FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MEDIA ADVISORY
Catholic PRWire

WATERTOWN, MA (February 2, 2012) - Monsignor James J. Haddad Middle School To Appear on the CatholicTV® Network

In honor of Catholic Schools Week, the CatholicTV® Network's daily Mass will be celebrated by students from Monsignor James J. Haddad Middle School, Needham, MA on Saturday, February 4, 2012.

Students from Grade 7 will participate in the Mass as altar servers and lectors. The servers will be John Gellene and Caroline Walsh, both of St. Joe’s Parish, Needham, MA. The lector will be Brant McCarron, of St. Mary’s Parish, Dedham, MA. The prayers of the faithful will be offered by Elizabeth Wade, Amanda Nardone, and Joseph Rombalski, of St. Joe’s Parish, Needham, MA. As well as Sean McDonald, St. Joe’s Parish, Medway, MA, and Andrew McInerney, St. Patrick’s Parish, Natick, MA.

In 1994, a group of parents met with a former pastor, Monsignor James J. Haddad, to explore the feasibility of opening a middle school. At the time Saint Joseph Elementary School was a K-8 school. After careful consideration, Monsignor Haddad decided to move forward with building a new middle school that would offer a rigorous, comprehensive academic program based on the philosophy that young adolescents learn best when exposed to learning experiences that are highly experiential, authentic and interdisciplinary in nature.

Committees were formed to develop plans for the new school and ground was broken for the new building in the spring of 1995. Saint Joseph Middle School opened its doors to students at the start of the school year in September 1995 while the new building was still under construction. The new building officially opened on March 19, 1996.

A total of 115 students enrolled for the first year. There were six homerooms - one in grade eight, two in grade seven and three in grade six. The principal and faculty developed a strong curriculum backed by the acquisition of top quality learning resources. Foreign language was expanded, music was added and the health curriculum was put in place. Science and math curricula were reformed. The school day was lengthened 30 minutes to accommodate the new program of studies.

Enrollment gradually increased over the years which necessitated additional space for classroom instruction. During the summer of 2001, ground was broken for a new Parish Center that now houses a dining room, two science labs, a state-of-the-art technology center and a regulation size gymnasium. The Parish Center opened in late March 2002. During the summer of 2002, the library was relocated to connect the upper school with the lower school and new guidance and health service offices were created.

The middle school, named for Monsignor James. J. Haddad, is a lasting legacy to the pastor whose vision made the school possible. Currently, Monsignor Haddad Middle School comfortably houses four grade six homerooms, three grade seven homerooms and three grade eight homerooms. The student body has increased to 215 students serviced by a staff of 25 professionals. It is considered the flagship Catholic middle school in the Archdiocese of Boston.

Catholic Schools Week, which celebrates its 40th anniversary next year, is a time for students to celebrate their unique path of learning within the parish, community and nation, organizers state. Festivities across the country will reflect that, most notably open houses for prospective students and public rallies at state capitols supporting school choice.

Children are taught faith – not just the basics of Christianity, but how to have a relationship with God. Academics, which in Catholic schools are held to very high standards, help each child reach his or her potential. Service, the giving of one’s time and effort to help others, is taught both as an expression of faith and good citizenship.

Learn more about Monsignor James J. Haddad Middle School at www.saintjoes.com/MiddleSchool.

To honor Catholic Schools Weeks, CatholicTV will celebrate the LIVE Mass with local schools from the Archdiocese of Boston during the week of January 29, 2012 through February 5, 2012. You can find the Mass at www.CatholicTV.com.

For more information on Catholic Schools Week please visit the National Catholic Educational Association at: www.ncea.org.

About the CatholicTV® Network:

Founded in 1955, CatholicTV Network is a national broadcast television network streaming a live feed 24 hours a day at CatholicTV.com. Heeding Pope Benedict XVI's call to greater utilize the power of television and new media, the CatholicTV Network features its cable TV station, Catholic web site, mobile apps and widget. Celebrate Mass online; pray The Rosary; enjoy programs on prayer, the saints, the Scriptures and the Catholic Church on America's Catholic Television Network.

Contact: CatholicTV
http://www.CatholicTV.com MA, 02472 US
Shannon Muldoon- Public Relations Coordinator – 617-923-0220

Contact

The CatholicTV® Network
http://www.catholictv.com/Catholic/Schools/Week/JHMS  MA, 02471 US
Shannon Muldoon - Public Relations Coordinator, 

Keywords

Catholic Schools Week, Archdiocese of Boston

Category

Apparitions