Winter Workshops and Sports Clinics Keep Kids Active

Every year, students and athletes from grades 5 through 8 come to campus to work with some of Sacred Heart Cathedral’s finest for the Winter Institute.

At this year’s Winter Workshop, Saturday courses give young students a chance to experience high school, meet new people and delve into a specific area of interest. With 30 courses on the list, students can choose from anything from Marine Biology to Robotics, Sports Journalism to Studio Art and Architectural Design to Engineering.

Liv Lombardi ’26 tells us, “Winter Institute helped me see what a class at SHC would be like, as well as introducing me to extracurriculars, which I wasn’t able to see otherwise. It was a great opportunity to meet people and get to know the school.” Isabel Merriman ’26 adds, “Winter Institute was a good intro to the community at SHC—especially as an 8th grader who wasn’t sure where she wanted to go. I am the first child in my family to go through this process. The timeliness in mid-November really helped me make my high school decision.”

Learn more about Winter Institute and register here while there is still space!

There are so many examples of courses to sample, all taught by devoted and experienced teachers. Tricia Constantino, Instructor of Mathematics and Makers Camp leader, is always impressed by the unique creations of Winter Institute students. She recommends her course to “any student who likes to make things out of ordinary materials... Not only will they be able to show their creativity, but also learn some science and math (sound, balance, etc.) along the way. Experimentation is the focus of this camp.” Students who participate tend to come back for more, likely because they “benefit from group cooperation and make new friends, sharing a common interest.”

For young athletes, the Fightin’ Irish Sports Clinics gives an opportunity to see what the next level of playing means. With combination training and information sessions, 5th-8th graders can sign up for one clinic or a full series of baseball, basketball, football, flag football, lacrosse, soccer or tennis. They can meet coaches and current student-athletes, and really get to know SHC’s sports program from the inside, all while training to get ahead.

Current Varsity Baseball player Zach Stallworth ‘26 (P/3B/1B) tells us, “I went to the SHC summer camps and clinics all the way through 8th grade. I quickly became very comfortable at SHC because I was doing what I love, playing baseball with friends, many of which I made at the camps & clinics. I got to know the campus, the coaches, and the student coaches, so I understood the SHC community well. After just a couple summer camps and clinics, I felt like I was at home, which made my decision to apply to SHC for high school easy. Now that I'm a student at SHC, I volunteer for summer camps and clinics so I get to work with kids. They can expect to be a part of the SHC family and have a fun experience with the SHC community doing something they love.”

Head Baseball Coach Gregg Franceschi ’94 is one of 12 SHC coaches who run clinics. he sees many benefits to meeting new students in this context, and points out that it provides an opportunity to meet coaches and current players on a more personal level. “As a coach, I want athletes to hear our language, and see our interactions, all within the competitive setting that our league (WCAL) provides. Just as our ‘Irish For A Day’ provides an inside look at the school community, Winter Clinics provide an inside look at the cocurricular athletic community, which is an integral part of the overall experience at SHC.”