MAY 2021

Dear families and friends of Siena,

Just a few more weeks and this challenging year will be in the rearview window! Thank you to everyone who has been such an integral part of making 2020-21 successful: faculty, families, staff, students, and leaders. Every single one of you deserves any amount of rest that our summer months can provide.

Congratulations to our seniors and eighth graders who will be graduating in June! We're so proud of your accomplishments and can't wait to see what next adventures await you!

"Let no one have contempt for your youth, but set an example for those who believe, in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity." 1 Timothy 4:12

Blessings in Christ,

Brenda White

President, Siena Catholic Schools of Racine

For the first time in many years, St. Catherine's will have a 9th grade class of 150 students! Please help us welcome the newest Angels!

St. Catherine's is excited to begin the 2021-22 school year with many smiling faces. If you are interested in learning more about the enrollment process for St. Catherine's High School or any of our K-8 Siena Catholic Schools, please email admissions@sienacatholicschools.org or call (262) 812-0155.

Great things are happening at St. Rita School! With the decision of the St. Rita parish to sunset the CARES Program this summer, St. Rita and Siena Catholic Schools have stepped up to the task of helping bridge the gap for local families needing options for K3 and K4 students. If you would like to learn more about the K3 and K4 programs, please email admissions@siencacatholicschools.org or call (262) 812-0155 for more information.

When the St. Catherine’s High School Varsity Basketball Team won the state championship on March 5 the excitement was immeasurable. The team, which was undefeated going into the WIAA's in 2020 before the season abruptly ended due to COVID, finally felt two years' worth of work result in the gold trophy. The amount of hard work, brotherhood, and dedication these young men put into their sport throughout their high school careers was incredible. 

Around the same time, St. Catherine’s High School Cheer & Poms Team had just won the regional title, took second place at State for cheer dance, fourth for cheer stunt, and fifth for kickline (the first time ever placing top-five in school history)! 

COVID restrictions meant that parades and pep rallies were not an option at the time, but as the weather began to warm up and the sun made an appearance our Angels were going to get the celebration they deserved! Class by class, students as young as three stepped out on the blacktop, gym floor, or school hallway to see some of our star athletes. Cheerleaders did a routine, stunt, and cheer and the basketball players practiced some fancy dribbles, dunks, and three-pointers. Coaches Nick Bennett and Lori Prideaux talked about how hard (both academically and physically) their teams worked to achieve such great success and even talked about their seniors' future endeavors. Every school received a signed basketball and pom pom and every student left with a small St. Catherine’s basketball!

A big thank you to the principals and teachers for welcoming SCHS into their schools to celebrate these successes! Thank you to the coaches Nick Bennett, Lori Prideaux, John Busey, Amanda McCauley & JV coach Keith Henshel for bringing the teams to celebrate. Thank you to Adam at Enterprise, who after learning what our car rental was for, returned it to get a different car, making sure our kids arrived in style with a great sound system. Lastly, a huge shout-out to Douglas Avenue Diner who helped feed our hungry crew! 

Go Angels!

In October of 2005 a crew called Friends of Angels, LTD purchased the building at 1220 Villa Street, directly across from their beloved St. Catherine’s High School. Charlie’s Angels, consisting of St. Cat’s graduates from the 1950s and beyond, had a vision for the solid brick building, including future office space and the grads' weekly lunches. 

The Siena Catholic Schools Advancement Office moved into the office spaces in 2018, and staff has continually been met with excitement and smiles from the Angels. Weekly alumni lunches encourage all - alums, friends of alums, and employees - to stop by for a hot meal and conversation. The Old Guys (as they call themselves!) come early and start the coffee, staying into the afternoon with a game of cribbage or cards. In a room full of St. Catherine’s history, they joke about experiences at St. Cat’s, reminisce about friends and teachers who’ve passed away, and rejoice in their alma mater's current and future endeavors. Every Monday means a packed room with loud laughter that can be heard through the walls.

When the pandemic began in March of 2020, the group of grads didn’t initially slow down much, but as COVID cases increased, it became clear that Monday lunches at the Alumni House needed to take a break. Mondays were quiet for quite some time, but with vaccinations increasing, our grads slowly started to return. Last Monday, after the announcement from the CDC stating that vaccinated individuals could return to almost normal life, much of the old crowd came back and life returned to our building. The stories, the laughter, and the games are back in full force, replacing the fear and uncertainty of the prior year. For that, we are grateful beyond measure!

If you're an alum, stop by for lunch on a Monday! You won't be disappointed!