A little drizzle of rain didn’t stop superheroes, princesses, and witches from coming out in full force at the Early Childhood Center Halloween parade.  The students received treats from the parish office along their parade route and marched through the Alexis Manor parking lot as part of their Halloween festivities.

A lunchtime favorite is back this year!  On Tuesday, November 9, Father Jeff Craig, a Saint Alphonsus Alumnus, visited with fourth grade students during their lunch period to talk about topics pertaining to the Catholic faith. The students had great questions for Father Jeff.  Father Will Wuenschel will visit the group next.

Seventh grade students travelled to Lutherlyn in Prospect, PA on November 17 for an Environmental Education Program to learn about water quality. The near 70 degree temperature that day provided a great backdrop for learning about ecosystems, watersheds, and water quality. The students hiked with guides to different water sources where they performed tests such as pH and iron levels on water samples.  Along the way they, learned about the land’s history and various plants in the forest.

As part of their lesson on the Holocaust, the eighth grade welcomed a child of a Holocaust survivor to school to more fully understand the effects of this period in history. Read more about the visit in TribLive. 

The Student Council sponsored two dress down days this fall to raise awareness and funds for great causes. The October “Pink Out” day raised $718.30 for Hair Peace Charities and the Red, White, and Blue raised $523.70 for Wounded Warriors. Thank you for your support!

The Pajama Project, an effort by the Miller Family (Katie, Lexi, and Maggie) and this year supported by the Student Council, collected over 700 pairs of new pajamas from area churches and school families.  The pajamas were donated to 14 locations in the area and even to Erie, PA.

When the Ries family (Jack, Will, and Declan) found themselves in a parents’ nightmare after an out-of-town car accident, parents Lindsay and Bill welcomed the distraction of Jared boxes for their young children that the hospital provided.  The family of five recovered completely and used their experience to inspire a third grade service project. During the classroom Thanksgiving celebration, students had fun filling the boxes with small toys and activity books and decorating the outside for the next child in need.  In all, the group created 52 boxes that were donated to AHN Wexford Hospital and the Allegheny County Police Department.  Read more about The Jared Box Project here.

Our liturgical instrumentalists, led by Saint Aiden Music director Mary Heagy, were featured in the December issue of the Pittsburgh Catholic Magazine.  Check your church for a copy, or read the full article at TribLive.

Do you have any unused Christmas cards, or perhaps received cards as part of a promotion? Please send them to school, attention Mrs. Smolter, for the seventh grade's Angel Card Project. Thank you in advance!