman -- Global Science
• Maiya Koloski -- Acting & Speech
• Jackson Krieger -- Spanish
• Lillie Singleton -- Spanish
• Emily Wiggin -- Math
• Jack Williams -- Piano Lab

Graduation Information

Baccalaureate Luncheon

Luncheon reservations $35/person and are limited to two per family plus the student (student attendance is free).   

Reservations are available online here (sales close after Tuesday, May 28). 

Note: Dress code or dress attire is in effect. Otherwise stated: students must dress formally but do not have to wear the school Oxford shirt or blazer.

Graduation Tickets & Announcements

Each student will be given six (6) tickets for the first-floor Orchestra or Terrace seating at Merrill Auditorium. Tickets will be chosen by lottery and will be available at Senior Parents Information Night on March 21 (meeting begins at 6:30 p.m.) and in the Main Office beginning Thursday, March 22.  There is upper-level seating at Merrill that does not require a ticket. Each senior will be given ten (10) announcements. (A graduation announcement is not the same as a ticket.) If additional announcements are needed please contact Alessandra Poggio in the Main Office.

Handicapped Seating in Merrill Auditorium

Please contact Mrs. Mary Campbell to arrange seating at marycampbell61b@gmail.com.

Timeline for ASP & Graduation Events

Tuesday, March 26 -- Tuxedo Fitting, 2:30-3:30 p.m., Sparta Room

Mandatory tuxedo fitting. Rental cost is $99 and includes black shoes (students provide their own black socks). Students should bring cash or check made out to Tuxedos on Broadway to the tuxedo fitting.

Thursday, April 11 -- Last Day of Classes for Seniors

Friday, April 12 -- Bishop's Holiday 

Monday, April 22 - Friday, April 26 -- Senior Finals

Download the schedule for Senior Finals.

Wednesday, April 24 -- Arrupe Service Projects Kick-Off

Seniors: report to the cafeteria at 7:45 a.m.
(Underclassmen: report to homeroom at 10:00 a.m.)

Monday, April 29 -- Arrupe Service Projects -- Seniors First Day on the Project

Download the Arrupe Service Projects Rules and Regulations

Monday, May 6 - Friday, May 17 -- AP Exams

Students who are taking AP Exams are excused from their ASP site for those exams. See the AP Exam Schedule. Students with one exam on a given day should attend their project before or after the exam. Teachers may require AP students to return to campus for review before the AP tests; students should check with their teachers for information about AP review.

Thursday, May 9 -- Arrupe Service Projects -- Reflection Paper #1 Due

Papers must be turned in to Faculty Advisor by 4:00 p.m.
Download the Reflection Paper #1 guidelines.

Saturday, May 18 -- Cheverus Prom, 6:00-10:00 p.m., The Landing

Dinner served promptly at 6:30 p.m.

Thursday, May 23 -- Arrupe Service Projects -- Reflection Paper #2 Due

Papers must be turned in to Faculty Advisor by 4:00 p.m.
Download the Reflection Paper #2 guidelines.

Tuesday, May 28 -- Last day at Arrupe Service Project site.

Tuesday, May 28 - Monday, June 3-- Tuxedo Pick-up

Students can pick up tuxedos beginning on Tuesday, May 28 at Tuxedos on Broadway (740 Broadway, South Portland). Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on M-F and 10:00-2:00 p.m. on Saturday. Return is Tuesday, from 10 a.m.-1:00 p.m.

Wednesday,  May 29

Senior Breakfast,  7:50 a.m.  

Sponsored by the Office of  Institutional Advancement

Arrupe Service Projects Assembly, 9:10 a.m.

Dress code required -- all seniors must attend and bring the On-the-Job Supervisor's evaluation.

Graduation Practice, immediately following the ASP assembly

All seniors must attend.

Blazer Bazaar

Seniors: please donate your unwanted blazers and/or dress shirts for underclassmen/women. Drop off after the Arrupe Service Projects Assembly at Admissions or the Loyola Reception Desk. Proceeds from the Blazer Bazaar go to the Cheverus Families Association.

Friday, May 31 -- Senior Day at Sebago Lake

Cookout and celebration. Please fill out the Senior Day Permission Slip. Students must take the Cheverus buses to participate in this picnic and should arrive at school by 9:30 a.m. Please note: students are responsible for bringing Epipens and inhalers as necessary.

Parents: Cheverus will provide bring the grill and food to be grilled. Parents who volunteered to donate food should drop off donations to the Main Office by 9:00 a.m. on Friday.

Students: Cheverus will bring the Gatorade coolers filled with water -- bring your water bottle and stay hydrated! Note: all students must ride the buses to and from Cheverus; students may not drive themselves to Senior Day.

Sunday,  June 2 -- Baccalaureate Sunday

Mass at St. Joseph Church, 12 noon, 673 Stevens Ave, Portland

Class of 2019 Celebration Luncheon, 1:30 p.m., Cheverus High School

Monday, June 3

Graduation Rehearsal, 11:00 a.m., Merrill Auditorium

All seniors must attend.

Seniors Group Photo, 5:00 p.m., on the front steps of Merrill Auditorium.

Merrill Auditorium Opens, 5:00 p.m.

Graduation, 6:00 p.m. , Merrill Auditorium

Project Graduation

Buses leave from Merrill Auditorium following graduation.

Tuesday, June 4

Students return from Project Graduation at 5:30 a.m.  Grads can be picked up in front of Loyola Hall.

Tuxedo Return: Tuxedos on Broadway (740 Broadway, South Portland), 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Thursday, June 6 - Friday, June 7

Textbook Buyback in the Campus Store. See the instructions here.

If you work in any kitchen, you've got to know some French. From "sous chef" to "mise en place" to "hors d'oeuvres", food preparation and the French language are interconnected. Recently, Cheverus students got a hands-on French lesson when they participated in a French pastry class led by Katherine Slevin of the "c. love cookie project". In preparation, students learned about the history of some typical French pastries, watched a documentary about the best pastry chefs in France, and learned all the food vocabulary they would need to make the delicious, but difficult to perfect, French macarons. 

They got to put what they'd learned in action, and French flew around The Root Cellar's kitchen as Ms. Slevin guided two teams of kids, who competed to make the perfect macaron. And they could not have had a more qualified teacher. Ms. Slevin majored in French in order to follow her passion for baking, which led her to France, where she spent time working for the world famous Pierre Hermé, who has an entire cookbook devoted solely to macarons. 

But it was after a life-changing experience working with Syrian refugees in Greece that Ms. Slevin decided to start her own mission-driven cookie company, where she trains immigrant women in baking, and donates twenty-one percent of sales to local organizations working with immigrant communities. Ms. Slevin's cookies are available at Coffee by Design and other local businesses. 

This week, Cheverus students will put their knowledge to the test by putting on a traditional French pastry sale!

Congratulations to Richard Joyce, a senior, and Vanessa Bussiere, a senior at Saint Dominic Academy in Auburn, who are the recipients of the 2019 Lila Grace Sullivan Amirault Scholarships. The awards were presented by Bishop Robert P. Deeley on Friday, March 22, in Portland.

The scholarship fund, which helps Maine Catholic high school students with college tuition costs, was established in 2013 by the late Patrick Amirault, in memory of his wife. Amirault, who grew up as one of nine children in a poor family in Malden, Mass., created the fund to show his appreciation for the care and quality education he received at a Catholic school there. To be eligible for the scholarship, students must be accepted at an accredited college or university and must plan to work while attending college. Each recipient will receive $4,000.

“His generosity makes it a little bit easier for you to get a college education,” the bishop told the two winners, their families, and school officials at the presentation. “We’re very grateful for Mr. Amirault, and it reminds us of the importance of that kind of generosity as we move forward through life.”

Richard hopes to attend Boston College, his “dream school” where he has been accepted and where he would like to major in business management. He is an “A” student, a member of student government and the Cheverus Key Club, team captain of the basketball and golf teams, and president of the Spanish Club.

“To me, work ethic means always giving 100% in everything I do. I pride myself in putting my best effort into everything,” said Richard. “However, if that effort is not rooted in making the world a better place and is solely rooted in personal growth, it is not a true work ethic.”

And to be sure, Richard has already made the world a better place. Despite his commitment to academics, athletic endeavors, and extracurricular activities, Richard still finds time to volunteer for Special Olympics of Maine and STRIVE, where he works with young adults with developmental disabilities, something he has done since the day he was born. 

“When my sisters and I were born as triplets, my sisters were born with multiple disabilities and a rare genetic disorder that included autism, developmental delays, and other issues,” said Richard. “It’s great to have them here today and always.”

“Richard speaks of his sisters with love and affection. I doubt that he realizes how much deeper his own empathy and compassion runs compared to even the most sophisticated teens,” said Mary King, a theology teacher at Cheverus. “His emotional intelligence and humility are striking.”

“Seeing Richard leave a friend’s athletic contest with his two sisters, hand in hand with each of them, reminds you of the kindness and compassion that exists in this world,” said Kate Coddaire, the director of college advising at Cheverus.

Richard presents the best of Cheverus so well that he is the first senior student that faculty members call upon for open house panels and presentations to the Board of Trustees.

“He is well respected and adored, frankly,” said Coddaire.

Richard is an extraordinary minister of communion at school Masses and an active parishioner at St. Peter Parish in Portland.

To Richard, leading the life he does, driven by his work ethic and love of God, just makes sense.

“My work ethic is closely related to my Catholic faith and its values,” said Richard. “My parents made a lot of sacrifices for me to attend Cheverus. Therefore, I always give it my all no matter the task. It’s easy to give up when times get tough, but it’s important to always keep fighting and working for what is right and just. This is what I will always do.”

Thank you to Catholic Charities Maine for working with us on the third and final all-school event focused on the issue of immigration. Today was the all-school storytelling retreat. We were honored to have Simane Ibrahim, Parivash Rohani, Nasser Rohani, and Ninette Irabaruta tell their stories. 

Each grade heard one speaker. After hearing these personal stories, we gathered in multigrade, small group sessions. Student leaders, many Kairos-trained, led each small group in an examen, a discussion, and a closing gratitude exercise. 

Thank you to our wonderful speakers, to Catholic Charities, student leaders, and to the World Language Department and Campus Ministry for creating and hosting this event. Special thanks to Terry Quinn for her leadership throughout this year and last in bringing the community wide read, Amy Bass's book One Goal, to life.  

Michael Komich, business manager for 29 years, has been named senior vice president for finance and operations President Robert J. Pecoraro, S.J. announced today. The change is effective immediately.

Pecoraro said this new title reflects the breadth of Komich’s responsibilities in overseeing the day-to-day operation of the Cheverus campus. 

“Michael is committed to operational excellence and has a deep passion for our mission. In the nearly three decades he has been at Cheverus, he has exhibited expertise in managing the financial and operational duties at Cheverus. Through the strategic plan implementation process, it became evident that this new title more accurately recognizes the wide range of Michael’s responsibilities overseeing finance, human resources, dining services, and facilities. Michael will continue to ensure the strong financial performance and efficient operations across campus supported by his deep understanding and commitment to the Cheverus mission” said Pecoraro. Komich reports to the President.

Komich said “I am humbled by the opportunity to serve Cheverus High School whose mission has been part of my and my family - Debi, Kelsey, and Ryan's life for over a quarter century in this capacity. As our school teaches young women and men to be people for and with others and to go and set the world on fire, I will continue to try to do the same each day in my new role.”

Komich has a BS in business administration from the University of New England and an MBA from Babson College. 

This year as a community, all Cheverus students, faculty and staff read the book One Goal by Amy Bass, an inspiring story of how the game of soccer has the power to transcend boundaries of race, religion, socioeconomic status, and nationality. One Cheverus student, junior Caroline Taylor, recently put that powerful message into action as she took part in an immersion trip to India focused upon empowering young girls through the game of soccer.

Over Thanksgiving break Caroline traveled to Pune, India for a nine day journey with Limitless Child International a program that creates opportunities for vulnerable children from orphanage care and impoverished communities to help them realize their full potential and thrive. According to the vision statement of the Organization, Limitless Child International, “brings play, learning, and social connections to India's most vulnerable children. Because all children have the right to a thriving childhood.”

Caroline is an honors student who grew up in Sanford and attended the Saint Thomas School in Sanford, her family recently relocated to Biddeford. In addition to playing on the girls varsity soccer team, Caroline is also a member of the varsity softball team and is active in the Key Club.

On the journey, Caroline worked closely with a trained coach, Katie Lamarre who is a member of the University of New England women’s soccer team (and a teammate of former Cheverus girls’ soccer captain Katie Gordon ‘17) to teach the girls basic soccer skills, but most importantly this positive interaction helped to boost they girls’ sense of self, and created positive connections with strong young women.  

Jenny Mills, the Limitless Child program executive director who accompanied the participants on the trip remarked, “Caroline is a thoughtful, observant young woman, who immediately and genuinely connected with the girls she coached….she opened herself up to learning about the girls she met... I think that Caroline was deeply impacted by the first-hand experience of being in a slum environment and learning about the difficult life circumstances of the girls she coached.  However, despite the profound differences in their lives, Caroline and the other peer coaches truly connected with the girls from India around their similar hopes and dreams and shared questions about what it means to be a teenager.”

Caroline praised Mill’s leadership of the program, “I could not think of a better person to take us to India, I was not nervous at all because she is so familiar with the area and the culture;  she loves India!”

Just as she served as an inspiring role model for the young girls, Caroline was, “inspired by the fact that although they lived in a very impoverished region, with extremely limited resources, they were happy and joyful and loved to play.” Caroline was moved by how much the girls “just wanted to be around us and learn about our lives -- they wanted to see pictures of my sisters and my friends.”

In addition to her work with soccer, Caroline had the opportunity to explore the cities of Pune, Jaipur, and Delhi, enjoy traditional Indian meals and a traditional dance performance, and explore bazaars and open air markets. One additional impactful experience was learning about the work of the ASHA Crisis Intervention Center and its Girls Empowerment Program, designed to provide support for the whole person for young girls. By providing support such as financial assistance, tutoring, and life skills instruction, the ultimate goal of the center is to remove and reduce the barriers that lead girls to teen marriage, school drop out, and child labor.

According one of the group leaders Minal Dani,  “When a woman is battered and bruised, and thrown out of her home without any belongings or children, and comes to us for help, we want her to understand the whole process and then make decisions for herself. There can be decisions which can give her instant relief versus decisions which can help her in the long run. Our job is to empower the woman and encourage her to make the long-term decisions.” Since 2011, ASHA’s programming has helped 38 girls to achieve post-secondary education.

Upon her return from a region of the world plagued by pollution and extreme poverty, Caroline states, “I have gained a new appreciation for our living conditions, to have access to running water, showers and clean air.”  She has also remained in frequent contact with the other American participants and hopes to encourage a friend or two from Cheverus to return to India with her next year.  Applications for participation in this program are available now. Apply now for the 3rd Annual Soccer Trip

“On the last day, I watched Caroline pass out individual, hand-made cards, which she had worked on for hours the night before, to each of the 15  girls in her group. She had put a lot of thought and time into her cards. The smiles and hugs and long, long goodbyes said it all.” said Mills, “The human bond and connection, as well as the skills of soccer, had made a difference.”

November 2018

Dear Cheverus Community,

As we enter the season of possible inclement weather, we want to remind families that announcements concerning the cancellation of school or late starts due to inclement weather will be made through our phone-alert system. We will also post any changes/cancellations on our website and local television stations.

This is also a good time to remind parents that when it comes to snow days, you have a decision to make as well. In making decisions about any delays or cancellations, we will always try to make the best decision for all of our families, but with the widespread locations our families travel from and with the inconsistencies in weather patterns in our area, it can be hard to make the perfect decision for every family every time. It can be raining & clear roads in Cape Elizabeth and snowing & impassable in parts of Westbrook.

Parents, please feel empowered and encouraged by the school to make the best decision for you and your children in regards to travelling to and from school during times of inclement weather. Even if we have not cancelled or delayed classes, if you do not feel it is safe to commute from your area please contact the Main Office to let us know your child will not be in school due to the weather.

Students, you also have a job on snow days - check for assignments. With e-mail and Google Classrooms, you know that your teachers are able to keep in touch and post assignments beyond the classroom, so please be sure to check these places when you are not in school due to weather.

Peace,

John Moran, Ed.D.

Family, friends, colleagues, and students gathered in the chapel to remember long-time teacher Fernanda Darrow, who passed away last September. At the ceremony, Fr. Bob Pecoraro, S.J. recalled that “Fernanda was a joy-filled person who shared her positive energy with all those who knew her. Ms. Darrow was our Spanish teacher, our World Language department chair, a driving force for our Karaoke Night and Christmas Tree Drive -- but more than anything, she was a beautiful person who radiated goodness.”

At the September 25 ceremony, the painting "Por la Gracia de Dios" was dedicated in memory of Ms. Darrow. The painting was donated by the Sisters Adorers of the Most Precious Blood and artist Ines Barcena. The Sisters are a cloistered order who have been housed on State St. in Portland for 80 years. Next month, the two remaining Sisters will move to the motherhouse in Manchester, NH. Fr. Pecoraro expressed the gratitude of the entire Cheverus community to the Sisters and Ms. Barcena and thanked them for their presence at the ceremony. The painting has been placed just outside the chapel in Loyola Hall. Fr. Pecoraro concluded the service by saying, “May all who see it take a moment to meditate on the grace of God, and the light that God brings to our lives, just as Fernanda brought light and joy to all who knew her.”

• Summer Reading: In this year’s community-wide read, we encounter other cultures without crossing state lines. The true story of the Lewiston soccer team shows how a common goal can turn prejudice into welcome, respect, and appreciation. This book continues our tradition of exploring the Grad at Grad themes of social justice, religious practice, and being open to growth. Click here for more information about the Community Focus and summer reading selections from the English Department and others.
   
• Summer Reading Discounts: Several stores are offering a 20% discount on One Goal by Amy Bass if you mention Cheverus summer reading: Bookworm, Gorham (discount good for all summer reading books); Longfellow Books, Portland; and, Sherman’s, Portland. 
   
• Free Shipping for 2018-2019 Textbooks:  MBS Direct is offering free shipping on textbook orders over $99 during the three weeks between July 9 and July 29. Click here for the Cheverus store at MBS Direct.

Alexis Pathwick-Paszyc ’18 has been named Outstanding Senior from the Cheverus High School Class of 2018 and will deliver an address at graduation on Monday, June 4, 2018. The Outstanding Senior and All-Around Student Award, selected by the students, faculty and staff,  is given to the graduating senior who best exemplifies the spirit and ideals of a Cheverus student.

While at Cheverus, Pathwick-Paszyc served as a student ambassador for the Admissions office for four years and was a Campus Minister, serving as a lector and Kairos retreat leader. Pathwick-Paszyc was a four-year member of the varsity tennis team, leading them as captain in her final year. She was a member of the math team, served on the President's Advisory Council, and was Junior Class Vice President. She was also a member of the robotics team, which she co-captained her sophomore year. She will be among the first Cheverus students to receive a STEM diploma. In addition, Pathwick-Paszyc is a member of the National Honor Society and the Latin National Honor Society. She received the Assumption College Book Award and the Portland Rotary Youth Service Award. Outside of school Pathwick-Paszyc is a member of the Allocations Committee for United Way of Kennebec Valley, volunteers at Maine General Hospital, and has attended various STEM summer enrichment programs.

Pathwick-Paszyc is the oldest daughter of Christopher and Deborah Pathwick-Paszyc. She will attend Northeastern University and plans to study biomedical engineering.

Sean P. Scanlon ’18  has been named salutatorian of Cheverus High School’s Class of 2018 and will deliver an address at the Baccalaureate Luncheon on Sunday, June 3, 2018.

While at Cheverus, Scanlon was an active member of the Homefront Club, serving as vice president his sophomore and junior years and president his senior year. Scanlon was also a member of the Key Club and completed the SEALSFit leadership course. Scanlon was the senior captain and a four-year member of the varsity ski team and played for the varsity soccer team. Scanlon is a member of the National Honor Society, received the Yale Book Award, and was recognized as a National Merit Scholarship Commended Student. Outside of school, Scanlon is an active member of the Boy Scouts and earned the rank of Eagle Scout.

Scanlon is the son of Mark and Regina Scanlon. He will attend the United States Naval Academy and plans to study engineering.

Robert A. Bossong ‘18  has been named valedictorian of Cheverus High School’s Class of 2018 and will deliver an address at graduation on Monday, June 4, 2018.

While at Cheverus, Bossong was a four-year member of the Key Club and served as vice president his junior year and president his senior year. He was recognized by Kiwanis International with the Most Outstanding Key Club Member Award and received the Key Club Book Reimbursement. As captain of the math team, Bossong earned a certificate for Superior Achievement in the New England Math League Contest and he will be among the first Cheverus students to receive a STEM diploma. He was also a member of crew team, chess team, and he was a captain of the sailing team. A member of the National Honor Society, Bossong was recognized with The Harvard Book Award, Phi Beta Kappa Academic Achievement Award, Undergraduate of the Year, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Medal, National Hispanic Recognition, and The President’s Volunteer Gold Service Award. Outside of school, Bossong is an accomplished pianist and violinist and a member of the Portland Youth Symphony Orchestra. In addition, he is a lector and eucharistic minister at Our Lady of Hope Parish and earned the rank of Eagle Scout.

Bossong is the son of Dr. Catalina Atienza and Dr. Lawrence Bossong. He will attend Cornell University and plans to study biology in a pre-med path.

The following students were recognized during the Underclassmen Awards Assembly on May 25, 2018:

• Undergraduate of the Year -- Lawrence Bossong
• Cheverus Award -- Junior Class -- George Mitchell
• Cheverus Award -- Sophomore Class -- Nathan Jacobs
• Cheverus Award -- Freshmen Class -- Sophie Schuele
• Phi Beta Kappa Award -- Lawrence Bossong

College Book Awards

• Assumption College -- Evelyn Hanley
• Boston College -- Richard Joyce
• Brandeis University -- Julia Mount
• Catholic University -- Nina Le
• College of the Atlantic -- Bella Booth
• Dartmouth College -- Emma White
• Fairfield University -- Aiden Thomas
• Harvard University -- Andrew Young
• The College of the Holy Cross -- Mary Jerome
• Le Moyne College -- Caroline Arpin
• Randolph College -- Colten Dumond
• Rensselaer Medal -- Caroline Arpin
• Rochester Institute of Technology Computer Medal -- Anna Caron
• Springfield College -- Nolan Doherty
• St. Anselm College -- Anna Caron
• St. Michael’s College -- Hannah Galucia
• St. Michael’s College -- Michael Nason
• St. Thomas University -- Jennifer Christensen
• Stonehill College  -- Michael Manetti
• Williams College -- Annesley Black
• Yale University -- Lawrence Bossong

Art Show Awards

• First Place --Liuming Guo
• Second Place -- Daniella Niedermeyer
• Student Choice -- Emma Gallant
• Honorable Mention 
  • Arianna Arguedas
  • Jenna Booth
  • Emma Gallant
  • Ben Hoyt
  • Will Keith
  • Nina Le
  • Kristina Matkevich
  • Terryn MacDonald
  • Will Zidle

Music Awards

• Maine Music Educators Association (MMEA), District 2 Band -- Jennifer Christensen, George Mitchell
• MMEA, District 2 Chorus  -- Nathan Jacobs, Lindsey LeFevre, Colby White
• MMEA All-State Orchestra -- Victoria Bossong
• MMEA All-State Chorus -- Colby White
• MMEA All-State Jazz Choir -- Anna Humphrey
   

National Merit Program Recognition

The following students will be recognized as commended students or semifinalists by the National Merit Program next fall.

• Lawrence Bossong
• Mary Jerome
• Julia Mount
• Michael Nason
• Aidan Thomas

Math Awards

• Superior Achievement in the New England Math League 

  Lawrence Bossong
  Victoria Bossong
  Margaret Earley
  Aiden Thomas

• American Mathematics Competition Certificate of Distinction -- Nora Zou
   

Athletics Recognitions

The following students were named to the All-Conference Teams for Fall and Winter Seasons:

Class of 2019

• Alpine Skiing -- Annesley Black
• Boys Basketball -- Owen Burke
• Boys Basketball -- Matt Duchaine
• Field Hockey -- Sophia Pompeo
• Field Hockey -- Isabella booth
• Golf -- Tom Higgins
• Golf -- Jeremy Baker
• Ice Hockey -- Sophia Pompeo

Class of 2020

• Boys Basketball -- Nick Galli
• Football -- Sean Tompkins
• Girls Basketball -- Lauren Jordan
• Indoor Track -- Emma Gallant
• Indoor Track -- Sean Tompkins
• Indoor Track -- Joe Macaluso
• Soccer -- Emma Gallant
• Swimming -- Quintin Hastings
• Wrestling -- Sean Sullivan (at Regionals)

Class of 2021

• Alpine Skiing -- Tellie Stamaris
• Boys Indoor Track -- Giovanni Fornaro
• Boys Indoor Track -- Jakub Jastrzebski
• Cross Country -- Donald Mahoney
• Cross Country -- Mackenzie Turner
• Field Hockey -- Lucia Pompeo
• Girls Indoor Track -- Sophie Schuele
• Girls Indoor Track -- Victoria Bossong
• Ice Hockey -- Emma McCauley
• Swimming -- Brim Peabody
   

Campus Ministry Recognitions

Junior Retreat Leaders

• Lawrence Bossong
• Hannah Galeucia
• George Mitchell
• Hayden O’Donnell
• Grace Parello
• Rosemary Train
• Will Zidle
• Emme Zografos

Eucharistic Minister -- Colten Dumond

Gold, Silver and Bronze Academic Awards

Gold Awards

Students who achieve the highest academic distinction in three or more classes earn a gold award.

Class of 2019

• Hannah Galeucia -- Algebra II Honors + Trigonometry, History, Theology
• Richard Joyce -- Chemistry, English, History, Theology
• Caitlin McCutcheon -- AP U.S. History, Chemistry, French
• George Mitchell -- Concert Band, Theology, Digital Design
• Andrew Young -- AP U.S. History, Chemistry, Theology

Class of 2020

• Harrison Bell -- Biology, English, French, Theology
• Nicholas Galeucia -- Algebra 2/Pre-Calculus, Biology, Digital Design
• Daniel Haskell -- Biology, English, Theology
• Nathan Jacobs -- English, Geometry, Theology, Digital Design
• Madeline Williams -- Biology, Geometry, Spanish, Stained Glass, Theology, Architectural Design

Class of 2021

• Helena Bolduc -- Art, Algebra, English
• Victoria Bossong -- Biology, Global Science, History, Spanish, Theology
• Marie-Claire Owens -- English, French, Piano
• Sophie Schuele -- Geometry, Global Science, History, Spanish
• Tellie Stamaris -- Algebra, English, Global Science, Piano

Silver Awards

Students who achieve the highest academic distinction in two classes earn a silver award.

Class of 2019

• Arianna Arguedas -- Algebra II, Spanish
• Alexander Baur -- Chemistry, History
• Gwendolyn Freeman -- Chemistry, English
• Dennis Kalloor -- Research Course, Yearbook
• Emma White -- AP Calc B-C, French

Class of 2020

• Alice Fernandez -- Media Studies, Spanish
• Emma Gallant -- English, Theology
• Nicholas Galli -- History, Latin
• Liuming Guo -- Pre-Calculus, Studio Art
• William Mullen -- Spanish, Digital Design
• Lydia Rue -- History, Drawing & Painting
• Julia Ryan -- English, Marine Biology
• Chloe Spenlinhauer -- French, Drawing & Painting

Class of 2021

• Neve Cawley -- Algebra, Theology
• Nathan Cook -- English, History
• Ella Davie -- History, Theology
• William Herman -- Geometry, Theology
• John Hight -- History, Spanish
• Amelia Kratzer -- Global Science, Spanish
• Colin Micucci -- History, Computer Science
• Colby White -- Algebra, Choir

Bronze Awards

Students who achieve the highest academic distinction in one class earn a bronze award.

Class of 2019

• Caroline Arpin -- Chemistry
• Annesley Black -- Theology
• Isabella Booth -- AP Environ Science
• Lawrence Bossong -- AP Calc A-B
• Caleb Carter -- English
• Jennifer Christensen -- Jazz Band
• Patricia Ciampi -- Spanish
• Andrew DeGeorge -- Marine Biology
• Nolan Doherty -- AP Language
• Matthew Duchaine -- Algebra II
• Colten Dumond -- Human Anatomy & Physiology
• Madison Geiger -- Algebra II Honors + Trigonometry
• Mary Jerome -- AP Calc A-B
• Joseph LaBrecque -- Jazz Combo
• Maeve McGarrity -- Chemistry
• Sydney Michelson -- Pre-Calculus
• Julia Mount -- English
• James Mullen -- Stained Glass Workshop
• Michaela Philbrook -- English
• Julia Pilk -- Algebra II
• Justin Ray -- Intermed Algebra
• Aidan Thomas -- AP Statistics
• Abigail Vaughan -- Watercolor
• Emily Zografos -- Spanish

Class of 2020

• Samantha Belaire -- Biology
• Gavin Callahan -- Piano Lab
• Christopher Cimino -- Digital Design
• Sarah Cummings -- Theology
• Griffin Donovan -- History
• Emma Dyer -- Geometry
• Quinton Hastings -- Mandarin Chinese
• Caitlin Kennedy-Jensen -- Latin
• Emma Levesque -- Intro to Art
• Michael Luna -- Spanish
• Joseph Macaluso -- History
• Kristina Matkevich -- Drawing/Painting
• Myles Moore -- Geometry
• Mikiya Morin -- Geometry
• Maeve Swift -- History
• Caroline Taylor -- History
• Hannah Woodford -- Spanish
• Jackson Woodleigh -- English

Class of 2022

• Jennavieve Booth -- Drawing/Painting
• Ella Cimino -- Digital Design
• Julian LaMontagne -- Music Technology
• Donald Mahoney -- French
• Grace O’Mara -- Drawing/Painting
• Danielle Whyte -- Cheverus Choir

Rachael Haskell Named Winner of a 2018 Amirault Scholarship

March 16, 2018

Congratulations to senior Rachael Haskell, the recipient of the 2018 Lila Grace Sullivan Amirault Scholarship.

The scholarship fund, which helps Maine Catholic high school students with college tuition costs, was established in 2013 by the late Patrick Amirault, in memory of his wife. Amirault, who grew up as one of nine children in a poor family in Malden, Mass., created the fund to show his appreciation for the care and quality education he received at a Catholic school there. To be eligible for the scholarship, students must be accepted at an accredited college or university and must plan to work while attending college. Each recipient will receive $4,500.

“I know that there were many worthy candidates and to be chosen is truly an honor,” said Rachael. “I am deeply grateful for this opportunity and the kindness behind it.”

One of seven children, Rachael, appreciates the gift of family, including her second family: a community of friends and teachers at Cheverus that has given her so much.

 “You can tell that people, especially the teachers, they really care for you. They will listen to you, and they will talk with you and try to help you. And it’s also present in the students, too,” said Rachael. “That’s what it means to be a Cheverian. It means to recognize interdependence and devote yourself to bettering the world around you.”

Rachael’s time at Cheverus High School has been a transformative experience.

“Cheverus is a school that emphasizes the need to care for others, which is immensely important in the formation of education in understanding its greater purpose,” said Rachael. “Cheverus has been a welcoming community, and they have taught me through love and patience and showed me that my purpose in this world is inherently connected to the people around me.”

 Something that Rachael, even as a senior in high school, has already accomplished. She has donated her time to countless local charities and community initiatives. Cheverus has created in her a “desire for justice,” especially for those who are suffering. In the summer before her senior year, she went on an immersion trip to the southern border of the United States.

 “The stories told in the news became more than stories. They were people with faces, personalities, and dignity,” said Rachael. “We heard stories from real immigrants about crossing over and being detained. We went to the court and heard the trials of caught migrants. We traveled through the desert in scorching Arizona temperatures, experiencing a small portion of the paths of migrants. I saw the suffering of the world not as something distant that had nothing to do with me but as a personal offense, like it was my own dignity that was being wounded.”

 Still considering several outstanding colleges, she plans to study psychology with aspirations to become a child therapist.

“It took me a while to process that being a Catholic didn’t mean you had to be physically going out and saving people. You just have to be using the gifts that God gave you to try to make the world a better place. I am particularly interested in practicing therapy, especially in working with children. I have always enjoyed working with children, and I have always had an ability to read and write,” said Rachael, who also plans to minor in English or creative writing. “I enjoy analyzing and creating characters, and I believe that these traits can be used practically to better society as best as I am able. I hope to utilize my major and my minor to produce a result that best suits my interests and the community's interests by being a steward of the gifts that I have been given.”

 Rachael is a member of the National Honor Society; has a gift for performing (she’s a member of the Cheverus Drama Society); and is driven by her faith.

 “I’ve always wanted to do something to help people because that is something really taught in Catholicism. You’re interdependent with everyone else, your destiny is locked with everyone else’s, and you are meant to help other people,” said Rachael.

Mark Your Calendar: Important Dates for 2018-2019

• Freshmen Orientation*:  August 29, 2018
• First Day of Classes/Class Meetings: August 30, 2018 
• No Classes: August 31, 2018
• Labor Day -- No Classes: September 3, 2018
• Classes Resume: September 4, 2018
• Mass of the Holy Spirit: September 12, 2018 
• ​​​​​​Back-to-School Night for Parents, 9-12: September 13, 2018
• PSAT/Pre-ACTs/Freshmen Retreat: October 10, 2018
• Columbus Day -- No Classes: October 8, 2019
• Freshmen Service Day: October 14, 2018
• All Saints Day/Grandparents Day: November 1, 2018
• Parent/Teacher Conferences -- No Classes: November 9, 2018 
• Veterans Day (Observed) -- No Classes: November 12, 2018
• Thanksgiving Break: November 21-23, 2018
• Christmas Break: December 20, 2018 - January 2, 2019
• Classes Resume: January 3, 2019
• Mid-Year Exams: January 14-18, 2019
• Martin Luther King, Jr. Day -- No Classes:  January 21, 2019
• Winter Vacation: February 18-22, 2019
• Spring Vacation: April 15-19, 2019
• Memorial Day -- No Classes: May 27, 2019
• Graduation: June 3, 2019
• Final Exams, Grades 9-11: June 3-7, 2019

Note: this is not a complete list of Cheverus events and vacation days for next year. Please consult the Cheverus School calendar for the most up-to-date information.  That calendar will be updated as events are planned.

* Freshmen attendance is required
 

The following students were recognized at the Undergraduate Awards on October 22, 2017:

• Ahern Scholarship -- Sydney Pfeffer
• John J. Flaherty Prize -- Rose Christine Anastacio
• Rensselaer Medal -- Robert Bossong
• RIT Medal -- Ben Bellantoni
• RIT Medal -- Colby Benway
• Special Service Award -- Libby Hodgkins

College Book Awards

• Assumption College -- Alexis Paszyc
• Boston College -- Anna Olore
• Brandeis University -- Rachael Haskell
• Catholic University -- Emily Haley
• College of the Atlantic -- Eva Griffiths
• Dartmouth College -- Colin Dong
• Fairfield University -- Kathleen Meserve
• Harvard University -- Robert Bossong
• The College of the Holy Cross -- Kathryn Griffiths
• Le Moyne College -- Sean Greatorex
• Randolph College -- Perrin Conant
• Regis College -- Isabella Santoro
• Springfield College -- Kathryn Kane
• St. Michael’s College -- Anna Sanders
• St. Michael’s College -- Ben Bellantoni
• St. Anselm College -- Will Shibles
• St. Thomas University -- Karen Nielsen
• Stonehill College -- Delphi Bourassa
• Williams College -- Michael Cawley
• Yale University -- Sean Scanlon

Math Awards

• Superior Achievement in the New England Math League 
  Lawrence Bossong
  Robert Bossong
  Aidan Thomas

National Latin Exam

• Cum Laude -- Caitlin Kennedy-Jensen, Michael Luna
• Magna Cum Laude -- Kathleen Meserve
• Maxima Cum Laude (Silver Medal) -- Maeve Swift

Gold, Silver and Bronze Academic Awards

Gold Awards

Students who achieve the highest GPA in three or more classes earn a gold award.

Class of 2018

• Robert Bossong -- AP Composition, AP Calculus, Spanish IV H, Theology
• Zachary Broome -- Algebra II, Chemistry, History
• Rachael Haskell -- Algebra II, Chemistry H, AP US History, Theology
• Gary Liu -- English, AP Statistics, Physics H, Theology
• Siena Zerillo -- English, History, Latin III, Yearbook

Class of 2019

• Lawrence Bossong -- Algebra II, Biology H, English H, History H, Spanish III H, Theology
• Mary Jerome -- Algebra II H, Biology H, English H
• Richard Joyce -- Biology, English, Geometry, History, Theology
• Michael Manetti -- English H, History H, Stained Glass, Theology, Mandarin Chinese

Class of 2020

• Nicholas Galeucia -- Architectural Design, English H, Geometry H, Global Science, History, Spanish I, Theology
• Nathan Jacobs -- Algebra I, Choir, English,
• Global Science, History
• Daniella Niedermeyer -- Digital Design, Drawing & Painting, Theology
• Julia Ryan -- Algebra I H, Spanish II H, Theology
• Maeve Swift -- English H, Latin I, Theology
• Madeline Williams -- Drawing & Painting, Global Science, History

Silver Awards

Students who achieve the highest GPA in two classes earn a silver award.

Class of 2018

• Rose Anastacio -- Chemistry, Latin III/IV
• Katie Boynton -- Chemistry, Theology
• Perrin Conant -- English H, History
• Colin Dong -- AP Economics, Calculus BC
• Eva Griffiths -- French IV H, Theology
• Anna Olore -- Algebra II, Latin III/IV
• Griffin Watson -- Algebra II, Spanish III

Class of 2019

• Alex Baur -- English H, History
• Nolan Doherty -- History H, Piano Lab
• Hannah Galeucia -- Geometry, Spanish II H
• George Mitchell -- Biology, Jazz Band
• Madison Mitchell -- Biology, Spanish II H
• Grace Morriseau -- Geometry, Introduction to Art
• Michael Nason -- Digital Design, Spanish III H
• Jacqueline Vallee -- Digital Design, Geometry
• Andrew Young -- Journalism, Theology

Class of 2020

• Harrison Bell -- French I, History
• Sarah Cummings -- Global Science, Introduction to Art
• Emma Gallant -- Digital Design, Geometry H
• Nicholas Galli -- Digital Design, Latin I
• Daniel Haskell -- History, Spanish I
• Jack Tracy -- Global Science, Theology

Bronze Awards

Students who achieve the highest GPA in one class earn a bronze award.

Class of 2018

• David Amoroso -- History
• Colby Benway -- Theology
• Michael Borelli -- Studio Art
• Brian Conti -- AP US History
• Christian Gilliam -- Guitar
• Kathryn Griffiths -- Latin
• Teagan Guenther -- History
• Caitrin Hand -- Digital Design
• Michael Hatch -- Chemistry
• Jackson Humphrey -- Jazz Combo
• Michaela Jordan -- English H
• Kathryn Kane -- Chemistry
• Tucker Landry -- History
• Brian Le -- Chemistry
• Celia Migliaccio -- History
• Taylor Morriseau -- Intermediate Algebra
• Julia Pomerleau -- Pre-Calculus
• Anthony Reardon -- Stained Glass
• Sean Scanlon -- AP Calculus AB
• Kathryn Sessler -- English
• Will Shibles -- French III
• Katherine Sprague -- Intermediate Algebra
• Zoey Yin -- Physics H

Mengyuan Zhang -- Chemistry H

Class of 2019

• Arianna Arguedas -- Spanish III H
• Caroline Arpin -- French II H
• Briley Bell -- English
• Isabella Booth -- Theology
• Jennifer Christensen -- Concert Band
• Patricia Ciampi -- Theology
• Thomas Higgins -- Geometry
• Haylee Hinkle -- Theology
• Tanner LaFlamme -- Theology
• Caitlan McCutcheon -- Digital Design
• Connor Morrison -- Spanish II
• Julia Mount -- French III H
• Michaela Philbrook -- French II
• Nathan Scott -- History II
• Abigail Vaughan -- Biology

Emma White -- Theology

Class of 2020

• Chase Cameron -- Architectural Design
• Emma Dyer -- Algebra I
• Grace Elwell -- Spanish I
• Ally Fernandez -- Theology
• Will Gordon -- Drawing & Painting
• Alexandra Hammond -- Keyboard
• Quinton Hastings -- English
• Lauren Jordan -- Music Technology
• Caitlin Kennedy-Jensen -- Latin II H
• Emma Levesque -- Algebra I
• Jamison Levine -- Algebra I
• Michael Luna -- Latin I
• Joseph Macaluso -- English
• Tyson Matthews -- French III
• William Mullen -- Spanish II
• Michael Scannell -- Digital Design

Cheverus' Marine Biology class took part in International Coastweek Cleanup by picking up trash around Back Cove on Friday, September 15. Students exclaimed: "You could be here all day [picking up cigarette butts]!" and "This is so frustrating. I'm so irritated by people just leaving this." However, multiple Back Cove runners thanked them for their efforts.

Pictured above (l to r): Rachael Haskell, Mary Wallace, Christopher Hoffman, Julia Mount, Ms King, Karen Nielsen, Eva Griffiths, Sophie Scheule, Shawnee Berke, Ms Po.

Eight students travelled with Ms. Po and Ms. King to Tucson, Arizona, for a southern border immersion experience this summer.  During the intensive week of  experiential learning, the delegation heard many stories of migrants coming to the U.S. They learned about the intricacies of the legal system and the fragility of the desert ecosystems.  The border wall controversy came alive as they examined the history of our southern border, United States relations with Mexico and Central America, as well as Border Patrol policies and procedures.

Click on the video below to hear about the experience from the students: