Congratulations to CAB graduate Amanda, who is the 2023 recipient of the Gilbert Scholarship, a $500 award which is presented annually to a graduating 8th grader from our St. Augustine campus who continues their high school education at a Diocesan or other Catholic institution. Amanda (pictured here with St. Augustine principal Dr. Allison Hurtt) will attend Kolbe Cathedral High School in the fall. “I have no words to express my gratitude for this scholarship award. It’s a big help to my family,” Amanda said. The Gilbert Scholarship was established to honor the memory of Mr. Carey Gilbert through the generosity of his family and friends. Gilbert is said to have had a strong faith and love for St. Augustine, from which he was an alumnus. In fact, Gilbert and his wife, Barbara, sent their three daughters to school there and were also very involved with the campus’s Home School Association.

On Wednesday, May 3, the Catholic Academy of Bridgeport was awarded a $100K grant from Impact Fairfield County (IFFC) for an outdoor learning center on its St. Raphael campus. Other awardees included The Center for Empowerment and Education ($100K), and Mill River Park Collaborative, Mid-Fairfield Community Care Center, and The Shehan Center ($20K each).

Through the construction of “The Happy Hollow Outdoor Learning Center,” CAB will be able to provide a safe, nature-infused, and academically and emotionally supportive outdoor space to directly and positively impact the psychological and physical well-being of its PreK-3rd grade students — the majority of whom live at or below the poverty level, and who disproportionately were impacted by the pandemic and are still recovering. Such a space will include security fencing and be an oasis in The Hollow, one of the most dangerous neighborhoods in Bridgeport. Students will benefit from sensory play areas, an outdoor classroom, age-appropriate playground equipment, and a sports court for teamwork, social problem-solving and gross motor skills. Teachers will integrate Social-Emotional Learning, Art, and Science curriculums. The space will also host a summer camp. 

“We are so grateful to everyone at Impact Fairfield County for helping to make this dream a reality on our St. Raphael campus, where most students spend up to 10 hours per day on campus and don’t always have the time or opportunity to play outside in a safe, engaging natural space,” said Angela Pohlen, CAB Executive Director. “The number one reason our families tell us they choose St. Raphael, aside from academics, is safety. Having ‘The Happy Hollow Outdoor Learning Center’ will be both life-giving and life-changing for our community and will allow for cross-curricular connections in science, art, and SEL. Equally important is that this project will impact our community into perpetuity.”

CAB has raised 75% of the funding needed for this initiative and will be looking to raise an additional $45K from private donations in the coming months. Anyone interested in making a contribution to this project or learning more, should contact Susan Cecere by emailing scecere@diobpt.org or calling (203) 362-2990.

The Catholic Academy of Bridgeport provides an academically rigorous education to 900+ PreK-8th grade students in a values-oriented setting where cultural diversity is welcomed and celebrated. Students are nurtured, encouraged and challenged in preparation for a successful life of leadership and service. 40% of students are non-Catholic, 92% identify as Black, Indigenous, and People of Color; and 93% of students qualify for need-based financial aid. Notable is that 100% graduate from high school and 99% going on to college, which are far superior statistics than what are achieved in other Bridgeport schools. 

This year, we have more than 910 students in grades PreK-8th registered on our four campuses for the 2022-23 school year, proving that there really is “Something More” at the Catholic Academy of Bridgeport. In addition, based on increased interest, a completely new PreK3 program was added to our St. Raphael campus, along with additional Kindergarten and 3rd-grade classrooms there. Such statistics are a testament to the excellence of CAB’s curriculum, programs, faculty, and staff. We are so grateful to the generosity of our community of supporters who help make a CAB education accessible to our families — from individual donors and foundations to Rising Star sponsors and other faithful friends.

Thanks to the generosity and shared vision of stalwart Catholic Academy of Bridgeport supporter Jim Colica, the “Alegre” Program for the Performing Arts kicked off as an after-school offering in October. “Alegre” is Spanish for “joy,” and according to Colica, “This program is in memory of my wife, Kathy; her joy for all in the Arts is my inspiration for it. That these children will have the opportunity to explore their hidden talents and express their feelings through the Arts [reminds me of] the hymn Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee.” The idea of joy was also the catalyst for the program’s vision statement: “To inspire our young people to rejoice in themselves and their community through developing and sharing their God-given talents in the Performing Arts. Through exploration and instruction in choral singing, dance, and drama, we hope to build an environment of self-confidence, inclusivity, and positive artistic expression.” Tracy Ferguson is directing the program. A recent summa cum laude graduate of Fairfield University with a B.A. in Theatre and minors in Educational Studies and Religious Studies, Ferguson has almost a decade of experience in Performing Arts. She is excited to bring her love of Arts education to CAB. According to Angela Pohlen, CAB Executive Director, “We have been working on bringing this offering to our middle school students for the last three years, and by the grace of God, everything has aligned to make it a reality. I believe passionately about the importance of Arts education, and Performance Arts in particular. St. Irenaeus said, ‘The glory of God is the human being fully alive,’ and little expresses the fullness of humanity as well as the Arts. I am grateful to Mr. Colica and his late wife Kathy for their belief in enriching the lives of our students through Art, and I am excited to see what unexpected blessings come of the program under Ms. Ferguson’s direction.”

Click below for the 2022-2023 Catholic Academy of Bridgeport School Calendar

22-23 Calendar

Today, eight Hearst newspapers featured an Op Ed by our Board member, John Kennedy, entitled, “It’s Time for School Choice in CT.”

Kennedy notes, “Parochial schools, like the Catholic Academy of Bridgeport, provide better outcomes for students with fewer dollars than their public school counterparts, while saving taxpayer dollars.”

Read the full piece here: Online OpEd Stamford Advocate link

Printable PDF: It’s Time for School Choice in CT pdf

During the first week of June, 82 boys and girls graduated in total from our St. Andrew, St. Ann and St. Augustine campuses.

We are so proud of the class of 2022, who have been accepted into the following high schools next year:

Bridgeport International Academy
Bridgeport Military Academy
Bullard-Havens Technical High School
Bunnell High School
Central High School
Emmett O’Brien Technical High School
Fairchild Wheeler High School
Fairfield College Preparatory School
Greens Farms
Hopkins School
ICL Academy
Kolbe Cathedral High School
Lauralton Hall High School
Notre Dame High School
Platt Technical High School
Shelton High School
St. Joseph High School
Stratford High School

We know these young women and men have been given a strong foundation at the Catholic Academy of Bridgeport, and we wish them the best of luck in high school and beyond!

On Monday, May 16, the Catholic Academy of Bridgeport (CAB) hosted its 10th Annual Golf Classic at the Country Club of Fairfield, and set an organizational record in raising $1.37 million.

The day began with 24 foursomes enjoying a barbeque lunch followed by 18 holes of golf on the pristine links-style course. Later, 180 golfers and guests gathered for a cocktail reception in CCF’s newly renovated clubhouse to celebrate 10 years of outings, and to honor Sheila Clancy and June and Jack Heffernan.

Clancy, a CAB Board member since 2014 and a parishioner of St. Thomas in Fairfield, has been an integral part of the Academy’s development and marketing efforts throughout the years. She also is Secretary of the Board, and a faithful member of event planning committees. The Heffernans, stalwart supporters of Catholic education and parishioners of Church of the Resurrection in Rye, NY, are longtime friends of the Catholic Academy of Bridgeport, and Mr. Heffernan sat on CAB’s Board until 2021, chairing its Facilities Committee.

During cocktails, CAB Board Chair John Kreitler welcomed guests and expressed gratitude for the many sponsors of the outing. Next, Luis Mendizabal, a 2018 grad of CAB’s St. Augustine campus, gave a heartfelt testimony about his time at the school.

“My Catholic Academy of Bridgeport education gave me the ability to understand the world around me better. I always felt challenged by its rigorous curriculum, especially by top-notch English and Math
departments. I felt very prepared when I went on to high school at Fairfield Prep; I already knew what was happening in my math classes because I had learned the same thing the year before at CAB.”

Mendizabal said that he believed “every student in Bridgeport deserves such a great education, one that nurtures their intellect and morality.” But, he noted, “there is a big predicament that impedes many kids
like me from reaping the benefits of a Catholic education, and it is something they don’t have control over: financial ability. Without the means, I would never have been able to go to CAB.”

A financial assistance recipient while at CAB, Mendizabal said he also worked every day after school to earn money for his education, something he continues to this day.  “I’ve always known it’s important for me to contribute financially so my younger sister, Leticia, and I can attend private school and get a good education. Most mornings when I pack my school bag, I also pack things to work at my father’s landscaping company after school. I usually don’t get home from helping him until 6:00 PM, when we have a quick dinner and then I’m off to help my mom with her housekeeping job until 9:00 PM. This is in addition to homework, volunteering, and playing Varsity soccer.”

Mendizabal, who was accepted to almost every college he applied to, will attend Fairfield University in the fall. “Not only do I think it is a great school, but being in CT will also allow me to be closer to home
and continue to work with my parents to help pay for my and my sister’s educations.” Mendizabal hopes to major in Mechanical Engineering at FFU and one day work in the automobile or space industries building efficient vehicles. “Because of people like you, I know my dreams can come true.”

Following Mendizabal, guests participated in a live auction, featuring sought-after items like 4 Premium Club Seat Tickets to a Giants’ Home Game of Your Choice and A Chef’s Tasting for 6 People at Paci Restaurant with Bishop Frank Caggiano. Next came a paddles up for scholarship, followed by the Academy recognizing 11 graduating 8th graders in its Rising Stars program, along with their generous sponsors, who subsidized the cost of each students’ tuition for one or more years.

After many pictures and much applause, Board Co-Vice Chair Brad Evans presented Clancy with an award for being “a shining example of philanthropy in action” and someone who “never hesitates to give of her time and talents.” Then, Sr. Joan Magnetti, rscj, Director of Major Gifts, presented the Heffernans with an award for “living the gospel of Jesus” and being “anchors of hope, faith, and trust for all of God’s children.” During their acceptance remarks, the Heffernans announced they would be establishing a “Joan Magnetti Scholarship Fund, with an initial donation of $1 million,” noting that “giving to the Catholic Academy of Bridgeport is a great investment.” Magnetti was visibly surprised and humbled, and all in attendance were roused to their feet.

CCF golf staff next presented prizes to golfers and Executive Director, Angela Pohlen then thanked everyone for coming. “Today’s event helps us to make a Catholic Academy of Bridgeport education accessible to every family that values it,” she said. “We are truly blessed.”

This year, CAB educated nearly 900 PreK through 8th-grade students, 85 percent of whom could not afford the annual tuition of $5,150. Events like the Golf Classic help the school in its efforts to raise $2.2 million each year for need-based scholarship. For more information or to become a Rising Stars sponsor, please contact Susan Cecere at 203-362-2990.

View the most current vaccine dates and locations

On Tuesday, August 3, from 4:30 PM-6:00 PM, roughly 150 people turned out on each of our four campuses for our first-ever “Summer Social.” Both longtime and newly enrolled families gathered together to enjoy free ice cream, music, games, and giveaways. There were laughter, fun, and smiles all around.

A surprise was that several alumni showed up on each campus, from the recently graduated right through college age. These grads came back to see their school and show support. What a true testament to what our Academy is to our families.

It was a wonderful event that captured the essence of our “Something More promise, and we hope the “Summer Social” will become an annual one for our very special school community. Thank you to everyone who came out and made the night so memorable!

To see pictures from the event, go to Summer Social Pictures.

The Catholic Academy of Bridgeport welcomes all faiths, and we offer generous financial assistance to all who qualify. To enroll your child for the fall, please go to APPLY NOW or call (203) 362-2978. Limited spaces for 2021/2022! Some grades are already full.

The 78 eighth graders who make up our “Class of 2021” have a lot to celebrate. From receiving merit scholarships to top private high schools, to being the first in their family to graduate with honors, our students’ individual success stories may vary, but all have something in common: hard work, dedication, and excitement about their future.

Such efforts saw these young women and men admitted into the following high schools:

Bassick High School
Bridgeport International Academy
Bridgeport Military Academy
Bullard-Havens Technical
Bunnell High School
Central Magnet High School
Emmett O’Brien
Fairfield College Preparatory
Fairfield Warde High School
Fairfield Wheeler Magnet
Institute for Civic Leadership (ICL) Academy
JM Wright Technical School
Kolbe Cathedral High School
Lauralton Hall
Notre Dame Fairfield
Notre Dame West Haven
Platt Technical High School
Robert N. Lee High School
St. Joseph High School
Shelton High School
Stamford High School

We are so proud of our graduates and will miss having them on campus. They will always be part of the Catholic Academy of Bridgeport family! We know their futures are bright and we wish them the very best luck in high school and beyond.

Fairfield, CT – On May 17, the Catholic Academy of Bridgeport held its 9th Annual Golf Classic at the Country Club of Fairfield. The event, held in honor of longtime supporters Barbara and Brad Evans, raised more than $560,000 for need-based scholarship, and it was the best-grossing fundraiser in the history of the school.  The Evans’s have been actively engaged with the Academy for the past 13 years.   Mr. Evans has served as Board Chair since 2015.

Twenty-four foursomes enjoyed a day of golf under blue skies and temperatures in the 70’s then joined an additional 80 guests later in the day for a cocktail reception, where speaker and alumna Jennifer Melo wowed the crowd with her testimony. A soon-to-be freshman at Princeton University, Melo grew up in Bridgeport with her single mother, Rosanna, who was also in the audience. “Coming from a family where no one had ever received or pursued a higher education, she had a dream that one day she would be able to watch her only daughter walk across the stage and grab her diploma. Equipped with a goal she would work tirelessly to ensure, she turned to the Catholic Academy of Bridgeport.”

Melo said the staff who educated and shaped her throughout her middle school years at the Academy were “unparalleled,” adding, “I knew I could count on them for anything. I felt so much love, support, and generosity throughout my years there. The foundation I was given at CAB gave me the confidence in high school to form so many close bonds with peers and staff and to pursue leadership positions. I launched clubs, service projects, and grew in wisdom.”

Melo plans to focus her college studies on international relations, third-world development, and economics, and hopes to make a difference in Brazil’s socio-economic challenges, the country of her family’s origin. “The children there with no educational opportunities, and the people struggling to keep a roof over their heads and food on their tables is what I choose to dedicate my life to. All of my academic and social accomplishments, all of my sweat and tears, and everything I have done that has proven me worthy to attend Princeton University I did not do for myself, but for them, the nation, and humanity…As a society, we cannot ignore the possibility of unrecognized genius that goes to waste due to lack of opportunity.”

Speaking directly to the audience, Melo added, “If the world was deprived of generous people like all of you, I would not have had the opportunity to be where I am today. Educational donors are not only making monumental impacts on people’s entire lives – like mine – but they are investing in the most powerful means to reach universal harmony. It’s not just students that donors impact, but humanity as a whole.”

Following Melo, a robust live auction took place with items including a threesome of golf at National Golf Links, a “Taste of the Track for Two” at Monticello Motor Club, a 1:1 Zoom with former PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi, and a 6-course chef’s tasting at Southport’s renowned Paci Restaurant.

Next was a paddle raise for scholarship, since 85% of the Academy’s nearly 800 students cannot afford the annual tuition of $5,150 and the school must raise $2.1 million each year alone for this. Midway through, one guest spontaneously offered to match the next $30,000 in gifts. Once that was matched, another guest unexpectedly offered to match the next $25,000 in pledges. When that too was matched, unbelievably yet another guest offered to match the next $20,000 in gifts. The atmosphere was absolutely electric with participation bubbling up from every corner of the venue.

Bishop Caggiano then invited Barbara and Brad Evans to the podium where he presented them with an award for working tirelessly on behalf of CAB students, faculty and staff. “Their commitment to education and giving back can be witnessed throughout their lifetime together,” said Caggiano.

Mrs. Evans, a graduate of the Eliot Pearson School of Education at Tufts University and an elementary school teacher for many years, sits on the Board of the Partnership Schools and is a former Board member of The Southport School, the Mercy Learning Center, and the Collegiate School.  Barbara has worked to foster significant alliances between many of these organizations and the Catholic Academy of Bridgeport in an effort to take curriculum and social-emotional learning to the next level.

Mr. Evans, a graduate of Dartmouth and Columbia Business School, and a Senior Advisor at Morgan Stanley where he has worked since 1970, is equally passionate about education initiatives, particularly in inner cities. He is the Founder and Co-Chair of the Horizons Summer Enrichment Program at Sacred Heart University, and a Board member of Wakeman Boys and Girls Club and Foundations in Education. As a Board member for more than a decade and current Board Chair for the past 6 years, Mr. Evans has worked to grow the Board, develop strong subcommittees, increase enrollment, build new partnerships, and welcome its newest Executive Director — all while keeping the Board focused on its mission.

The Evans’s have been dedicated to supporting scholarship funds, as well as founding and funding a program called the New Student Initiative. “Their humility, integrity, and lively faith in action reveal their belief that through generosity and care for others, especially the marginalized, they are continuing God’s work in this world,” said the Bishop.

The evening culminated with recognition of the first-ever class of Leaders of Tomorrow (LOT) students and their faithful sponsors. The Catholic Academy of Bridgeport launched the LOT program in 2013 with 11 donors sponsoring 11 students. Today, 46 donors fully or partially sponsor 88 students. The applause was hearty and heartfelt as seven of these original LOT students and their sponsors or representatives were recognized together. All of these 8^th graders were accepted into excellent private high schools, and many received merit-based awards for their grades, test scores, and community service.

The Golf Classic was a success on every front and countless lives will be changed because of the generosity and support of so many individuals, groups, and family foundations.

To find out more about the Catholic Academy of Bridgeport or to make a donation toward need-based scholarship, please visit www.catholicacademybridgeport.org or call 203-362-2990.

To see pictures from the 9th Annual Golf Classic, please go to:

Catholic Academy of Bridgeport 9th Annual Golf Classic May 17th, 2021 | Flickr

Do you know someone who would benefit from attending our school? Then please invite them to join us virtually on Thursday, February 4 from 6:00-7:00 PM, when they will learn about our exceptional academic program for students in grades PreK-8th. Participants also will get the chance to meet all four of our principals and see firsthand why we are committed to teaching the whole child…mind, body, and spirit. Our inclusive learning community is one of our greatest strengths.  Click Here!

Guy Stanley Philoche (pictured here with his dog, Picasso) immigrated to Connecticut from Haiti when he was three. He attended CAB’s St. Augustine campus for grades 7 and 8 and graduated in 1993. From there he went on to Kolbe Cathedral High School, Paier College of Art, and Yale. Today, the artist lives in New York City where his colorful, textured, abstract pieces have sold for up to $120,000 and he has attracted international attention. But Philoche’s success has not come easily. Two decades ago, he started off by going gallery to gallery and sliding business cards under doors. “I had no one open a door for me. It was me going through the back door,” he said. “Now that I have a seat at the table and I actually have a voice, I vowed to myself to open that door for other artists.” So when Covid struck, Philoche dedicated himself to seeking out struggling artists affected by the pandemic and unable to make ends meet. Thus far, he has spent more than $65,000 purchasing more than 150 artworks for up to $500 each. “So many people have reached out to me, telling me the piece I bought was the first art they ever sold,” he explained. “I want to help as many artists as possible to make sure they are able to buy groceries, pay their rent, get their kids diapers or formula.” Philoche says his time at St. Augustine changed his life. “Those two years formed me into the man I am today. I was a shy, awkward kid but wearing a uniform helped me fit in. We all looked the same and no one knew if you were poor or rich or on scholarship. I still made friends I have to this day. And when I took art classes there, that really fine-tuned everything for me. I realized I really wanted to be an artist.” This week, Philoche is in Palm Beach where one of his paintings is being auctioned. To see Philoche’s work, visit Cavalier Galleries.

In preparation for a return to in-person learning post-holidays, and through the help and support of Board member John Kreitler, our Academy was able to offer free Covid PCR testing to our students, faculty, and staff this month. The tests, considered the gold standard in COVID-19 testing, were generously donated by Patrick Noland and Eurofins, who guaranteed us a 24-hour turnaround time to ensure to the greatest extent possible the safe return of our school community.

If you would still like to donate, please click the DONATE NOW button below.  WITH YOUR HELP, we can continue to offer an excellent education to the 800 students on our four campuses and provide the “Something More” we pride ourselves on. Thank you!

By Emily Clark–The 8th Annual Golf Classic to benefit the Catholic Academy of Bridgeport was held at the Country Club of Fairfield on Monday, August 10. Clear blue skies, mild breezes, and midsummer sunshine provided donors and supporters with a perfect setting for an afternoon of golf, a cocktail reception, and a lively auction that raised over $260,000 for scholarships.

Despite some limitations due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the event was sold out with 21 foursomes for golf and 100 guests for cocktails, all held outdoors on the shores of Long Island Sound to meet social distancing protocol. Though each of the Academy’s fundraisers are important in providing scholarships for their inner-city students, CAB’s Executive Director Angela Pohlen said this one was especially vital due to a cancelled event in March, increased requests for financial aid, and the need for an additional $178,000 to cover the schools’ reopening and to meet standards for COVID-19 cleansing.

“This is a critical fundraiser for us,” said Pohlen. “Catholic schools are the hope to a weary world, and we need to be ever more present now.”

With close to 850 students among the four campuses of St. Andrew, St. Ann, St. Augustine, and St. Raphael, the Catholic Academy of Bridgeport will provide tuition assistance to approximately 90% of its population this school year. Pohlen commented on the great sacrifice parents make to send their children to the Academy, especially during these challenging times. “It’s harder now, so we work harder,” she said. “The more kids we can serve, the better.”

Pohlen added that everyone in attendance, from the generous donors to the committed staff of educators and personnel, all remain focused on the mission of CAB in preparing students for “a successful life of leadership and service,” evidenced through the powerful speeches shared throughout the afternoon.

During the cocktail reception, alumnus Janelle Rosales ’16 spoke about the financial burden so many families face in educating their children and thanked the donors “for providing this opportunity to future generations. My teachers gave me a future, a voice, and spirituality.” A 2020 graduate of Notre Dame of Fairfield in the top 20 of her class with over 200 hours of community service, Rosales will attend Quinnipiac University in the fall to simultaneously pursue both a B.A. and an M.B.A.

Those opportunities are made possible by such donors as Jim and Judy Bailey, two of this year’s honorees. As Board Chair from 2009-2014, Jim co-founded the Annual Golf Classic and along with his wife have sponsored multiple students over the years through the Leaders of Tomorrow program. In his speech introducing Jim, current Board Chair Brad Evans quoted the Baileys’ oldest daughter, Elizabeth, who remembers her parents instilling in her the values of compassion, commitment, and confidence.

Also honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award was Ann Marie Donnelly, who retired from the Catholic Academy of Bridgeport in June after 37 years in education. Former students Michael Jones ’06 and Onyinyechukwu Nnodum ’13 praised Donnelly for her commitment to students and the difference she made in their lives.

“Mrs. Donnelly didn’t let me fall by the wayside,” said Jones, now a third-year Master of Divinity candidate at Howard University who also works full time at a technology company in Washington, D.C. In describing Donnelly as a “hero,” Jones said, “She stood up for all her students and made sure they all succeeded. She resuscitated students through her acts of kindness and gave her life to something bigger than herself.”
“She made me who I am,” added Nnodum, a rising senior at Cornell University who is studying Industrial and Labor Relations. “Mrs. Donnelly was a teacher, mentor, and friend.”

Success stories such as these, made possible by those most committed to the Catholic Academy of Bridgeport, will continue on due to the generosity displayed at the Golf Classic.

“We are unique,” said Pohlen. “Where others see obstacles, we see potential. This is our moment in history, and when people look back to ask how we served so well, I look around and am reminded of John 13:35 – ‘they will know us by our love.’”

8th Annual Golf Classic-August 10, 2020
The Country Club of Fairfield
Honoring Jim & Judy Bailey & Ann Marie Donnelly

Click to register or for info.

Path to College for First-Generation Students

• High standardized test scores
• +2 grades ahead of national norms
• High ACT scores — Top 25% of nation
• College affordability– two-thirds receive college scholarship offers
• Value system that will be forever part of their lives
• Discipline and more.

Copy and paste https://vimeo.com/463477162 into your browser up to one hour before the 7:00 PM event on Wednesday, 12/2, and get ready to have some fun — all from the comfort of your own home!

Join us on December 2 from 7-8 PM for a VIRTUAL FUNDRAISER featuring internationally acclaimed tenor Dennis McNeil. All proceeds are fully tax-deductible and the event will benefit 800 inner-city students.

For 25 years, Dennis McNeil has wowed audiences around the globe, including five U.S. Presidents, the Supreme Court of the United States, and a personal engagement with Queen Elizabeth II.

Known for his versatility, McNeil also has performed with the Grateful Dead, Lionel Ritchie and Steve Miller. Blending his amazing voice and warm Irish charm, McNeil is the ultimate performer. Get ready for an unforgettable evening from the comfort of your home!

RSVP

This premiere virtual event takes the place of our Annual Fall Dinner, typically held at Polpo in Greenwich, where we raise more than $300,000 toward the $2 million in needs-based scholarship we must award each year.

Our staff and principals have been hard at work to ensure distance learning is occurring even though our physical campuses are currently closed to students. In addition, some campuses are using Google Meet for morning prayer.

All of our social workers continue to be actively engaged with their respective students, and even our PE teachers are posting ways families can keep their children active and fit indoors during this time.

At least one family isd even requiring their children to wear their uniforms at home during normal school hours to reinforce that school is still “in session.”

We are so proud of out CAtholic Academy community for coming together and thinking outside the box so that our children can continue to be educated.- body, mind and spirit!

Please read important information regarding the Coronavirus. Check back here for latest updates.

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Marie Telfort has much to be proud of. A unit controller at Sodexo, Telfort’s three daughters graduated from the Catholic Academy of Bridgeport’s St. Augustine campus and went on to terrific success.

Her oldest daughter, Vengie, graduated from Lauralton Hall then received a B.A. from Assumption College and an M.A. from Suffolk University; post-graduation she interned for the European Parliament in Brussels and today works as a digital analyst for CBS. Telfort’s middle daughter, Elizabeth, graduated from Sacred Heart Academy in Hamden in 2015 and received both a B.A. and an M.S. from St. John’s University where today she is a graduate assistant. Her youngest daughter, Elisha, is a freshman at Sacred Heart Academy, where she is a member of the Key Club and just finished a stellar volleyball season.

But things weren’t always so happy and bright for Telfort and her daughters. 

DEALING WITH HARDSHIP & LOSS

Originally from Haiti and one of seven children, Telfort grew up in a household where a high value was placed on Catholic education. So naturally, when she moved to the U.S. in 1998, she sought out a Catholic school for her girls and was thrilled to find St. Augustine. “It’s very family-oriented. Everyone knows everyone.

Teachers always have time for your kids after school, they have a social worker in the school and there are small class sizes. And number one, it was always a safe environment.”

But in 2011, the family experienced hardship, including the loss of both of Telfort’s parents. “I had a lot of tragedy in Haiti then went through some personal tragedy in Bridgeport. Despite working, my financial situation was falling apart. With one daughter in Lauralton Hall and two in St. Augustine, I started wondering if I should tell my children they would be unable to graduate from the schools they were in.”

Telfort decided to call Ann Marie Donnelly, an 8th grade teacher at St. Augustine whom she trusted and respected. “Mrs. Donnelly said, ‘Don’t tell the girls they won’t be able to graduate.’ She told me to make an appointment with the principal, social worker and financial person. That was the best advice because when I called, they stepped up to help us. They didn’t let money be an obstacle to a good education. I will never forget that.”

And praise for the school extends further. “When my oldest went on to high school, her English teacher there asked me to make sure I told her 8th grade English teacher at St. Augustine that she did a really good job,” shared Telfort.

A THANKFUL SPIRIT

When Elisha graduated last June, the family decided to show their gratitude for one teacher that all three Telfort children had: Mrs. Donnelly. “The girls called it a ‘Legacy Award’ and it was a very special surprise. But it was also a little embarrassing because it’s all of the teachers that prepare these students for high school, not just me,” said Donnelly.

The Telfort family is just one of hundreds of families who received needs-based assistance last year, totaling more than $2 million. Telfort said that if it wasn’t for the generosity of donors who make such aid possible, she doesn’t know how her daughters’ lives would have turned out.

On October 2, Catholic Academy of Bridgeport Board Chair Brad Evans welcomed 60 guests to the schools’ 10th Annual Fall Dinner celebration at Polpo Restaurant in Greenwich. 

Sixty guests dined on Polpo’s upscale Italian fare. Those in attendance included eight of the Academy’s 12 Board members, all of the principals from the Academy’s four Bridgeport campuses, and many longtime and faithful supporters of the school. 

Angela Pohlen, who took over as the Academy’s Executive Director in July when Sr. Joan Magnetti retired, thanked Ron and Dominque Rosa, owners of Polpo, for once again underwriting the food for this annual event. Past Board Chair Jim Bailey, who emceed the event, recognized Sr. Magnetti for her role in the Annual Fall Dinner since its inception in 2010 as well as for her committed and innovative leadership during the 10 years she served as the schools ED, a period during which the Academy transitioned from six schools to four and the budget went from seeing a deficit of $2.4 million to being completely balanced every year for the past six years.

Bailey also recognized alumnus Sergio Lara, who 10 years ago was a recent graduate of the Academy working toward a BA in Marketing at Fairfield University and the speaker at the initial Fall Dinner fundraiser. “Since then, Sergio has gone on to spend six incredible years at PricewaterhouseCoopers and today is a Corporate Strategy Consultant at BDO. Sergio recently told me that it was only through financial assistance that he was able to attend our school, and that none of this would have been possible were it not for generous people like you sitting here tonight.”

Bailey said that the choice of dates for tonight’s dinner was intentional, for in the Catholic Church, October 2 is the Feast of the Guardian Angels. “One of the roles of Guardian Angels is to protect those entrusted to their care, and that certainly is true of all of you. Through the years we have asked you to partner with us so that we can educate those children entrusted to us in a safe, nurturing, Christ-centered environment; one where personal and moral character is being shaped, mutual respect and kindness are being taught, and students graduate with the confidence and ability to succeed in life; an environment that, in many instances, is not available in the public sector.” 

Each guest received a crystal angel as a small token of the school’s gratitude for their kindness and generosity through the years. “When you hang it, I hope you will remember what a tremendous and powerful difference you have made in the lives of our students,” said Bailey.

A secondary theme of the evening was “unwritten,” and Jasmine Fuller, an alumna of the Academy’s St. Ann campus and a current junior at Kolbe, wowed the crowd with her singing of Unwritten by Natasha Bedingfield. Afterwards, Pohlen said,“If you read the statistics from the city of Bridgeport, they’re usually written with a period – as if it’s a foregone conclusion that the children of this city will continue in the perpetual cycle of underachievement because of their own deficits and not those of the system of which they are a part. This is a tragedy of monumental proportions. Our students are not statistics – they are individuals with the power and ability to overcome the obstacles that others have already deemed insurmountable. They will write their own stories, and it is our privilege to have a part in that authorship.”

Silver frames with personal quotes from many of the Academy’s 7th and 8th grade students donned each table throughout the room. These quotes were written by the students after they reflected on the song Unwritten and the following statistics: Only 23% of students in the Bridgeport Public School system are performing at grade level compared to more than 80% of Catholic Academy of Bridgeport students, and barely 60% of Bridgeport Public School students graduate high school compared to 100% of the Academy students. 

To these statistics 8th grader, Mikita, wrote, “Why is that? Is it because we only take in smart students and throw out the rest? Of course not. We get these results because all of us know we aren’t statistics and can go above and beyond what the graphs say. We realize we can change our lives for the better and believe we can fulfill the mission God gave us. I dream of becoming a police detective because I want to help rid Bridgeport of crime and violence. This school is paving the way for me to achieve that dream.”

After the entrée course, guests had the opportunity to hear from Roseangel Zayas, an 8th grader on the Academy’s St. Augustine campus, whose favorite subject is English and who writes for the school’s newspaper and is a member of the yearbook staff. “Going to school here has given me a great education and the teachers always have the best interest of me in mind; they don’t just teach for the paycheck,” she said. “When I was in 5th grade, my family experienced an unexpected fire. My father got 3rd-degree burns and my mother 2nd-degree burns. All of our possessions were destroyed. The school worked to get my family a $1,200 security deposit for a new house plus threw me a housewarming party. I’m so grateful that God put such kind-hearted people in my path. They are like family to me,” Zayas said.

Although she does not come from a family of graduates, Zayas said she wants to be the first one “to go on to a good high school where I will continue to become the me God planned me to be.” She dreams of becoming a social worker or working n the criminal justice field so she can give back to others who need it most. “I believe the Catholic Academy of Bridgeport has put me on the right path to do so, and I appreciate all of the kindness, support, donations and acceptance from people like you.”

Later in the night, “Hands Up for Scholarship” pushed proceeds of the fundraiser above $300,000. All money will go to support students in the Academy, which educates nearly 900 children on four campuses in grades preschool through 8th in the city of Bridgeport, 85% of whom cannot afford the annual tuition of $5,000 and most of whom live below the poverty level. 

Pohlen thanked the guests for their tremendous support, noting, “You are well aware that our students outshine and outperform their public school and many of their charter school counterparts by leaps and bounds. However, it’s important to recognize we don’t cherry-pick our students. These are the same kids who would otherwise go to those schools – the difference is we believe they can achieve, so we give them the tools to do so. It’s a difference in the mission.”

The Catholic Academy of Bridgeport must raise more than $2 million each year for scholarship. For more information, visit www.catholicacademybridgeport.org or call 203-362-2990.

Click here to see photos from 10th Polpo Dinner Fundraiser!

ABC News journalist and political commentator Cokie Roberts died on September 17, 2019 at the age of 75. Roberts was a longtime supporter of the Catholic Academy of Bridgeport, both financially and spiritually.

Roberts also was the guest speaker at our 8th Annual Ladies Luncheon at Woodway Country Club on April 18, 2018. One of the highlights of that event was listening to Roberts, who in addition to being an award-winning journalist was also the author of several historical books, entertain guests with stories of American women saints, including St. Frances Cabrini, who founded the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart and devoted her life to caring for poor children in schools and hospitals. Roberts even donated a personal tour of the National Archives in Washington, D.C. followed by lunch to the fundraiser’s live auction.

Roberts will be dearly missed by all in the Catholic Academy of Bridgeport community. Our prayers go out to her husband, Steven, and Roberts’ entire family.

To see additional photos of Cokie Roberts and others from the 2018 Ladies Luncheon, please click here.

By Susan Cecere

The Catholic Academy of Bridgeport held its 7th Annual Golf Classic at The Country Club of Fairfield on Monday, August 19. The event was a “birdie” by all accounts: picture-perfect weather, sold-out foursomes and a successful auction following golf that raised more than $200,000.

This year’s event was held in memory of Richard T. “Dick” Carroll, who was a 1960 alumnus of St. Augustine, one of four campuses that make up the Catholic Academy of Bridgeport; the other three being St. Andrew, St. Ann and St. Raphael. Dick, who died unexpectedly last July, and his wife, Susan, had been longtime supporters of the Academy and regularly attended fundraising events. For many years, the Carroll’s also sponsored a student through the Catholic Academy of Bridgeport’s Leaders of Tomorrow program, something Susan Carroll said she is committed to continuing.

“We have been so happy to support a young Catholic Academy of Bridgeport scholar named Amy who Dick and I first became acquainted with when she was just beginning school, and I will continue to support her as she successfully winds her way through school,” said Carroll, who was joined at the podium by her daughter, Molly Carroll Cole. “Dick and I cherished looking forward to receiving her report cards each year and hearing of her achievements, and I am honored to stand behind her as she completes elementary school. If you are looking for the best way to bet on the future, I urge you to consider sponsoring a Catholic Academy of Bridgeport student! You will not regret your investment.”

Echoing Carroll’s sentiments was Catholic Academy alumnus and guest speaker Sergio Lara, who was once a scholarship recipient himself.

“My parents immigrated to the U.S. in the late 1980’s and did not have faith in the Bridgeport public school system. It was only through financial assistance from the Catholic Academy that my two brothers and I were able to attend school there,” said Lara. “The fantastic education I received became the foundation for my future learning at Kolbe Cathedral High School and Fairfield University. Upon graduating college, I secured a job at PricewaterhouseCoopers as a member of their Mergers & Acquisitions group, and after assisting some of the world’s largest companies in complex transactions for six incredible years, I am now a Corporate Strategy Consultant at BDO. It is with utmost gratitude I stand here today to thank the Catholic Academy of Bridgeport for their generous gift that truly changed my life.”

Each year the Catholic Academy of Bridgeport awards more than $2 million in needs-based financial assistance to the 85% of its student body whose families cannot afford the annual tuition of $5,000. In fact, some of the schools’ nearly 900 students are among the poorest in the state of Connecticut, and 61% qualify for free or reduced lunch.

Such scholarship opportunities are only made possible by proceeds from three major fundraising events held throughout the school year (including a fall dinner, a spring gala or luncheon, and Annual Golf Classic), gifts to the Academy’s Leaders of Tomorrow program, and other donations made throughout the year by generous individuals and foundations.

During the cocktail reception, Angela Pohlen, Executive Director of the Catholic Academy of Bridgeport, assured the 160 guests in attendance that their support today would have a life-changing impact.

See more photos from this event here.

“900 children are getting ready to start their school year. Because of your partnership, they will walk and drive past the public schools where they are “supposed to attend” and where their stories have already been written for them,” said Pohlen. “They will pass by schools where only 23% of their peers are on grade level, and where violence and instability reign. Because of your partnership they will enter one of our campuses – where they are being given the tools to write their own, much different stories; where school is not the end, but the beginning; where 100% of them will go on to high school, and 99% will go on to college or secondary schools. They can pass by the schools that tell them they are only a statistic and attend a school that promises them something more.”

This year’s Golf Classic was generously underwritten by Brad and Barbara Evans. Judy and Jim Bailey underwrote gifts for all the golfers. American Transit Insurance Company, where Dick Carroll had been President, was the Gold Sponsor and other sponsors included: Drummond Bell, Blakes School Uniform Company, Clarfeld Financial Advisors, Day Pitney, Edgerton, Jack Heffernan, Lanese Construction, Dan McAuliffe, Irene McInerney, James Read, Frank Sica, and Russo & Toner.

To find out more about the Catholic Academy of Bridgeport, sponsor one of their Leaders of Tomorrow students or RSVP to their upcoming Fall Dinner Fundraiser on Wednesday, October 2, at Polpo Restaurant in Greenwich, please visit our event page or call 203-362-2990.

CATHOLIC ACADEMY OF BRIDGEPORT – A St. Raphael Academy first grade class was surprised with a visit by Mayor Joseph P. Ganim as a “guest reader” on Thursday, January 31, 2019. Mayor Ganim spoke with the students about his role as mayor of Bridgeport, and then shared that he had attended St. Raphael when he was their age! He then read, “A House for Hermit Crab,” by Eric Carle, to the class.

Mayor Ganim’s visit was organized as part of special Catholic Schools Week activity for students to learn about and meet leaders in their local community through having a “guest reader” for each class. City Councilwoman Maria Viggiano Zambrano read to a class on Monday. Other guests included Monsignor Chris Walsh (pastor of St. Charles Borromeo Church), Fr. Michael Novajosky (pastor of the Cathedral Parish), Board members of the Catholic Academy of Bridgeport, and local government workers.

St. Raphael Academy, educating students in prekindergarten through third grade, is one of four campuses of the Catholic Academy of Bridgeport, which provides a Christ-centered, academically rigorous learning environment where cultural diversity is welcome, Catholic values taught and all faiths celebrated. Students are nurtured, encouraged and challenged in preparation for a successful life of leadership and service. The other three campuses are: St. Andrew Academy (grades PK – 8), St. Ann Academy (grades PK – 8) and St. Augustine Academy (grades 4 – 8).

Published in Fairfield County Catholic

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CATHOLIC ACADEMY OF BRIDGEPORT – A St. Raphael Academy first grade class was surprised with a visit by Mayor Joseph P. Ganim as a “guest reader” on Thursday, January 31, 2019. Mayor Ganim spoke with the students about his role as mayor of Bridgeport, and then shared that he had attended St. Raphael when he was their age! He then read, “A House for Hermit Crab,” by Eric Carle, to the class.

Mayor Ganim’s visit was organized as part of special Catholic Schools Week activity for students to learn about and meet leaders in their local community through having a “guest reader” for each class. City Councilwoman Maria Viggiano Zambrano read to a class on Monday. Other guests included Monsignor Chris Walsh (pastor of St. Charles Borromeo Church), Fr. Michael Novajosky (pastor of the Cathedral Parish), Board members of the Catholic Academy of Bridgeport, and local government workers.

St. Raphael Academy, educating students in prekindergarten through third grade, is one of four campuses of the Catholic Academy of Bridgeport, which provides a Christ-centered, academically rigorous learning environment where cultural diversity is welcome, Catholic values taught and all faiths celebrated. Students are nurtured, encouraged and challenged in preparation for a successful life of leadership and service. The other three campuses are: St. Andrew Academy (grades PK – 8), St. Ann Academy (grades PK – 8) and St. Augustine Academy (grades 4 – 8).

The Inner-City Foundation for Charity & Education held their 27th annual gala benefit on Saturday, October 27th at the Hyatt Regency in Greenwich, and was chaired by Helen & Dan Fitzpatrick and Vilma & Dick Matteis. The annual gala is the largest fundraiser of the year for The Inner-City Foundation, a non-profit that serves the neediest children, families and individuals of Fairfield County.

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GREENWICH—Polpo Restaurant Greenwich hosted donors of the Catholic Academy of Bridgeport at a sparkling dinner held the evening of September 25. Over 50 donors to the Academy joined together for the event. The school serves more than 900 students in the City of Bridgeport and encompasses four campuses: Sts. Andrew, Ann, Augustine and Raphael.

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