There is an African proverb that says "Ora na azu nwa". The saying, believed to have originated from the Nigerian Igbo culture, means it takes a community/village to raise a child. The students at Ss. Cyril and Methodius School in Deer Park showed how the school community helped raise funds for the parish, which bears the same name.
The president of the SSCM Student Council, Mary Hovanec, presented Fr. Lee Descoteaux a $1,500 check for the Parish Renovation Campaign at Mass on Sunday. The $1.5 million campaign is raising money to replace roofs, the boiler and air conditioning compressors at the Deer Park Avenue church.
“This school is a parish school,” said Fr. Descoteaux, parish administrator, to the applauding churchgoers upon presentation of the check. “We thank you, our school, for your support of our parish. We love you.”
Find out what's happening in Deer Park-North Babylonfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The Student Council members worked hard throughout the year sponsoring various fundraisers for the campaign, according to moderators Ms. Karen Bravo and Mrs. Nicole Congro, who are also teachers at the school which houses nursery through eighth grade. Such events included raffles for Christmas and Super Bowl Baskets, Teacher for a Day, Extra Recess and a Basketball Tournament. The Student Council created flyers, decorated baskets and sold raffle tickets to students as well as contacted alumni seeking donations for the campaign. The Student Council’s goal for the Renovation Campaign was $1,000, according to Ms. Bravo, which it exceeded.
The Student Council also helped raise funds for other organizations this year, including UNICEF, CRS Operation Rice Bowl and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. According to Ms. Bravo, the Student Council met in September and brainstormed a list of possible fundraisers to present to the moderators and then to school principal Sr. Susan Snyder for approval.
Find out what's happening in Deer Park-North Babylonfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Besides Hovanec, the following students serve on the council- Anthony Grillo, vice president; Tockukw Okonkwo, treasurer and representatives- Lacey Troy, 8th grade; Julie Sandkuhl, 6th grade; Victoria Grillo, 5th grade; Victoria Arsenicos, 4th grade; and Patrick Vierling, 3rd grade.
The Renovation Campaign is close to meeting its goal. To date, there has been more than $1,275,500 pledged with over $305,000 in cash down payments from 775 parish families. The necessary improvements include replacing the roof on all four buildings including the school; changing the boiler which is more than 50 years old and running at 40 percent of capacity; replacing air conditioning compressors and fixing some of the church’s stain glass windows.
