Making a Difference Students help young learners with reading skills
Student groups continue Sweetheart tradition
In a unique partnership, students from De La Salle began working during the second semester with second and third graders at Rainbow Elementary School in the Clintondale Community School District. Seniors Gianluca Cavataio and Cristian Adragna and sophomores Thomas Smith and Andrew Jasukaitis worked with students on their reading skills. Christian Service Director Jo Marie Ragona arranged for the service opportunity.
Since 2013, students from De La Salle Collegiate have helped residents of the Sanctuary at Fraser Villa – a senior living community – enjoy a Valentine’s Day celebration. In February, nearly a dozen members of De La Salle’s Student Council and National Honor Society volunteered at the annual Sweetheart Dance, which has become a great opportunity for students and residents to socialize, have fun, and enjoy some music. It’s the fourth year that the two student leadership organizations have collaborated on this remarkable evening chaperoned by English teachers Annmarie Michol and Traci Smith. De La Salle students who participated in the dance were seniors Jarod Amparo, Noah Cole, Jacob Cosart, Justin Desmet, Andrew Newton, and Joey Opolski; juniors Joshua Hoenscheid and Gabriel Lueck; sophomores Nathan Troszak and Josh Weiss; and freshman George Gardey.
Students at Rainbow Elementary
“Service is a huge component of both organizations,” Michol said. “The boys sat and had meaningful conversations with the residents and they danced with them and escorted them onto the dance floor. In addition, they took care of any needs they had.”
Sweetheart Dance at Fraser Villa
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