Mills Uniforms Update

We were informed two weeks ago that Dennis Uniforms is taking over our current uniform vendor, Sue Mills. The takeover by Dennis is part of the merger agreement between the two companies. 

Upon learning this information, the school’s Administrative team met with a representative from Dennis Uniforms earlier this week. We would like to share the following updates: 

• All St. Cecilia uniform items previously sold by Sue Mills will still be sold through Dennis Uniforms.
• The uniform dress code will remain the same. We are not making any changes to the uniform dress code at this time with any new pieces, new colors, etc. 
• The uniform store in the Echo Lane shopping center near the school will remain open, and our families can continue to shop / try on / purchase uniforms in person at the store.
• The Mills Uniform website will shut down on Thursday, February 1, 2024. The Mills website will direct customers to the Dennis Uniforms website.
• St. Cecilia Catholic School will not be listed on the Dennis Uniforms website, or have items to purchase on the Dennis Uniforms website until February 1, 2024. 
• Next Thursday, February 1, 2024, the school will send out information regarding how to purchase uniform items on the Dennis Uniforms website, including a PDF welcome packet to assist with navigating their site.  

Family Learning

Smart Families Coffee and Donut Social and January Newsletter

Parents, join us on Monday, February 15th, at 8:15 am in the Auditorium for coffee, donuts, and community as we share more about the Smart Families pledge, whose mission is “to help parents and schools create a safer, healthier, and happier life for our children and families by creating a community where it’s easy to live without smartphones.” Whether you’ve signed the pledge or have not yet heard about it, we are happy to have you! Please RSVP using this form. Learn more about Smart Families here.

• The January Newsletter from Smart Families is now available and can be viewed here.

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.

Re-Enrollment, Tuition, 2024 - 2025 Calendar, and Admissions

Re-Enrollment for 2024 - 2025

Our Re-Enrollment Process for currently enrolled students who will be returning to St. Cecilia Catholic School for the 2024 - 2025 school year will begin on Thursday, February 1st, and conclude on Monday, February 12th at 3:00PM.

• There is nothing you need to do at this time, and families will receive a separate email for the Re-Enrollment Process on Thursday, February 1st, 2024.

2024 - 2025 School Year Calendar and Tuition

The annual Re-Enrollment email that will be sent out on Thursday, February 1st will contain the one page school calendar for the 2024 - 2025 school year, and also information on the Tuition for next year.

Catholic Schools Week 2024

St. Cecilia Catholic School is proud to celebrate Catholic Schools Week 2024 – January 28th – February 2nd. Our schedule of special events and themes for each day of celebration is listed below.

Saturday and Sunday, January 27th – 28th

• Students who attend either the 5PM Mass on Saturday, January 27th, or the 8AM, 10AM, 12PM, or 5PM Masses on Sunday, January 28th and wear their school Mass Uniform will get a free dress pass to be used on Monday, February 5th.

Monday, January 29th

Celebrating Our Students – Focus On Faith

• All students can wear appropriate free dress.
• Ice Cream Social at Lunch.
• No homework Monday Night / No Tests on Monday or Tuesday.

Tuesday, January 30th

Celebrating Our Teachers – Focus On Excellence

• Teachers can wear jeans.
• Student Council provides snacks to Teachers.
• Administration provides lunch to Teachers.

Wednesday, January 31st

Celebrating Our Parents

• 8:15AM All School Mass with Parents Invited
• 9:15AM Parent Reception in Learning Commons

Thursday, February 1st

Celebrating Our Parish and Community – Focus On Service

• Classes and grade levels deliver Thank You Cards and/or treats to Community groups.

Friday, February 2nd

Weekly Spirit Day – Students can wear spirit wear

• 8:00AM Assembly and All School Rosary
• 12:00PM Early Dismissal
• 6:00PM – Neon Night Dance

Neon Night - Friday, February 2nd - 6PM to 8PM

Are you ready for a GLOW-UP? Neon Night is a crazy, fun, glow-in-the-dark dance party -- for all grades -- that your kids cannot miss! Come dance to all your favorite hits and play games while you glow in the dark.

• Who: All current St. Cecilia students and parents are invited!

• Why: NEON NIGHT is a blacklight-glow-up dance party! It's fun for kids (and parents) of all ages! AND it's a great way to support our school! All proceeds from NEON NIGHT go towards the school auction.

• Where: Gym - Dance, Pavilion, and Cafeteria 

• Registration: Registration is required to attend. For planning and preparation purposes as well as a smooth, quick check-in process, we ask that all families register to attend by noon on Thursday, February 1st. Students who are not pre-registered will not be permitted to enter until registration is completed at the check-in table. Register to attend online here. 

• Attire: Anything that glows in the dark or that glows under UV blacklight. The best colors that glow under blacklight are bright white and neon or fluorescent colors -- especially neon yellow, green, pink, aqua, and orange. Prizes will be awarded to the best NEON NIGHT costumes -- Individual costume and Group costume -- so get creative!

• Volunteer Sign Up Genius: We need volunteers to make this a fun and safe event! Please sign up for a shift here. Please contact Janine Hergesell if you have any questions.

We hope to see your glowing faces at Neon Night on Friday, February 2nd!

Upcoming Spring Auction Sign Up Parties

There are three upcoming Auction Spring Sign Up Parties over the next few weeks. Please click here to register online for any of the following parties listed below.

2nd Grade Girls & Moms Tea Party!

Saturday, January 27, 2024

The Proper Rose Garden, 9:30-11:30 AM

25 Mother/Daughter Spots

$65 Per Mother/Daughter Spot

2nd Grade Emoji Party!

Thursday, February 8, 3:30-5:15 PM

The Community Center

30 Second Grade Spots 

$60 Per Student

Steps For Students – Saturday, February 10, 2024

The Archdiocesan Steps For Students 5K run returns for its 19th year on Saturday, February 10, 2024. You can either register to participate in the run, or you can “Hit Snooze for Students” – both options support St. Cecilia Catholic School by having a portion of the registration fees to help support various campus programs. The run begins at 8:30AM downtown at the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, and participants can visit the St. Cecilia Catholic School tent for snacks and drinks in the Catholic School Village beginning at 7:00AM.

• Click here for a full Steps for Students schedule 
• Click here to register to either participate in the race or “Hit Snooze for Students”

Book Fair and Read-A-Thon 2024 – February 16th – 23rd  

The Annual St. Cecilia Catholic School Book Fair and Read-A-Thon – “Wild About Reading” will take place Friday, February 16th – Friday, February 23rd. We are pleased to announce the theme days for Book Fair and Read-A-Thon:

• Friday, February 16th - “Cozy Up With A Good Book / Pajama Day” (must wear athletic shoes with pajamas) or regular Friday Spirit Day attire

• Monday, February 19th - Inservice Day – No School

• Tuesday, February 20th - “Wild About Reading” – wear a shirt or pants with your favorite animal or animal print (an example would be a t-shirt with an animal athletic mascot on it). This is not an animal costume day.

• Wednesday, February 21st - “Read To A Friend” – Bring a stuffed animal to school. Mass attire is required for all students.

• Thursday, February 22nd - “Book Character Day” – dress as your favorite book character.

• Friday, February 23rd - “Go Texan Day” – since Friday is our annual Go Texan Day, that will be the theme for this day. As a reminder regarding our standard rules for Go Texan Day - all students are allowed to wear their rodeo gear to school. They may wear jeans, boots, western-styled shirts, and belts. Note: Students must wear tennis shoes for PE. Of course, our young caballeros should leave their pistolas, lariats, and livestock at home.

More information on how to participate in the Book Fair and Read-A-Thon will be coming over the next few weeks in the Insider.

Annual Anointing Mass - Tuesday, January 30th at 10AM

The Annual Anointing Mass is scheduled for 10AM on Tuesday, January 30, with a lunch reception after hosted by the St. Cecilia Catholic School 7th Grade Class in the Community Center. We need more RSVP's! St. Cecilia's sixty 7th graders are eager to host.

Please send your RSVP to Ketzia at kramirez@saintcecilia.org or Karen Ann at karenann@saintcecilia.org. You may also call the Parish Office at (713) 465-3414. 

Staff Nursery Part-Time Substitute Openings

We are looking to hire a few part-time substitutes for our staff nursery. This opportunity is perfect for parents looking for a casual chance to work a few hours during a given week. Click here to apply. For more information, please contact Mary Yokubaitis. 

St. Cecilia Spring Sports Sign Up

It is time to sign up for middle school spring sports. If your child is interested in a sport this spring, please fill out this form so they can join the team. A Pre-Participation form and physical must be filled out before they can begin any practice. 

• Softball: 6th-8th grade only
• Baseball: 6th-8th grade only
• Track and Field: 3rd-8th grade
• Tennis: 6th-8th grade
• Golf: 6th-8th grade

After School Enrichment Opportunities

We have updated this page on the school website with the updated After School Enrichment Opportunities for the second semester. They include:

• Abrakadoodle Art
• Chess
• Fencing
• Gymnastics
• Martial Arts
• MoveNation Dance
• Robotics

Please click here for all of the information for registration for the after school opportunities. 

Valentine Cookie Decorating Party with Mrs. Drake

Celebrate Valentine’s Day with cookie decorating! We’ll have cookies to decorate with plenty of icing and sprinkles! Mrs. Drake will share some fun decorating ideas, and then the kids can have fun making their creations. Kids can take home their creations (or eat them as they go!) 

Valentine Cookie Decorating Party for PK3-1st Graders

Monday 1/29 or Tuesday 1/30 (two options for a one-day class)

3:45-4:15PM in Mrs. Drake’s Room

$25/student

Valentine Cookie Decorating Party for 2nd-8th Graders

Wednesday 1/31 or Thursday 2/1 (two options for a one-day class) 

3:30-5:00PM in Mrs. Drake’s Room

$35/student

More information and registration are available online here. 

St. Cecilia Students Performing in Les Miserable 

We are excited to share that two of our St. Cecilia students, Sam Cessac (8th) and Dante Petrozzi (7th) have been chosen to join Houston Christian Theatreworks in their production of the famous and widely loved Les Misérables being performed at the Durham Theater HCU February 15-19. HC Theatreworks' and its Tommy Tune award-winning director and prestigious theater program attracts a broad audience of people from around Houston. Both Sam and Dante have been rehearsing many hours with this inspiring cast and director, learning the role of Gavroche's understudy as well as Gavroche's Gang, and they are excited about this wonderful opportunity to perform with such a talented cast and crew. Come out and support them this February and enjoy this celebration of the arts and community. Click here for ticket and performance information. 

Piano Lessons Now Offered at St. Cecilia

Beginning in February 2024, our Principal Organist, Borja Flores, will teach piano lessons for students on our campus. Borja has been the Principal Organist at St. Cecilia since November 2021. Originally from Valencia, Spain, he holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music-Piano Performance Cum Laude from Sam Houston State University and a Master of Sacred Music in Organ from the University of Saint Thomas. Borja is also available for in-home piano lessons. For more information, including hours and rates, please email Borja at borjapianostudio@gmail.com.

Perpetual Adoration is Returning at St. Cecilia 

We are delighted to announce that Perpetual Adoration will return to St. Cecilia in 2024. Adoration will be open from 9:00 am Monday through 8:00 am Friday.  

Before reopening Adoration, we must have at least two adorers for each hour. Some hours already have complete coverage, but others have only one adorer or no coverage at all. 

If you are interested in taking an hour to adore our Lord present in the Eucharist every week and to see the hours that still need coverage, please visit our website or contact Leo de Leon.

Parish Spring Sports Registration is Open!

Calling all Pre-K 3 through 5th grade students. Spring parish T-ball/Baseball/Softball registration is now open! Registration will remain open from December 8th – February 12th. We look forward to a wonderful spring season and hope to see you there!  

Prayer Requests for our St. Cecilia Catholic School Community

Prayers 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."

• Irene Fraga, Grandmother of Stephen Jr., Gregory, and Andrew