february 28, 2017 “if i had to chop down a tree, i …...february 28, 2017 “if i had eight hours...

February28,2017

“IfIhadeighthourstochopdownatree,Iwouldspendsixhourssharpeningmyax.”AbrahamLincoln

AswebegintheLentenseason,letusbemindfulofthemessagefromPopeFrancis:“Lentisanewbeginning,apathleadingtothecertaingoalofEaster,Christ’svictoryoverdeath.Thisseasonurgentlycallsustoconversion.ChristiansareaskedtoreturntoGod‘withalltheirhearts’(Joel2:12),torefusetosettleformediocrityandtogrowinfriendshipwiththeLord.”Lentisatimeofprayer,penance,sacrifice,andgoodworksinpreparationofEaster.Duringthesespecialdays,wearemoreconsciousofourFranciscanmissiontobeinstrumentsofpeace,proclaimjoyandhope,careforcreation,andlivelovingly.

AsyouwillreadinthisPrincipal’sNewsletter,theFranciscanspiritisalivewithinourstudents,faculty,staff,parents,andalumni.Iamproudofthegreatworkthattakesplaceinourcommunityonaneverydaybasis,“refusingtosettleformediocrity.”

InearlyDecember,IhadthegreatopportunitytobeinterviewedbyDr.Gempesaw,PresidentofSt.John’sUniversityon“SharingKnowledge,”producedbyTelecare.JoiningmewasKathleenWalsh,Ed.D,SuperintendentofSchools,DepartmentofEducation,DioceseofRockvilleCentre,todiscusstheValueofCatholicEducation.

WATCHONYouTubeHERE:https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=PLd7SN7BEWcrB6t9go1EKVvLK7qQdHSZaU&v=B2jFFCDExVo

Mr.McLaughlin

FromthedeskofFr.Mark:

AdorationoftheBlessedSacramentwillbeheldeachFridayduringtheseasonofLent.Itwillbeheldfrom8:30a.m.until2p.m.intheChapelonEasttop.

AdorationoftheBlessedSacramentgivesonetheopportunitytopraybeforetheBlessedSacramentandgivereverencetoJesusintheEucharistoutsideMass.

ItisatimetopausefromthebusynessoflifeandencounterJesusaswestrengthenourpersonalrelationshipwithJesus.

 FromthedeskofMr.Castellano:

JUNEREGENTSEXAMSStudentsareautomaticallyregisteredforRegentsexamassociatedwithallcoursestheytakeatSt.FrancisPrep.Formanyclasses,theRegentsexamservesasthefinalexamforthecourse;theRegentsexamgradecancountforasmuchas20%ofthestudent’sfinalgrade.Regentsexamgradesappearonthetranscriptsofstudents.Itisimportantforstudentstopreparewellfortheseexamsandtodotheirbest.AllteacherswilldoRegentsexamreviewinclass,andmanyteachersofferextrareviewclassesafterschool.Pleaseencourageyourchildtotakeadvantageofallthesereviewopportunities.

SomestudentsmayhavemissedornotpassedaRegentsexamfrompastyears.StudentswhoaremissinganyoftherequiredRegentsexams(Algebra1,BiologyorChemistry,GlobalHistory,U.S.History,andEnglish)willautomaticallybeenrolledfortheappropriateJuneRegentsexam.Studentswhowishtore‐takeanyoftheotherRegentsexamsmustseeMr.CastellanobyThursday,9March,inordertoregisterforanexam.St.FrancisPrepallowsstudentstore‐takeanexamifthestudentfailedit;studentsmaynotre‐takeanexamtheypassedinordertoraisetheirscore.ParentsandguardianswithquestionsaboutRegentsexammattersmaycallMr.Castellanoatext.209.

FromthedeskofBro.LawrenceBoyle:

NON‐RESIDENTSOFNEWYORKCITYTRANSPORATIONREQUESTSParentsofstudentswhoresideoutsidetheCityofNewYorkareremindedthattransportationrequestsfortheSchoolYear2017‐2018aredueindistrictsofficesusuallyonMarch31st.Ifyourdistrictprovidesanysortoftransportationandyouhavenotheardfromthedistrictregardingthenextschoolyear,pleasecontactthedistrictnow.

FromthedeskofBro.Leonard:

BrotherLeonardcontinueshistravelstovisitwithalumniandpromotethePrep’sModernizationProgramDuringtheweekofFebruary13th,BrotherLeonardvisitedpersonallywith15graduates(includingoneofourtrustees)duringindividualface‐to‐facemeetingsconductedthroughoutNorthandSouthCarolina,includingtheRaleighandCharlotteareas,andColumbia,HiltonHead,andCharleston,SC.

Asinpreviousmeetingswithalumni,Brothertakesthetimetoupdateeachpersononthelatest“happenings”atPrep,withspecialemphasisonthecurrentModernizationProgramandthecapitalcampaigndesignedtohelpfundthiseffort.

Duringthistrip,BrotherLeonardpaidspecialvisitstotwoofour“senior”alums,JohnMullane,SFPClassof1945(picturedhereinhisPrept‐shirt),whomBrothermetinCharlotte;andJohnMoten(below),SFPClassof1943,whomBrothermetnearhishomeinHiltonHead.

Brothercontinueshis“roadshow”laterthisweekwhenhetravelstoFloridaandmeetsone‐on‐onewithalumnibetweenMiamiandOrlandobothbeforeandafterthePrep’sAnnualFloridaAlumniReunionthisweekendinPortSt.Lucie(March3‐5).

NationalMeritScholarshipCorporation

WewereveryhappytoreceivetheinformationfromtheNationalMeritScholarshipCorporationthatOrlandoSantiagowasnamedasaFinalistinthe2017CompetitionforNationalMeritScholarships.Inaddition,OrlandoSantiagoandJennaAlmawerebothrecognizedasNationalHispanicScholarsfor2017.Welldone!

CampusMinistryDuringtheFebruarybreak,studentsandchaperonesparticipatedintheFranciscanVolunteerProgram,offeredbytheFranciscanBrothersofBrooklyn.ThisweeklongcollaborationincludedstudentsandfacultyfromtwootherFranciscanhighschoolswheremembersoftheFranciscanBrothersminister:St.Anthony’sHighSchool,SouthHuntington,andNotreDameHighSchool,CapeGiradeu,Missouri.Thestudentsdedicatedtheirentireweektoprayer,servicetothecommunity,andbuildingcommunityamongtheschools.Wethankandrecognizethemfortheirgreatwork!

Faculty:Dr.Sullivan,Mr.Sempowich,Mrs.Kotowicz,Bro.JamesMcVeigh,Fr.MarkSimmons,andMr.Johnston.Students:AnnaMariaLeal,ShannonWhelan,SamanthaRutuolo,AngelaCastronova,BriannaSheridan,CesarSantana,AbdelSerrata,MarisaKosinski,JennaAlma,andMarcelAvril.

St.FrancisPrepNightwiththeNYMetsatCitiField

OnTuesdaynight,May30th,St.FrancisPrepwillberecognizedbyTheNewYorkMetsatCitiField.Priortothe7:00gamebetweenTheMetsandTheMilwaukeeBrewers,ourhighlyregardedChamberChoirwillbeonthefieldtoperformtheirownspecialrenditionofTheNationalAnthem.TheceremonialfirstpitchwillbethrownbyourPrincipal,Mr.PatrickMcLaughlin.

TheMetshavereservedmultiplesectionsofseatingonthelowerleveljustbeyondtheleftfieldfenceforourstudents,facultyandstaff,families,friends,andalumniatthediscountedrateof$22perticket.TicketscanbeorderedthroughMs.ZerilliintheFaculty‐StaffRoomorbycontactingherthroughemailorbytelephonebyMarch27,2017.Shecanbereachedatgzerilli@sfponline.orgor(718)‐423‐8810ext.211.Welookforwardtoafun‐fillednight

 celebratingthesetwogreatQueensCountyinstitutionsandhopethatyouwillbeabletojoinus.

SJUAcademicBowl

OnSaturday,February11,2017,3ofourseniorscompetedintheSt.John’sUniversityCollegeAdvantageAcademicBowl.Thiswasajeopardy‐stylecompetition,whichincluded15teamsfromvarioushighschools.WeareveryproudofourSFPTerrierTeammemberswhoearned2ndplace:

ZacharyCipollina:Cor404,MichaelaPrisco:Cor414,EdwardOstuni:Cor413Eachreceiveda$10,000.00granttowardtheirfutureSt.John’stuition.OurteammembersalsoreceiveditemsfromSt.John’sasabonusgiftforknowingthemostTriviaquestionsrelatedtoSt.John’sUniversityfacts.ThankstoMs.CocciaforcoordinatingtheeventwithSJUandMr.Woodsforhissupport!

HeroClub

TheSFPStudentActivitiesProgram,underthedirectionofMr.Ganci,offersavarietyofclubsandactivitieswhichserveourstudents'needsandtheneedsofourfellowcommunitymembers.TheSt.FrancisPrepHeroClub'smissionistoserve,or"beheroes,"inourcommunity.ThispastFebruary,theSFPHeroCluborganizedandsuccessfullycompletedtheValentine’sDayTeddyBearSale.Asaclubdedicatedtoservingandhelpingothersthrough“heroic”work,membersoftheHeroClubwereabletotaketheirdesiretohelpotherstoanewlevel.For

 twoweeks,membersoftheclubsoldteddybearstostudentsandfaculty.Foreveryonebearpurchased,$1wasdonatedtoSaintMary’sChildren’sHospitalinanefforttoaidthehospitalintheirgreatworkwiththechildreninourcommunity.

ThisyeartheHeroClubsoldarecordnumberofbearsmakingthe2017salethebestyet!1,115bearsweresoldwhichallowedtheclubtodonateover$1,115becauseofadditionaldonations.AlthoughitrequiresatremendoustimecommitmentanddedicationforourHeroestosell,assemble,anddistributealltheteddybears,allmembersandMrs.Bradyenjoyedanenormouslysuccessfulproject!TheSFPHeroClubwouldliketoextendtheirgratitudetoallfacultyandstudentswhoparticipatedinthesaleandtoalltheclubmemberswhohelpedmakethesalepossible.AsFranciscans,theHeroClubwouldliketoaskthatallthemembersoftheSaintFrancisPrepcommunitycontinuetobelivinginstrumentsofpeaceandkeepthefamiliesatSaintMary’sChildren’sHospitalintheirprayers.GodBless!

MusicDepartment

LateJanuaryandFebruarycontinuedtobebusyforourMusicdepartment.OnJanuary19th,ourChamberOrchestraandJazzBandperformedatPrep'sAcceptedStudentsNight.OnJanuary27th,ourbeginningstudentsperformedinaconcerthighlightingtheirachievements.TheeveningfeaturedstudentsfromourbeginnerclassesinWoodwinds,Brass,Percussion,andStrings.OurStringOrchestraandJuniorBandheadlinedtheevening.OnFebruary15th,ourChamberOrchestra,underthedirectionofstudent‐teacherAmandaWai,performedatourNationalHonorSocietyInductionCeremony.Andfinally,onFebruary14th,ourJazzBandvisitedIntermediateSchool25toperformforeachgrade.Jazz

BandmembersevensatinwithIS25'sbandandIS25alum,andcurrentPrepfacultymemberMarcSilvagnitookquestionsfromIS25students.OurnextmajorperformanceisFriday,March31st,whenPrep'sMusicdepartmentwillpresenttheannualJazz‐Popconcert,featuringourJazzBand,HonorsPercussionEnsemble,ChamberChoir,andChamberOrchestra.Doorsopenat7:15pmfora7:45pmperformance.

IS25AdrianBlockMarcSilvagnialumnusofIS25

National Honor Society

ArtDepartment

SFP'sfirstPaintNightonFebruary4thprovidedaneveningofcreativityandcommunity‐building.PaintNightwassponsoredbytheParents'Guildandraisedmorethan$1,700fortheMaryMillusFoundation.EstablishedtohonorMary(Classof'15),thefoundationaimstohelpchildrenwiththestrugglesofmentalillness.ArtteacherAnthonyBiondolilloattendedPaintNightandsaid,"PaintNightwasawonderfulexperience.ItwassomuchfungettingtopaintwithmyfatherastwoseparategenerationsfromthePrepcommunity.Thesocialaspectoftheeveningwaswarmandfun;asateacherofMary's,itmeanttheworldtoknowthattheproceedsweregoingtowardsthefoundationestablishedinherhonor."ThankyoutoeveryonewhomadePaintNightasuccess!PleasecontinuetosupportSFP'sParents'Guild.

FieldTriptotheMetropolitanMuseumofArtwithA.P.ArtHistory‐Ms.Shmerykowsky

OnJanuary30th,2017,theAdvancedPlacementArtHistoryclassvisitedtheMetropolitanMuseumofArtinNewYorkCity.WerecentlyfinishedlearningabouttheGreekandRomancivilizationsandthoughtitbesttoseetheirhistorycometolifewithavisittothemuseum.Ourtourwasentitled“AncientGreeceandRome:ArtofHeroicIdeals.”Intwogroups,thestudentslearnedhowtheculturesofancientGreeceandRomeusedvisualartandmythologytounderstandconceptslikebeauty,death,andheroism.AstheytraveledthroughtheAncientGreekandRomanWings,studentsweremesmerizedtoseesculptures,paintings,andancientartifactsfromsomanyyearsago.TheywereamazedhowtheirperceptionsoftheartworkchangedwhentheyhadthechancetoseeeverythinginpersonascomparedtoonaSmartBoard!

Afterwards,thestudentswereallowedtoexplorethemuseumtoseeavarietyofotherarthistoricaltopicswearecurrentlycovering,suchasByzantine,Romanesque,Gothic,andEarlyRenaissance.TheyalsospenttimedrawingintheRomanandGreekWing!Toobservesuchbeautifulclassicalsculptureswhiledrawingisanexperiencenotmanypeoplehave.Overall,thestudentshadawonderfulexperienceattheMetropolitanMuseum,gainedbetterinsightastheypreparefortheAdvancedPlacementExam,andgainedmoreappreciationofthepast!

St.FrancisPrepStudentArtistsEarnTopHonorsinDistinguishedCompetitionFreshMeadows,NY–StudentsfromSt.FrancisPrep’sArtDepartmenthavebeenrecognizedaswinnersintheScholasticArtandWritingAwardscompetition.Thisisthethirdyearinarowourstudentshaveearnedthisprestigiousrecognition.Studentsfromacrossthenationsubmitted255,000worksofartandwritingtotheScholasticArtCompetition.Morethan68,000arerecognizedattheregionallevelandcelebratedinlocalexhibitionsandceremonies.Thetop2,000worksinthecountryearnNationalMedalsandarecelebratedataceremonyatCarnegieHall.

CamilleUy‐GoldKey,HonorableMention,SilverKeyKristenKnoblauch‐HonorableMentionAshleyChen‐HonorableMentionSilverKey,SilverKeyAnthonyMirabella‐HonorableMentionMargaretPanoti‐HonorableMention,HonorableMentionJenniferParedes‐GoldKey,SilverKey,SilverKeyGabriellePelczar‐GoldKey,GoldKeyJessicaRambao‐HonorableMentionJazlynRivera‐SilverKeyRikamarieLourdesMantaring‐HonorableMentionGiannaMedici‐HonorableMention,SilverKey,SilverKeyMarianaPapadopoulos‐HonorableMentionJanineSahagun‐SilverKeyJinghongChen‐HonorablementionYuelingLu‐Honorablemention

 TheTablet

LeilaShanley,a9thgrader,participatedintheMarchforLifeinDCwiththeschoolandtherecentwomen'smarchinNYC.SheisbeingfeaturedinTheTabletthisweek.MarchforLifeArticleintheTabletHERE

ModelUN

OnSaturday,February11th,2017,theSt.FrancisPrepModelUnitedNationsattendedaconferenceatConnetquothighschool.Theconferencewasattendedbyover300delegatesfromover15differenthighschools.Manyofourdelegatesattainedsomepersonalgoalsinresearching,presentingarguments,andpublicspeakingwhileparticipatingintheircommittees.

Inthespiritofcooperation,manyissuesthatplagueourworldwereresolvedintheseforums.Wewouldliketocommendourdelegationforbeingpartforthiswonderfulacademicexperience,andwewouldespeciallyliketorecognizeAthanasiDilos'20(109)whowonanHonorableMentionastheUnitedStatesintheUNODC(U.NOfficeonDrugsandCrime)committee.

 EnglishDepartmentNews

OnFebruary15th,juniorRebecaOliveiraandsophomoreSanaiaLaynecompetedinPoetryOutLoud'sNYC‐LongIslandRegionalcompetitionatStonyBrookUniversity'sCharlesB.WangCenterTheatre.Rebecamadethefinalroundandendedupplacing3rd!

Weareveryproudofbothourstudentswhoshowedcourage,poise,andsomuchtalentedpoeticspirittomakeitthisfar.

SpecialthankstotheirteachersMr.PaccioneandMs.ProhaskaforworkingwiththembeforeandafterschooltohelppreparethemforthisprestigiouscompetitionandtoMr.Hafkerfororganizingthecompetitioneachyear.

 DanceTeam

TheSFPDanceteamcompetedonLongIslandwiththeNationalDanceAssociation.TheywonfirstplaceandreceivedaninvitationtocompetenationallyinFlorida.

BlackHistoryMonth

CongratulationstoSydniHicksonreceivinga$1000collegescholarshipfromMelindaKatz,QueensBoroughPresident,fordemonstratingheraptitude,skill,andpotentialasafutureleaderofAmerica.ThescholarshipwasawardedbytheAfricanAmericanHeritageCommitteeatitsannualBlackHistorymonthprogramonFebruary16th.

 SpeechandDebate

Congratulations!Sothrilledwithourstudents!!!!!AllfourtookhometrophiestodayPLUSwereceivedateamtrophy!

ScienceOlympiad

OurScienceOlympiadteamof14studentscompetedintheNYCMetroRegionalcompetitionheldatGroverClevelandonFebruary4th,2017.Dr.Bennett,Mrs.Picht,andMs.MayhaveworkedwiththeteamsinceOctoberpreparingforthiscompetitioninavarietyofsciencecategories,includingallthreebranchesofsciencefromearthtolivingtophysicalscience.Somestudentstookchallengingexams,whileothersbuiltadeviceorapparatustomeettheireventrequirements.Therewere67registeredteamsfromNYCschools,ournotablefinisheswere:

 9th‐DynamicPlanet‐DanielDeLeon(12th)OliviaHouri(11th)8th‐Forensics‐KaylaKeenan(11th)OliviaHouri(11th)1st‐Hovercraft‐MichaelChan(12th)OliviaHouri(11th)10th‐Rocks&Minerals‐DanielDeLeon(12th)ChristinaLino(11th)6th‐WindPower‐XiangHeHuang(11th)DarioZeni(10th)Congratulationstothesestudentsontheiroutstandingperformanceandtherestoftheteamfortheireffortanddedication!

GermanLanguageAwardClaudioZuniga,asophomoreinMr.Kruger'sGermanIIIclass,hasbeenawardedtheBronzeMedalandspecialrecognitiononthePresidentialHonorRoleforhisoutstandingperformanceonthe2017NationalGermanExamforHighSchoolStudents.Over20,000nationwidestudentstooktheexamthisyear.

TrackTeamOnSaturday,February11th,seniorHarrisHillerywontheCatholicHighSchoolStatechampionshipinthetriplejump.HisperformancequalifiedhimfortheNYSchampionshipinearlyMarch.

 CameronBlairSigningLetterofIntenttoAmericanInternationalCollege.

Coach Leary Retires

 SFPFootballAlumniKyleFlood

HereisthepressreleasefromtheFalconsannouncingFlood'shiring:

TheAtlantaFalconshavehiredDaveBrockasanoffensiveassistant,KyleFloodastheassistantoffensivelinecoach,BushHamdanastheteam'squarterbackscoach,andCharlieJacksonasadefensiveassistant.TheteamhasalsohiredJustinOuttenasanoffensiveassistant,JessSimpsonasadefensiveassistant,andCharlieWeisJr.asanoffensiveassistant.Floodbrings23yearsofcoachingexperiencetotheFalcons.HerecentlyservedastheheadcoachfortheRutgersfootballteamfrom2012‐15.Hebecamethefirstheadcoachinteamhistorytoleadtheprogramtothreebowlgamesinhisfirstthreeyearsasheadcoach.Beforebeingnamedheadcoach,hespentsevenyearsontheScarletKnightsstaff,seeingtimeastheoffensivelinecoachsincejoiningtheprogramin2005,andwaseventuallypromotedtoassistantheadcoachin2008.

In2007,Floodwasinchargeoftherungameastherunninggamecoordinatorandfrom2009‐10hewastheco‐offensivecoordinator.BeforecoachingatRutgers,hespentthreeyearsattheUniversityofDelawarewherehewastheassistantheadcoachandoffensivelinecoach.FloodwastheoffensivelinecoachatHofstraUniversityfrom1997‐01.