The school is in full swing as we have three weeks before the end of the quarter and Spring Break.  We also have the upcoming weeks of Iowa standardized testing. We had a wonderful Saturday hosting the screenings for our incoming pre-kindergarten and kindergarten students.  It was a pleasure to meet our new students and their families.  We have a good mix of existing and new families.  It really helps to orient our new families in the primary levels with families that are connected to our routines. 

Congratulations go out to Ms. Isabella Sill (6th) and Mr. Tyler Berndt (8th) who participated in the Regional Southeastern Florida Scripps Spelling Bee.  Tyler will be heading to the national championship in Washington later this year.  We are so proud of the hard work both students did preparing for this event.  Isabella told me she studied hard!  Good look to Tyler.  We will be cheering him on during the event. Thank you and congratulations as well to our liturgy choir who traveled to Miami to participate in the annual Chorus Festival and Mass.  I heard it was a wonderful event and we are so proud of our choir giving up their Saturday to sing praises to God, our Father.

This week we begin our Lenten journey with Ash Wednesday service at 9:30 AM.  We will not have school liturgy on Thursday.  Our Wednesday and Thursday academic schedules will be flip-flopped to accommodate the Mass.  Our teachers are working hard with our students to prepare their hearts, minds, and souls for the glorious Lenten and Easter Seasons.  We are teaching our children that Lent is not a time of sadness, but a time to build our relationship with God.  I know so many of us grudgingly give up something for Lent, but I challenge everyone to do something for Lent.  It could be as simple as going out of your way to say a loving comment to someone every day.  It could be showing greater patience to your family.  It is lovely when I hear families talking together while planning their Lenten devotions.  It brings strength and connection to the family if it is a shared holy season.  Our Faith further asks us to give alms to the poor, refrain from meat on Fridays, and to increase our prayer lives.  We will be helping our children with all of these, but I challenge a family discussion on what you will be doing as a group.  To help, our newsletter will be connecting you to weekly prayers for the Lenten Season that can be read before dinner or during a quiet time in the evening, rather than watching television and using technology.  I guarantee you these items will strengthen your family's love and faith. We will also be saying the Stations of the Cross every Friday.  If your child needs to be picked up for an unplanned early dismissal, please come to the office by 1:30 PM.  It is very difficult to find a student in the full gym while the stations have begun.  Thank you for your attention in this matter.