Garden takes root at St. Stanislaus Kostka Students at St. Stanislaus Kostka School, 1255 N. Noble St., soon will find some tastier options in their lunchroom, thanks to a collaboration with the DePaul University School of Nursing. Kim Amer, an associate professor in the school of nursing, is working with two graduate students, Katrina Waldron and Erin Fuller, to plant a garden that will produce vegetables for a salad bar at the school. At the same time, she and the students will help educate St. Stanislaus students about healthy eating, and teach some of the older students to work with the younger ones. The project began last year with the installation of eight 6-by-4- foot raised beds, which by last fall were yielding zucchini, lettuce and herbs. Vegetables that will be planted this spring are now being started in the school’s science lab. Early plans call for tomatoes, zucchini and peapods, and maybe pumpkins that will be ready in October. Vegetables that the school can’t use can be distributed by St. Stan’s food pantry. Students will help decide what to plant and care for the garden during the school year, as will children who attend day camp at St. Stanislaus Kostka this summer, Amer said. Her students who work on the project and St. Stanislaus staff members also will help with the gardening. The program is especially important at schools like St. Stanislaus, where a majority of the students come from populations — including African Americans and Latinos — that are at increased risk for obesity. The project got a “seed grant” from the Vincentian Endowment Fund, which paid for start-up supplies and for a three-part sink, something the school needed to be allowed to prepare food onsite. In the meantime, Waldron and Fuller will work with two new graduate students to get them ready to take over the program before they graduate. Vocations and adoration at Everest Everest Academy, Lemont, celebrated Vocation Awareness Week beginning Jan. 13 to promote vocations to religious and consecrated life and the priesthood. The school had speakers from all vocations and with panel discussions for the students following all-school eucharistic adoration on Jan. 10. Students came to the school’s chapel by age groups and spent about 20 minutes in adoration of the Eucharist with a Gospel reflection preached by a Legionary of Christ consecrated woman or by a seminarian. St. Michael’s wins $50,000 St. Michael School, Orland Park, was one of four Illinois schools that won $50,000 in a contest sponsored by the telecommunications company U.S. Cellular. The school celebrated with a pep rally in November. To win U.S. Cellular’s Calling All Communities program, people visited the company’s stores across the country and voted for their favorite school. The school with the most votes won $150,000, and the next 17 won $50,000 each. Cardinal Joseph Bernardin Catholic School, Orland Hills, was a previous $50,000 winner. Catholic Charities World AIDS Day poetry contest The Catholic Charities HIV/AIDS Task Force held its third annual World AIDS Day poetry contest in conjunction with archdiocesan Catholic schools. World AIDS Day was Dec. 1 and the contest theme was “HIV: It’s About You and Me.” This year’s winners were from Cardinal Joseph Bernardin School, Orland Hills: first place, Danielle O’Connell, eighth grade; second place, Gabriella Marino, eighth grade The following is the first-place entry: HIV: It’s About You and Me You can still be anything you want to be; Brush off the whispers and stares; No one understands the burden you bear; Having HIV is no walk in the park; Your friends might leave you alone to face the dark; But people still believe in you; They’ll keep on fighting and help you push through; Keep taking your medication and drugs; Rely on your loved ones for support and hugs; Continue to live, laugh and grow; Life might not be the easiest, though; Nevertheless, keep your head held high; Live life to the fullest and never say die; Be the best that you can be; HIV: It’s About You and Me.” St. Gilbert helps Sandy victims A brother and sister from St. Gilbert School, Grayslake, decided to help victims of Superstorm Sandy by making jewelry, pins and other small items and selling them to the neighbors. The proceeds were then donated to a charity to help storm victims. According to the school’s website, the two set up shop at the end of their driveway and raised more than $60. “When Mrs. O’Connor asked them why it is important to help others Owen replied ‘It is what you teach us in school so we need to do it all the time,’” the website said. “His sister, Alison, said ‘God wants us to do it. Besides it was fun!’” The school added the two students’ donations to donations from the wider school community and donated more than $1,300 to the National Catholic Education Association/Catholic Charities USA Fund for Education. Flowers for Our Lady at School of St. Mary Third-graders at the School of St. Mary, Lake Forest, constructed Mexican-style, multi-colored tissue paper flowers to honor Our Lady of Guadalupe, the patron of Mexico. The students learned the roses represent a miraculous sign given to St. Juan Diego from Mary on Dec. 12, 1531, according to tradition. After making the roses, the students placed them in front of a large cross, also designed by St. Mary’s students, located at the Primary Grade Center. St. Thomas the Apostle students take on architecture project Students at St. Thomas the Apostle in Hyde Park read the book “The Wright 3” by local author Blue Balliet and toured Frank Lloyd Wright’s Robie House (a major setting of the book). They took the architecture theme one step further and designed church models after visiting Rockefeller Chapel and then comparing it to St. Thomas the Apostle Church and the architecture of Barry Byrne, a contemporary of Wright. The project is based on a program offered by the Frank Lloyd Wright Preservation Trust. Holy Cross is “best” in Deerfield Holy Cross School, Deerfield, was selected in October for the 2012 Best of Deerfield Award in the Private and Parochial Schools category. Each year, the Deerfield Award Program identifies companies and organizations that have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category. These local companies enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and the community, making the Deerfield area “a great place to live, work and play.” “Trot for Theresa” logo contest This year St. Theresa Parish and School in Palatine will host its third annual 5k walk/run on May 11, and is once again having a competition for students to submit a logo or artwork that will be printed on the shirts of all runners. The winner will receive a $25 gift card from Target. Two Queen of Peace H.S. students get sheriff’s medal Two students from Queen of Peace High School, Burbank, earned the Cook County Sheriff’s Youth Service Medal of Honor. Michelle Frederick of St. Gerald Parish and Monica Zaragoza of St. Bruno Parish received the annual award, which recognizes the efforts of Cook County residents in grades 9-12 who have provided meaningful volunteer service to their communities. The students gave more than 100 hours of their time to achieve the honor. Service is a core value at Queen of Peace High School, and it has become an important way of life for students. “Service has made a huge impact on my life,” said Michelle Frederick. “One of the best feelings in the world is seeing how your service has benefited those around you. It allows me to understand that my service has made a difference and has helped other people.” “The value of my community service to others makes me feel helpful and wanted,” Monica Zaragoza added. “I feel like community service has helped me to become a better person.” New scholarship at Mother McAuley In July 2007, Christine Melone arrived at Mother McAuley Liberal Arts High School to assume the position as the schools’ first lay president and principal. According to the school website, “Her focus was always student- centered. She was very well liked by students and supportive of the variety of student activities hosted by the school: concerts, plays, sports events, fundraisers, appreciation banquets, etc. She loved her students.” Last year Melone concluded her term at Mother McAuley and established a scholarship in her name, granting five $1,000 nonrenewable awards to McAuley students in the fall of 2012. The scholarships were available to students of all levels. Principal at St. Therese Chinese Catholic School wins “tech leader” award Phyllis Cavallone-Jurek, principal of St. Therese Chinese Catholic School, 247 W. 23rd St., was one of four educators chosen to be members of Tech & Learning magazine’s 25th annual Leader of the Year program. These visionaries exemplify extraordinary education technology leadership, often working within budgetary restrictions and limited resources. Tech & Learning’s website reported: “Nine years ago, the St. Therese Chinese Catholic School was struggling to keep its doors open. Then, along came Phyllis Cavallone-Jurek, a new principal with a strong and clear vision. Today, the school buzzes with technology, from digital gradebooks to laptop labs to handhelds to a wireless network, and is deeply committed to implementing STEM-focused classes. Thanks to strong leadership, technology integration, and innovation, enrollment is now soaring.” “Being named a Tech & Learning leader helps us realize that our mission is possible — even on an extremely tight, frugal budget,’ said Cavallone-Jurek.” Nazareth’s fall production made state finals Nazareth High School’s fall production of “Godspell” made it to the Illinois Theatre Festival. The Nazareth cast and crew travelled to the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana campus for the fest from Jan. 10-12. The last time the La Grange school made the state festival was in 2008. St. Viator journalists meet the Wolves Members of the sports staff of St. Viator High School’s Voice, the school newspaper, attended the seventh-annual Chicago Wolves’ Future Journalist Media Day in December. The aspiring high school journalists attended a press conference with the Chicago Wolves players and coaches at the team’s practice facility in Hoffman Estates. According to the school’s website, the highlight of the day for the students was meeting with professional journalists who shared their craft. The media day brings high school journalists together with established journalists from the Chicago area who discuss their experiences making a career in sports journalism. Lacrosse is newest sport at Resurrection Resurrection College Prep High School has added lacrosse as a competitive spring sport. Lacrosse is one of the fastestgrowing sports at the high school level and is now sanctioned as a championship sport in 21 states. Resurrection athletic director and associate principal Lou Marrese announced the hiring of Colleen Speth and Ashley August as co-head coaches and Jordan O’Malley as assistant coach for the upcoming 2013 spring season. St. Laurence honor society conducts toy drive The National Honor Society of St. Laurence High School, Burbank, conducted a successful school-wide children’s toy drive. More than 640 toys were collected from the student body and faculty in the holiday charity event. The drive benefited the Worth Township Youth Commission’s “Christmas Care Program,” which distributed the items to families with young children in the area experiencing financial difficulties. Lasallians from Cincinnati visit De La Salle Fourteen students and five teachers from LaSalle High School in Cincinnati visited De La Salle Institute in December. The visit was part of a three-day immersion experience for the visiting students and teachers. In addition to meeting their fellow Lasallians at De La Salle, the Ohioans stayed at Darst Retreat Center, volunteered at St. James food pantry and participated in a prayer vigil with immigrant families. Members of De La Salle’s Class of 2013 also were able to participate in a meet-and-greet session during their lunch period with their fellow seniors from Cincinnati. St. Pius V principal earns NCEA honors Nancy Nasko, principal of St. Pius V School, 1919 S. Ashland Ave., was named a Distinguished Principal by the National Catholic Educational Association. The award was one of 12 given nationally. Award winners are nominated by their diocesan superintendents. These distinguished principals demonstrate inspirational leadership, dedication to academic excellence and a strong commitment to offering their communities quality, faith-based education. Nasko was chosen from a pool of 6,000 principals. The Distinguished Principal Award was established to recognize that principals embody the very best of Catholic education. Learning Center unveiled at Divine Providence School Divine Providence School in Westchester dedicated its new state-of-the art Learning Center on Sept. 16. The center was named after Father Tom Unz for his ongoing commitment to the education and learning of the students of Divine Providence Catholic School. Twenty-six computers fill the center and another 25 laptops will be used by the technology teacher to integrate technology and research opportunities into the classroom. Parents and parishioners stepped forward to make the center a reality. The $60,000 cost was financially supported in part by funds available as a result of increasing enrollment, a donation from the DP Family School Association, members of the DP Over 50 Club, Kiwanis Club of Westchester, and Divine Providence’s cash award for winning first place in the ComEd Challenge contest last school year. St. Rita student honors fallen firefighter After hearing of the death of Chicago Fire Department Captain Herbie Johnson — a 1976 graduate of St. Rita High School — a St. Rita junior decided to do something in his honor. Chris Wanat, a junior football player, heard about the passing of Captain Johnson at a home football game and immediately thought of the family Johnson left behind. “I am sure it was heartbreaking what the family had to go through,” Wanat told the school. “I thought it would be nice to help the family and show them support.” Chris created T-shirts in honor of Captain Johnson to be sold with the proceeds going directly to the family. He sold the shirts during lunch, after school and during one of St. Rita’s open houses. This project was so popular that the St. Rita bookstore stocked the shirts. Chris hoped to make bracelets as well and sell them through St. Rita and the CFD with all profits going directly to the Johnson family. To purchase a Herbie Johnson T-shirt you can visit the Mustang bookstore located on the St. Rita campus, 7740 S. Western Ave.