Bay Ridge

Kids invite grandparents to tea at St. Anselm Academy

February 4, 2016 By Paula Katinas Brooklyn Daily Eagle
Justin Kearney, 6, invited his grandparents, Anita and Gerard Kearney, to spend the morning with him at school. Eagle photos by Paula Katinas
Share this:

Students at St. Anselm Catholic Academy decided to forgo milk and cookies in favor of tea and biscuits on Thursday morning, but it wasn’t because their tastes in snacks had suddenly changed. It was because they had some very special guests they wanted to impress.

The children welcomed their grandparents to the Junior/Senior Tea, an annual event the academy, located at 365 83rd St. in Bay Ridge, holds to bring different generations together.

The academy’s Sister Meletia Hall was filled to capacity with young children and young-at-heart grandparents enjoying tea, coffee, milk, croissants, biscuits, waffles and other tasty treats.

Gerard and Anita Kearney were there with their 6-year-old grandson Justin Kearney. “It’s really nice of the school to do this. It lets the grandparents see what their grandchildren are doing in school,” Gerard told the Brooklyn Eagle.

Subscribe to our newsletters

“I think it’s a great idea. We’re having a lot of fun,” said Nick Mele, who shared a table with his 4-year-old granddaughter, Lea Mele.

“We’ve been having this event for many years. It’s one of our favorite traditions here at St. Anselm,” Home School Association President Fran Auletti told the Eagle.

Eighth-graders Stephanie Gutwirth, Mary Johnson and Sarah Owen pitched in to help serve the trays of food.

The Junior/Senior Tea was just one of many events St. Anselm Catholic Academy held to mark Catholic Schools Week (Jan. 31-Feb. 6).

The academy also held a Math Bee, breakfasts for Bay Ridge police and firefighters and an Open House event that offered guided tours of the school. On Friday, the academy had planned a Rosary Rally in which students and teachers would recite the Holy Rosary.

Schools all over the Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn sponsored events for Catholic Schools Week.

The week-long celebration of Catholic education goes far beyond the Brooklyn Diocese. “Catholic Schools Week is held throughout the country,” Principal James McKeon told the grandparents.

Sponsored by the National Catholic Education Association, Catholic Schools Week has become an annual tradition in many cities. The theme of this year’s celebration is “Catholic Schools: Communities of Faith, Knowledge and Service.”

The week gives schools a chance to highlight the strengths of a Catholic education, according to McKeon. “We do care about grades on standardized tests, but we also want our students to have strong values,” he said.

John Quaglione, chairman of the board of directors of St. Anselm Catholic Academy, told the grandparents that the academy’s administration is always “striving to make St. Anselm the best school it can be.”

 


Leave a Comment


Leave a Comment