Nazareth Academy Welcomes Students Back to School for 2015-16

Submitted by Nazareth Academy.

On Aug. 19, Nazareth Academy joyfully welcomed students to the 2015-2016 School Year. The members of the Class of 2019 had already begun their Nazareth journey with a two-day Orientation earlier in the week.

The school year started strong with a message to faculty, staff and students about this year’s focus on diversity and a school theme of Building Understanding…That All May Be One. Over the course of the year, through teaching, activities, service and reflection, all members of the Nazareth community will have ample opportunities to put this theme into action.

“The creation of academically and culturally responsive classrooms begins with the underlying understanding that we each have more to learn....about ourselves, our colleagues and our students,” says Principal Deborah Tracy. “When we are open to ‘building understanding’ about the unique gifts, talents and experiences that everyone brings to the table, the possibilities are endless.”

Nazareth welcomes twelve new Faculty/Staff members for this school year, including many Nazareth alumni. The Foreign Language Department welcomes Elizabeth Balge and Amber Hitney ‘08. Jennifer Boyle is Nazareth’s newest English teacher. Katie Conroy joins the Religion Department. Bethany Mager ‘99 is thrilled to return to Nazareth as a Math teacher. Bernadette Skobel teaches both Math and Physics this year. Sarah Miller comes to Nazareth’s Science Department fresh from California. Michael Sliwinski, Director of Bands, joins Nazareth after working on the marching band staff at St. Rita. Amy Klod Boyle ‘96 is the new Database and Event Coordinator. Karen Loster is a new Accounting Clerk in the Business Office. Ben Peck is the new Assistant Technical Coordinator. The Deans’ Office welcomes Ivonne Theiss as its new secretary.

Several members of Nazareth’s faculty also take on new roles for 2015-16. Therese Hawkins moves to the school’s Administration Team as the Director of Curriculum and Instruction. In addition to their teaching roles, Kate Augustyn takes over as the Director of Student Activities and Joe Wejman serves as Assistant Dean of Students.

Photo 1: Jake Hasan, Arianna Thome and Kevin Ryan.
Photo 2: Lauren Piskorski and Luis Martinez
Photo 3: Simone Colat and Kathy Ruiz
Photo 4: (clockwise from top left) Abigail Shannon, Emily Fredian, Analisa Pieranunzi and Maria Cali