The Spirit of Service at The Mount is Empowering Tomorrow's Leaders

The Mount recently hosted a week-long Taylor Swift inspired "Souper Bowl" soup can collection drive, benefiting the Caldwell Food Pantry, which is relocating and set to open on March 1st. The goal was to collect 1989 cans, a number chosen to honor Taylor Swift, born in 1989, and the name of her 5th studio album, "1989."

The Mount exceeded its goal, collecting over 2,000 cans. It took five full carloads, in a car heavily laden with cans, to deliver the donations. Madeline Dolan, Secretary of Ministry, and MSDA Class of 2024 shared that the volunteers at the pantry were "amazed and grateful" for the donation, which will help stock their shelves.

Since the start of the school year, Mount students have been actively involved in various charitable activities. They've worn pink socks and shoelaces for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, participated in a Dig Pink Volleyball Tournament that raised $300 for Minnette’s Angels, and collected brand-new socks for donation to Bridges Outreach in Summit and the Human Needs Food Pantry in Montclair. Additionally, they donated Halloween candy to Mercy House in Newark, and Mount Against Cancer has raised $3,593, through Cookies for a Cure, Spike for a Cure, Cupcakes for a Cure, and National Cancer Prevention Month Dressdowns. In December, the school held its annual Christmas Toy Drive for children at Mercy House. In addition, The Mount will be holding a Give Cancer the Boot Kickball Tournament on March 5th.

Furthermore, Mount St. Dominic boasts several social impact clubs, including Glamour Gals, where students visit Marian Manor, a community for seniors, monthly to give manicures and enjoy refreshments together. The Key Club focuses on making a positive impact through service, while the Laudato Si Action Platform club (LSAP) responds actively to the ecological crisis highlighted in Pope Francis’ encyclical "Laudato Si’." The Operation Smile club, part of a global organization, transforms lives through free cleft surgeries and comprehensive oral care. Project Outreach meets every Friday to make PB + J sandwiches for various organizations in Newark, NJ, making 1,250 sandwiches to date. Mount Against Cancer, the Veterans' Club, and the Women for Women Club are also active, each supporting various causes.

Since June, Mount St. Dominic students have collectively performed well over 4,279 hours of service. Students are required to complete at least 25 hours (seniors), 20 hours (juniors), 15 hours (sophomores), and 12 hours (freshmen) of service each year, but many students far exceed these levels.

At Mount St. Dominic, students are encouraged to embody Caritas, which translates to love in Latin. This principle serves as a guiding philosophy, instilling in students a sense of commitment to social justice and human rights—charity for the greater good. As part of the Mount’s Dominican values, one of the four pillars is mission, emphasizing the call to serve others. At MSDA, students not only receive a high-quality education, they are also nurtured to become socially responsible, globally aware leaders of tomorrow, equipped to make meaningful contributions to the world beyond the Mount. This is just one way Mount students “find their fire.”

ABOUT MOUNT ST. DOMINIC ACADEMY: Mount St. Dominic Academy, established by the Sisters of St. Dominic, is an independent, Catholic college preparatory school dedicated to the education of young women from a variety of ethnic, religious and economic backgrounds. Located in the heart of bucolic Caldwell, New Jersey, the Mount has been empowering young women in the Dominican tradition since 1892. Mount St. Dominic Academy is a proud member of the New Jersey Association of Independent Schools, the International Coalition of Girls Schools, the Dominican Association of Secondary Schools, the National Catholic Educational Association, the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association, and the The National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS). The Mount is also the recipient of the College Board AP® Computer Science Female Diversity Award for its outstanding achievement in fostering high female representation in both AP Computer Science A (CSA) and AP Computer Science Principles (CSP), and 2023 Best of Essex Gold Medal in the "Best in Private School” Category. Visit the Mount for more information.