Trinity Hall board chairperson Victoria Gmelich, left, joined Head of School Mary Sciarrillo Nov. 18 in announcing special recognition for the school’s STEM program from the Middle States Association.
Photo by Laura D.C. Kolnoski
By Laura D.C. Kolnoski
TINTON FALLS – The student body of Trinity Hall joined with teachers, parents, local officials and business leaders Nov. 18 to accept recognition as a “Program of Distinction” from the Middle States Association Commissions on Elementary and Secondary Schools (MSA-CESS) for its curriculum in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). According to Middle States, Trinity Hall is the first high school in New Jersey – and the only all-girls school in the nation – to receive this recognition.
The Middle States Programs of Distinction initiative “provides external validation of an accredited school’s accomplishments in specific areas of expertise, and enables schools to take accreditation to the next level,” according to a release from the commission.
Photo by Laura D.C. Kolnoski
The 250-student school, which originated in Leonardo, purchased, renovated and moved into the former Fort Monmouth Child Development and Day Care Center on Corregidor Road in the Tinton Falls section of the former U.S. Army base in 2015. It draws female students from over 40 municipalities in Monmouth, Ocean and Middlesex counties. The school, which operates “in the Catholic tradition,” underwent an expansion last year to accommodate increasing enrollment.
Mary Sciarrillo, Trinity Hall’s head of school, told the assemblage the school’s four-year STEM courses are aligned with college level courses and that the school’s infrastructure has been redesigned to enhance STEM programs. Students and faculty work and establish partnerships with area educational institutions, businesses and industries to pursue grants, create internships and more, she said. Grants have been received from the Edison Innovation Foundation, MIT’s Sea Perch Program, Jersey Central Power & Light’s Alternative Energy Program and others, and were used to procure new equipment including 3D printers, autonomous under water robots and a laser cutter. STEM internships have taken place at Hackensack Meridian Health Riverview Medical Center, Morgan Stanley and Kennedy Consulting Engineers.
On Nov. 13 students took part in a roundtable with Commvault’s Women in Technology (WIT) group. Commvault, a data protection and software management company, has its world headquarters located directly adjacent to the Trinity Hall campus.
“As part of our mission for creating and connecting a strong community for fostering advancement of women through networking and education, WIT partnered with Trinity Hall for our first STEM roundtable discussion with four Commvault senior system engineers,” said Kristin Martin, Commvault’s senior manager for strategic renewal, who co-chaired the event with her colleague Laura Travers. “(The) discussion focused on system engineering career paths, education, work life and a day in the life of a Commvault engineer. Our engineers spoke to why they chose engineering, the challenges they have faced and provided a good understanding of their current roles, as well as roles outside of engineering that a tech company has to offer for students to consider.”
“Our students are problem-solvers,” Sciarrillo said, adding that more STEM internships will be scheduled for the spring semester. “Programs of Distinction are models for other academic programs around the world and that is certainly true of the STEM program at Trinity Hall,” said Lisa Marie McCauley, Ed.D., president of MSA-CESS. “Trinity Hall is to be commended for its commitment to STEM education and for recognizing the importance of educating and empowering young women for 21st century careers.”
“This award is a testament to what we set out to do in 2011,” said Victoria Gmelich, the school’s board chairperson and one of its founders. “We hope to continue to be pioneers and leaders.”
“The fact that this is the only girls school in the U.S. with this honor is amazing,” commented Oceanport Mayor Jay Coffey, who is a voting member of the Fort Monmouth Economic Revitalization Authority and attended the announcement ceremony. “Religious girls schools are closing all over. To have one open here shows there is a market. It provides opportunities for girls to be in highly academic surroundings.”
Based in Philadelphia, the Middle States Association is a worldwide leader in accreditation and school improvement. For over 130 years, it has helped school leaders establish and reach their goals, develop strategic plans, promote staff development and advance student achievement. It works with more than 2,500 accredited schools and school systems in 34 states and over 100 countries.
