44 The Queens Courier • CATHOLIC SCHOOL • JANUARY 14, 2016 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.qns.com A BUSY MONTH AT ST. FRANCIS PREP The first few weeks of 2016 are as busy as ever at St. Francis Prep, a school that is highly regarded for both its rigorous academic program, as well as its culture of being socially conscious when it comes to trials and hurldes in the world. Prep’s students are at once, immensley talented and very giving, and much of what’s happening in January paints a very clear picture of just how well the school does in educating the whole student. On January 15th, Prep students from the Movement for Performers, Theater Design and Production, and Senior Acting classes will be presenting their annual Performing Arts Showcase. The performance’s theme is “That ‘80’s Show,” and captures the decade culturally and socially, as well a recreating what was prevalent in entertainment at the time. The show will revisit MTV, the Space Shuttle program, and the AIDs epidemic, as well as highlight fashion and music from the decade. The centerpiece of the night will be an acting segment that is set during the Iran- Iraq war. This emotionally powerful piece will utilize original choreography by Prep faculty member, Donna Mejia, as well as film and technolgy. The performance begins at 8PM, and general admission tickets are $5.00. The performance will be held in the Brother Ralph Clifford Memorial Auditorium. Additionally, Prep students will be sharing their gifts when they present Prep’s annual talent show, “Prep’s Got Talent.” The show is on Friday, January 22nd, and begins at 7PM. General admission tickets are $5.00. The performance will also be held in the Brother Ralph Clifford Memorial Auditorium. On Saturday, January 16th, Prep will be holding their annual Model United Nations Conference. This is the ninth year Prep has hosted. Students are involved in role play as they represent different countries and work collaboratively to resolve issues in various committees. Examples of committees are the Security Council or Space Committee. The day will run from 9AM to 8PM. In all 200 students representing 8 schools from New York City and Long Island will be participating. On January 21st, Prep students will be participating in a Midnight Run. According to their website, “Midnight Run is a volunteer organization dedicated to finding common ground between the housed and the homeless. In over 1,000 relief missions per year, Midnight Run volunteers from churches, synagogues, schools and other civic groups distribute food, clothing, blankets and personal care items to the homeless poor on the streets of New York City. The latenight relief efforts create a forum for trust, sharing, understanding and affection. That human exchange, rather than the exchange of goods, is the essence of the Midnight Run mission. Midnight Run is not a solution to homelessness. Our goal is to forge a bond between housed and homeless people by establishing a foundation of sharing and caring from which solutions may evolve. Through Midnight Run, volunteers come to see the homeless as real people, not a commodity. And homeless men and women learn that many mainstream adults and teenagers have commitments and concerns that go beyond their own lives and families.” Approximately 20 students, and 4 faculty members will be participating. According to Prep’s website, “The most powerful part of the experience is distributing the donations directly to people living on the streets in Manhattan. We try to make sure every sandwich bag or cup of coffee is accompanied with a smile and usually we receive a heartfelt thank you.” There are four Midnight Runs a year, and students are encouraged to write an online reflection after their experience. And finally, on February 6th, St. Francis Prep’s Parents’ Guild will present Gary Lewis and the Playboys at Prep’s Annual Oldies Dance. “… Gary Lewis and The Playboys were discovered by producer Snuff Garret. Before long, with the producer/ arranger team of Garrett and Leon Russell behind them, they took their first single, This Diamond Ring straight to number one. After their second hit titled Count Me In went to number two, Gary and the band proved that they would be a continued success. They followed with more Top 10 songs such as Save Your Heart For Me, Everybody Loves A Clown, She’s Just My Style, Sure Gonna Miss Her, and many more. In their career, Gary Lewis and the Playboys racked up 8 Gold Singles, 17 Top 40 Hits, 4 Gold Albums and 45 Million records sold worldwide.” Prep’s Parents’ Guild, “provides a venue for social and service events in the Franciscan tradition. The Parents’ Guild is comprised of a warm and welcoming community of men and women committed to their own spiritual growth and that of their children. The guild traditionally organizes fundraising events such as Atlantic City and Woodbury Commons bus trips, Modell’s shopping coupons twice a year, Night at the Races, Oldies Night, Christmas Party for our Friends with Special Needs and, the highlight of the year, the Annual Fashion Show and Dinner in the spring. Other events will be added as the year progresses. The Parents’ Guild has also expanded co-sponsored events with Campus Ministry. The third annual parent - student “Breakfast Run” to feed the homeless will take place on the Saturday before Thanksgiving. In addition, the annual Evening of Lenten Reflection and Spring Family Retreat have also been planned as joint efforts. The Parents’ Guild fundraising events are open to all.” $40 admission to the event includes dancing, hero sandwiches, salads, snacks, coffee, and desert. There are also numerous contests and raffles, including a first prize of 5 nights for two in Curacao. For information, please call (718) 423-8810, x324 or email parentsguild@sfponline.org In all, a very busy, but very fulfilling month for the St. Francis Prep community! For more information, please contact: Performing Arts Showcase: Mrs. Jeanne Buccino, Art Department Chirperson, (718) 423-8810, x218, or jbuccino@sfponline.org Ms. Donna Mejia, Performing Arts Instructor, (718) 423-8810, x218, or dmejia@sfponline.org “Prep’s Got Talent” Mr. David Ganci, Director of Student Activities, (718) 423-8810, x224, or dganci@sfponline.org Model UN Conference: Mr. Charles Jardines, Model UN Moderator, (718) 423-8810, x236, or cjardines@sfponline.org Parents’ Guild Oldies Dance” (718) 423-8810, x324 or email parentsguild@sfponline. org. St. Francis Prep students at a recent theater rehearsal St. Francis Prep faculty students and faculty members prepare packages for a Midnight Run Gary Lewis and The Playboys Gary Lewis and The Playboys
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