"God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son; so that everyone who believes in him might have eternal life." JN 3:16
Lenten Reflections
As we conclude this second week of Lent, I found myself struggling to maintain my many Lenten resolutions. I couldn't help but ask myself: Why am I doing this? I can easily grasp the idea of praying more and making more intentional time for prayer, which I really need. I can grasp the value of Almsgiving; I definitely need the reminder of the importance of giving. It helps me realize how blessed I am and how much I have. Fasting is the one practice of Lent that I sometimes have a harder time grasping. Self-denial is good, but why exactly?

I asked some friends this question a few weeks ago, and one of them said something that has remained in my heart since. When God calls us to give up something, it is because there is something in our lives that is taking space; a space that He wants to fill with Himself. Her words really challenged me to think deeper about fasting.

What is taking space in my life right now? What is taking up my time, or my energy? What am I filling my time with to avoid being in silence, or in the presence of the Lord? What areas of my life does God want to fill with Himself? As I was encouraged by my friend to think about this, I want to invite you to do the same. What are some areas in your life where God is calling to give up something and make more space for Him?
-Ms. Sara Castillo, Campus Minister
Announcements
Joey Gruber was selected as first-team Academic All-State by the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association. Congratulations!
Kamryn Blake was selected as first-team Academic All-State by the Indiana Coaches of Girls Sports Association. Congratulations!
Cardinal Ritter's Ecology class visited Bayer Seed Farm to learn about their crop research, GMOs, and pollinator gardens on March 18.
Leah Wood from the Center for Earth and Environmental Science (CEES) at IUPUI talked with Cardinal Ritter's Ecology class on March 20 about the “natural” versus urban water cycle.
Cardinal Ritter Prom tickets will be sold during lunch April 8-12. 
Theme: Starry Night
Date: Friday, April 26
Location: The Marott - 2625 N. Meridian St.
Price: $45 each - Includes dinner and dessert
(Late tickets will be sold April 15-16 for $50 each)
Flower Sale Volunteer Opportunity

Cardinal Ritter flower sale pick-up will take place on Friday, May 3. We need plenty of volunteers to help with this fundraiser. If you are able, please select a volunteer position and time that works best for you here . If you have questions, please contact Christy McDaniel .
Senior Yearbook Ads

Parents, now is your opportunity to purchase an advertisement in the 2018-19 Cardinal Ritter Yearbook. Purchase an eighth of a page for $30, a quarter of a page for $40, half page for $50, and a full page for $70. Click here for more information. Please reach out to Emily Fox with any questions.
Now Accepting Financial Aid Applications
Deadline April 15, 2019

Indiana Choice Voucher Applications Available March 1-May 29, 2019
  • Students must first be enrolled in a private school for the 2019-2020 school year before applying for the voucher
  • Contact Daisha Dowdy at (317) 924.4333 ext. 404 or ddowdy@cardinalritter.org in the Tuition Office to make an appointment. Please plan on 30 minutes for each appointment.
  • Documents to bring to complete the application process:
1. A copy of your completed 2018 federal income tax return & W-2's.
ISTEP+ Note for Sophomore Parents

Round 2 of ISTEP+ continues for sophomores after Spring Break. The dates are noted below. Please contact the Guidance Office if you have any questions regarding ISTEP+:

English/Language Arts - Most students will test during their English 10 class starting with a practice test during the week of April 1. The actual test will start the week of April 8 and finish on April 15. There is a practice test along with 3 sections of testing for English/Language Arts, which will be one test given each day.

Math - Most students will test during their Theology 3-4 class starting with a practice test during the week of April 1. The actual test will start on April 17 (after English/Language Arts) and finish up on April 26. For Math, there is also a practice test along with 3 sections of testing with one test given each day
The 2019 Smarty Party has been rescheduled for Saturday, April 13. We hope to see you there!
Driver's Ed

Mr. Jeff VanMeter is bringing a Driver's Education course to Cardinal Ritter High School this summer.

Click here for more information.
Please note this event is at St. Monica.
Travel Abroad Opportunity

If you are interested in visiting and staying in Guatemala this summer through Faces and Our Cultures cultural exchange program, please click here for information and contact Mrs. Elzey  lelzey@cardinalritter.org  with questions or next steps.
Use the promotion code WELCOME to receive 20% off any online spirit wear order over $80 through August 10, 2019.

Shop here .
Our Little Ways of Prayer

Our Campus Ministry team wants to pray for you! If you or someone you know is in need of prayers, submit a prayer request and every other week the Campus Ministry team will be praying for the needs of our community. Click here to submit a prayer request.
Amazon Smile

Don't forget to select Cardinal Ritter High School as your charity of choice at smile.amazon.com  and a portion of your sale will be donated to CRHS!
Earn rewards for CRHS every time you shop at Kroger!  
NEW NUMBER: LL023

Support CRHS every time you shop at Kroger! Log in to your Kroger account and click " My  Account" at the top of the homepage to get to your Account Summary page. Click the "Add  Card " button under " Plus Card  and Alt ID(s)." Type your 12- or 13-digit  Kroger card  number into the " Plus Card -or-Alt ID Number" field. This number is at the back of your  Kroger Plus card . Then you can click on community rewards on the side bar and type Cardinal Ritter High School into the search space. CRHS will earn money every time you swipe your Kroger Card.
College Counseling Corner
Ball State Summer Scholars

Raiders: Ball State Summer Scholars is a week-long, free, academic intensive and residential camp for bright, curious, and dedicated students. Mrs. Thomas must nominate you if you want to apply. Please email her at lthomas@cardinalritter.org by Wednesday, March 20th if you would like an application. You must have a 3.0 GPA (or very close to that) to be considered. The programs take place in June. This is for all incoming 10th, 11th, and 12th grade students.
Lady Raiders: Saint Mary's College is offering a summer Institute on their campus this summer called Embody. Embody will take place July 7-12 and July 14-19. You will have the opportunity to preview college life and meet other awesome girls!

Visit saintmarys.edu/Embody to learn more about this program and to apply. The cost is $300 for the week. You must apply by April 15th.
Check out the different programs offered by the Center for Leadership Development (CLD). If your student participates in many of these programs, they can be eligible to earn college scholarships!
Junior high students can participate too!
https://cldinc.org/
IUPUI Summer Workshops: IU School of Infomatics and Computing

June 17-21; June 24-28
8:30 a.m.-4 p.m.

Students entering grades 9-12 may attend.
The cost is $229 for each one week workshop.

To register, go to go.iupui.edu/soic-camp
Indiana Black Expo, Inc. is committed to assisting Indiana students in their pursuit of higher education. Scholarships will be awarded to current high school seniors and students currently enrolled in a post-secondary institution who exhibit outstanding leadership, scholarship, and community service. Emphasis will be placed on financial need and first generation students.

Each applicant will be evaluated based on the application information provided and recipients will be selected by a review committee. The scholarships are funded by proceeds from the Circle City Classic® Football Game and are payable upon recipient's full-time enrollment in a post-secondary institution. More than $4.6 million has been awarded to students since 1984.

This year the application deadline is April 15, 2019. Here is the link to the online application.
University of Dayton Engineering, Entrepreneurship, and Leadership Camps!

Leadership 101: June 23-29 go.udayton/leadership 101
Entrepreneurship: June 23-29 go.udayton/entrepreneurship101
Engineering: Minority Engineering and Technology Enrichment Camp for Young Men: June 16-22 go.udayton.edu/metec
Summer Honors Engineering Camp: June 23-28 go.udayton.edu/shec
Women in Engineering Summer Camp: July 7-12 go.udayton.edu/wie
Women In Engineering

Junior females: On Monday, April 8, Purdue will be hosting a Women In Engineering Program. If you sign up and plan to attend, please fill out a college visit form in the guidance office before you go.

To attend, register online at www.purdue.edu/wiep
Scholarship and standard applications have just opened up for  Camp Cardiac  &  Camp Neuro  Indianapolis 2019!

Camp Cardiac & Camp Neuro, run by medical students in over 30 cities nationwide, are 1-week summer day camps for high school students interested in exploring careers in medicine.

Students may learn more and apply by visiting  http://www.campcardiac.org  and http://www.campneuro.org .

In addition, you may download PDF flyers by clicking on the following links:
FBI Youth Leadership Academy

On July 8, 9, and 10, 2019, the Indianapolis Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the FBI Citizens Academy Alumni Association will host the FBI Youth Leadership Academy (YLA). The YLA is designed to promote an educational experience that will provide students with valuable leadership training and a greater understanding of the FBI. Through interactive physical challenges and classroom discussions we seek to further explain to youth how the FBI addresses the concerns of the community. Utilizing FBI strategic planning techniques and exercises, participants will have the opportunity to hone their decision making and leadership skills.
Apply here .
Summer Job Opportunity for High Schoolers - Keep Indianapolis Beautiful

The Youth Tree Team (YTT) hires young people that are interested in working outside to maintain trees planted all around Indianapolis. This is a paid position ($9/hour, 20 hours/week) that lasts for seven weeks in the summer. YTT waters and mulches trees three days a week and dedicates one day to enrichment activities focusing on financial literacy, sustainability, and tree identification. If the youth is in good standing with YTT, there is an opportunity to continue working in the Fall and Spring and no need to reapply for the next Summer as their spot is saved.  Applications are due by April 3 at 5:00 PM.  Apply here .
Girls Go CyberStart

There's a huge shortage of cybersecurity experts in the US. Girls Go CyberStart encourages high school girls to explore the exciting career opportunities in the field, join the global cybersecurity community and learn skills that will ensure our country offers a safe place to live, work and play online. Learn more here .
At  Duke Summer Session , we are determined to transform you into one who envisions, shapes, and delivers the incredible possibilities of tomorrow. Learn more here .
Schola High School Summer Program at Belmont Abbey - July 2019

Schola offers a unique opportunity to rising high school sophomores, juniors,and seniors to spend an elevating and revitalizing week engaged in a rich schedule of academic, cultural, and recreational activities centered on lively seminars discussing several of the great books of the Western world. Click here for more information.
Rutgers Pre-Engineering Summer Academy

Rutgers University–New Brunswick is excited to announce an opportunity for students interested in engineering. The Rutgers School of Engineering is offering the chance for students to participate in a new  Pre-Engineering Summer Academy  to develop their knowledge and skills through real-world field experiences. Interested in learning more? Attend an online  information session  or visit  Pre-Engineering Summer Academy .
New Scholarship Opportunities

The following links are scholarship opportunities specifically available for minority students:
Many colleges and universities offer free  Diversity Fly-In Programs  in the fall semester to top underrepresented, first generation, and/or diverse students. Attending one of these programs can demonstrate strong interest in an institution and potentially help one’s chances of being admitted. For more information about these upcoming opportunities, please follow this link .
The Washington Youth Summit on the Environment (WYSE)
This one-week, exciting Summit is designed exclusively for high-achieving high school students and will be held on the campus of George Mason University, just outside Washington, D.C., from June 23 to 28, 2019. You can learn more about this opportunity by clicking  here .
Notre Dame Pre-College

Through our summer scholars  program, students may choose from 22 courses in a variety of fields, perfect for sophomores and juniors who want to explore their passions and interests while earning college credit. 
John Carroll University Young Writers Workshop

The John Carroll University Young Writers Workshop, a week-long summer camp at John Carroll University, is now offering both day camp and overnight residential options, so students from all over the country can experience inspiring and rigorous creative writing! This year's workshop takes place from July 22-26th, 2019. The cost for the day-only option is $380; the residential option is $980, though there is an early-bird rate in April. The application deadline for the workshop is June 1st, 2019. For more information about the JCU YWW, please visit  sites.jcu.edu/yww . 
SCRIP Information
INSTRUCTIONS FOR ONLINE ORDERING

1. Go to  shopwithscrip.com  and create an account. Our organization code is FE97AB26258L.
2. Once your account is created, click on "Shop" and browse the hundreds of products available
3. After your order is complete, choose your payment method - either check or PrestoPay. You DO NOT have to use PrestoPay to order online. If you choose check, just send your payment in with your student on Monday morning. 
4. Look for your order to come home on Wednesday or Thursday-unless you ordered ScripNow (e-certificates) or Reloads. Those will be available as soon as the order is processed on Monday if you pay by check, or almost immediately if you pay with PrestoPay. 
5. Click here for more detailed instructions.
Cardinal Ritter Mission Statement
Cardinal Ritter is a Catholic high school entrusted by the Archdiocese of Indianapolis and the parishes of the West Deanery to provide, within a college preparatory curriculum, the highest standards of academic excellence to students of diverse socioeconomic, racial, and religious backgrounds. Cardinal Ritter challenges its students to grow spiritually, intellectually, athletically, and artistically. The Cardinal Ritter community values and fosters the unique intellectual, cultural, social, and physical gifts of each student. As followers of Christ, we encourage our students to share their gifts and talents in service to others.
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