The Catskill Chronicle

Story and photos by Carol Montana

LIBERTY, NY (February 2, 2013) – Five members of the media were honored at St. Peter’s Regional School in Liberty, NY during a Communication Day Program as part of National Catholic Schools Week.

Representing radio at the January 31 event were Mike Sakell, Regina Hensley, and Dawn Ciorciari all of Thunder 102, print was represented by Kathy Daley of “The Sullivan County Democrat” and “Catholic New York,” and Carol Montana from “The Catskill Chronicle” was there on behalf of online media. (Photo above by Debbie Totten-Van Wolde)

Led by Principal Lisa Layman, the half-hour assembly and celebration included all 78 students of the regional Catholic School, Assistant Principal Mike O’Kane, five teachers, five aides, the school nurse and the school and church secretaries.

Catholic Schools Week was celebrated form January 27 through February 2, 2013 and included a Catholic Schools Week Mass, a Cultural Diversity Lunch enjoyed by the students and over 35 of their parents who brought foods from Italy, Ireland, Latin America, Asia, Africa, the Caribbean Islands, and other countries to celebrate their cultural heritage.

Mrs. Layman explained the “Service to Others Projects,” which the students take part in. They include the current project: “Warm Hearts, Warm Tummies,” in which the children and staff bring in hot chocolate, tea, coffee drinks and sugar; selling daffodils during February to benefit the American Cancer Society; collecting books for the Literacy Center in May and a food drive for St. Paul’s Lutheran Church Food Pantry in October. This past December, a Christmas tree i the lobby was hung with hundreds of gloves and scarves.

To start off the Communication Day Program, the K-5 grade students sang “All Are Welcome,” accompanied by teacher’s aide Debbie Palmarini on guitar. This was followed by Introduction and Comments by Mrs. Layman, who gave a thorough description of each represented organization: Thunder 102, The Sullivan County Democrat and The Catskill Chronicle. She mentioned that St. Gabriel is the patron Saint of Communication Workers. St. Gabriel is the Archangel, who brought the message to Mary that she was going to give birth to Jesus.

“You go out to so many venues and give so much to the community, we need to honor that you for that, you are unsung heroes, St. Gabriel was the unsung hero; he gave the most important message of all and you do that for our community each and every day.”

The students, many of whom were wearing hats made from newspapers, took over the program then with the song “Newspaper Mama” performed by all pre-K students, and a song called “This Little School of Mine” sung by students in K-3.

Each of the media representatives were presented with flowers, a frame with the words to the final song and a copy of all the newspaper articles.

The program ended with 4/5th grade students reading stories they wrote for their in-house newspaper called “The Follower.” Stories ranged from a report on weather to a comic strip and from a report on Catholic Schools Week to why Mrs. Layman is “The Boss.” There was a history of the school, a report on different tablets, an opinion column, a story on Sister Elizabeth Ann Seton, a book corner, a report on food in the lunchroom, and, of course, a SuperBowl story.

A school tour followed the performance part of the program.

Open Houses will be held on February 26 and 28, and there are additional dates in March. For more information call 845-292-7270 or visit St. Peter’s Regional School.

To see more photos or to purchase prints from St. Peter’s Celebrates the Media visit The Catskill Chronicle on Zenfolio.