TMLA Students Publish Artwork

It is well known that TMLA Art students create beautiful work throughout the year in their classes. Recently 12 TMLA AP Art students were selected to illustrate a Christmas book written by a TMLA faculty member. Read the NY Daily News article here. All proceeds from the book go to TMLA. Call TMLA and offer any donation to the school and we will send the book to you or you may come by and pick it up...but call first to make sure we still have copies available. Call the TMLA Office of Advancement at 718-297-2120 ext 252 or e-mail rpiro@tmla.org. You may view sample pages here.

S. Helen Clancey Honored

Sister Helen Clancy is remembered by TMLA Alumnae from the 1970s as the Chairperson of the English Department. She was recently honored by the Sisters of St. Joseph for her many ministries as detailed here.

Sister Helen Clancey entered the Sisters of St. Joseph in the Centenary Year of 1956. After graduating from Brentwood College, her first ministry was teaching at the junior high school level. During this time, she earned an MA in English from Manhattan College. Then at The Mary Louis Academy she served as English teacher, Department Chairperson and Dean. In 1977 she was assigned as Assistant Principal at Our Lady of Perpetual Help HS in Brooklyn.During this period, she also Chaired the committee that rewrote the Constitutions of the Sisters of St. Joseph. Following this, she became an adjunct professor at St. John’s University and, through Mercy College, taught at the New York State men’s correctional facilities. She also performed financial work at a Queens parish.

From 1986-1994, Sister Helen was elected to the Congregation’s Leadership team as a Councilor. During her second term, she was asked to become the Administrator of Maria Regina Convent which was home to ill and retired Sisters. Helen assumed this new responsibility with characteristic enthusiasm and energy. Using her administrative background, she immersed herself in mastering health care, earned her license and began the process of having Maria Regina become a licensed health care facility. During the years of disruption while the facility was renovated to meet with State Department requirements, Helen and her staff continued to provide quality care for the health needs of the Sisters.

By October 2001, the Maria Regina Residence was dedicated as a State Licensed Health Care Facility. Due to Helen’s dedication and leadership, Maria Regina is now a 5 Star facility for recuperants and long term residents. It clearly reflects the unique Certificate of Need issued by the State Department of Health which states that…"Maria Regina is primarily for Sisters of St. Joseph, Sisters and Brothers of other religious congregations, Priests and Lay Persons as there is room." After 20 years as Administrator, Sister Helen resigned in June 2011 because of health concerns. She will be honored for her work in October 2011 by a grateful Congregation.

Actual TMLA 75th Anniversary Celebration

On September 14, 2011, the entire present TMLA community celebrated the actual 75th Anniversary of our school with a prayer service and ribbon cutting ceremony. See the video here for full coverage.

God Bless "Aunt Rose"

Mrs. Rose Sangirardi
(April 4, 1927- May 21, 2011)

Whether you were enrolled in one of her Home & Career courses or not, if you were part of TMLA from 1980-1995, you couldn’t help but be touched by the presence of Mrs. Rose Sangirardi. Better known as “Aunt Rose,” Mrs. Sangirardi brought joy and laughter to all of us at TMLA. In addition to her position as Chairperson of the Home & Career Dept, Mrs. Sangirardi oversaw all the preparations and details for the annual Senior Prom. Along with her devoted husband, “Uncle Larry,” she also chaperoned many school trips and other school events. Mr & Mrs. Sangirardi retired to Oklahoma City in 1995 to be near their children. Thank you, Aunt Rose and may God bless and keep you.

Art Show at TMLA

The 1st Annual Art Show by TMLA students was held on May 13, 2011. Several hundred works created by current TMLA students adorned the walls and tables of the cafeteria. Guests toured the room taking in the beauty of the many wonderful works done in various mediums. Alumnae Art majors served as judges for the Art competition that was included in the event. A number of alumnae Art majors who returned for the event are pictured above. The entire event was under the direction of TMLA Art Dept Chairperson, Mrs. Jenny Limberg-Durkin, Class of '98, who was aided by Art instructor, Ms. Olivia Infante. Click on the link above to view the artwork.

2011 Reunion

TMLA's Annual reunion took place on April 16, 2011. More than 400 alumnae returned to TMLA for the day. The classes that net this year were those that ended in 1 and 6. The event began with the Mass for Palm Sunday celebrated in memory of our deceased alumnae. Dinner followed for all and many alumnae toured the school recalling many fond memories. Look for photos in the next issue of MARIEL-After.

S. Kathleen McKinney receives LEAD Award from St. John's University

The School of Education presented TMLA Principal Sister Kathleen McKinney with its annual Leaders in Education Awards Dinner (L.E.A.D.) in the D’Angelo Center Ballroom on the Queens campus. This annual event honors St. John’s University alumni who have distinguished themselves as professional educators or educational administrators. Sister Kathleen was introduced at the awards dinner by Dr. Mary Ellen Freeley, St. John's Professor and Chair of The Mary Louis Academy Board of Directors. View their videos from the dinner: Dr. Freeley
S. Kathleen McKinney

St. Joseph Liturgy

This year's liturgy for St. Joseph's Day was celebrated March 21 in Immaculate Conception Church. The Feast of St. Joseph is March 19th. (In the photo at left, Ms. Angela Cacciola, long-time faculty member at TMLA, carries the statue of St. Joseph to be placed on the altar.) It is a very important and beloved day for TMLA and the Sisters of St. Joseph who sponsor TMLA and it sister CSJ schools. It is the Congregation's Patronal Feast Day. Each year the TMLA community gathers together to celebrate our patron, to thank God for his many blessings, and to ask St. Joseph for his continued care. At the liturgy the Sisters of St. Joseph renewed their vows, the lay faculty renewed their commitment to education and the students stated their commitment to excellence and service. The annual TMLA Peacemaker awards were also named honoring 4 students, 1 faculty member and 1 parent. Click on the link for photos and video

Spirit Night 2011

The 70th Spirit Night event took place on March 18, 2011 at Queens College. The theme for this year was board games. The Queens College gymnasium was filled with students, parents, and teachers all cheering, dancing, stepping and more. The first Spirit Day/Night events began in 1940. For many years it was known as Sports Night, but the themes and activities were the same.

TMLA Family

Mr. Joseph Lewinger, TMLA Athletic Director & Social Studies teacher and Mr. Kevin O'Hagan, TMLA Assistant Athletic Director and Social Studies teacher, recently took part in a St. Baldrick event in support of Mr. Lewinger's daughter, Madison. The Lewinger team was the Brave & Strong. At a St. Baldrick’s event, young and old, male and female, sit side by side, and face the clippers as part of the worldwide effort of Shaving the Way to Conquer Kids’ Cancer.

Mother-Daughter Alumnae Brunch 2011

TMLA's annual Mother-Daughter Alumnae Brunch was a great success this year. Nearly 200 adults were present plus children. Alumnae brought their female friends and relatives for a day at TMLA. The Class of 85 made a mini reunion of the day as well! Raffles and prizes were also part of the day. View photos here.

S. Kathleen McKinney Feted by Mayor Bloomberg

On March 1, 2011, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg celebrated Women’s History Month with the launch of “NYC Women: Make it Here, Make it Happen,” a film series produced by the Commission on Women’s Issues in collaboration with Emmy award-winning NYC Media that shines a spotlight on extraordinary women of New York City. TMLA's own Sister Kathleen McKinney was announced as one of the mayoral Extraordinary Women of New York City. Click here for the video.

The series highlights individual women in one minute interstitials that will air each day in the month of March on NYC Life. You can watch each video by clicking on a featured woman and their corresponding date.

The entire series will be televised starting March 8th on channels 22 and 25.

Alumnae News: Caitlin Flood '08

Class of 2008 member Caitlin Flood, a junior at Lafayette College in Pennsylvania, has been selected as a Truman Scholarship Finalist. Caitlin has achieved many academic and humanitarian feats during the past few years. Read all about them here.

National Merit Finalist

The Mary Louis Academy is proud to announce that senior Jessica Von Treschow has been named a finalist in the 2010 National Merit Scholarship Program. Jessica is one of the top 16,000 highest scorers from the more than 1.5 million present high school seniors who took the PSAT in their junior year. She is pictured here with TMLA Principal S. Kathleen McKinney, and Assistant Principal Mrs. Ann Cordes (far left) and Sister Filippa Luciano (far right).

TMLA Italian AP in Daily News

Read here about some exciting news from our Italian language students. Click here for info.

Mother-Daughter Brunch March 12, 2011

TMLA's Mother Daughter Brunch for 2011 will be held on March 12th. Click here for forms and info. You may also call the school at 718-297-2120 ext 240

TMLA takes part in March for Life

On one of the coldest days of the year, TMLA students and faculty braved the elements and traveled to Washington DC to take part in the March for Life. This event calls attention to the need for respect for life.

75th Dinner-Dance Invitations

Invitations for the 75th Anniversary Dinner-Dance celebration should be arriving in your mailboxes over the next few days. All information is in the invitations, but for further questions please call us at 718-297-2120 ext 252.

Alumna daughter awarded full scholarship

Monica Arundel, daughter of Christine Zender Arundel '91 and husband, Steven, was awarded a full scholarship to TMLA as a member of the Class of 2015. Monica received the full scholarship based upon her superior scores on the TACHS Exam (formerly known as the Co-Op Exam) and on the TMLA Scholarship Exam given each December. The Zenders are happy and proud to continue the tradition of Education for Excellence through The Mary Louis Academy. Monica's favorite subjects are Math and Science.

MARIEL-After new edition

The Winter edition of MARIEL-After was sent out to all registered alumnae. It may also be viewed online at the above link. Please let us know if you do not receive our publications and mailings so that we may correct our address and archival records.