School Notes

Elementary Schools

Students of St. Aloysius School in Manhattan hosted a twice-weekly snack sale during December. Proceeds of $870 were donated to victims of the typhoon that recently struck the Philippines through a school contact with the Daughters of Charity.

St. Joseph's School in Bronxville sent 85 care packages to the soldiers of Camp Marmal in Afghanistan. The project was spearheaded by members of the Mothers Club with the support of school principal Anne Marie McGoldrick and Father Peter McGeory, pastor of St. Joseph’s.

During Catholic Schools Week, students of St. Denis-St. Columba School in Hopewell Junction carried out Jesus’ message to feed the poor. Students from kindergarten to eighth grade assembled more than 360 bagel lunches for their neighbors at The Lunch Box Program of Dutchess Outreach and Hillcrest House of Hudson River Housing. Both agencies serve the poor and homeless of Dutchess County. St. Denis-St. Columba families contributed most of the food. The following vendors in the community also donated: Hopewell Hot Bagels, Panera Bread, Dunkin Donuts and Sam’s Club…School families also donated nonperishable food items to the parish's St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry.

On Jan. 30, Rockland County Executive Ed Day was named Principal for the Day at St. Paul’s School in Valley Cottage. He made a tour of the school and also had the happy task of announcing over the loudspeaker that students would have no homework that night.

St. Joseph's School in Kingston recently offered a day of service to the local community. Students served a meal at Clinton Avenue Methodist Church's lunch program. They also lent a hand at the Temple of the Congregation Ahavath Israel on Lucas Avenue, Old Dutch Church and Catholic Charities.

High Schools

Preston High School in the Bronx is embarking on a fund-raising campaign to raise $30,000 for the Mercedes Hall Stained Glass Restoration Project. The skylight window, an amazing relic of a bygone era, illuminates the highest common area in the school, Mercedes Hall. It is in need of repair and restoration. Named in honor of Preston High School’s first principal, Mercedes Hall is the media hub for the school. Home to Preston’s SMEB Center (Sisters’ Media, Editing and Broadcast), video production class and team, yearbook club and a computer lab, Mercedes Hall is distinguished by its historical architecture and the unique stained-glass skylight window.

Regis High School in Manhattan hosted its centennial kickoff Jan. 21 with a book signing for “Teach Me to Be Generous: The First Century of Regis High School.” The book ties together many interesting themes: New York City history, the city’s poor and lower middle-class, education and philanthropy. Cardinal Dolan, who wrote the book’s foreword, states, “In the story of Regis High School lies a singular history of Catholic philanthropy to rise out of the Gilded Age. That story deserves to be told.”

Our Lady of Lourdes High School in Poughkeepsie was presented a check for $25,000 from State Farm. The school earned the check through its participation in State Farm’s Celebrate My Drive program, which encourages teens to make good choices as they start driving. The program, which took place during National Teen Driver Safety Week in October 2013, required participants to make daily safe driving commitments.

Will Kurach, a senior at Loyola School in Manhattan, has made the finals of The New York Times video contest, “Young Souls Portray the Wit of ‘Hamlet.’”

Parents

An anti-bullying workshop for parents will take place at St. Mary’s School in Wappingers Falls on Thursday, March 6 at 7 p.m. The event is being jointly sponsored by the Knights of Columbus in Wappingers Falls and St. Mary’s School. Parents will learn the signs of bullying and receive information about cyber-bullying and bullying. Information: (845) 489-7250.

Send school-related news to Juliann DosSantos at jdossantos@cny.org or by fax to (212) 688-2642.