For years, at Bishop McGill and now at Bishop Gibbons, Sue Silverstein ignores her vacation day and time off during every hot summer. She opens her classrooms to the students who also give up their holiday days to make art with her and experience the joy of doing what they live in a peaceful and almost sacred place.

Some of them need  the warmth and refuge.

Sue works like a demon every day, in school or not, ensuring all of her beloved “babies” are safe and healthy.

She sees her students as her flock and takes very seriously her responsibility to keep them safe, to know them, and to encourage the best and most creative parts of them.

If the Catholic Church has true meaning, she and the people like her will be considered one day as future saints. I’ve seen what the does, day in and day out, for years now.

She saves lives and heals wounds. She passionately advocates finding the creative spark in the young and lighting and keeping it lit.

This afternoon, Sue sent me two photos and this message: “Summer fun in the art room with wax crayons and watercolors.”

You can see the fantastic work she does in her remarkable art program.

Sue also seeks used or discarded window shutters for a significant art project she is planning for the Fall. If you have any unused shutters, please consider sending them to Sue Silverstein, Bishop Gibbons High School, 2600 Albany Street, Schenectady, N.Y., 12304.

And thank you.