Academy of the Holy Angels

Academy of the Holy Angels was established by the School Sisters of Notre Dame in 1879 in New Jersey. The school was originally located in Fort Lee, New Jersey, but was moved to a 24-acre campus in Demarest, New Jersey, in 1965.

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When Mother Theresa Visited AHA on Foundation Day

It was our 175th Foundation Day, Oct. 24, 2008. Sister Ginny Bobrowski, principal, had invited me to come to the Academy of the Holy Angels to speak to the student body about Mother Theresa. My talk was to include the history, spirit and mission of SSND, along with the faithfulness of AHA to Theresa’s educational vision.

Fond Farewell - Joan Connelly Retires from AHA

Joan Connelly, the Academy of the Holy Angels' director of mission and ministry, will be retiring July 1. Joan's 28 years of service to the Academy include work as a religious studies teacher and director of mission and ministry. She has invested countless hours organizing faculty retreats, Awareness Days, service opportunities, and much more.

Angels Sleep Out to Support Covenant House Programs

A handful of tenacious teens from Holy Angels spent the night of June 7 at the Academy’s first Sleep Out. Together, these students raised $5,410 to benefit Covenant House, an organization that provides shelter for young people who are experiencing homelessness and trafficking.

Cap Toss at the Cathedral: AHA's 144th Class Graduates!

The class that entered Holy Angels at the height of the pandemic graduated on May 31 with pomp, circumstance, and a cathartic cap toss. The Academy recognized the Class of 2024 at a jubilant commencement ceremony and Baccalaureate Mass celebrated by The Most Reverend Michael A. Saporito. Festivities were held at the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Newark.

Automatic College Acceptance for AHA Students

Angels are unlocking exciting educational opportunities with the Academy of the Holy Angels’ new articulation agreements. Now, students who make the grade earn automatic acceptance to a growing list of highly regarded colleges and universities. In addition to making a seamless transition to college, Angels enjoy significant financial benefits, including substantial scholarships.

Solid Gold - AHA Dancers Win World Title, Olympic Medal

The Academy of the Holy Angels in Demarest, New Jersey, is now the home of the World Champions of Junior Hip-Hop! The week of April 23, the Angels earned an Olympic gold medal at the International Cheer Union World Championships, which drew 57 teams from 30 countries to Orlando, Florida.

AHA Pays Tribute to Foundresses at Angelic Evening!

The Academy of the Holy Angels dedicated Angelic Evening 2024 to the School Sisters of Notre Dame, the school's foundresses and sponsors. The SSND established AHA on October 2, 1879, and continue to support the Academy nearly 145 years later. The yearly scholarship/financial aid fundraiser hosted by the AHA Parents' Guild, drew 225 guests, including our SSNDs!

AHA Junior Hosts Prom Dress Drive

Prom is a rite of passage for many high school students, but a super-chic dress may be out of reach for some girls. That’s why Academy of the Holy Angels junior Lily Cossio decided to host a Prom Dress Drive.

Angels Attend Commission on the Status of Women

Four Academy of the Holy Angels students seized an incredible opportunity by joining 12,000 international leaders, Sister Joan Connelly and international studies teacher/Model UN Moderator Jennifer Cucchisi, at the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women.

Inspiration from Operation Smile Mission in India

Annika Castillo, an aspiring medical doctor from Cresskill, New, Jersey, made a significant choice during her first year at the Academy of the Holy Angels: She joined the Operation Smile club.

A Story of Survival

Human trafficking survivor Theresa Flores shared her chilling story at the Academy of the Holy Angels Upper School on February 7. Her program included important details about how traffickers find victims and how students can protect themselves, recognize signs of trafficking, and take action to halt this second most prevalent crime in America.

Sustainability Projects Get ‘Green’ Light at AHA

Two Academy of the Holy Angels seniors have spearheaded two different projects that support sustainability on the Demarest campus.

STREAM Curriculum Inspired AHA Alumna

Demitria “Demi” Poulos thought a career in engineering was out of reach, until she experienced the nationally-acclaimed STREAM curriculum (STEM plus religion and art) and supportive faculty at the Academy of the Holy Angels. Today, Poulos (AHA ’17) is the only female Ph.D. candidate in the biomedical engineering program at the University of Tennessee.

Donation for Haiti Is Highlight of AHA Thanksgiving Service

Student leaders from the Academy of the Holy Angels' Solidarity with Haiti organization came together to make a significant donation of $1,500 to our AMSSND Haiti Fund.

Rho Kappa’s Alice Paul Chapter Welcomes 2023 Inductees

The Alice Paul Chapter of Rho Kappa convened on November 15 for the organization’s twelfth annual induction ceremony.

Academy of Holy Angels Alumnae Weekend

On Alumnae Weekend 2023, the Academy of the Holy Angels’ Classes of 1948, 1968, 1973, 1978, and 1983 reunited for landmark anniversaries. The two-day celebration also drew enthusiastic alumnae from many different classes and several states.

News from AHA- Week of November 6th 2023

Keep up with news from Notre Dame Prep! This week news on Operation Smile, Angels showing excellence in sports and and Jacqueline Garcia bringing water wells to women in Burkina Faso.

Sister Catherine Green Kindness Award 2023

For the first time, students from AHA Middle School received the Academy’s Sister Catherine Green Kindness Award alongside students from AHA Upper School. Students who receive this award continue the abiding kindness for which S. Catherine Green, SSND, was known.

Bullying Survivor Speaks at AHA

Jodee Blanco, bullying survivor and author of The New York Times best-seller “Please Stop Laughing at Me,” brought her message of hope and forgiveness to the Academy of the Holy Angels on October 31. Her powerful, heartfelt seminar, “It’s NOT Just Joking Around,” focused on bullying survival and prevention.

AHA Foundation Day Celebration 2023

The Holy Angels community celebrated the 190th anniversary of the establishment of the School Sisters of Notre Dame on Foundation Day (October 24, 2023). Angels in Grades 6-12, faculty, staff, and several School Sisters attended the morning prayer service that honored the origins and continuing ministries of AHA’s foundresses and sponsors.

AHA Music Mentors Get Ringing Endorsement

First-year handbell ringers from the Academy of the Holy Angels Middle School are receiving expert tips and hands-on assistance from experienced eighth graders. The sixth graders clearly enjoy getting one-to-one assistance from the older Angels as they learn to play the bells and chimes.