Most Blessed Sacrament Catholic School
Educating the Mind, Body, and Soul
Pelican Express
September 1-8, 2016

School Hours:  7:25 am - 2:45 pm with a ssembly beginning at
7:45 am and c arpool ending at 3:10 pm  

A Message From Cheri Gioe

One of the most influential people in my life has been Mother Teresa.  It is mind boggling to think that she never felt worthy of God’s love for her.  My thought, if not she, then who should be worthy of His love? As I was researching information about her life, I ran across this story that I adapted from a blog:  Heartwarming Stories.

Several years ago National Geographic provided a picture of God’s wings. After a forest fire in Yellowstone National Park, forest rangers began their trek up a mountain to assess the inferno’s damage. One ranger found a bird literally petrified in ashes, perched statuesquely on the ground at the base of a tree.  When he gently tipped the bird over, three tiny chicks scurried from under their dead mother’s wings.

The loving mother, keenly aware of impending disaster, had carried her offspring to the base of the tree and had gathered them under her wings, instinctively knowing that the smoke would rise. She could have flown to safety but had refused to abandon her babies. When the blaze had arrived and the heat had scorched her small body, the mother had remained steadfast. Because she had been willing to die, those under the cover of her wings would live.

Mother Teresa was "wings" for so many.  How often do we see images of her caring for the poor, forgotten street people, and those so ill that they had been cast aside?  The author of the blog closes his story with the words below, but the same words could have been lovingly whispered by Mother Teresa.
“He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge.” (Psalm 91:4)

Being loved this much should make a difference in your life. Remember the One who loves you, and then be different because of it.  Have an awesome day and remember this great promise!

In Christ,

Cheri Gioe
Important Calendar Dates

September 5 - Labor Day - No School

September 6 - Bus Service will resume

September 8 - First Nine Weeks Progress Reports

September 12 - Cane's Night 4:30-9pm

                                                          September 13 - Council of Ed. Meeting - 6:00pm

                                            September 14 - 8th Grade Retreat

                                            September 16 - Spirit Shirt Day

                                                            Sep tember 19 - Picture Day
                                                                   Open House 6:00pm
Cafeteria News

Click here  to pay your cafeteria fees online.  

Click here for the September menu.
MBS Flood Outreach

MBS Church will be serving hamburger dinners in the St. John room beginning at 11am on Saturday, September 3 to anyone who needs a hot meal.

Supplies are still available to families who were impacted by the flood. Distribution will run through Labor Day.

K-2 Speech Screenings - Volunteers Needed  

This year's K-2 Speech and Occupational Therapy screenings will be provided by All for the Kids. The screening date has been scheduled for Wednesday, September 7 . All for the Kids will complete these screenings free of charge.

We are in need of 1-2 parent volunteers in two-hour shifts to assist with walking students to and from screenings. Please email Mrs. DiBenedetto at mdibenedetto@mbsbr.org if you are available to help.  Thank you!
  Student Council News

Thank you to all students who ran for a Student Council Office. 
You did an outstanding job! 

Congratulations to our recently elected 2016-17 Officers:

Chaplain - Madeleine Davis
Secretary - Riley-Reed Talley
Treasurer - Ella Newton
Vice President - Thomas Hodgson
President - Abby Arledge
   Class Coordinators

If you are interested in being a class coordinator, but have not turned in your application, you still have time. 

The deadline has been extended until Tuesday, September 6.

Click here  for an application.


Football Jamborees

September 10 and 11th


MBS Pelicans will host Football Jamborees on September 10th and 11th.  
Show your Pelican Pride by helping us pack the field!  Visit the Athletic website for schedules and game times!  
Challenge and Conquest -  Begins September 12 at MBS

Challenge for Girls
Challenge is a club for girls to grow in virtue, friendship and Catholic faith. It’s a program for girls to learn about themselves by doing apostolic works and creating a positive impact on family, friends, and the world.

The mission of Challenge is to evangelize and transform the world by forming today’s young girls to give their very best to others so that Christian culture will prevail in the hearts of everyone they meet.

Conquest Boys Club - Baton Rouge
Conquest is a National network of leadership programs, clubs, and camps for boys and young men 5-16 years of age.  Conquest trains boys to become self-disciplined and confident young men and Catholic leaders who possess moral integrity and are committed to improving the communities in which they live. If you are interested in participating in Conquest, visit the website at http://www.conquestbr.org/site/events/events.html .

Update Your Listing for the MBS Online Directory

New this year,  the school directory will be accessed via Rediker.  MBS Directory information should be used for personal purposes, such as contacting a classmate for a play date or sending birthday invitations.  Information may not be used for mass marketing purposes or shared with people outside of the MBS School community. In order to be listed in the directory, we need your approval.  Please follow the easy steps below to ensure your listing.
  
1.  Log on to Plus Portals
2.  Locate the arrow next to your name (parent's name)
3.  Click the arrow and a drop down menu will appear
4.  Choose Directory Listing
5.  A Directory Listing page will appear
6.  Click the box next to "List my information in the directory"
7.  Then click the boxes next to the information you want available to MBS families
8.  Save settings

To access the  MBS Directory click "Directory" in the header bar.  Directory information can be accessed alphabetically.  If a family you are looking for is not found, then they have not updated their directory information.
Plus Portal Notification Settings

Would you like to receive automatic emails when your child's teacher(s) update(s) Plus Portals?  If your answer is yes, then follow these easy steps.  
 
1.  Log on to Plus Portals
2.  Locate the arrow next to your name (parent's name)
3.  Click the arrow and a drop down menu will appear
4.  Choose E-mail Notifications
5.  An E-mail Notifications screen will appear
6.  Click the circles and boxes box next to the desired settings (you can receive daily updates, weekly updates etc.)
7.   Locate the box that says E-mail Address - this is the primary address associated with Plus Portals.
8.  Locate the box that says Additional E-mail Addresses - this is where you can add additional e-mail addresses in order to receive information at multiple e-mail addresses.
Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!

Through the points that MBS has earned through our HP printer cartridge recycle program, we were able to purchase two color HP printers and three black and white HP printers for our classrooms.  

Please continue to send in HP printer cartridges (any size) to Mrs. Denton for our recycle program.  ONLY HP cartridges are accepted.   Thanks in advance! 
Opening Your Heart - Ladies Catholic Book/Bible Study  

Walking With Purpose will be continuing at MBS this year!  We will have an Info Night on September 1st at 6:30pm in the St. John Room.  So if you have enjoyed Walking with Purpose and would like to share it with your friends, please bring them along!  

We will be starting the 22 week foundational course called Opening Your Heart.  It will follow the same format that we did with Living in the Father's Love.  We will meet on THURSDAYS from 6:30-8:15 p.m. (please note the day and time change.)  We will start September 22nd and finish April 6th.  

Click here for a flyer with additional information.
Volunteer Opportunities and Time and Talent Cards 

According to the MBS Parent/Student Handbook, all school families must contribute 30 volunteer hours to MBS school and/or church parish as part of their commitment to our faith community.  Hours will be checked prior to re-registration.  Families who have not completed 30 hours of service may be assessed the out of parish tuition rate.  If you need assistance in finding acceptable volunteer hours, please contact the school office.

Volunteer Opportunities:  
  • MBS Flood Recovery Support:  MBS Church is providing flood recovery support to Old Jefferson, Antioch Villa, and Woodlawn Acres Subdivisions.  Outreach, in the form of meals, cleaning supplies, clothing, greeting people and manpower, is being offered to those impacted by flooding.  If you are able to volunteer, please visit Sign-up Genius or email mbsfloodrecovery@gmail.com.

  • Grounds Crew:  The MBS Grounds Crew is in need of volunteers.  Volunteers form teams that work once a month on the school grounds.  Please prayerfully consider this important ministry.  If interested, email Kathy Duplessis at kduplessis@mbsparish.org.