Volume 19 No. 24 - May 15, 2015

VOLUME 19 NUMBER 24
MAY 15, 2015 CATHOLIC EDUCATION CENTER
ARCHDIOCESE OF ST. LOUIS
St. Cecilia plays ball with
Cardinal pitcher!
CONTACT INFORMATION
Sue Brown
Director of Marketing
and Community Relations
E-Mail:
suebrown@archstl.org
Phone: 314.792.7304
Fax: 314.792.7315
Cell: 314.479.1283
Twitter: @CatholicEdSTL
Cinco de Mayo (May 5) at St. Cecilia School and Academy was a
real treat for the students and teachers, who are all, of course, Cardinal Baseball
fans! Pitcher, Carlos Martinez paid a visit to the school, which serves a largely
Hispanic population, after a “rough night on the mound” the previous evening.
He arrived at St. Cecilia with his family in tow, and immediately joined in a game
of baseball that “just happened to be going on in the playground.” Martinez took to
the mound to pitch to several St. Cecilia students, and faced some really tough
young hitters!
After the pick-up game, Martinez spoke in Spanish
to the students about his career in baseball, while
Principal, Joseph Kilmade, translated for him.
He told the students that his parents and family
inspired him to keep working, and to try hard. He
explained that where he grew up there were not many
opportunities, but that here in America, there are
many more. He encouraged the students to seize
every opportunity and to work hard.
He also invited the students to come watch him play
at the stadium.
One of the highlights of his visit was taking a “selfie” with the whole school,
pictured above.
FREE FURNITURE!
St. Francis of Assisi
Catholic School has
PK/K to middle-school size
student desks and chairs to
donate free of charge. Carts are
also available. Interested parties
must arrange pick-up.
For more information, contact
Greg Sturgill, 314.487.5736
X123 or gsturgill@sfastl.org.
AND…
The Pendergast-Weyer
Foundation has 600-700
desks and chairs to offer free of
charge to schools or individuals.
“Jesus’ promise to be with us always encourages us, and enables us, to be
faithful witnesses and evangelizers of the Good News, even when it is
difficult.”
--from Weekly Thoughts by Dr. Barbara Blackburn
Director of Religious Education Formation
Catholic Education Center
Kennedy Catholic High School junior,
Haley, (pictured at right) is one of 30 students selected as
a KMOX/SEMO Student of Achievement for her
outstanding achievement in academics, athletics, the arts,
community service and leadership.
She will receive recognition from KMOX Radio and a
Student of Achievement scholarship to attend Southeast
Missouri State University in the fall of 2016. Congrats,
Haley!
Students at St. Anthony
Catholic School in Sullivan
celebrated their First Holy Communion
this spring with the Knights of Columbus
providing an honor guard as they
processed into church for their special
day.
Students walked through the arch of
swords on their way to the celebration.
The Foundation will make the
furniture available on a firstcome, first-serve basis, without
limitations, for two weeks
beginning May 18, 2015. In
most cases, the foundation will
be able to deliver to a school.
Interested parties may contact
Michael Wenninghoff,
Academic Consultant of
Pendergast-Weyer
Foundation, 816.591.1388, as
soon as possible.
Three of 15 seventh grade
students of Holy Infant
Catholic School in
Ballwin, will advance to the
national level of the National
History Day Competition—the
2015 theme—Leadership and
Legacy in History. Jake R.’s
documentary entitled, “Taking
Leadership Where the Buck
Stops –The Legacy of Harry S.
Truman,” Patrick D. & Kevin
B.’s group website entitled,
“Jim Henson: A Legacy of
Entertainment and
Education,” will advance.
This program requires the
dedication of sponsoring
teachers. HI is grateful to Mr.
Bob Stevens, seventh grade
social studies teacher, and Mr.
Adam Meesey, Technology
Coordinator!
Second and fourth graders from Saint
Mary Magdalen Catholic
School walked to the Brentwood
City Hall to take part in the National
Day of Prayer. Many of the clergy in
Brentwood including SMM Pastor, Father
Jack, prayed for our government, Church,
military, families, education, and
business. People of the community prayed
aloud and then the children were asked to
pray for their intentions. SMM students
were honored to meet the new mayor of Brentwood and have lunch with him.!
Second graders at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic School
participated in a deeply meaningful First Communion Retreat in preparation for
receiving the Eucharist for the
very first time.
The full-day event provided
students a variety of opportunities
to deepen their understanding of
the Sacrament, and most
importantly, to help them feel
closer to Jesus.
At left, second graders re-enact the
Last Supper.
Trinity Catholic High School’s Engineering Team,
Help Needed!
Washington Overseas Mission
project needs left-over school
supplies for the children of
Honduras!
Claire Huber, a senior at St.
Francis Borgia High
School, has taken over the
project from her mom, Dr. Jackie
Miller, and is hoping for the
support again this year with
donations of left-over school
supplies that will be shipped to
Honduras and distributed to
schools and students in need.
Claire suggests providing
collection boxes in schools a few
days prior to the last day of
school, in which students (and
teachers) can place their
donations. She requests that
collections be delivered to Holy
Cross Academy—St.
Michael the
Archangel Campus in
the Flying Penguins, won the Division I Championship at the
Boeing Engineering Challenge. The team of juniors, Sam Araujo
(St. Norbert), Matt Quick (Christ, Light of the Nations), Ben
Sanfilippo, (St. Angela Merici) and Michael Schaller (Christ, Light of the
Nations) constructed a glider that was judged by Boeing as having the highest
quality of flight, the maximum time aloft, and the longest distance of flight before
touchdown at 163 feet, six inches! Each student received a medal and the team was
presented a scaled replica model of the Boeing F-18 Super Hornet.
Fourth through eighth grade students at Sacred Heart Catholic
School in Valley Park participated in a Fine
Arts Night recently, showing off their musical and
artistic talents. Families viewed a large variety of
artwork the students had produced throughout the
school year under the direction of Ms. Savannah
Barger, the school’s art teacher.
The “highlight” of the evening is reported to have
been the performance of a song for which the eighth
graders had composed both music and lyrics. The
performance was directed by Mr. Nick Savage,
music teacher. Pictured at right, Madeline S. and
Elise W. look over the art displays at the Fine Arts
Night at Sacred Heart School-Valley Park.
Allyson D., of Valle Catholic High School, Class of 2015, has been
awarded the Miriam S. Steiger Nursing and Health Care Scholarship.
Pictured with Allyson at left, Mr. Robert
Steiger, after whose late wife the scholarship
was named.
Shrewsbury between 8:00 am
and noon on Wednesday, May
27. A volunteer will pick up the
supplies that Wednesday
afternoon.
Some examples of great used
school supplies include: markers,
crayons, art supplies, glue,
pencils/pens, loose-leaf paper
and binders, notebooks, (used
pages torn out) folders, scissors,
erasers, rulers, coloring books
and protractors.
For more information, write
claire.jacqueline1324@gmail.com, or
call 636.432.4020, if you have
any questions, are not able to
participate, or need collection
boxes.
Allyson was humbled to receive the award and
says, she will “do her best to become a nurse
that Miriam would be proud of!”
More than 120 Notre Dame
High School alumnae,
students, parents, faculty, staff,
SSND and friends gathered to make
a difference in the Lemay, South
City and South County
communities.
Funded in part by the Sr. Mary
Ann Governal and Mrs. Ellen
Ryan Memorial Development
Grant, (awarded by the Catholic
Education Center annually for
innovative academic and faith
formation programs) Charism in Action was a joint effort of NDHS and the SSND
Vocation Team.
On April 25, the group went out into the Bee Tree Park, Community Care
Center of Lemay, Feed My People, Lemay Housing Partnership, Salvation
Army Gateway Citadel, and St. Cecilia, St. Francis of Assisi, St. Matthias and
St. Martin of Tours Catholic Churches to serve in any way they could.
Around the Archdiocese...
Congratulations to Visitation
Academy teacher, Mrs. Heather
Essig, winner of the 2015 Carol B.
and Jerome T. Loeb Prize for
Excellence in Teaching Science
and Mathematics! The award is
given in partnership with the St.
Louis Science Center.
And, an honorable mention goes to
Mrs. Tracie Cain, among the
finalists for the Loeb Prize. Pictured, Mrs. Jane Eschmann, Middle School
Principal, Mrs. Heather Essig and Mrs. Rosalie Henry, Head of School.
The students of Immaculate
Conception Catholic
School in Old Monroe are
helping build houses in Haiti!
Inspired by ICOM grad and St.
Dominic High School
junior, Erin Prendergast, the
ICOM students were motivated to
help. Erin had visited Haiti in the
summer of 2014, and shared her
experience with the Immaculate
Conception School community. She
spoke of the need for safe housing
with clean drinking water for
Haitians, and so she is raising funds
for the Count It All Joy Project.
Every dollar donated became part
of the “new house
models” (pictured above) in the
school.
The response was over-whelming!
In one week, the school community
of 176 students raised $3,811.
Erin will be returning to Haiti this
summer, and will bring back
pictures of the Haitian family and
the home the ICOM community
helped to build with their
generosity.
Congratulations to Incarnate Word Academy science teacher, Ms.
Tanja Mead, (below, center) finalist in the competition for the 2015 Saint Louis
Science Center and Carol B.
and Jerome T. Loeb Prize for
Excellence in Teaching Science
and Mathematics.
Mead was joined by members of
the IWA administrative team, as
well as IWA students, who had
the opportunity to cheer her on.
St. Dominic High School Principal,
Mrs. Janet Eaton, accompanied a group of
sophomores to Jefferson City for this year’s
annual Glory of Missouri Awards, recognizing
middle and high school students for their virtuous
examples of charity, equality, honor, justice, and
liberty.
State Representative, Ron Hicks presented the
14 sophomores with their awards. Pictured at the
State House in Jefferson City, front, left to right,
Lexi B., Polina D., Dani A., Lindsey P., Sophie K., Lauryn T.; second row, left
to right, Brynn M., Lauren W., Mollie B., Jack H., Brady Y.; back row, left to
right, Brian N., Tyler J., Jake L.
For more information about the
Count It All Joy Project, write Erin
at erinprendergast@stdominichs.org
Ursuline Academy’s student council has closed out the school year with a
Send requests for prayers to
suebrown@archstl.org
The other half, the result of activities throughout the year, was contributed to
benefit Ursuline students who have graduated from Access Academies—Most
donation of $13,000 to support student tuition assistance. Half of that amount was
raised during January's SPLASH Week activities, (Students Proudly Lend A
Serving Hang) and those funds will provide tuition assistance to Marian
Middle School graduates attending UA.
Holy Trinity, St. Cecilia and St. Louis the King at the
Cathedral Catholic schools.