Sheri Booker, a 2004 graduate of Notre Dame of Maryland University in Baltimore, was recently awarded a NAACP Image Award in the category of Outstanding Literary Work. (From the ndm.edu website)Compiled by Elizabeth Lowe
ELowe@CatholicReview.org
This is a collection of school news from Catholic elementary and high schools as well as universities.
Notre Dame of Maryland University alumna wins NAACP Image award
Sheri Booker, a 2004 graduate of Notre Dame of Maryland University in Baltimore, was recently awarded a NAACP Image Award in the category of Outstanding Literary Work from a Debut Author for her memoir, “Nine Years Under: Coming of Age in an Inner City Funeral Home.”
Booker, a teacher at the Baltimore Leadership School for Young Women, received the award at a Feb. 21 ceremony.
“It means the world that I can bring this award back home to Baltimore, the national headquarters of the historic NAACP,” Booker said in a statement. “I share this honor with my beloved mother who passed just weeks ago. I’m also thrilled that my wonderful students at the Baltimore Leadership School for Young Women have the opportunity to witness the limitless opportunities that come with hard work, discipline and perseverance.”
“I am delighted for Sheri; but I’m not really surprised,” Dr. Susan Barber, chairwoman of Notre Dame’s history/political science department, said in a statement. “Sheri’s talent was quite evident when she was in my Women’s Studies course. She electrified the audience at the women’s prison when she recited her poetry for them.”
Booker’s book is based on her experiences working at a West Baltimore funeral home, beginning at age 15, according to Notre Dame. She didn’t know that a summer job would lead to nine years of immersion in a hidden world. Grieving from the death of a great aunt, Booker found the funeral home to be a place of comfort.
The John Carroll School’s lease extended
Baltimore Archbishop William E. Lori has approved the extension of The John Carroll School’s lease until 2037, the Bel Air School announced March 6.
The agreement allows John Carroll to remain in its current location and continue operating as Harford County’s only Catholic, independent high school, according to the school.
Archbishop Spalding’s varsity dance team finishes 13th in national competition
Archbishop Spalding High School’s varsity dance team recently placed 13th for their jazz routine at the Universal Dance Association National Dance Team Championship competition at the ESPN Zone at Walt Disney World in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., according to the Severn school.
Students from more than 350 high schools from across the U.S. qualified to participate in the competition, broadcast on the ESPN2 Channel, according to the school.
Vocations talk
Father Louis Bianco, associate pastor of St. Joseph Church in Fullerton, speaks to a few of the students (from left) Ben Stitz, Michael Pierorazio, Luke Borkowski, Kayla Szczybor, Taylor Cover and Jana Tan after class. (Courtesy St. Joseph School)Father Louis A. Bianco, associate pastor of St. Joseph in Fullerton and temporary administrator of St. Isaac Jogues in Carney, recently spoke to eighth-graders at St. Joseph’s parish school about vocations.
Students learned about the education requirements to become a priest, what life experiences led Father Bianco to the priesthood and the various orders of religious sisters who serve at Catholic high schools in the Archdiocese of Baltimore, according to the school.
St. Louis School holds STEM night
St. Louis School in Clarksville held its 2nd annual STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) family fun night Jan. 28.
More than 135 students and their families learned about frozen carbon dioxide, the power of static electricity and electronic voice alteration software, according to the school. The event featured hands-on STEM activities for all ages in the areas of aerodynamics, catapult building and engineering with a marshmallow/spaghetti tower challenge.
(Courtesy St. Louis School)
Students in St. Louis’ Cyber STEM Club participate in extracurricular activities, including using LOGO-based language software to create video games, encode and decode messages using cryptographic algorithms, according to the school.
Mother Seton School students recognized for responsibility
Being accountable, doing your best and practicing self-control are hallmarks of “responsibility,” Mother Seton School’s Christian Character Trait for January.
The following students at the Emmitsburg school were recently recognized for being responsible: pre-kindergartners Makena Berg, Logan Crutchfield, Parker Hohenstein and Isaac Rasher; kindergartners Madelynn Eye, C Hatch, Vincent Guo and Thien-Y Pham; first-grader Adam Knox; second-graders Natali Bollinger and Wyatt Hill; third-grader Mackenzie Orndorff; fourth-graders Amanda Bruner and Bella Rabaiotti; fifth-graders Bridget Collins and Gavin Marshall; sixth-graders Ana Hand and Brede Laug; seventh-graders Isabella Alley and E McCormick; and eighth-graders Edison Hatter and Julia Laug.
(Courtesy Mother Seton School)
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