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8 | on the mountain winter/spring 2012
Community
Service
By Emily Boronkay, Mountain Center
teacher, Community Service
Coordinator
T
he autumn of 2011 was exciting
for our revived community service
program. Approximately 70 students and
9 staff participated in a dozen events from
September to December. We started by
volunteering at a Special Olympics soccer
training event in Peekskill and in Decem-
ber collected coats to give away to people
in need of them in Newburgh.
In between Special Olympics and
coats, we’ve had a wonderful variety of
experiences. We have twice worked on
a build with Habitat for Humanity of
Newburgh. In conjunction with Moun-
tain Valley Guides, we travelled in kayaks
to clean trash off the river bank beaches.
Taras Ferencyvich, Outdoor Educa-
tion Director, led a Palisades Park trail
cleanup, post Hurricane Irene. We helped
direct runners and handed out water at
The Lion’s Club Fall Harvest Race that
raises money for Guiding Eyes for the
Blind.
At the Safe Harbors of the Hudson
Christmas party for the children of
Newburgh, we helped with greeting, at
the free arts and crafts table, and with
Santa photos. Our own history depart-
ment head, Jonathan Meisel, played
Santa. We worked with The Food Bank of
the Hudson Valley, participating in their
Walk to Fight Hunger, working in their
warehouse and helping with the Unstuff
the Bus event, unpacking eight buses full
of donated food.
One of the most exciting develop-
ments has been the start of a weekly
tutoring/homework support program
at the Center for Hope, an enrichment
program for Newburgh students from age
11 through high school. Every week it is a
privilege to witness the transformation of
students to world citizens as they step out
of themselves to help others. We have had
a great start and are looking forward to
more adventures in community service in
2012.
SKS
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News
Art Teacher to Publish Book Series
Grandparents Take the Campus
SKS Introduces First Annual Grandparents’ Day
An excited group of grandparents descended on campus last October to spend the
morning with their grandchildren. The special guests went to morning classes and
attended an all-school meeting to learn the unforeseen dangers of the Internet. Senior
Kara K. and Dwight H. shared their affection for SKS as they escorted all on a school
tour. After lunch and a special “Welcome Grandparents and Special Friends” cake
prepared by Chef Moises and his staff, the SKS Chorus led by Director Jim Rensink
provided a delightful musical interlude before our special guests departed.
A
rt teacher Ping Moroney will be publishing “Fun, Easy Chinese Characters,” a
series of ten books to be sold in China. The first book contains 100 characters. Mrs.
Moroney will illustrate each of the characters. Above is one example of her work.
In her spare time, she also teaches basic Mandarin to our students and assists the
Advancement Office with translating materials into Chinese, Japanese, and Taiwanese.
Senior Frank C. with his grandparents.