Rockaway Collegiate Students Collect Food to Help Support the Community
Rockaway Collegiate High School opened in September 2011 on the Beach Channel Educational Campus. The school is led by Shazima Ali (Interim Acting Principal), Patrick Murray (Assistant Principal), and Rafael Cruz (Assistant Principal).
The school’s motto is “To College and Beyond”. To aid in making this motto a reality, Rockaway Collegiate is a Community School providing an array of services for students and their families in collaboration with the lead Community-Based Organization, Partnership with Children.
One of these services is providing after-school programs for students, including Student Government. During this school year, the Student Government made it a goal to make a difference in their own community along with Sofia Foderaro, a teacher at Rockaway Collegiate and facilitator of Student Government. Members of Student Government started collecting canned goods and food from their peers and the Collegiate Cafe, the school’s pantry run by Partnership With Children. The pantry typically provides food and coats to Rockaway Collegiate students and families.
On Tuesday, Jan. 24, Rockaway Collegiate’s Student Government members went to St. Camillus located at 99-15 Rockaway Beach Blvd. in Rockaway Park. Omesha Singh (Vice President of Student Government), Ashley Budhoo (Senator), and Wade Bagwell (Member) were welcomed by Msgr. Richard J. Ahlemeyer. He was happy to accept the donated food on the church’s behalf. In fact, every Wednesday from 10 a.m. – 11 a.m. individuals in the community are welcome to come to St. Camillus’ Cottage and get a package of donated food.
“Here in the Rockaways, the community is looked at in a negative light. However, we at Rockaway Collegiate want to change this,” said Omesha Singh. “We want to be here for our community and are ready to give back whenever we can. We hope this small act we performed on Jan. 24 will inspire others to donate and be a part of this community as well. We want to prove that Collegiate cares!”