School News: Essay contest award winner, parking lot gardens and more

Compiled by Jessica Marsala
Special to the Review
Fifth-graders Jaylen B. and Jasmine W. speaking with Charlie Bailey from Mahan Rykiel & Associates about the herbs. (Courtesy of Meghan Cosgrove)
 
Holy Angels students bring farm-to-table trend to streets of Baltimore
Fifth-grade science students at Holy Angels Catholic School in Baltimore brought a garden to parking spaces in Baltimore Sept. 19, as part of the city-wide “PARK(ing) Day.” The annual event challenges people to rethink the way streets are used. The students’ space, themed “Farm-AS-Table,” invited visitors to learn more about gardening in the city.
The school activity was part of a service project at Holy Angels, where the materials from PARK(ing) Day will be reused to enhance the school garden. Mahan Rykiel Associates and Morgan State University architecture students partnered with the science class to design and transform the parking spaces on W. 36th Street in Baltimore.
Mount St. Mary’s philanthropists honored for their role advancing Catholic education in Frederick County
Friends of Catholic Education, Inc., awarded Bettie Delaplaine, a former trustee of Mount St. Mary’s University and her husband George, with the 2014 Father John McElroy Award Oct. 7 at the organization’s awards dinner, which was held this year at the Ceresville Mansion in Frederick.
Since 1992, the plague has been given to those, like Bettie and George, who have helped to advance Catholic education in Frederick County. According to the organization’s website, “If you want to touch the future…teach a child.” Aside from Mount St. Mary’s University, the Delaplaines also support local Catholic elementary and high schools.
 
 Peter Plamondon (from left), former Mount Saint Mary’s Trustee; Dr. Tom Powell, president, Mount Saint Mary’s University; Honorees George and Bettie Delapaline; F.O.C.E. Board President Carol Hinds; F.O.C.E. Executive Director Caroline Pugh; F.O.C.E. Board Vice President Al Edwards. (Courtesy of Caroline Pugh)
 
Frederick sixth-grader takes second at annual Catholic Daughters of the Americas essay contest

 Kay Morrow of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas (left), Isabel Gaynor and Principal Karen Smith
(Courtesy of Sheila Evers)
St. John Regional Catholic sixth-grader, Isabel Gaynor, recently took second place in the national level competition of the National Catholic Daughters of the Americas essay contest. Her essay, which was based on the one of the contest themes, Jesus Loves Us, How Do We Spread That Love?, earned her a certificate and a $50 reward.
In her essay, Gaynor compared the “contagious” love of Jesus, which can be demonstrated through “giving to the needy, caring for and helping others and loving all,” to the wave carried on through the audience at sporting events.

Mount de Sales Academy once again recognized as 2014 School of Excellence
The Catholic Education Honor Roll, which is currently managed by the Cardinal Newman Society, has recognized the Catonsville high school as a School of Excellence since 2004, when the Acton Institute first created the honor roll.
The award recognizes the Top 50 Catholic high schools in the U.S. for their “commitment to a strong Catholic identity and mission; prudent employment practices; first-rate teaching philosophy; and a well-rounded focus on raising up students who are not only academically prepared, but are also educated in civic responsibility and their Catholic faith,” according to a Mount de Sales press release.
 
St. Mary’s students make cards, collect snacks to give to returning troops
On Veteran’s Day, many St. Mary’s elementary school students will be at the gates of Baltimore Washington International airport to greet returning troops and to thank them for their service with snack bags and hand-made cards.
Of all the local schools that assist Operation Welcome Home Maryland with their mission, St. Mary’s has collected the highest number of snack donations. St. Mary’s students have also sent 100 boxes of snacks and other items, including Ranger Rosaries, to troops during their deployment.
Operation Welcome Home Maryland, which was founded by Kathy Thorp, a parishioner of St. Mary’s in 2007, has greeted over 600,000 returning service members since its founding, according to an email from Thorp.  
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