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APRIL 23, 2015 • THE CATHOLIC LIGHT
The Diocese of Scranton is committed to educating our students
in an environment that is academically excellent and facilitates the
development of moral judgment and Christian decision-making. We
are proud to share the following successes of our students in the
classroom and in their service to others. Each day, our schools are
fulfilling their mission of preparing today’s youth and young adults
to become tomorrow’s faith-filled leaders.
The Division III “Runaway Train” Odyssey of the Mind team from Saint John Neumann
High School in Williamsport placed first at the State Tournament in Berwick, advancing
them to the Odyssey of the Mind World Finals next month at Michigan State University.
Pictured are Coach Keith Bauer, Casey McKimpson, Kaycie Gerrity, Natalie Kolczynski,
Adali Matz, Raena Matz, Kendra Snyder, Coach Kathy Bahr.
Ann Basting, Jack Shean, and Riley Orr, seniors from Holy Cross
High School in Dunmore, were named to the Scranton TimesTribune Scholastic Superstar Team. Once again Holy Cross was
represented with three members on the team, the most of any area
school.
Students from Holy Family Academy in Hazleton show off their
Easter-themed gift baskets, which they won as part of the 8th grade
class raffle. The soon-to-be graduates are raising funds to help offset
the cost of their May trip to New York City to see the Broadway
musical Wicked.
The Odyssey of the Mind team from Saint Clare/Saint Paul School in Scranton
placed 2nd at the NEPA Regional Odyssey of the Mind tournament held on Saturday,
March 14 at Pocono Mountain West High School, and advanced to the state
tournament in Berwick. Competing in the Problem 1 vehicle category “Runaway
Train” were team members Geoffrey Pizzuto, Michael Watkins, Oliver Egan, Robert
Troy, Emma Troy, Grace Kapacs, Johnny Watkins; they are coached by Mary Troy.
Students from Saint Mary of Mount Carmel in Dunmore pose with Easter baskets they made with their
families that were then donated to Friends of the Poor; their smiles reflect the joy not of receiving such a
terrific surprise Easter morning, but rather giving such a wonderful gift to someone else.
The Peacemakers Club from All Saints Academy in Scranton conducted several service projects during
the past months, including collecting food, treats, toys, and other necessary items for the cats and dogs
waiting for a forever home currently living at the Griffin Pond Animal Shelter in South Abington Township.
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Easter baskets filled with toys and treats were donated by students from Holy Redeemer
High School in Wilkes-Barre to the Friends of the Poor’s Easter project, as part of their
ongoing community service efforts through weekly donations to charitable programs.
Shown are student representatives from the freshman class, from left: Principal Anita
Sirak, Bridget Thole, Thomas Chan, Tucker Ell, Katherine Finnegan, Emily Bush, Reed
Karaska, Sean Wills, Scott Williams, Eric Jeffries, Brianna Phillips, and Father Joseph
Elston, dean of students/chaplain.
The 1st grade class from Epiphany School in Sayre stands with some of the
items the students collected during Lent to be donated to “Chow for Children”
in Sayre. Each week a different food item is requested and by the end of the
campaign, the Epiphany School and Parish collected a total of 3,257 food items,
filling 174 cartons.
Each class at Saint Agnes School in Towanda has a “Prayer Buddy” (a
Saints Peter & Paul parishioner) that they pray for and do special projects
for throughout the school year. The 5th grade class is pictured with the
Easter wreath that they made during art class for their prayer buddy.
The 8th grade class of Holy Rosary School in Duryea recently performed Living Stations at
First Friday Mass for the entire school. Pictured are: Emily Makaravage, Grace Berlew, Kalley
Kovaleski, Joe Stella, Matthew Dowdell, Emily Miller, Maggie Stuccio, Liz Stone, Hannah
Ferenchick, Julie Mazaleski, Xavier Parrick, Dominck Angradi, Christina Heppding, Abby Klink,
Sarah Liskowicz, Rylee Shay, Angelina Falcone, Madeline Skutack, Lauren Cawley, Kiearra
Saldi, Kevin Bradigan, Larry Corridoni, Charlie Vermac, Frank Scavo, Jordan Cicon, Michael
Mucciolo, Tyler Mozaleski, Colton Mackell, and Michael Skutack.
Claudio Sobejano, an 8th grade
student at Saint Nicholas/Saint
Mary School in Wilkes-Barre,
recently participated and placed in
the Luzerne County Intermediate
Unit Middle School Computer
Fair. Claudio’s digital movie,
titled Be Cool, promoted energy
conservation. He created his movie
using stop animation. Claudio’s
movie was awarded third place
overall in the middle school digital movie category. Pictured above are
Sobejano and his SNSM computer teacher, Carlee Strish.
THE CATHOLIC LIGHT • APRIL 23, 2015
Students at Notre Dame Jr./Sr. High School in East Stroudsburg presented the William Shakespeare comedy Love’s Labour’s Lost,
which follows the trial and tribulations of young men who pledge to avoid love and then meet the loves of their lives.
During the Lenten season, the 3rd grade
class at Our Lady of Peace School in
Clarks Green created one-of-a-kind
crosses with ordinary clothespins,
reflecting upon the one-of-a-kind
sacrifice that Jesus made for us.
APRIL 23, 2015 • THE CATHOLIC LIGHT
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Bishop Joseph C. Bambera celebrated Mass with the students, faculty, and families of Monsignor
McHugh School in Cresco. To honor the Bishop and commemorate this special visit, Kindergarten
student Chloe Nelson and 8th grader Bryana Kuhar present his Excellency with a plant grown in the
school’s science lab, along with a MMS bag filled with logoed items. In addition, the Monsignor
McHugh community collected food items for and also made a monetary donation to CAME
(Christian Awareness Ministries Ecumenical) Food Pantry, which serves the school’s local area.
Fourth grade students at Good Shepherd Academy in Kingston presented a magic show to their
classmates. The students first learned about Harry Houdini and then performed their magic acts.
Pictured are the magicians: Katie Schell, Mia Ashton, Nina Stillarty, Mary Johns, Jessica Phares, Irelyn
Karnes, Donovan Stone, Michael Vodzak, Nathan Stilp, Maddie Olshemski, Jillian DelBalso, Katie
Quinn, Cally Williams, Heidi Williams,Bailey Stavridis, Avery Cole and Abby Davitt.
The
Kindergarten
students
at Saint Jude School in
Mountaintop transformed plain
manila folders into three-part
Lenten Lap Books: the front,
which shows a heart that opens
up to signify how much Jesus
loves us; the back, which shows a
cross as a reminder of how Jesus
died for our sins; and the open
folder, which features a calendar
that counts the 40 days of Lent.
The students colored a section
each day. One side has a “Today I
prayed for” list where the students
wrote names of family and friends
and specific intentions. The other
side features a fold-out of the Stations of the Cross. Pictured are students Eli
Quintos, Payton Bayley, Wyatt Dane, Gabrielle Carlin and Eva Martin.
The 3rd grade class of La Salle Academy in Dickson City poses
with a special guest to their school, the Easter Bunny. In keeping
with their mission to serve others, the student body from both
Dickson City and Jessup created 75 children’s Easter baskets and
three family Easter baskets to be donated to the Friends of the Poor.
The 2nd grade class from Wyoming Area Catholic School in
Exeter who will be receiving their First Holy Communion in
the next few weeks had an opportunity to visit Saint Gabriel’s
Monastery in Clark Summit to learn how the hosts are made for
the Sacrament of the Eucharist. The students spent the day at the
monastery, and made a First Holy Communion banner, prayed
before the tabernacle as well as learning how the hosts are made.
Pictured are: Lily Kasa, Mark Talerico, Liam O’Malley, Katie
Morgan, Christian Renfer, Brandon Cegelka, Michael Oncay,
Allie Mozelski, Michael Weiss, Abby Butler, Kendall Morris,
Mrs. Anne Powers, Grade 2 teacher, and Sister Olive Ann of the
Passionist Nuns of Saint Gabriel’s.
Jefferson Perez, a
6th
grade
student
at
Notre
Dame
Elementary School
in East Stroudsburg,
portrays Jesus during
the school’s annual
presentation of the
Living Stations of
the Cross. Pictured
with him are fellow
actors and 6th grade
classmates John Gilroy and Thomas Scott as guards and Amaya Cruz as Mary.