Young life digest

M-W holiday concerts continue next week Central Valley - The following is a schedule of upcoming events and programs within the Monroe-Woodbury School District: Middle School Concert - Grades 7/8 B/Y Band/Orchestra/Chorus/Wind will perform Monday, Dec. 6, 7:30 p.m. Elementary Concerts: Pine Tree - Grade 5 at the High School, North Main Grade 5 at the Middle School, Central Valley Grade 5 at Central Valley School, Tuesday, Dec. 7, 7:30 p.m. The Board of Education will hold its regular business meeting Wednesday, Dec. 8, 7 p.m., at Central Valley School. High School Concert - Symphonic Band/Orchestra/Concert & Treble Choruses will perform Thursday, Dec. 9, 7:30 p.m. Middle School Grade 6 PTA Rec will be held Friday, Dec. 10, 3 to 4:50 p.m. Middle School Grade 7/8 PTA Rec will be held Friday, Dec. 10, 6:30 to 9 p.m. High School Rec Night will be held Friday, Dec. 10, 7 to 10 p.m. Burke hosts scholarship dinner Goshen — John S. Burke Catholic High School recently hosted its first scholarship dinner, at Anthony’s Pier 9 in Newburgh. Selected recipients were recognized for their contributions in assisting parents, students, and the school, in the mission of educating academically, spiritually and morally. “This is an opportunity to recognize individuals who are building bridges for others to cross,” said Mary Spanos, planning committee member. Proceeds from the dinner will fund scholarships that enable Orange County Catholic elementary students to attend Burke, which is Orange County’s only Catholic high school. The 2010 distinguished honorees are Margaret Foley, Patricia Duke and John Dolan. All three individuals have worked tirelessly and faithfully to continue the financial sustainability and future growth of Burke Catholic High School. For more information or make a charitable donation, call Louise Valenti, Development Office, Burke Catholic High School, at 294-5481. Being an American essay contest to focus on American Citizenship Across the country, high school students and their teachers are being invited to participate in the Bill of Rights Institute’s Being an American Essay Contest. Top prize winners and their teachers will receive all-expense paid trips to the nation’s capital. The largest high school essay contest in the country, awarding 180 students and teachers and attracting more than 50,000 essays last year, explores the rights and responsibilities of American citizenship. The contest is administered by the Bill of Rights Institute, a non-profit educational organization in the Washington, D.C. area devoted to educating children about the Constitution and Founding principles. The sponsors include the History Channel and the Stuart Family Foundation. Students are asked to share their thoughts on American citizenship by answering the following question: “What civic value do you believe is most essential to being an American?” The winning students will explore the nation’s capital, meet contemporary American heroes and national leaders, and visit national landmarks. More information is available at www.BeingAnAmerican.org. State library to hold teen video challenge to promote summer reading ALBANY — The New York State Library, in conjunction with the nationwide Collaborative Summer Library Program, is holding a “You Are Here” Teen Video Challenge, a competition for teens to get involved with reading and their public library’s summer reading program. The Teen Video Challenge awards prizes to teens who create their state’s winning video to promote reading, libraries, and the slogan, “You Are Here.” A New York State teen with the winning entry will be awarded $250 and his or her library will receive $100. Details about summer reading at New York Libraries’ “You Are Here” Teen Video Challenge are available at participating local libraries and at www.summerreadinmgnys.org. Scholarships available through Community Foundation Montgomery — The Community Foundation of Orange and Sullivan is offering scholarships in the following school districts and institutions: Chester School District Rudolph Vallet Science and Education Memorial Scholarship - $500 Orange-Ulster BOCES Caitlin M. Hammaren Memorial Foundation and Arts Institute Fund (Culinary Arts Program) - $250 SUNY Orange Spencer McLaughlin Scholarship - $846.88 Caitlin M. Hammaren Memorial Foundation and Arts Institute Scholarship - $250 The Ian Bennett/Situation Cares Memorial Scholarship is available to students who attend an Orange County, public, private, or parochial high school. The scholarship in the amount of $1,000 will be awarded to one student. Most applications are available through school district guidance counselors, college financial aid offices and on-line. In the 2010-2011 academic year, the Community Foundation of Orange and Sullivan awarded over $96,000 in scholarships and awards to 20 school districts throughout Orange and Sullivan Counties and the Tri-State area. These scholarships, awarded to more than 70 students, are made possible through the charitable funds the Community Foundation administers. For more information, visit www.cfoc-ny.org, e-mail admin@cfoc-ny.org, or call 769-9393.