Dogs & Treats

The National Honors Society is a an academic organization that recognizes students’ educational and athletic successes, acts of charity, and signs of character. To be considered a National Honors Scholar, students must be recommended by an educator. This recognition is a testament to how much hard work an individual has put into their school career.

This year, NHS members have performed acts of service that exemplify these characteristics. One of the major projects was assisting the Jefferson Parish Animal Welfare Society (JPAWS). JPAWS, in addition to their animal welfare work, offers shelter for the ever-growing number of stray and abandoned dogs. Five students (Seniors Kobe Nguyen, Dominic Allelo, Dylan Hyunh, Colin Crespo, and Josh Nguyen) attended a workday on September 28th and helped the workers clean, walk, and feed homeless dogs.

“We really wanted to be there; it’s almost as if we didn’t work at all,” reflects Dominic Allelo, President of Archbishop Shaw’s NHS Chapter. Despite the fun of working with newly-made furry friends, it’s not all chew toys and treats: “Certain dogs, especially the bigger ones, made it harder to control and groom because of their size.” However, the students were unperturbed and handled them in stride. JPAWS workers were thankful for the students’ concerns for the stray. Even though the students were there for only one day, their work and concern has inspired their peers to help in the cause.

Sometimes service looks a lot more like fun than a chore: NHS was also a part of this year’s Trunk-or-Treat event for Halloween. Students and faculty came together to give children a smaller, safer version of trick-or-treating. NHS set up, in the trunk of a car, a spooky display and handed out treats to passing children. Over 500 children and their guardians were in attendance with not a Kit-Kat or Twix to spare.

NHS is looking forward to more service projects to come for the Christmas holiday and into the Spring.

Rosary for Life

On Friday, October 7, in honor of the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, all of Shaw came together to pray, rosaries in hand, with one voice.

The prayer was led by members of Father Steve Ryan’s Senior Theology class. A big part of Father’s class is the idea of putting faith into action. In the past, the class has put on religious plays and has helped with such activities as reconcilation services. The school-wide Rosary is one of such activities.

In light of recent events in our country’s history, the Rosary was offered in recognition of the dignity of life, especially of the unborn. To that end, the school welcomed Mrs. Hyuna Franklin, director of the Community Center for Life, a crisis pregnancy center. The center’s mission is to educate future mothers who may be struggling to support themselves and their child.

The school then had the opportunity to put that mission in action by taking home baby bottles. Everyone was asked to fill up the bottles with donations meant to support the center.

The day was also important for our Salesian identity as the community celebrated the canonization of Saint Artemide Zatti. This event is an important moment for the Salesians as Brother Zatti is the first Salesian brother to be canonized as a saint.