The school year began on Wednesday for freshmen at Northwest Catholic in West Hartford.

The members of the Freshman Contact program, who helped the Class of 2019 adjust to high school. Submitted photo

Submitted by Kimberly Sanders Spera, Director of Communications

Northwest Catholic welcomed the 148 members of the Class of 2019 on Sept. 2, 2015. The students in the freshman class come from 29 towns across Connecticut and Massachusetts, with the most coming from West Hartford (32), Hartford (15) and Avon (14). Two international students are part of the class, as well.

Members of the Class of 2019 were helped on their first day by 100 Freshman Contacts, members of the Class of 2016 who volunteered their time to lead orientation activities for the freshmen and help them find their way around the school.

Over two dozen students transferred in to grades 10, 11 and 12, including eleven new international students. Northwest Catholic now has a total of 21 international students, coming from China, Italy and Vietnam.

This fall marks the rollout of the school’s 1:1 iPad program, in which all students and teachers will have iPads in the classroom. The IT staff will use JAMF Mobile Device Management software to manage all of the Apple devices in the school, including teacher iPads, the 550 school-leased iPads, along with the remaining personally-owned student iPads. Internal fiber network infrastructure was replaced and the fiber internet connection was upgraded to accommodate the increased use of wireless devices in the building. About 70 percent of the student textbooks are electronic in one platform or another.

The fall of 2015 also marks the official start of LEADS (Leadership, Engagement, Accountability, Determination, Service) – Northwest Catholic’s new capstone leadership program. The program consists of one semester-long class per academic year that will help students develop a variety of leadership qualities over their four years of high school.

This summer, the roof was replaced over the majority of the building, a project that included drainage work. In addition, new lighting with banners was installed along the Breen Center walkway in the student parking lot. Bollards will be installed soon. The lighting project is a gift from the parents of the Class of 2015 and completes a three year lighting project also funded by parents of the Classes of 2013 and 2014.

Several new faculty members have joined the Northwest Catholic community this year. Beth Bornstein is the new school nurse and Rev. David Dawson is the new school chaplain. Kate Calendrillo, Jill Crowley and Jeff Cahill have joined the Math Department, while Jaclyn White has joined the Science Department. Sr. Grace Marie Horan F.S.E. is a new Religion teacher.

In addition, several NWC faculty and staff members have taken on added responsibilities. Patrick Williamson has been named the Technology and Special Projects Coordinator. He will be a point person for teacher and student iPads and will help provide general IT support. He will also be retaining certain plant and facilities and student activities projects. Peter Martin has been named Assistant to the Deans of Students and Todd Sadler is the school’s permanent substitute teacher.

Since 1961, Northwest Catholic’s mission has been to educate the whole person: mind, body, spirit, and soul. Enrollment for the Class of ’20 is now under way, and prospective students are invited to the Open House at Northwest Catholic on October 25, 2015. For more information, contact Andrew Selig (860-236-4221, x140 or [email protected]).