November 2013 - St. Augustine School

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St. Augustine School
†
Founded in 1857
Come to Learn. Go to Serve
†
†
www.staug-md.org
November 2013
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I am writing in the midst of the sounds and sights of autumn. The trees out the window are turning a
brilliant red and gold, while the kindergarteners in their Halloween orange and black are bouncing back from the
playground, laden with their loot from our second annual trunk or treat. The first and seventh grade students across
the hall are making skeletons and eating all kinds of yummy food. Throughout the entire school there is most
definitely excitement and laughter in the air. I love this season, made more beautiful by the knowledge that the cold,
dark and barren time is soon to follow. November is the month the Catholic Church sets aside to remember all those
who have passed from their earthly home to their eternal home. During our morning prayer we will pray for the
children’s family members that have died. I really appreciate your response on the form located in this issue of The
Monthly. On Tuesday, November 12, we will read the names of our deceased loved ones and continue to pray for
the repose of their souls throughout the month. In addition, they will be remembered at our school Mass on
November 22.
This month we will also reflect on our numerous blessings and take time to give thanks for family, faith,
health, freedom, and the bounty of our tables and our hearts. One of our blessings is being citizens of a nation that
values freedom and allows its citizens to have a voice in the decisions made by our legislators. Our school
community will have the opportunity to participate in this democratic political process on November 21 at 7 pm at
St. Mark’s School in Catonsville. St. Augustine’s will be one of twenty private and parochial schools meeting with
the legislators of districts 12 and 13. We would like to thank our state senators and delegates for providing 3.5
million dollars to non-public schools for infrastructure upgrades and 6 million dollars for funding to textbooks and
technology. St. Augustine School has applied for funds from the Nonpublic Aging Schools Program to replace old
exterior doors in the hall. We have also received approximately $14,000 that was used to purchase most of this
year's new non-religious textbooks . Most importantly, your voice is needed on November 21 to encourage our
legislators to support the proposed tax credit for business investment in nonpublic education, the Maryland
Education Tax Credit. Please save the date and look for further information in the Friday Flier.
One of the blessings I am most thankful for is that so many families have chosen St. Augustine School for
their children’s elementary and middle school education. Our strong enrollment in these challenging economic times
testifies to the faith of our families and the quality of our school. On November 11 we will open our doors to
potential new families for preschool, kindergarten, and just a few openings in grades 1-6. Please keep the success of
our Open House in your prayers.
Amidst the hectic pace and numerous demands of daily living, it is so important that we take time to focus
ourselves and our children on the many blessings we have and to offer thanks. The students will be having a special
Thanksgiving celebration on Tuesday, November 26. Look for further details in the Friday Flier. I hope and pray
that your family time will be richly blest this November and that your Thanksgiving celebration will be full of joy
and gratitude.
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November 2013 Issue
The St. Augustine Monthly
1
deceased loved ones so they can be included in our
prayers. On November 11 we honor our veterans with a
special prayer at the opening of school. Toward the end
of the month, of course, we celebrate the wonderful Feast
of Thanksgiving. We will once again have a school wide
feast and prayer service coupled with a food drive for the
needy of our parish and local community. The Student
Council will be planning and working on this wonderful
By now all parents have received
an Annual Fund appeal in the mail. school-wide celebration.
Parents, alumni, and benefactors are being asked by St.
Augustine School to support our mission through prayer
and financial donations. It is important to note that the
income received from tuition does not meet all of the
expenses of educating each child. Funds raised by the
Home and School Association, the Race for Education
and the Annual Fund support the expenses associated
with the per pupil cost of instruction for the 293 children
We have a family referral
in our school. Unlike tuition payments, donations to the
program as a special incentive
Annual Fund are tax-deductible. Agencies that award
to our school families. For
financial grants also look for 100% support for our school
every new family that enrolls
in efforts like the Annual Fund. These foundations ask,
and remains at St. Augustine
“If the stakeholders do not support the mission, why
School for one whole school year, the referring family
should we?” For this reason, even a small donation can
will receive a $500 credit toward their next year’s tuition.
make a big difference. Every family is asked to give
Please take advantage of this program and share your
something to the Annual Fund. Your prompt response is excitement about SAS with your family, friends, coalso appreciated in order to spare everyone multiple
workers, and neighbors.
reminders regarding support of this year’s Annual Fund.
If you have any questions about the Annual Fund, please Our Fall Open House for prospective families will be held
on Monday, November 11, 2013, from 10am-3pm.
contact our principal, or our advancement director,
Attendees will be have the opportunity to tour the school,
Mrs. Sciullo
meet the faculty, and see first hand how St. Augustine’s
can benefit their students.
P l e a s e Ta k e 5
Minutes to
Support the
Annual Fund.
Yo u C o u l d E a r n $ 5 0 0
in our Family Referral
Program
November—A Month
of Holidays
The month begins with the
Feast of All
Saints. Although school is
closed on November 1, all
families are invited and
encouraged to attend Mass
at St. Augustine's or in their home parish. The Feast of
All Saints is a holy day of obligation. The children will be
learning about the saints through our daily prayer and
religion lessons. The 4th graders will present their
research on the saints in costume this Wednesday at 1
p.m. The Feast of All Souls follows on November
2. Throughout the month of November we will be
remembering the deceased members of the St. Augustine
School families. The names of these loved ones who
have passed away will be included in our prayer
throughout the month. Please share the names of your
2
Wellness Matters
Being physically active is very
important for everyone's health.
Children need about 60 minutes of
exercise a day. We would like to
incorporate the Mileage Club
Program as part of our healthy
school initiative once again this year. The students will
have the opportunity to walk/jog during recess
on Wednesdays, beginning November 6th, as the weather
permits. We will not be keeping track of miles this year,
but instead, awards will be given for participation in the
program. Any interested students can meet Mrs. Shouse
behind the church, during recess, to sign in. If you have
any questions, comments, or suggestions please contact
Mrs. Shouse at nurse@staug-md.org.
The St. Augustine Monthly
November 2013 Issue
Character Counts
Week at SAS
By: Eddie Madera, Rachel’s
Friends
During the week of October 21st,
the St Augustine Community held
“Character Counts Week.” During
this special week centered around the six pillars of good
character, we held numerous fun and enjoyable activities,
including pink day, a very special fundraiser to help make
this week unique.
On Monday, the students were given the option to dress
in the color of the pillar assigned to each classroom. For
example, while the kindergarten dressed in red to
symbolize the pillar of caring, the eighth grade dressed in
purple to showcase the pillar of citizenship. Students
were also treated to colorful cupcakes provided by the
Borsh Family and Bakery Express.
Tuesday was dedicated to cancer awareness, as October is
national breast cancer awareness month. To show our
support of Miss Ruth in her personal fight against the
horrible disease, we asked for donations in exchange for
students wearing pink. In addition, we held a “Wellness
Walk” to recognize our family members who have been
touched by cancer. We are extremely happy to report that
we raised $2,000 which was given to Miss Ruth to help
her with expenses related to her treatment. Thank you so
much to all school families who so generously
contributed to this wonderful cause!
On Wednesday, we held an anti-bullying assembly for
students in grades K-8 in order to foster a community of
caring, thoughtful students. Students were shown
practical ways to prevent bullying.
Thursday was a fun day for students as they met with
their “buddies” to create Character Counts skits and sign
the Character Counts pledge.
Finally, Character Counts Week ended with a
presentation to Miss Ruth of flowers, balloons, and a
$2,000 check, followed by a beautiful school mass.
Throughout the week, students typed kindness letters to
one another in computer class, and showed yet again what
a wonderful, caring, compassionate school community we
have at St. Augustine’s!
November 2013 Issue
The St. Augustine Monthly
3
Santa Claus is Congratulations, Math
coming to SAS! Masters!
SAVE THE DATE. The HSA Dinner
with Santa will be held on Friday,
December 6, 2013 . This popular event will include an
all - you - can- eat buffet, cake contest, games, kid’s
crafts, a raffle and more! Many volunteers are still
needed. Please contact Jennifer Ross at
jenny072000@aol.com to volunteer.
Boxtops Contest
Thanks so much to everyone who participated in the
Batty for Box Tops Contest.
For the month of November we
would like to treat the students
with a FREE Homework Pass
when they meet our Turkey Bucks
Box Tops Challenge. Send in a zip log bag or on the
collection sheet 20 box tops by November 22 to claim
your prize.
Congratulations to the following
students who achieved “Math Master”
status in the month of November:
3rd Grade: Diane Agbor-Enoh, Mia Benedetto, Megan
Blackwell, Bettina Brotherton, Justina Burks, Jack
Chapman, Stella Colantuno, Hilary Crouse, Martin
Dedrick, Shannon Flynn, Jayden Graham, Bridget Munter
Haleigh Orndorff, Kylie Patterson, Conrad Payne, Leo
Ross, Ty Ross, Christian Thompson, Estelle Traynor, and
Grant Winter
4th Grade: Derin Aderoju, and Trey Chapman
5th Grade: Lucas Benedetto, Katie Borsh, Aidan
Donnelly, Maria Fair, Emma Hoffman, James Thompson,
Megan Triplett
Halloween
Bingo Success
This year’s Halloween Bingo was another
success. A big thank you to Mrs. Carole
Bailey, Mrs. Karen Munter, and the many parent
volunteers who worked so hard on staging such a fun
event. Thank you also to everyone who donated baked
goods and bought tickets to the event. The HSA, and
the entire school community appreciate your support.
Remembrance Form
Student’s Name (s):__________________________________________________________________
Family Name:______________________________________________________________________
We remember in prayer the souls of these departed loved ones of the _____________________Family:
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
Please return this form to the office by Friday, Nov. 8. Thank you.
4
The St. Augustine Monthly
November 2013 Issue
~ November 2013 ~
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
1
Sat
2
All Saints Day - Holy Day of Obligation
3
4
5 Election Day
6
Begin wearing winter uniform
Band - section lessons during day
8a-9a Faculty Meeting
Grade 8 Shadow Day
12:15p-12:35p Advanced Band
Ensemble Rehearsal
12:35p-1p Beginning Band Ensemble
rehearsal
7
11 Veterans' Day
12
13
14
15
Prospective Family Open House
Band - section lessons during day
First Reconciliation - SA
1:45p-2:45p Assembly - Stories from
Around the World
School portrait make up day
and retakes
8:45a-1:45p Kindergarten Field Trip Sharps Farm
9:30a-1p Grade 1 Field Trip- Baltimore
Museum of Industry
2:30p-3:30p Curley Classic Cross
Country Meet
4p-7p Burger King Night benefitting Pre 12:15p-1p Chamber Singers
K and the Art program
12:35p-1p Beginning Band Ensemble
rehearsal
3:30p-4:30p Advanced Band Ensemble
Rehearsal
17
9
First Reconciliation Retreat - Assenc.
3:30p-5p HSA Used Uniform Sale - Hall
12:15p-2:45p Rachel's Friends mtg
10
8
9:15a-12:15p Mrs. Sympson's 6th & 7th 9:10a-10:10a School Mass
Math Class Field Trip
9:15a-10:15a Principal's Coffee
12:15p-1p Chamber Singers
10a-11a Assembly - Hunka Munka Book 12:40p-1:10p Chorale Practice
1:30p-3:30p Birthright Baby ShowerNook - PreK - 1st
Burke Wing (Burk Wing (6th and 7th
period))
12:15p-1p Chamber Singers
12:40p-1:10p Chorale Practice
16
3:30p-4:30p Chamber Singers
6:30p-7:30p HSA Executive Meeting
18
19
20
21
22
First Reconciliation -SA
Band - section lessons during day
9a-12p Indent-a-kid
12:40p-1:10p Chorale Practice
T1 ends
School Board Meeting
12:15p-2:45p Rachel's Friends mtg
12:35p-1p Beginning Band Ensemble
rehearsal
3:30p-4:30p Chamber Singers
7p-9p Legislative Open House (St.
Mark's School)
9a-2p Associate Superintendent Annual
Visit
23
3:30p-4:30p Advanced Band Ensemble
Rehearsal
24
25
26
27
28 Thanksgiving
29
12:30a-1:30a Faculty Appreciation
Lunch - 8th grade
Band - section lessons during day
Online Registration deadline for HSPT
School Closed - holiday
School Closed - holiday
8:20a-8:40a Team Leaders
School Closed - holiday
12:25p-1:25p Early Dismissal
9:15a-10:45a Turkey Trot
Senior Lunch
11a-12:15p Thanksgiving Celebration
12:25p-1:25p Early Dismissal
30
ADVENT FAMILY FUN NIGHT
Friday, November 22nd, 6 – 8 pm
Ascension Brewer Hall
Enjoy a pizza dinner & activities to prepare for Advent.
This night is for all ages – families, singles,
young & young at heart
Cost: $2 per person (price includes 1 slice of pizza, veggies, drinks &
craft supplies; additional slices of pizza can be ordered for $1.50 each)
Dinner will be served at 6 pm with activities & dessert following.
Dinner will not be available after 6:45 pm. Please plan
accordingly to stay for activities after dinner.
**Please bring a non-perishable (no nuts) dessert to share.**
To order your tickets in advance, return the bottom portion of this form to
School/PREP/Church, Attn: Children’s Ministry
If you have any questions, contact Andrea Seurkamp,
aseurkamp@gmail.com or 443-543-0498
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Yes! We will be attending Advent Family Fun Night.
Family Name:______________________________________
# of adults:________ # of children:________
Children’s Ages:______________________________
Cost: $2 per person =____ + $1.50 per extra pizza slice =____
Total Amount Enclosed:______________________
Checks should be made payable to St. Augustine Church
St. Augustine School 2013 Christmas Cake Contest Grades 4 – 8 Friday, December 6 PARTICIPATE IN THE CHRISTMAS CAKE CONTEST HAVE FUN AND WIN PRIZES! General Rules/Details: ・ Students in Grades 4 to 8 are eligible to enter the contest. ・ Cakes must be brought into the school hall Friday, December 6th by 8:40am. ・ Cakes must be brought in on a disposable cake platter and wrapped in Saran wrap. ・ Label only the bottom (underside) of the cake board/platter with your name and grade. ・ All cakes must have a Christmas holiday or religious theme. ・ Gingerbread houses are acceptable. ・ Prizes will be awarded to the 1st‐, 2nd, 3rd place winners in each grade. A pizza party prize will also be awarded for the class with the most participation. ・ Cakes will be used as prizes during the Cake Walk, later that night at the Christmas Dinner with Santa. Questions regarding the cake contest? ・ Please contact Cristina Hartka (410) 788 – 0538 / cmhartka@gmail.com Questions regarding Christmas Dinner w/ Santa? ・ Please contact Jennifer Ross (443) 829 – 5045 / Jenny072000@aol.com
Helping our children grow in their Catholic faith.
November 2013
Take time to teach thankfulness
Venerable Fulton Sheen
The last Year of Faith saint is Peter
“Fulton” John Sheen whose dream
was to become a priest.
Each day during his
priesthood he
spent an hour in
Eucharistic
Adoration.
Although born
before television,
he won an Emmy for “Most
Outstanding Television Personality”
for his TV series “Life is Worth
Living,” the first by a Catholic
priest. Pope John Paul II said, “You
have written and spoken well of the
Lord Jesus. You are a loyal son of
the Church!”
A golden rule
“So whatever you wish that men
would do to you, do so to them; for this
is the law and the prophets”
(Matthew 7:12).
Children are self-centered by nature,
so gratitude doesn’t come naturally. Yet
grateful people have higher levels of
happiness and lower levels of
depression and stress. Fortunately,
gratitude is a skill anyone can learn,
especially at this thankful time
of year.
Say “no”
often. The
current
barrage of
Christmas
commercials
spur children
to ask for
endless toys,
video games, and
other goodies.
Long lists to Santa
make it tough to feel thankful if not
everything is received. Saying “no” often
to a child’s whims makes the rarer “yes”
much sweeter.
Flip the phrase. When you catch your
youngster complaining, stop her
What is Original Sin?
Care in speech
“You shall not bear false witness
against your
neighbor” means
more than just not
accusing others of
false deeds. It
means speaking
the truth always.
Teach children
that our words are
our greatest ally
and sharpest
weapon.
© Copyright 2013 Success Publishing & Media, LLC
immediately and ask her to name
something for which she is grateful. For
example, if she complains because her
friend has a better video game, ask her
to name her favorite doll or toy instead.
Push thank-you notes. No matter
how young, encourage children to write
or draw thank-you
notes. Deciding why
the gift was
appreciated will
help him feel more
grateful.
Help children
shop. Help them
buy gifts for
other family
members. Give
them chances to earn money and
insist they spend it on gifts for others.
Children love giving gifts and seeing
others appreciate them.
Let youngsters help. There’s no better
way for children to realize how much
effort adults around them put forth on
their behalf.
Original Sin is a loss of the
original holiness and
righteousness with which our
first parents were created.
When God made Adam and
Eve, he gave them all the
grace and virtue they would
ever need, and they had a
close relationship with God.
When they turned from
him, they lost those
gifts.
We inherit the sin
of our first parents.
Through Baptism, we are
freed from Original Sin
and are made members of
God’s holy people, the Church.
November 2013 Page 2
Encouraging children to care
Empathy is the ability to feel concern for other people.
As followers of Christ, we are called not only to feel
empathy but to respond to others’ needs with
concern. This can be challenging for children
and adolescence whose social skills are still
developing.
Role play. Take advantage of difficult
situations – bullying, for example –
children encounter at school, either their
own experiences or those they observe, and
ask, “What would you have wanted your friends
to do to help?”
Switch roles. Encourage youngsters to see others’
perspectives by discussing current events with them. Talk
about how the people involved must have felt.
For example, how does the victim of a house
fire feel when the home is lost? Ask, “If that
had been you, what would you have wanted
others to do for you?”
Take action. Helping others is the best way
to encourage empathy. Look for opportunities
to be a good friend, to contribute to someone in
need, or help the needy. Then ask children
afterwards, “How did it feel?”
Luke 23:35-42,
Christ the King
This Gospel reading, which portrays
Jesus just moments from his death on the
Cross, seems at first to contradict the
solemnity on which it is read
in Mass – the Solemnity of
Christ the King. Jesus was
deserted by his friends,
condemned by the
more powerful,
and subjected to
torture of the worst
kind. That is not our
traditional view of a king.
Yet it is at that moment when Jesus is,
in fact, at his strongest. It is at that
moment when he is shouldering the
sins of the entire human race and
Nov. 1 – All Saints Day. In the early
Church, saints and martyrs were each
assigned a feast day. However, the
extreme persecution of the Christians
meant there weren’t enough days in
the calendar for individual
commemorations. Eventually Pope
Gregory IV designated Nov.1 as All
Saints Day.
Nov. 2 – All Souls Day. On this day
we pray for the dead, especially our
loved ones and souls in Purgatory to
help them get to Heaven faster.
Nov. 12 – St. Josaphat (1623).
Born in the Ukraine to Orthodox
parents, St. Josaphat converted to
restoring God’s grace to each one of us
then and now. No king on earth could
do that except Jesus.
At that moment on Calvary, Jesus
opens the gates of Heaven and
grants forgiveness, beginning
with the man beside him
who led a life of sin but
recognized the true
King.
What can a parent
do? Place a crucifix in a
prominent place in your
home to remind your family of
the great strength that came from the
Cross. Make Jesus the true king of
your hearts.
Catholicism, became a Basilian
monk, then a priest, and was named
Bishop of Vitebsk (now in Russia).
He worked for unity in the Church
and was martyred for his efforts.
Nov. 13 – St. Frances Xavier
Cabrini (1917). Mother Cabrini
started the Missionary Sisters of the
Sacred Heart in Italy and founded 67
institutions to care for the sick and
forgotten in Europe and the
Americas. She was the
first U.S. citizen to be
canonized.
When Tessa moved from Catholic
school to a public middle school, there
was a change in her behavior. We
started arguing about the clothes she
wanted to wear to
school and the
language she was
using. But the
worst changes
came around
the holidays.
All of a
sudden, Tessa
started asking for lots of expensive gifts
which had never been her way.
Apparently kids in school already had
cell phones and iPods and she wanted
to fit in. I spent evenings saying, “no.”
Fortunately, my monthly soup
kitchen duty came up the day before
Thanksgiving, and I took Tessa to help.
Lots of families streamed in, and Tessa
even found herself serving kids from
her school. It threw her to see kids her
age sitting at the tables quietly eating
the turkey we served them.
The good news? We didn’t hear
anything more about Christmas gifts
from Tessa after that.
To help parents raise faithful Catholic children
Success Publishing & Media, LLC
Publishers of Growing in Faith™ and Partners in Faith™
(540)662-7844 (540)662-7847 fax
http://www.growinginfaith.com
(Unless noted Bible quotes and references are from
the Revised Standard Version and the New American Bible.)
© Copyright 2013 Success Publishing & Media, LLC