Underclass award winners announced

Student achievement awards were presented at the Underclass Awards Ceremony on May 23. The following juniors received some of the very special awards bestowed at the ceremony: 

Instrumental Recital showcases talent

The Lauralton Hall Music Department Instrumental Recital was held on May 18 in the Claven Auditorium. Parents and friends enjoyed the instrumental music provided by students in both the freshman and upper class instrumental ensembles. Performances by smaller ensemble groups and several solos on various instruments gave the audience the opportunity to appreciate the talents of our instrumentalists. The love for music clearly showed on the faces of our instrumental students as they preformed. These students are to be congratulated on their hard work throughout the year.

LH students win academic awards at State Latin Day

Lauralton Hall students competed in the 25th Annual Connecticut State Latin Day held by the Classical Association of Connecticut on May 16 at Holiday Hill in Cheshire. More than 2,000 students from 61 Connecticut schools celebrated and competed in academic programs, workshops and games. Congratulations to the following students who were awarded honors:   

Environmental Club presents fabulous Fashion Show

On April 28 the Lauralton student body gathered in the auditorium and seated themselves along a “runway” to watch 45 of their fellow classmates put on Lauralton’s first-ever fashion show. But...this was a fashion show with a “twist” since the models were not wearing new clothes! All of the fashion entries were old clothes that had been redesigned. Most were tee shirts that students refashioned in some unique way. Some students just had fun with the idea of redecorating and created either clever or funny tee shirts; others created tee shirts that were so fashionable they could be sold in boutiques anywhere.

Incoming freshmen enjoy fun night

Eighth graders who will attend Lauralton in the fall gathered in the gymnasium on the evening of May 11 to meet their future classmates. They were greeted by volunteer freshmen, sophomores and juniors who hosted Fun Night for the Class of 2010. Initial shyness was soon left behind as the DJ took requests; it wasn’t long before everyone was up and dancing. The students decided to hold an impromptu dance contest which proved to be the highlight of the evening. The parents, who met for a separate social, eventually wandered over to the gymnasium where they found more than one hundred twenty girls having a great time - and no one wanted to leave! Finally, with parents waiting in the foyer, Lauralton students led the group, dancing all the way, to meet their parents for the ride home.
 
This promises to be a spirited class!

“Life with Mother Superior” a big hit!

On May 5 and 6 Lauralton Hall presented the comedic play, Life with Mother Superior. Based on the 1966 movie, The Trouble with Angels, starring well-known actresses Rosalind Russell and Haley Mills, the storyline revolves around two mischief-makers at an all-girls’ Catholic school who are determined to make life a living nightmare for the school’s Mother Superior. The antics of these two girls amused audiences of all ages at both performances. 

Thank you, Centennial sponsors

The Academy of Our Lady of Mercy, Lauralton Hall is exceedingly grateful to all of our Centennial year sponsors and recognizes them for their outstanding generosity.

 

2005-2006 Centennial Year Sponsors

 

Circle of Mercy 

Jeff and Mary Jo Dunne
The Milford Bank

McAuley  

Mrs. Ann D’Addario
Knights of Columbus
PNC Advisors
R.D. Scinto Corporation
Valerie Vincent, ’58

Tower  

Albertus Magnus College
Allianz of America & the Brian S. Brennan Family
Class of 1954
Fairfield College Preparatory School
Fairfield University
Carla Kowalczyk Farrell, ’73 and Lisa Kowalczyk, ’70
Daria Barbano Fitzgerald, ’72 and Robert A. Fitzgerald, AP, ’00, ’02 and ’05
Gloria Dichello Hall, ’53
Mary Sedensky Koehm, ’46
Dr. Margaret “Mimi” Koehm, ’76
The LaBella Family
Landamerica, New York
Frank and Claudia Matthews
Medical Anesthesiology Associates
Ann Collins Mills, ’47
Mr. and Mrs. Thanasis Molokotos

Michael and Wendy Bosak Montanaro, ’65        
Newtown Shopping Village & the Kasper and Riccio Families

Elsie Santangelo Scott, ’55 & the Santangelo Foundation

David J. Sullivan III & UBS Financial Services
Kathleen Swift, ’80

 

Students visit British Isles

Lauralton’s travelers set off in April once again for England and Ireland. Their London hotel couldn’t have been better--on The Strand at Covent Garden, a shopping and eating mecca for the girls. Sixteen students and their chaperones, teachers Donna Gibson, Terry Lawler and Marilyn Cummings, visited every major attraction in London including the mounted horse guards on Whitehall, changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace, the London Eye, Tower of London at the end of a Thames River cruise, Madame Tussauds, St Paul’s Cathedral, the new Globe Theater, and shopping at Harrods--or, more accurately, gazing open-mouthed at the Easter confections artistically displayed there. Even Westminster Abbey was open for a visit followed by lunch at a landmark pub. But the highlight of the time in London for many was afternoon tea at the Orangery, a greenhouse designed for Queen Anne in 1704 and now a long white room lined with statues set in graceful arches, floor to ceiling windows, and Corinthian columns, all overlooking the manicured lawns and gardens of Kensington Palace.

From London, the group traveled the thatched-roofed Cotswold countryside to Oxford University where several Lauralton students have studied, on to Stratford-upon-Avon and all things Shakespeare, finally making their way past sheep, sheep, sheep to Wales and the Irish Sea.

A calm crossing brought the group to Dublin where the students politely suffered through a trying tour of the city with an inept guide; nevertheless, some free time on Grafton Street and afternoon tea at Mercy House International rejuvenated everyone and readied the travelers for the LH Talent Show in the hotel lobby. The acts thrilled and amazed: the seniors’ skit satirizing the morning tour guide, Mrs. Cumming’s recitation of an Irish limerick, Melissa Salandra’s best-ever rendition of The Star Spangled Banner, Jess Ciola’s contorted arm and nose trick, Mrs. Lawler’s bagpipes, Mrs. Gibson’s chicken imitation, Meagan Gaits' cheers, and from the group traveling with us, John’s rapid rendering of helping verbs and Ryan’s brake-dance routine. What talent! Highlights in Ireland included a curvy drive through the Ring of Kerry with stops along the way for spectacular views of the rugged landscape and an end-of-the day trot through Killarney National Park in jaunting cars. Traditional Irish music in the hotel pub on the last night offered a perfect end to this year’s trip.

Student participants included Jane Becker, Jess Ciola, Lauren Corsano, Kylie Culnane, Julie DeMagistris, Abby Finck, Meagan Gaits, Margaret Galiani, Deidra Golino, Kelly Kopchik, Joanna Nicoletti, Ashley Pannese, Megan Paqua, Melissa Salandra, Kerry Sullivan and Lauren VanDam.

Juniors qualify for NMSC recognition

Lauralton juniors Tracy Allen, Jane Becker and Margaux Canevari were recently notified that of the 1.3 million entrants in the National Merit® Scholarship Program, they are among the students with the highest PSAT/NMSQT® Selection Index scores and have qualified for recognition. Along with approximately 50,000 other high-scoring participants from every state, the three Lauralton students have been invited to name two colleges or universities to which they would like to be referred by NMSC. In September, they will be notified that they have qualified as either Commended Students or Semifinalists in the Program.

The National Merit® Scholarship Program is an academic competition for recognition and scholarships that began in 1955. High school students enter the National Merit Program by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT®) -- a test which serves as an initial screen of approximately 1.3 million entrants each year -- and by meeting published program entry/participation requirements.

In September, more than two-thirds or about 34,000 of the high scorers on the PSAT/NMSQT® will receive Letters of Commendation in recognition of their outstanding academic promise. Commended Students are named on the basis of a nationally applied Selection Index score that may vary from year to year and is below the level required for participants to be named Semifinalists in their respective states. About 16,000 students will be notified that they have qualified as Semifinalists. 

Congratulations to these academically talented students on their achievements!

Board thanks Lauralton faculty

To commemorate Teacher Appreciation Week and honor the faculty at Lauralton Hall, the Board of Trustees passed following resolution at their April meeting:

 

The Board of Trustees of the Academy of Our Lady of Mercy, Lauralton Hall extends its appreciation to the faculty of Lauralton Hall for their hard work, dedication and professional excellence.