The Siena Scribe

April 18, 2017
Yearbook
In this issue of the Scribe:
Dear Parents,
 
Blessed Easter!  I pray that you and your families have enjoyed a grace-filled Easter holiday.
 
While Easter is always a time of great celebration, the past ten Easters have brought me the additional joy of thanking God for granting the gift of faith to my father who was baptized and received into the Church at Easter ten years ago.  My father's baptism was really quite remarkable, since he was a convinced agnostic for most of his life, except for a period of about five years during which he became a devout Buddhist.  Some of you may be thinking: I bet Sister's vocation helped to bring about her father's conversion.  Actually, my vocation had the opposite effect: God's call to me to embrace the consecrated life and enter the community of the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia was very difficult for my parents and did nothing to improve their relationship with God.
 
So, it was a most unexpected surprise when, after years of trying to convince me to leave the convent and showing no sign of any progress in their faith, my parents sent a letter to me - a short letter which contained a piece of brief but astonishing news: Dad has been taking catechism classes; he will be baptized this Easter.  No explanation for his conversion was given in the letter and, to this day, my father cannot quite articulate how he became convinced of God's existence or, more importantly, how he came to realize that he wanted God in his life.
 
Yes, God is full of surprises.  In his Easter homily, Pope Francis describes Christ's Resurrection as "God's surprise for his faithful people."  The Pope notes that this "surprise" came precisely at the moment when everything seemed hopeless, when "the grave seem[ed] to have the final word, where death seem[ed] the only way out."  He goes on to tell us that the "surprise" of Jesus' Resurrection teaches us that, in our lives also, when things seem quite hopeless, it is then that "God suddenly breaks in, upsets all the rules and offers new possibilities.  God once more comes to meet us, to create and consolidate a new age, the age of mercy."
 
During this Easter season, I pray that God showers His surprises on you and your families - surprises to help you to persevere through difficulties and challenges, surprises to bring healing to the areas of your life that are wounded, surprises to assure you of God's deep love for you.  Let us follow Pope Francis' advice: "Let us allow ourselves to be surprised by...the newness that Christ alone can give.  May we allow his tenderness and his love to guide our steps."
 
With prayers,
Sister Mary Jacinta, O.P.
Principal
 

 
Special Prayers & Congratulations

Our special prayers and congratulations go to Mrs. Lopresti and the members of the O'Shields family who received the gift of baptism this Easter!

Upcomingdates


Week of 4/17-4/21: 
Monday, 4/17
  • No School - Easter Monday
  • Wednesday, 4/19
  • All school Mass - Kindergarten
  • 7B Confessions
  • NO FUN LUNCH TODAY
  • B.O.B Competition in Gym at 1:45
  • Thursday, 4/20
  • First Holy Communion Retreat
  • Friday, 4/21
  • Frozen Friday
  • Spring Picture Day - Students PURCHASING pictures may come in "Sunday Best" attire.





  • Week of 4/24-4/28: 
    Tuesday, 4/25
  • 4th Quarter Begins
  • Archdiocese Oratorical Competition
  • Wednesday, 4/26
  • No Mass
  • No Confessions
  • The NED Show
  • Jason's Deli Bowtie Pasta
  • Friday, 4/28
  • Siena Day





  •  
    prayer

    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 
    • 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. 
    • Please pray for a special intention for the Crutchfield family. 
    OratoricalOratorical Competition

    Congratulations to Francisco Puentes (8th grade) and Gregory Landry (8th grade) for winning 1st place and 2nd place, respectively, at our SCS Oratorical Competition.  Francisco will represent St. Catherine's at the Archdiocesan Oratorical Competition on Tuesday, April 25.


    BOB

    It's the season of the Battle of the Books (B.O.B.) again!  B.O.B. competition incorporates great literature, teamwork, and sportsmanship. Students in the 3rd through 6th grade form B.O.B teams which are responsible for reading up to twenty-four novels per grade.  Students devote much time reading outside of school and practice with their teammates during Media time. Class battles have taken place and the top two grade level teams will compete against each other to determine a winning team to represent St. Catherine's at the Archdiocesan Battle in May. This final 'battle' in school will be held at 1:45 p.m. on April 19 in the Gym. Our 7th grade team will challenge their teachers in a friendly show-case 'battle'.  Parents are invited to attend!  Come to cheer on the teams and participate in the excitement and fervor of our incredible readers!


    NED

    Our students will enjoy the NED Show next Wednesday, April 26.  The NED program aims to build strong character in young people by teaching them how to do their best.  For more information about the NED show, check out the website:   http://www.thenedshow.com/ned_program.html 
      Click here for information about optional purchases of the NED yo-yo after the show.

    Siena

    Our students and teachers will celebrate Siena Day next Friday, April 28 (the feast day for St. Catherine of Siena is on April 29, a Saturday this year).  Our eighth grade students will serve as leaders in various ways: hosting Bible studies, guiding sessions of Eucharistic Adoration and "praise and worship", assisting with service projects.  This year, each grade will participate in a special service project.  Many of these projects require the collection of goods and materials.  Parents will receive a Sign-Up Genius for donations.  Please know that the donations are OPTIONAL and, if possible, please encourage your children to use their own resources to contribute to the donations.  Thank you!

    SummerSolutions

    Optional summer workbooks are available to order.  Please click here for ordering information.
    JuniorgirlscoutJunior Girl Scouts Community Service Project

    The 4th grade Junior Girl Scouts are working on a community service project to benefit Mostly Mutts!  Please see this flyer for a list of items being collected - donations can be dropped off in a special collection box in the front lobby of the school from now until May 1.  Thank you for your support! 

    HelpHelp Needed!

    Help Needed After School 5-10 hours a week: driver needed to assist with after school child transportation.  If interested, please contact Tina D'Agostino (parent of SCS 5th grade student) for specific details about schedule and compensation.  770-870-8398/ tinanlou@bellsouth.net.
    MSFamiliesMiddle School Families

    Please take a look at your calendars and mark them to join us for a Lunch with Fr. Neil  on Sunday, April 23rd.  Our delicious lunch will be capped with a question and answer with Fr. Neil and a chance to hear him play the guitar! Please RSVP so we know how many to cook for!  Questions?  Contact  robinm@stcatherinercc.org.

    Click here to RSVP.

    TeaColumbiette "Beauty and the Beast Spring Tea"

    Mark your calendar for the Columbiette "Beauty and the Beast Spring Tea" on  Saturday, May 13th in Herbert Hall.  Tickets go on sale April 22nd.

    Click here for more information.

    yearbookYearbook 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 $30 each!  You can order your copy from the following link:

    http://jostensyearbooks.com/?REF=A01063777   (link will be active starting on February 1st)

    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!

    St. Catherine of Siena Preschool Preschool1

    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!

      Click here for more information.

    SVDP Day at Burger 21 SVDP

    Friday April 21, 2017 is St. Vincent De Paul Day
    At Burger 21, Kennesaw
     
    Come to Burger 21 located in the new plaza at the corner of Cobb Pkwy and Barrett Pkwy anytime on Friday April 21 and enjoy a delicious Burger or any of the many items they offer, and 10% of all the sales for the day will go to St. Vincent De Paul.

    Bring the whole family, and tell all your neighbors and friends. The more you eat, the more
    SVDP will benefit!

    All proceeds from SVDP Thrift Store are used through our Parish SVDP teams, to help those in need in our communities.

    Click here for more info.

    St. Catherine of Siena Catholic School | 770-419-8601 | www.scsiena.org
    STAY CONNECTED:

    Like us on Facebook   View on Instagram