Back to School: School of the Holy Child

School of the Holy Child is an all-girls, Catholic, independent, college-preparatory school that provides an advanced, individualized education for grades 5-12.

School of the Holy Child is an all-girls, Catholic, independent, college-preparatory school that provides an advanced, individualized education for grades 5-12. Established in 1904, the school is committed to challenging young women to pursue academic excellence and find joy in learning. Holy Child is widely recognized as being the best at educating and mentoring students to become women of conscience and action. Their innovative and unique academic and extra-curricular programs feature:

• Dedicated and gifted faculty members who mentor and engage students, and encourage each girl to realize her own potential.
• A community where students are leaders in and out of the classroom, on the athletic fields, and on the stage.
• Foreign language, arts, athletics, and community service in every grade.
• Signature programs in Global Awareness, Italian Cultural Studies, and Engineering & Design.
• An individualized approach to college counseling, where girls matriculate to universities ranging from Harvard and MIT to RISD and the University of St. Andrews in Scotland.
• Graduates that are prepared for the innovative and critical thought necessary in a diverse, interconnected society.

New Facilities

Holy Child began a new chapter in its 110-year history this year with a formal groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of a new Field House, state-of-the-art Theatre, and a Design Studio to house the E. E. Ford Program in Architecture, Engineering and Design Initiatives for the Common Good.  The new buildings will better reflect the outstanding athletic and artistic accomplishments of their young women — and will support deeper development of critical intellectual and physical skills.

Construction on campus will continue throughout the 2014-2015 school year. Plans for a springtime dedication and ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the opening of the 22,000 square-foot Field House are underway. The facility will include:

• A 9,700 square-foot gymnasium with two full-size courts
• Locker rooms
• Office space for Athletics/Physical Education staff
• An athletic training room
• A weight and fitness room
• A dance and movement studio
• A student commons area

After the completion of the Field House, the current multi-purpose gymnasium will be converted into theatre space for music, dance and drama productions, liturgies, and assemblies. The new 400-seat theatre will include:

• A full stage
• State-of-the-art lighting and sound equipment
• Dedicated space for music, dance, drama and other programs  
• Dressing rooms
• Wardrobe storage.

The Campus Master Plan also includes the creation of a Design Studio to house the E. E. Ford Program in Architecture, Engineering and Design Initiatives for the Common Good. The design studio will enhance the hands-on application of Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math (STEAM) education and will include a workshop for woodworking, computer-assisted design, 3-D printing, circuit and architectural design.

Welcome New Faculty

Maria Click
Middle and Upper School English
Ms. Click joins the Holy Child community from Greenwich High School to teach both seventh and ninth grade English. She earned her B.A. in Comparative Literature and Classical Civilization from the University of California at Los Angeles. Later, she earned a J.D. from the University of Southern California’s Gould School of Law. Passionate about exploring humanity through literature and seeing the world through the eyes of our youth, Ms. Click’s style of teaching and engaging the students in and out of the classroom complements Holy Child’s intellectually challenging and innovative program of study.  

Diane Tanzi
Physical Education Teacher & Head Varsity Lacrosse Coach
Ms. Tanzi worked previously at Irvington High School, where she was a health and physical education teacher, and Briarcliff High School, where she coached the girls’ lacrosse team.  Prior to her work in high schools, she was the head varsity lacrosse coach at Manhattan College and an assistant coach at Fairleigh Dickinson. She majored in Health and Science Major at College of New Jersey, where she made three Final Four appearances and two national championships as a Division III lacrosse player. Ms. Tanzi earned her Master’s in Sports Administration from Fairleigh Dickenson. Her professional experience in the classroom and on the lacrosse field contributes to Holy Child’s commitment to wellness — encouraging student leadership, sportsmanship, and living healthy lifestyles.

Katina Manko-Mitchell
United States AP History and Economics
Dr. Manko holds a Ph.D. in History from the University of Delaware, and has taught for more than 15 years at the college level, and in innovative education reform programs at Bard High School Early College, Bard College at Simon’s Rock, and the Bard College Masters in Teaching Program. She recently wrote a book on the history of the Avon Ladies, which will be available later this year. As a historian of women and business, Dr. Manko will further Holy Child’s mission to develop “women of conscience and action.”

Elizabeth Messinger
Director of the Generoso Pope Italian Cultural Studies Program and History
Ms. Messinger joins from Rippowam Cisqua School, where she taught ninth grade for twelve years, covering multiple disciplines, including World History, English, Thesis and Ethics, French, and more. She earned her B.A. from Stanford University and holds multiple advanced degrees from Johns Hopkins and New York University. A former journalist with National Public Radio and The Economist and an educational consultant, she brings 20 years of experience in the humanities at both the secondary and college levels to Holy Child. Her diversified background will enrich the school’s commitment to global awareness and programming.