Holy Cross School - Times Square

2008-12-13T05:53:00.001-08:00

Crossroads of the World @ 329 West 42nd Street

"Watching them, you know some probably haven't eaten from the night before", said Sister Mary Theresa Dixon, who has been the principal of the pre-K to 8th-grade school for 20 years. Each weekday morning the students sit down for breakfast in the cafeteria before heading to their classrooms. For some, it's a meal wouldn't otherwise have. The morning meal underscores the sense of community on which the school was founded in 1878.

"The parents know their children are cared for here, that we genuinely want them to succeed", Dixon said. "We are always looking ahead for them. It's a small enough school that there is real sense of family. Despite coming from all different neighborhoods, the children make good friends. It's amazing to see how they do care for each other. We're trying to develop the whole person, and that's part of it. It's structured, but in that structure there is a sense of security", the nun added.

The Holy Cross kids are a diverse group of more than 300 students, representing many ethnic backgrounds and speaking, collectively, 35 different languages. Some are middle class, several are from immigrant, poor, working class and single-parent homes. They come from all 5 boroughs, traveling 13 different subway lines each day to get to the school, which is known for its nurturing environment.

Dixon speaks proudly of the Holy Cross graduates, now in high schools across the city, who regularly come back to mentor the younger kids. "It's not just about how the children do here, or in a particular grade - it's much more global. We need to give them skills, make them well prepared for where they're going when they leave here", said the nun. There is a new round of scholarships for public school children interested in attending Holy cross School, this designed to increase the enrollment in our Catholic inner city schools by recruiting, screening and placing needy children in our schools.

This historic church, just across West 42nd Street from the Port Authority Bus Terminal, has since the early 1900s worked doggedly with politicians, cops and community groups to combat poverty, crime and drugs in the neighborhood.

Now, the 156-year old Holy Cross needs your help.

A devastating rectory fire and theft at its food pantry have heaped nearly $200,000 in bills on the already financially floundering parish. And even before the fire damage, the church was facing repair bills for its crumbling ceiling and walls. It also struggles each year to meet the costs of funding a pantry that feeds 18,200 of New York's neediest. Nearly half the students in its parish school require financial assistance for the $2,950-a-year tuition.

Despite this sense of community, however, the school faces challenges – one of which was brought to our attention by 4th grader, Kendriana, a scholarship winner whom we met while volunteering at the parish’s bi-monthly food pantry. “We don’t have a library,” she mentioned. When asked what she would do if there was a library in her school, she smiled and replied, “I would read ALL the time. I love reading.” And, all of a sudden, a light bulb flickered.

We commit to creating a library for the children of Holy Cross School, a stimulating and nurturing environment where the students can feed their curiosity and be empowered by the development of their skills and talents. In addition, to support the school and this project, we will create a website for the school.

By creating a safe and tranquil space where kids can learn and grow, we are fulfilling our goal to spread peace and love. By providing books, we are giving students the tools to learn about their world and become passionate about it. Strong reading skills are essential to high academic performance and will empower the students immeasurably.

Two classrooms will be transformed into the school library, some tasks include clearing the space, installing shelves, painting (if needed) and decorating, and furnishing the two rooms.

We will source 3,000 books and $60,000 in donations for a fund to start the library, which will serve children in grade levels K-8. We will also consolidate the books in the mini-libraries in each classroom and organize them in the new main library. We will consult the school principal and teachers for a wish list of books for each grade level and provide those as a priority.

We will provide a computerized cataloging system to organize the library materials, and create a website for the school in excellence to serve as an invaluable tool for students, educators, and the community at large in gaining information on the school.

Questions? Contact Nicole at 917.806.4676 or Raul at 646.330.8038

Thank you for your generous support. Click on the Donate button below. God Bless You.

Holy Cross Church - Times Square

Holy Cross School - Times Square