Irish Insights: BMCHS teacher ‘handling’ stress through art

For Bishop McGuinness English teacher Rebecca Savuto, pottery began as a way to relieve stress, but after time in her studio, it became a long-term passion.

“It’s the only thing I’ve experienced that can take me out of my stresses,” Savuto said. “I don’t think about anything other than the clay in front of me.”

After attending her first class with a friend, she found a new appreciation for handling clay.

“This is really the first time that I can see myself as actually being an artist,” Savuto said. “But I think most people are, and they just maybe haven’t found an outlet to highlight their creative side.”

With this new passion, Savuto has even gained recognition, resulting in being selected for a showcase at the Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center.  

“It’s for their Studio School Exhibition, which opened (in late October), and I think it runs until the end of January,” Savuto said.  “It was the first time that they’ve ever had any type of art showcased like that.”

Little Mermaid
Nov. 13, the Irish drama crew will hold the opening night of “The Little Mermaid,” at 7 p.m. Senior Addison McCoy, who plays Atina and a seagull, said the cast feels well prepared since they’ve been practicing since the beginning of the school year.

“It's so much fun, so it's easy to forget about all the hard parts,” McCoy said.

With a multifaceted cast, the drama department chose the musical to reveal its wide class spread.

“It allows us to showcase a variety of different talents that we have in the program,” McCoy said.

This year, McCoy has confidence in the junior class.

“They always are very strong, and it's very nice to see them grow from freshmen to where they are now,” she said, “and as a senior, I have full faith in them that they will carry this program their senior year.”

Taking on hunger
As the Irish community moved into November and the fall season, the annual Canned Food Drive gained traction. 

This year, Student Council chose Pirates of the Can-ibbean as the theme. Students began donating Nov. 1 and will continue until Nov. 21, in an effort to remain the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma’s largest school contributor.

This year’s goal is to collect 120,000 pounds of food.

Eve Moen, chair of fundraising, was crucial in organizing this year’s drive. She began planning in July and has been an organizer throughout the year so far.

“We’re just trying to up our intake every year,” Moen said.


Photo: Pottery created by Bishop McGuinness Catholic High School English teacher Rebecca Savuto. Photo provided.