Security Update - Uniformed Officers on Campus 

St. Cecilia Catholic School has been working closely with local law enforcement to assemble a team of dedicated, uniformed Houston Police Department officers to provide our campus with daily security. Beginning May 1st, we will have three armed officers serve our school on a rotation (one per day), Monday through Friday. The Houston Police Department officer on campus will begin each day at 7:30 AM. These officers will have specific roles and responsibilities while on campus, including but not limited to: 

• Actively walking/monitoring the inside and outside of the entire school campus.
• Examining doors and gates to ensure security throughout the school day.
• Monitoring the school buildings for unauthorized persons and/or suspicious activity of any kind.
• Assisting with carpool congestion when scheduling allows.

As announced during the Paddles Up portion of our Auction last Saturday evening, this is a high five-figure commitment for the school moving forward. While this important security enhancement will be budgeted into the school operating expenses each year moving forward, your generous contributions to our Auction’s Paddles Up initiative have and will continue to assist in offsetting the cost of an on-campus officer for the remainder of this school year and for the entirety of the 2023-2024 school year. Please click here if you would like to join in supporting this important security enhancement.

We are thrilled to welcome these officers to our campus and look forward to working with them to create an even safer environment for all members of our school community.

Family Learning

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.

May Crowning - Wednesday, May 3rd

May is the month we honor Mother Mary and we will continue our May Crowning tradition this Wednesday, May 3rd. Students are invited to bring a flower for Mary to be placed on the altar before Mass.

HSA May Events - Luncheon and Volunteer Opportunities

Teacher Appreciation Week – Lunch & Recess Duty – May 5th

To help our teachers enjoy a fun lunch our Teacher Appreciation Committee has planned next Friday, May 5th, we are asking for volunteers to help cover the lunch and recess duty for our teachers at each grade level.

Please click here to see the Sign Up Genius to sign up for a time. 

HSA End of Year Luncheon – May 10th 

Please join us Wednesday, May 10th for a special luncheon at Carrabba's to celebrate our Home and School Association. We would like to show appreciation for all parents and their volunteer service to the HSA during the school year. Additionally, we will be saying farewell to our 8th-grade parents. Please register to attend no later than Friday, May 5th.

Wednesday, May 10th at 11:00 AM

Meeting followed by lunch

Carrabba's Italian Grill

11339 Katy Fwy

Houston, Tx 77079

$35 per person (includes lunch, gratuity, and non-alcoholic beverages). Any other beverages ordered must be paid by each individual attendee.

We are Hiring for the 2023 – 2024 School Year

We currently have several open positions to fill including:

• Religion Teacher
• Early Childhood Teacher
• Middle School Science Teacher
• Middle School Social Studies Teacher
• Counselor

If you are interested in working alongside our amazing teachers and staff, check out the open positions currently available and apply today!

Financial Aid Reminder

Important Information about Financial Aid:

• Financial Aid application Portal will be closed after April 30, 2023 for the 2023 – 2024 academic year.
• Only complete applications will be processed, reviewed, and notifications about Financial Aid awards will be sent out via FACTS after May 5, 2023.

PE Uniforms - 5th - 8th Grade

For students in 5th - 8th Grade next school year - you will need to make sure your 5th - 8th Grader has the new St. Cecilia Catholic School PE Uniforms that we began using this school year. The uniforms will be purchased only through BSN Sports. The PE Uniform store is open starting today, and will be open through June 1, 2023. This is the only approved PE Uniform, and the shirts and shorts need to be purchased through BSN PE Uniform Store. Mills will no longer be our PE Uniform vendor.

Required items:

• BSN Sports short sleeve PE t-shirt in grey (for both boys and girls)
• Nike Shorts in Navy - 4 styles to choose from (2 for girls, 2 for boys)

School Supplies for 2023 – 2024 School Year

We are excited to partner again with First Day School Supplies for the 2023-2024 school year in order to offer grade-level supplies packs to our families. Last year, over 85% of school families purchased supply packs through this vendor, and we were very happy with the quality and name-brand items that they offered at reasonable prices. 

In order to support our new Skilled Student Initiative, we have made some important updates to our school supplies lists. As you know, the focus of this new initiative is to help our students continue to improve their executive function skills, and in order to do this effectively, there are specific supplies that are necessary for all students to have. The teachers and administration have been collaborating to refine the school supply list at each grade level so that it supports this initiative and have been working very closely with First Day School Supplies to source the necessary supplies.

Please see this letter and the links below for more details on how our school supplies will align with our new Skilled Student initiative

Important Links

• School Supplies Letter
• The Skilled Student Flipbook 
• The Skilled Student February 28th Parent Presentation Slide Show
• The Skilled Student February 28th Parent Presentation Video
• Order First Day School Supplies 
• Additional Required Supplies for 2023 – 2024 School Year

Houston World Series of Dog Show Art Contest

We will be participating in the 2023 Dr. Mari Jon Filla Student Art Exhibit & Contest. This year’s art exhibit is scheduled for July 19-23 (Wednesday- Sunday). It will be held at the NRG Center in conjunction with the Houston World Series of Dog Shows. The art will be on display in Hall C of NRG Center throughout the entire five days of the HWSDS event. The winning art students will receive passes to one day of the dog shows. If you are interested in participating, please view the rule and regulations carefully. All art is due to Mrs. Poche by Wednesday, May 10th. Please let me know if you have any questions.

Entries

1. A student may submit one entry.
2. Only one student may work on any one project.

Display and Size Requirements

1. Artworks must be matted or mounted on white or black poster board or mat board.
2. Minimum 8x10, Maximum 14x20
3. The mat may not be wider than 3”. (Mrs. Poche will matt winning entries)

Media

1. All work must be flat (2-dimensional).
2. Please NO stretched canvas
3. Acceptable media include: pencil, construction paper, ink, cloth, oil, tempera, acrylic, pastels, crayon, and watercolor.
4. NOT acceptable: glass, mosaic, commercial objects, sand, glitter, dried peas, corn, digital art, etc.

Class Photos Order Form

Class group photos were taken last week on Wednesday, April 12th. Click here to order.

2022-2023 Yearbook Pictures Needed/ Order Your Yearbook Today!

It’s time to purchase your 2022-2023 yearbook. Click here to reserve your copy today. Books will be delivered in August. If you are unsure if you ordered a yearbook, please check this list for sales as of 04/09/23.

Additionally, please help capture all the memories of the year by sharing any pictures you have taken. Below are some of the main events that are needed. If you aren’t sure, please upload to the grade level folder.  

Grade Level Folders

Into the Woods

Homecoming

Grandparents Day

GO Projects

First Day of School

Christmas/Thanksgiving

Athletics (Middle School)

Academics (PSIA, St. Pius, Spelling Bee, Science Fair, etc)

Field Day 2023

Prize Room Wish List 

The Prize Room is a St. Cecilia Field Day tradition that kids love and look forward to each year! A space in the school is transformed into a toy store, and it is the first “attraction” that opens before the actual Field Day. It features many exciting prizes such as candy, stuffed animals, games, toys, gadgets, Legos, and more! If you would like to help support Field Day and the Prize Room, you can buy items off of an Amazon Wishlist and the items will be shipped directly to the school. Please click here for the wish list.

*The deadline to pay the flat fee and get the t-shirt for your students was 3:30 PM on Monday, April 17th. The deadline has now passed. If you would like to get on the waiting list for extra t-shirts, please fill out this form.

Dad’s Softball Tournament – Saturday, May 13th 

Join us for our 13th Annual Dad's Softball Tournament on Saturday, May 13th, 2023. This fun, family event helps to support the Financial Aid program at St. Cecilia Catholic School. The games are played at Baseball USA starting at 8AM, with an after party at the conclusion of the tournament. More details about the tournament schedule will be shared soon.

Team Registration information - There are teams for each grade level beginning with Kindergarten going through 7th Grade. Dads who would like to participate and have students in PK3, PK4, and 8th Grade should sign up as Free Agents, and the tournament committee will place them on teams depending on the number of players on teams as registrations come in.

Please click here for tournament rules, and please click here to register to play and/or to purchase tournament hats.

Women’s Club Luncheon – Friday, May 5th 

Calling all ladies! Would you love to have a yummy three-course lunch with friends, the chance to win some awesome prizes, celebrate Cinco de Mayo, see a boutique fashion show, and support a great cause?

You can do all that at the St. Cecilia Women’s Club Spring Luncheon on Friday, May 5th – Cinco de Mayo! – at the Junior League of Houston.

You don’t have to be a member of the Women’s Club to attend! So grab your best girlfriends and come have a great time, benefitting Angela House.

Registration is $60 per person. Contact Janine Hergesell at (202)255-9753 for more details.

First Eucharist

On Saturday, April 29th, second graders in our St. Cecilia community will celebrate a special day – their first Holy Communion. Pope Francis, addressing a group of children in Italy, stated, “You will make your First Communion, always remember that day your whole life: the first day that Jesus came to us. He comes, makes himself one with us, makes himself our food, our nourishment to give us strength.” The Eucharist is an important element of our faith and is the nourishment that enables us to stay spiritually strong and healthy. Congratulations to all our 2nd graders as we unite in prayer and welcome them to the table:

Lord Jesus Christ, bless the children coming forward to receive Holy Communion for the first time. 

May this day be the step toward a life-long love of the Eucharist.

Give them a hunger for this sacred food so that they turn to you for comfort, guidance, and wisdom as they grow into full discipleship.

Thank you for their innocence and goodness.

May their hands, extended in anticipation of your body and blood, inspire all of us to cherish this sacred Sacrament. Amen.

Host For International Students at St. John XXIII College Preparatory Wanted

Are you interested in becoming a host family for an International Student at St. John XXIII College Preparatory? Are you interested in introducing your family to the global community outside of the enclave of Katy, Texas, U.S.A.? We are looking for families to host students from all over the world for our International Program for the 2023-2024 school year. The host families will provide room, board, and transportation to and from school and school activities. There will be a monthly stipend for 10 months a year, paid by the students’ parents. If you are interested in participating, please contact Ms. Susie Kramer, Director of the International Student Program for more information.

St. Cecilia Cub Scout Rib Sale

St. Cecilia Cub Scout Pack 673 is selling pork ribs to raise funds to support our program! Our annual rib cook is a time-honored tradition at St. Cecilia. Please consider purchasing our delicious pork ribs for yourself or to share with your family and friends. If you would prefer, you may also purchase ribs for donation to a charity, or make a monetary donation to support our Pack. Please click here for more information and to order online. 

Summer Basketball 2023 Camp and Game Time

Join us in the “cool” Gym for three weeks in June for great basketball fun. Open to currently enrolled boy and girl students from Kindergarten through 8th Grade.

Camp Details:

The basketballers will work on ballhandling, passing and shooting via drills and competitions.

• Skills, drills, competition and lots of fun
• Ballhandling, shooting, passing, defense, court awareness
• Daily devotion (a few minutes each day for reflective thoughts and a prayer)

Game Time Details:

Game Time is for middle school players who just want to play basketball games.

More information on dates and online registration can be found here. 

Strake Jesuit Spring Concert

The Strake Jesuit/St. Agnes Orchestra and Band Programs cordially invite you to our Spring Concert on Saturday April 29, 2023 at 3:00 PM. The concert will be held in the Parsley Center on Strake Jesuit’s campus.

The program will feature performances by our Chamber & Symphony Orchestras, Concert Bands, and Jazz Ensembles. Please don't miss the opportunity to listen to our students at their finest! Attendance is free and open to the public!

St. Thomas Camps

3rd-8th Grade Summer Programs 

St. Thomas High School is excited to share that we are expanding our Summer@STH program! We have a fun summer planned with enrichment and athletic camps for boys and girls in 3rd-8th grades. Click here for more information and to register today.  

Spring Wrestling Class

St. Thomas is offering middle school wrestling from March through May on Mondays and Wednesdays from 6:00 - 7:30PM. Kids will learn both Freestyle and Greco styles of wrestling. Please contact Michael Leholm at (734)883-5632 for questions or to register.  

Step Up Study Skills 

St. Thomas is offering Step Up Study Skills this summer to prepare students for the rigors of high school and beyond. The classes are coed and open to all rising ninth grade students. The cost for each session is $399, which includes class notes as well as access to online courses for effective follow-up and reinforcement throughout the school year. For questions, please contact Rod Takacs.

Discover IWA

'Discover IWA' is an opportunity for interested families and young ladies to visit Incarnate Word Academy and discover what programs we offer that make us unique. You will be able to visit with Academic staff, faculty, current parents, and students to see if IWA might be a perfect fit for you! Information session and rooftop reception on April 26th from 6-8:00PM. Click here to register to attend.

IWA Summer Camp

Join us this summer to experience a host of engaging activities! We offer summer camps for middle school students and current and incoming IWA students that elevate leadership skills, practice athletic fundamentals and connect young women from around the city. From Podcast Storytelling to Spanish Culture, STEM Adventures, and Discover Downtown, we've got your summer covered! Click here for more information.

Fearless Catholic Writers Camp – June 12th – 16th

The Camp is one-week, June 12-16, 2023, at the University of St. Thomas, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. All of the faculty are professional educators, Virtus or Safe-Haven certified, and writers themselves. Daily Mass is available.  We accept grades 3-8, with supportive instruction and a thoroughly Catholic vision in accordance with the Magisterium. There are many more details on their website or please see this flyer.

Dance Club

Parents of Current 6th Graders: 

6th graders are invited to register for Dance Club on Tuesday, May 9th at 9:00AM. Dance Club was founded to help boys and girls become better acquainted with one another while developing social skills and promoting personal growth, confidence, and character. Please note only a limited number of spots are offered to currently enrolled 6th grade students from seven schools —Duchesne, Memorial Middle, Regis, Spring Branch Middle, St. Cecilia, St. Francis, and St. Michael. 

Participants will receive five dance lessons, a dining etiquette lesson, and a party during 7th grade. All lessons are held at Junior League of Houston, 1811 Briar Oaks Lane.

Spots will fill quickly. Create an account now to save time during registration.

Click Here to Create a Dance Club Account & Register

JDW Cotillion → Register Now → Create Account 

Please contact Carol Mandola or Jenny Palermo for questions.

Prayer Requests for our St. Cecilia Catholic School Community

Prayer for the Faithful Departed

"Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen."

• Vajiheh Nikpey, Mother of Shirin Ragas and Grandmother of Ariana Ragas