M O N T H L Y N E W S L E T T E R

N O V E M B E R 2 0 1 9 • I S S U E 3

"THE KA D IFFERENCE " GALA REFLECT ION

Our Ninth Annual Gala is over and what a great experience it was as God was honored at every

turn . I have been starting to use the phrase , “the KA difference , ” and I think our Gala is one

example of that difference . I receive a few invitations to various Gala fundraisers each year and

each cause is certainly worthy of support . The routine is the same and KA follows suit in many

regards . The KA difference (that I ’ve noticed) is that those we honor are honored not because

they are particularly wealthy financially , but because they are indeed honorable people who

have given their lives to Jesus Christ and have supported or been impacted by their education at

Koinonia Academy . I admired Mr . Brian Murray last year as he led the discussion on who we

might choose for the Gala honorees and this year the same conversation was held at our monthly

board meeting with Greg Allen and the Gala committee . I have no doubt the other non-KA Gala ’s

I ’ve attended honor people who have made a positive impact in this world , yet , it ’s no

coincidence that these honorees are also extremely wealthy .  Thank you! Gala honorees for your

witness that Jesus is Lord . Thank you! KA parents who choose and sacrifice to entrust their

children to KA . Thank you! Teachers and staff who are the life-blood that keep the spirit and

love of Jesus Christ alive at KA . Thank you! Students who sang and witnessed so beautifully at

the Gala . Thank you! Benefactors of KA , for through your prayers and financial support we are

able to proclaim unashamedly that Jesus is Lord . And finally , thank you to the anonymous server

who worked the Gala for Embassy Suites for your crumpled ten-dollar donation that you placed

in an envelope . I don ’t know who you are , but I do know that KA ’s honorees , teachers and

students touched you heart . May God bless your heartfelt donation .   “For the Lord sees not as man

sees : man looks on the outward appearance ,  but the Lord looks on the heart . ” 1 Samuel 16 :7

- Mr . Allan Wright

I was born and raised in Elizabeth , NJ . My parents were Italian

immigrants and so my first language was Italian . My mother made sure

to teach me "The Lord 's Prayer" and the "Hail Mary" in Italian as soon as

I could speak .

Why did you decide to come work at KA?Quite a long story , but here is the short version : We were invited to a

concert by Marc Hudock , my daughter 's godfather . After the concert

experience and witnessing the high school choir members praying

over the audience , we decided KA was the school we wanted our

daughter (then a pre-schooler) to attend .

Do you have a hidden talent? I knit scarves and design clothing . I buy fabric at the Fabric

Warehouse , design what I want , and ask my mom to make it for me .

She owned a boutique in Italy where she used a knitting machine to

create beautiful sweaters and she is a master seamstress . I also avoid

speeding tickets by crying .

What are my keys to happiness? Trust God , learn to master patience

and never stop giving .

STEWARDSH IP : THE V IRTUE OF THE MONTH

STAFF H IGHL IGHT : FRANCESCA ROSA MEREND INO ,

ELA AND LAT IN TEACHER

Stewardship: Returning to God the first fruits of your time, talent and treasure. Thismonth , Ms . Holmes is starting a new initiative with the sixth grade in an effort to practice

stewardship as the oldest of the elementary school . For the rest of the year they will be

visiting the younger classes every Friday and reading to them . They will spend time during

the week in the younger classes to choose appropriate books for whatever grade they are

in , and they will also be planning a mini lesson for whoever they read to ; thinking of good

comprehension questions , planning what they will teach about the lesson in the book etc .

Virtues in Practice is a program created by the Nashville Dominicans for children in grades

Pre-K - 6 to grow closer to Jesus by imitating His life and virtues . The program covers 27

virtues over a three-year cycle , with 81 saints held up as models of these virtues .

ALL SA INTS DAY

One of KA 's most beloved (and cutest) traditions

is celebrated on Halloween where students honor

those in Heaven by dressing up as Saints . . .and a

few 'Blessed 's . ' The kids parade around the school ,

each one more realistically dressed than the next

(thank you parents ! ) The joy of the children shone

through the costumes and there is no doubt that

the 'great crowd of witnesses ' that are looking

down upon us were pleased as well .

BOXES OF JOY

The Box of Joy ministry is an annual Christmas gift ministry organized by local Catholic

schools , parishes and groups across the United States and facilitated by Cross Catholic

Outreach .  Box of Joy provides teachers , parish leaders and other Catholic groups a unique

opportunity for students , parishioners and group members to participate in a simple and

tangible service experience that has both a material and spiritual impact on the poorest

of the poor in developing countries . Together , Catholics in the U .S . are able to join Our

Lord Jesus Christ in acts of mercy . The outreach also provides a unique opportunity for

Catholics to engage in service with others in their local communities who share the same

desire to spread Christmas joy and the story of Christmas — the Good News of God ’s love —

with children worldwide .

STAY I N TOUCH WITH KA

marketing@koinoniaacademy .org

www .koinoniaacademy .org

NOV

Ways to get involved in

ALUMN I SPOTL IGHT :

MAR IA I RELAND

Maria graduated from Boston College in

2015 with a B .A . in International Studies .

While there , she received grants to study

abroad in France and Italy and to conduct

thesis research in the Holy Land . Maria

participated in and facilitated Campus

Ministry immersion trips to Mexico and

Nicaragua and co-chaired the 2014

National Jesuit Student Leadership

Conference .

Upon graduation , Maria was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa and was named the 2015

recipient of the Mary A . and Katherine G . Finneran Commencement Award , “the highest

Commencement honor in the College of Arts and Sciences , given to the student who has

achieved outstanding success in studies , while also devoting time and talents to other

activities for the enrichment of the College and student life . ”

After college , Maria moved to Jerusalem to work with the international non-profit

organization Seeds of Peace , where she coordinated cross-border educator programs on

teaching empathy in conflict . Following Jerusalem , Maria spent one year in Sicily

teaching English on a Fulbright grant . Since moving back to the United States in 2018 ,

she has been working in international education , currently at The Fletcher School of Law

and Diplomacy at Tufts University . Maria lives in Boston and is an active member of her

local Catholic parish , the Boston College alumni network , and the global Fulbright

community .

Pasta Night: 12/6/2019

Koinonia Academy

$20 per person

908.668.9002

pastanight2019@gmail.com