Catholic identity permeates Nativity of Blessed Virgin Mary School

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Catholic identity permeates Nativity of Blessed Virgin Mary School
4/30/2012 9:00:00 AM by SPECIAL TO WNYC

Courtesy of Nativity School - First grade students at Nativity School, Harris Hill, fill a piggy bank with loose change that comes from extra lunch money, allowances and spare change from home. At the end of the school year, they will present a check to pediatric services at Roswell Park Cancer Institute. So far they have more than $50.
Collecting the change are Natalie M.(left to right), principal, Cherie M. Ansuini, Amy H. and Kelly D.

From weekly Masses to a buddy system that pairs older students with younger students, Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary School in Harris Hill is making great strides as the entire school community works to implement “Faith in Tomorrow.”

With Catholic identity and academics at the forefront, Nativity School has added religious instruction to its pre-K program, fifth-graders are gaining a greater understanding of the parts of the Mass and seventh-grade students are sharing their knowledge of the rosary by creating a bulletin board in the school hallway for all to see.

“Catholic identity permeates Nativity of Mary School infusing students with the qualities and values to be the heart of tomorrow’s Catholic Church,” said Cherie Ansuini, school principal. “Our Catholic faith is the basis of all our teachings and is celebrated in all we do.”

First-grade students have a piggy bank in their classroom. Each month they fill it up with their own loose change that comes from extra lunch money, allowances and spare change from home. At the end of the school year, they will present a check to pediatric services at Roswell Park Cancer Institute. So far they have about $50.

Music classes have been used to teach students the new responses to the Mass that were implemented since the First Sunday of Advent. Nativity students are also learning about the importance of service to the community, adopting eight local families for Christmas, supporting the annual Catholic Charities appeal and conducting a food drive to benefit the pantry at St. Lawrence Parish in Buffalo.