School Tell About Pride and Accomplishments

In conjunction with the Diocesan Office of Catholic Schools Support Services, The Tablet contacted all elementary schools in the diocese and asked them to tell us what are their proudest moments or deeds. Here are some of the responses; others will be printed next week:

Raising over $5,000 for the children at St. Jude’s, donating three overflowing boxes at Christmas for “Toys for Tots,” writing cards for recovering American soldiers, collecting money for “Pennies for Paws”....

Students give witness to their Catholic faith by helping those in need. The role models for these students are their teachers who selflessly give of their “extra” time each day to make the school a great place to be!

Blessed Sacrament
Jackson Heights
718-639-3888

One of the proudest moments took place on Sept. 16, 2007. During the 11:30 a.m. Mass, the faculty and staff were presented to the parish community.

The new principal, Rudolph Cyrus-Charles, was installed. All were then commissioned by Bishop Guy Sansaricq and Father Caleb Buchanan to mold and teach the students in the light of the Gospel values. Each one was given a pin and a plaque to commemorate the occasion.

St. Gregory the Great
Crown Heights
718-773-0100

Learning is multi-faceted and ongoing at St. Saviour’s! An elective program of study is offered once a week to students in grades five-through-eight. They have the opportunity to select a subject of their choice that includes: Robotics, Drama, Chorus, Chess, Embroidery, Art History, Gym, Keyboarding, French, Papercrafts, and Current Events.

St. Saviour
Park Slope
718-768-4055

One of our proudest moments came when we identified more than 10% of our grade four-to-eight students who qualify for the Johns Hopkins Search for Talented Youth, a program that develops academic talent in the world’s brightest young people. Excellence is our standard – not our goal.

St. Bernadette
Dyker Heights
718-837-3400

The Ad Hoc Committee of the Lay Board of Flatbush Catholic Academy sponsored a reunion for the Alumni of Holy Cross on Oct. 13. 

There was a Mass at which the school choir and recorder group participated.  It was directed by Mrs. Addison Bernadine, third-grade teacher.  A group of students also did a liturgical dance. 

After Mass, we had a reception in the auditorium and the eighth- graders were hosts and hostesses.  They greeted the 300 people and took them on tours.  The people were very impressed with the children.  A huge banner made by the children was also displayed to welcome our guests.

The children were so happy doing this and the teachers and I were so proud of them.  It helped us realize that all we are trying to instill in them is making an impact.

Flatbush Catholic Academy
Flatbush
718-282-1710

We are very proud in the way our students welcome new class members. New students are so quickly assimilated into a class that they themselves talk as if they have always been in the school. Our students’ Christian nature makes Holy Family truly a family.

Holy Family
Flushing
718-969-2124

We take special pride in our Aquinas Circle program, which has grown and flourished the last four years from working on topics such as pediatric cancer, children’s rights around the world, and last year’s successful interactive/theatrical performance at Green-Wood Cemetery. The Aquinas Circle at Holy Name has created life-long, self-motivated learners who accept challenges and go beyond what is merely expected of them.

Holy Name
Park Slope
718-768-7629

We are an environment saturated in caring and concern expressed by the administration, faculty, staff and children. The ethnic and religious diversity represented in our school enriches us and the friendships which actively develop between the children. It is part of our genuine Catholic identity where all are welcome.

Immaculate Heart of Mary
Windsor Terrace
718-438-7373

Our children in Summer Theatre Camp did all the work – staging, dancing, singing and acting – thereby re-enforcing their academic skills, while having fun, in order to present “Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat.”
“All That for Kids,” our after-school program, provided technical support with Regent University personnel.

Most Precious Blood
Bath Beach
718-373-7343

We are proud of our warm family atmosphere. School and home work hard to promote a spirit where students can learn and develop self-confidence.

A strong sense of community prevails. Many students have parents and grandparents who attended OLA.
New students are welcomed and readily accepted.

School and community events such as the Ragamuffin Parade, Halloween Monster Mash, and Annual Reading Celebration strengthen these bonds.

Our Lady of Angels
Bay Ridge
718-238-5045

During Advent, the children sponsored a food drive for the homeless.  Then, on Dec. 20, seventh- and eighth-graders invited parishioners to help them prepare sandwiches and pack them along with a can of soda, juice, cookies, candy, fresh fruit, and a Christmas card from a child. That evening, 735 individual packages left the school in a convoy of cars and vans and were delivered to the Bowery Mission in NYC.

Our Lady of Fatima
Jackson Heights
718-429-7031

Our Lady of the Snows School is raising money for a baby with a rare disease, Epidermolysis Bullosa.

Instead of buying snacks, proud students gave over $500 for the baby. Student Council also collected petition signatures for a Wound Care Bill in Congress to help with costs not covered by insurance.

Our Lady of the Snows
North Floral Park
718-343-1346

There have been many proud moments. They include:

 • Presentation by Bishop Octavio Cisneros of the Banner School  - Mission Award

 • Beautiful, holy and inspiring Christmas pageants, concerts, and paraliturgies

 • Ongoing dedication of faculty and staff in providing quality Catholic education

Our Lady of the Angelus
Rego Park
718-896-7220

Several years ago, a terrible fire swept through three two-family houses in the neighborhood. No one was injured, but within minutes a student, several alumni and their families lost their homes and all of their possessions. Suddenly, a fire with its inevitable consequences was not just a newspaper story, but a real event which had touched the lives of people we knew.

Immediately, the school and parish took up a collection. Also furniture, food and personal necessities were brought to the auditorium.

The school arranged for the replacement of uniforms and school supplies for the eighth-grader who had lived in one of the houses. Most important of all, her classmates applied the values they were taught at Sacred Heart School. They donated funds from a car wash and pooled their own money to buy their classmate a dress for their graduation dance along with all the extras, such as make-up and a manicure. They demonstrated that they had learned to love their neighbor.

Sacred Heart
East Glendale
718-456-6636

Our Lady of Lourdes, a “Peacemaker” school in Queens Village, is celebrating 75 years of loving children and families. To highlight the occasion a dinner dance, Mass and Open House brought back over 300 alumni. The year is filled with a general feeling of joy and happiness.

Our Lady of Lourdes
Queens Village
718-464-1480

On Jan. 7, NYC Police Sargeant Steven McDonald visited to share his story. While on duty in 1986, Officer McDonald, 28, was shot by a teen-aged boy, leaving him paralyzed and confined to a wheelchair. He said he still prayed each day and believed his prayers, and the prayers of others helped him survive. He wasn’t angry at the teen. We were shocked. Officer McDonald taught us a great lesson about faith in God and forgiveness.

Sarah Stiglianese, Grade 6
St. Helen
Howard Beach
718-835-4155

In my two years as Principal of St. Brigid’s in Bushwick, I have had many proud moments. I think the most recent would have to be the wonderful generosity of my students in the collection for children in Africa.

In November, I read about the request for donations for a school in Ghana, Africa, that would be collected by Father David. I told my students about this worthy cause.

They were so generous bringing in donations of books and pencils, crayons and coloring books. They collected enough materials to fill nine cases. These are children who live in a poor neighborhood and yet they gave willingly to others. I am very proud of my students and the way they live the values of our Catholic faith.

Principal Sheila Smith Gonzalez
St. Brigid
Bushwick
718-821-1477

Called the “Taj Mahal” of schools for excellence by the Middle States visiting team; a Christmas pageant brilliant enough for Radio City, with a living Nativity as if in Bethlehem; No. 9 ranking in NYS for the Artsonia Leadership Awards honoring teachers who encourage family and community involvement in Art Education.

St. Kevin
Flushing
718-357-8110

During this past academic year, we were chosen to undergo an evaluation by a Middle States Accreditation team. Needless to say, we were all awaiting its arrival with both anticipation and apprehension. The students were cognizant of the presence of strangers in the school building. Nevertheless, they responded to our guests with much respect and cordiality. They greeted them upon entering and leaving the school, escorted them throughout parts of the building, and made every effort to make them feel welcomed. It became apparent that the students were exercising and manifesting many Christian values they had been taught throughout the years: love, kindness, tolerance, etc. Their actions within that brief three- day period confirmed that Catholic schools do, indeed, make a difference and “Light the Way.”

Queen of All Saints
Fort Greene
718-857-3114

Students from Resurrection-Ascension, Rego Park

Our teachers generously share their time and talent by offering a variety of after school activities to fit every student’s interest. Artists and musicians participate in our fine arts clubs. Junior scientists are members of our Robotics team. Those interested in acquiring new skills are learning sign language.

Resurrection-Ascension
Rego Park
718-426-4963

My “highest” moment repeats itself every day. Each day when I ring the morning bell, I see hundreds of adult and children’s faces turn to me for direction. This daily event reminds me of the immense responsibility that is part of the principal’s job. For me, this recognition is the high point of my job.

Principal Dennis Farrell
Sacred Heart
Bayside
718-631-4804

St. Adalbert School has the distinction of being the first school in the diocese to be invited by the NYC Commission on Human Rights to participate in a Peer Mediation program. Twenty students were trained and installed and are now using their skills to resolve conflicts among their peers with compromises and empathy. Present for the assembly were members of the NYC Commission on Human Rights, Assemblywoman Markey, and Anthony Biscione, associate superintendent for the Diocese of Brooklyn.

St. Adalbert
Elmhurst
718-424-2376

We are proudest of the fact that our school is still “home” to so many graduates, parents, and grandparents. They drop in to say “Hello,” volunteer for school and parish committees, coordinate and run events like Spirit Day and the parish festival, help at the Christmas show, sell hot dogs at lunchtime, and monitor the door. They even send their own children back “home.” We truly are a growing family!

St. Francis of Assisi
Astoria
718-726-9405

The Catholic identity of St. Ephrem’s is evident to all. It is felt, lived, and shared through Gospel values and a solid curriculum.

Tucked among busy classrooms is an oasis of peace, prayer, psalms, song and liturgical movement – The Potters Room.

In this “Spirit-filled” atmosphere, our students encounter the God of Light.

St. Ephrem
Dyker Heights
718-833-1440

The students of Our Lady of Guadalupe light the way in a unique way through their generosity and spirit of compassion. Our students exemplify the values of our Catholic faith through their acts of kindness. Examples of these characteristics include raising awareness for breast cancer research, sending care packages to our troops, and giving gifts to children in need. All of these activities are sponsored and run by our students.
Our proudest moments happen every day as we watch our students model the ideals of empathy and compassion.

Our Lady of Guadalupe
Dyker Heights
718-236-5587
718-331-2070

Our Big Brother/Big Sister program matches each kindergartner with an eighth-grader.

Kindergartners enjoy being little buddies to these “giants.” The eighth- graders learn the importance of volunteering, being role models, and “Lighting the Way.” Christians are called to serve God and one another. This program is a true illustration of the Spirit of God at work!

St. Nicholas of Tolentine
Jamaica
718-380-1900

St. Agatha’s is more than a school – it is a family. The students’ minds are not the only thing that is valued.

Their hearts and spirits are also cared for. A safe, caring learning environment is the feature that is most important.

St. Agatha
Sunset Park
718-435-3137

A proud moment was the legacy left by the ’05-’06 graduating class in their creation of a school garden. The environmental team made up of hard- working student volunteers raised all monies for supplies and plans by recycling cans. The garden lives on in 2008.

St. Aloysius
Ridgewood
718-821-7384

We are proud of:

Students committed to learning and service,
Accelerated curriculum,
Technology, art, music, Spanish, library, science lab,
Test scores above national, state, city, diocesan norms,
Kind, caring faculty,
Modern facility,
Extended Day Program,
After-school clubs and activities, and
Strong parental involvement.

St. Bernard
Mill Basin
718-241-6040

Students in grades three, four and five participated in the NYS “name the state butterfly” vote. The local assemblywoman came and explained the voting process, students did on-line research, and then voted on one of the pre-selected choices. The school chose the Kaner blue butterfly and are anxiously awaiting word from Albany on the winner.

St. Camillus
Rockaway Park
718-634-5260

To celebrate the true spirit of Christmas and help those in need, the faculty of St. Francis de Sales School decided to sell a Christmas T-shirt.  The shirt was designed by Lorianna D’Alessandro, a sixth-grader and purchased by both parents and students.  The proceeds from the sale of the shirt ($1,600) was sent to Concern Worldwide, an organization whose mission is to help people around the world living in absolute poverty.

This is the second time that our students have participated in a project for Concern.  Last year, during Catholic Schools Week, attorney Kevin Kearney and a member of Concern came to St. Francis and held an assembly for the students.  After learning about the poverty and harsh conditions that other young people are living in, our students realized how fortunate they are and expressed an interest in helping Concern Worldwide.

St. Francis de Sales
Belle Harbor
718-634-2775

Our designation as a Blue Ribbon School of Excellence is our greatest accomplishment.  Our true pride is the fact that we are also a School of Spiritual Substance in which we teach and live the words of our Savior daily. Faith is first.

St. Joan of Arc
Jackson Heights
718-639-9020

We are most proud of our community – in its diversity and in the respect that we have one for another. Our students represent over 40 countries from all over the world. Our teachers share a special bond of affection with each other and with their students.

St. Joseph School
Long Island City
718-728-0724

The same day students distinguished themselves with remarkable report cards they also initiated an extraordinarily successful school campaign to assist the child-victims of domestic violence. This was in the context of social justice and charity as often an act of prayer. This day gave student witness to the best in Catholic education!

St. Mark
Sheepshead Bay
718-332-9304

St. Mary Gate of Heaven School lights the way with its diverse ethnic population. The students share their differences and become one family under God. As a family, the students show respect for one another and learn to appreciate the different ethnic backgrounds, cultures, and religions that enrich their lives.

St. Mary Gate of Heaven
Ozone Park
718-846-0689

We are proud of the excellent results on the Terra Nova tests.  We are also proud of the creativity of our students and staff during the Christmas program which focused on the Incarnation of Jesus.  Pre-K children sang Happy Birthday Baby Jesus; upper grades acted out the Nativity story.

St. Mary, Mother of Jesus/St. Frances Cabrini Academy
Bath Beach
718-372-0025

We are most proud of our Student Council. The Student Council engages the entire student body to raise money for charity and to make a global difference as children of God. The members are faithful, committed and bear witness to our school’s “family tradition.”

Our Lady of Grace
Gravesend
718-375-2081

Our school is a warm and welcoming community of students, families, faculty and staff. Visitors frequently tell us something special yet intangible is present within the building of our Catholic school. We firmly believe it is the happy, generous students who create this sense of welcome. Come and see the faces of our children and experience this joy.

St. Therese of Lisieux
East Flatbush
718-629-9330

I am most proud of our Catholic identity in a multi-cultural environment.

During this year’s Christmas Assembly, our eighth-grade students portrayed the beauty of the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. At that time, there were more than 400 people in assembly. A grandparent was so touched by the performance that she was crying.

The reverence and beauty with which the students performed the Nativity scene brought to us the realization of how we influence the faith of our children.
I felt so proud as their principal!

Principal Frances DeLuca
Our Lady of Perpetual Help
S. Ozone Park
718-843-4184

A shining moment which exemplified our faith and our existence as a Catholic School was when all seemed to be lost and failing became an option. I watched my students struggle through an array of complex dance steps, as unsynchronized feet gave birth to cascading noise. Suddenly, I realized we had arrived. We were now in the perfect position to be great. The Christmas Celebration was but days away, and the moral support that filled the classroom was amazing. Each student began to shed his/her ego and pitch in for the greater good. The students literally became vessels of compassion as they gave advice, compliments and corrections to each other. Needless to say their performance was excellent, but the beauty was in the process.

Mrs. L. Stanford
St. Elizabeth Seton
Bushwick
718-386-4050

The feature I’m most proud of at St. Francis Xavier School is myself. I grew to be a better person in St. Francis. I didn’t take school seriously at times. I got in trouble many times. I have learned to grow up and be more mature and responsible. I grew to respect myself and others.

I made honors in my school. I grew and learned to love and forgive people that have hurt me. I feel I am able to go to high school knowing I’ve made a change through all the things I did and learned at St. Francis Xavier School.

Keisha Tousst, 8-2
St. Francis Xavier
Park Slope
718-857-2559

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