St. Martin de Porres Academy

10/08/2026

Congratulations to the Fitzpatrick family on 50 years of serving the greater New Haven community. Thank you for all you do in and out of the dealership!

10/01/2026

October's Virtue of the Month is Compassion: Caring enough to do something about someone else’s need.

Fortunately, compassion has a home at St. Martin’s. We see it in the community members who donate dorm, school, and hygiene supplies so that our graduates can begin college with what they need. We see it in our middle school Rotary Interact Club students as they collect items for veterans and serve in the soup kitchen. We see it through the service projects of our Peace and Justice Co-Curricular. And we see it in the larger St. Martin’s community itself. Our school was founded on the belief that the circumstances into which a child is born should never determine the opportunities available to that child. In that sense, our very existence is an act of compassion brought to life.

But being good at compassion does not mean we have reached its limits. Who do we find it hardest to understand? Whose voices are easiest to dismiss? Can we extend compassion to people who look different from us or whose opinions do not align with our own?

Kristin Neff reminds us that compassion means “to suffer with.” It requires relationship, humility, and a willingness to recognize ourselves in one another. Perhaps the greatest challenge of compassion is not simply helping those we already feel connected to. Perhaps it is choosing to listen, understand, and respond even when connection does not come easily.

Dear God,
This month, may we challenge ourselves to look a little farther, listen a little more closely, and care enough to do something to expand the boundaries of who we consider our neighbor.
Amen

09/26/2026

PLEASE SHARE!

DO YOU WORK AT or KNOW A COMPANY THAT FALLS INTO ONE OF THESE CATEGORIES? Did you know if they are a C Corporation, they can make a donation to St. Martin's of $250-$150,000 and receive a 1:1 tax credit from the state of Connecticut! That means that the same money they would have paid in taxes will go to St. Martin's to provide a tuition-free education and life-changing opportunities instead!

The Connecticut Neighborhood Assistance Act (NAA) Tax Credit Program provides a corporation business tax credit that can be applied against the following taxes:

Chapter 207 (Insurance Companies and Health Care Centers);
Chapter 208 (Corporation Business);
Chapter 209 (Air Carriers);
Chapter 210 (Railroad Companies);
Chapter 211 (Certified Competitive Video Service Companies);
Chapter 211 (Community Antenna Television System Companies);
Chapter 211 (Satellite Companies); and
Chapter 212 (Utility Companies).

Businesses must complete a very simple online form during September 15 - October 1, 2026 to participate. They have until the end of the year to make the gift to St. Martin's. When they complete they form, the DRS will send them a letter to submit with their taxes.

Questions, interested in participating, or know a company we should reach out to? contact [email protected] or (203) 772-2424.

Form is now open! It will take less than 5 minutes to complete -

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09/25/2026

Turn your Connecticut tax dollars into opportunity.

The annual Connecticut Department of Revenue Services opportunity to make a donation and receive a corporate tax credit is open from September 15 - October 1, 2026!

Through Connecticut’s Neighborhood Assistance Act (NAA) Tax Credit Program, eligible businesses (C Corporations) can contributions of $250 to $150,000 to Saint Martin de Porres Academy can receive a Connecticut tax credit for an approved contribution.

That means YOUR COMPANY can support our tuition-free education and life-changing opportunities for while reducing its Connecticut state tax liability.

Your business gives. Our students gain. Your company receives a tax credit!

Interested in participating? Check out the simple DRS form to indiciate you intend to make a gift online or contact [email protected] or (203) 772-2424.

Form is now open! It will take less than 5 minutes to complete -
https://portal.ct.gov/drs/connecticut-neighborhood-assistance-act-form

09/23/2026

In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, meet José M. Hernández, a Mexican-American engineer and astronaut!

After watching the Apollo 17 mission on TV as a young boy, José M. Hernández began dreaming of touching the stars. He wanted to become an astronaut. The son of very poor Mexican immigrants who travelled from town to town following work in the fields, that dream seemed pretty far off. His dad, Salvador, who only had a 3rd grade education himself, said if José wanted to turn his dream into a reality, he needed a plan.

“He empowered me. He validated that dream by saying, ‘I think you can do it,’ as opposed to saying, ‘This is too far of a stretch for you. Select something else.’…Then he said, ‘If you really want to reach this [goal], let’s follow these five simple steps…[First], determine your purpose in life. What does José want to be when he grows up? Second, recognize how far you are [from your goal]. Third, draw yourself a roadmap so you know how to get there. Fourth, prepare yourself according to the challenge you picked. And fifth, develop a work ethic second to none, [using the] same effort you put [into] picking fruits and vegetables, Saturdays and Sundays, seven days a week during the summer…You put that effort there. And when you graduate college, you put it in your job. That’s the recipe to succeed.’ I never forgot that, and I still live by those steps.”

After NASA rejected his application 11 times, José added a sixth step of his own: perseverance. On his 12th application, he was accepted and became part of NASA's 19th class of astronauts.

In 2007, he served as an aquanaut aboard the Aquarius underwater laboratory, living and working underwater for 11 days. He finally saw his dream of touching the stars in August of 2009 as part of the Space Shuttle Discovery team of astronauts who travelled to space for 14 days.

José a currently owns an aerospace company, a w**e vineyard, Tierra Luna Cellars, and has written four books. A movie was made of the biographical book he wrote about his life, both called A Million Miles Away.

Read more: From Migrant Farmworker to Space Shuttle Astronaut: The Journey of José M. Hernández

“I want to be like that guy. I want to be an astronaut.”   José M. Hernández remembers saying those words to himself at age 10 after watching Gene Cernan walk on the moon duri…

09/22/2026

Ruby, Class of 2036, had a birthday this month! During Ruby's Birthday Speech we learned that one of her favorite birthday traditions is when her mom gets her an ice cream cake. She also shared that, "At the end of 6th grade I learned about the Mayans in history class."

One of the things Ruby treasures about SMPA is that, "Being a part of SMPA means that I have people to help me. Mrs. Surowiekci has helped me get to where I am today because she helped me to pay attention and to keep on going no matter what happens. My sister has also helped me because she always helps me on my homework."

Happy Birthday Ruby!

09/17/2026

Hispanic Heritage Month: We celebrate SMPA Social Worker, Ms. Villa.

"As a social worker my heritage has been an asset when it comes to building connections with the children. It starts when they realize I can speak Spanish. They always get really excited when I speak the same language their families do. Their parents also feel a sense of safety and trust knowing they have someone they can communicate with. When we are able to communicate, we are able to connect with each other."
-Ms. Villa

09/16/2026

Our Birthday Speech tradition continues! Say Happy Birthday to Taliya, Class of 2036, who turned 12 this month.

Taliya shared during her Birthday Speech that, "I am different from last year because this year I am really trying to focus more in class instead of not paying attention. I know that 7th grade is the year that everyone says really matters for your future." And that, "Being a part of SMPA means that I always have a second family that will help me with my academics if I’m not able to get help with it outside of school."

Happy Birthday Taliya!

09/10/2026

Congratulations to long time SMPA Supporter Claire Criscuolo of Claire's Corner Copia on the opening of the Kindness Closet! Thank you Claire for your continued support of children and families. Your commitment to supporting our community is truly inspiring 💙 The Kindness Closet is available at the Fair Haven Library and offers free canned goods, baby food, and other helpful items!
Claire's Corner Copia



https://www.wtnh.com/video/kindness-closet-comes-to-fair-haven-library-with-goal-to-expand-access-for-new-haven-youth/12153305/

09/04/2026

It's takes a village! We are so grateful for our St. Martin community! ❤️

Our partnership with St. Martin de Porres Academy helps open doors and create brighter futures for students and families. 💙🎓

We’re grateful to work together to make more opportunities possible!

St. Martin de Porres Academy