During the week of August 14-18, our incoming Shepherds Freshmen Class of 2027 attended another successful, educational and FUN Cougar Camp. Shepherds Freshmen met and bonded over a weeklong series of activities, presentations and assignments to become familiar with each other, the school and the culture at Kolbe Cathedral High School. Such activities included a scavenger hunt, parent/student Safe Environment training, the “RULER” presentation*, a math refresher exercise and making ice cream!

A special thank you to KCHS School Liaison, Cecilia Hatton, Faculty Advisor, Joe Elbertson for providing a successful program and a thank you to Seniors, Dannylo C. and Ali C. and Shepherds Sophomores, Tristan R. and Stefania F. for helping out and advising and guiding our incoming students.

*RULER is an evidence-based approach to social and emotional learning (SEL) developed at the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence. RULER supports school communities in understanding the value of emotions, building the skills of emotional intelligence and creating and maintaining positive school climates.

 

 

This past Saturday, the Shepherds/Kolbe Cathedral community enjoyed a wonderful buffet breakfast and celebrated the completion of Shepherds’ 24th year of Changing Lives… One Student at a Time. Nine members of the Shepherds Class of 2023 and their mentors traded speeches of appreciation and admiration. The graduating seniors all have plans to attend college in the fall with substantial scholarships and financial support to make it possible.

SEE PROGRAM, PICS AND SHEPHERDS/KOLBE CATHEDRAL SENIOR SLIDESHOW:

 

 

Shepherds students, mentors, families and staff celebrated the end of a successful school year at Notre Dame on Wednesday, April 26 in the Collins Auditorium at Notre Dame. For our Class of 2023 Seniors this celebratory dinner honored them, and their past accomplishments as well as their future endeavors. Congratulations to all and especially to the Class of 2023!

     

On Thursday, April 13th, Shepherds Freshmen, Sophomores and Juniors visited Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) and The College of The Holy Cross, both in Worcester, MA.

Students were able to see first-hand what college looks and feels like. Taking a tour at both colleges, students interacted with current college students, saw dorm rooms and even ate in the cafeteria — all giving them the full, college experience.

 

Our Shepherds groups from Kolbe Cathedral HS and Notre Dame HS, West Haven, headed to the Shelton Sports Center on March 29th for a neon-filled afternoon of arcade games and laser tag. Shepherds mentors and students showed their skills at pinball, the “claw” machine, car racing and more. Every mentor and student became a kid again which was made evident by the laughs and smiles on all of our Shepherds faces!

 

Shepherds Expressive Writing Workshop is underway for Freshmen and Sophomores. Presented by Ms. Nancy Day, Journalist, Professor & Chair of Journalism Department at Colombia College, Chicago and Ms. Allison Waggener, Yale University Graduate and Writing Coach, students got expressive and even active as they participated in exercises such as acting out expressive verbs and learned about the differences between “showing” v. “telling” a story in their writing.

Students have completed 3 out of the 5 Wednesdays that focus on “Expressing Yourself Effectively!”. Students will continue to develop techniques for distilling their ideas in writing in a clear and concise manner. They goal at the end of the workshop is for each student to effectively and expressively tell their personal story.

     

It was Shepherds Hockey Night at The Bridgeport Islanders Islanders last Sunday, 2/26!

Shepherds mentors and their students enjoyed a private tour of the Total Mortgage Arena and then the puck dropped at 5pm for the Islanders v. Phantoms. It was a 4-3 loss for the Islanders but a win for our group as they enjoyed exciting hockey, great food, fun music and a lot of fun! Nyasha, Mariela and Cindy even made it on the jumbotron!