Catholic Partnership Schools: News & Events

Hundreds Turn Out for May 24th Dreams of Our Children;
Student Creativity and Accomplishment Evident To All

A standing-room only crowd of family members, friends, teachers, board members, administrators, community partners, and financial supporters alike were out in force on May 24th for the first Dreams of Our Children arts showcase celebrating the creative energy and talent of the students of the Catholic Partnership Schools.

The galleries and main stage at the Gordon Theater of Rutgers University in Camden, NJ were filled with the sights and sounds of the music, painting, sculpture, and performance art created under the tutelage of resident artists from Abrakadoodle, Perkins Center for the Arts, Rutgers-Camden Center for the Arts, and Symphony in C.

In addition to the student art work on display throughout, there was a Shakespearean presentation; a vocal, dance, and percussion performance; a spoken word performance; a performance by members of the nascent Partnership orchestra; and presentations of student awards and high school scholarships.

The link below features a brief slide show of the event. Be sure to check it out.

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Catholic Partnership Schools Choir Wows Benefactors

More than 40 angelic voices lifted up in song at the debut performance of the Catholic Partnership Schools’ Choir on Friday evening, November 12, 2010 at the Drexelbrook Country Club in Pennsylvania. The occasion was the annual gala awards dinner of the Catholic Leadership Institute. Each year the Institute awards those whose exemplary leadership in the family, the workplace, and the community has been inspired by the Catholic faith. One of the four awardees this year was Msgr. Robert McDermott, board member of Catholic Partnership Schools and pastor of St. Joseph Pro-Cathedral. He was recognized for his life-long commitment to the children and families of Camden.

The children, representing each of our schools, came together as the Catholic Partnership Schools Choir to perform for this 600+ gathering. They charmed the guests with a two-part song entitled God of this City. They were directed by Christopher Calderone, music teacher at St. Anthony of Padua School and Director of the Partnership Schools joint choir. A special thank you goes to each of our school music teachers – Dawn Bembery (Sacred Heart), Molly Jensen (St. Cecilia’s), and Barry Moore (St. Joseph’s) – who prepared the children for weeks before the event. Their music teachers, as well as their principals, were at the gala to support them in their first public performance.

Author Judy Nadell’s Monthly Readings
Engage Students, Increase Literacy

Continuing to rave reviews from 1st and 2nd grade students at each of the five Partnership schools are the monthly readings and discussions centering on Dr. Judy Nadell’s engaging King School Series.

Produced in partnership with Townsend Press, the series features a cast of characters modeled on actual boys and girls of various ethnicities and family structures living right here in Camden. At the end of each school year, students will have up to 60 books to call their own. According to Dr. Nadell, “Young readers will relate easily to these recurring characters, will want to read all about them and will, in the process, become eager, skilled readers.”