KERNERSVILLE — Bishop McGuinness High School has been selected to be a Platinum Level School in the Catholic Relief Services Global High School program. This elite status reflects the school’s exemplary service and commitment to raising awareness of international justice issues and serving our brothers and sisters overseas.
To reach the Platinum level, Bishop McGuinness showed outstanding participation as a Gold Level Global High School for at least one year by participating in the CRS Lenten program CRS Rice Bowl as well as at least three other events involving raising global awareness and encouraging service in the whole student body. Bishop McGuinness was then selected by CRS International Headquarters to become a Platinum Level Global High School as a celebration of its dedication to forming servant leaders, missionary disciples and 21st century global citizens.
“Platinum Level Schools have demonstrated the dedication of the students and faculty for living in service to our brothers and sisters around the world. They are role models for Catholic schools across the United States on how to live out our shared faith and values,” said Joan Rosenhauer, executive vice president of U.S. Operations for CRS.
Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the U.S.
Each CRS Global High School integrates activities and programs into their school year that focus on serving the poor and vulnerable overseas. Through prayer, learning, and action students begin to understand how the pillars of Catholic social teaching provide essential guide posts to the mission of ending poverty and how CRS applies these guides to its humanitarian work in more than 100 countries around the world.
“Congratulations to the students, faculty and staff at Bishop McGuinness,” said Joseph Purello, director of Social Concerns and Advocacy for Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte, and the CRS diocesan director. “Designation as a Platinum Level School in the CRS Global High School Program recognizes a tremendous amount of time and effort has already been given to promote global solidarity, and witnesses to a strong commitment to deepen engagement with Catholic Social Teaching through learning, giving, action and prayer.”
The program, begun in 2014, now includes more than 140 Catholic high schools across the U.S. and provides a variety of programs and tools to promote just relationships between people, institutions and social systems and to help students learn about the world through the lens of the principles of Catholic social teaching.
Principal Tracy Shaw added, “Becoming a Platinum Level School with CRS is such an honor for us. We pride ourselves in the amount of service our students do and we strive to make sure they are aware of the needs of the world, not just themselves. Each day I remind them before dismissing them to ‘go out and serve the world which is need of peace, love and justice’ This is part of our mission and it also is what CRS is striving for as well. We look forward to many years of partnering with them and little by little making the world a better place.”
— Kimberly Knox, Special to the Catholic News Herald. Kimberly Knox is director of admissions for Bishop McGuinness High School.
GASTONIA — St. Michael Middle School students (including Ozi Sery, pictured) participated in a History Fair Oct. 25.
Students wrote a research paper, designed a tri-fold presentation, brought in a three-dimensional image representing their topic, and dressed up like a character from their report.
They presented to younger students, parents and teachers. Students spoke in first person when addressing the audience. Topics ranged from all time periods.
— Tammy Eason