School Newspaper
Written & Created by the Eighth Grade Class
Feature Article: Staff Interviews
By Juan Bolivar and Richard Pospiech
Our feature articles for this issue
highlight our pastor, Father DiIorio, and our new gym
teacher, Mr. Czarny.
Interview with Father DiIorio
We met with our
pastor to discuss why
he became a priest.
Father DiIorio became
a priest because the
Catholic grade and high school
that he attended affected him
spiritually. His home parish had
their own seminary. Everyone in
his parish helped to influence him
to become a priest because they
were deeply involved in the
Catholic Church and they were
good people. He became
interested in becoming a priest
and attended the seminary in his
junior year in high school.
Father DiIorio was the pastor of
Our Lady of Consolation Church
for ten years before transferring
to SMA. We asked Father DiIorio
how life as a priest is and he
responded, (it is) “Never boring,
every day is different. Every day is
started with the celebration of
Mass and any sacraments that
may happen to be scheduled that
day. Some days include
confessions, meetings, hospital
visits, funerals, weddings, civic
responsibilities, maintenance,
financial and management of
parish personnel.” Father also
said that his mission for the
school is “to make sure that the
children are in a well maintained
and safe environment and they
receive not only an excellent
academic education, but more
importantly an amazing Catholic
education. So that when they
leave us throughout their lives
they will have a firm foundation in
the Catholic Faith and a closer
relationship with Jesus Christ.” He
“hopes in the future, that they will
grow up to be fine Catholic ladies
and gentlemen.”
Interview with Mr. Czarny
Mr. Czarny came to SMA because
he heard that we needed a gym
teacher and he was very happy to
come. Mr. Czarny became
interested in teaching because of
the influence of his high school
teachers. He watched how they
interacted with kids and helped
them learn, and he decided that
he wanted to become a teacher
too.
Mr. Czarny’s hobbies are sports,
working around the house, and
gardening. He was a previous
teacher at Aberdeen High School
in Maryland, but he and his wife
decided to move back to
Philadelphia. Before he was a gym
teacher, he was an English
teacher. He actually taught to Cal
Ripken Jr. in 11th grade!
Why You Should Play Sports
By Trevor Dykes
There are many reasons as to why
you should play sports. First, it is
very important to stay fit and
healthy as a child. If you have
unhealthy and lazy habits as a
child, you will be the same as an
adult. Second, it can also benefit
you socially. You make friends and
learn how to deal with others.
Third, you can learn to get through
adversity and work together with
others. You can be losing at
halftime, but if you stick together
you can win in the end.
You can also learn how to use your
God-given talents to the best of
your ability playing sports. It could
even make you a happier and
more confident person if you are
winning your games or
competitions. There are so many
benefits of playing sports that
they can’t even fit here. These are
only a few reasons why you should
stay active and play sports, so get
out there and sign up!
SMA School Events & Programs by the Editor
SMA School Events & Programs continued
Wow! There are so many wonderful events that have
happened in our school since our last issue. First and
foremost, we have to mention the $10,000 EITC Grant
from Verizon that was awarded to our school by Lt.
Governor of Pennsylvania James Cawley and State
Senator Robert “Tommy” Tomlinson. This Bloc Grant
was specifically for SMA School. We were thrilled and
honored to be awarded this grant as well as the
presentation by one of our own alumni, Jim Cawley!
We had a team of eighth-grade girls represent SMA at a
Sciathalon hosted by Villa Joseph Marie. Melina Rallis,
Sierra Silvestro, Angiely Nunez-Arce, Anna Esposito, and
Alyssa Sales placed fourth in a competition of 18
schools. They competed in three state of the art labs,
one of which was in the field of forensic science. Melina
Rallis did a wonderful job representing our school in the
general science knowledge Jeopardy round. All five of
the girls have made their teacher and our school very
proud! We would like to acknowledge Mrs. "Stan"
Staneivezius for directing this program!
Book Reviews
We havealso had the Pumpkin Contest, Pizza &
Pumpkin Night, Penny-walk, Thanksgiving Mass and the
blessing and delivery of the Thanksgiving baskets,
report cards, and the Father ~ Daughter Dance… just to
name a few other events that have happened recently.
We are now looking forward to celebrating the peace &
joy of this blessed holiday season as we await the birth
of our Lord, Jesus Christ.
Book Review by Tyler Leiby
by Jade Bagley and Tyler Lieby
The Winter Rabbit written by Patrick Lee.
Book Review by Jade Bagley
This book is a lot like Frosty
the Snowman. The story is
about a bear and a squirrel
who were bored on a cold
winter day. They wanted
someone to play with. They
decided to build a
snowman, but instead they
made a new friend, a snow
bunny! They played with
him all day.
They went sledding, skating, and snow angelmaking. However, when they got tired, bear and
squirrel had to say bye to the Winter Rabbit. They had
to go on their long winter sleep. When it was time for
the Winter Rabbit to say good-bye, he turned back to
bear and squirrel and said, “See you next winter.”
This is a good book for children in the lower grades
because it has great pictures with repeating words that
makes it easy for emerging readers. I would
recommend this book to readers from Pre-K to second
grade.
This article is a book review for the
novel, Alex Rider: Stormbreaker,
written by Anthony Horowitz. The
setting is in London, and the novel
is about a boy named Alex Rider,
whose parents died. He is then
raised by his uncle, Ian Rider. Alex is a teenager when
his uncle dies in suspicious circumstances. His life turns
upside down when he finds everything out about his
uncle: like being a spy for the MI6. MI6 is similar to the
United States’ CIA or FBI units. Consequently, he takes a
part in a special training exercise and then finds himself
now working for MI6 too. After that, he is sent on his
first mission, where he deals with Herod Sayle, a very
rich man that is making a “stormbreaker” as a gift for
schools in England. You have to read this book to find
out what the “stormbreaker” is and what it really does.
I think you should read Stormbreaker to have the same
feeling I had when I finished the book… satisfaction with
a big smile on my face. I would recommend this book to
teenagers and up, especially if you enjoy fighting,
action, and adventure like in James Bond novels!
Featured Saints
By Natasha Guevera and Angiley Nunez-Arce
Saint Lucy – Patron Saint of Hopeless Cases.
Born: 283 AD; Italy
Feast Date: December 3
Died: 304 AD
Nationality: Italian
Full Name: Lucile
Nickname: Lucy
Parents: Eutychia and her father’s name is
unknown
Facts:
(1) Saint Lucy was born of rich and noble
parents.
(2) A man ordered a fire to be lighted around
her, but Lucy was not harmed. At last a knife
was buried into her heart. She did not die until
a priest came to her with Holy Communion.
Saint Nicholas – Patron Saint of Children
Born: March 15, 270 AD ; Parta Lycia, Turkey
Feast Date: December 6th
Died: December 6, 343- Myra, Turkey
Nationality: Greek
Parents: Epiphanius and Johanna
Facts:
*Nicholas was born of rich parents.
*Nicholas’ father and mother passed away when
Nicholas was a child, leaving his uncle to take
care of him.
*He was very religious from a young age.
*Nicholas would go around during the Christmas
season & would put candies or small gifts in
children’s shoes.
*St. Nicholas is also known as Santa Claus.
How-To-Articles
By Anna Esposito and Sierra Silvestro
Pilgrim Hats by Anna Esposito
Ingredients

1 cup of vanilla frosting

7 drops yellow food coloring

32 miniature peanut butter cups

1 package (11-1/2 ounces) fudge striped cookies

32 pieces orange mini pieces of Chiclet Gum
Directions
1. In a small shallow bowl, combine frosting and food coloring. Remove paper liners from peanut
butter cups.
2. Holding the bottom of a peanut butter cup, dip top of cup in the yellow frosting. Position over
center hold on the bottom of the cookie, forming the hatband and crown. Add a buckle of Chiclets
Gum. Repeat with remaining cups and cookies. Yield: 32 cookies.
D.I.Y Reindeer Handprint Ornament by Sierra Silvestro
Part of the fun of Christmas is making your own Christmas ornaments. This ornament is very cute and easy to
make. You may need your parents’ help and/or permission before
you begin this project.
What you will need:
 brown card stock
 brown paint – be careful with the paint
 googly eyes
 red pom-pom
 red ribbon
First, paint your hand with the brown paint and make a handprint
on the cardstock and let it dry.
Next, cut the handprint out. Add the googly eyes and pom-pom
to make the reindeer face.
Then, punch a hole at the top and tie it with the red ribbon.
Finally, hang it on your tree and get ready to enjoy it year after year!
SMA Clubs by Melina Rallis and Connor Clattenburg
Drama Club: The play this year
is Anchors Aweigh. The cast this
year is working very hard on the
play. They have had very many
practices – sometimes as many as
three days a week. The cast
members range from 3rd grade to 8th grade. It is about a
singles cruise with a twist. We talked to Mrs. Wurtz and
asked her a few questions. She told us that everyone in
drama is very talented and has huge potential. She said
the practices are very fun and she gets a lot of energy
from the kids when they act. She has been doing drama
for eleven years now and says this year is going to be a
good one. The play is in April at Conwell-Egan and they
invite everyone to come to see the marvelous play.
Crossword Puzzle & “Archie” Cartoon
by Amanda Lanzillo & Austin Orbin
Rosary Club: The Prayer Warriors
of the Rosary Club are changing the
world by praying the Rosary every
first Monday of the month. Mrs.
Chirico, Mrs. Umek, and Mrs.
Bowski are the volunteer teachers
for Rosary Club. The Rosary Club is
currently hard at work praying for everyone,
everywhere. Mrs. Chirico wants to say that she is proud
of everyone in the Rosary Club and for their
participation. She says that praying is something good
and that we should all pray whenever we can. The
Rosary Club members are doing many projects every
month and continue praying powerfully and changing
our world.