“If you have much, give of your wealth; if you have little, give of your heart.” – Arab Proverb   

May 3, 2010

Dear Parents/Guardians, Students and Friends of Bishop Dunn,

      There’s a Bishop Dunn fund-raising “fact” that I haven’t mentioned in the past few years, but thought would be useful to bring to your attention now, as we move quickly toward the end of the school year – and even closer to staging the last of our fund-raising events for the year. It is simply that if Sister Frances and her Development Office team were not able to raise as much money as they do each year, we would have to charge as much as $1,000 more in tuition to each family attending our school. We have a variety of ways in which you can help support our school that are detailed on our website, including things as “painless” as purchasing items that you would normally buy any way through our school-sponsored shopping link, www.shoptoearn.net/bdm, or by buying a leaf on our Memory Tree in the main lobby to honor a deceased relative, a child’s special achievements, or as a permanent “thank-you” to a member of our family for a job well done, among other things.

      We also have one of the “big” events coming up that we really need your support with to ensure its success – and help us keep tuition costs down in the process. It our annual Race for Education, which will take place later this month. We are shooting to raise $25,000, but frankly, surpassing that goal would be much more “helpful” in meeting our own operating budget needs for this school year. While sponsor forms were sent home before our Easter break, we have not yet set the most optimum date for the school-day event. This Wednesday, May 5^th, however, we are planning a “warm-up” to encourage as many participants as we can. Students have been told that if they bring in a completed sponsor form or a flat donation by Wednesday, that they will be allowed to wear their gym uniforms, even though it’s not a gym day for any classes. Classes will also practice on Wednesday by getting a break from class to walk/jog the path, where the event will take place. If you don’t have a sponsor form or need more information about the event, please call our Development Office at 569-3496 and one will be sent home with your child.

***

HOT TICKETS UP FOR BID:  Talk about a painless way to help support our school, how about putting in your bid to see two of the hottest teams in the Major Leagues! We have four tickets for the Friday, July 16^th, Yankees vs. Tampa Bay Rays game available for the highest bidder. They are in Section 130, Row 8 and the minimum bid is $400 for the four. Since the game has already been sold out, getting tickets for anything close to this amount should be a “real steal.” Send your bid in a sealed envelope with contact information to the Development Office by May 7^th.

MATH-A-THON SUCCESS:  The generosity of our families is evident in many ways, and certainly no more so then when they are asked to support a good cause. We are extremely grateful to all the children and generous families who took part in our recently completed annual Math-a-Thon. Because of their efforts more than $3,000 was raised for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital! The top money raisers in the school were Shannyn LaCroix, Theodore Friedrich, Dave Sanchez and Jared Castro, who collected more than $200 each (Mrs. LaCroix’s employer also matched Shannyn’s $220), and Nicholas Albano, Caroline Campbell, Raia Wolfson, and Connor Youngberg, who raised more than $100 each. Since getting involved in the program several years ago, our school has donated more than $25,000 to St. Jude’s!

SPRING PHOTO DATE CHANGE REMINDER: As reported earlier, the date for our Spring Portraits session at school has been changed to Wednesday, May 12^th.

TOP HONOR STUDENT LEFT OFF LIST:  My apologies to sixth grader Sam Schorno, who was incorrectly included on the First Honors list for the 3^rd marking period in my last newsletter. Sam actually qualified for the higher Principal’s List by having an average over 95 and no grades lower than 90. Sorry, Sam!

“Seek the wisdom of the ages, but look at the world through the eyes of a child.” – R. Wild  

April 26, 2010

Dear Parents/Guardians, Students and Friends of Bishop Dunn,

      In my last newsletter I wrote about how impressive our Middle School Science Fair was this year.  Without taking anything away from our upper grade students, I was just as impressed with the efforts of our lower and middle elementary students when they put on their science fair this past week. In fact, if I hadn’t known in advance which one I was attending, I might not have been able to tell the difference, because of the highly sophisticated level of experiments that were on display at the second event. Congratulations, first, to Mrs. Nancy Benfer, who coordinated the fair, and who provided the daily instruction and guidance as our middle elementary science teacher for most of the students who took part in the fair. Special thanks, as well, to two of our teachers, Mrs. Donna Perk and Mrs. Donna DelConte, who assisted during the day in bringing groups of students through the exhibits.

      The only problem with the lower and middle elementary fair is that there are no “winners” selected, as there are at the middle school level, that I can recognize individually. So, since, everyone’s effort was a winning one, I wanted to commend all those who took part. They were: PreK – Tia Pignetti and Karen Wang; Kindergarten – Alex Wyant; 1^st Grade – Michael Kissam, Sharese Phillips, Quinn Ratynski, and Sean Zupko; 2^nd Grade – Isabella Burke, Theodore Friedrich, Chase Godwin, Anthony Perpetua, Rocco Rinelli, Margaret Rogers, Michelle U, and Mackenzie Zupko; 3^rd Grade – Sasha Attaway, Jack Baccaro, Colin Berardinelli, Andrew Crinieri, Jordan Graham, Anthony Gianna, Rachel Irish, James Maniscalchi, Danielle Simpson, Joan Stein, and Ava Zappone; 4^th Grade – Abby Anderson, Joaquin Bagtas, Brenden Bready, Shivan Brissette, Vincent Compagnone, Julia Conyea, William Conyea, Joshua Davila, Will Davis, Thomas DeMeo, Trisha Gollamudi, Richard Guerrero, Patrick Gunn, Lucas Labrenz, Max Labrenz, Christian LoBiondo, Brielle Maxwell, Daniel McLoughlin, Ben Patsalos, Jarrett Rivera, Emily Salvatore, Anna Schorno, Bridget Urbanski, and Matthew Wyant; and 5^th Grade – Ryan Bayer, Adrien Broe, Nicholas Caldwell, Matteo Carrieri-Russo, Kiana Carver, Nicole Case, Chris Chiarella, Justin Connolly, Alexa DiVenuto, Nicolas George, Mark Heidman, Nicole Javinett, Eleni Koumboulis, Shannon LaCroix, Gracie McElduff, Jack O’Brien, Sarah Palmatier, Roman Pianka, Emily Ramos, Frank Russo, Lucas Scully, Mia Serrano, Will Snyder, Cora Stepakoff, Leanza Tirado, Freddie Watson, William Whelan and Nicole Wyant-Healey.

***

ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENTS RECOGNIZED: Belated congratulations to all the upper grade students who made the honor roll for our third marking period that ended recently. Making the Principal’s List for having an average of 95 or higher and no grades below 90 were: 6^th graders Jordan Giordano, Danielle Gonzalez-Wu, Kailey Loughran, and Brian Rhee; and 7^th graders Michael Cooke and Gracie Foster. Achieving First Honors status for having an average of 90 or higher and no grades below 85 were: 6^th graders David Adams, Cassie Cook, Jordan Crinieri, Alexandra Ellingson, Alex Gormley, Ryan Guarneri, Amanda Salvatore, Sam Schorno, Aaron Supple, Mackenzie Wyant, and Sean Youngberg; 7^th graders Carly Feldstein, Abby Hastings, Meaghan McKay, Brandon Rawlins, and Ryan W; and 8^th grader Gabriella Javinett. Second Honors awards for having an average of 85 or higher and no grades below 80 went to: 6^th graders Kayli Berardinelli, Isabella Boccadoro, Julie Costigan, Jack Cuneo, Katherine Garcia, Erica LaMela, Kyle Morehead, Tyler Peterkin, Patricia Whelan, and Henry Wyand; 7^th graders Lauren Bayer, Patrick Burke, Nicholas Casiano, Jenna DiVenuto, Cynthia Fioriti, Ally Gally, Kate Mead, Isabella Saffioti, Rachel Stein, and Julia Zambito; and 8^th graders Italo Carrieri-Russo, Madison Dill, Chris Introcaso, George Konno, Kristin Morehead, Ian Scully, James Terotta and George Wyand.

WORKSHOP PARTICIPATION PRAISED: Thanks to nearly 100 parents and 7^th and 8^th grade students who took part in a Human Sexuality Workshop this past week, conducted by Mrs. Virginia Brown. We truly appreciated the very mature behavior that our students showed in listening to the speaker and talking about this sensitive topic with their parents. Thanks, as well, to our upper grade Religion instructor, Mrs. Susan Trieste, for organizing the program.

SPRING PHOTO DATE CHANGED: The date for our Spring Portraits session at school has been changed to Wednesday, May 12^th. More information will be sent home in the coming week.

“Education is the process by which a person begins to learn how to learn.” – P. Ustinov 

April 22, 2010

Dear Parents/Guardians, Students and Friends of Bishop Dunn,

         A simple but special spiritual ceremony, a super show of scientific savvy, and announcements of prize-winning poetic performances highlighted this past busy week of student activities at Bishop Dunn.  Last Wednesday, our second graders took an important step in their journey of faith when Father Bill Scafidi heard their confessions in a First Penance Service following Mass at St. Mary’s Church. With the reception of the Sacrament of Reconciliation, which followed months of preparation led by their teacher, Mrs. Mary Birnbryer, with assistance from Mrs. Ann Giraudin, the 2^nd graders are now ready to receive First Communion in early May.

         First Penance service participants were: Nicholas Albano, Thairi Azuaje, Isabella Burke, Caroline Campbell, Jared Castro, Francesca Chillino, Analiese Compagnone, Rebecca Davis, Guy-Paul Delisfort, Theodore Friedrich, Nayelli Geraldo, Daniel Katz, Danielle L, Olivia Lynch, Hayden McElduff, Liam McQuade, Gabriela Morris, Ethan Noto, Anthony Perpetua, Rocco Rinelli, Margaret Rogers, Delia Savino, and Michelle U.

          Last Thursday, all of our 6^th, 7^th and 8^th grade students put on a dazzling display of their academic acumen when they took part in our annual Middle School Science Fair. While only 22 of the nearly 100 students who participated in fair were selected for top honors in judging by Mount Saint Mary College students, everyone who took part is to be congratulated for the amazing array of experiments that were on display. Also to be congratulated is our upper grade science teacher Mrs. Bernadette Kleister, for coordinating the event, with the assistance of Mrs. Pat Greico, as well as the students whose projects were rated highest by the college evaluators, led by Dr. Lynn Maelia. The winning students in the 6^th grade were: 1^st place - Danielle Gonzalez-Wu and Edward Muschio; 2^nd place -Ishaan Brissette and Denzel Booker, Alexandra Ellingson and Patricia Whelan; 3^rd place - Stanley Urbanski, Erica LaMela, and Amanda Salvatore; and honorable mention - Kayli Berardinelli, Mackenzie Wyant and Sam Schorno. The 7^th grade winners were: 1^st place - Brandon Rawlins; Ariana Tadayon and Tess Stepakoff -2^nd place; Julia Zambito - 3^rd place; and honorable mention – Cynthia Fioriti, Michael Fleckenstein, Sean Hertel, and Annamarie Murillo. Finally, our 8^th grade winners were: 1^st place - Jeffrey Whritner ; and 2^nd place - Grant Urbanski. SPECIAL NOTE: Information about our lower grade science fair, which took place this Wednesday, will be included in my next newsletter.

           Earlier in the week, following another collaboration with the college, 11 Bishop Dunn students were chosen by the Mount Saint Mary College chapter of the American Chemical Society to receive recognition for their work in the 2010 Chemists Celebrate Earth Day Illustrated Poetry Contest, which had the theme “Plants – The Green Machines.” Winning entries in the local contest were: Grade 6: 1^st place – Cassie Cook, 2^nd place - Ryan Guarneri, and 3^rd place - Erica LaMela; Grade 7: 1^st place - Michael Cooke, 2^nd place - Sean Hertel, 3^rd place - Michael Fleckenstein, and honorable mention - Rachel Stein; Grade 8: 1^st place – Ian Scully, 2^nd place - Italo Russo, 3^rd place - John Paul McLoughlin, and honorable mention - Grant Urbanski. In addition to being named a local winner, Michael Fleckenstein’s poem was also selected as the best entry in the Grade 6-8 category for all participating schools in the region and has been submitted to the national contest!

***

CANNED GOODS CAMPAIGN CONTINUES: While the Lenten season is over, we would like to continue our community service canned goods drive in connection with our weekly community service at St. Patrick’s Soup Kitchen. Throughout the collection period,  I have been asking families in different classes to send in items on a rotating weekly basis. This week, we are looking for canned good donations from our 2^nd grade class. Our 8^th graders take the canned goods with them when they go to St. Patrick’s for community service.

DRESS DOWN DAY ON FRIDAY: There will be a “Dress Down Day” this Friday, April 23^rd. To participate students are asked to bring in a dollar or more. Money collected will be donated to The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society for children’s cancer research and also to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

YANKEE TICKET WINNER SOUGHT:  WOULD THE BIDDER WHO WON THE YANKEE TICKETS AT OUR AUCTION PLEASE CONTACT THE SCHOOL’S DEVELOPMENT OFFICE AT 845-569-3495/3496, AS SOON AS POSSIBLE! We also still have 3 Ultimate Discount Cards available in our Development office.

“Seek not goodness from without; seek it from within, or you will never find it.” – Epictetus

April 12, 2010

Dear Parents/Guardians, Students and Friends of Bishop Dunn,

     Welcome back to all our Bishop Dunn families! I hope you had a spiritually, mentally and physically enriching Easter break. I hope it has also been a relaxing and rejuvenating one, especially for our students and staff members, considering the fact that we have almost no more breaks from school between now and the end of the year!

      Before I get into some of the announcements and reminders about what’s ahead at the beginning of this long stretch, however, I wanted to take the opportunity to thank those involved in a beautiful and spiritually invigorating event that took place before we left for our break. On Monday of Easter Week, our 7^th graders, under the able direction of their Religion instructor, Mrs. Donna Perk, took part in our annual Living Stations of the Cross re-enactment. Thanks to Mrs. Perk for her spiritual leadership in getting her class ready for Monday’s presentation and also to Mr. Grant Konno for leading the 4^th grade class in the musical accompaniment for the service Monday. Congratulations, finally, to all the 7^th graders for their preperation and performances: Alexia Andreopoulos, Lauren Bayer, Eliza Benfer, Patrick Burke, Nicholas Casiano, Toni Contini, Michael Cooke, Nadia Delisfort, Vincent DiNezza, Jenna DiVenuto, Carly Feldstein, Cynthia Fioriti, Michael Fleckenstein, Grace Foster, Ally Galli, Antonio Harris, Abby Hastings, Sean Hertel, Colin Loughran, Meaghan McKay, Kate Mead, Katina Pagones, Sabrina Pappas, Brandon Rawlins, Isabella Saffioti, Trevor Scully, Rachel Stein, Tess Stepakoff, Ariana Tadayon, Will Trieste, Ryan W, Julia Zambito, Marissa Zuccardo, and, sharing duties in the featured role as Jesus, Douglas Indzonka and Danny Yancewicz.

***

RACE REMINDER: Just before we left for our Easter break, packets of information were sent home about our annual “Race for Education,” which will take place in early May this year. Hopefully since then students have had time to make contact with grandparents and other relatives to get promises of support for this upcoming major fund-raiser. Students , and possibly some staff members, who will race/walk around a ¼ mile area as many times as possible in approximately a one-hour period (half-hour for Pre-K and Kindergarten),  will ask sponsors to donate a certain amount of money ($1, $5, for example) based on the number of laps completed. Students will also be allowed to participate for a flat donation. Our goals for the event this year is to raise $25,000, with the funds being used for technology upgrades, science, the arts and other essential educational needs. If you need a “Race for Education” packet please contact our Development Office at 569-3496.

TELL US IF YOU ARE RETURNING – OR NOT: Fortunately, we have received very few responses from parents in our re-registration notification process that their children will not be returning to Bishop Dunn next year. Unfortunately, we have still not heard from a small number of families one way or the other, about their re-registration plans, while we have other families who are anxiously waiting for word that there will be space for their children in our school in September. If you haven’t made contact with us yet about your plans for the fall, please do so as soon as possible by sending in your re-registration form or calling me at our main number, 569-3494.

THANKS FOR SOUP KITCHEN HELP: Finally, I wanted to pass along a “thank-you” to all those involved in organizing and supporting our annual Soup and Bread Dinner held during Lent, from Vickie McKoy, the director of St. Patrick’s Soup Kitchen. In a letter sent to me just before our Easter break, Ms. McKoy thanked our school for raising nearly $1,300 that was given to the soup kitchen as a result of the event, which was organized by our middle school religion instructor, Mrs. Susan Trieste. “Thank you for donating your abundant proceeds from your Soup and Bread Dinner to our soup kitchen,” Ms. McKoy also wrote in reference to our 8^th graders’ community service each week at the soup kitchen, and for the canned goods we collect throughout the year. Ms. McKoy added, “Your hard work in and out of the soup kitchen is greatly appreciated…and is a blessing to us and a positive witness to living the Gospel imperative. The canned goods collected from the entire school throughout the year are yet another blessing to us.”

“Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful; and kindle in them the fire of your love.”

March 29, 2010

Dear Parents/Guardians, Students and Friends of Bishop Dunn,

         One of the most beautiful and spiritually meaningful events that I am witness to each year at Bishop Dunn is our 8^th Grade Confirmation Mass and Service at St. Mary’s Church. The nicest thing about this year’s ceremony is that, due to a scheduling conflict in late May and the unavailability of a bishop who could officiate at any time other than this past week, it had to be held much earlier than normal. The result was that one of the most important “coming of age” events for our 8^th grade class didn’t got lost amidst the confusion of graduation, class trips, drama production and all the other end-of-the-year activities that take place in late May and June. Another nice benefit of the change this year is that it was a more intimate and more relaxed event, since it didn’t also involve the Confirmation class from St. Mary’s.  Twenty one members of the Bishop Dunn class of 2010 took part the evening’s service, which was officiated by Bishop Gerald Walsh with assistance by Father Bill Scafidi and Deacon William Castellane. This special ceremony was the culmination of a year of spiritual studies and community service, led by our Confirmation class instructor, Mrs. Susan Trieste, with assistance from Mrs. Maria Castellane, coordinator of St. Mary’s Religious Education Program, and Mrs. Patty Chumas. Congratulations to all involved in the service, to everyone who helped bring our students to this important religious milestone, including their parents, relatives and all our lower grade Religion instructors, but especially for successfully completing the steps leading to official entry as young adults into the church to our newly Confirmed students. Emma Clare Anderson, Kailyn Catherine Caldwell, Italo Vincenzo Carrieri-Russo, Anthony Vincent DaSilva, Edward Andrew Dennis, Marc Luke Gery, Rebecca Rosa Hayen, Christopher Introcaso, Michael Irish, Morgan Julian Jackson, Gabreilla Cecilia Javinett, Tayler Adrianna Kissam, Justin Kolbinskie, George Ivo Konno, Leonardo Francis Maniscalchi, John-Paul Nicholas McLoughlin, Kristin Catherine Morehead, Molly Dianna O’Brien, James Xavier Terotta, Grant Terence Urbanski, and George Martin Wyand.

***

“RACE” PLANS REVVING UP: Hopefully, you have received a packet of information that was sent home last week about our annual “Race for Education,” which will take place in early May this year. Our Development Office wanted to make sure that details about this fund-raiser were sent home before Easter, so that any students who are visiting relatives over the spring break can “encourage” them to support our school by sponsoring them in the race. In case you are not familiar with the event, students, who will race/walk around a ¼ mile area as many times as possible in approximately a one-hour period (half-hour for Pre-K and Kindergarten),  will ask sponsors to donate a certain amount of money ($1, $5, for example) based on the number of laps completed. Students will also be allowed to participate for a flat donation. Our goals for the event this year is to raise $25,000, with the funds being used for technology upgrades, science, the arts and other essential educational needs. If you need a “Race for Education” packet please contact our Development Office at 569-3496.

AUCTION ITEM UPDATE:  Our auction committee needs to make contact with the person who submitted a bid on a large print called “Mary Powell,” showing a paddleboat cruising on the Hudson. Please contact the Development Office at 569-3496, if you submitted that bid.

EASTER SWEETS, TREATS STILL NEEDED: Parent volunteers and donations of Easter baskets and goodies to fill them are still needed for distribution to needy families in the area. The baskets, which will be put together on Wednesday morning at school, will be given to St. Mary’s and St. Patrick’s churches to pass along to children in the city. Any families interested in taking part are asked to send in baskets, grass, chocolate bunnies and other Easter candy by Tuesday, March 30^th.  Anyone interested in helping to assemble the baskets or donating items may contact Danielle Crinieri at 567-6769.

Have a Blessed Easter!

Mr. DelViscio

“If we all tried to make other people’s paths easy, our own feet would have a smooth place to walk on.” - Myrtle Reed

March 22, 2010

Dear Parents/Guardians, Students and Friends of Bishop Dunn,

        No matter how many times it happens, I still come away amazed at how generous the members of our school family can be. This past Thursday that great sense of generosity was evident again in the “standing room only” crowd that came to take part in our annual Lenten Soup and Bread Supper. This year, with the economy still in terrible shape, not only is the need greater than ever for programs like St. Patrick’s Soup Kitchen, which benefitted from the supper, but many of our own families are also struggling mightily just to make end meet. That didn’t prevent them from contributing a record amount to St. Patrick’s, in return for the pleasure of enjoying a record-number of soups prepared for the event by our equally generous and talented collection of parent-cooks. Last year, the benefit brought in a little over $1,000, which was more than $200 greater than the year before. This year, nearly $1,300 has been donated in connection with the event, including an extremely generous $200 gift certificate to the Associated Supermarket in Newburgh from the Sanchez Family - and there was still money coming in this morning!

       Congratulations, first of all, to Mrs. Susan Trieste, our upper grade religion program director, who created this special event and continues to organize and oversee it each year. Thanks, as well, to Mr. Grant Konno, who joined with Mrs. Trieste in leading the singing at the prayer service at the start of the supper, to Miss Brigid Killelea and Mrs. Donna Perk, who helped supervise the preparation and clean up, to the 7^th and 8^th graders, who set up and served guests at the supper, and to 8^th graders Alex Beckham, Kailyn Caldwell, Taylor Kissam, Gabriella Javinett, George Konno,  and J.T. Whritner, who led the prayer service readings, and Emma Anderson, Anthony DeSilva, Kristen Morehead, and Molly O’Brien, who spoke beautifully about their community service hours spent at the soup kitchen and at HeadStart of Newburgh.

CANNED GOODS CAMPAIGN CONTINUES: In connection with our service at the Newburgh soup kitchen, representatives of the soup kitchen have also asked that I express their appreciation for all the canned goods that we have been sending there weekly since early in the school year. I have been asking families in different classes to send in items on a rotating weekly basis. This week, we are looking for canned good donations from our 1^st grade class. Our 8^th graders take the canned goods with them when they go to St. Patrick’s for community service.

***

NIGERIAN WATER PROJECT HELPED: I am pleased to announce that the collection that took place at our the last Mass that our students attended at St. Mary’s produced donations of  $485. Money from the collection was given to Father Peter Claver, who is one of the assisting priests at St. Mary’s. Father Peter had approached our school last month seeking donations that could be used to build the first community well in the village in Nigeria where he was born so that residents could have access to a steady fresh water supply.

SCIENCE FAIR PLANNED:  Our annual science fair for Pre-K through 5^th grade will be held on Wednesday, April 21^st. Participation is optional for Pre-K through 2^nd grade, but mandatory for grades 3, 4 and 5. The science fair for upper grade students will be held on Friday, April 16^th.

SKATERS GET BIG MOMENT ON ICE: Belated congratulations to two of our students, Theodore Friedrich and Daniel Katz, who were featured in a shoot-out at Nassau Coliseum, during the 1^st period intermission at the New York Islanders/Boston Bruins hockey game earlier this month. The boys are members of Ice Time rink’s Mites hockey team, which took turns shooting goals at the game.

4-H STUDENT HONORED: Ian Scully, an 8^th grader at Bishop Dunn, was one of 130 teens selected from throughout every county in the state to travel to Albany earlier this month to represent their local 4-H groups at the 75^th Annual 4-H Capital Days events. During the two days, 4-H members, volunteer leaders, and staff met with leaders in state government, members of the court system and officials from a variety of state agencies.

SPORTS DINNER RESERVATIONS NEEDED:  If you are still planning to attend our Annual Sports Awards Dinner this coming Sunday, March 28^th, we need to get your reservation form as soon as possible. Forms are available on the extracurricular/sports link on our website, www.bdms.org.

“A child’s life is like a piece of paper on which everyone who passes leave an impression.” - Chinese Proverb

March 18, 2010

Dear Parents/Guardians, Students and Friends of Bishop Dunn,

       I wrote in my newsletter Monday, that I would provide more information in my next note about how well we did financially in our annual goods and services auction, held last week. It’s still too early to give an accurate count of all the money collected, but I didn’t want to let the week pass without expressing my appreciation to all the individual parents, staff members and other volunteers who worked so hard to make this major fund-raising such a success again this year. Congratulations, first of all, again to the our development director, Sister Frances, our assistant director, Susan Dennis, the auction chairperson, Jean Galli, and the core committee members, Molly Whritner, Dorothy Cooke, and Heather McElduff, for their tireless efforts over the last six months, as well as to our art instructor, Donna DelConte, for her dedication in overseeing all the student craft projects.

      With apologies in advance to anyone I miss, the list of others who were involved in various phases of planning and staging of the event included: Nancy Benfer, Mary Birnbryer, Michelle Castro, Maryellen Case, Rosalie Chiarella, Danielle Crinieri, Liz Damiano, Lisa and Bill Davis,  Mickey Dennis, Rhea Fleckenstein, Lynn Frank, Lisa Gallina, Pat Greico, Sr. Barbara Hamilton, Abby Hecht, Annette Kartis, Millie Kissam, Tori Labrenz, Fran Lego, Colleen LoCasto, Jenn LoPresti, Jeanette Lynch, Celine Maxwell, Emma McPherson, Jackie Mongelli, Louise Morris, Trisha Najork, Genalee O’Brien, Donna Perk, Jenn Porcelli, Eileen Rose, Carol Schorno, Marguerite Stein, Diane Terotta, Pat Thornton, Lisa Warren, and Suzette Wyant. Thanks, as well, to Laurie and Al Ryan for their hard work in putting together the beautiful auction ad book, and to Paul Stokes at Hudson Valley Photo Studio for his super extra help with our sports montage photos.  Finally, we are extremely grateful to all those who donated items, made cash donations or purchased ads for the auction, despite whatever tight financial positions they might be in, and especially to all those who attended the event for digging so deeply into your pockets to help support our school!

SPECIAL “AFTER-AUCTION” BIDDING OPPORTUNITY:  We had a small number of items that, for various reasons, were not sold at the time of the auction that we would like to offer now to any interested parents or friends of the school.  The list of items is included at the end of this newsletter.  If you would like to put in a bid on one or more of the items, please complete the form at the bottom of the sheet and return it by Wednesday, March 24^th.

***

SOUP AND BREAD SUPPER TONIGHT: Our Annual Soup and Bread Supper will be held this evening, March 18^th, in our gym, beginning at 6:30 p.m. Many of our parents and staff members prepare delicious home-made soups for the event.  Those who attend are asked to donate the amount of money that they would have spent on a meal for the evening, with the proceeds going to help defray the cost of running the daily soup kitchen operation at St. Patrick’s Church in Newburgh.

FIRST GRADE ASKED TO HELP: I have mentioned several times in earlier notes that we would be collecting canned and packaged food items through the year to donate to St. Patrick’s Soup Kitchen and Mary’s Hope Food Pantry. To make the collection process more organized (and easier to remember), we are asking that donations be made by one different class each week. This week, families of our 1^st grade students are asked to donate food items, which will be brought down to St. Patrick’s next Wednesday.

SUM FUN APPLICATIONS NOW AVAILABLE: The spring-like (finally) weather this week should serve as a reminder that summer is not that far away. What is even closer is the early discount deadline for submitting applications for our summer camp program, Summer FUNdamentals.  Full application packages have been sent out this week to those who have submitted a completed interest survey form. If you don’t receive an application by early next week, and want to sign up your child, please call our main office number, 569-3494.

NO EXTRA EASTER WEEK SCHOOL DAYS PLANNED:  Last month I suggested that we might have to attend school an extra day or two during Easter Week to make up for excessive snow days used. There is still a possibility of having to add a day or two at the end of the school year, but Easter Week will not be affected. School will closed for our Easter break at 11:15 a.m. on Easter Wednesday, March 31^st, and open again on April 12^th.

“The only certain measure of success is to do much more than is expected of you.”-O. Mandino

March 15, 2010

Dear Parents/Guardians, Students and Friends of Bishop Dunn,

       Last year, when I wrote about our annual goods and services auction, I remember commenting that, even if we didn’t need the money that it produces to balance our budget, this massive undertaking would be worth the effort because of the wonderful opportunity it provides for our parents and friends of the school to come together to show their support for all that is done here for their children – and, more and more in recent years, for our staff and our students to show off a little some of the beautiful things they do at Bishop Dunn to merit that support. That connection was even more evident this past Friday, as the massive effort by Sister Frances and her core committee of staff and volunteers resulted in another well-attended and thoroughly enjoyable event.

       It didn’t quite come to me until well into the evening, however, how critical that connection has become, especially as we struggle with a school budget that is tighter than ever, and as our parents and the businesses that have come to support us, continue to struggle as well, through an economic recession that has yet to truly turn the corner, despite what any national polls might tell you. Because of the stalled economy, there were less donations from outside our school community from which to bid this year, such as New York City theater tickets and the major league baseball games, which made our “homegrown” items, like the wonderfully creative class gifts produced under the direction of our art teacher, Mrs. Donna DelConte, and a host of parent volunteers, and the dozens of other goods and services contributed by our own staff and parents, even more important in bringing in the revenues needed to fund our school operations. It will probably be at least another week before the final financial tally for this year’s auction is known, but if the amazingly generous response and enthusiastic bidding participation by all who attended Friday’s event were any indication, all the hard work put in since planning for the big event began in September, will have certainly been worth the effort again, even if only to further cement that bond between community and school!

         When I get the revenue total, I will also provide a complete list of the names of all the other volunteers who helped make this year’s auction such a success. In the meantime, I can’t let the opportunity pass to express my deepest and most admiring appreciation to our development director, Sister Frances, our assistant director, Susan Dennis, the auction chairperson, Jean Galli, and the other “core committee” members, Molly Whritner, Dorothy Cooke, and Heather McElduff for their hundreds and hundreds of hours of work on this year’s event.

***

CHEERS AND CONGRATULATIONS: The culmination of another six months worth of hard work was on display Saturday night when our Junior Varsity and Varsity Cheerleaders performed at the season-ending Orange County Parochial School League Competition. I am extremely pleased to report that the Varsity Girls placed second in their competition, narrowly losing in the scoring to Sacred Heart of Monroe! Congratulations for the winning effort to the girls: Emma Anderson, Lauren Bayer, Nadia Delisfort, Jenna DiVenuto, Carly Feldstein, Ally Galli, Tayler Kissam, Annamarie Murillo and Marissa Zuccardo, and to their coach, Karen Powles, and her assistant, K.C. Powles. Cheers, as well, for their fine showing to the JV girls:  Kayli Berardinelli, Kiana Carver, Nicole Case, Cassie Cook, Alexa DiVenuto, Kailey Loughran, Gracie McElduff, Emily Ramos, Mia Serrano, Cora Stepakoff, Iris Stewart, Bridget Urbanski, Patricia Whelan, Mackenzie Wyant, and Nicole Wyant-Healey, and to their coaches, Suzette Wyant and Melissa Wyant. With only two varsity girls graduating, and the inspiration to build on from this year’s effort, I am already anticipating a “banner” season in 2010-2011!

SOUP AND BREAD SUPPER READIED: Parents are reminded that our Annual Soup and Bread Supper will be held this Thursday, March 18^th, in our gym, beginning at 6:30 p.m. Many of our parents and staff members prepare delicious home-made soups for the event.  Those who attend are asked to donate the amount of money that they would have spent on a meal for the evening, with the proceeds going to help defray the cost of running the daily soup kitchen operation at St. Patrick’s Church in Newburgh.

RE-REGISTRATION INFORMATION NEEDED: Finally, I wanted to thank all the parents who have now sent in completed re-registration forms and fees, but need to remind others who haven’t to do so as soon as possible. In case you lost the first one, another form and tuition schedule is included below.

BISHOP DUNN MEMORIAL SCHOOL 2010-2011 TUITION RATES

Pre-K through 5^th Grades:      $5,200 annually for first child (over 10-month billing cycle)

                                                $4,215 annually for second child

                                                $2,800 annually for third child

Annual books/supplies fee - $90 for Pre-K students; $175 for all others   TMS annual handling fee - $42 per family*

6^th through 8^th Grades:  $5,695 annually for first child (over 10-month billing cycle)

                                                $4,215 annually for second child

                                                $2,800 annually for third child

Annual books/supplies fee - $175 per student   TMS annual handling fee - $42 per family*

Special Education:                    $7,330 annually (over 10-month billing cycle)

Annual books/supplies fee - $175 per student   TMS annual handling fee - $42 per family*

TUITION POLICY

1. Billing is done through the Tuition Management Systems (TMS) collection service over a 10-month period from June through March.

2. *The $42 annual handling fee charged by will be waived by Bishop Dunn if payments are made through direct deposit.

3.  Payment plans will remain the same as last year, for program participants in good standing, unless you notify Bishop Dunn directly that you would like to change to a direct deposit plan or adjust your payment schedule.

SPECIAL NOTE: ALL FAMILIES ARE REQUIRED TO MAKE TUITION PAYMENTS THROUGH THE TMS BILLING SERVICE WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THOSE WHO SUBMIT FULL TUITION PAYMENT DIRECTLY TO BISHOP DUNN BY JULY 1^ST.

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2010-2011 Bishop Dunn Re-registration Confirmation Form

PLEASE RESPOND NO LATER THAN MARCH 17, 2010

Attention: Sister Frances Irene Fair, Development Director

___ My child/children _________________________ will return to BDMS for the 2010-2011 school year in grade(s) ______. Enclosed is the non-refundable $100 re-registration fee for each eligible child.

___ My child/children _________________________ will NOT be returning to BDMS for the 2010-2011 school year.

School district where your family resides __________________________________________

___ $100 deposit attached – Check# ____________   Date form received ________________

Parent(s) Signature(s) ________________________  Date form sent ____________________

“Education is the soul of a society as it passes from one generation to the next.”– G.K.Chesterton 

March 11, 2010

Dear Parents/Guardians, Students and Friends of Bishop Dunn,

      By the time you read this note, you should have received one (two, three, or four…you know the drill) of our IRIS (Immediate Response Information System) messages requesting your attendance at our 19^th Annual Goods and Services Auction this coming Friday, March 12^th, at Anthony’s Pier 9 in New Windsor. You might have been a little surprised that we used this method, normally reserved mainly for emergency notices, for something that obviously didn’t require an “immediate response.” As you might have already surmised from my newsletter on Monday and earlier notices, however, while acting on our auction plea does not technically qualify as an “emergency” response, your decision to join us Friday is as important to the continued success of our school as any snow closing cooperation could ever be. So I hoped that you took the time to listen to the short but wonderfully descriptive message from Mrs. Jean Galli, the coordinator of this big event, who has worked so tirelessly with dozens of other volunteers for more than four (five, six…) months to amass the more than 100 items that will be up for bid, and, along the way, also find time to put together such a super night of food, drink and fun, that you definitely will enjoy, even if you take nothing home at evening’s end.  

       Still need a few more words of incentive to attend the auction? How about these? Yankees seats…Hot-air balloon rides…Week at Disney…Wine of the Month Club! Need more encouragement?  Check the Development Office link on our website, www.bdms.org, for a list of other major items that will be up for bid, along with a more detailed menu of dining items that will be available during the program. You can still reserve a table for the evening or purchase individual tickets in advance by calling our Development Office at 569-3496. Tickets, which are $25 each, will also be available at the door. Refreshments will begin flowing at 6:30 p.m. when the auction preview opens. Bidding will start at 7:30 p.m.

***

COME CHEER OUR CHEERLEADERS: Monday’s email newsletter home already included this information, but it’s definitely worth another reminder that this Saturday, beginning at 6 p.m., the Junior Varsity and Varsity teams will take part in the Orange County Parochial School League Championship Competition. The event will take place at Mount Saint Mary College’s Kaplan Center. Please come out and cheer them on!

WINNNG EFFORT: Congratulations to Ariana Tadayon, a 7^th grader at Bishop Dunn, who was recently named a 2^nd place winner in the 23^rd Annual Countywide Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Prevention Poster Contest, sponsored by the Alcoholism & Drug Abuse Council of Orange County. She was one of 1,600 students from around the county to submit posters in the competition. Winners of the poster contest will be recognized in an award ceremony on Friday, April 9^th, at the Paramount Theater in Middletown.

SOUP AND BREAD SUPPER RESCHEDULED: This is a second reminder that our Annual Soup and Bread Supper , which was postponed last week , has been rescheduled for Thursday, March 18^th in our gym, beginning at 6:30 p.m. Many of our parents and staff members prepare delicious home-made soups for the event.  Those who attend are asked to donate the amount of money that they would have spent on a meal for the evening, with the proceeds going to help defray the cost of running the daily soup kitchen operation at St. Patrick’s Church in Newburgh.

EASTER SWEETS, TREATS NEEDED: As has been done for the last three years, parent volunteers are seeking donations of Easter baskets and goodies to fill them, so that they can be given to St. Mary’s and St. Patrick’s churches to pass along to needy children in the city. Any families interested in taking part are asked to send in baskets, grass, chocolate bunnies and other Easter candy by Monday, March 29^th. The baskets will be put together the following Wednesday morning. Anyone interested in helping to assemble the baskets or donating items may contact Danielle Crinieri at 567-6769.

SACREMENTAL SPONSOR THANKED: In Monday’s newsletter I inadvertently left Mrs. Donna Perk off the list of those who helped prepare three of our older students to receive the Sacraments of Baptism, Penance, and First Communion this past weekend. Not only did Mrs. Perk and her husband sponsor one of the students, but as the 7^th grade Religion instructor, she also helped two of the students prepare for receiving the sacraments.

“In the end, there are no mistakes. There is only yearning and learning.”– D. Zadra 

March 8, 2010

Dear Parents/Guardians, Students and Friends of Bishop Dunn,

      I know that the weather finally took a decided turn toward spring this past weekend, but you can’t convince me that you still wouldn’t enjoy some relief from the winter blues that have enveloped our area since 2010 began. I have a perfect solution! Why not gather together a bunch of good friends and kick off the new year again - this time “Chinese style” - by making plans to attend our 19^th Annual Goods and Services Auction at Anthony’s Pier 9 in New Windsor this Friday, March 12^th. Even if you don’t take home any of the more than one hundreds great items that will be up for bid, which includes tickets to Sting and Ringo Star concerts at Bethel Woods, and to the popular “Jersey  Boys” Broadway show, along with dozens of gift certificates to local restaurants and stores, I can guarantee you’ll get more than your money’s worth for the cost of admission thanks to the delicious buffet spread being prepared for our “Year of the Tiger” themed celebration, which will include everything from Almond and Honey Mustard Chicken and Coconut Shrimp to Brie and Raspberry en Croute and Tapanade on Crostini. The best part of the evening is that, thanks to your generosity, you will be helping support our school, and our children in the process.

       To whet your appetite for our most important fund-raising and fun-producing event of the year, check the Development Office link on our website, www.bdms.org, for a list of some of the major items that will be up for bid, along with a more detailed menu of dining items that will be available during the program. You can still reserve a table for evening or purchase individual tickets in advance by calling our Development Office at 569-3496. Tickets, which are $25 each, will also be available at the door. Refreshments will begin flowing at 6:30 p.m. when the auction preview opens. Bidding will start at 7:30 p.m. 

***

BITTER END: Two days after a very frustrating end to an outstanding Varsity Boys basketball season, I realize why I still can’t get past my disappointment. It is because, with their loss Saturday against a team they should have/could have beaten with a few well-deserved breaks and a fairer treatment by the all-too-human adults around them, that I have been deprived of my last chance to watch the boys, especially the 8^th grade core of the team, perform with the kind of pure joy for the game, and, in their finest moments, the best sense of teamwork that I have seen in all the years I have been so intimately involved in our students’ athletic lives. I hope today that the boys and their coaches have been able to get past their own disappointment, and pray for many more joyful moments for them in their future as they continue to develop their individual talents and experience the joy of successful teamwork.

SWEET BEGINNING: I have to confess that I might have still been depressed following our boys’ team loss Saturday, if I had not had the good fortune to attend an even more important and joyous event involving our students later that busy afternoon. At the 4 p.m. Mass at St. Mary’s Church, 8^th grader George Wyand, 7^th grader Carly Feldstein, and 6^th grader Henry Wyand, received their First Communion in a beautiful service officiated by Father Bill Scafidi. The day was virtually a “triple play” for their faith, since the three students were baptized in the morning and had their First Penance with Father Bill earlier in the afternoon before becoming full-fledged Communicants in the Catholic Church at Mass. Congratulations to George, Carly, and Henry for making the very grown-up decision to embrace the Catholic faith, and to their parents for providing the support and guidance needed to bring them to their important stage of their spiritual lives. Special thanks to Mrs. Susan Trieste, our upper grade religious education director, for organizing the special day and for all the instruction that she provided in preparing the students for the Sacraments.

FOOD PANTRY NEEDS STOCKING: I have mentioned several times in earlier notes that we would be collecting canned and packaged food items through the year to donate to St. Patrick’s Soup Kitchen and Mary’s Hope Food Pantry. To make the collection process more organized (and easier to remember), we are asking that donations be made by one different class each week. This week, families of our kindergarten students are asked to donate food items, which will be brought down to St. Patrick’s next Wednesday.

COME CHEER OUR CHEERLEADERS: While the season has ended for our basketball teams, the cheerleaders are still going strong. This Saturday, beginning at 6 p.m., the Junior Varsity and Varsity teams will take part in the Orange County Parochial School League Championship Competition. The event will take place at Mount Saint Mary College’s Kaplan Center. Please come out and cheer them on!

SPORTS STARS SELECTED: In connection with the end of the regular 2009-2010 basketball and cheerleading season, I am pleased to announce the selection of this year’s all-stars for the Orange County Parochial School League. Selected by their coaches for their outstanding athletic effort on the court were: Nicolas Mongelli and Edward Muschio for the Junior Varsity Boys; Cassie Cook and Alexandra Ellingson for the Junior Varsity Girls; Morgan Jackson and Chris Introcaso for the Varsity Boys; Gracie Foster and Kate Mead for the Varsity Girls; Emma Anderson and Taylor Kissam for the Varsity cheerleading team, and Kayli Berardinelli and Mackenzie Wyant for the Junior Varsity cheerleaders. The Bishop Dunn students will be honored at the awards ceremony following the league’s championship games on Sunday, March 14th, at Mount Saint Mary College’s Kaplan Recreation Center. They will also compete in division all-star games planned after the end of the playoffs. Scheduled to be honored, as well, at the Kaplan Center ceremonies will be the 6^th and 8^th grade academic all-star for each team in the league. Selected as academic all-stars for Bishop Dunn for having the highest grade point average in their class through the first two quarters of this year were: Brian Rhee for the Junior Varsity Boys; Kayli Berardinelli for the Junior Varsity Girls; Kailey Loughran for the Junior Varsity Cheerleaders; Ian Scully for the Varsity Boys; Kailyn Caldwell for the Varsity Girls, and Emma Anderson for the Varsity Cheerleaders. Congratulations to all!

“We could never learn to be brave and patient, if there were only joy in the world.”– Helen Keller

March 2, 2010

Dear Parents/Guardians, Students and Friends of Bishop Dunn,

     Trying hard (sometimes harder than others) to keep things in perspective is the only way to move forward…and to keep one’s faith through adversity. Each time in this past very trying week, when I felt exhausted from shoveling a seemingly endless amount of snow, worried excessively about losing a freezer-full of food, or struggled to think warm  and clean thoughts while sitting in a house without heat or water to take a shower, I kept reminding myself…there are many more people in the Mid-Hudson who have it worse than me, and many, many millions more around the world who will never have a warm home, or clean water, or enough food from one day to the next, let alone enough to fill a freezer. Putting everything in perspective now, it was a very difficult week that I know many of us experienced, but I hope you all share with me in thanking God that we live a life that is blessed with much more good than bad.  I am also reasonably confident that you are all just as thankful that life is back to normal (relatively), and hopeful, as I am that we won’t be so inconvenienced again – or at least not this year!  

***

ABOUT THAT EXTRA SNOW DAY: First, I want to apologize for not being enough of a maverick to go against Newburgh’s “suggestion” on Monday and open school. There were some unresolved street access and downed power line issues that caused some concern in making a decision to go along with the city district and stay closed an extra day, but part of the decision was also based on my own inability to move quickly enough in getting in touch with other staff members who, like me, were without power, phones, and Internet access late into the weekend.  In any case, we now have to find days to make up for the excess number of snow/bad weather/unplanned school closing days that have been used this year. One option being considered is to add a day or more to the end of the school year so that we close on Thursday, June 24^th, or Friday, June 25^th, if necessary. Since it is only March 2^nd, if we have any more snow days, we then may also need to cut into our Easter break, with one option being to come in on Holy Thursday (March 31^st) for a half day. I will provide confirmation about our final decision on “give back” days in an upcoming newsletter.

PLAYOFFS CONTINUE: Congratulations to all our basketball team members (and their parents) for keeping up with all the crazy storm related schedule changes this past weekend. Our Girls Varsity unfortunately suffered a forfeit because enough girls couldn’t be gathered for a game rescheduled to Sunday. The JV Girls won their first playoff round in an exciting double-overtime battle, but then lost when they had to return several hours later to play a second game. The Boys JV team won their game in the final minute on Sunday, and will return to Sacred Heart in Newburgh for a second round game on Thursday, March 4^th, at 6:30 p.m. The Varsity Boys in their banner game Sunday, played an incredible first half against the best team in the league to tie St. John’s, but wasn’t able to maintain their intensity and lost the regular league championship. Fortunately, the boys will get another chance when their own playoff run begins this coming Saturday, March 6^th, in a 1:30 p.m. game at Burke High School in Goshen. Congratulations in the Varsity Boys’ loss Sunday to 7^th grader Brandon Rawlins, who was honored as the best defensive player of the championship game!

HONOR BAND KEEPS GROWING: I am pleased to report that we had more students than ever selected to take part in this year’s Mid-Hudson Valley Catholic School Honor Band concert, scheduled to take place this coming Sunday, March 7^th, at 1 p.m. at Our Lady of Lourdes High School in Poughkeepsie. Named from Bishop Dunn in a group of the “best of the best” musicians from the Catholic schools around the region are Sean Booker, Michael Cooke, Jordan Crinieri, Alexandra Ellingson, Jordan Giordano, Sean Hertel, Gabriella Javinett, George Konno, Sarah Palmatier, Aaron Supple and Ryan Walker. Sean, Gabriella, George and Ryan were also named to participate in the special Honor Band Wind Ensemble.

SOUP AND BREAD SUPPER RESCHEDULED: Because we were not sure how many of our “contributors” would be able cook, considering all the power outages that had still not been resolved around the region today, our Annual Soup and Bread Supper , which was planned for this Thursday, has been rescheduled for March 18^th .

CATCHING  UP: Finally, because I'm guessing you might not have had power in your home to check this site last week, I have posted here both this week's newsletter and last week's second note.

 “Success is not achieving what you aim at, but aiming at what you ought to achieve.”- R.F.Horton

February 25, 2010

Dear Parents/Guardians, Students and Friends of Bishop Dunn,

     As I said I would do, following my earlier note home on Monday in which I congratulated our Boys Varsity team for its top division finish this year, I wanted to do a second newsletter this week, acknowledging the rest of our basketball and cheerleading team members and their coaches, before their playoff games get underway this weekend. Win or lose, they should all be proud of the progress they have already made this season, thanks to the outstanding direction, patience and persistence of their coaches, in developing their individual skills and in growing as team players since beginning practices way back in September. Members of the team and their coaches are: Junior Varsity Boys: Coaches Lou Mongelli, Tony Jackson and Paul DeMeo, and players: Ryan Bayer, Charles Benfer, Denzel Booker, Adrian Broe, Jack Cuneo, Thomas DeMeo, Will Davis, Nick George, Jordan Giordano, Alex Gormley, Ryan Guarneri, Mark Heidmann, Troy Lois, Danny McLoughlin, Nick Mongelli, Sam Mongelli, Kyle Morehead, Edward Muschio, Jack O’Brien, Brian Rhee, Matteo Russo, Sam Schorno, Lukas Scully, Stanley Urbanski and Freddie Watson; Junior Varsity Girls: Coaches Mark Ellingson and Jim Crinieri, and players: Kayli Berardinelli, Danielle Booker, Kiana Carver, Cassie Cook, Jordan Crinieri, Alexandra Ellingson, Isabelle Frank, Trisha Gollamudi, Sarah Palmatier, Tyler Peterkin, Emily Ramos, Anna Schorno, Cora Stepakoff, Bridget Urbanski, Mackenzie Wyant, and Nicole Wyant-Healy; Varsity Girls: Coaches Liz Damiano and Mark Ellingson; Players – Kailyn Caldwell, Toni Contini, Cassie Cook, Jordan Crinieri, Alexandra Ellingson, Cynthia Fioriti, Gracie Foster, Kate Mead, and Tess Stepakoff; Junior Varsity Cheerleaders: Coaches – Suzette Wyant and Melissa Wyant; Players – Kayli Berardinelli, Kiana Carver, Nicole Case, Cassie Cook, Alexa DiVenuto, Kailey Loughran, Gracie McElduff, Emily Ramos, Mia Serrano, Cora Stepakoff, Iris Stewart, Bridget Urbanski, Patricia Whelan, Mackenzie Wyant, and Nicole Wyant-Healey; Varsity Cheerleaders: Coach – Karen Powles; Players: Emma Anderson, Lauren Bayer, Nadia Delisfort, Jenna DiVenuto, Carly Feldstein, Ally Galli, Tayler Kissam, Annamarie Murillo and Marissa Zuccardo.

MISSED FROM LIST: In my newsletter Monday, Michael Irish, one of the sparkplugs off the bench, was inadvertently left off the list of our Varsity Boys basketball team. I apologize to Michael, and in advance, to anyone I might have mistakenly excluded from the list of players above.

OPENING PLAYOFF GAMES SET: The Orange County Parochial School League playoff schedule has now been set for this weekend, with all JV games at Sacred Heart in Newburgh, and Varsity games at John S. Burke High School in Goshen. Bishop Dunn’ Junior Varsity Boys will play Friday, March 26^th, at 6:30 p.m. and, if they win, they would play on Saturday, March 27^th, at 2:30 p.m. The Junior Varsity Girls will play Saturday, March 27^th, at 10 a.m., and, if they advance, they would play Sunday, March 28^th, at 1:30 p.m. The Varsity Girls are set to play on Saturday, March 27^th, at noon, and if they win, they would play Sunday, March 28^th at 10 a.m. The Varsity Boys’ Banner Game for the League Championship will take place on Sunday, March 28^th at 5:30 p.m.

***

REMINDER ABOUT CLASS GIFTS: With the date for our annual goods and services auction fast approaching, I have been asked to remind parents that we are still looking for donations that can be used to purchase theme-based gifts for each class. The gifts will be among the more than 100 items auctioned off at the March 12^th extravaganza.  
BENEFIT CONCERT PLANNED:  Finally, two of our very musically gifted students, 7^th graders Eliza Benfer and 4^th grader Ben Patsalos will be among the performers at a “Young Musicians Healing Haiti” benefit concert, scheduled to take place on Saturday, March 6^th from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Blue Martini restaurant on Front Street on the Newburgh waterfront. The suggested donation is $10. All proceeds will benefit the Vassar Haiti Project.