My first Magazine 17 AR_4Web | Seite 5

DOMINICANS IN ACTION Homecoming Farm Homecoming Farm, one of the earliest certified organic farms on Long Island, welcomes people of all faiths. Its intergenerational organic gardening area, Sophia Garden, and workshops offered both on-site and off, enable members and visitors to experience growing food for themselves, and to learn about caring for the earth. The farm’s partnership with The Interfaith Nutrition Network (The INN) is another way this ministry gives back to the community. This year Homecoming Farm hosted a Bee Education fair in Mother Josepha Hall for 35 Girl Scouts from Nassau County. This event was part of a LEGO competition centered on discovering problems regarding our relationships with animals in nature, and creating viable solutions. Their theme this year focused on solving the crises facing bees. The girl scouts believe that with increased Homecoming Farm offers annual apprentice and internship opportunities. education and awareness about this issue, people will be more likely to help bring about change. They presented skits, taught craft projects, and had a honey tasting. In addition, the Girl Scouts held a successful fundraising raffle for the Homecoming Farm. Dominican Youth Sisters at the Motherhouse enjoy visits with Dominican young adults. Students from 13 Dominican Colleges and Universities gathered this year for the 15th Annual “Preaching In Action” Conference to deepen their understanding of Dominican Life and Spirituality. Each day’s reflection focused on one of the four pillars of Dominican charism: Study, Spirituality, Community and Service. The week concluded with a Commissioning Mass in which each student shared how they will continue to “preach” daily in their own lives and on campus. The level of sharing was extraordinary. St. Agnes Academic High School Spotlight For more than a century, St. Agnes Academic High School has been educating, empowering and inspiring young women. One of two remaining all-girls Catholic high schools in Queens, New York, St. Agnes is a witness to the importance of an all-girls education, recognizing that success for women in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) is critical to the future. St. Agnes offers students additional opportunities for independent study through the Science Research Program at SUNY Albany, internships with New York Presbyterian Hospital Queens, New York, college credit for math and science courses through St. John’s University and an expanded partnership with Molloy College. It also hosts a Chapter of Girls Who Code, in which students learn computer coding from experts in the field. Studies support, time and time again, that students enrolled in all-girls schools set higher educational goals, feel in control of their own choices and achieve at higher levels in math, science, and reading. This is more than a statistic at St. Agnes. Success happens every day with every girl in every classroom. SISTERS OF ST. DOMINIC OF AMITYVILLE | 3