Girls school celebrates century mark

Since 1908, the sisters of St. Dominic have been teaching young women at St. Agnes School in College Point. Recently they celebrated their centennial and honored an outstanding graduate and members of the staff and faculty.
About 350 people gathered at the Immaculate Conception Center in Douglaston for the events, on Saturday April 19. They were welcomed by Sister Joan Martin, principal of the school.
After the welcoming remarks, the assembled throng participated in the liturgy, celebrated by Monsignor Andrew Vaccari, Chancellor of the Diocese of Brooklyn.
Assisting in the liturgy were Monsignor John Tosi of St. Luke Parish; Reverend Paul Palmiotto, pastor of St. Benedict the Moor; Reverend Matthew Pravetz, Order of Friars Minor and Deacon Stan Galazin.
In attendance were many of the nuns, who have taught at the school at one time or another, and the Prioress of the Dominican Sisters of Amityville, Long Island, Sister Mary Hughes.
The St. Agnes Chorus, under the direction of music teacher John Kane attended with hymns of praise and jubilation and the Liturgical Dancers, led by St. Agnes alumnus Diana Avallone, ’06, performed to the closing hymn the “Magnificat.”
At the conclusion of the liturgy, the guests proceeded to the dining room where they enjoyed cocktails, hors d’ oeuvres, and a delicious meal.
They danced to the music of DJ Joe McHale. Sister Joan Martin and assistant principal, Susan Nicoletti announced the 2008 Hall of Fame honorees and presented each with a token gift. The honorees are:
Sister Dorothy Kane, the school’s financial officer, who has been a member of the order for over 62 years and has helped educate young people in New York and Puerto Rico.
She came to St. Agnes as a member of the Class of 1946. In 1960 she returned to teach math and in 1981, she undertook the business and financial responsibilities of the school in addition to teaching.
Maryanne Warren McCormack, class of 1964, who started with a single Visible Changes Beauty Salon in 1977 and built an empire of 16 salons in Houston and central Texas, which has twice been recognized on the INC. 500 list of the fastest rising companies in America.
A firm believer in education, she encourages employees to take advantage of education opportunities offered by the company. In addition to other scholarships, the Visible Changes Education Foundation provides full tuition to staff members’ children who are accepted into medical school.
She credits her own experience at St. Agnes with fostering her values: “St. Agnes and a Catholic education molded me into who I am today,” she said.
Tomas McCormack is a faculty member who was born in County Cavan, Ireland. Prior to coming to New York in 1967, he taught in the Irish national schools and spent five years at Cardinal Hayes before joining the St. Agnes faculty.
He earned his Masters Degree from Iona College and has been Chairperson of the English Department for years, where he played a major role in the academic life of St. Agnes.
“The source of his commitment to Catholic education has always been “the Dominican spirit which urges us to preach the truth found in Scripture,” he said.
The event followed the Feast of St. Agnes, the patron saint of virgins, who was martyred by the Romans at the age of twelve, which was celebrated by students and faculty of the school on Friday, April 18.
The centennial year of the school will culminate with a grand finale gala at the Milleridge Cottage in Jericho, Long Island on Friday, December 5.