Cougar Call January 28, 2015 CALENDAR HIGHLIGHTS Feb. 3 & 4: Parent-Teacher Conferences (optional), 3-6 p.m. CENTER FOR HOPE FOOD DRIVE This week, as our Catholic Schools Week service project, we are collecting nonperishable food for the Center for Hope in Ambridge, a faith-based community organization. We want to line all the halls of St. James School with food. Please donate generously! FROM OUR PASTOR Dear Friends and Family of St. James Catholic School: Last Sunday, at the 9:30 a.m. Mass, we officially kicked off Catholic Schools Week. This year’s theme is Communities of Faith, Knowledge and Service. It was great to see many attend the opening Mass and process in and sit with their classmates and teachers. Remember that it is very important that we practice our faith on a regular basis and take our children to Sunday Mass. Get involved in parish activities and get to know your Pastor. Last week Sister Christy and I met with our Regional Vicar, Fr. Sam Esposito, and our Educational Consultant, Dr. Ed Scheid, to review the recent Benchmarks Survey that was delivered to all school parents, School Advisory Board council members, and Finance and Pastoral Council members. A total of 32 surveys were returned. Areas that were surveyed included Catholic Identity, Governance and Leadership, and Academic Excellence. Sister Christy and I meet on a weekly basis and will continue to review the comments and recommendations with the Advisory Board. We are pleased to launch a new promotional video of St. James School. Please visit our website at www.saintjamesschool.us. Please invite a neighbor or friend to come and check us out and see what St. James Catholic School has to offer! Also, for any student in grades four through eight who is interested in becoming an Altar Server, there will be a training session this Saturday, January 31 from noon to 1 p.m. in the Church. Also, any parent that would like to become a Lector of Eucharistic Minister at the weekend Masses is welcomed for a training session the same day, January 31 from 1 to 2 p.m. Please contact me at the Rectory Office to register. With God, All Things Are Possible! Rev. Thomas J. Burke Pastor Cougar Call January 28, 2015 Page Two HONOR ROLL Grade 8 - High Honors: Victoria G., Kaila H., Tom P., Ida R.; Honors: Anthony D., Quinn H., Mary Rose M., Sierra V., Jeffry Z. Grade 7 – High Honors: Leslie G., Haley H., Johnathon N., Marisa S., Francesca T.; Honors: John A., Eddie B., Kassidy B., Katie D., Brenna G., Lauren G., Abby M. ; Honorable Mention: Isiah Bauman, Vinka B., Owen C.., Ella C., Jack C., Susie G., Jett R., Landon S. Grade 6 – High Honors: Melina C., Catherine M., Megan M.; Honors: Michael A., Julia C., Faith C., Dylan C., Cassie D., Bella F., Olivia G., Isabella G., Jennifer M., Adam P., Chelsey S., Rory S., Jack T.; Honorable Mention: Sydney G., John (JJ) P., Kevin W., Tyler P. SJS STUDENT HONORED BY PITTSBURGH CATHOLIC NEWSPAPER SJS STUDENTS ADVANCE IN ELKS’ ESSAY CONTEST Recently, the seventh and eighth grade students of St. James School entered an essay contest sponsored by Elks 1090, Coraopolis, PA, entitled, “What the Pledge of Allegiance Means to Me.” Six essays were chosen as local winners: eighth graders Victoria G., Mary Rose M. and Ida R.; and seventh graders John A., Lauren G. and Francesca T. Their essays will be judged at the district level with the possibility of moving forward to the state competition. Congratulations to our winners! A monthly feature in the Pittsburgh Catholic recognizes young people who live their faith every day. This month, a St. James School student is featured. Victoria G. is an eighth grader who has received high academic honors the past three years. She participates in forensics, plays the clarinet in advanced band, is an altar server, and is active in the parish Operation Christ Youth Group. As a member of the Youth Empowerment Strategies (Y.E.S.) group, Victoria helps to organize activities that benefit those in her community and abroad, including Children’s Hospital, St. Anthony School Programs and a program in Haiti to empower girls. She also is active and successful in athletics where she has been a member of the cross country, basketball, soccer and volleyball teams. Victoria also plays basketball for Steel City AAU and softball with the Avonworth Girls Athletic Association. Victoria and her family are members of Sacred Heart Parish in Emsworth. Congratulations to Victoria for this special recognition! KIDS CULINARY ADVENTURE ALL HANDS ON DOUGH! The inaugural Saint James Kids Culinary Adventure was a resounding success! Twelve aspiring young chefs enthusiastically learned new culinary skills and enjoyed sumptuous foods from around the world. Father Tom made an appearance and loved seeing our young sous chefs with chef hats and aprons holding their passports as they travelled from Hong Kong to Italy and on to Spain. A great time was had by all. Maria, one of the participants, said, “We had a blast!” Eli exclaimed, “The Gai Daan Jai (Hong Kong Street Waffles) was my favorite!” Proceeds from this Blue and White Gala fund-raising event went directly to the benefit of Saint James School. A special thank you to the Minnock family for hosting this great party! Be sure to have your kids experience this rich and rewarding adventure next year! Cougar Call January 28, 2015 Page Three OUR CHILDREN’S FAITH In Fifth Grade, the students were asked, “What are the blessings in your life?” The students responded with heartfelt statements: There are many blessings in my life. I am probably most thankful for my family, freedom of religion, and my opportunity to go to a Catholic School. My family loves and supports me. I am thankful to live in the United States of America where I have freedom of religion. I can choose to be Catholic. Above all, my greatest blessing is a chance to go to St. James School. There, all of my blessings are combined into one HUGE blessing. Everyone there is like family to me. There, everyone chooses to be Roman Catholic. And there, I have huge opportunities. -‐ Mary C. The blessings in my life that I am most thankful for are my parents and my education. I am thankful for them because my parents work so hard to provide me and my brothers with a good life and education. My parents give me the opportunity to go to St. James where I am learning about God and faith. I enjoy being at St. James. -‐ Jack W. There are many wonderful blessings in my life. To me my FAITH is the best blessing anyone could give me. I love my faith because it teaches me that in God anything is possible. It also gives me courage knowing God is always there. Another one of my many blessings is the Body and Blood of Christ. When I receive on Sunday and at school, it reminds me that Jesus loves us so much. He died for us out of love. I am thankful for His love. -‐ Nicole S.