When the school year ends high schoolers head for the beaches and a welcome time off, right? Wrong, at least for 18 girls, Grades 9 through 2011 graduates, from St. Scholastica Academy.
In this second annual “Scholasticans Go MAD”—Go Make A Difference—interested students spent four days camping out on the campus exploring the topic, “ Strangers in a Strange Land,” the issues of immigration in the United States. After an orientation program and community building activities, their schedule involved a trip to Immigration Court where they listened to cases of individuals faced with deportation. They also journeyed to Latino Union Albany Park Worker’s Center where they helped prepare and pass out information on immigration procedures. Another trip was to Resurrection Church where they learned about Mujeres de Juarez.
Staff members and an alumna of the Academy spoke to participants about their immigration experiences from Asia, Africa and Central America. DVDs on the subject were also shown. The entire project was in the context of prayer and reflection. Academy Board members, faculty and Benedictine Sisters from St. Scholastica Monastery, which is located on the same grounds and sponsors the school, shared a picnic with the students.
