A Modern Gateway to Molloy – Introducing Our Modernized Website!
Archbishop Molloy High School is excited to formally announce the launch of our modernized website, powered by Finalsite! The website is fully functional and ready to serve our community as A Modern Gateway to Molloy.
Visitors to www.molloyhs.org will enjoy an improved overall user experience including enhanced visuals, reorganized and updated content, and mobile/tablet-friendly designs. Our website can also now be instantly translated in up to six languages, helping us to better serve our community.
Of note, Alumni, Parents, and Students now have dedicated landing pages where each group can find relevant information and resources. These can be accessed by clicking the links labeled STUDENTS | PARENTS | ALUMNI in the Utility Menu, which is located in the top right corner of any page, or by visiting and bookmarking: www.molloyhs.org/students | www.molloyhs.org/parents | www.molloyhs.org/alumni
There is a lot to discover on our website, but the best way to learn about it is to explore for yourself! We hope that you will enjoy using the modernized site and that it will be helpful to you throughout the school year. Watch our video demonstration below to learn about a few key features, or click the button below to visit the site and get started with a helpful tutorial page. Thank you and Go Stanners!
New Graphics Added to Hallowed Halls of Molloy
Earlier this winter, Stanners were surprised to see several new murals and graphics adorning the walls above lockers on the second and third floors. The new art installations represent the first step in an ongoing effort to beautify our hallways with Molloy-centric photos, logos, and historical information. The second floor graphics incorporate the five Marist Pillars, while the third floor features several panels delving into the history of St. Marcellin Champagnat, the founding of the Marist Brothers, and the early days of St. Ann’s Academy. Even a section of the center stairwell has received a makeover with our motto, a torch from our time as St. Ann’s Academy, and images of Queens landmarks. More graphics are expected to be installed in other areas of the school in the future, so stay tuned for updates!
Campus Ministry Hosts Overnight Retreat Celebrating World Cultures
On Friday, January 24th, Molloy hosted its first overnight cultural retreat, “A Night Around the World.” Juniors and seniors from our school’s cultural clubs came together for a night of celebrating the diversity found within our community, pulling an all-nighter from 7pm to 7am! Participants listened to student leaders speak about their cultural experiences and showcased items that are important to their cultures, and heard presentations from faculty members such as Ms. Mary Edward ’13 and how she celebrates her Coptic and Egyptian heritage. President Richard Karsten ‘81 also joined in the festivities, speaking to students about Marist hospitality through different foods. He says of the night, “Food, culture, and hospitality play an integral role in the Marist Charism. Making people feel welcome, comfortable, and valued is at the heart of who we are. At our midnight snack we shared cultural food traditions and tasted cuisine with international flair.”
Students participated in many activities that highlighted different cultures, such as a drumming session led by music teacher Mr. Daniel Jones, henna, origami, painting, and the universal game of soccer; at one point, Mr. O’Reilly ’14 led the students in Taize prayer. An exciting part of the night was when students had the chance to taste an array of food from various parts of the world. Campus Minister for Service Ms. Haslbauer says, “It was great that we were able to hold this event for the first time. Everyone seemed to have a good time overall! Thanks to all the faculty and students who came to pull an all-nighter with us!” Director of Campus Ministry Mr. Costa agrees, stating, “The night reached its overall goal to highlight how diversity can empower people to live authentically, which can inspire others to do the same.”
More Speech & Debate Success
Since returning as an extracurricular option for Stanners several years ago, Molloy Speech & Debate has continued to blossom into a vibrant team boasting competitive success. Most recently, Molloy S&D competed in a tournament hosted by the Brooklyn Queens Catholic Forensic League (BQCFL) on February 1st. Over 20 Stanners competed in what was the last BQCFL local tournament of the season. Congratulations to the following team members:
In Varsity Public Forum, Moises Nunag ’25 placed second in finals and competed solo! In Novice Public Forum, Gongchen Liu ’28 and Freddy Collazo ’27 placed 5th, and Ryder Lombardo ’27 and Matthew Xiao ’27 placed 2nd! In Varsity Lincoln Douglas, Elizabeth Canty ’26 placed 2nd in finals! In Congressional Debate, Alicia Hemraj ’28 placed 7th in finals and Kristina Raevsky ’28 placed 2nd! In Oral Interpretation, Juneaux Fabello ’27 placed 4th in finals! This was her first time competing. In Declamation, Sameera Zaheid ’27 placed 5th in finals. Ryder, Matthew, and Alicia each earned their first half qualifiers for the State Championships. Kristina earned her second half qualifier and is also heading to the State Championships!
As a team, Molloy placed 1st in Debate Sweepstakes and 2nd in Congress Sweepstakes. Out of 15 schools, Molloy placed 2nd for the day in all events, marking it the most successful S&D tournament in our school’s history! Keep up the great work, Stanners!
World Language Students Enjoy Immersive Field Trip
In Ms. Espinal’s Spanish classes, students work in pairs to create bilingual children’s books, allowing Stanners to practice their Spanish skills while crafting engaging stories for younger audiences. After completing their books, Ms. Espinal selected a pair of students from each of her classes to join a special field trip to KIPP Elementary in Washington Heights. Upon their arrival, the Molloy students had the opportunity to read their books to the kindergarteners, who Ms. Espinal described as “absolutely captivated by the stories!” She continued, “Seeing the high schoolers engage with the little ones, answering their questions, and watching their faces light up was such a rewarding experience.” After reading, Ms. Espinal’s students offered a Q&A session during which the kindergarteners got to ask about the stories and the creative process, making it a truly interactive and meaningful moment for all.
After the visit, Ms. Espinal accompanied the students to several restaurants, where they had to place their orders entirely in Spanish, reinforcing their language skills in an authentic setting. “The entire day was such a special experience,” said Ms. Espinal, who joined Molloy’s World Language department this past September. “Not only did the students get to share their hard work with an enthusiastic audience, but they also saw how useful and fun it is to use Spanish in everyday life. It was a day filled with learning, cultural appreciation, and unforgettable moments!”
We invite our community to join us for a special dinner and ceremony on Saturday, March 22nd, honoring our Stanner Hall of Fame Class of 2025! Molloy will be inducting five outstanding individuals into the Stanner Hall of Fame: MaryAnn Safrey (teacher, administrator, trailblazer), Stephen Konchalski ’62 (nationally recognized Canadian basketball coach), Andrew Kostel (elite soccer coach, mentor), Dennis Lazarus ’71 (outstanding professional achievement, life of service to those in need), and Joseph McNulty ’64 (posthumously – dedicated advocate and servant of the DeafBlind community). Visit www.molloyhs.org/stannerhof or click the flyer above for full details or to register.
Stanner Athletes of the Week & More Sports News
| Stanner Athletes of the Week for 1/27 – 2/2: Congratulations to freshman swimmer Isabelle Daley ’28, who swam in four events at the Girls “A” Championships on February 1st and 2nd. She earned 135 combined points toward the 600 points that secured the team’s 2nd place City Championship finish and Dual Meets spot. | Congratulations to freshman basketball player Anthony “TJ” Elor ’28, who scored 20 points against Christ the King HS and 18 points against Archbishop Stepinac during this week. TJ has been a consistent scorer throughout the season, helping the freshman team achieve their 17-2 record. They are tied for first place as they head into the playoffs. |
| Track & Field: On January 25th, at the 168th Street Armory, Molloy Girls Track & Field won the Brooklyn/Queens and City CHSAA Championships! Molloy achieved a City Score of 50 and a B/Q Score of 66. Saige Swift ’25 was awarded outstanding Field Performer breaking the meet record for the Triple Jump. Camille Munoz ’25 won the High Jump and 55 meter high hurdles BQ and City Champion. Kirstine Perez ’26 scored second in the Triple Jump and Long Jump. Brianna Poliseno ’25 scored second in the 55 meter high hurdles and the shot put. Juliette LoCurto ’27 scored second in the high jump and third in the triple jump and 55 meter high hurdles. Aoife Garvey ’25 and Jillian Kahn ’26 placed 2nd and 3rd in the 3000 meter run. Kylie Liriano-Montalvo ’25 placed 4th in the 1000 Meter run. The 4x400m Relay Team of Emily Potkanski ’28, Maria Badalamenti ’25, Kylie Liriano-Montalvo ’25 and Gianna Gonzalez ’27 place 3rd. The 4x200m Relay Team of Emily Potkanski ’28, Brianna Poliseno ’25, Kirstine Perez ’26 and Saige Swift ’25 closed the meet as City and B/Q Champs. |
| Basketball – Team Records so far: Boys Varsity 9-12 | Boys Varsity “B” 9-6 | Boys JV 18-2 (1st place headed into playoffs) | Boys Freshman 15-5 (tied for first going into playoffs) | Girls JV 13-2 (1st place going into playoffs) | Girls Varsity 2-12 |
| Swimming – Congratulations to Girls Varsity, who finished 2nd in the City Championship and Dual Meets. Good luck to Boys Varsity, who will compete in the CHSAA Intersectional Championships on February 8th and 9th. |
Comedian Chris Distefano ’02 To Headline Madison Square Garden
Congratulations to Comedian Chris Distefano ’02, who announced earlier this week that he is set to headline a show at Madison Square Garden in fall 2025! Chris has been enjoying a lot of success doing standup, making appearances on late night, radio, and podcasts, and even an appearance on Celebrity Jeopardy this week (broadcast on February 5th). Now, he will prepare to step on stage live at “The World’s Most Famous Arena!” What an amazing accomplishment!
We are saddened to share the passing of William J. Lawrence ’61 on January 31, 2025 after battling a prolonged illness. A member of Molloy’s first full four-year class, William was an exceptional All-American basketball player at Molloy, playing for Coach Jack Curran and serving as Varsity Captain. He was a two-time recipient of the Marist Invitational Tournament MVP award. His skills earned him a scholarship to the University of North Carolina, but he later transferred to St. John’s University where he played for Coach Lou Carnesecca ’43. He also played for the New York Gems. William joined the NYC Transit Police Department in 1966, serving for 20 years before retiring in 1986. He was inducted into the Transit Police Hall of Fame for basketball and baseball in 2014. William is survived by his wife Victoria, daughters Lauren and Lynn, son Sean, son-in-law Tom, and grandson Matthew. Please keep William and his loved ones in your prayers. | Click Here for Memorial Page
We are saddened to share the passing of Francis “Frank” P. Gavigan Jr. ’64 on January 28, 2025. After graduating from Molloy, he joined the Navy from where he was honorably discharged. In 1972 he joined the Norwich Police Department on July 9th. He achieved the advancement to the Detective Division on January 1, 1980, the rank of Sargeant on July 17th, 1981, Detective Division Sargeant on November 10, 1984, Lieutenant on July 17th, 1989 and Captain on September 13, 1995. He retired on September 14, 1996. He continued his professional career on September 30, 1996 as the Deputy Chief of the Mohegan Tribal Police Department. He would ascend the ranks holding positions of Police Commander, Police Chief and Director of Emergency Preparedness until his second retirement on September 26, 2018. Please keep Frank and his loved ones in your prayers. | Click Here for Memorial Page
Please pray for the repose of the soul of Andrew Erdelyi ’57, who passed away on November 7, 2024.
