In this issue of the Scribe:
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Dear Parents,
The original meaning of the word "Lent" comes from the old English word, lencten, for "spring" - a beautiful season of growth, of hope, and of abundant new life.
This past Saturday I experienced the joy of abundant life while meeting the four and five year olds who came to our school for their Kindergarten entrance screening. Many little girls wore beautiful dresses and one little boy came in his tuxedo! While some were quiet and a bit shy, many warmed up to our teachers quite quickly and began to chat away with them freely.
This abundance of life is one of the most precious gifts from God and a sign of His love for us. While teaching Religion to one of the fourth grade classes yesterday, I asked my students: "How do we know that God is good and loving?" One little theologian responded: "He created us! He thinks we are worth making!" Indeed, it is God's love which brought us into existence, and it is God's love which sustains us in existence: we are here because God loves us and wants us to be. Jesus tells us: "I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly" (John 10:10).
The gift of abundant life was paid for by Christ's sacrifice on the Cross. The reality of this immense cost teaches us a very important lesson: true love requires sacrifice, great sacrifices. When I taught "Theology of the Body" to middle school students, I would use scenes from Frozen as springboards for discussions on the meaning of "true love". One of my favorite quotes from the movie is Olaf's famous dictum: "Some people are worth melting for." On this side of Heaven, because of the wounds of sin, because of our own failings and the foibles of others, true love hurts. Often, it hurts to do what is right - to avoid gossip, to give someone the benefit of doubt rather than condemn, to forgive, to persevere in doing our best in imperfect situations. The lesson of the sacrificial character of true love is among the most important lessons we can teach our young people.
The little ones whom I encountered this past Saturday were full of life - they were full of life because they were secure in their parents' love. As we grow up, life's challenges can chip away the sense of trust we once enjoyed as young children. Lent is a time to open our hearts anew to allow God's love to enter in. One of the readings at the Easter Vigil Mass comes from the Book of the Prophet Ezekiel: God says to His people, "I will give you a new heart and place a new spirit within you, taking from your bodies your stony hearts and giving you natural hearts" (36:26). Through the sacraments, God literally touches us with His power and his love. It is not too late to take on a Lenten practice which connects us with the sacraments: (if your schedule permits,) attending an extra Holy Mass during the week, going to confession, spending some time praying in the Presence of the Eucharistic Jesus in the Adoration Chapel, perhaps before or after morning or afternoon carpool.
Throughout this Lenten season, let us say to Jesus: "Jesus, I give you permission to come into my heart and heal its wounds. I give you permission to take away all that is not worthy of your love. I give you permission to fill my heart with your abundant love."
God bless,
Sister Mary Jacinta, O.P.
Principal
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Week of 3/6-3/10:
IOWA Testing 3/7-3/17
Tuesday, 3/8
First Holy Communion Parent Meeting (7:00-8:00, 316/317)
Wednesday, 3/9
All school Mass - 3A
8B Confessions
Fun Lunch - Chick-fil-a Sandwich
Friday, 3/10
Frozen Friday
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Week of 3/13-3/17:
IOWA Testing 3/7-3/17
Tuesday, 3/14
End of 3rd Quarter
Wednesday, 3/15
All school Mass - 3B
No Confessions
Fun Lunch - Pizza Hut
Friday, 3/17
Frozen Friday
Sunday, 3/18
Archdiocesan Music Festival at Blessed Trinity
Clarification: there some discrepancies (Sister's mistake!) about the dates for summer uniform. Please know that summer uniform is in effect from March 15 to October 31.
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Please pray for:
- Pope Francis, Archbishop Gregory, Bishop Zarama, Fr. Neil, Fr. Peeter
- The sick among our families and friends
- Those among our families and friends who serve in the military overseas
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Please also pray for those among our families who are ill - we have a number of family members who are very sick and in need of prayers.
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Please pray for the uncle of N
icholas Miller (5B), Joe Timko, who was just diagnosed with a rare brain tumor. He is in the process of receiving treatment.
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Thank you to Mrs. Cowan and all the families that hosted a table at our International Night! the food was fabulous, the songs and dances were magnificent, the artifacts were beautiful, and the camaraderie was most uplifting. What a fun-filled and joy-filled celebration of the many cultures represented by our students and families at SCS!
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Tuition Deposits
Tuition deposits will be billed through FACTS on March 31 and auto drafted on April 14. These deposits are non-refundable and are applied to your 2017-2018 tuition total. If your child is not returning to St. Catherine of Siena Catholic School for the 2017-2018 school year please contact Michelle Huval prior to March 31.
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Congratulations to our Blazers Science Olympiad Team! Members of our team participated in the Science Olympiad competition held at
Georgia State University on Saturday, March 4.
Twenty-one teams from various schools in the Atlanta metro area competed in twenty-three different events. Special congratulations go to the following students for their awards:
- 2nd Place Medal: "Towers": Laura Gonzalez & Lillian Felch
- 4th Place Medal: "Scrambler": William Montello
- 9th Place Ribbon: "Road Scholar": Jacob Stewart
- 9th Place Ribbon: "The Wright Stuff": Dylan Stewart
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Discover God's Plan for Optimal Health
You are invited to attend a special presentation by Dr. Fernandez at St. Michael's, entitled "Discover God's Plan for Optimal Health." Click here for more information.
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Middle School Parent Presentation
We invite parents to attend some very important and helpful presentations - on campus and off campus.
St. Pius X Catholic High School presents Sarah Swafford, of "The Chastity Project" and "Emotional Virtue." Middle school and high school parents are invited to a PARENTS ONLY evening, "From the Outside Looking In" on Thursday, March 9, 2017 from 7:30-9:00pm at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Historic Church. Sarah will be speaking about the challenges of being the parent of a teenager, and how to create a game plan to best love, support, encourage, pray with, and affirm your child. If you are interested in attending, PLEASE RSVP at
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSedeTboxCy8U8t579JWMNKdGwn5wSE4GiedMuB3NJodrXK8HQ/viewform?c=0&w=1 We hope you can join us for this special evening. For questions, contact
[email protected].
2.
"Parenting an Internet Generation"
by Matt Fradd here at St. Catherine's on Tuesday, March 14
3.
Computer and Internet Safety - Protecting your family on the Internet
by Rick Huebner (parent of SCS students): Do you worry about your children online? Do you know anyone whose computer has been infected? Come hear Rick Huebner talk about what you can do to protect your family and children online. Rick has worked in technology for large companies, US Government contractors, and with small to medium sized businesses for over 20 years. This presentation will help you understand Antivirus Programs, basic computer security, and online safety. Feel free to ask questions and take notes. This will be an interactive talk. For planning, please RSVP to
[email protected]
. March 21 at 7:30pm at St. Michael the Archangel. Room TBD. Click here for more information.
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The students of St. Catherine of Siena Catholic School are going "Back to the Beanstalk!"
We would love to see the families and friends of St. Catherine of Siena Catholic School show their support for these students who have worked so hard on this production.
Performances will be at:
Living Hope Church
3450 Stilesboro Rd. Kennesaw, GA, 30152
Performances are held at:
Friday, March 10th, 7:00 PM
Saturday, March 11th, 3:00 PM
Saturday, March 11th, 7:00 PM
Sunday, March 12th, 3:00 PM
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Running Club
We are happy to announce that SCS will be offering a running club again this year for 2nd-5th grades!
SCS RUNNING CLUB
will begin March 15th! Click here for more information.
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Annual Fund
Thank you for your generous support of our Annual Fund! To date, we have received $17,975 in pledges from 37 families. We are grateful for the generous contributions that so many of you have made to St. Catherine of Siena. If you have not had a chance to make a pledge to the Annual Fund, there is still time to contribute a gift. The gifts raised will directly support our students, the cost of educating our children, academic classroom enhancements, student programs and services. Please consider a gift and help us achieve our goal with 100% participation. No amount is too small and every gift will make a difference in the success of our amazing school!
! Please click here to go to our webpage to make a pledge. Thank you for your generous support!
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Father Daughter Dance
The Enchanted Forest
Saturday, March 25, 2017
6:00 - 8:30 pm
St. Catherine of Siena Herbert Hall
Hosted by Girl Scout Troop 10393
Grab your fairy wings and your Prince Charming and fly on over for a magical evening.
Your reservation ensures an Enchanting Evening on our Woodland Dance Floor, Fairy Punch and Enchanting Desserts as well as a Photo Booth and one Raffle Ticket for Elementary & Middle School Raffle Baskets. Additional Raffle Tickets will be available in the Forest.
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Yearbook Early Edition - Make it Yours!
The 2017 yearbook will be filled with pictures of our year together at St. Catherine's and is must have for all the students! We are happy to offer this all color, hardcover edition at a special price of $25 each! This price is valid from February 1st to March 15th. After this, each copy will be priced at $30. You can order your copy from the following link:
We are excited to inform you that Yearbooks will be available earlier- on May 17, 2017. An insert with all the end of year pictures will be distributed in August, 2017.
Help make the Yearbook spectacular!
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St. Catherine of Siena Preschool
Do you have a little one that will be 16 months to 5 years of age in September of 2017? If yes, St. Catherine's Preschool offers a strong Catholic, educational foundation in a highly academic and creative environment.
Our preschool teachers are loving and qualified individuals that will help mold your children. We are housed in Our Lady of Grace building and have been in existence for 25+ years!
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Club SciKidz Camps
Club SciKidz is offering summer camps right on Ben King Road at Gateway Church.
Click here to visit their website for more information.
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