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There is nothing quite like the start of a new school year. Gathering as a community is at the heart of what we do, and our morning assemblies are one of my favorite ways we connect.
Here is a message I recently shared with our students: Choose kindness.
At CCC, we recognize that kindness is also a form of leadership. In a TED Talk about “lollipop moments,” Drew Dudley reminds us that leadership does not always happen in big, important moments. Sometimes it happens when we notice what a moment needs and choose to act.
A small moment where you help a classmate, a kind word after a difficult morning, or an invitation to play at recess can have an impact we may never fully know.
At CCC, we help our students to understand that we can all be leaders through kindness.
With gratitude and hope for the year ahead,
Shalonda Neeley Gutierrez
Executive Director & Head of School
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Alumna Highlight: Daylin Jerez, CMS ’22
When Daylin stepped into high school at LREI, it felt like a complete culture shock, but drawing on the values she learned at Cornelia Connelly Center, she was able to embrace the transition, step outside her comfort zone, and find her people. Now, she's embarking on her next big adventure: heading to Washington, D.C. this fall to attend George Washington University, where she plans to study Finance with a concentration in Business, Economics & Public Policy.
“CCC creates a community that genuinely feels like a family,” Daylin reflects. “With small classes and teachers who truly care, you get special attention that helps you grow. To this day, I still think about CCC.”
Throughout high school and the college application process, Daylin relied on CCC’s Graduate Support Program (GSP) for guidance. Whether building her resume with Ms. Maldonado or navigating applications with Ms. Erisman, she knew she never had to walk the journey on her own.
Daylin’s advice to her Holy Child sisters is that life is full of opportunities, and you just have to be willing to search for them. Being joyful makes you grow, and you can be the person to light up a room. Everything starts with you!
We are so proud of you, Daylin, and wish you all the best at GW!
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Fall Athletics Update:
The Hawks Are Back
It's that time of year again, CCC! The Hawks are taking over courts across the tri-state area.
Through social-emotional learning and support, the Connelly Center produces lifelong movers who pursue athletic opportunities beyond their time in our middle school.
This September, a group of our athletes participated in Play with Purpose, a beach volleyball event supporting Runway for Recovery through Play for Runway and the Women's Sports Foundation. CCC athletes were encouraged to hit the sand and dedicate their play to something bigger than the game.
Additionally, many of our players compete in junior varsity and varsity programs at high schools across New York City and New Jersey, with several being accepted to play for various clubs this season.
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Our Connelly Center Hawks have their home opener on Thursday, October 8th at The Rose Center at Grand Street Settlement (80 Pitt Street, New York, NY 10002).
The Hawks' Varsity match begins at 4 PM followed by the Junior Varsity match at 5 PM.
We'd love to see you there to support the CCC Hawks as they take on their Brooklyn friends, the Evergreen Huskies.
Go Hawks!
#Hustle&Heart
#RelentlessPursuit
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We invite you to gather with us as we celebrate Founder's Day—reflecting on how our students, staff, and families live out Cornelia Connelly's values every day.
Join us on Friday, October 16th at 9:00am at St. Brigid's & St. Emeric's Roman Catholic Church (119 Avenue B, New York, NY 10009).
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Nativity Miguel Coalition Spirit Week!
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Our school community wore purple with pride on September 25th for NativityMiguel Coalition Spirit Week! As part of this international coalition of mission-aligned, tuition-free, faith-based schools, we were thrilled to honor our shared commitment to empowering students.
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Mark your calendars! This year's Her Moment benefit will take place on March 11, 2027 at The Edison Ballroom from 6:00-10:00pm.
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Announcing This Year's Honorees
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Please join us in celebrating this year's honorees: Yerlyn Rojas, CMS ’08 and Andria Wisler.
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Yerlyn Rojas, CMS ’08,
is the Associate Manager of Talent Recruitment at Uncommon Schools, bringing extensive experience across the nonprofit and education sectors. Driven by a passion for connecting with people, she believes that individuals and teams achieve greatness in environments that foster growth, creativity, and community. Notably, she has led the development of anti-racist hiring strategies, directly resulting in increased diversity among candidate pools and new hires.
A proud 2008 graduate of Cornelia Connelly Center (CCC), Yerlyn remains deeply committed to the organization's mission and currently serves on CCC's Junior Advisory Board Leadership Team. She holds a B.A. in Women's and Gender Studies from Georgetown University.
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Andria Wisler, Ph.D.,
is the Executive Director of the Center for Social Justice Research, Teaching & Service and a Teaching Professor in the Program on Justice and Peace at Georgetown University. An American Council on Education (ACE) Fellow (2020–2022), Andria's scholarship and practice focus on equity in higher education, peace education, and conflict transformation. She brings deep expertise in team leadership, mission-aligned co-curricular initiatives, and evaluating experiential and engaged learning across academic and community settings.
Andria has a long-standing personal and professional connection to Cornelia Connelly Center (CCC), where she spent three years as a teacher and served as Director of Camp Holy Child. She has remained an enduring advocate for CCC through her governance work, having served on the Board of Trustees across the Mission Effectiveness, Governance, Advancement, and Executive committees, as well as participating in the 2020–2021 strategic planning process. Additionally, she serves on CCC’s Leadership Council.
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Thank you for being part of the Cornelia Connelly Center family.
Your support allows us to invest in every girl's future, unlocking new beginnings and endless possibilities.
With gratitude and appreciation,
Cornelia Connelly Center Team
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“Be faithful and more and more faithful.”
- Cornelia Connelly
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