Fourth grade students of Resurrection Catholic School in Cherry Hill are working with students in Israel on a special collaborative project.

RCS teacher Debbie Shumaker and Karina Ebrani, who is a fifth grade teacher in Israel, have been using Skype to create a virtual classroom where the children meet face to face to work on creating a PowerPoint program.

Students from each country have been divided into mixed teams to research various places and cultural traditions in the U.S. and Israel. They interact face to face approximately once a week to share their research and design their PowerPoint slide.

In the end, the project will consist of a PowerPoint presentation of pictures and information on each country’s museums, government, national symbols, children’s games, favorite foodsand vacation spots.

“This is an exciting project that has brought our children together to share our culture, religion  and national treasures. Most importantly, friendships are developing that will hopefully last a lifetime,” said Shumaker.

“The Israeli children speak English fluently, which makes our collaboration possible, but they are also teaching us some Hebrew,” she added. “We now know that ‘Shalom’ is used as a greeting, a goodbye and as a gesture of peace. Last week, we learned the word for ‘awesome,’ which is ‘babalo.’ It’s nice to see the look of amazement on each of the students’ faces when they hear each other communicating in our native languages.”

Ebrani’s students stay after a long day of school to Skype with the Cherry Hill children. They link up at 9 a.m. EST when it is 4 p.m. in Israel. Some of the students do not go home after school so that they can be present for the link up.  Some come back to school to participate.

“The students have been making plans in the classroom and arranging times on the weekend to Skype from home. Our students get up a little early on Saturday or Sunday to Skype with the Israeli students in their afternoon,” Shumaker said. “This is truly an example of technology in education at its best.”

In related news, on April 15, Commander William Quinn and Adjutant Russell Smith, from American Legion Post 372 in Cherry Hill, presented Resurrection School principal, Sister Lydia Etter with a check for $1,500 to be used toward technology upgrades and computers in the school.

Holy Spirit High School’s yearbook, SPARTAN, has been recognized for excellence and featured in the 2013 Gotcha Covered Look Book, Volume 11 celebrating the best-of-the-best in yearbook design and coverage.

Jostens Look Book is a collection of spreads and photos from outstanding yearbooks and their themes, covers, designs, storytelling and photography.

The SPARTAN Yearbook was created by students Gabbi Chilellli, Megan Bottino, Alix Hesley, Joanna Muller, Marina Poupart, Caitlin Randik, Fiona Tran, Zach Bailey, Erika Bryz-Gornia, Abby Couchard, Jenna Gallagher, Jessica Guevara, Erica Havens, Jennifer Johnston, Vivian Lee, Mike Lugo, Annalyn Madriaga, Simon Mohr & Alexis Theuret, with Student Editor Marisa Marmaro, and under the direction of Ms. Denise Lamanna, Holy Spirit yearbook adviser and English Department Chair.

In a decision communicated to students, parents and staff yesterday, the Sacred Heart High School Board announced that the Vineland school will close at the end of this academic year.

The decision to close was ratified by the Schools Office for the Diocese of Camden and Bishop Dennis Sullivan; Msgr. John H. Burton, rector of Sacred Heart and pastor of Christ the Good Shepherd Church, and the board.

The enrollment goal for a sustainable high school was set by the board at 220 students. Sacred Heart now enrolls 168, of which 52 will be graduating this June. Only 23 students were enrolled for next year’s freshman class.

Sacred Heart was to close last year due to enrollment and financial issues. Responding to an appeal that affordable Catholic high school education continue in Cumberland County, then Camden Bishop Joseph Galante agreed to the formation of a volunteer board to stabilize Sacred Heart in February 2012. However, the school was unable to achieve enrollment goals.

Sacred Heart students who wish to continue their Catholic school education will be welcome at Diocese of Camden Catholic high schools (Camden Catholic, Gloucester Catholic, Holy Spirit, Paul VI, Saint Joseph and Wildwood Catholic) with a $1,500 tuition discount for next school year.

On Saturday, April 20, Camden Catholic High School, Cherry Hill, will welcome 10 individual inductees and two teams into its Hall of Fame.

Five of these inductees will be installed in the Emerald Hall of Fame for Academics and Arts, and the remaining five individuals and two teams will be installed in the Green and White Hall of Fame for Athletics.

Funds raised at the Hall of Fame event benefit scholarships for current CCHS students who are selected by the Hall of Fame committee based on a submitted essay, leadership qualities, determination, and Camden Catholic spirit.

The Hall of Fame induction ceremony will take place in the Charles & Marie Grandi Auditorium at Camden Catholic (300 Cuthbert Road, Cherry Hill). A cocktail reception will follow the ceremony. Tickets are $45/person advance and $55/person at the door. Purchase online at www.camdencatholic.org/halloffame, call 856-663-2247 ext.49 or email jindelicato@camdencatholic.org.

Emerald Hall of Fame for Academics and Arts:

— Paul Azores, a faculty member for 46 years, will be awarded this honor posthumously. Azores taught Latin and English.

— Edward Burke ’52, overcame adversity in his early life to become an exceptional student-athlete at CCHS in baseball and basketball and serving as class president his senior year.

— John J. Farina '70 is a leader in the venture capital world specializing in technology and biotech industries.

— Sister Percylee Hart '52 is a Sister of Mercy and well-respected educator and school administrator.

— Nancy Singer '76 is an accomplished leader in the corporate world. She has given back to CCHS by serving 10 years on the board and currently serves on the board of Change A Life Uganda and as the executive director of Enterprise Learning.

Green and White Hall of Fame for Athletics:

— Kevin Crawford '97 was a three-year standout for the Fighting Irish basketball team. Crawford is the only player in Camden Catholic history to amass over 1,000 points, 500 assists and 300 rebounds. He is the all-time leader in assists with 501.

— James Galmin '59 (awarded posthumously) lettered in three-sports at CCHS, proving himself in football, basketball and baseball, earning All-Parochial, Honorable Mention All-South Jersey, playing in college and was drafted into the NFL.

— John “Jack” Magee '71 was a top performer for the football program earning All-South Jersey Football honors, the Brooks-Irvin Award, and Scholar Athlete Award. He starred at Boston College and played in the NFL.

— Colleen Lumley O'Brien '87 was a three-sport award-winning athlete in field hockey, basketball and lacrosse..

— Bryan Parker '92, swimming MVP, four year letter-winner and three-time All-South Jersey selection, still holds CCHS records in several events.

— The 1973 Baseball Team was the first state baseball championship team in school history.

— The 1986 Field Hockey Team is the first and only field hockey state championship team in Camden Catholic history. Coached by Chris Palladino, the team had several national standouts who went on to play in college, including Erica Richards, a two-time All American who played for the 1990 U.S. National Team.

The Robotics Club of Bishop Eustace Preparatory School, Pennsauken, gather around a robot they built that is designed to catch frisbees.

Paul Tough, keynote speaker at the 2013 Education Summit, stands with Christine Healey, chair of the CPS Board of Directors, and Sister Karen Dietrich, CPS executive director.

MOUNT LAUREL — Paul Tough, author of “How Children Succeed: Grit, Curiosity, and the Hidden Power of Character,” was the keynote speaker for Catholic Partnership Schools’ 2013 Education Summit, held here March 19 at The Enterprise Center, Burlington County College.

Called “Before the Test Scores: Overcoming the Impact of Poverty and Violence on Children’s Ability to Learn,” the daylong conference  brought together parents, teachers, counselors, nurses, school administrators, education students and others to discuss ways in which children can overcome the impact of poverty, violence and other impediments to learning.

Catholic Partnership Schools, the sponsor for the conference, helps educate and manage more than 1,000 children in five K-8 schools in Camden, one of the most violent and impoverished cities in the country.

In his keynote talk, Tough refuted the popular theory in some educational circles that intelligence is the sole indicator of success for children, and he said that personality traits such as grit, curiosity, conscientiousness, optimism and self-control might be better measures of a student’s long-term success.

Tough also expressed how adversity might affect children’s emotional, social or cognitive growth: too much adversity can cripple a child, and too little adversity might leave them unprepared for life’s challenges.

Childhood stresses can affect later success, and the role parents play in nurturing, or not nurturing, their children can have long-term affects, as well, he said.

The day included a panel discussion, Q&A and workshops. Tough and panelists focused on practical applications to reverse the impact of poverty and violence to help children succeed in the classroom, and strategies intended to create an emotionally healing learning environment.

The panelists included Dr. C. Cybele Raver, Vice Provost of Academic, Faculty and Research Affairs at New York University; Dr. Stephanie Jones, Assistant Professor in the Graduate School of Education at Harvard University; Dr. Mary Dozier, Amy E. du Pont Chair of Child Development at the University of Delaware; and Jenny Roca of the Penn Program for Mindfulness at the University of Pennsylvania. Jeremy Nowak, president of the William Penn Foundation, served as moderator of the panel.

The conference is intended to “begin an extended conversation about the strategies and practical applications that will ensure bright futures for our students,” said Sister Karen Dietrich, executive director of Catholic Partnership Schools. “Educators need a better understanding of the impact that negative emotional and sustained stress in children have on memory, executive function and motivation. Only from that starting point can we begin to close the achievement gap.”

“It is our aim to cultivate schools that will have financial stability, cutting-edge educational resources and practices, and a strong business model that will sustain the Catholic Partnership schools for decades to come,” the organization states on its website, www.catholicpartnershipschools.org

In its first community report, CPS states that in 2011, 30 students received $500,000 in scholarships over four years to attend college-prep high schools in New Jersey and Philadelphia.

Among other accomplishments cited:

— hired a bi-lingual family support coordinator (grades k-5) to partner with principals and teachers to help families better oversee and encourage their children’s success in school

— hired a bi-lingual family/graduate support coordinator to work with 6-8 grade students in learning life and study skills and navigating the critical middle grades transition and admission process for high school

— established an academically aligned summer enrichment program for students in grades 5-8

— purchased a used school bus and van to transport students to special events and music and sport practices and activities.

“What sets Catholic Partnership Schools apart from other reform efforts in today’s educational landscape isn’t just its innovative business model,” said Sister Karen Dietrich, executive director. “It’s the commitment we’ve made to provide a safe space for learning, one that wraps children and their families in a rich choice of remedial and enrichment opportunities designed to mitigate the effects of poverty, violence and trauma.”

The Brain Show, held at St. Joseph’s Regional School, Somers Point, last month tested students intelligence, but also generated plenty of physical excitement.

SOMERS POINT — Youngsters, and their parents, at St. Joseph’s Regional School showed off their “smarts” in February, during a program called “The Brain Show.”

Ellen A. Fletcher, the school’s advancement director, said the event was set up similar to the TV show, “Jeopardy,” where participants press buzzers to answer questions.

The students participated by answering questions standing behind three podiums. In the morning, students from K-4th grades participated and in the afternoon those in the 5th-8th grades answered the questions.

“We had a game for family members in the evening,” said Fletcher.

This was the second year in a row the PTA hired The Brain Show organization from Canadensis, Pa., to put on the program, she added.

The Brain Show organizers maintain that their program helps students to celebrate education, while communicating to children that learning can be fun.

The feel of a live TV show is enhanced with podiums that have computerized sounds and lights. And the organization can adapt their programs to a school’s curriculum with questions on topics the students have been studying.

HAMMONTON — The students of St. Joseph Regional Elementary School crowded into the gym for a “dance-along” as a way to promote dancing as a healthy form of exercise.

Hosted by AtlantiCare’s Healthy Schools Program, the contest was designed to show dancing was a way to prevent heart disease, allowing people to live a healthy lifestyle, according to Kelly Carney, advancement director. Teacher Donna Kramer was in charge of the dance-along.

The school-wide event attracted students from all the grades, Carney said. They danced to two songs which were edited down to a 30-second video.

Students could use Microsoft Movie Maker — available on St. Joseph’s computer system — to tape the dances or in any format that could be converted for general broadcast.

The schools entering the contest are part of AtlantiCare’s Healthy Schools Initiative. The videos had to be submitted for judging by March 8. Prizes are being awarded to the schools and students.

The videos are to be judged on originality, creativity, and the promotion of dancing as a healthy pastime. Winners will be announced by March 29.

Prizes include $250 for one submission to support a school’s future wellness and physical activity initiatives, while two submissions will result in $100 each for the school.

A father and daughter show their moves on the dance floor at the Daddy-Daughter Dance at Our Lady of Hope School, Blackwood, on Feb. 21.

Marion Blumenthal Lazan, who survived the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp as a child, speaks to students at St. Teresa School, Runnemede, on March 4.

RUNNEMEDE — Students in grades 5-8 at St. Teresa School here were taught a lesson on the Holocaust, from someone who survived it, on March 4.

Marion Blumenthal Lazan, whose childhood included near starvation as a concentration camp prisoner, offered some hard-earned advice to her young listeners: “be kind, good, respectful and tolerant of one another.”

Lazan co-authored an award-winning book on her struggle, “Four Perfect Pebbles,” that was read by students before her visit.

Along with her parents and brother, Lazan suffered under Nazi rule first in the Westerbork Transit Camp in Holland, and later in the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp.

Born in 1934 — the same year Hitler became Fuehrer — Lazan grew up with her mother, father and brother in Germany. The Nuremberg (Race) Laws became effective the following year, and Lazan’s family and other Jews found the themselves restricted from movie theaters and parks, and saw other rights taken away.

Forced to close his business, Lazan’s father made plans to take the family out of the country, hoping to eventually make it to the United States. In January 1939, the family emigrated to Holland, but after the Nazi army invaded that country, Lazan, her brother and parents found themselves in the Westerbork Transit Camp and, later, the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp.

Lazan recalled living among 600 Jewish prisoners, in barracks made for only 100 people, and sleeping on a straw mattress with a small blanket.  One slice of bread a week was her ration, and the monthly shower made prisoners uneasy, as they weren’t sure whether water or gas would come out.

Lazan also told of the time she discovered that a wagon she thought was loaded with firewood actually carried the naked bodies of dead prisoners.

“The Nazis did their best to break us physically, spiritually and emotionally,” she said.

To keep hope, she invented a game.  She imagined that if she found four pebbles of the same shape and size, then all four of her family members would survive their ordeal. “This game gave me hope,” she said.

In the spring of 1945, after being transported on a train to Eastern Europe for two weeks with her family, the Russian army liberated her, her family, and the other prisoners. During this time, at the age of 10, she weighed 35 pounds.

For Lazan, the elation of freedom was replaced with grief when her father died of typhus six weeks after their rescue.

In 1948, Lazan, her brother, and mother arrived at Ellis Island. Today, at the age of 78, she lives in New York with her husband, Nathaniel, who accompanied her to St. Teresa School. The couple have three children and nine grandchildren.

Lazan admitted that, at times, she wrestled with her faith about her struggles, but said, “I am proud of my faith. Don’t ever give up hope; it’s how we deal with a situation that makes the difference.”

She also urged the students to share her Holocaust story, as “you are the last generation to hear first-hand accounts.  The horrors of the Holocaust must be told, studied and kept alive,” so that it is not repeated.

After her talk, Lazan met students and signed copies of her book.

Her talk was “very important for our children, because one of the chief lessons they learned is that when you are around something that’s so negative in your life, you become stronger,” said Sister Patricia Scanlon, school principal.

“There’s so much wisdom to be gained through suffering; it’s how you handle it. It’s such a blessing (for students) to hear (her story). This is a lesson for their whole lifetime.”

Donald Garecht, principal of Good Shepherd Regional School in Collingswood, was recognized as the Principal of the Year by the Diocese of Camden’s Office of Catholic Schools, in a ceremony March 1 at the school.

An educator since 1969, Garecht has been principal of the school since 2005, when it was St. John Elementary School.

Before he became principal, he was a math teacher in schools in Philadelphia and Marlton.

Calling “faith-based education a fantastic opportunity,” Garecht and his wife saw their children attend Catholic grade schools and high schools. 

For 25 years, his wife was an educator at St. William school in Philadelphia.

In accepting the honor, he acknowledged the role of “Good Shepherd, our teachers and faculty, as part of this recognition. We are a collaborative team.”

He also thanked the diocesan Office of Catholic Schools, “for their assistance and support.”

Margaret Bekham, bailiff, swears in a St. Joseph High School student during the mock trial competition in the Mays Landing Criminal Court House.

HAMMONTON — Students from St. Joseph High School made it to the semi-finals in the annual mock trial competition held earlier this year in the Mays Landing Criminal Court House.

“We won the first two rounds,” said Joseph Regina, a social studies teacher who has been mock trial advisor for the past two years. “We lost in the finals. But last year we didn’t make it out of the first rounds. We just might make it to the finals next year.”

Mock trial teams from high schools around the state competed in January in the Vincent J. Apruzzese New Jersey Mock Trial competition, sponsored by the New Jersey State Bar Foundation.

The case all the teams had to handle centered around the death of a show dog. The owners said a flea treatment caused the death.

The first leg of the competition was on the county level. These winners went to the regionals held Feb. 5 which will be followed by the finals in New Brunswick at the New Jersey Law Center on March 20. The state champion then heads for the national competition.

Regina said those of his 10-member mock trial team who played witnesses received affidavits “which told a fictional story that was based on a real civil trial.”

Members of the mock trial team and the roles they played included, Danielle Mulligan, witness; Kayla Harris, witness/ plaintiff; Caitlin Jacoby, witness; Brianna Lucas, witness; Ed Collins, witness; Kevin Johnson, witness; Daniel McNeil, plaintiff attorney; Sean Tomasello, plaintiff attorney; Abigail Tucker, defense attorney; and Taylor Jacoby, defense attorney.

Photo by Alan M. Dumoff, more photos ccdphotolibrary.smugmug.com

PENNSAUKEN - At 2:45 in the afternoon every other Thursday, you can find them in Room 103.

A couple of students will be joking and laughing with the teacher, as they all quietly strum. In the corner, you will see three students jamming together on their instruments, in synch, in rhythm with each other and oblivious to what is around them. Off to the side of the classroom, near a window, there will be the lone student, siting in a chair, listening attentively as his iPad plays Derek and the Dominoes' "Layla," or The Beatles' "All My Lovin.'"
Just another meeting of the Ukulele Club at Bishop Eustace Prep School here.

In its second year of existence, the Ukulele Club began when David Moffat, a teacher of freshman world history and macroeconomics at the school, played his favorite instrument at a school function. Impressed students later approached him, asking him to help them start up a club.

"The students are really enthusiastic; they bring ideas to me," said Moffat, who is now moderator of the Ukulele Club.

The ukulele is "a really interesting instrument," said Christopher Ober, a sophomore at the school who has been in the club since its inception.

Like the rest of the club members, Ober bought the ukulele on his own, and spends time at home and after school learning to play such songs as "Over the Rainbow," from The Wizard of Oz.

Jack McCrossin, a junior, found the ukulele easier to learn than his guitar. He has learned to play songs from contemporary artists, such as Jack Johnson.

The expertise of the students has attracted the attention of the rest of the school. The Ukulele Club played "Take Me Out To The Ballgame" at last year's Baseball Day and, more recently, at their Christmas Fair at a local Barnes and Noble Bookstore.

Later this month, they will play The National Anthem before the school's Ultimate Frisbee game against Camden Catholic.

Slowly, but surely, the ukulele is getting its due amidst the guitars and other "sexier" instruments.

"Some people think the ukulele is childish," said junior Patrick Vanbernum, as he strums his Les Paul Epiphone, Electric Ukulele, playing Louis Armstrong's "What A Wonderful World." "But when someone's really good at it, it can have a nice, beautiful sound."

"Despite valiant efforts, the demographics and financial realities have created the situation which makes it impossible to continue," Father Barcellona wrote. He noted that while rumors circulated that the goal had been met, the actual number fell short. More than 20 students in the registration were behind in their current tuition payments, "making their registration for the 2013-14 school year not assured," the letter stated.

Sister Helene Cook, IHM, Assumption principal, will provide information to parents who want to enroll their children in other Catholic schools. Assumption students will be eligible for a $1,000 voucher from Christ the Redeemer Parish if they enroll in other Catholic schools.
The Office of Catholic Schools of the Diocese of Camden will work with Assumption teachers to assist them in securing employment at other Catholic schools in the Diocese of Camden.

More than 150 choirs from the Delaware Valley entered the contest. Pictured in the back row, from left are Abigail Gramigna, Anna Forebaugh, Maddie Herquet, Olivia Hilgen, Claire Herquet and Emily Gramigna. Front row, from left, are Lily Sullivan, Lili Hoffman, Brianna Boucher, Julia Faiola, Francesca Richards, and Grace Malcarney. The choir director is Christine Campbell, and the music director is Linda Mickus.

The choir will sing at 12 noon Mass at Holy Angels. A prelude of music will begin at 11:30 a.m. There will be a goodwill offering to help with funding the boys' pilgrimage to Fatima, Portugal this August.

Robert T. Healey speaks with students at St. Mary School in East Vineland on Jan. 29. The school is a member of Catholic School Development Program (CSDP), that Healey founded in 2004.

Robert T. Healey, who has devoted a considerable amount of his own time and money to the cause of Catholic education, visited St. Mary Elementary School in East Vineland Jan. 29 to help the students and staff celebrate Catholic Schools Week.

Observed Jan. 27-Feb. 2, the theme of Catholic Schools Week this year is Catholic Schools Raise the Standards, and Healey has made it a personal goal to use what he learned as a businessman and attorney to help local Catholic schools keep their standards high.

Healey founded the Catholic School Development Program (CSDP) in 2004 to empower schools in the areas of governance, enrollment management and development. In the Camden Diocese, CSDP works with five schools in Camden City, as part of the Catholic Partnership Schools, and 15 other schools in the Diocese of Camden. The organization also works with four schools in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and six schools in the Diocese of Allentown.

At St. Mary, Healey and his daughter, Christine L. Healey, executive director of International Education Foundation, met with principal Steve Hogan; Father Peter Saporito, pastor of St. Padre Pio Parish; advancement director Carol Kirchman; Mark D'Onofrio, school board chair; Patty Barse, PTA president; and Tarah Sawyer, media specialist.

St. Mary School, founded in 1960, currently educates 275 students in grades PreK3-8, a substantial increase over last year's enrollment of 246.

With a PowerPoint presentation, St. Mary's updated Healey on the school's progress and elaborated on the school's mission, "Putting Minds to Work, Aligning Hears With God, and Fostering Lives of Service."

Following the formal presentation, Healey visited a few classrooms and clearly enjoyed chatting with the children and giving them high fives.

The school was hosting Grandparents Bingo, an annual Catholic Schools Week tradition. Other programs during the week included a laser light show, faculty and staff appreciation day, and parent classroom visitation. On Feb. 10 and 11, the school is hosting an open house for prospective students and their parents.

"Robert Healey's visit was "exhilarating and humbling," said Hogan. "He affirmed and encouraged us in our work," Hogan said, and in visiting students, "saw the fruits of the seeds that were planted."

"Catholic schools are important to him as evangelizing agents," Hogan said. "The Catholic School Development Program has truly made a difference in St. Mary's and has created a culture of sustainability."