44 THE QUEENS COURIER • KIDS & EDUCATION • JUNE 27, 2019 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
kids & education
SpoSnpsoonresdo rbeyd by
Flushing school receives Ambassadors Award
BY CARLOTTA MOHAMED
cmohamed@schnepsmedia.com
@QNS
St. Andrew Avellino Academy in
Flushing received a prestigious award
with a $100,000 grant for its music and
arts program that originated as an idea
by a committee of school parents and
parishioners more than 20 years ago.
Th e only academy to receive the
Ambassadors Award for the Fine Arts
by the Roman Catholic Diocese of
Brooklyn, St. Andrew Avellino’s music
program benefi ted from a collaboration
with the Aaron Copland School of
Music at Queens College. It was quickly
integrated into the educational curriculum
for kindergarten through fi ft h
grade.
Th e board of directors of St. Andrew
Avellino were very appreciative of
receiving the Ambassadors Award.
“As chairperson of the board of directors,
I’m extremely proud of our school
and the dedicated staff . For the past
20 years the music and art programs
have introduced our students to a more
well-rounded education,” said Lorenz
Arfsten. “In the future with the grants
received, our students will continue to
benefi t from an education that includes
and encourages participation in music
and art.”
Under the direction of Susan DeLeon,
the arts program has been an enormous
success with parents and students
alike when the refurbished art room was
opened 25 years ago. Since then, DeLeon
has enhanced the program by creating
an aft er-school art club for grades fi ve
through eight that meets throughout the
year, in addition to a successful evening
adult program.
St. Avellino’s all-inclusive aft er-school
programs include junior and senior chorus,
band ensemble, percussion, strings
and piano lessons. Each year, the students
Student Accounts- Checking & Savings
Our Student Banking Program1 is designed to fit the needs of today’s college students.
Our Student Statement Savings and Student Checking2 Accounts make it easy for
college students (depositor must be 18 years or older) to manage their finances and save
money. There’s no monthly fee, no minimum balance requirement and only $1.00 to
open the account. Student Checking even has Unlimited check writing.
Ask Us for More Details!
(877) 786-6560 • myNYCB.com
1Student Banking is available for personal accounts only and is free of maintenance and activity fees.
2Student Checking Accounts with a Visa® debit card are automatically enrolled in the Even >more Rewards
Program. For complete terms and conditions speak with a branch representative. Restrictions apply.
© New York Community Bank- Member FDIC
perform in two academy concerts.
Academy students have entered
numerous art contests held at St. Francis
Preparatory School in Fresh Meadows
and McGoldrick Library in Flushing. As
current contest winners, fi ft h-grade students
will display their artwork in the
library for next year. Th e annual Art
Fair Exhibition is one of the most highly
anticipated events at the academy
enjoyed by students and the entire parish
community.
Kimberly Larkin, the school chorus
director and curriculum adviser and
music program coordinator, wanted the
students to always make music and be
hands-on with the instruments.
In 1999, Larkin was asked by a current
board member of the Academy,
Donald Pirone, to collaborate on starting
a brand-new music program at the
school saying it was truly an opportunity
of a lifetime for her.
“I had attended a local Catholic elementary
school and during my tenure
there I yearned for a more extensive
and intensive music program aft er I discovered
my passion for music at a very
young age,” said Larkin. “To be able to
create and develop a program with such
tremendous support from the parents
and administration at this school was,
and still is, a dream. Receiving this grant
Courtesy of St. Andrew Avellino Catholic Academy
is such a blessing and it ensures the
continued growth and expansion of an
already strong music program for generations
of students to come.”
Today, the academy student chorus
performs every year at the Bayside
Holiday Parade, Christmas tree and
Hanukkah candle lighting, and St.
Mary’s Hospital for Children. Th e students
were also selected to perform the
Star-Spangled Banner at CitiField in
May 2017.
“Th e music and art programs are
an integral part of the excellent and
well-rounded curriculum at Saint
Andrew Avellino Catholic Academy,”
said Pirone. “Our seasonal concerts and
annual art festival are an inspiration to
all. We are grateful for our dedicated faculty,
and applaud the achievements of
our talented students.”
Th e academy plans to use grant funds
to redesign the art classroom with new
tables for better student workfl ow, in
addition to adding an interactive fl at
board and new innovative art supplies.
“I am thankful to be the administrator
of an Academy that has a superb art and
music program,” said Principal Debora
Hanna. “Th e grant will help us to continue
to enhance our program in order
to help our students fl ourish in the fi ne
arts.”
/myNYCB.com
/WWW.QNS.COM
link
link
