March 22, 2021

Dear Families,

Next week we will begin Holy Week, and our 7th and 8th-grade students will present the Living Stations of the Cross. This presentation is a beautiful remembrance of Jesus’s journey to his crucifixion. Our 7th-grade students will present the Living Stations at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday (4/31) for the 4th, 5th, 6th, and 8th-graders, and our 8th-grade students will have a presentation at 7:00 p.m. that evening.

Students have been given Lenten Rice Bowls. This service project will run until March 31, when they are due back to school. You may return it earlier if you wish.

As we prepare to conclude Lent and welcome the Easter Season, we hope that you have time for reflection together as a family.

Sincerely,

Remember that you can access our school Google calendar on the school's website. Click on the following link and scroll down to the bottom of the page: https://school.corpuschristiparish.com/calendar-1

We will begin our Easter Break on April 1. This is our teacher retreat day that was rescheduled from January. Students will not have school on this day. We will return to school on April 12.

Our Bible verse focus for the month of March is John 14:6

Our prayer focus is The Apostle’s Creed:

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord; Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell; the third day He arose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of Saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.

You can find your student's 3rd quarter report card by following these simple steps:

1. Log onto Rediker

2. Choose e-locker from the bar of options at the top of the screen

3. Click on the e-portfolio tab

4. Click on the 3rd Quarter Report Card

Students receiving awards for their 3rd Quarter achievements will be recognized on Friday. Please see an overview of awards below:

5:30-7:30 p.m. (or until we run out)

Drive-Thru only

$10 Cash, Check or Venmo - @CCSCatholic-PTO

All plates include 4 Pieces of Fish, Coleslaw, and Choice of French Fries OR Baked Potato

All volunteers will be wearing masks and gloves.

Interested in volunteering? Call Laura Rahmel, 504-529-8350 or sign-up HERE.

Our PTO supports our school by helping to fund various needs including technology, recreational, educational, and building maintenance projects. Thank you for supporting the Fish Fry!

We are seeking nominations for candidates for our School Advisory Council.  The School Advisory Council provides overall guidance, input to the principal and pastor, and approves our annual budget. Most importantly, school advisory members should fully support the mission of our school.

Please nominate an individual that you feel would serve well in this role. The School Advisory Council will ensure that nominees are willing to serve a three-year term before placing their names on the ballot, so it is not necessary that you have their permission first.

You may submit your nomination by accessing the following form. Thank you!

McGill Toolen is excited to announce that basketball and volleyball will be middle school sports teams starting in the Fall of 2021. Please see the attached for more information concerning tryout dates, etc.

Students in grades 3-8 who have met their AR point goal for the 3rd quarter may come out of uniform tomorrow (3/23.) Students in grades 3-8 who met their percentage correct goal may come out of uniform on Thursday (3/25).

Pure and Simple is a program presented by the Department of Catholic Education of the Archdiocese of Mobile. The program strives to present the Catholic view of what it means to be made male and female along with practical tips for living this truth. The primary goal of the event is to facilitate communication between students and their parents.

This event is for parents and students. The program will be held on Sunday, April 18, following the 11:00 mass. Lunch will be served followed by a large group presentation. The large group is then split up into smaller group presentations to parents, young women, and young men. It should conclude by 2:00. This is a free event, but please call the school office to make your reservation.

Congrats!! You survived testing. I will be giving makeup tests this week for any students who were absent during IOWAS and COGATS. I am very proud of our students and teachers for working so hard to get through these past two weeks.

This year is flying by and I wanted to give you a snapshot of what we have covered up to this point. Large Group Counseling has consisted of academic and social topics including, tools to get through school; goal setting; identifying and expressing emotions in healthy ways; how to have healthy self-esteem; gratitude; safe/healthy drug-free lifestyles, and conflict resolution.

We participated in Bully Prevention week. Each day a bully prevention lesson was presented. You may have seen my posts regarding The Weekly Stand. This is a great resource and reminder for students to be upstanders. Last month we welcomed Mr. Terrell Patrick, Youth and Family Services Director from the Mobile County District Attorney’s Office, as he presented the Bully Blocker Program to grades K-8th.  

I will continue Large Group Counseling for the remainder of the year and we will focus on career prep, communication styles, and test-taking tips. In addition, I will continue to meet with students individually and in small group counseling. I look forward to a great quarter with you all. Please feel free to contact me should you need my assistance.

Best regards,

Emily Ryan, LICSW, PIP

Counselor

We have had many students earn Cougar Character awards recently. Students can build Cougar Character by being:

Students earn “paw points” when these character traits are displayed. Once a set number of paw points are earned, students receive a certificate along with a few other incentives. Congratulations to the following students who recently earned a Cougar Character award:

Demetrius Davis

Amelia Hanna

The following students were recently nominated for Cougar of the Month by their teachers for the month of February:

In addition, the following students were recognized as overall Cougars of the Month for their grade levels:

K-2 Grade--Benjamin Nabors, sponsored by Assist-2-Sell Realty

3-5 Grade-- Jameson Trehern, sponsored by Brenda Hetrick, P. C.

6-8 Grade ---Emma Zoghby, sponsored by Donaghey Orthodontics

In addition, Lorie Williams was recognized as Teacher of the Month, sponsored by our Knights of Columbus

To join the Partners in Education group, you may contact our school office, 342-5474 or Richard March, 401-0466.

As has been stated before, there has been an abundance of parents dropping off fast food lunches to be delivered to the classroom to students on a daily basis. While it is understood that students may forget their lunch from time to time, this practice should be the exception, not the norm. It causes unnecessary traffic in the office and also causes multiple interruptions in the classroom. Please refrain from making this a daily practice for your child.  

There are exciting changes for the 2020 - 2021 yearbook! It will include events from the entire school year. As a result, the yearbook will not be distributed until we return to school in August. However, the deadline to purchase a yearbook is this spring. They are on sale NOW. Click below to order yours today.

We have established an account with AmazonSmile! AmazonSmile is a simple way for you to support our school every time you shop, at no cost to you. AmazonSmile is available on your web browser and can be activated in the Amazon Shopping app for iOS and Android phones. When you shop at AmazonSmile, you’ll find the exact same low prices, vast selection, and convenient shopping experience as Amazon.com, with the added benefit that AmazonSmile will donate 0.5% of your eligible purchases to the charitable organization of your choice. Below is the link to our charity page where you can begin your shopping!

Since the program moved digital there are fewer and fewer pink box tops to clip though there are still some out there. This is why scanning your receipts is so important for this FREE MONEY program to work.

Please continue to scan your receipts and clip your PINK box tops!

If you are not using the Box Tops for Education app please consider doing so. This is free money for the school and all you have to do is scan your receipt. The app is very easy to use and had lots of bonuses.

Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions. Christine Stanton, 251-232-9364 or cpstanton2013@gmail.com

Our middle school trip to Washington, DC is quickly approaching next year! We will travel in April 2022!

Don’t wait to sign up your child for this awesome experience!

Click here to see what students have to say about DC!

Register online at www.worldstrides.com/signup or call WorldStrides Customer Service at 1-800-468-5899. Use Trip ID # 187852

Pay a deposit, and spread the remainder into easy monthly installments. Encourage your student to use the Gift of Education E-Cards and Facebook tools so that friends and family can help them reach their goals!

Financial Assistance is available! Call customer service to get a quote. (You do not need to be registered to get a quote.)

Contact Laura Rahmel at lrahmel@gmail.com or 504-259-8350 for more information or watch the 16-minute parent presentation.

Grace Hosemann is a student at McGill. Please consider supporting her project.

Complete March calendar can be found HERE.

The April calendar can be found HERE.

March 23

AR OOU for grades 3-5 (Point goal)

March 25

AR OOU for grades 3-5 (Percent Correct)

A is for Africa Just .25

March 26

Fish Fry Friday

March 31

Living Stations presented by 7th Grade (2:00 p.m.)

Living Stations presented by 8th grade (7:00 p.m.)

April 1

Faculty Retreat, No School for students

April 2

Good Friday, No school for students

April 5-9

Easter Holidays

April 12

Classes resume

April 16

Food Pantry Friday

Saturday Vigil Mass : 5:30 p.m.

Sunday Morning Masses: 7 a.m., 9 a.m., 11 a.m.

Sunday Mass is also available on the parish website and YouTube channel. Each Sunday, Mass is posted at 6 a.m. and is available for viewing anytime, any day, along with all previous online Masses.

Weekday Mass:

6:30 a.m. Monday - Friday (please sit on the left side of the church)

8:15 a.m. Monday - Saturday (please sit on the right side of the church)

Holy Thursday ~ April 1

Mass of the Lord’s Supper, 7:00 p.m.

Good Friday ~ April 2

Stations of the Cross, 3:00 p.m.

Celebration of the Lord’s Passion, 7:00 p.m.

Holy Saturday ~ April 3

The Easter Vigil Mass, 7:15 p.m.

Easter Sunday ~ April 4

Easter Day Masses

7:00 a.m., 9:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m.

Confessions are available after every Sunday or weekday Mass. Contact the priest following Mass. Regularly-scheduled confessions are Saturday, 5-5:30 pm in Banquet Hall.

Ash Wednesday, Feb. 17 — Palm Sunday, March 28: 40 Days for Life Spring 2021 campaign.

Ways you can be involved:

1. Pray & Fast for an end to abortion.

2. Sign up to pray for one hour/week or just one hour the whole campaign at the abortion facility, Planned Parenthood, 717 Downtowner Loop West.

3. Reach out in our community by spreading the joy of LIFE. Wear precious feet, pass out pro-life literature, put a pro-life sign in your yard, get educated, and then educate others about the evil of abortion and the beauty of LIFE.

Opportunities to pray - Saturdays, 9 am, Feb 20 - Mar 27 Rosary at PP sidewalk with Msgr. Wall. and Tues., Mar. 23, 7:15 am, Mass at PP sidewalk with Fr. Steve Williams

Healing After Abortion: Confidential, compassionate help is available at HopeAfterAbortion.org for anyone you know.

Info: Mae & Chris Rehm, 554-2032 or at maemouse@aol.com

SAVE THE DATE! Held here at Corpus Christi. Stay tuned for more details!

Practice: Saturday, April 24, at 10:00 a.m. in Church.

First Eucharist Mass: Sunday, April 25, at 1:00 p.m. in Church.

Info: Jennifer Pritchett, PCL at jennypritchett22@gmail.com

Masks and social distancing are required at all meetings

Sunday, April 18, 3-4:30 pm, in the Banquet Hall.

Info: awentworth.confirmation@gmail.com

We extend a special welcome to all who wish to join the Catholic Church. We also extend a special welcome home to Catholics who have been away from the Church because of sacramental marital status or any reason.

To receive more information about joining the Church, you can contact us through the following ways.

Call: 342-1852 and leave your name & phone number.

Email: Church@CorpusChristiParish.com.

Join us on Wednesdays, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Banquet Hall of the Corpus Christi Community Center, wearing masks and keeping social distancing.

Please Note!

If attendance at the classes is problematic for any reason, other arrangements can always be made. Our “R.C.I.A.” program is always flexible to make it easy for all who wish to join the Catholic Church."

Thursday morning women's bible study is held 9:15 - 10:45 in the conference room, on the 2nd floor of the community center. All will safely distance and wear a mask. Nursery will NOT be provided. All women are invited to share this journey of faith and fellowship. Please contact Patti Hughes at 251-401-9623 or pm.hughes@comcast.net for more information.

Join the meeting in person or by phone.

Dial in: 251-665-2515. Conference ID: 102102#

Contact Jay Cox at 401-6070 or Auburn50@hotmail.com for more information.

6:30 p.m., Tuesdays in the Parish House. Contact Dave Burchette, 367-6660 or davebur1955@gmail.com for more information.

Join us in service, grow in spirituality, and open your heart in friendship to neighbors in need. The St. Vincent de Paul Society responds to local individuals and families with food, clothing and emergency financial assistance. Your help will feed children, prevent evictions and so much more. Financial donations can be placed in the brass poor box in the church vestibule, and clothing and food donations can be left at the St. Vincent de Paul Society table. If you are in need of assistance, call 251-366-6443. To find out how to join us, contact Ann Mackie at annmackie10.am@gmail.com. For more info go to www.svdpccc.org or follow St. Vincent de Paul Corpus Christi Conference on Facebook.