Class of 2014 welcomed at Matriculation Ceremony

The Class of 2014, composed of 126 young women from throughout the state, was officially and formally welcomed into the Lauralton Hall community at the school’s second annual Matriculation Ceremony on September 2. Opening with a ceremonial procession complete with bagpipers and an address by school President Antoinette Iadarola, Ph.D., the ceremony welcomed the freshmen in a celebratory manner while introducing them to the six core values central to a Mercy education:  compassion and service; educational excellence; concern for women and women’s issues; global vision and responsibility; spiritual growth and development; and collaboration. These values are derived from the charism of the Sisters of Mercy and the Catholic educational tradition. Each new student pledged her affirmation to adhere to these values both in and outside the classroom. The students acknowledged their understanding that these values will serve to guide them in their daily work and interactions with one another.

Coaching legend mourned

Jairus Gilbert, beloved Lauralton cross country and track coach for well over twenty years, passed away in Vermont on August 24, 2010. A true coaching legend, Coach Gilbert received the prestigious Reverend Cornelius J. Doherty Distinguished Service Award in 2002 for his outstanding service to the school. He will be missed by the Lauralton community and our thoughts and prayers are with his family.

Click the link that follows for more information: http://www.hullfuneralservice.com/index.cfm

Cast selected for fall musical

It may be summer, but the cast of Lauralton Hall’s fall musical production of “Annie” is already in place. Some of the principal cast members include:
* Dominique Bonessi, ’11 of Milford as Miss Hannigan
* Victoria Conaway, ’12 of Trumbull as Grace
* Jeff Sargent of Trumbull as Warbucks

Students attend MADD Power Camp

Four Lauralton students recently attended the MADD POWER CAMP at Southern Connecticut State University.  Student participants were Vincenza Bartholomew, '12; Casey DelBasso, '11; Sarah Macone, '10; and Jillian O'Neil, '11.

Summer Academy completes seventh summer

Summer Academy--a partnership between Lauralton Hall and St. Martin de Porres Academy, the New Haven Jesuit model middle school for girls and boys--recently completed its seventh summer. The two-week experience for the middle school girls featured Language Arts, Spanish and Math, along with a variety of activities. The students enjoyed a presentation by the “Slant of Light” theater troupe, a group of young women who talked with the girls about creating, directing, and performing a play.  The students were also given the opportunity to perform in a play for the teachers. 

New staff members welcomed

Lauralton Hall is pleased to introduce our new staff members for the 2010-2011 school year:

Alice Thomas is the new Dean of Students. She started her career in education as an English teacher, eventually moving on to administration. Her most recent position was as Dean of Students at Elgin High School in Elgin Illinois where she served from 2005 to 2008 before relocating to Connecticut. She holds a BA in English Education from Northeastern Illinois University (Chicago, IL), MEd from National Louis University (Evanston, Illinois) and Educational Leadership Administration and Supervisory Program Certification from National Louis University.

Summer sports & enrichment programs

Looking for a quality fun time for your kids this summer? Sports & Enrichment for Kids! at Lauralton is the place to be…with a top-notch adult staff to guide your child through a week of learning and fun in a safe environment.   

New Executive Director of Development appointed

President Antoinette Iadarola, Ph.D. is pleased to announce the appointment of Lisa M. Hottin as Executive Director of Development, effective July 6, 2010.  

Kudos to award recipients

Congratulations to the many students who were honored at Lauralton’s annual underclass and senior awards ceremonies held at the school on May 25 and May 26 respectively. Use the links to the right to view the lists of award winners.

Students donate to Mercy Beyond Borders

During their sophomore year, ten members of the Class of 2011 decided to get serious about almsgiving during Lent. Their sophomore Christian Scripture teacher and Religion Department Chair Christine Ring discussed Lenten practices and the meaning of almsgiving and suggested ways for the students to live out the practices. One suggestion was for the students to collect their leftover change after purchasing lunch each day and send the collected funds to a charity of their choice. This group of students, now juniors, who ate lunch together every day, took the suggestion seriously. They collected their change every day throughout Lent, and continued to do so for the remainder of the 2008-2009 school year and throughout the entire 2009-2010 year. On the last day of school this year, these generous students donated the funds to Mercy Beyond Borders, an organization that partners with displaced women and children overseas in ways that alleviate their extreme poverty. Inspired by the experience of the Sisters of Mercy who work globally with the poor, the organization is committed to working in refugee assistance and advocacy. The Lauralton students’ donation was earmarked for the ministry with the women and children of the Sudan.