The Sisters of Mercy in East Walnut Hills provide housing and education for many boys at the school who have been abandoned by their families.

The students at St. Margaret were given a first-hand account of the damage caused to the school by Hurricane Ivan, including part of the boys dormitory. The storm also killed about 4,000 chickens, damaged 20 tons of chicken feed, a shelter for goats and sheep, and a large number of trees.

Wright State University graduate Amanda Beede, a part of the university's Catholic ministry program, spoke to students in grades 3-5 at St. Margaret and explained the plight of the St. John students.

The students raised $4,832 to help repair the damages and replace the chickens.

Sister Mary Ann Trotta, an administrator at St. Margaret, is part of the Sisters of Mercy community. Donations can be sent to: Jamaica Relief Fund, c/o Sr. Monica Marie Knipfer, RSM, Sisters of Mercy Administrative Offices, 2335 Grandview Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45206-2219.

Long-time educators honored

For helping to shape the future of traditional education and touching the lives of two generations of women, Kathleen Hipskind Maier, a teacher and assistant principal at Mount Notre Dame High School, Reading, was given the Educating for Life Award.

Edward C. Tyrrell, former headmaster of the Summit Country Day School, also received the award.

The awards were presented by the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur recently at the Cincinnati Club in a ceremony honoring the 200th anniversary of the founding of the Sisters of Notre Dame.

Maier retired fromthe school in 2002.

Tyrrell was recognized for his work in building Summit into one of the top independent Catholic schools in the nation.

He retired from the school in 2003 after 32 years.

Richard K. Davis, U.S. Bank vice chairman, was the host for the evening.

ACTS OF KINDNESS: Soup Bowl Project

Students in Sylvia Dick's art classes at Oakdale Elementary School are involved in their annual Soup Bowl Project, which is a fund-raiser for the Kids Cafe, operated by the FreeStore/FoodBank.

Dick said the students, who also include members of the Oak Hills High School Art Club and students from C.O. Harrison and Bridgetown Elementary schools, have made about 300 soup bowls out of clay.

The bowls will be sold during a dinner Nov. 5 in the school cafeteria.

"Some people will purchase the bowls for the soup and some will just purchase them for keepsakes,'' Dick said. "This is a big event, involving about 100 students, along with parents, staff and residents in the neighborhood. Local businesses help with the food.''

Dick said the school has been doing the project since 1992. Steve Groh, an art teacher at Oak Hills High school, is the Art Club adviser at Oak Hills.

Captain visits Oak Hills

Capt. Matthew Holmes, an Army Ranger who has served in Afghanistan and Iraq, will visit his alma mater, Oak Hills High School, today.

Holmes is a 1991 graduate of the school. He will share his experiences in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Social studies teacher Bob Klotz said with the war high on the agenda of debate topics among the presidential and vice-presidential candidates, Holmes' visit is timely.

Holmes will be at the school from 10 a.m. to noon. Oak Hills High School is at 3200 Ebenezer Road, Bridgetown.

"He will give two sessions to several classes, one at 10 a.m., and one at 10:50 a.m., in the school's auditorium,'' Klotz said.