pioneer NEWS BRIEFS
Fr. Mark Ciccone, Marissa Miyamoto ‘18, and Head of School Joe Sciuto
Annual “People of Providence” Drive Raises $5,000 for Guatemala Mission
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very year, the Providence High School community commemorates the season of Lent by participating in the annual “People of Providence Lenten Charity Drive.” Sponsored by Providence High School’s Campus Ministry Department, this annual event seeks to celebrate the legacy of the Sisters of Providence by raising fund to support a ministry which carries on their mission in the world today. This year, Providence High School joined Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center in supporting Providence Health International’s Guatemala Mission. Providence Health has been a great humanitarian presence in Guatemala for some years through their offering of life saving medical care to the inhabitants of one of this nation’s most impoverished regions. In an effort to do even more to curtail infant mortality in the villages served, Providence High School was invited to join other Providence Ministries in raising funds to provide clean water storage, sanitary latrines, and clean burning stoves for these communities.
Providence Singers lead by Kenneith McIntosh and accompanist Tracy Stroh
Providence Singers Earn First Place at Heritage Festival
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rovidence High School’s advanced choir, Providence Singers, traveled to San Diego for the Heritage Festival hosted by San Ysidro High School from March 31st – April 1st where they earned a first place award. The choir received a Gold Rating on stage, which means they scored between 90-100, and were named the Outstanding Choral Group for the entire competition. The Providence Singers were the highest overall scoring choir at the competition, which included local schools such as Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy, Hoover High School, Thousand Oaks High School, Hemet High School, and Fountain Valley High School to name a few. They also won the Adjudicator Award, which means they scored higher than 95. Three Providence soloists received Maestro Awards: Daphne Policarpio ‘19, Zoe Leyretana ‘18, and Alissa Goretsky ’18.
Throughout the season of Lent, the Providence High School community was invited to give up an unnecessary luxury such as coffee or candy, and to donate a portion of their money saved to the support of the Guatemala Mission. Students also had the opportunity to learn more about Providence Health and Services’ mission and humanitarian aid work through school wide assemblies and information sessions. Students enrolled in Providence’s Social Justice classes were also fortunate to hear a special guest lecture from Aimee Khuu, Senior Director of Providence Health International.
Additionally, the choir was the only school invited to the Festival of Gold competition at Carnegie Hall in New York City. Choral Director Marisa Rawlins-Bradfield, who gave birth to daughter Olivia on April 2nd, was unable to attend the competition but interim director Kenneith McIntosh and accompanist Tracy Stroh successfully assisted in leading the Providence Singers to their victory.
Pioneer Connections
Student homerooms participated in weekly spare change collections, and school clubs organized fundraiser events. PHS faculty and staff, as well as the Burbank community of the Sisters of Providence, also joined the students in the fundraising efforts. Together, Providence High School raised a grand total of $5,000 for the Guatemala Mission! Yet again, Providence High School has proven that “spare change can change lives!” 12
