Special SaintsGiving Edition of Saints Weekly

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December 3, 2019

Dear Saint Families,

Happy Advent Season! I am hopeful that each of you embrace this Season of Advent as it truly is a gift! Each year we are given yet another opportunity to grow individually and as a family entering Advent with prayer, reflection, and anticipation of the birth of Jesus. May we all continue to grow in faith and find renewed JOY throughout this season. I am looking forward to celebrating with you at Holiday on the Parkway, Christmas performances, caroling, and parties!

Here at StJPII, everything continues running full steam ahead as we are already planning for the upcoming year. Next week, we are excited to welcome Rice University School Mathematics Project on campus. They will help us review our current math program and also collaborate with us as we consider new resources, textbooks, and materials for the future. 2020 has many exciting things in store which will ultimately lead us into our next strategic plan, so stay tuned for more information!

In Him,

Principal

P.S.- Please see a letter below regarding Pope Francis and a voice note from Fr. Shelly.

Thanks to the Class of 2020 for donating our new Nativity Scene

Pope Francis' Apostolic Letter regarding the Nativity Scene

Fr. Shelly explains the importance of Pope Francis' Letter Dated December 1

SaintsGiving on Giving Tuesday

SaintsGiving Update

What a day we've had and it's not over yet! We are truly blessed by your generosity! All funds raised today benefit the StJPII Annual Fund.

Here's what we've achieved so far, thanks to your support:

111 donations/pledges made
$65,170 raised today
$365,410 raised for the Annual Fund overall
100+ shares on Facebook! Get ready to see Mrs. Bogard in uniform on Thursday!
Special thanks to the Taher and Dvorachek families for their gift box donations
Once we reach 150 donors, we will unlock the Schuckle family gift box
As the grand finale, we have a very large $ gift box to unlock when we reach 200 donations

Help us reach our $550,000 Annual Fund Goal by 12/31/19 so we can get a holiday on Holy Thursday! There's still time to join the excitement - every gift, pledge, monthly payment, and matching gift makes a difference!

Give Today

Thank you to our donors!

Mr. and Mrs. Luis Acosta

Mr. and Mrs. Michael A. Adegbesan

Dr. and Mrs. Horacio Adrogue *

Mr. and Mrs. Larry Aertker

Mr. and Mrs. Luis F. Aguilar +

Mr. Mbaga Ahorukomeye and Mrs. Alarice Gatabazi

Mr. and Mrs. Akin Akerele

Mr. Oscar Alejos and Ms. Katherine Suarez-Villa

Mr. and Mrs. James Alfred

Mr. Feras Aljazrawi and Mrs. Jala Khammo

Mr. Khalid Almoosa and Mrs. Noha Tuma

Ms. Jessica Ande

Ms. Elizabeth G. Anderson

Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Anderson *

Mr. and Mrs. Henry Arellano

Mr. Victor Arellano and Mrs. Jennifer Sosa

Ms. Eva Bardwell *

Mr. and Mrs. Kevin Barrios

Mr. and Mrs. Lucas Bazan +

Mr. and Mrs. Leopoldo Bello

Christopher and Kristen Bellows

Mr. and Mrs. David Benedict

Mr. and Mrs. James Berman

Mr. and Mrs. Adam Bogard

Ms. Felicia Bonno

Mr. and Mrs. Craig Bortner

Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Bouffard

Mr. and Mrs. Frank Bramanti

Mr. and Mrs. Oren Breaux *

Mr. and Mrs. Eric Broussard

Mr. and Mrs. Charlie Burton *

Mrs. Diana Bushnell *

Mr. Juan C. Caldentey and Ms. Ana T. Briceno

Herman and Lourdes Canlas *

Mr. and Mrs. John Cardona

Ms. Yolanda Cavazos

Mr. Javier Celma and Mrs. Isabella Sanchez

Mr. and Mrs. Brian Clark *

Mr. and Mrs. Jason Clark

Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Chaisson Jr.

Rose Chaisson

Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Chijuka *

Mr. and Mrs. Richard Cisneros

Mr. Clement and Ms. Hebert

Ms. Stacey Cline

Dr. and Mrs. Richard Clinton

Mr. and Mrs. David Cole

Mr. and Mrs. Gene Colgan

Mr. and Mrs. Jason S. Collins

Mr. and Mrs. Richard Collyer *

Ms. Mary Beth Condara

Mr. and Mrs. John Cook

Ms. Kathleen Corte

Mr. and Mrs. Stefano Costantini

Mr. and Mrs. Michael Cruthirds

Mr. Kenneth Cruz and Ms. Teresa Perez

Mr. and Mrs. Chance Dailey +

Ms. Lucy Dao

Mr. Noel David and Ms. Mariangie Pagan

Mr. and Mrs. Ruben Davila

Mr. and Mrs. Ramiro de Leon

Mr. and Mrs. John DeBroeck *

Mr. and Mrs. Troy Decker

Mr. and Mrs. Joe Denton

Mr. and Mrs. George DeVaull +

Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Dharamsingh

Fonda Diamantis *

Joan Dicarlo *

Thomas and Joanna Donohue *

Mr. and Mrs. Quinn Dorgan

Mr. and Mrs. Vince Doucette *

Mr. and Dr. Vincent P. Doucette

Mr. and Mrs. Kevin Drewes

Mr. and Mrs. David P. Dronet

Ms. Jane Dronet *

Mr. and Mrs. Kent Dulay

Mr. and Mrs. Christopher J. Dvorachek

Mr. and Mrs. Richard Dvorachek *

Mr. Jeremy Eade and Ms. Paloma Urbano +

Mr. and Mrs. John Egan *

Mr. and Mrs. Charles England

Mr. Eduardo Escobar and Ms. Heidi Dietrich

Mr. Wayne Etheridge *

Mr. and Mrs. John Fahy

Mr. Hector Falcon and Mrs. Valentina Lares

Cheri Fama

Ms. Jordan Fama

Ms. Jessica Fannin

Mr. Carlos Fernandez and Mrs. Ines Taboada

Ms. Betty Festa

Ms. Sara Fielder

Mr. and Mrs. Carlos Figueroa

Mr. and Mrs. John Filla *

Mr. and Mrs. Michael Finger *

Mr. and Mrs. William Flanders

Nancy Flesch *

Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Forbes

Dave and Diana Forkner *

Mr. and Mrs. Bill Freeman *

Mr. and Mrs. Hilaire Fournier

Mr. and Dr. Luis F. Galito

Mr. and Mrs. Peter M. Gandolfo II *

Mr. and Mrs. Mario Garcia

Mr. and Mrs. Javier Garcia

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Garrity *

David and Paul-E Geddes *

Ms. Mary Geraci *

Mr. and Mrs. Chad Goodman

Mr. and Mrs. Bienvenido Gomez

Mr. and Mrs. Jason Gonzales

Mr. and Mrs. Jorge Gonzalez

Mr. and Mrs. Nick Gonzales

Ms. Amelia Gosuico *

Mr. and Mrs. Paul Gredell

Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Griffin

Anonymous

Ms. Sandra Gross *

Mr. and Mrs. Frank Gruen *

Mr. and Mrs. Scott X. Gruen

Dr. Shirley Gruen *

Mr. and Mrs. Franz Grunenberg

Mr. Colin Hageney, Sr.

Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Hajovsky

Mr. and Mrs. William Haley

Mr. and Mrs. Marc Halter

Mr. and Mrs. James Hanania

Mr. and Mrs. Dikran Hanessian

Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Hardin +

Mr. and Mrs. D Matthew Harris

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Harris

Mr. and Mrs. Bob Harry

Mr. and Mrs. Jerrel Hartfiel

Mr. Hebert and Mrs. Vreedenburgh

Mr. and Mrs. Maurice Hebert *

Mr. and Mrs. Heilmann *

Max and Janie Hengst *

Mr. and Mrs. Tres Hengst

Mr. Carlos Hernandez and Mrs. Mary Parra +

Mr. and Mrs. Mike Hess *

Mr. and Mrs. Drew Hewitt

Mr. and Mrs. Brian D. Hickman

Mr. and Mrs. Paul Higgins +

Mr. and Mrs. Brian Hildebrand

Mr. and Mrs. Gareth M. Hillier

Mr. and Mrs. Rob Hiltbrand

Mr. Adrian Hinestroza and Mrs. Vanessa Briceno-Hinestroza

Mr. Anthony Ho and Mrs. Hayley Nguyen

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Holicek

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Holzman *

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Holzman III

Mr. and Mrs. Stevan Hooper

Mr. and Mrs. Seth I. House

Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Hughes

Mr. Shafiq Jadallah and Mrs. Elba Gil-Jadallah

Mr. and Mrs. Doug Jewett

Mr. Carlos Jimenez and Mrs. Angela Molina +

Meryem Johnson

Mr. and Mrs. Racine Jones

Mr. and Mrs. Jose Joy

Mr. and Mrs. Jimmy Kainer *

Ms. Karen Keating *

Mr. and Mrs. Michael Khayat +

Mr. and Mrs. Ray Kim

Mr. and Mrs. Darrell J. Krejci

Mr. James Kueser and Mrs. Fabiola Stonaker-Kueser

Mr. and Mrs. David Kushner

Ms. S. L. Lamb

Mr. and Mrs. J. Paul Lambert

Ms. Nadia Lara ‘04

Mr. and Mrs. Jim Layfield

Mr. and Mrs. Lauro Lazaro Jr.

Mr. and Mrs. Huan Le

Mr. Fabio Leal and Mrs. Liliana Medina

Mrs. Janet Lee

Charles and Jessica Leibold

Mr. and Mrs. Darius Lewis

Mr. and Mrs. Song Liaw

Mr. and Mrs. Ben Lim

Ms. Mariela Linares

Mr. and Mrs. Kirk Love

Mr. and Mrs. Edward Lowen

Mr. Carlos Lozano and Ms. Viviane Duarte

Mr. and Mrs. Pedro Mancilla

Mr. and Mrs. Cris Martinez

Mr. and Mrs. Matuszak

Mr. and Mrs. James G. May

Mr. and Mrs. Harvey McBee

Mr. and Mrs. Sonny McCurry

Martha and John McKinstry *

Mr. and Mrs. Franklin McMahan

Mr. and Mrs. Peter McStravick

Mr. Brian Mehring and Mrs. Thu Pham

Mr. Alfredo Mello and Mrs. Vanusa Amparo

Mr. and Mrs. Paul Mendelson

Mr. and Mrs. Hector Mendez +

Mr. Andres Mendoza and Mrs. Carlota Zambrano

Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Michaels

Mr. Joe Mihelick *

Mr. Michael Mihelick and Dr. Donna Talluto

Mr. and Mrs. Eduardo Mihura

Mr. and Mrs. Andrew J. Miller +

Mr. and Mrs. James Miller

Mr. and Mrs. William Minero

Mr. and Mrs. John Mondelli

Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Moniaci

Mr. Orlando Montesino *

Mr. Julio Montilva and Mrs. Rossana Montilva +

Dr. and Mrs. Michael Moore

Mr. and Mrs. Jorge Morales

Mr. and Mrs. Luis Morales

Mr. and Mrs. Maher Moukarim

Ms. Ann Marie Mueller *

Mr. and Mrs. Ghassan Naddaf

Mr. and Mrs. Gabriel Negron

Mr. and Mrs. George Nehme

Mr. and Mrs. J-Philip Nesic

Mr. and Mrs. Glenn Neslony

Mr. Bao Nguyen and Mrs. Kim

Mr. Cuong Nguyen and Mrs. Hang Doan

Mr. Tam Nguyen and Ms. Maria Do +

Mr. Tri Nguyen and Mrs. Tiffani Le

Ms. Ashley Nichols

Mr. and Mrs. Keith O'Connor

Mr. John and Dr. Marguerite Ogden

Mr. and Mrs. Sylvester Ojeah

Mr. and Mrs. Jude C. Okpala

Mr. and Mrs. Ortigoza

Mr. and Mrs. Robert J. Osborn

Brian and Jennifer Padden *

Mr. and Mrs. Pellico

Mr. Daniel Perez and Mrs. Liza Molero de Perez +

Mr. and Mrs. William Perkins

Mr. and Mrs. Paul Philbin *

Mr. and Mrs. Randy Philips

Mr. and Mrs. Mark J. Pietrak +

Mr. and Mrs. Tomas Polanco

Drs. Augustus and Johanna Policarpio

Mr. and Mrs. Richard Porth

Mr. and Mrs. Clinton Power *

Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Price

Mr. and Mrs. Gregory Price *

Mr. Malcolm Quickfall and Mrs. Julieta Villar

Ms. Jennifer Quinlan

Mr. Andrew M. Quinn *

Mr. and Mrs. Aldo Ramos

Mr. and Mrs. Ludwig Rauder

Mr. and Mrs. Roger Raymond

Mr. Thomas Reed and Mrs. Sonia Colin-Reed *

Mr. and Mrs. John Bryan Reid III

Ms. Cecilia Resweber

Mr. and Mrs. Dan Richard *

Mr. and Mrs. Michael Richard

Ms. Kathy Rieder

Mr. and Mrs. Mark Riemann

Mr. and Mrs. Albert Riley

Mr. and Mrs. Vincent Rillo

Mr. and Mrs. Freddy Rivas

Mr. and Mrs. Cade Rhoden

Mr. Serge Robichaud and Mrs. Paula Velasco +

Mr. and Mrs. Luis Roca

Mrs. Martha Roca *

Mr. Ignacio Rodon and Mrs. Maria Bracho

Mr. and Mrs. Jose Rodriguez +

Mr. and Mrs. Ron Rovall

Mr. and Mrs. David Royston

Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Russell

Michele and Robert Ryan *

Mr. and Mrs. Alban Sabin

Drs. Eric and Raffaella Sabonghy

Barbara and Gary Sandum *

Mr. and Mrs. Tyler Sandum

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Sapiro

Mr. and Mrs. Erich Schroeder

Mr. and Mrs. Jason Schuckle

Ms. Tara Schurman

Mr. and Mrs. Ryan Schwab

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas A. Schwab

Mr. and Mrs. David S. Shelton

Mr. and Mrs. Murray Smith +

Mr. and Mrs. Ed Solymosy, Jr.

Mr. and Mrs. Michael Spencer

Mr. and Mrs. Mark Stasney +

Mr. and Mrs. John Steffes

Mr. and Mrs. Larry Steiner *

Mr. and Mrs. Mark J. Stieber

Barbara Strachan *

Mr. and Mrs. Michael K. Strachan

Mr. and Mrs. John Sudkamp

Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Sullivan *

Mr. and Mrs. Christian Sutton

Mr. and Mrs. David Sutton

Mr. and Mrs. Michael Swain +

Mr. Shawn Taher and Mrs. Heather Nguyen

Mr. and Mrs. Atsushi Takagi

Mr. Miguel Teran and Ms. Veronica Almarza +

Mr. and Mrs. Ed Tiedt

Mr. and Mrs. Charles B. Thorne

Mr. Cong Tong and Mrs. Lily Luu

Mr. Quang Tran

Mr. and Mrs. Adoni Tsinopoulos

Mr. and Mrs. Mark Tucker

Dr. and Mrs. Samir Tuma *

Mr. Tu-Ting and Mrs. Rachel Tsan *

Mr. and Mrs. Ublester Rodriguez

Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Ulery

Mr. and Mrs. Michael A. Unger

Mr. and Mrs. Joe Untermeyer *

Mr. and Mrs. Roberto Valencia

Mr. and Mrs. Hector A. Valenzuela

Mr. and Mrs. Charles Van Metre *

Mr. and Mrs. Luis Vasquez

Mr. and Mrs. Mario Vasquez *

Ms. Leticia Velasco

Mr. and Mrs. Juan Villasana

Mr. and Mrs. John Vo

Mr. and Mrs. Trey Wakefield

John Waldo and Eve Leonard *

Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Wang

Dr. Jack and Kathy Ward *

Mr. and Mrs. Bryce T. Watson

Mr. and Mrs. Mark Weido

Dr. Michael Weinman

Mr. and Mrs. Glenn Welsch

Mr. and Mrs. Corey White

Mrs. Raye White

Mr. and Mrs. Charles Whitson

Mr. and Mrs. Gary Wiatrek

Mr. and Mrs. Richard Wiley

Mrs. Ann Wilkerson *

Mr. and Mrs. Ernie Williamson

Mr. and Mrs. Carl Willis * +

Mr. and Mrs. Ron Wright *

Michael and Theresa Yetsko *

Mr. and Mrs. Richard Yohr

Ms. Diane Young *

Mr. and Mrs. John Zarnowiecki

* Denotes StJPII Grandparent

+ Denotes matched gift

This list reflects gifts given to the Annual Fund through 3:00 p.m. today. If you have given a gift and your name is missing from this list, or if your name is misspelled, we apologize for the oversight. Please email development@jp2.org and we will have it corrected.

Our benefactors are direct blessings from the Lord. We pray gratefully in Mass and every day that the Lord will provide for all your needs, as you are doing for us.

School Business

Be like Saint Nicholas! StJPII Honors St. Nicholas on his Feast Day this Friday, December 6

Saint Nicholas was known for his generosity. One legend tells that he threw some gold coins into the chimney of a family that needed money. Classes are collecting money all week to help the poor. This Friday, December 6 at Mass, classes will carry up a chimney box with donations for the poor. Donations will go to local food pantries. Thank you in advance for your support! -Corporal Works of Mercy: Give Alms to the Poor

RWTS House Winner- House of Matthew

During RWTS the school's promotion included a friendly House Competition where the winning House earned a free dress day! Tomorrow, December 4, the House of Matthew can wear free dress. All Houses have earned the right to wear free socks and shoes on tomorrow as well for meeting the 20% goal! Thank you again in supporting RWTS!

Give by Shopping-Just in Time for Christmas

StJPII receives percentages of your holiday shopping when you “Give by Shopping” at these participating vendors: Kroger, Randall's, Amazon Smile, Shutterfly, Office Depot and Josephine’s Day Spa and Salon. As you make those Christmas lists and check them twice, check our webpage for opportunities to give by shopping and contribute to our Saints community. Thank you!

Giving Back through Service

The moral and character formation of students is a priority at StJPII. Thus, service to others and to the community is an essential part of the curriculum through the seven Corporal Works of Mercy. Each grade level participates in service projects during the year, as well as school-wide service projects. Through our service projects students are given the opportunity to share with others the gifts they have received.

Thank you from Prekindergarten Service Project

The PreK classes worked together to complete a project to Feed the Hungry. Students brought supplies to provide lunches for homeless Houstonians. PreK made over 150 bologna and cheese sandwiches. The lunches were donated to St. Cyril of Alexandria Parish Ministry to the Homeless. This committee goes out weekly to hand deliver food to those on the street. Thank you PreK for your generosity! - Corporal Works of Mercy: Feed the Hungry

4th Grade Service Project- Thank you!

Thank you for supporting the 4th grade service project! Your generous donations were shared on Thanksgiving Day. We would not have been a success without each of you.

- Corporal Works of Mercy: Shelter the Homeless

Congratulations

StJPII Chess team competes in Houston Open Scholastic Tournament

Congratulations to the StJPII Chess players who competed in the Houston Open Scholastic Tournament last weekend. The event has been rated by US Chess Federation. StJPII had a minimum of four students registered for K-5 and K-2 sections and hence our team qualified for a team trophy.

In the K-2 section, StJPII Catholic School won the 1st place team trophy!!

In the K-5 section, StJPII Catholic School won the 2nd place team trophy!!

Congratulations to the StJPII team:

Sophia Fruelda
Nicolas Ocampo (5th place winner)
Matthew Fruelda
Luke Wiley
Jean-Luc Alexander
Matteo D. Rodriguez
Tomas Bello (10th place winner)
Andres Decker
Fabian Farias Centeno
Faith Nguyen
Mary Pham
Josh Wiley
Alessa Farias Centeno and
Sofia Lozano

Houston Open Scholastic Chess Results

PTO Corner

Join Us for the December PTO Meeting

LOCATION
St. Jude Hall

DATE AND TIME
12/04/19 11:30am - 12/04/19 12:30pm

Please join us tomorrow in St. Jude Hall for our last PTO meeting of 2019! Lunch will be sponsored by Russo’s.

I'll be there!

Maybe

I can't make it

Snacks with Santa this Saturday

Please mark your calendars! Snacks with Santa will be held on Saturday, December 7 from 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. There will be snacks, face-painting, games, crafts, photos with Santa and a raffle entry for a chance to win a Peanuts themed yard decor. New this year: there will also be a cotton candy machine ($2/child)! Please see the attached flyer for more information (or visit the News and Events section at www.jp2.org ) . You can purchase your tickets by clicking on the link below ($9/child) or at the door on the day of the event ($10/child). If you have any questions, please email Edith Hernandez .

Snacks with Santa Tickets

Holiday on the Parkway 2019- Important Information

This year the St. John Paul II Catholic School PTO will sponsor a craft fair for parents and outside vendors on Friday, December 6 and Saturday, December 7 . Last year we had over 20 booths filling the Bramanti Athletic Center! The students, faculty and parents are able to shop for holiday presents for family and friends on Friday, and all are welcome to shop during the annual Snacks with Santa festivities on Saturday. If you are interested in reserving a table for your business or know someone that may be interested in having a booth, please complete the below form and send to the school as soon as possible, together with the booth reservation fee. The form can be hand delivered or mailed to St. John Paul II Catholic School, 1400 Parkway Plaza Drive, Houston, TX 77077, Attention: Olga Saenz (Holiday on the Parkway). Space is limited and it will be handled on a first come, first serve basis. Please email or call Olga Saenz or 713-213-6930 with any questions.

Holiday on the Parkway Reservation Form

Athletics

Elementary School

WHCSA ~ Our teams are formed, our Coaches are ready, and our Saints will be hooping it up starting next week! Please check your emails as your new coaches will be getting in touch with you to let you know what team your son or daughter will be playing on!

Parents, please join the StJPII WHCSA album to share and save your favorite photos of the season.

Submit WHCSA Photos Here!

Middle School

Our Middle School boys and girls basketball teams kept busy over the holiday attending practices with a lot of conditioning! They start back this week continuing their season in hopes of adding some W’s to their season records!!

Upcoming Events

Saintsgiving Thanks

Thanks to your participation, our Facebook posts today were shared over 100 times! Mrs. Bogard is looking forward to walking the halls sporting a StJPII uniform on Thursday!

Calendar

To view events related to StJPII, please click on the school calendars below.

StJPII School Calendar

StJPII Athletics Calendar

Admissions Give Halo News

St. John Paul II Catholic School

1400 Parkway Plaza, Houston, TX 77077

281-496-1500 • 281-496-2943 (fax)

www.jp2.org

St. John Paul II Catholic School prepares all students spiritually

and academically to succeed in life and to do God's will.