CK Campus W h e r e t h e c o m m u n i t y c o m e s t o g e t h e r MPUS MPUS CK CAC CK CAThe spring season is a time of renewal and growth, physically, emotionally and spiritually. This year, four Christ the King High School (CTK) students received their First Communion, and another 11 students receive their Confirmation. Father Frank Spacek — a graduate of CTK in the Class of ’88 — presided over the First Communion Mass for students Malena Arevalo, Bryan Jerez, Alex Rivera, and Whyette Veira. CTK was also honored to have the Most Rev. Neil E. Tiedemann preside over the school’s last Mass of the school year, where he also celebrated the Sacrament of Confirmation of eleven students: Malena Arevalo, Brianna Bodai, Erika Espinal, Eric Estevez, Elizabeth Gordillo, Bryan Jerez, Jesikiyah Moore, Alex Rivera, Marilyn Salazar, John Santiago, and Whyette Veira. It was a wonderful and uplifting way for the students to end their school year. Learning to grow in your faith also involves helping to better the lives of others through community service, and the juniors at CTK embodied that growth when they participated in the Senior Almost Senior Prom. During the Senior Almost Senior Prom — which has been a community service program through the Campus Ministry, and led by Sister Elizabeth Graham for over 10 years — Juniors from CTK joined the senior citizens at the Dry Harbor Nursing Home in Middle Village on Thursday, June 8, for a fun-filled evening at a prom-like party. Students helped decorate the common room at the nursing home as the seniors made Bishop Neil E. Tiedemann conducting the last Mass of the school year. CTK’s First Communion recipients. CTK’s Confirmation recipients. MVP students participating in their Soctober event. MVP students wrapping gifts. The CTK Juniors at the Senior Almost Senior Prom. their way down to the party. A DJ was on hand playing music that spanned all decades, ensuring Christ the King and MVP students spring into community service that everyone enjoyed a night of T o g e t h e e n c r �� e m a �� e a d i f f e r e dancing, conversation, mingling, and of course, cake. Each year the residents look forward to the event with the Christ the King students, and the seniors were appreciative of this year’s students for their company for the evening. The CK Campus Ministry program offers students the opportunity to develop his or her own personal spiritual life as individuals and in community with others. “Christ the King is proud of its Campus Ministry not only for the spiritual leadership it provides in growing the Catholic faith, but also for encouraging our students to give back to their community,” said CTK Principal Peter Mannarino. “Whether it’s t h r o u g h the collection of clothes and food for the poor or interacting with seniors at a local nursing home, the Campus Ministry teaches faith through the service of others.” The CTK students are not the only ones on the campus that are involved in community service. For the last three years, members of the Middle Village Preparatory (MVP) National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) have given back to the community in various ways. The NJHS is the nation’s premier organization created to recognize outstanding middle school students in and out of the classroom. The MVP Chapter of NJHS honors those students who have displayed excellence in the areas of Scholarship, Leadership, Service, Character, and Citizenship. In order to be accepted into the NJHS, students must have a 90 percent or higher cumulative GPA from the first and second trimesters. Not only does NJHS recognize students for their academic accomplishments, but it also challenges students to grow further through involvement in school activities and community service. As part of the membership requirements, each student must complete 35 hours of community service — 10 of those hours are required to be peer tutoring. The remaining hours must be dedicated to an outside cause or organization. During the school year the organization runs food drives, fundraising for UNICEF and Relay for Life, among other local causes. Ms. Maiken Bursig, moderator of the MVP Chapter is continually impressed with the students’ efforts in their community service. As a founding faculty member of MVP and a science teacher at the charter school, Ms. Bursig is happy knowing that her students care to help those who are less fortunate and have difficult circumstances. “It’s amazing to see how these students manage their academics while balancing their commitment to the community,” Ms. Bursig said. This year the MVP Chapter inducted 30 new members, for a total of 100 students who are ready to grow and make a difference in their community. Photos courtesy of Christ the King High School and MVP. Information provided by Margaret Tapalaga and Joe Charles. The 2017 NJHS students. ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������
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