St. Agnes Girls Build B’klyn Apartments

Hard Hatted St. Agnes students, from left, Joyce Mau, Erika Bonifacio, Charlotte Berges, Bill Russell, Tracy Blinder, Tairy Ramirez, Audra Bagdziunas and Vanessa-Pava Villamizar, prepare to build and install windows in Downtown Brooklyn.

Seven St. Agnes seniors and three faculty members from St. Agnes Academic H.S., College Point, lent their ‘expertise’ to the New York City Habitat for Humanity on Jan. 5. They traveled to Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn where two 16-apartment buildings are being constructed. The girls, along with faculty members Anne Forde, Tracy Blinder and Bill Russell, built and installed temporary windows in the housing development.

While at the location they had the opportunity to meet some of the future residents who were there working on the buildings themselves. Meeting with these families gave the St. Agnes students a greater feeling of satisfaction that their efforts truly make a difference.

Each adult resident is required to work on the project at least 300 hours as a down payment on their new homes. The buildings are constructed by contractors hired at minimal cost by Habitat, licensed plumbers and electricians complete their particular phase of the development and then the volunteers, Americare and the Habitat Partner affiliates, complete the remainder of the work.

There were over 1,000 applicants for the 32 apartments in this particular development. The housing crisis in New York City is dire – 250,000 affordable housing units are needed for those living in substandard or overcrowded housing and for the homeless who cannot afford the exorbitant rents. The greatness of the Habitat NYC’s mission — “to transform lives and our city by uniting all New Yorkers around the cause of decent, affordable housing for everyone” was evident to all the St. Agnes volunteers on that day. They were proud to roll up their sleeves for such a worthy effort.

St. Agnes High School is one of the few Catholic high schools considered an official “Campus Chapter” of Habitat for Humanity. During February, St. Agnes’ Habitat Club will conduct a fundraiser to benefit this housing ministry.

To volunteer with Habitat for Humanity NYC, call 212-991-4000.

Holy Cross H.S. Student Mag Bags First Place Press Award

Discovery Staff, from left, Max Vetrano, Chris Temperini, Scott Cermak and Chris Engelmann with Faculty Advisor Michele Daus and Brother Stephen LaMendola, CSC, school president, displaying their First Place Award from the American Scholastic Press Association.

Young men who contribute to Discovery, an annual literary magazine at Holy Cross H.S., Flushing, were thrilled to hear the 2007 edition recently earned a first place award from the American Scholastic Press Association.

“Discovery consists entirely of student work – short essays, poems and illustrations. This forum allows our young men the chance to publicly share their literary and artistic talents with the greater school community and most importantly, see their work in print,” according to Michele Daus, faculty advisor.

Each magazine that is submitted to the American Scholastic Press Association is scored on a point system and is awarded first, second or third place in its classification. Scoring is based on design, story layout, graphics, headlining, cover design, and a variety of other useful items.

Included with the point scores and award is a written review with suggestions, hints for improvement and encouragement for student staff and editors. The panel of judges are educators and are themselves experienced faculty advisors for school publications.

Stella Maris’ Stellar Leaders

Leadership comes naturally to the the Student Council Executive Board at Stella Maris H.S., Rockaway Beach.

Stella students can turn to these eight young ladies: Letitia Alexander, Gabriella Ali-Marino, Amanda Boudreau, Kathleen Haggerty, Tara Iannotti, School President Kathleen Monahan, Rita Regan and Meaghan Wheeler, to listen to their suggestions and bring them into fruition.

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