Sue Silverstein calls them her “babies” when they are not around, and she was thrilled to set up a visit of some of the refugees and other students following her over to Bishop Gibbons from Bishop Maginn, now closed.
“It was so nice to see my kids today,” ( most came over to help her unpack and store the ton of art supplies sent by the Army Of Good), “she wrote to me. They all got their new uniforms, met with the admissions staff, toured the building, and met some teachers and administrators. They said they felt loved and welcome.” And that is the truth.
(Photos by Sue Silverstein)
I don’t know where they get teachers like this, but everyone went out of their way to make these new kids – who have been through an awful lot of change and dislocation in their lives, feel very welcome.
Maria and I are going to Bishop Gibbons On Thursday, she’s helping Sue set up the newly donated sewing machines we are bringing, and I’m going to meet with Tricia White, the head of the English Department.
I’ve got what I hope is good news for her, 20 boxes of books are headed to Bishop Gibbons from Alaska, courtesy of Alys Curthane and the Bright Books Book Project of Alaska. Alys is also funding enough books for a student book fair – boxes of books they can look through and keep free of charge.
I don’t know how she did it, but Sue arranged for everyone who needed help getting a uniform to get one.
You might recall Say K Paw, a refugee student from Myanmar and one of Bishop Maginn’s best students.
She helped Sue clean up the art room and was happy with her new uniform. We helped pay her tuition when she was a freshman so she could stay at Bishop Maginn. Kathleen, an angel from the Army Of Good, sent $40,000 to Bishop Gibbons so she and others could stay at Bishop Gibbons. Some students also benefit from a Cabrine grant from the Albany Diocese.
She’s a senior now, planning on college.
(P.S. There is an upstairs suite of rooms at Bishop Gibbons once occupied by monks who taught at the school. It is vacant now, soon to be a new tech center. Word has it the floor is haunted, and ghosts have been spotted. I can’t wait to get up there.)
We’ve done a lot of good these past few months. More to come. And thank you.
I have been wondering about the principal from Bishop Maginn. Where is he now that the school is closed?
By the way, I’m so enjoying the photos of the flowers.
Loretta, it’s not my business to keep track of the principal, he is always there when I am there and is notoriously hard-working and dedicated. I gather he is there every day throughout the summer. I don’t keep track of him. Thanks for the good words about the flowers.