FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 10, 2021

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Adriana Rodriguez
646-241-9805
arodriguez@desalesmedia.org

John Quaglione 
718-576-9180
jquaglione@desalesmedia.org

VIRTUAL FLYING CLASSROOM, LED BY FIRST BLACK MAN TO FLY SOLO AROUND THE WORLD, LANDS AT BROOKLYN CATHOLIC SCHOOL

Students at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Academy in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, this morning participated in a virtual journey around the world thanks to a “Flying Classroom” as part of their celebration of Catholic Schools Week and Black History Month. All students participated with some seated socially distanced in the auditorium, and others from their classrooms.

The “Flying Classroom” lesson was led by Captain Barrington Irving, who in 2007 became the first Black man and youngest person ever to fly solo around the world. Captain Irving traveled 30,000 miles over 97 days, making 27 stops in 13 countries, in a single-engine plane known as “Inspiration.” Prior to his achievement, the youngest person to have flown around the world solo was 37 years of age. Captain Irving completed this at the age of 23.

Launched in 2014, the “Flying Classroom” is a K-8 STEM+ digital curriculum that challenges students to design innovative solutions to the problems he investigates. The lessons will be incorporated into the Diocesan school and academy curriculum as a component of the 2021 Year of Renewal for Catholic Education.  “I am encouraged by today’s presentation and believe this program will get the students

to really love science and math and it will greatly enhance our STEM program at our school. I hope by listening to Captain Irving’s life story, my students will see the value of perseverance because there is so much to learn in this world,” said Margaret Tyndall, Principal of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Academy.

The theme of Catholic Schools Week this year is “Catholic Schools: Faith. Excellence. Service.”

Members of the media can request interviews with Principal Margaret Tyndall and/or Captain Barrington Irving, and additionally can request the recording of the Zoom presentation by sending an e-mail to jquaglione@desalesmedia.org.

Photo attached: Captain Barrington Irving speaks with the students at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Academy in Brooklyn including this Kindergarten class.

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