Students Raise Awareness About Alcohol Abuse

Sixth-grader Lorianna D’Allesandro from St. Francis de Sales School, Belle Harbor, is the winner of the “Underage Drinking: Not a Minor Problem” contest to promote awareness about the dangers of underage drinking.

Her poster, which has been turned into a bookmark, was selected from a pool submitted by sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders from St. Rose of Lima, Rockaway Beach; St. Camillus, Rockaway Park; St. Mary Star of the Sea, Far Rockaway; St. Francis de Sales; and St. Helen and Our Lady of Grace, Howard Beach.

The contest was sponsored by the Program for the Development of Human Potential (PDHP), the Brooklyn Diocese Drug Prevention Program, and Assemblywoman Audrey Pheffer. Students attended presentations delivered by high schoolers from Christ the King R.H.S., Middle Village, and The Mary Louis Academy, Jamaica Estates, in which they spoke about risks associated with underage drinking.

High school students then judged the entries. Top winners from each school went to Albany as guests of Assemblywoman Pheffer and were introduced on the floor of the New York State Assembly as winners from their respective schools.

D’Allesandro’s winning entry was converted into a bookmark and will be distributed to students in diocesan schools.

To obtain bookmarks designed by D’Allesandro or learn more about PDHP, call Eileen Dwyer, 718-565-2200.

Visiting the N.Y.S. Assembly, were students with top entries in the Underage Drinking: Not a Minor Problem contest, front row, from left, Nobert Piotrowski, St. Rose of Lima; Lorianna D’Allesandro, St. Francis de Sales; Vincent Zecca, Our Lady of Grace; Manpreet Kaur, St. Mary Star of the Sea; and Rachel Rothstein, St. Camillus. Students are pictured with, from left, Eileen Dwyer, PDHP executive director; parents Paramjit Kaur, Margaret Piotrowski, Loretta D’Allesandro; Assemblywoman Pheffer; parents Samantha Asregado and Vincent Zecca; and Sal Violo, director of PDHP Queens. Arianna Romeo from St. Helen School, not pictured. D’Allesandro’s winning bookmark, at below.

ICS Boasts Four Award-Winning Playwrights

Carl Ballenas Photo 

Four students from Immaculate Conception School, Jamaica Estates — sixth-grader Tracy Cineus, fifth-grader Amarachi Abakporo, and sixth-graders Chikpe Nkenke and Sydney Gordon — submitted plays to the 2008 Write A Play! New York City Competition, sponsored by The Young Playwrights Inc. They received Certificates of Excellence in the middle school category at an award ceremony held at Hunter College on June 11.

Nkenke, whose play, “The Pirate,” recounted the adventures of a pirate-captain and his crew, was also a finalist in the competition.

ICS students Cineus, Abakporo, Nkenke and Gordon, pictured from left to right, proudly display their plaques.

Ten saints and blesseds were named the official patrons for WYD08. Check here to learn more about these inspirational people each week during July.

Our Lady of the Southern Cross, Help of Christians
Feast: May 24

Mary, Virgin and Mother, is the Patroness of Australia under the title, Help of Christians. Her title, Our Lady of the Southern Cross, emphasizes devotion to her

Youth Views

Summer is movie season. What is your all-time favorite movie?

Gerard Lajoie Holy Cross H.S. Class of 2008 The Pursuit of Happyness. It shows that even if your challenges are sometimes extreme, if you stay determined, you can persevere at anything.	Thomas Gallino St. John’s Prep Freshman Finding Nemo. The father went to the depths of the ocean to find his son. He never thought his son was dead. He had the faith to keep looking for him.

Kiarah Williams St. John’s Prep Freshman Little Princess. The movie states that all girls are princesses. Young girls should know and understand their importance and value to the world.	Carla Davis St. John’s Prep Frehsman The Great Debaters. It shows that no matter what your status quo is in the world, you can achieve greatness and are always considered highly by God.

 

Robert Goger Holy Cross H.S. Sophomore My favorite movie is Click with Adam Sandler. It teaches us to make the most of every moment and be happy with the blessings we’ve been given.	Frantz Chauvet Holy Cross H.S. Class of 2008 Love and Basketball. It shows the love two people can find through sports.

 

Yvonne Grillo St. John’s Prep Freshman My favorite movie is My Big Fat Greek Wedding because it’s hilarious.

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