Catholic Schools Week

January 31 – February 6

Catholic Schools week is an annual national celebration. This year’s theme is “Dividends for Life” which emphasizes the benefits of a Catholic school education.  

According to Karen Ristua, NCEA president, “Catholic schools provide good things for students and families – high expectations and daily experience of faith. In these challenging times, the theme also reminds parents that the dividends of a Catholic school education – students prepared in faith, knowledge, morals and discipline – last a lifetime. There is no better way to invest in a child’s future – or the future of our world.”

All of our schools in the Diocese of Brooklyn will be celebrating Catholic Schools Week.  Catholic school celebrations are listed on our “School Happenings” page. If you are interested in a school that is not listed, give the school a call and the school will provide you with their schedule of events.

We asked the students of the Diocese of Brooklyn “How has Catholic education helped you?” and “What makes Catholic education unique?"

See what our students said about their Catholic education. You can read the students’ quotes by clicking on the link below:

 Collection of Student Quotes link: 

Here’s a sample of what the children wrote:

 “Catholic education helps me realize how beautiful the world and its people are.”

St. Agatha School Brooklyn NY student in grade 5

“Catholic education helps me build my faith in God and be a better person.”

St. Andrew Avellino School Flushing NY student

“Catholic education helps me to grow in faith and focus on my beliefs in Christ.  It also helps me to try my best to achieve my educational goals.”

Our Lady of Lourdes School, Queens Village, NY student

“Catholic education has given me knowledge, patience, and the ability to forgive.”

Saint Francis Xavier School Brooklyn NY  student

“Catholic education is unique because it puts you in a loving and safer environment and makes it that much easier to learn.”

Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School, Brooklyn NY student

                                             "Year of the Priest" Art Project

Year of the Priest – Mosaic Portraits Art Project

During the month of October, classes in Holy Trinity School wished to honor our parish priests, not only on World Priest Day, but also for the Year of the Priest.  Students in Grade 8 took enlarged negatives of portraits of both our Pastor, Father Joseph Gibino, and Father Jim Frazer and composed mosaic portraits to be hung in the vestibule of the Church during this year. In addition, students in grades 2 and 3 wrote biographies of priests who became saints and then dressed "bottled" dolls in the attire of the saint. In grades 5 and 6 the student drew murals and posters depicting the role of the priests in the worldwide Church and also in the seven sacraments of Catholic lives. In grade four, students made water-color paintings of priests serving the community and wrote essays telling how they serve. Our classes say a prayer each day for priests and for an increase in vocations. These forms of Art work were done under the supervision of our Art teacher, Mrs. Sheila Ambrosio. They were ready for the Middle States Visiting team that visited our school on Oct. 27th.

December 9, 2009 Eleanor Menna, Principal

Holy Trinity School

14-45 143^rd Street

Whitestone, NY 11357

What the Blessings of Christmas Mean to Me

                                       LOCAL INJURED MEMBER OF OUR ARMED FORCES

“COMES HOME TO BROOKLYN” TO BE SALUTED THIS

VETERANS DAY

Specialist Juan Garcia, U. S. Army, currently recovering from injuries sustained last summer in Afghanistan, came home to his native Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn Tuesday to be saluted by the students of his alma mater, St. Mark School in Sheepshead Bay.

At the raising of a new American Flag Tuesday morning November 10^th at 8:15am in the St. Mark School yard, the 340 students and school faculty, school alumni, and members of the Armed Forces, the NYPD, the NYFD, and members of the Catholic War Veterans gathered to honor Specialist Garcia, who was joined by his mother Maria.

School Principal Carol Donnelly and Pastor Father Grimaldi led the salute to Specialist Garcia and presented him with a especially- sculptured momento of the American Flag from the student body. In his words of appreciation, Specialist Garcia asked all present to join in silence for a minute to remember three of his fellow soldiers who perished in the battle in which he was injured

Current 2^nd graders, who this year are dedicated to remembering and honoring all American veterans, gave each Veteran and Armed Forces member present a crafted hand-made “thank-you” card. These students also presented Specialist Garcia with a special soccer trophy, as Juan was well-known as a student in St. Mark School and high school for his love of soccer.

Specialist Garcia was injured near the end of his second tour of duty in Afghanistan. A victim of an extreme mortar attack, Specialist Garcia credits his recovery from life-threatening injury to the French medics in the field, the staff of the military hospital in Germany, and the current care and therapy he is receiving in Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C.

Name of School: Saint Mark School

Name of Principal: Mrs. Carol Donnelly

School Website: www.smsonthebay.com

Date: November 30, 2009

We are grateful to our judges Sylvia Anna Nomikos, Mary Scheer, Anne-Marie Baumis, Vilma Ramsaroop and Marion Abruzzo. A special thank you to all the teachers and principals who attended the Diocesan Math Bee to support their students!

              click to see Regional Intermediate Math Bee Winners!

Carl Bellenas with the Aquinas Honor Society of the Immaculate Conception School