Academy of the Holy Angels
The Academy of the Holy Angels is an all-female Roman Catholic college preparatory high school located in Demarest, Bergen County, New Jersey, United States, serving students in ninth through twelfth grade. The school operates under the auspices of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Newark. The Academy of the Holy Angels draws students from North Jersey, Rockland County, New York, and surrounding areas.
As of the 2015-16 school year, the school had an enrollment of 594 students and 55.0 classroom teachers, for a student–teacher ratio of 10.8:1. The school's student body was 69.4% White, 12.6% Asian, 7.6% Hispanic, 6.1% Black, 0.2% American Indian / Alaska Native and 4.2% two or more races.
The Academy of the Holy Angels is a member of the National Catholic Educational Association and the New Jersey Association of Independent Schools.
Mission
"Rooted in the conviction of the School Sisters of Notre Dame that 'the world can be changed through the transformation of persons,' education at the Academy empowers each young woman to reach the fullness of her potential spiritually, morally, intellectually, socially, and physically, so that she, in turn, may share her gifts with others. The vision of a new global community based on gospel values permeates life at the Academy, impelling each young woman to embrace generous leadership."History
The Academy of the Holy Angels is the oldest private school in Bergen County. Founded in 1879 by Sister Mary Nonna Dunphy, one of the School Sisters of Notre Dame, the school was opened in Fort Lee, New Jersey as a boarding and day school for girls from kindergarten to twelfth grade. In 1890 it was incorporated as Holy Angels, Collegiate Institute for Young Ladies and Preparatory School for Little Girls. Its motto was then and remains now "Vitae Via Virtus." The Holy Angels Board voted to change the name of the school to the Academy of the Holy Angels in 1934 when Sister M. Angeline Hughes was Principal. The school accepted a developer's offer for the school's location in Fort Lee and purchased a large property in Demarest. The school had operated a grammar school in addition to the high school for decades and many graduates were known as "12 year Angels." The grammar school was discontinued completely in 1964 prior to the move from Fort Lee. Building commenced and the school relocated to its current location in Demarest in 1965.Awards and recognition
During the 1999-2000 school year, the Academy of the Holy Angels was awarded the Blue Ribbon School Award of Excellence by the United States Department of Education, the highest award an American school can receive.The Corporation for National Service selected the Academy of the Holy Angels as a National Service-Learning Leader School, due to its excellence in service learning. Holy Angels is one of two Catholic high schools nationwide to receive this honor.
Middle States accreditation
The school is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Secondary Schools, one of six regional accrediting, peer-administered organizations that offers institutions protocols for evaluation and improvement. AHA chose Accreditation for Growth, a strategic planning method in which diverse constituent groups participate in discussions, which are then used as a method for growth and improvement, both academically by the students, as well as by the institution.Technology
Since 2005, upon entering the school, each student is required to buy a Fujitsu Tablet. Students use these tablets during school and at home to complete assignments, access the internet for research, take notes, and communicate with the faculty. Equipped with a pen and with a screen that can function as a notebook, students are able to use these tablets for all subjects such as History and Math. Features such as the Dropbox and Student Commons allow students to access notes and papers from the teachers on the school network, as well as place their own completed assignments within the folders on the network and, in effect, decrease the amount of paper used.In addition, AHA is currently using Turnitin, a website that scans finished papers and assignments for plagiarism and helps prevent it as well. Beginning with the class of 2011, AHA began to use LiveText, an online storage site in which each student is able to upload their best papers and projects, ultimately creating their own 'online resume.'
Art
Holy Angels is a top-performing Bergen County school in Fine Arts. In 2014, AHA was the only Bergen County Catholic High School to receive Gold and Silver Regional Awards in the prestigious Scholastic Arts Competition. A total of 41 Scholastic Awards in diverse areas of fine arts, including Painting, Photography, Drawing, Digital Art, Jewelry, and Architecture were awarded to AHA students, as well as a Gold National Scholastic Art Award for Photography. In 2015 a student was awarded the National Scholastic American Visions Award in Drawing & Illustration. In recent years, students have also been the recipients of the Pentel Art Award, the Papermill Playhouse Award for Best Graphic Design, and the Bucknell Art Department Art History Scholarship. Fine Arts courses at AHA include Graphic Arts, Digital Design, Painting, Photography, Color & Design, Drawing, Visual Arts I and II, AP Studio Art: 2-D Design, AP Studio Art: Drawing, and AP Art History. A special portfolio course, Studio I Honors, is also offered to art-track students. AHA facilities include four art studios and a lab for digital media. Winter and Spring Art Shows are held annually to feature artists. The school also has an active chapter of the National Art Honor Society, Art Club, and Photography Club.Activities
The Academy of the Holy Angels provides a range of clubs and organizations that students can join based on their own interests and availability. In addition to after-school activities, the schedule of AHA allows a 45-minute activity period at the end of the day once a cycle, during which students can participate in in-school clubs and organizations. There are two cycles that alternate, and students can, therefore, choose two in-school activities to participate in.In-school activities
- AHAnime
- Armenian Club
- Art for the Community
- Asian Cultural Society
- Black and Hispanic Cultural Society
- Blueprint Literary Magazine
- Book Club
- Comic Book Heroes on Film
- CSI Angels
- Deep Relaxation
- Diversity Club
- Drama Club
- Echoes Yearbook
- Embroidery Club
- French Club
- French for Travelers
- Go Green
- History Society
- I'm Puzzled
- Instrumental Ensemble/Orchestra
- International Students Club
- Italian Club
- Japanese Club
- Latin Dancing
- Lean In
- Literature on Film
- Math Club/3D Design
- Math Tutoring
- M.E.D.S.
- Music Makers
- Outreach
- Pen Pals
- Project Greenhouse
- Quillow 101
- Quick and Easy Crafts
- Real Life 101
- Roman Personalities on Film
- SADD
- Scrabble, Checkers, Chess
- Spanish Club
- Student Athletic Association
- Student Council
- Study Period
- Ultimate Frisbee
- Yoga
- Young Entrepreneur
After-school activities
- Academy Chorus
- Advisory Council
- AHA Dance Team
- AHA Voice
- AHAnime
- Angel Ambassadors
- Angels for Animals
- Angels For Life
- Angels over Africa
- Art Club
- Asian Cultural Society
- Big/Little Sister
- Black & Hispanic Cultural Association
- Blueprint Literary Magazine
- Book Club
- Bridges
- Chess
- CSI Angels
- Dean's Council
- Debate
- Drama Club
- Drawing from Model
- Echoes
- Embroidery
- E-portfolio
- Equality Now
- Equestrian
- Eucharistic Ministers
- French Club
- Gaelic Society
- GO Green
- Habitat for Humanity
- Handbell
- Hellenic Angels
- Honduras Club
- Instrumental Ensemble
- Italian Club
- Jazz Band
- Jeweled Angels
- JOY
- Just Angels
- Knitwits
- Korean Club
- Liturgical Ministers
- Math Club
- MEDS
- Middle Eastern Club
- Mock Trial
- Model UN
- Music Makers
- Operation Smile
- Orchestra
- Outreach
- Photography
- Quidditch
- Quiz Bowl
- Retreat Leadership Teams
- SADD
- Service Organizations
- ScoliAngels
- Space Angels
- Spanish Club
- Stress Busters
- Student Athletic Association
- Student Council
- Theater Productions
- Vocal Ensemble
- Walking for Fitness
- Watercolor Painting
- Writers' Club
Honors Societies
- National Honor Society
- Mu Alpha Theta
- Thespian Honor Society
- National Science Honor Society
- Società Onoraria Italica
- Societas Latina Honoris
- Société Honoraire de Français
- Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica
- Tri-M Honor Society
- Rho Kappa
- NBEA
- National Art Honor Society
Athletics
The Academy of the Holy Angels has a long-standing rivalry with fellow Catholic school, Immaculate Heart Academy in Washington Township. In 2018, the Varsity Soccer Team beat the Eagles 1-0 for the first time in history.
The cross country team won the Non-Public A state titles in both 2006 and 2009.
Basketball coach Susan Liddy was recognized in the fall of 2008 for having reached a milestone 600th win.
Sports offered to students at AHA include:
;Fall sports
- Cross country running
- Gymnastics
- Soccer
- Tennis
- Volleyball
- Bergen Catholic Varsity Cheer
- St. Joseph's Varsity Cheer
- Basketball
- Bowling
- Fencing
- Indoor track
- Golf
- Lacrosse
- Softball
- Track and field
Alma mater
Notable alumni
- Greta Kiernan, politician who served in the New Jersey General Assembly from the 39th Legislative District from 1978 to 1980.