St. Barnabas HS library renovated
It has been a long year and a half but St. Barnabas’s High School library is finally finished with facility renovations, and a new electronic card catalog system. A year and a half ago St. Barnabas High School was the recipient of a $30,000 grant from the Calder Foundation.
Since then, with the help of Peggy Mechman and Sr. Helen Wade, they have weeded the collection in the school’s library in anticipation of more current titles.
Most of the funds were directed toward digitizing the card catalog system so students could have remote access from either in school or from home to the school’s data base.
Additional updates included a fresh coat of paint, new computers which are webcam ready and furniture. Other amenities include a designated quiet reading area and a laptop with projector and Smartboard.
The new library was rededicated on Wednesday, November 5 and was christened the Sr. Evelyn McLaughin Library and Media Center. Sr. McLaughin was principal of St. Barnabas from 1971 until 1989. Sr. Helen Wade, a Sister of Charity was delighted about the renovations and is hopeful the library will be used to its fullest potential.
Scanlan HS celebrates Ring Day
On Friday, October 16, the Monsignor Scanlan High School Class of 2010 celebrated their Ring Day with a Mass where their rings and pins were blessed by Msgr. Thomas Derivan. After their ceremony, students posed for their traditional Ring Day photo on the steps of the main building. After their ceremony, the seniors and faculty joined together in the Gallagher Gym to enjoy a luncheon.
Mt. St. Ursula inducts new officers
On Tuesday, October 20, the entire school community of the Academy of Mount St. Ursula gathered in the auditorium to witness the induction of their elected Student Council members. The following four seniors formally accepted their roles on the advisory board: Crystal McMillian – president, Kailani Capote – vice president, Adeola Okoduwa – treasurer and Kiara Vega – secretary.
To prepare for their roles as leaders of the school, two senior members of Student Council, Adeola Okoduwa and Kumhyun Song, attended the Ursuline Educational Services Summer Leadership conference at Brescia University in Owensboro, Kentucky.
One of the first school wide events sponsored by Student Council was a very successful Halloween party. Students came dressed in costumes ranging from cowgirls to butterflies to zombies and faculty/staff members dressed up as Alice in Wonderland characters. Additionally, the auditorium was converted into a haunted stage. Any student who wished to enter was greeted by the “phantom of the opera,” played by Ms. DiBenedetto, head of the musical theater program. The students responsible for the planning, promoting and decorating demonstrated their leadership abilities by organizing a flawless event which brought 150 students and 15 faculty/staff members together for an afternoon of fun.
Mt. St. Ursula students host events
A strong academic foundation in a family atmosphere is the cornerstone of a Mount St. Ursula education. Not surprising, the first two months of the school year at MSU were filled with events that brought students, faculty and alumnae together.
On Friday, September 18, the junior class welcomed their freshmen sisters by hosting a picnic on the beautiful 10 acre campus. The weather was ideal and all of the girls had a memorable time getting acquainted, playing volleyball against teachers, playing double-dutch and sharing secrets on how to survive high school.
The very next day, the school’s Youth Ministry Office in conjunction with the Young Alumnae Committee and the Alumnae Office hosted a day-long young alumnae retreat. In attendance were alumnae spanning from the classes of 1989 to 2009. It was a peace-filled day highlighted by stories surrounding the theme of MSU as a second home.
Preston Club collects 2 tons of food
In this time of economic downturn, more and more people are turning to food pantries and the generosity of neighbors to survive. In New York City, one in three children lives in poverty. Compassion Connection, an outreach service club at Preston High School, organized its yearly food collection and the response from the student body was overwhelming to the tune of more than two tons of donated food.
This much needed food will be distributed at food pantries and programs serving the marginalized including Loaves & Fishes Pantry in Dover Plains, Grace Church Community Center, as well as Mercy Center and Thorpe Family Residence, both in the Bronx. For more information about Preston call (718) 863-9134, ext. 143.
