Significantly CSG PYC Collects Pennies to Help School in India Middle School Librarian, Beth Abramovitz, received the CSG travel grant to go to India to visit schools. As an extension of the Strong Girls Strong World program, the Program for Young Children organized a “Penny Collection” to raise money for school supplies for students in India. Abramovitz visited the PYC classrooms to show where India is on the map, showed them a rupee, and discussed what type of supplies the CSG girls thought she should purchase. The girls made flyers with drawings to send home to the PYC families with information about the penny drive. The girls sorted and counted the money they received. The pennies and coins were converted into cash, which Abramovitz graciously and enthusiastically accepted.
Ellen Hines ’27, Maria Sweeney ’28, Alonna Barnes ’28, Sarah Martin ’26, Isabella McIntyre ’26, and Erica Golden ’27 with the money collected by the PYC.
Over spring break, Abramovitz made the trip to India and visited several schools. Using the money, she purchased school supplies and delivered them to a slum school where all they had was a broken chalkboard. Upon her return, Abramovitz met with the entire PYC and showed the girls photos of a school that appeared similar to CSG where the students wore uniforms and had many resources. The girls were able to make connections in regard to the clothing, dining facilities and books. She then showed the school supplies she purchased and photos of the slum school that received the donations. The girls were touched when they were told that the teacher cried tears of joy.
Ali Maniace ’19 Wins National Writing Award
Beth Abramovitz, Middle School Librarian, with the supplies that the PYC’s pennies purchased.
top 1.5% in her age group in the Short Story category. Ali and the other National Medalists were honored onstage during the National Ceremony in June 2014 at Carnegie Hall.
Ali Maniace ’19 was a National
The Scholastic Art and Writing Awards have a very impressive
Gold Medal winner at the
legacy dating back to 1923. In 2014, this prestigious award and
National Level at the Scholastic
scholarship program had close to 255,000 submissions in 28
Inc. Art and Writing Awards for
categories. Noteworthy past writing winners include: Stephen
her short story, A Kinder Blue.
King, Robert McCloskey, Alan Arkin, Myla Goldberg, Truman
There were only 95 National
Capote, and Robert Redford.
medal winners chosen from all grade levels of the 1,594
Ali has been mentored by Lower School Literacy Specialist,
short story submissions. Only
Debbie Charna. Special thanks are extended to Veronica Leahy,
21 of those were awarded to
English Department Chair, and Andrea Cheng, award-winning
students in grades six and seven. This placed Ali in the
Ohio author and partner with the school, who both read and Ali Maniace ’19
commented on Ali’s writing piece.
FORTE ET GRATUM • AUTUMN 2014
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