These two remarkable young women – hailed by their public school teachers as among the smartest and hardest working students they have seen – just entered the freshmen class of Bishop Maginn High School.

The Army Of Good made this possible by raising tuition for them to stay in the school at least two more years. Da Blue is on the left, Ma is on the right. They are refugee students from Asia.

They both have some hard and painful stories to tell about their lives in refugee camps and their persecution and the persecution they suffered in their homelands.

In the sincere but halting voices – they are both shy – they told me what the love about their new school.

It is safe.

The teachers are nice.

The students are nice.

The classes are small.

They get the educational attention they need, and they both talked about how much easier it is to learn when you feel safe and accepted. In their middle school, their classes often were between 30 and 40 students, it was often difficult for them to follow the language and get help.

Despite that, they both ranked among the highest students in the school. They also suffered from fear and harassment – refugee students are often targeted in the public school, last year one has his hair set on fire, and a girl was hospitalized after a vicious beating.

This harassment has become more common since our political leaders have embraced its refugee persecution as a political tool. Almost any refugee student has stories to tell of name-calling, harassment, even violence.

I met these two girls at Hackett Middle School in May, their teacher Kathy Sosa recommended them so highly, I went to speak to Bishop Maginn Principal Mike Tolan.

He met with them, was much impressed, and admitted them on condition we would help raise some money for their tuition. We did. I thought you should meet and see every one of the young people whose lives you have changed.

And how often do we really get to change a life? I want to raise money for their final years of tuition – the school is flexible. And to help the other gifted refugee students who desperately want to be at Bishop Maginn and stay there.

If you wish to contribute to tuition for the eight children we wish to keep in the school (you’ll meet each one in the coming weeks), you can make a tax-deductible contribution directly to the school: Mike Tolan, Principal, Bishop Maginn High School, 75 Park Avenue, Albany, N.Y., 12202. Please mark your payment “Tuition.”

I am also raising money for a Monthly Free Pizza Lunch at Bishop Maginn, some of the students can’t afford the $2.50 a slice feel. It will cost $200 to offer free pizza plus salads to the entire student body, so nobody will be left out. I paid for the first free lunch, I’ve received funds for two more.

You can contribute to this lunch plan via Paypal, [email protected] or by check, Jon Katz, Free Pizza Fund, P.O. Box 205, Cambridge, N.Y., 12816. I expect little trouble funding a lunch a month, one day perhaps we can do it more frequently.

People can also contribute to the school very inexpensively by visiting the Bishop Maginn High School Wish List, two Amazon gift cards are being offered for purchase, one for $10, one for $25. This is an excellent way to start the day.

Thanks so much for your support. It lifted my heart to see these two wonderful young women so happy and safe. Dah Blue and Ma thank you.