Merry Christmas!

As we take this time to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, let us continue to cherish peaceful times with family and friends, to spread goodwill to those less fortunate, and to treat each other with respect. At St. Francis Prep, we feel very fortunate and thankful for the achievement of our students, the passionate dedication of our faculty and staff, and the wonderful support of our parents and guardians. Our alumni and Board have played an integral role in helping us develop a long range vision for SFP, the next 150 years.  During the month of December, our students, staff and faculty have been involved with wonderful activities that promote our Franciscan ideals. On behalf of the entire school administration, I wish everyone in our community a very Merry Christmas and a hopeful and healthy New Year!

Warm Regards,

Mr. McLaughlin

Prep the Halls and Christmas Spectacular

Starting on Sunday, November 25 Mrs. Verdi and her elves began Prepping the Halls for Christmas. This continued through the beginning of December with students, staff, and faculty decorating lockers, doors, and corridors. It culminated on Friday, December 21, the last day before the Christmas vacation, with our 2^nd Annual Christmas Spectacular. Every member of the SFP Community attended Mass and was an active participant in the Christmas Show. Special thanks to our show director, Mrs. Mejia, the Alvernians, Dance Team, Mr. P.T. McLaughlin, MCs Ms. Sparagna and Mr. Ganci, and, of course, the SFP Faculty Dancers. A great Christmas tradition continues!

Merry Christmas!

SFP Christmas Dinner at the Presentation Soup Kitchen

Friends with Special Needs Christmas Party

On Saturday, December 15, we continued with our long-standing tradition started over 40 years ago by Sr. Joseph Agnes by hosting the Friends with Special Needs Christmas Party in our cafeteria. Over 125 guests attended and were served by 100 of our student volunteers. They were entertained by our Chamber Orchestra directed by Mr. Johnston, Ms. Mejia’s Dance Team, and our Step Squad. Thanks to all of our student volunteers, coaches, faculty, staff, cafeteria crew, Alumni Association, and Parents Guild.  Special thanks to our moderators, Mrs. Rich and Mrs. Camus. Great Job!

Library

Mrs. Medici from our Library Staff collected and delivered 450 books to St. Mary’s Children’s Hospital through our Library Book Drive. The books ranged from infant to young adult. The generosity of the students, faculty, staff, parents, and alumni was tremendous. On one particular day, 30 students from Ms. Prohaska’s AP English class walked into the Library, arms filled with books. The hospital is committed to improving the health and quality of life for the children with special needs.  We are gratified that SFP can contribute to this spirit of giving and joy!  Thank you to Mrs. Medici, her daughter Isabella, and all who donated! Well done!

Visit with Joe Torre

Brother Leonard, Brother Robert, and Bob Angeletti recently met with Joe Torre, SFP Class of 1958 and former manager of the NY Yankees. Joe currently serves as MLB’s Chief Baseball Officer.

Brother Robert Honored

The Greater New York Sandlot Athletic Alliance (GNYSAA) hosted its 14th annual Raymond F. Church Service to Youth Baseball Awards Dinner on Nov. 28 at Russo’s on the Bay in Howard Beach. St. Francis Prep head varsity baseball coach Brother Robert Kent, O.S.F., was the deserving recipient of coaching excellence award for his dedication to the advancement of local sandlot programs. Congratulations!

https://thetablet.org/local-baseball-coaches-receive-sandlot-awards/ 

Model UN

The St. Francis Prep Model United Nations attended a conference on December 14 and 15 hosted by Plainview Old Bethpage John F. Kennedy High School. Our delegation of 17 was among the 350 attendees from over 15 high schools. This was our best showing ever, earning 8 awards. We owe a special thanks to our alumnus coach Kayla Keenan '18 and our Model UN administrators who all won awards. All our delegates did a wonderful job in committee and we want to give special recognition to our awards winners.

Athena Kalavanos COR 109 - Honorable Mention as Germany in UN Conference on Trade and Development
Alexander Kavalvanos COR 209 - Honorable Mention as Iran in the Human Rights Committee
Thanasi Dilos COR 304 - Best Delegate as the United Kingdom in the European Union
Henrik Israelian COR 307 - Honorable Mention as the United Arab Emirates in the Arab League
Abigail Bossa COR 402 - Best Delegate as France in UNICEF
Joanne Gotanco COR 407 - Best Delegate as China in Assoc. of Southeast Asian Nations committee
Josh Mathew COR 411 - Honorable Mention as the United States of America in the Security Council
 Vincent Smedile COR 415 - Best Delegate as Catholic Spain in the Historical Security Council

The Model UN meets every Wednesday after school in W014.  All are welcome.

English Class

The Senior Drama class trip went to see King Kong the musical! Ms. Rose Stein and Ms. Kate Rehill took 4 of the senior drama classes. They absolutely loved it! It was a fantastic play and, for many of them, it was their first experience seeing a Broadway show. 

FACULTY-STAFF RETREAT

On Friday, 7 December, the faculty and staff participated in our annual retreat at the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception in Huntington, NY.  Our retreat was led by Fr. Thomas Marciniak, S.J.  Fr. Tom gave an inspiring talk and led us in a guided meditation.  We also had time for quiet reflection and then community-building during lunch.  We ended the day with Mass in their beautiful chapel.  The retreat was a great day for the faculty and staff to pray together and continue our Advent preparations.

Art

Senior Kasper Bielecki finished the first phase of his design for a 3D Printed doggy wheelchair. He has been working with a family from Jersey City who adopted a 2-legged dog born without any front legs. He has designed a model for this wheelchair totally from scratch, working with Mrs. Lynch to develop his ideas. On December 5th, the dog and his family visited Prep for fittings and tests; in January, the next phase of design revisions begins. Kasper is hoping to create a design that can be reproduced to help many more dogs at a fraction of the usual cost!

Digital Photography

Environmental Awareness inspired by Artist Vilde Rolfsen

The SFP Digital Photography class is increasing environmental and recycling awareness. Mrs. Buccino’s photo class critiqued the plastic bag scene in the movie American Beauty. They captured images in which everyday objects are looked at more closely and appreciated. The expression they used and discussed is "the affirmation of the quotidian."  It literally means "saying yes to the everyday."   The idea is that in much poetry, Art, literature, spirituality, we seek to find beauty, joy, and meaning in the everyday-ness of life. The class then discussed the Earth and problems with the overuse of plastic. They looked at Plastic Bag Landscape art by Vilde Rolfsen. Vilde is a photographer who brings recycling awareness through her photography. Students participated in a class photo shoot using plastic bags and colored spectrum light bulbs. The outcome was stunning .The class sent Vilde Rolfen images of their photographs and wrote to her. She actually responded to the students and was very supportive of their work.  It was a truly exciting experience! Photo included was taken by SFP Digital Photography student Christopher Tuffy.

Art Student Victoria Reshetnikov has art work featured in the 2018 Advent Reflections Booklet by the Franciscan Brothers of Brooklyn.

The Franciscan Brothers of Brooklyn created an Advent Reflections book for 2018.  It is a booklet of daily reflections and art works from a variety of Franciscan Schools.  Little direction was given to the participants.  Through their personal interpretations of the scenes, a series of different styles emerged and showed how diverse the amazing talent is from our schools.  One of our current Juniors, Victoria Reshetnikov, had the wonderful privilege of representing our school through her art work.  She created two scenes: the Tree of Jesse and The Visitation.  To have her work published in a booklet for a larger audience is not only a great accomplish, but also an honor to show her talent in design and drawing for all to see!

Service

On December 5, several St. Francis Prep students assisted with hosting dinner for the Christmas tree lighting at Hope Lodge NYC-The American Cancer Society. Hope Lodge offers free housing to cancer patients and a family member while being treated in New York City for their illness. Most patients are far away from home. The girls assisted with shopping, prepping, cooking, transporting, and serving dinner, drinks, and dessert for 70 cancer patients and family members.  The students served a fabulous dinner with lots of holiday cheer to those struggling with cancer.  It was a beautiful way to take part in the true meaning of the Christmas season.  

The students pictured below are:

Christina Basandella, Mary Ferrara, Stephanie Mecir, Sophia Ribarich, Valentina Spaleta, and Miranda Martincic. 

Swim Team retreat

The Swim Team Retreat was an amazing experience. The swimmers and coaches were so pleased with the themes of "listening" and "empathy" and with the fun activities. All had a wonderful day as we had an opportunity to bond together as a team of faith and to use our Franciscan values during the season and out of the water! Special thanks to Mr. Corrado, Fr. Ralph, and Ms. Gambino.

Bowling

The SFP Bowling team had a great season this year, with both teams making the Brooklyn Queens playoffs.  On December 11, both teams won their matches against Saint Agnes advancing them to the second round.  Varsity bowled against Xaverian on December 18 and finished 2nd in the B division.  Junior Varsity was matched up against Cathedral Prep, finishing second in the Brooklyn Queens division.  Gianna Giampapa and Kaylee Lopiccolo, two of our freshman athletes on junior varsity, won awards for High Average and High Series.  The season will continue for JV on January 8 and 10 at Astoria Bowl at 4pm. Come join us to cheer on our team!

Alumnus

Ohio Secretary of State-Elect Frank LaRose announced key staff appointments for his office. One of them includes a St. Francis Prep Alumnus Patrick Piccininni ’83 to the position of Chief Legal Counsel. Patrick has been a practicing attorney for nearly three decades and has been serving in the administration of Ohio Governor John Kasich as Chief Legal Counsel for the Ohio Department of Transportation for the past eight years. Prior to that, he was an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney practicing Civil Litigation and Election Law. The Ohio Secretary of State is responsible for maintaining business filings and conducting Elections in the state of Ohio. Congratulations, Patrick!

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