“Teddy Cars” Helps Restore Music & Drama Program at St. Barnabas School – Norwood News
By DAVID GREENE
At a look at currentation at St. Barnabas Highschool on Wednesday, Aug. 18, 2021, in assist of The varsity’s film, drama and music program, are (left to proper) teacher, Richard Vitacco, principal, Henry Triana, Julio Batista of Teddy Automobiles, and scholar, Rafaela Rica.
Photograph courtesy of Gary Axelbank
An space automotive suppliership stepped up and made a $2,000 donation to assist the film, drama, and music packages at St. Barnabas Highschool, as 200 scholars from Grade 9 by way of 12, refliped to class after 18 months of digital studying.
On Wednesday, Aug. 18, Julio Batista, widespread supervisor and companion at Teddy Automobiles, located on Boston Road, launched the look at to The varsity. It’s hoped the funds will assist leap start the reflip of The varsity’s drama membership and restart a music program that Led to 2012.
The stage at St. Barnabas Highschool, located on East 240th Road in Woodlawn Heights, has been darkish since their Springfest current and packages have been cancelled in 2020 As a Outcome of of coronavirus outbreak and associated shutdown.
Earlier than the look at currentation, Batista said, “I actually like donating to the group. That is the group that assists our enterprise and it’s actually important To current again.”
He added, “Most companies Which have their enterprise Inside The world Ought to be collaborating, donating, and serving to native organizations, not simply The schools, however any program That basically improves people’s lives.”
At a look at currentation on Wednesday, Aug. 18, 2021 at St. Barnabas Highschool, to assist The varsity’s drama program, are (left to proper) principal, Henry Triana, Rafaela Rica, a scholar On The varsity, Julio Batista of Teddy Automobiles, and teacher, Richard Vitacco.
Photograph courtesy of Gary Axelbank
Through its “Music Issues” Teddy Automobiles Bronx Music Grant Program, Teddy Automobiles is donating $20,000 to the music packages of 10 completely different Bronx extreme schools, as reported.
After awarding grants To 5 Bronx recipients, the “Music Issues’ program was Positioned on maintain As a Outcome of of pandemic. In January 2021, the suppliership resumed its month-to-month dedication To 5 further music packages, starting with WHEDco’s (Women’s Housing and Financial Enchancment Company) after school program at P.S./I.S. 218 in Concourse Village. In February, it was the flip of Bronx House.
Music grants have already been distrihowevered to the Renaissance Youth Center located south of Claremont Village, PS 72 in Throgs Neck, The Bennington Band at P.S. 76 in Allerton, Mosholu Montefiore Community Center in Norwood, and Baychester Academy in Edenwald, as reported.
“You’re Inside the neighborhood, So that you should Spfinish money on the neighborhood,” said Batista. “And let’s not overlook The completely different facet of the coin. If everyone Inside The world May even be storeping for from native companies, you’re enhancing the group by tax income, so it’s important To actually buy, store and take part Regionally That you merely’re in.”
Henry Triana, The mannequin new principal at St. Barnabas defined, “Any funds that we get from the group are important, and particularly from Mr. Batista over at Teddy Automobiles.” He added, “Supporting the Bronx group in Bronx schools, that’s actually honorable and important.”
Triana continued, “The drama program, I really feel, is one factor that continues To assemble up, particularly now with COVID. I’m assembleive the manufacturing final yr, like [in] all completely different schools, was halted.” The school principal said that restarting the drama program would enassembleive scholars had an outlet, including that teachers was one An factor Of school life However it wasn’t everyfactor.
“It’s a gatetechnique into no matter they do Want to enter… the dedication and dedication that it requires undoubtedly interprets into no matter else They need to do,” he said.
At a look at currentation at St. Barnabas Highschool on Wednesday, Aug. 18, 2021, (left to proper) teacher, Richard Vitacco and scholar, Rafaela Rica, maintain up a poster thanking the sponsor of The varsity’s drama program, Teddy Automobiles.
Photograph courtesy of Gary Axelbank
A grateful Triana added, “We very a lot respect the donation, and everyfactor thOn they’ve carried out for Our school.”
Richard Vitacco is a teacher, and film and drama moderator. He furtherly wholeheartedly respectd Batista’s donation to The varsity. “It reveals his curiosity Regionally. Our film and drama program Is An excellent inventive outlet,” he said. “It assists scholars assume outfacet the area, To Search out options to factors, and it builds A Method of comradery and A Method of kinship amongst fellow scholars.” He added, “It furtherly assists to develop lifelong relationships even after extreme school Is accomplished.”
The donated funds will assist The varsity Positioned on subsequent yr’s spring musical, which includes 30 to 35 scholar performers. In the meantime, St. Barnabas’s Winterfest manufacturing, slated for January 2022, Shall be carried out by A lot of The scholars On the all-women school, with the male parts carried out by scholars of St. Barnabas’s affiliate, Mount St. Michael Academy.
Eighth grade scholar, Rafaela Rica, said of This technique, “I used to be A very shy particular person. I had A lot Of hysteria, particularly about starting extreme school, however as I acquired extra snug Inside The varsity and extra snug Inside the drama membership, it’s assisted me enterprise my voice, like As quickly as I’m doing a currentation.”
Rafaela defined that she used To converse very quick. “I nonetheless Might have to work on that, however I’ve found To converse Barely slower and dictate my phrases.” She added, “The money Shall be put to good use.”
St. Barnabas Highschool is an indepfinishent, school-preparatory extreme school that has educated youthful women since 1924. Instructional packages embrace A 3-tier educational curriculum with superior placement, Honors and Regents packages, As properly as to assist providers and portfolio assessments.
Donating funds to assist music packages at native Bronx schools Is not the one Good information that has garnered Teddy Automobiles some consideration. The automotive suppliership, which Focuses on Nissans and Volkswagens, was named America’s #1 Nissan supplier in 2019.
*Síle Moloney contrihowevered to this story.