Search:

Founded in 1879 by the School Sisters of Notre Dame

Press Room

April 2018

Students Explore Opportunities at 10th Annual Spring College Fair

Demarest, NJ: The gym at the Academy of the Holy Angels was packed with colorful collegiate banners and smiling faces as the school held its 10th Annual Spring College Fair on April 24th. During two extended lunch periods, students from every grade level were able to speak with representatives from over 100 colleges and universities to plot their paths for the future. Parents and guardians were invited to join their Angels and ask questions of their own.

Demarest, NJ: Most students have to wait until their college years to take a “bespoke class,” but multiple high schoolers from the Academy of the Holy Angels recently enjoyed a made to order critical thinking class at Oxford University. During their stay in England, the group also sharpened their oral presentation skills.

Demarest, NJ: If a single smile can light up a room, just imagine the candlepower of 119 of these joyful expressions. During her recent Operation Smile mission in Ho, Ghana, Samantha Danylchuk of Mahwah saw 119 people smile for the very first time after they received life-changing corrective surgeries for cleft lip and cleft palate.

Demarest, NJ: Every day, choices made in supermarkets and restaurants have a critical impact on the lives of people around the globe. With the help of a human rights expert and two students from the Academy of the Holy Angels, the School Sisters of Notre Dame have produced a video to increase awareness of slavery and human trafficking in the fishing industry supply chain.

Demarest, NJ: Several members of the Tri-M Music Honor Society at the Academy of the Holy Angels took time out of their April break to perform for the residents at the Spectrum Intermediate Care Facility in Closter. The program was spearheaded by River Vale resident Maya Sharma, who helped organize a 2017 concert at another Spectrum residence.

Demarest, NJ: High school students who excel in both art and academics are invited to join the National Art Honor Society. This spring, 22 students from the junior and senior classes at the Academy of the Holy Angels were eligible for induction.

Demarest, NJ: Get ready for a spring afternoon packed with exceptional entertainment and crave-able confections, as the Fourth Annual Food Truck Festival rolls into Demarest on Sunday, April 22nd. Organized by Angels in the Arts, this popular annual event will be held from 1 to 5 p.m. on the grounds of the Academy of the Holy Angels at 315 Hillside Avenue.

Demarest, NJ: This season, Sydney Loverich of Mahwah emerged as New Jersey’s #1 skier in the United States Ski and Snowboard Association/New Jersey Ski Racing Association’s U19 division, and qualified for the Eastern Region Finals held at New York’s Gore Mountain. The regional event included top-ranked skiers from New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Connecticut.

Demarest, NJ: "Macbeth" cast his formidable shadow on the stage of the Academy of the Holy Angels courtesy of Shakespeare LIVE! – the educational touring arm of the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey.

Demarest, NJ: The Société Honoraire de Français, Società Onoraria Italica, Societas Latina Honoris, and Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica recently acccepted numerous world language students from the Academy of the Holy Angels. AHA Principal Jean Mullooly congratulated these scholars for their achievements, acknowledging the amount of time and practice required to learn a language. She urged the inductees to be active in their new groups, and reminded them to encourage younger students to follow in their footsteps.

Read more»

March 2018

Students’ Sculpture & Photography Net National Awards

Demarest, NJ: Three evocative works of art have earned national recognition for Margeaux Gould of Weehawken, Julia Elisano of Englewood Cliffs, and Vanessa Tamarit of North Bergen. These medalists in the 2018 Scholastic Art and Writing competition attend the Academy of the Holy Angels in Demarest.

Demarest, NJ: Karolina Lokaj of Clifton and Kamil Falkowski of Linden have only been dancing together since the summer of 2017, but they are already enjoying success at the national level. The pair recently competed in the United States National Amateur Dancesport Championships in Provo, Utah, where they finished sixth in the Under 21 category and made it to the semi-final round of the youth category.

Demarest, NJ: The 13th Science National Honor Society induction ceremony at the Academy of the Holy Angels featured a warm welcome for 27 new members, and special recognition for senior Molly Doyle of Pearl River, New York, who received the Rockland Electric Scientific Achievement Award. The event was a celebration of the sisterhood of science; quite literally, in some instances. Three 2018 SNHS inductees are triplets: Aimee, Heidi, and Maria Hannoush of Wyckoff. In addition, inductee Maya Sharma of River Vale was welcomed into the society by her sister Jaya, who is the current SNHS STREAM Coordinator.

Demarest, NJ: As Miyu Yamasaki and Marin Kishida prepared to travel to New York City for this month’s 62nd United Nations Commission on the Status of Women, these students from Kyoto, Japan, found a knowledgeable ally in Jaya Sharma. Sharma, a student at the Academy of the Holy Angels, attended last year’s conference, and generously shared everything she knows with her peers on the other side of the world.

Demarest, NJ: It may sound unlikely, but the March 15, 44 B.C. assassination of Julius Caesar is about to have a positive effect on the lives of families now living in Haiti. The National Latin Honor Society at the Academy of the Holy Angels hosted “Pin the Dagger on the Caesar” in the school cafeteria. Participants who contributed $1 were blindfolded and given a paper “dagger” to pin on a life-sized drawing of Caesar. Players had an opportunity to win an item from the concurrent Italian Club Bake Sale.

Demarest, NJ: A school tradition and a national event converged March 14th at the Academy of the Holy Angels, where the Awareness Day theme of “Seeking Unity in a Diverse World” dovetailed with student actions in solidarity with the survivors of the February 14th shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.

Demarest, NJ: The savvy mathematicians at the Academy of the Holy Angels organized a Pi Day event to welcome this year’s Mu Alpha Theta (Math Honor Society) inductees. Thirty-four students were honored on March 14, when math aficionados around the world celebrate pi (3.14, etc.), the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter. Although pi continues infinitely, without apparent pattern or repetition, this figure also represents the order of a circle.

Demarest, NJ: Several musically inclined scholars from the Academy of the Holy Angels have been inducted into Chapter 2150 of Modern Music Masters, informally known as the Tri-M Music Honor Society.

Read more»

Teens Evaluate STEM Fair Projects

Demarest, NJ: Eleven teen scientists from the Academy of the Holy Angels in Demarest put their knowledge to the test when they agreed to judge this winter’s STEM Fair at the Academy of Our Lady in Glen Rock.

Demarest, NJ: March is a time of pleasant surprises at the Academy of the Holy Angels, where students mark Music in Our Schools Month® by presenting “random acts of music.” The National Association for Music Education promotes Music in Our Schools Month® to highlight the importance of a high-quality music education.

Demarest, NJ: A Winter Break trip to Douglas, Arizona, provided five students from the Academy of the Holy Angels with an intense look at life at the Mexican border. AHA Director of Campus Ministry Kathy Sylvester and AHA Religious Studies Department Chair Carol Fay led the team as they assisted a group of School Sisters of Notre Dame who work with migrants who are seeking a better life.

Read more»

February 2018

Sister Mary Foley Is Women’s History Month Honoree

Demarest, NJ: Sister Mary Foley, SSND, the Licensed Clinical Social Worker at the Academy of the Holy Angels, has been named one of Bergen County’s 2018 Women’s History Month honorees. A reception, hosted by the Commission on the Status of Women and the Junior Commission on the Status of Women, will be held in Hackensack on March 27.

Demarest, NJ: The February 1st Mass celebrated by Joseph William Cardinal Tobin, C. Ss.R, was the undeniable highlight of Catholic Schools Week at the Academy of the Holy Angels. During his homily, His Eminence underscored the importance of being connected to Jesus and the poor.

Read more»

Robotics Team Makes Bold Move

Demarest, NJ: As they prepared for this year’s FIRST® Tech Challenge regional qualifier, members of the Academy of the Holy Angels Robotic Team made a bold move: The “Angelbots” dispensed with the official instruction book and kit, and designed, built, and coded a robot of their own.

Demarest, NJ: In just a few months, the Academy of the Holy Angels raised $7,042 to help four teachers from Academia Perpetuo Socorro in San Juan, Puerto Rico, who lost everything due to Hurricane Maria. AHA demonstrated that a goal can be an artificial limit, as the school community pushed past the original $3,000 challenge before Thanksgiving 2017, and then exceeded the revised challenge of $5,000.

Demarest, NJ: Long hours of hard work are not everyone’s idea of a good time, but several students from the Academy of the Holy Angels enjoyed being absorbed in multiple days of complex negotiations at the Harvard Model UN Conference. The AHA students represented Finland during this international event held in Boston.

Demarest, NJ: Three student writers from the Academy of the Holy Angels have earned honors in the regional level Scholastic Art and Writing Competition. The Scholastic Art and Writing Competition was launched in 1923 to honor teen writers and artists throughout the United States. Medalists from previous years have included Sylvia Plath, Truman Capote, Andy Warhol, Richard Avedon, Robert Redford, Lena Dunham, and Paul Chan.

Demarest, NJ: Truth is stranger than fiction. Experience this phenomenon for yourself as the award-winning Academy of the Holy Angels Theater Department under the direction of Katie McSherry-Collins presents the musical “Catch Me if You Can.” This startling true story of Frank Abagnale Jr. and his life of crime will be presented Friday, March 16th and Saturday, March 17th at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, March 18th at 2 p.m. Tickets are $15 each and are available online at AHA.Booktix.com. All shows will be presented at AHA, 315 Hillside Avenue in Demarest.

Demarest, NJ: The unstoppable, unparalleled varsity dance team from the Academy of the Holy Angels has made history by pulling off an astounding “threepeat” as national champions in small varsity hip hop. This latest win came in early February at the UDA National Dance Team Championship in Orlando, Florida.

Demarest, NJ: Kindness has no cost, but it has tremendous value at the Academy of the Holy Angels. Each quarter, selected AHA students receive the Sister Catherine Green Kindness Award in recognition of their inspirational attitudes.

Demarest, NJ: High-quality works of art, many of which were created within the Academy of the Holy Angels’ newly-renovated Genevieve Kelleher Hall, yielded 13 Gold Keys, 10 Silver Keys, and 38 Honorable Mentions for the students who entered the regional Scholastic Art and Writing Competition. Gold Keys symbolically “unlock” the recipients’ opportunity to move on to the national level of this competition.

Demarest, NJ: Students from two schools located across the globe are in the midst of a cultural exchange that grew from a common connection: Both learning institutions were founded by the School Sisters of Notre Dame. English teacher Dean Williams from Notre Dame Jogakuin in Kyoto, Japan, contacted the staff at the Academy of the Holy Angels with the goal of establishing a pathway for his students to develop their English skills. Jennifer Cucchisi, an international studies teacher at AHA, readily accepted the invitation.

Demarest, NJ: Eighty-four percent of the Academy of the Holy Angels Class of 2018 has received early acceptance to multiple top colleges and universities. As a result, 128 current AHA seniors will attend their first-choice schools this fall. These students have already received scholarships totaling $7 million, a figure that is expected to increase.

Read more»

January 2018

Angels Earn Second Consecutive Bowling Title

Demarest, NJ: At the outset of the new bowling season, Academy of the Holy Angels Coach Patrick Dunne was not expecting a repeat of last year’s success. He had lost four starters from last year’s team, and the varsity and JV squads included 10 new bowlers. Dunne was in for a surprise: His team’s outstanding work ethic just yielded a second consecutive Bergen County championship title.

Demarest, NJ: Angels’ voices are being heard at some exclusive performances this winter. Academy of the Holy Angels vocalists Yasmine Carter-McTavish, Hanora Chapman, Leah Sanchez, and Maria Guyre recently earned the distinction of becoming the only Catholic high school students to perform in the All County Band and Choir Concert. This event was held at Paramus High School on January 14th.

Demarest, NJ: After they discovered an article about the successful Kick the Water Bottle campaign at the Academy of the Holy Angels, members of Saint Benedict Preparatory School’s student sustainability team were eager to learn more. Students from both schools recently convened at Holy Angels to discuss the progress of the student-led campaign from its inception at a 2016 retreat in West Virginia to AHA’s September 2017 ban on the sale of single-use plastic water bottles.

Demarest, NJ: Fourteen students from the Academy of the Holy Angels will take a fresh look at pressing global concerns during the 65th session of the Harvard Model United Nations Conference. This international event will be held in downtown Boston, Massachusetts, from January 25th through 28th and will be attended by students from around the world.

Demarest, NJ: After spending a day in the Perry Outreach program, Maya Sharma was energized and excited about the future of women in male-dominated careers. The Academy of the Holy Angels junior had planned to pursue a medical degree before she was chosen to attend the Perry Outreach, but the program allowed Sharma and other female high school students to interact with women who are making inroads in engineering and orthopedics.

Demarest, NJ: The trim new STREAM Lab that opened at the Academy of the Holy Angels in late 2017 is the latest physical manifestation of the Academy’s abiding commitment to the STREAM curriculum. Like STEM, STREAM highlights science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, but also includes religion and art.

Demarest, NJ: A group of young artists from the Academy of the Holy Angels recently delivered the gift of art to the Franciscan Sisters in Tenafly. Kathryn Biskup’s Art for the Community group fashioned a festive wreath and Christmas tree decoration for the sisters just in time for the holiday season. Participants in Art for the Community meet at AHA during the school’s activity period with the aim of producing artistic creations to share with the greater community. In addition to making Christmas and Easter decorations for the Franciscan Sisters, the group distributes artworks to area nursing homes and hospitals.

Demarest, NJ: Academy of the Holy Angels’ basketball phenomenon Elena Pulanco scored her 1,000th career point December 30th as AHA battled Old Tappan in the Joe Poli Holiday Tournament. Pulanco’s milestone three-point shot temporarily halted the first quarter while those present at the game hosted by Pascack Valley High School recognized her achievement. The well-matched teams took the game into overtime, when AHA was edged 50-47; but the final score was hardly the top story for AHA. All told, Pulanco scored 29 points, including 21 from three-point range.

Demarest, NJ: Timea Papp recently spearheaded a concert for the residents of Van Dyk Park Place, an assisted living facility located in Papp’s hometown of Hawthorne. This outreach featured several members of the Tri-M Music Honor Society from the Academy of the Holy Angels, who filled the building with violin and piano selections, saxophone and flute duets, and vocal pieces. The eclectic program included everything from Mozart to jazz, and renditions of beloved tunes such as “Jingle Bells" and "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas."

Read more»

December 2017

AHA Juniors Named Governor’s School Candidates

Demarest, NJ: Timea Papp of Hawthorne and Maya Sharma of River Vale have been named the Academy of the Holy Angels’ candidates for Governor’s School of Engineering & Technology and Governor’s School in Science, respectively. “We wish both of them the best of luck during the next few months as the application process continues,” AHA College Counselor Jennifer Trubac said as she announced the news. Trubac noted that the New Jersey students who will be attending these prestigious programs will be notified this spring. Governor’s School programs are funded by private and corporate sponsors and are tuition-free for students.

Demarest, NJ: A light snow and chilly temperatures primed the audience for the 2017 Christmas Concert at the Academy of the Holy Angels. This annual tradition featured seasonal music presented by the AHA Handbell Choir, Vocal Ensemble, Academy Concert Choir, and Academy Orchestra. Academy Orchestra Director Mariann Annechino and Academy Choral Director Lisa Marciano led their student musicians as they poured out their talents.

Demarest, NJ: Holiday celebrations include many cherished traditions that unite people of all ages. This month, 10 seniors from the Academy of the Holy Angels continued the school’s tradition of marking Saint Nicholas Day with students from Saint Peter the Apostle School in Philadelphia. The Holy Angels students brought gifts for each of their young friends at Saint Peter’s, helped the children decorate gingerbread cookies, and enjoyed being in each other’s company.

Demarest, NJ: Members of the French Club and the French Honor Society at the Academy of the Holy Angels recently participated in the 2017 observance of National French Week, an annual event held in various locations across the United States. AHA students held multiple events beneath the flags of French-speaking nations and an array of posters that showcased information about French culture throughout the world.

Demarest, NJ: This June, an assembly of some the area’s finest student leaders will attend the 2018 Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership Seminar at Kean University. Among them will be Academy of the Holy Angels’ representatives Kayla Pringle of Suffern, New York, and Angelina Busetto of Pomona, New York. Morgan Morrissey of Saddle River is AHA’s alternate representative.

Demarest, NJ: “Heartwarming” and “incredible” were the first words New Milford resident Cassandra Keith Garcia chose to describe her experience as an Operation Smile volunteer in Koforidua, Ghana. “The mission trip was a success,” the Academy of the Holy Angels senior reported. “We were able to make 147 new smiles within the span of 14 days. Being able to play with the children during pre- and post-op was so much fun.

Demarest, NJ: Justice is the key to ending hunger. This is the simple, unvarnished message Academy of the Holy Angels juniors Sofia Nedelkoff of Ramsey and Genevieve McClean of Nutley brought home from the Seventh Annual Teen Hunger Summit. They also returned to Holy Angels with ideas for immediate actions that can be taken close to home. The convocation for middle school and high school students, teachers, campus ministers, and administrators was held at Seton Hall Prep, which co-sponsored the event in conjunction with the Community FoodBank of NJ.

Read more»

November 2017

AHA Dancers Continue Their Winning Ways

Demarest, NJ: The new competition season has begun, and the Academy of the Holy Angels Varsity and Junior Varsity Dance Teams are continuing their winning ways. “Both varsity and JV took first place in their division for pom at the Universal Dance Association Fairfax Dance Championship in Virginia. Varsity also received an award for Best Crowd Appeal,” Coach Jenny Sweet said, reporting on the teams’ most recent successes.

Demarest, NJ: A series of fundraisers organized by the Academy of the Holy Angels has already netted $3,269 to help Puerto Rico rebound from Hurricane Maria, but the school community is not willing to stop there. As the students, faculty, and staff gathered just before Thanksgiving, Spanish teacher and Spanish National Honor Society Moderator Carmen Quiñones challenged those present to increase the fundraising goal to $5,000. Her proposal was met by enthusiastic applause.

Demarest, NJ: Palisades Park resident Erin Yang played the piano for three years and flute for two years before she decided to pick up a cello nine years ago. Her devotion to the cello recently paid off as Yang and her piano trio, which includes violinist Hannah Jung and pianist Laura Gessmann, earned first prize in the Third Manhattan International Music Competition.

Demarest, NJ: Multiple seniors from the Academy of the Holy Angels have been inducted into the Alice Paul Chapter of the Rho Kappa Social Studies Honor Society. Membership is extended to students who demonstrate excellence in social studies and a commitment to serving others.

Demarest, NJ: Suspense was in the air this month as audience members eagerly consumed “And Then There Were None” at the Academy of the Holy Angels. Each of the skilled actors teased out the dark secrets held by the key players in Agatha Christie’s classic tale of guilt and judgment. On opening night, the pivotal final scene drew a unified, audible gasp as a key secret was revealed. Delighted applause ensued at the play’s resolution.

Demarest, NJ: National Signing Day 2017 was a historic event at the Academy of the Holy Angels: Athletic Director Patti Gorsuch announced that a record number of Academy athletes had committed to Division 1 college sports. Kelly (Do Yeoun) Sim of Edgewater will play golf at Northwestern, Elena Pulanco of Englewood will play basketball at Wofford College, and Tara Lyons of Pearl River (NY) and Caroline McGann of Old Tappan will be participating in track and field at Bucknell. All of these students signed letters of intent on National Signing Day.

Demarest, NJ: While researching college scholarship opportunities, Academy of the Holy Angels senior Aprile Bertomo discovered the Veterans of Foreign Wars Voice of Democracy contest, and decided to submit an entry. Her essay on this year's theme, "American History: Our Hope for the Future," was recently chosen as the winning entry at the local level. Quartermaster John Smith of the Bergenfield VFW visited AHA to personally present Bertomo with a certificate and a check. AHA principal Jean Mulloly and Bertomo's mother, Victoria Bertomo, looked on with approbation.

Demarest, NJ: “Follow the money” became a catchphrase during the Watergate era, and helped unravel a national scandal. More recently, author Joan Marie Johnson, Ph.D., followed the money to discover how female philanthropists helped propel the women’s suffrage movement in the United States. Dr. Johnson recently returned to the Academy of the Holy Angels, her alma mater, to discuss her findings with current students and faculty members. She sparked a lively conversation as she presented snippets from her new book, “Funding Feminism.” During her talk, the alumna author pointed out that, after facing opposition from men at a 1913 suffrage parade in Washington, D.C., suffragists realized how important it was for the women to make the changes themselves. They then turned to wealthy women to help fund their efforts to gain the right to vote.

Demarest, NJ: Five musicians from the Tri-M Music Honor Society at the Academy of the Holy Angels recently performed at the School Sisters of Notre Dame’s Volunteer Recognition Luncheon in Wilton, Connecticut. Performers included pianist Jaya Sharma and the AHA String Quartet, which includes violinists Maya Sharma and Maria Guyre, violist Jiwon Yoon, and cellist Erin Yang. The students delighted their audience with a variety of musical pieces ranging from "Moon River" to "The Estudiantina Waltz."

Demarest, NJ: Positivity, enthusiasm, and dedication are the hallmarks of Howard Schuman’s successful 51-year career as an athletic coach, and helped earn him induction into the Academy of the Holy Angels Sports Hall of Fame. Schuman was honored at the AHA Parents’ Athletic Association Beefsteak Dinner held November 4th. “All of us at Holy Angels congratulate Coach Schuman and thank him for his years of dedicated service to our athletes,” said AHA President Melinda Hanlon.

Demarest, NJ: During Alumnae Weekend 2017, the Academy of the Holy Angels paid tribute to cellist Ani Kalayjian (Class of 1999) and Caroline McCarthy Blatti (Class of 1992). Kalayjian was inducted into the AHA Arts Hall of Fame, and Blatti was welcomed into the AHA Athletic Hall of Fame.

Read more»

October 2017

Sister Nonna Dunphy Scholarship Finalists & Semi-finalists Honored

Demarest, NJ: The Academy of the Holy Angels honored the 2017-18 Sister Nonna Dunphy Scholarship finalists and semi-finalists during the October 27th Foundation Day celebration. Each year, two seniors, two juniors, and two sophomores receive these $1,000 awards based on academic achievement, leadership, character, service, and an interview conducted by the Scholarship Committee. This year’s scholarship recipients are seniors Mary Haws of River Vale and Laura Pesanello of Mahwah, juniors Hanora Chapman of Ramsey and Timea Papp of Hawthorne, and sophomores Sophia Luongo of Upper Saddle River and Kathryn McGraw of Blauvelt (NY).

Demarest, NJ: The Academy of the Holy Angels celebrated the October 24, 1833 foundation of the School Sisters of Notre Dame with a special service for the school community held on Friday, October 27th. AHA President Melinda Hanlon and Principal Jean Mullooly opened the service, which was attended by local School Sisters of Notre Dame, and alumnae, since the event also ushered in this year’s Alumnae Weekend. Eight SSNDs renewed their vows, including S. Grace D’Amico, S. Madeline Hanson, S. Ethel Howley, S. Mary Kelly, S. Patricia (“Pat”) Ferrick, and AHA’s S. Carole Tabano, S. Kathleen Dunham, and S. Mary Foley.

Demarest, NJ: Angelina Scozzafava, a senior at the Academy of the Holy Angels, recently made the long trek from Maywood to Malawi to complete a mission for Operation Smile. As a student educator, the Maywood resident presented vital information to the families of Operation Smile patients awaiting cleft palate and cleft lip surgeries. She focused on nutrition, burn care and prevention, oral rehydration therapy, dental hygiene, and handwashing. In addition, Scozzafava distributed donated items that included toothbrushes, toothpaste, and small toys.

Demarest, NJ: Four students from the Academy of the Holy Angels recently attended training in Rome, Italy, in preparation for mission trips with Operation Smile. Those students included Angelina Scozzafava of Maywood, Cassandra Keith Garcia of New Milford, Samantha Danylchuk of Mahwah, and Melina Tidwell Torres of North Arlington.

Demarest, NJ: Settle in for an evening of mystery and drama as the Academy of the Holy Angels presents Agatha Christie’s “And Then There Were None.” Discover the dark secrets these characters have kept hidden as AHA’s award-winning thespians bring this tale to the Holy Angels stage. These accomplished performers will present four shows: Friday, November 10th at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, November 11th at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; and Sunday, November 12th at 2 p.m.

Demarest, NJ: Starting a new job can come with a bit of anxiety, but Zac the border collie is handling his new post as goose dog at the Academy of the Holy Angels with quiet aplomb. “The AHA community couldn’t be happier than to welcome Zac,” AHA President Melinda Hanlon said Monday morning, shortly after Zac’s arrival was announced. Sister Mary Foley, AHA’s social worker and Zac’s direct report, went about the work of introducing her new employee. Many people were pleasantly surprised to learn about Zac, since the hiring process was a closely guarded secret for several months.

Demarest, NJ: Even before her plane touched down in Nicaragua, Anya Skae knew that was exactly where she wanted to be. The Nanuet, New York, resident and her group from the Church of the Presentation in Upper Saddle River were on their way to volunteer at Mustard Seed Communities in Diriamba and Managua. These mission trips have been organized for several years by Father Benny Prado, who recently left Presentation to become pastor of a church in Montclair. Fr. Benny returned to his former parish to lead this year’s trip.

Demarest, NJ: Academy of the Holy Angels Principal Jean Mullooly has announced that Noelani Buonamo of Tenafly and Molly Doyle of Pearl River, New York, have been named Commended Students in the 2018 National Merit® Scholarship Program. Both AHA seniors are being recognized for their excellent performance on the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test/National Merit® Scholarship Qualifying Test.Doyle and Buonami are two of approximately 34,000 Commended Students who have been named throughout the United States.

Demarest, NJ: Sister Eileen Reilly, director of the School Sisters of Notre Dame's United Nations Non-governmental Organization Office, helped 28 students from the Academy of the Holy Angels gain entrée to “Girls Speak Out.” The SSNDs founded and sponsor AHA, and are registered with the UN as an NGO, a connection that affords AHA students opportunities to observe and participate in UN-sponsored events.

Demarest, NJ: Luke, the therapy dog, was a beloved member of the Academy of the Holy Angels community until his passing at age 15 in April 2017. AHA Licensed Clinical Social Worker Sister Mary Foley, Luke’s long-time companion and handler, recently published a book, “Luke the Border Collie: My Early Years,” that traces this extraordinary animal’s journey from North Carolina to New Jersey.

Read more»

Feast Day Features Kelleher Hall Dedication

Demarest, NJ: Sister Genevieve Marie Kelleher was the guest of honor at the Academy of the Holy Angels’ October 2nd observance of the Feast of the Holy Guardian Angels. In addition to the celebration of the 138th anniversary of the school’s founding by Sister Nonna Dunphy, this year’s event included the dedication of Sister Genevieve Kelleher Hall. “Today marks an extraordinary day in the history of Holy Angels,” said AHA President Melinda Hanlon.

Read more»

September 2017

Sophomores Build Homes & Language Skills in Costa Rica

This summer, Grace Flynn and Julia Farah joined forces with approximately 30 other Rustic Pathways volunteers to complete several service projects in Costa Rica. Working with this international community service organization, the volunteers constructed houses for multiple families, built bathrooms at a local high school, and helped some young students practice their English.

Responding to Pope Francis’ challenge to be caretakers of creation, the Academy of the Holy Angels has formally banned the sale of single-use plastic water bottles on campus and the purchase of these bottles with school funds. The Academy’s new policy furthers the “Kick the Water Bottle” campaign that was established to foster the school’s commitment to the responsible consumption of natural resources.

Read more»

Holy Angels Sophomore Makes Connection with 'Family' in China

“Family” extends far beyond groups of people with common ancestors. As Linda (Xinhui) Lin discovered during culture camp in China, family is about the connections humans throughout the world share with each other. This summer, Lin joined a group of American-born Chinese teens and teens who were born in China and study in the United States. Together, they spent 14 days visiting three cities in Jiangsu Province: Nanjing, Yancheng, and Dongtai. The group also spent time with nine local Chinese students.

Volunteers Find Nazareth Farm Trip Moving & Memorable

Those who volunteer at Nazareth Farm in West Virginia are greeted by a simple phrase painted on a barn: “Expect a miracle.” Five juniors from the Academy of the Holy Angels can now relate to those words, after spending a week working on the farm, living simply, and serving others.

Clifton Resident Sets Sights on Career in Medicine

While many high school sophomores are still a few years away from choosing a career path, Czarina Marie Alfonso is already taking significant steps toward a future in medicine. Alfonso, who is a member of the Class of 2020 at the Academy of the Holy Angels, recently finished second in a competition at Georgetown Medical School, and then visited the Philippines to bring pneumonia vaccines to local children.

Educator's Graduate-level Studies Take Her to Oxford University

Demarest, NJ: As part of her graduate studies through the Bread Loaf School of English, Academy of the Holy Angels English teacher Diana Rankin spent her summer studying 19th century British and American literature at England's esteemed Oxford University.

Demarest, NJ: Enjoy an informational, lighthearted evening at the Angels in the Arts Art Auction set for Saturday, October 21st from 7 to 11 p.m. Everyone who attends this over-21 event at the Academy of the Holy Angels at 315 Hillside Avenue, Demarest, will advance the Academy's many fine and performing arts programs.

Demarest, NJ: Emphasizing the school's commitment to the performing arts, the Academy of the Holy Angels recently welcomed music educator Dan Mahony as the first chairman of the AHA Performing Arts Department.

Demarest, NJ: On Sunday, October 1, the Academy of the Holy Angels, 315 Hillside Avenue in Demarest, will open its doors to prospective students and their families from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Faculty, coaches, and staff will share details about the AHA difference, including the Academy's growth mindset philosophy.

Demarest, NJ: While the Academy of the Holy Angels was closed for the summer hiatus, educators Nancy Schneberger and Gail Fair shifted gears and took to the students' seats at two different history seminars. As recipients of the highly competitive Teachers Seminars grants sponsored by the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, both women attended programs in the United Kingdom.

Demarest, NJ: Experience an enjoyable, educational evening featuring wines from around the world on Monday, September 18. The Academy of the Holy Angels' Annual Wine Tasting will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. at Bacari Grill at 800 Ridgewood Road in Washington Township (Bergen County). AHA parents, alumnae, and friends who are age 21 or older are welcome to attend.

August 2017

AHA Campus Renovations: Excitement is Building!

Demarest, NJ: Excitement is building at the Academy of the Holy Angels, where two major renovations that include centerpieces STREAM and Mac labs, are now reaching imminent completion. These upgrades will provide additional space and state-of-the-art equipment to enhance AHA's STREAM curriculum, which encompasses science, technology, religion, engineering, art, and mathematics.

June 2017

Class of 2017 Bids Farewell to the Halls of Holy Angels

Demarest, NJ: On June 4, 147 members of the Academy of the Holy Angels Class of 2017 bid farewell to high school life at AHA’s 137th graduation ceremony. Graduation exercises were held at the Bergen Performing Arts Center in Englewood.

Holy Angels Hosts Reception for Volunteers

Demarest, NJ: As the 2016-17 school year came to a close, the Academy of the Holy Angels took time to recognize the many parent and guardian volunteers who keep a multitude of events running smoothly.

Three Students Receive Kindness Awards

Demarest, NJ: Students who exhibit inspirational positivity, kindness, and helpfulness are regularly rewarded at the Academy of the Holy Angels. Each quarter, selected students who demonstrate these exemplary qualities receive the Sister Catherine Green Kindness Award.

AHA Debaters Finish Season with Team & Individual Awards

Demarest, NJ: Skilled debaters learn to think on their feet and deliver cogent, often eloquent, arguments. This season, the Academy of the Holy Angels Junior Varsity Debate Team demonstrated its prowess, finishing fourth in Bergen County’s league. Jaya Sharma also received a fourth place Speaker Award for her individual contributions.

World Language Students Honored for Performance on National Exams

Demarest, NJ: This spring, America’s world language students sat for the national-level exams, and multiple scholars from the Academy of the Holy Angels demonstrated their expertise in French, Italian, Spanish, and Latin.

Students Return from Service Trip with New Perspectives

Demarest, NJ: A spring service trip to Connecticut left seven students from the Academy of the Holy Angels with favorable impressions of the School Sisters of Notre Dame, who sponsor AHA, and the many immigrants the SSNDs tutor.

May 2017

Two AHA Students Receive National Merit® Scholarships

Demarest, NJ: Samantha Kim and Nahee Kim, two members of the Class of 2017 at the Academy of the Holy Angels, have been named Merit Scholars. Each student has received a National Merit® Scholarship.

Whodunit Nets Multiple Metro Award Nominations

Demarest, NJ: The award-winning performing arts program at the Academy of the Holy Angels is poised to receive additional accolades after receiving multiple nominations for the 2017 Metropolitan High School Theater Awards. The Academy’s spring musical, “The Mystery of Edwin Drood,” earned the most nominations among the participating Bergen County schools.

Fashion-forward Fundraiser Attracts More Than 500 Guests

Demarest, NJ: The Mother Daughter Fashion Show sponsored by the Academy of the Holy Angels may be a long-standing tradition, but this event is anything but staid or stodgy. This fashion-forward fundraiser attracted a sellout crowd of over 500 guests to the Mahwah Sheraton.

Four Students Earn Sister Catherine Green Kindness Awards

Demarest, NJ: Academic, artistic, and athletic achievements are recognized at schools throughout the country. At the Academy of the Holy Angels, kindness is also a valued trait that comes with its own reward: the Sister Catherine Green Kindness Award.

Poetry & Prose Reading to Highlight Students’ Creativity

Demarest, NJ: The Academy of the Holy Angels will open its doors to the public for an exclusive Poetry & Prose Reading featuring original works by the students in Nancy Schneberger’s creative writing class.

Food Truck & Arts Festival Delivers a Delightful Afternoon

Demarest, NJ: An enthusiastic crowd enjoyed fine fare and outstanding entertainment at the Third Annual Food Truck & Arts Festival. This fundraiser is organized by Angels in the Arts, a group of parents and guardians who support the arts programs at the Academy of the Holy Angels.

AHA Golfers Medal at Big North Tournament

Demarest, NJ: Golfers from the Academy of the Holy Angels earned silver and gold medals at year’s Big North Golf Tournament.

Service Day Features Muscle, Meals, and Garlic Mustard

Demarest, NJ: Community service is not only a graduation requirement and an integral part of Academy of the Holy Angels’ philosophy; it is also an opportunity for students to share their gifts as they help others. In her morning address on Service Day 2017, AHA Principal Jean Mullooly pointed out that this annual event also allows students to discover where they fit into the greater community.

Middle School Students Earn Prizes in STREAM Competition

Demarest, NJ: Over 50 girls from more than 15 area middle schools flocked to the Academy of the Holy Angels to participate in the Academy’s Second Annual STREAM Competition. AHA students judged the projects, all of which featured water.

April 2017

Trout Raised in AHA Classroom Released into Saddle River

Demarest, NJ: They’re free! The trout that were living in Erica Pritchard-Cunningham’s environmental science classroom at the Academy of the Holy Angels have been released into the Saddle River. This trip to Rindlaub Park marked the culmination of this year’s Trout in the Classroom program.

Students Witness History as Malala Becomes UN Messenger of Peace

Demarest, NJ: Three seniors from the Academy of the Holy Angels were on hand as world-renowned girls’ education advocate Malala Yousafzai was named the United Nations Messenger of Peace.

Mu Alpha Theta Welcomes AHA Students Who Excel in Mathematics

Demarest, NJ: Forty-eight students from the Academy of the Holy Angels have been inducted into Mu Alpha Theta. This honor society recognizes students who excel in mathematics, one of the pillars of the STREAM curriculum that also highlights science, technology, religion, engineering, and art.

Discover AHA’s Advantages at April 26 Open House

Demarest, NJ: “Women leaders begin here” is much more than a motto at the Academy of the Holy Angels. Visit our Wednesday, April 26 Open House to learn more about the exciting, enriching opportunities this private, all-girls Catholic high school has to offer.

Fundraiser Supports Educational Opportunities in Lebanon

Demarest, NJ: Going to school is an ordinary part of life for children and teens in the United States, but this simple act can be a struggle in many areas of the world. This month, the French Club and the French Honor Society at the Academy of the Holy Angels took action to help educate children in Lebanon.

Fujitsu Representatives Visit AHA

Demarest, NJ: Representatives from Fujitsu America and Fujitsu Japan recently paid a visit to the Academy of the Holy Angels, where they observed students, faculty, and staff members using the company’s tablet computers.

Rupert Holmes Inspires Cast of ‘Drood’ at AHA

Demarest, NJ: The cast of the Academy of the Holy Angels’ production of “The Mystery of Edwin Drood” received a very special guest. Rupert Holmes, who composed the show’s book, music, and lyrics (and “The Piña Colada Song”) visited the cast for a Question & Answer session during the final dress rehearsal.

Tri-M Performers Serenade Spectrum Residents and Volunteers

Demarest, NJ: Members of Academy of the Holy Angels’ chapter of the Tri-M National Music Honor Society are fully aware that music can spark memories, stir emotions, and provide therapeutic benefits. With this powerful message in mind, Tri-M organized a special concert for residents and volunteers at Spectrum for Living in Teaneck.

Angelic Evening Proceeds to Outfit Kelleher Hall Classrooms

Demarest, NJ: The Angelic Evening fundraiser has been an Academy of the Holy Angels tradition for two decades. Held at The Palisadium in Cliffside Park, this year’s event was particularly notable, as all proceeds will outfit Kelleher Hall, the former AHA convent that will soon include up-to-the-minute labs, art studios, and classrooms, and an archive for materials relating to AHA’s sponsors, the School Sisters of Notre Dame.

National Art Honor Society’s Membership Increases

Demarest, NJ: Artistic talent abounds at the Academy of the Holy Angels, where multiple students have just been inducted into the National Art Honor Society.

March 2017

United Nations Conference Has Positive Impact on AHA Students

Demarest, NJ: Attending the 61st United Nations Commission on the Status of Women clearly had a positive impact on Arianne Rowe and Jaya Sharma. These students from the Academy of the Holy Angels represented the School Sisters of Notre Dame at this year’s conference, which focused on women’s economic empowerment in the changing world of work.

World Language Students Gain Entry to Honor Societies

Demarest, NJ: The world language honor societies at the Academy of the Holy Angels recently welcomed a host of students who have demonstrated excellence in their studies of the French, Italian, Latin, and Spanish languages.

Awareness Day at AHA Shines Spotlight on Personal Development

Demarest, NJ: Awareness Day 2017, “Empowering Girls: Connecting Mind, Body, and Spirit,” drew a host of speakers to the Academy of the Holy Angels. The day’s overarching theme was personal development.

AHA Educators Receive Grants to Study in the United Kingdom

Demarest, NJ: This summer, Gail Fair and Nancy Schneberger from the Academy of the Holy Angels will be studying in the United Kingdom. Both educators applied for the competitive Teacher Seminars program sponsored by the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History – and both have received grants.

AHA Students Inducted into Science National Honor Society: Maron Receives Additional Recognition

Demarest, NJ: Members of the Academy of the Holy Angels Classes of 2017 and 2018 were inducted into the Science National Honor Society at a well-attended ceremony led by AHA Science Department Chair Nancy Brizzolara. Students who are invited to join this society must demonstrate academic excellence in their science classes and on the Advanced Placement science exams.

AHA Artists Receive National Silver Medals

Demarest, NJ: Na Young “Neely” Lee and Margeaux Gould, two outstanding student artists from the Academy of the Holy Angels, have received National Silver Medals in the Scholastic Art and Writing Competition.

AHA Students to Attend UN Commission on the Status of Women

Demarest, NJ: This month, two students from the Academy of the Holy Angels will represent the School Sisters of Notre Dame at the 61st United Nations Commission on the Status of Women. AHA delegates Arianne Rowe and Jaya Sharma will be accompanied by history and international studies teacher Jennifer Cucchisi.

AHA Continues Operation Rice Bowl Tradition

Demarest, NJ: Throughout the Lenten season, the Academy of the Holy Angels will raise funds to benefit Operation Rice Bowl. The effort began with lunchtime celebrations of Mardi Gras and Carnevale. The Italian Club sold generously stuffed heroes and invited diners to fill their own cannoli for another $1 more. Outreach covered dessert by organizing a bake sale that was conveniently located next to the Italian Club’s table. Together, these events netted close to $200.

Music Resonates at the Academy of the Holy Angels

Demarest, NJ: March is Music in Our Schools Month® and “Random Acts of Music” and “Mini Morning Musicales” have been occurring on cue at the Academy of the Holy Angels. The AHA Handbell Choir officially rang in this annual celebration, which was quickly followed by other pop-up performances.

AHA Celebrates Students’ Diverse Cultures & Traditions

Demarest, NJ: Cultures from around the globe were the focus of attention at International Night. This annual celebration at the Academy of the Holy Angels drew an enthusiastic crowd as students shared food, music, and fashion from their diverse backgrounds.

AHA Students Spend a Day in the Shoes of Notable Hispanic Figures

Demarest, NJ: Carmen Quiñones recently challenged the students from her Spanish 3 High Honors classes at the Academy of the Holy Angels to spend a day walking in the shoes of prominent Hispanic figures from the past and present.

Enjoy ‘Drood,’ the Solve it Yourself Mystery Musical, at AHA

Demarest, NJ: This April, audiences at the Academy of the Holy Angels will puzzle over “The Mystery of Edwin Drood.” The award-winning AHA Performing Arts Department headed by Director Katie McSherry will stage this “solve it yourself” comedic musical mystery Friday, April 7th and Saturday, April 8th at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, April 9th at 2:00 p.m.

Haiti Speakers Tour Comes to Holy Angels

Demarest, NJ: Freda Catheus and Maureen Plaisimond from Beyond Borders recently paid a visit to the Academy of the Holy Angels as part of their East Coast tour. AHA’s sponsors, the School Sisters of Notre Dame, partnered with Beyond Borders to support the organization’s efforts to improve lives throughout Haiti.

February 2017

AHA Engineering Students Help Judge STREAM Fair

Demarest, NJ: Four seniors from Jing Loo’s engineering classes at the Academy of the Holy Angels recently shared their time and talents as judges for a local STREAM Fair.

AHA Officials Launch Kelleher Hall Renovation Project

Demarest, NJ: On February 16, the Academy of the Holy Angels officially launched the extensive renovation of the former convent on the school’s campus. The afternoon ceremony followed nearly two years of preparations for this project, which will enhance the educational opportunities available to AHA’s steadily increasing number of students.

Kindness Matters at the Academy of the Holy Angels

Demarest, NJ: A friendly, giving spirit will get you everywhere at the Academy of the Holy Angels, where four students just earned the Sister Catherine Green Kindness Award for encouraging, supporting, and inspiring others.

AHA Students Named to Principal’s List and Honor Roll

Demarest, NJ: Multiple students from the Academy of the Holy Angels have been named to the Principal’s List and Honor Roll for the excellent grade point averages they maintained through the second quarter.

AHA Community Unites to Provide Hope for Haiti

Demarest, NJ: Immediately after Hurricane Matthew tore through Haiti in October 2016, the Academy of the Holy Angels mustered its forces to help the island nation rebuild. This month, the multi-event Hope for Haiti effort concluded with a Flapjack Fundraiser that netted $861, bringing the overall total to $5,776.

AHA Dance Team Captures Second Consecutive National Title

Demarest, NJ: The powerhouse Academy of the Holy Angels Varsity Dance Team has earned its second consecutive National Dance Team Championship in small varsity hip hop, further solidifying its reputation.

Alumna Advises Students: Embrace & Enjoy the Gift of an AHA Education

Demarest, NJ: At the Academy of the Holy Angels, Catholic Schools Week concluded with a poignant message from an alumna who would relive her high school years in a heartbeat – not to amend the past, but to fully appreciate the enduring gift she received.

AHA Vocalist Performs with International Choir at Carnegie Hall

Demarest, NJ: Performing at Carnegie Hall is a dream come true for countless vocalists and musicians throughout the world. This month, Academy of the Holy Angels sophomore Hanora Chapman realized this dream as a member of the 2017 High School Honors Performance Series, an elite group of vocalists from around the globe.

Arizona Trip to Highlight Immigration Issues

Demarest, NJ: This month, five students and two faculty members from the Academy of the Holy Angels will spend their Winter Break getting an up-close look at immigration issues in Douglas, an Arizona town near the border of the United States and Mexico.

January 2017

AngelBots Test Their Robot at ‘FIRST® Tech Challenge’ Qualifier Meet

Demarest, NJ: Six members of AngelBots, the robotics club from the Academy of the Holy Angels, just attended the club’s inaugural FIRST® Tech Challenge qualifier meet in Hightstown, NJ. The students who attended field tested the robot the club designed, built, and programmed against those made by teams from other schools.

AHA Seniors Gain Early Acceptance, Offers of $12.7 Million and Counting

Demarest, NJ: Eighty-two percent of the seniors at the Academy of the Holy Angels have gained early acceptance to their first-choice colleges and universities. In addition, these students have been awarded $12.7 million in scholarships to attend numerous prestigious institutions of higher education, and that figure is growing every day.

Community Invited to ‘Circle the Cities with Love’ at AHA

Demarest, NJ: On January 15, the Academy of the Holy Angels will host a silent group meditation in conjunction with “Circle the Cities with Love,” a national outgrowth of a July 2016 effort held in Cleveland. Organizers of the national event cite the country’s need for a fresh start following the divisive election process; however, this community meditation is a non-partisan, no-issue event.

Faculty & Staff Recognized for Length of Service

Demarest, NJ: Ten faculty and staff members recently received length of service awards for their contributions to the Academy of the Holy Angels. AHA Principal Jean Mullooly presented the certificates of recognition at this month’s staff meeting.

Catholic Schools Week to Include Parental Visits, Alumna Speaker

Demarest, NJ: Opportunities will abound during Catholic Schools Week, which will be held January 30 through February 3 at the Academy of the Holy Angels.

Holy Angels Students to Take on Global Issues at Harvard Model UN

Demarest, NJ: This month, approximately 3,300 high school students, including 13 from the Academy of the Holy Angels, will proffer solutions to global issues at the Harvard Model United Nations.

Angels Roll Past the Competition, Earn County Bowling Title

Demarest, NJ: The Angels Bowling Team earned the Bergen County Championship this month, handily rolling past the competition by 300 pins. Eighteen teams competed at Bowler City in Hackensack, and the athletes from the Academy of the Holy Angels quickly rose to the top.

AHA Students Get a Glimpse of Life at Columbia

Demarest, NJ: Columbia University’s Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science recently opened its doors to students from the Academy of the Holy Angels. Three engineers and a panel of women who currently attend Columbia shared their experiences with the Holy Angels Robotics Team, the AHA engineering class, and the AHA Society of Women Engineers.

December 2016

AHA President Melinda Hanlon Honored by OLMC

Demarest, NJ: Melinda A. Hanlon, President of the Academy of the Holy Angels, has received the Mens, Corpus, Spiritus Award from the Academy of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Tenafly. This year marked the fourth time the award was presented to a leader in Catholic education who impacts the lives of students at the highest level and embodies a vision worthy of Catholic education.

AHA Artists 'Re-gift' with Unconventional Flair

Demarest, NJ: Kathryn Biskup from the Academy of the Holy Angels recently delivered multiple recyclable materials, including paper, cardboard, and ribbon, to the Franciscan Sisters in Tenafly. Their reaction to this act of “re-gifting” was one of sheer delight.
Read more »

Early Success of Haiti Campaign Leads to Updated Goal

Demarest, NJ: Change can be positive. Just ask the organizers of the Haiti Campaign at the Academy of the Holy Angels, where the call to aid a Haitian family impacted by Hurricane Matthew is being met with such enthusiasm that the fundraising goal has been extended to include support for three families!
Read more »

Angels Bring Christmas Cheer to Philadelphia

Demarest, NJ: Students from the Academy of the Holy Angels recently traveled to Saint Peter the Apostle School in Philadelphia to mark Saint Nicholas Day. Read more »

AHA Aumna Shares Career Information with Communications Class

Demarest, NJ: Miriam Tomaselli, a 1995 graduate of the Academy of the Holy Angels, recently returned to her alma mater to address Nancy Schneberger’s communications class. Read more »

AHA Students Named to Principal's List, Honor Roll

Demarest, NJ: Multiple students from the Academy of the Holy Angels have been named to the President’s List and the Honor Roll in recognition of the excellent averages they earned during the first quarter of the 2016-17 academic year. Students who are named to the Principal’s List must post averages of 95 or higher, while those named to the Honor Roll must post averages between 90 and 94. Read more »

November 2016

Elizabeth Garcia Signs Letter of Intent to Play Basketball at University of Hartford

Demarest, NJ: Elizabeth Garcia, a Bergenfield resident and senior at the Academy of the Holy Angels, has officially signed her letter of intent to play basketball at the University of Hartford. Read More »

AHA Community Unites to Assist Haiti

Demarest, NJ: Early in October, Hurricane Matthew tore through Haiti leaving devastation in its wake – but not hopelessness. In an effort to continue the relief efforts in Haiti, the Academy of the Holy Angels has joined forces with the School Sisters of Notre Dame and Beyond Borders to assist as many Haitian families as possible. Read More »

AHA Embraces 'Giving Tuesday' Movement

Demarest, NJ: The Academy of the Holy Angels has joined the growing global movement known as Giving Tuesday. Widely celebrated as the official start of the charitable season, Giving Tuesday falls on November 29 this year. Read More »

AHA Marks Foundation Day

Demarest, NJ: The Academy of the Holy Angels recently marked Foundation Day with two celebrations. The school community, led by AHA President Melinda Hanlon and Principal Jean Mullooly, marked the 1833 foundation of the School Sisters of Notre Dame with a visit from several SSNDs, including Sister Limétèze Pierre-Gilles. At that first event, AHA recognized multiple students who were recognized for their excellent performance on the PSAT/NMSQT, and announced the winners of the Sister Nonna Dunphy Scholarships. Read More »

Noel Coward's 'Blithe Spirit' to Be Presented at AHA

Demarest, NJ: Talented thespians from the Academy of the Holy Angels and Saint Joseph’s Regional High School have teamed up to bring Noël Coward’s full-length farce, “Blithe Spirit,” to the AHA stage. This AHA production will be presented on Friday, November 11th at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, November 12th at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, November 13 at 2 p.m. The Academy is located at 315 Hillside Avenue in Demarest. Read More »

AHA Vocalist to Perform at Carnegie Hall

Demarest, NJ: Hanora Chapman, a sophomore at the Academy of the Holy Angels, has been accepted to the 2017 High School Honors Performance Series at Carnegie Hall. This elite group of international vocalists will present a concert at the famed New York City venue on February 5. Hanora will be featured as first alto with the Honors Women’s Choir under the direction of Dr. Tim Seelig, conductor. Read More »

Alumnae Enshrined in AHA's Athletic Hall of Fame

Demarest, NJ: An outstanding basketball player and a track star with an unbroken record have been inducted into the Academy of the Holy Angels’ Athletic Hall of Fame. Sister Virginia Brobowski, Class of 1961, and Julie Clifford Murray, Class of 1999, were recognized at a ceremony held earlier this month. AHA President Melinda Hanlon addressed the attendees, providing overviews of each athlete’s accomplishments. Read More »

AP Scholars

AHA Principal Jean Mullooly has announced that the College Board recently named 75 Holy Angels students Advanced Placement Scholars. The school administered 358 AP exams to 163 AP students, who posted an aggregate passing rate of 94 percent. Students who achieve passing scores through the AP program receive college credits in a variety of academic subjects. Read More »

October 2016

AHA ‘Club’ Highlights Inclusion and Unity

Demarest, NJ: Inclusion and unity may not be the first descriptors that come to mind when someone mentions the word “club,” but AHA has managed to draw the entire school community into one large Shalom Club. Read more »

Students Commissioned as Eucharistic Ministers at AHA Feast Day Celebration

Demarest, NJ: Seventeen students from Academy of the Holy Angels were commissioned as Eucharistic Ministers during the recent Feast Day Mass and celebration. AHA President Melinda Hanlon opened the festivities with an address to the school community, including the full student body, administrators, faculty, staff, and parents. President Hanlon presented an enlightening history of the Academy, which was founded in Fort Lee on the Feast of the Guardian Angels in October of 1879. Read more »

Semi-finalists and Commended Students Named at AHA

Demarest, NJ: Eleven students from the Academy of the Holy Angels have been recognized for their performance on the Preliminary SAT/National Merit® Scholarship Qualifying Test. The four Semi-finalists will be reviewed further and may be named Finalists in the National Merit® Scholarship Program. The Commended students may now become candidates for corporate and business sponsored scholarships. Read more »

AHA Volunteer Leaves Her Heart in Kenya

Demarest, NJ: This July, AHA student Katherine Staff left the comfort of her Oradell home for a tent camp in Maasai Mara, Kenya, where she worked to improve the health of students from the Nkineji Primary School and the local community in general. Read more »

Angels Give Others a Firm Grasp of Their Own Capabilities

Demarest, NJ: What would you do with a 3D printer? The possibilities are limitless – and can be life altering, as some AHA students recently discovered. Students from Angels Enable, a relatively new club at the Academy of the Holy Angels, got serious about the opportunity. After Pearl River (NY) resident Molly Doyle discovered Enabling the Future, an organization that connects people who need prosthetics with individuals who are using 3D printers, she led the charge to view 3D printing as a vehicle to assist others through the worldwide enablingthefuture.org network. Read more »

Sister Limétèze to Present Foundation Day Keynote as Alumnae Weekend Begins

Demarest, NJ: On Friday, October 21, the Academy of the Holy Angels will mark the 1833 foundation of the School Sisters of Notre Dame with a keynote address by one of the newest members of this venerable organization. Sister Limétèze Pierre-Gilles will represent the SSNDs at AHA -- just four months after making her perpetual profession. This 2016 Foundation Day celebration also marks the start of Alumnae Weekend. Read more »

September 2016

Plans for Kelleher Hall Unfold at AHA

Demarest, NJ: The upcoming renovation of the convent at Academy of the Holy Angels will provide the entire student body with additional opportunities as enrollment continues to increase.

“I think it’s very important to know that this project will enhance our STREAM (science, technology, religion, engineering, art, and math) initiatives on campus,” President Melinda Hanlon said. “The creation of a new STREAM Lab will allow us to enhance the engineering program, and the overall renovation project will benefit all members of the school community by adding expanded instructional and meeting space.” Read More »

AHA to Host October 2 Open House

Demarest, NJ: Discover the exciting, life-enhancing educational opportunities Academy of the Holy Angels has to offer during the Sunday, October 2 Open House. This private, all-girls high school located at 315 Hillside Avenue in Demarest (NJ) will welcome prospective students and their families between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. A presentation is set for 11:30 a.m. Read More »

Professional Chef Brings Fresh, Healthy Choices to AHA

Demarest, NJ: Delectable, visually appealing, healthy food prepared by a professional chef is now available at the Academy of the Holy Angels thanks to the school’s new partnership with Aladdin (an Elior Company), a forward-thinking food service provider.

“We educate the whole person, and we want to support our students with good nutrition,” AHA President Melinda Hanlon explained. “We’re also responding to our students, who come to us with more aware palates. As part of the ‘food court culture,’ they want options. Aladdin is providing high quality, healthy, fresh food at very fair pricing.” Read More »

May 2016

Convent to be re-named Sister Genevieve Kelleher Hall

With deep gratitude for a significant leadership gift, the Academy of the Holy Angels (AHA) announces the
naming of the “Sister Genevieve Kelleher Hall” on its Demarest campus. Once utilized as the primary residence
and convent of the School Sisters of Notre Dame (SSND), Sister Genevieve Kelleher Hall will undergo a complete
transformation and become a vital hub of interdisciplinary instructional space, artistic expression, and sacred
reflection and worship. Read More>>

February 2016

Holy Angels Dance Team Makes History

Demarest, NJ - The Academy of the Holy Angels Competitive Dance Team secured the National Championship Title in Small Varsity Hip Hop at the 2016 National Dance Team Championship(NDTC) which took place on January 29th through January 31st.

Read More»

Holy Angels Performing Children of Eden

DEMAREST, NJ - The Academy of the Holy Angels invites you to their production of Children of Eden. Music and Lyrics by Stephen Schwartz; Book by John Caird. Schwartz’s better known productions such as Wicked, Godspell and Pippin received substantial critical acclaim but when asked which musical was he favorite, he responded, "I think the work of which I am most proud is Children of Eden.”

Read More»

Angels Enable Complete Prosthetic Hand

DEMAREST, NJ — A group of Holy Angels students are participating with Enablingthefuture.org, an organization that matches people who have 3D printers with clients who need prosthetic hands. The project has been spearheaded by sophomore Molly Doyle (Pearl River, NY) who discovered Enabling the Future last spring and approached AHA Science teacher Mrs. Sharon Jureller and Ms. Jean Mullooly, Dean of Students about organizing a club.
Read More»

AHA Seniors Participate in Advanced Architectural Program in STREAM Program

DEMAREST, NJ — AHA seniors Risako Arcari and Amanda Nedelkoff recently participated in an advanced architectural project with real world applications as part of Holy Angels' prestigious STREAM program. The two students interpreted architectural blueprints for the Village School renovations into their own 3-D rendering using industry-standard Google SketchUp and then printed their original rendering on one of the school’s 3-D printers.
Read More»

AHA Senior Named Finalist in National Merit Scholarship Program

DEMAREST, NJ — Academy of Holy Angels senior Michelle Lu has been named a Finalist in the National Merit Scholarship Program by demonstrating, through distinguished performance, high potential for future academic accomplishment. Michelle is one of just 15,000 students in the United States to achieve this recognition, out of over 1.5 million entrants!
Read More»

October 2015

AHA Announces One Semi-Finalist, Three Commended Students in the 2016 National Merit Scholarship Program

DEMAREST, NJ — Jennifer Moran, Principal of Academy of the Holy Angelsannounced today that AHA senior Michelle Lu of Paramus, NJ has been named a semi-finalist in the 2016 National Merit Scholarship program. She will continue in the competition to be considered for a National Merit Scholarship.
Read More»

Archbishop Hebda Visits Academy of the Holy Angels to Kick Off Proclaim Jubilee Year

DEMAREST, NJ — Archbishop Bernard A. Hebda, Co-adjudicator for the Archdiocese of Newark, visited Academy of the Holy Angels Friday, October 2nd, helping to kick off AHA’s Proclaim Jubilee celebratory year, marking its 50 years on the Demarest campus. His visit also commemorated the anniversary of the founding of the all-girls, college-preparatory school on October 2, 1879 when its first Principal, Sister Nonna Dunphy, purchased the 11-acre Fort Lee estate of scientist and surgeon, Dr. Henry Anderson, for $10,500. (The school opened to students in November 1879 and remained at its Fort Lee location for 86 years until its transition to Demarest a half a century ago.)
Read More»

Holy Angels Called to a Summer of Service on Appalachia's Nazareth Farm

DEMAREST, NJ — Academy of the Holy Angels students and faculty put the social values of their AHA education in motion during a week-long service trip to Salem, West Virginia, August 9th through August 15th. On-site at Nazareth Farms, an electronically-free environment in economically depressed Appalachia, managed by college students and recent college graduates, AHA students were charged with helping to address some of the pressing issues of the region, namely sub-standard housing.
Read More»

A Higher Calling: Academy of the Holy Angels Appoints New Teacher for 2015 - 2016 School Year

DEMAREST, NJ — AHA Principal Jennifer Moran has announced the appointment of five new faculty members, many of whom were recruited as a result of this year’s surge in school enrollment.
Read More»

Two Holy Angels' Seniors Have Been Appointed Junior Commissioners to Bergen County's Commission of the Status of Women (COSW) to Help Local Women in Need

DEMAREST, NJ — AHA seniors Patricia Krisan and Claudia Morgan have been appointed to serve on the Bergen County Commission on the Status of Women by Bergen County’s Board of Chosen Freeholders. The students will serve for a one-year term from September 2015 to June 2016.
Read More»