Friday, December 16th - Schedule & Attire

As a reminder, next Friday, December 16th is an Early Dismissal day for all students at 12:20PM. There is no Carpool at the end of the day; it is Classroom Pick Up only. There is also no Bridges after school on Friday. Also, students can either wear St. Cecilia spirit wear with jeans or uniform bottoms, or they can wear a Christmas spirit top with either jeans or uniform bottoms

St. Cecilia Advent and Christmas Mass Schedule

Please click here for the full schedule and details.

Monday, December 12 - Celebrations of Our Lady of Guadalupe

6:30 pm Rosary & Matachines performance (Spanish)

8:00 pm Mass (Spanish)

9:00 pm Matachines perform in the Community Center

Saturday, December 24 - Vigil of Christmas (Christmas Eve)

4:00 pm Mass with Children’s Choir in Church

4:15 pm 'Overflow' Mass in the Community Center

6:30 pm Mass with Life Teen Band

9:00 pm Misa en español (Spanish)

11:00 pm-'Midnight Mass' with choir, organ & brass

Sunday, December 25 - The Solemnity of Christmas

8:00 am & 10:00 am Mass with cantor, organ & trumpets

No 12:00 pm or 5:00 pm Mass on Christmas Day

Wednesday, December 28

6:30 pm A Christmas Rosary of the Joyful Mysteries

Saturday, December 31

5:00 pm Vigil Mass for Mary Mother of God

Sunday, January 1 - Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God (Holy Day of Obligation)

8:00 am, 10:00 am and 12:00 pm (Spanish)

No 5:00 pm Mass on New Year's Day

Family Learning

Family Learning – He is Waiting

For this Advent Season, our Family Learning is He is Waiting, an Advent reflection by Sue Sonnier.

Learning Commons Literacy Corner

Please click here for our weekly Learning Commons Literacy Corner updates including the quote of the week, vocabulary word of the week, and the high frequency words of the week.

Middle School Midterms

Middle school midterms are right around the corner. Click here to find a schedule of the “Exam Prep Days” and the specific content area test(s) that your child will be taking each day. Students will be given 1 hour and 15 minutes for each midterm with a 30 minute break in between midterms.  

The Skilled Student

“Strengthening the executive functions for success in school and life.”

As mentioned in last week's Insider, St. Cecilia Catholic School will be partnering with Dr. Kimberly Harrison and Lauren Fink with the Conative Group to strengthen the executive functions of our students. The goal is to develop and implement systems, awareness and structure for improving executive function skills in students, and better prepare students for meeting the rigorous academic challenges both in the present and in the next stages of education and beyond. We were excited to launch the “Skilled Student” at Tuesday’s faculty meeting. Dr. Harrison spoke with teachers regarding ways teachers and parents can support students in executive functioning skills. Stay tuned for more information about an opportunity in the Spring for parents to learn more about how they can support their student(s) with executive functioning skills.

Annual Fund Update

It’s a great time to think about making your end of the year, tax deductible contributions. During this season of giving, we hope that you will consider St. Cecilia Catholic School as your charity of choice! Thank you to the families who have already made their Annual Fund gift this year. Because of your generosity, we are almost halfway to our goal! 

Auction Updates

Auction T-Shirt Now Available for Students and Adults!

The 2023 "An Interstellar Evening" Auction T-Shirt is out of this world! We have sizes for both kids and adults. Auction t-shirts can be worn on school spirit days. **The deadline to order shirts is Monday, December 19th.** Thank you to our generous Auction T-Shirt Sponsor - Lot & Block Properties - Betsy Sherman, Lauren Box, & Vanessa Ellis!

Two Auction Sign Up Parties Added

Two new upcoming Sign Up Parties have recently been added to what’s available. There is a 2nd Grade Elf Party on Tuesday, December 13th, and a Couples Ugly Sweater Christmas Party on Thursday, December 22nd. Please click here for full details and to register online.

HSA December Meeting - December 13th

The December HSA Meeting is next week on Tuesday, December 13th. The meeting will be at school in the Maker Space lab starting at 8:15AM with social time, including hot cocoa and an Ugly Christmas Sweater contest. The meeting will begin at 8:45AM and will be recorded and posted later that week. Please click here to register to attend. 

Fall Sports Athletic Banquet – January 12th 

New this year, we will have two athletic banquets to celebrate our athletes. Our first one will be the Fall Sports Banquet held on January 12th and will recognize our teams for Cheerleading, Cross Country, Football, Soccer, and Volleyball. A second banquet will be in May for Spring sports. More details and online registration is available now for the Fall Sports Banquet.

8th Grade vs. Faculty Basketball Game Benefitting Catholic Charities - Thursday, December 15th

The faculty is once again challenging the 8th grade basketball players to a "friendly" basketball game on December 15th at 8:30AM. All 4th through 8th grade students are invited to watch the game.

This event is fun to watch and serves as a good cause benefiting Catholic Charities. We are kindly asking each student to bring in a wrapped and labeled gift as entry to the game. The gift should be for a child of the same age and gender as your student. For example, a St. Cecilia 5th grade girl should bring a gift for a 5th grade girl; students should label the gift (i.e. "5th-grade girl"). There will be a collection area for the wrapped gifts in the gym. If you have any questions contact Coach Kinnick!

Christmas Program – Thursday, December 15th

We are very excited for our Christmas Programs on Thursday, December 15th. 

Reserved Seating and Performance Time Information

Please note that all attendees need to use the Eventbrite system to get their seats (options are available to either purchase or reserve free seating). There will not be any arrival and congregating in the front office for hours in advance. All seating will be pre-reserved or if necessary registration for standing room only as well. 

PK3 – 1st Grade performance is at 12:45PM in the Auditorium

• Eventbrite reserved free and purchase seating information
• An additional two rows have been added to the back of both of the seating sections in the Auditorium. The Eventbrite seating map has been updated with the additional 48 free seats available for families to reserve. 
• Additionally, if all the new free seats are reserved, there will be standing room only available along the back and sides of the Auditorium as well. Please fill out this Google Form so we have a head count for the standing room.

2nd – 4th Grade performance is at 2:00PM in the Auditorium

• Eventbrite reserved free and purchase seating information

As your children are preparing for these programs, please help them memorize their song lyrics and speaking parts, if they have one. All songs and speaking parts need to be memorized. There will not be a screen with projected lyrics. Each grade level has a Google music classroom where the songs and recordings are posted for students to practice outside of music class.  

Please see this letter from our Music teacher Carol Crittenden regarding student attire and other additional important information about the Christmas Program. Thank you for your support. We are looking forward to two fabulous Christmas programs!

Lost and Found and Used Uniform Sale

Lost and Found

Next week we will be moving Lost and Found to the main school hallway near the Teacher’s Lounge. While you are at school for either the Christmas Programs on Thursday, or the Christmas parties and Classroom pickup on Friday, please stop by the temporary location for Lost and Found. Any remaining clothing items will either be donated to the Used Uniform sale for January, or if not in good condition they will be disposed of. Any remaining non-uniform items will be disposed of. 

Used Uniform Sale – January 10th

Please mark your calendars for the next Used Uniform Sale. It will take place on Tuesday, January 10th in the Auditorium. If you would like to donate items, drop off will be on Monday, January 9th. More information to come. 

5th – 8th Grade New PE Uniforms Reminder

The online store from BSN to purchase the new PE Uniforms is open currently through next Friday, December 16th. As a reminder, this coming semester (January 2023 – May 2023) will be the last semester that the PE Uniforms sold by Mills can still be purchased and worn during the school year. 

After School Enrichment Opportunities

The following after school enrichment opportunities will be available next semester.

American Robotics Academy - Both classes will be held on Mondays this spring, with classes held concurrently. Grades K-2nd will be “Imagineers” and work with Legos to be creative and problem solve. Grades 3-5th will build LEGO battle bots. Click here to register.

Academy for Fencing Education - 1st grade and up have the opportunity to participate in fencing classes on Tuesdays, hosted by Benoit Bouysset, a second level master of arms, three-time world champion fencing master, and the former resident coach at the Olympic Training Center and national coach for the USA men’s epee team at the 2012 London Olympics. Students do not need to buy a fencing mask - it will be provided. Register here!

MoveNation Dance Academy - Early childhood dance continues on Tuesdays this spring, starting at 4:15 pm. Students will continue preparing for an end-of-year recital. Register here!

St. Cecilia Martial Arts Team - The St. Cecilia Martial Arts Team led by Strake Jesuit’s martial arts coach, Tyler Sowers, continues on Wednesdays in the spring. Spaces are limited. Please see this flyer for more information and a registration link.

Glass Gymnastics - The Ultimate Gymnastics Learning Experience –Where the fun never stops! Ages 3 and up are welcome to continue training with Coach Glass on Thursdays. Click here to register online.

Abrakadoodle Art Program - Abrakadoodle’s fun and educational art program continues on Thursdays, focusing on a different artist, medium, and style each week. Grades PK4-and up! Register here!

Basketball Christmas Break Camp 

Join Coach Da'Shawn for a "New Year, New Skills" Basketball Camp. This camp is open to both boys and girls in grades PK4 through 5th Grade over the Christmas Break in the St. Cecilia Gym. The camp will focus on ball handling, shooting, passing, defense, agility, fun games, and more. Click here to view the flyer. 

Dates:

• December 26th - December 30th

Times:

• PK4 - 2nd Grade - 11:30AM - 1:00PM
• 3rd - 5th Grade - 1:00PM - 2:30PM

Click here for more information and to register online.

Parish T-ball/Baseball/Softball Information

Calling all Pre-K 3 through 5th grade students. Spring parish T-ball/Baseball/Softball registration is now open! Registration will remain open from 12/2 – 2/1. We look forward to a wonderful spring season and hope to see you there!  

The 34th Annual Performance of the Holiday Vocal Arts Concert featuring Handel’s MESSIAH - December 9-10, 2022

The tradition returns for its 34th year! Come celebrate the holidays with the St. Agnes Academy and Strake Jesuit Mixed Chorus, Triple Trios, and Performance Workshop as they perform sacred and secular holiday favorites, culminating with Part 1 "The Christmas Portion” of Handel’s choral masterwork, Messiah. This magical event takes place on December 9th and 10th. Several St. Cecilia alumni perform in these groups and would love to see you! Tickets range between $5-$15 (including special pricing for students, alumnae, and faculty/staff), and you can purchase in advance.