Campus News and Events - St. Pius X Catholic High School

st. pius x catholic high school • atlanta, georgia
Dear Parents and Friends of St. Pius X,
Needless to say, with the inclement weather patterns we have recently experienced, this has
been an unusual start to the second semester. I truly appreciate the flexibility and manner in
which both our students and teachers handled the interrupted pattern of academic continuity.
Reflecting back, many of us remember the huge snowstorm that hit Atlanta in March one year,
but hopefully, these will be the last storms we will encounter this semester.
Our Mission... St. Pius X, an archdiocesan high school, provides a college
preparatory education for the formation of the mind, body and spirit of
each student in accordance with the teachings of the Catholic Church.
We were recently notified of the fact that the Archdiocese of Atlanta Catholic Schools was
named one of only 477 districts in the United States and Canada to earn the Advanced Placement Honor Roll status. The three archdiocesan high schools were all thrilled with this news as
we have worked hard to increase the number of students taking advanced placement classes, and
earning a score of three or more, qualifying for college credit in most colleges. This recognition is a product of the high
standards set in the archdiocesan curriculum and the dedication and hard work of our students and teachers.
I want to thank everyone for your generous support once again of the Annual Fund. Last year we set a school record with
the number of parents donating to the campaign, and we are currently closing in on that benchmark with the hope that
we can exceed and establish a new record through the March Madness campaign. Your support is truly appreciated. As I
have shared in the past, I see firsthand the many benefits your kindness brings to every student and teacher on this campus
and the many positive changes we are allowed to implement to all our programs and the campus in general.
As we turn our attention to next year, we are once again blessed with an overabundance of applications to the school. We
are confident that we will be able to attract another talented group of students to comprise the Class of 2018. We also know
that the 14 people who make up the Admissions Committee have their hands full as they face many difficult decisions.
As we strive to maintain our high standards, we are currently in the process of working with the new web-based student
information and learning management system, PowerSchool. The parent portal in this program will unfold in the spring,
and we believe it will be easier to navigate and will provide more data for you regarding your student’s education. The
learning management system, which is being considered, will allow teachers to create class web pages with embedded
content, discussion boards, assessments, an integrated calendar and other features, thus allowing students to manage all of
their classes in one place. It has been highly successful in other schools and we are pleased with the results we are hearing.
Additionally, we are in the process of identifying a standard to be used with our Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) program in the area of technology. Many of the devices carried by our students are not capable of delivering the type of
service they need to produce the results desired in their classes. We are identifying a minimum technology standard that
would be school wide and would ensure that all students can take full advantage of any digital learning opportunities.
This information will be disseminated as soon as it is finalized.
I thank each of you for all you do for St. Pius X. We have a very special school and it is a direct result of wonderful families sending us students that want to learn and grow in their Catholic faith and in their academics. Thank you!
Warmest regards,
March-April 2014
SPX CURRENT FACTS AND FIGURES
ANNUAL FUND GOAL: $750,000
Participation:
Freshmen: 165 of 277
Sophomores: 157 of 283
Juniors: 125 of 283
Seniors: 130 of 277
Current Parent Pledges & Gifts
$299,075
Total Raised Pledges & Gifts
$571,664
Figures through 2-28-2014. Payment due by 5-31-14
Campus News and Events
Congratulations to the
2014-2015 Class of Lion Leaders
In 2007, St. Pius X began a peer-mentoring program to create a positive high school experience for the incoming freshmen. While the
program has grown and changed since then, its goal remains the same: To foster relationships between the freshmen students and selected
senior leaders, and to help the newest class of Golden Lions transition into their high school environment.
The Advisory Board would like to congratulate the following students selected to be a part of the 2014-2015 Lion Leader program:
PRIDE Leaders:
PRIDE Leaders are the student leadership of the Lion Leader program.
AnneMarie Dolgetta
Brady Gwynn
Alec House
Alexandra Howard
Connor Huddleston
Tristan Otto
Brian Rainwater
Derek Rufolo
Claire Smith
Daniel Walton
Lion Leaders:
Eden Andrews
Andrew Barnhardt
Kelly Batzel
Colm Boyer
Ryan Boykin
Erin Bruce
Nikolaus Calia
Pornchai Chantha
Magdalen Christensen
Matthew Coklan
Mary Conboy
Olivia Cote
Jacques Davignon
Alana Davis
Connor Foarde
Maura Forsyth
Amanda Galvez
Sara Gilbert
Mary Gornowicz
Carter Grabbe
Catherine Gross
Margo Hays
Rachel Heard
Michael Hennick
Helena Hoffmann
Jessica Hull
Kristina Jespersen
Dominic Karr
Adam Kinsel
Connor Kolodziej
Griffin Kunkler
Daileen Landestoy
Kyle Lewis
Kevin Lieu
Jack Ludwick
Taylor Maiolo
Maxwell Male
Kathryn Maloof
Michael Matthews
Sarah Melvin
Audrey Mendzef
Elizabeth Metzler
Rachael Meyer
Joseph Mohr
Patrick Monroe
Emi Muto
Madeline Neu
Katherine Nowak
Mary O'Donoghue
Virginia O'Reilly
Alexandria Okafor
William Porter
Rebecca Price
Darby Reddaway
Joseph Reichard
Rachel Remmes
Colleen Riordan
Kyle Ryker
Samantha Schoenl
Tessa Schwarze
Annabelle Selph
Brett Sledge
Kyle Sledge
Haley Solomon
Kathryn Stauduhar
Luke Stokes
Madeline Summers
Margaret Swann
Astrid Tarleton
Emily Thurston
Eve Tschirhart
Ryan Tuemler
Katelyn Turner
Sally Varner
Julia Vitti
Nathaniel Weikert
Jamison Williams
Dalton Wilson
Junior Lion Leaders:
Junior Lion Leaders will have the opportunity to become PRIDE Leaders in 2014-2015.
Ethan Bills
Joseph Carbonara
Maria Castro
Myia Dorsey
Reed Egan
Madeline Hughes
John Laughter
Maxwell Long
Chris McNulty
Elizabeth Mount
Feven Mussie
Lauren Sill
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Campus News and Events
2014 Graduation
Information
Senior parents, please
be aware that the 2014
graduation ceremony will
take place at The Atlanta
Symphony Hall on May
17, 2014 at 9:30 a.m.
Graduation Tickets:
Each student will receive five graduation tickets. Be
sure to get in touch with other senior families if you
have extra tickets to share or if you need additional
tickets.
Baccalaureate Tickets:
Every senior will receive three tickets to Baccalaureate Mass at St. Brigid Church. Please be sure to get
in touch with other senior families if you have extra
tickets to share or if you need additional tickets.
Student
Information System
Attention Parents
Important Update Information:
St. Pius X will be introducing a new Student Information System for the
2014-2015 academic school year. This program will allow parents and students better access to academic information.
Also, new for next year is the implementation of St. Pius X family emails.
A family email will be issued to each currently enrolled ninth, tenth and
eleventh grade student. Starting with the next academic year, these emails
will become the main source of electronic communication. Parents will
be given instructions on how to forward this SPX family email to existing
personal email accounts for convenience.
Look for more information about these new and exciting changes in the
next few months on the St. Pius X school website and through the weekly
eSPX newsletters.
Attention All Male Graduates
Ages 18 through 25
It is very important that all men ages 18 through 25 register with the Selective Service System. Men who fail to register at the age of
18 can be denied student financial aid, job training benefits, federal employment and citizenship. Also, failure to register is a felony
and can result in up to $250,000 in fines and five years imprisonment or both. Ideally, the student should register within 30 days of
his 18th birthday. For more detailed information regarding registration or to obtain registration forms or to register with the Selective Service please contact: “Information for Registrants” or “Selective Service and You” at Consumer Information Center, Pueblo,
Colorado 81009 or visit the website www.sss.gov.
From the Office of the
Registrar
Be sure to stop by the
Roar Store for all of your spirit wear needs!
Course Registration Timeline for the
2014 - 2015 School Year
February - March 28
April
April 14*
April 21
April 29-May 1
May-June*
July 1-13
July 18*
Normal Hours of Operation:
Monday - Thursday:
7:50 a.m. - 3:45 p.m.
Friday:
8:30 a.m. - 3:45 p.m.
Parent/student course concerns accepted
Incoming ninth grade class placement
Department Chair changes for current
students ends
All day Incoming 9th grade Placement
Incoming ninth grade registration
Master schedule compiled and conflicts
resolved
Preliminary schedules posted online,
errors and conflicts resolved
Final schedules
Roar Store Manager: Sally King
(404) 636-3023 x242
sking@spx.org
We are always
receiving new inventory!
Be sure to look your best
while cheering on the
Golden Lions!
-3-
Campus News and Events
ST. PIUS X
PROM 2014
“Southern Soiree”
Saturday, April 26, 2014
7 p.m. – 11:30 p.m.
The Grand Hyatt Buckhead
Grand Ballroom
3300 Peachtree Road
404-237-1234
Prom is a formal event. Tuxedo for the gentlemen and formal gown for the ladies is the expected attire.
Tickets are $95 per person and will be on sale online on March 31-April 6. After April 6, tickets will be $105 per person. The last day
to purchase tickets is April 21. Non St. Pius X student guests will need to have a form signed by their school administrator indicating
they are in good standing. These forms are available in the school office from Ms. Braham or Dr. Simpson.
How to get there
• Traveling south on I-85 Exit Lenox Road and turn right. Turn left on Peachtree Road. Hotel is on the right past Lenox Square.
• Traveling north on I-85 Exit Lenox Road and turn left. Turn left on Peachtree Road. Hotel is on the right past Lenox Square.
• We will be in the Grand Ballroom.
Parking Options
• The Grand Hyatt Buckhead offers valet parking for $13 and self-parking for $7
• Other public parking lots and decks are available in the Lenox Square/Buckhead area at various rates
Please be aware of the GA driving laws that pertain to teen drivers under the age of 18 - particularly that they cannot be driving
between midnight and 6 a.m.
Pictures - $20.00 and up: Peachtree Portraits, professional photographers, will be available all evening. Areas for formal portraits will
be set up and several photo packages will be offered. Cash, check, MasterCard, and Visa are accepted.
Schedule of events: “Track 7 Events” will provide the music and lighting. A generous dinner buffet will include selections of hot and
cold hors d'oeuvres, carved meats, pasta, desserts and beverages. A blessing will be said at 7:15 p.m. Everyone is expected to be in the
ballroom by this time.
• Prom begins: 7 p.m.
Music begins and soft drink bar opens
• Blessing before buffet: 7:15 p.m.
Everyone is to be in the ballroom at this time, seniors will be served first at the buffet
• Senior Walk and Crowning of Prom King and Queen : 10 p.m.
• Dancing: 7 p.m. - 11:30 p.m.
Students may leave at any time but once they do, they will not be permitted to return. All freshmen and former students who
have been asked to leave St. Pius X for any reason are not eligible to attend this event.
-4-
Campus News and Events
FROM THE
BUSINESS OFFICE
RE-ENROLLMENT INFO:
Re-enrollment information for the 2014-2015 school year will be available on the St. Pius X website at www.spx.org/reenrollment
beginning March 3, 2014. The re-enrollment process will be completed online through the new PowerSchool Parent Portal. You
will use your new family gmail account and password to access your individual re-enrollment information.
Your re-enrollment fee will be charged to your FACTS account on March 5, 2014 with a due date of March 25, 2014. The re-enrollment fee is $200 for one student or $300 per family. This fee is for current students only. Do not include prospective (i.e. not
yet accepted) students in your re-enrollment information.
If you are not returning to St. Pius X for the 2014-2015 school year, please notify the Registrar by March 20, 2014, so that your
bank account is not charged the re-enrollment fee.
If your re-enrollment fee is not paid by March 25, you will automatically be charged a late fee of $50 per family on your FACTS
account. The re-enrollment fee and late fee are non-refundable.
To reserve your current student's space for next school year, all re-enrollment information must be received electronically in the
Business Office by March 25, 2014. In addition, your tuition and incidental fee accounts must be up to date in order for the reenrollment process to be complete. You will not be considered re-enrolled for the 2014-2015 school year if you have not paid all
tuition and incidental fees to date.
FINANCIAL AID INFO:
For the 2014-2015 school year we are once again using FACTS Grant and Aid Assessment to process our financial aid applications.
You must apply online at www.factstuitionaid.com or www.spx.org/facts. Financial Aid applicants are required to send their 2013
Tax Return and 2013 W-2’s directly to FACTS Grant and Aid in order to complete the processing of their application. 2012 tax
returns will not be accepted and will delay the processing of your application. The completed application which includes your tax
return and W-2’s must be received by FACTS Grant and Aid by March 10, 2014. Completed applications received after the deadline will incur a $50 late processing fee which will be deducted from any financial aid award. In addition, late applications may
also be subject to a reduction in any financial aid award.
Financial Aid decision letters are mailed in May. The maximum financial aid award is 50% of total tuition. Please keep this information in mind as you are making your financial plans and budget for the 2014-2015 school year.
If you have any questions regarding either of these items, please contact Denise Hatter, Assistant Business
Manager, Student Accounts at 404-636-3023 extension 260 or dhatter@spx.org.
Teen Driving Laws
Parents, please be aware of the Teen Driving Laws as they pertain to your student. Even if your student is not yet old enough to
drive, it is important for all teens to understand that they cannot be passengers in other students’ cars until the appropriate time has
passed. All of this information can be found under the Teen Drivers section on the Department of Driver Services website at www.
dds.ga.gov. The Parent/Teen Driving Guide, which outlines the following points, is located on the site.
Provisional Class D Conditions
• No driving between the hours of 12 a.m. and 6 a.m. No exceptions.
• During the first six months after issuance, no driving with passengers who are not members of driver’s immediate family; for the
second six-month period, no driving with more than one passenger under the age of 21 who is not a member of the driver’s immediate family; after one year of issuance, no more than three passengers under the age of 21 who are not members of the driver’s
immediate family.
-5-
Guidance and Counseling
The Myth of the "Well-Rounded" Student
Common questions high school students
and their parents often ask are “How
important are extracurricular activities
when I’m applying to colleges?” and
“What kind of extracurricular activities
will look good on my college applications?”
There is no specific answer to either
question, but there is a myth out there
that colleges are looking for students involved in a laundry list of extracurricular
activities. Colleges are not looking for
“well-rounded” students, rather, they are
trying to bring a “well-rounded” freshman class to their campuses.
Colleges are more interested in
finding students who have
demostrated a "passion" in
one or two activities
The myth of the well-rounded student involves the fact that the number of extracurricular activities a student is involved
in is more important than the quality
of the involvement. Colleges are now
more interested in finding students who
have demonstrated a “passion” in one or
two activities, who have gone beyond
the minimum involvement expected
from them. Volunteering at a homeless
shelter on Christmas day to help serve a
meal is admirable, but the student who
volunteers a few hours every week or
even monthly at that same homeless
shelter throughout their four years in
high school is truly demonstrating a
concern for others. Colleges are
looking for “givers,” students
who are going to
contribute to their campuses in meaningful ways. If a student is involved in his
high school and local community, it is
very likely he is going to continue to be
involved in his college community.
“What if I don’t have a passion?” Some
students start high school with definite
interests, but most don’t have any clear
ideas yet. Freshman year is all about new
experiences and it is the perfect time to
start the search for that “passion.” There
is an expansive choice of clubs, sports,
and opportunities to perform Works of
Mercy at St. Pius X.
Beginning high school can be the start of
discovering interests or finding ways to
use talents to contribute to our community. If a student doesn’t have any strong
interests yet, ninth grade is the time to
join clubs, get involved in various school
projects and perform a variety of volunteer activities to help define the search
for those “passions.” It’s all right to try
a little bit of everything to find out what
you really enjoy. If you love a certain
sport, but didn’t make the high school
team, keep up with it in a community or
church league.
During the rest of high school, narrow
your activities to a few things that you
really enjoy. Colleges are looking for
sustained activity or involvement over
time. If a student maintains involvement in an outside activity over four
years, it demonstrates the qualities of
commitment and dedication. In Countdown to College, a freshman at George
Washington University says, “ I tried to
do it all: student council, sports, drama,
clubs, music. I finally realized that being
interested in just a few things is more
rewarding. Give your time to things
you really love to do—not what
you think you have to do.” It’s
important to develop leadership
or have increased responsibilities
over the time of involvement. The
college admissions panel can spot
the “resume builder” within a mile!
For example, it is a positive factor to be
involved in student government, but it is
-6-
even better to be able to say “as student
council president, organized schoolwide canned food drive to give to local
food bank” or “organized senior class to
donate the largest amount of DVD’s for
the children’s ward at nearby hospital.”
Belonging to the club or sports team is
not as important as what you actually do.
Barb Pytel, author of Best College for
You, emphasizes that colleges are looking for students who get involved in
their community and don’t just sit at
a desk and study. In addition, colleges
are looking for students who do things
on a consistent level. The amount of
volunteer work students participate in
is an indicator to colleges that they are
willing to give back to their community.
Colleges don’t like to see hopscotching,
for example, if a student is in band or
choir, he should try and stay involved
for all four years of high school. When
students apply to colleges and apply for
scholarships, an admissions committee is
going to review their applications carefully. If students have comparable GPA’s
and standardized test scores, the deciding
factor may be what is on their resume.
At the same time, it is important not to
allow GPA’s slide. If keeping grades up
takes most of a student’s time, it may be
best to concentrate on performing meaningful volunteer work in the summer.
"I finally realized that being
interested in just a few things is
more rewarding."
Peter Van Buskirk, author of Winning the
College Admissions Game, sums it up
perfectly. “Find your passion. Do what
you love to do, do it well, share it with
others, and grow!”
Campus News and Events
Thanks are in order...
A Night in Monte Carlo, the 2014 St. Pius X Auction & Gala was a great success, raising significant funds for the school. While the final
numbers won’t be available for a few more days, we have heard that a great time was definitely had by all! We would like to offer our
heartfelt thanks to all of the guests who attended and the parents and staff who donated items to the auction.
We would especially like to thank the group of very dedicated St. Pius X parents who worked hard to put this wonderful night together!
Planning for the gala begins in early September and the job is not complete until we turn out the lights well after midnight on the night of
the event. Many of the names below were there from beginning to end so next time you see them make sure you tell them job well done!
Kerrie Bauer
Jill Bernhardt
Elizabeth Bresnahan
John Bresnahan
Kathleen Bulger
Michael Bulger
Eileen Cardillo
Trish Carr
Maura Chey
Rich Chey
Melanie Clark
Shannon Davis
Christine DeStaercke
Kay Entrekin
Stephanie Graves
Shea Geeslin
Luanne Heideman
Sandy Huff
Sheila Kosek
Valerie Krause
Mark Krause
Molly Lane
Melissa Lavandero
Doris Matthews
Maura McCurdy
Laura McDuffie
Debbie McLaughlin
Jennifer Medlin
Sheila Mohr
Patti Muenchen
John Muenchen
Camille Naughton
Nancy O'Reilly
Susanne Odom
Jennifer Owens
Melissa Porter
Trish Possert
Francie Quigley
Chris Quigley
Jocelyn Ralston
Mary Regas
Betsy Ressler
Michelle Schlueter
Gin Shaw
Teresa Sheppard
Sparky Spearman
Tom Spearman
Tom Stockmeyer
Pat Stockmeyer
Julie Winski
Frank Winski
We would also like to recognize members of the St. Pius X
staff and parents who went above and beyond to ensure a great event:
Corinna Brannon
Karen Cooper
Vicky Dorsey
Kyle Johnson
Karyn Greer Johnson
Mary Vallés Jones
Deanna Jones-Puig
Mark Kelly
Kathie Lyons
Kyle Snipes
Dale Stanley
Molly and Erin Schlader
Yvonne and Andy Smith
If we have neglected to thank anyone, please know that
your contribution was greatly appreciated and will benefit our wonderful
school and students in many ways in the years to come!
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DEVELOPING EXCELLENCE
St. Pius X Catholic High School
Volume 8, Number 7
Volume 7, Number 6
Dear Families and Friends,
As we endure the last few weeks of winter and the
solemnity of the coming Lenten season, there is one
thing to brighten any sport lover’s spirits: March
Madness. Each year, college basketball teams are
going through their playoff games during the month
of March culminating in the NCAA Championships
for both men’s and women’s basketball. At the same
time, as this edition of Spiritus goes to press our girls'
basketball team is in the middle of the state playoffs and the boys' have
just wrapped up their season.
Our Annual Fund is also racing towards its own championship, our
goal of $750,000 and total parent participation. In the spirit of this
competitive time we are launching our own 31 day March Madness
campaign to help reach our goal.
31 days of March Madness - Make Your Shot Toward Reaching Our Goal!
With the help of our own Golden Lions we are holding a special contest
to see which class can reach the highest participation in March.
• Basketball players from each grade level have been chosen to
participate and each week we will send a special video featuring the
class representatives that lead the standings.
• An initial video has been sent to the parent community explaining
the campaign and asking for your contribution. All gifts made during
the four-week time period will be credited to the respective class
participation total. You will receive reminders from grade level class
callers urging you to participate in this fun contest. If you have already
given, we thank you for your support and encourage you to promote the
campaign to others.
• The winning class will receive a special treat at the end of the month!
We hope you will help us reach the championship and win by achieving
our Annual Fund goal of $750,000.
Thanks for all your support of St. Pius X!
Sincerely,
Bonnie Spark
Endowment Fund Established
Director of Theatre Bonnie Spark has dedicated over 30
years to St. Pius X, instructing students in a variety of drama
courses. In her role, she has given generations of alumni
a rich theatrical experience, and offered the greater community top-of-the-line performances under her direction.
Bonnie is well known for her love and dedication to the
arts. Her perfomances rival those on the largest stages
throughout the country. She jumps into each endeavor
with her whole heart and cares deeply for each student that
travels across the stage. This is evidenced by not only the
alumni who have gone to perform on Broadway, but also,
by the number of St. Pius X alumni who continue to return
to the Young Center to enjoy her shows.
This past fall, a generous donor established the Bonnie
Spark Endowment Fund for Theatrical Arts with an initial
gift. Once fully endowed, this fund will allow the drama
department to continue to grow for years to come.
If you are interested in contributing to this endowment fund
or wish to learn more about starting a new fund, please
contact Director of Development, Mary Ellen Cenzalli at
404.633.4290 ext. 273 or via email at mcenzalli@spx.org.
Mary Ellen Cenzalli
Director of Development
St. Pius X Catholic High School
Development Office
2674 Johnson Road, NE
Atlanta, GA 30345-1720
404-633-4290
Steve Spellman
Principal
Mary Ellen Cenzalli
Director of Development
Victoria Dorsey ’81
Alumni Director
Kyle Snipes
Mary Vallés Jones
Communications Coordinator
Associate Director of Development
Records and Special Events
Kathie Lyons
Deanna Jones-Puig ’01
Communications Coordinator
Administrative Assistant
-12-
Chaplain's Corner
“What are you giving up for
Lent?”
effort to think less of ourselves and more of God and others.
So perhaps along with your sacrifice, you can add something this
Lent…an extra five minutes of prayer, a promise to read all four
Gospels, a weekly volunteer opportunity, an increase in generosity, a
sincere effort to be quick to forgive.
Hopefully you’ve asked yourself
this question already and are
steadfast in remaining faithful
to your Lenten sacrifice. If not,
take a moment now to prayerfully
consider something good that the
Lord might be asking you to give
up as a spiritual discipline (because, after all, giving up something
bad for you is the right thing to do in the first place).
If there’s one thing the Lenten season, the Passion, death, and resurrection of Christ, tries to instil in our hearts, it’s that in giving that
we receive and that in dying to ourselves that we are born to eternal
life.
A most blessed Lent to all of you as you prepare to celebrate Our
Lord’s victory!
It’s a good question to ask, after all, because the penitential nature
of the Lenten Season means we don our somber-sour faces and
trudge our way through these forty days beating our sinful ways into
submission; Jesus was miserable in the desert, so we are called to be
miserable in his honor, right?
Peace in Christ,
Fr. Michael Silloway
Chaplain
Sadly, I think this caricature of Lent is actually not too far from what
many people hold, at least subconsciously, as reality. Yet take note
of how the liturgy of Ash Wednesday presents the tone of the season.
Join Us For Mass
In our reading from the prophet Joel, the Lord encourages us to
return to him with whole heart. St. Paul in his second letter to the
Corinthians echoes the theme with his plea for us to be reconciled to
God. Then our gospel from Matthew presents Jesus showing us how
to bring about that change of heart and that reconciliation: through
prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, three tried-and-true methods of getting our attention off ourselves and onto the Lord and our neighbor
where it ought to be.
All of the members of our St. Pius X community are invited to
join us in the greatest prayer of the Church, the Holy Sacrifice
of the Mass. Mass is celebrated Monday through Friday in the
St. Pius X Chapel at 7:15 a.m. and at various lunch periods
throughout the week. Confessions will be heard Tuesdays
from 3 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. and by appointment.
We would also like to extend a special invitation to join us for
Eucharistic Adoration, which takes place every Friday from
8 a.m. to 3 p.m. We hope to see you there!
Pope Benedict once said that “There is nothing more beautiful than
being surprised by the Gospel, by the encounter with Christ,” and
what Christ wants to surprise us with this Lent might be the joy of
this holy season, joy that comes from making a strong and intentional
Distinguished Classicist Visits St. Pius X
Dr. Stanley Lombardo, University of Kansas professor,
author, and translator of the Odyssey, Iliad, and Aeneid,
graciously agreed to visit our
Latin students (and SPX graduates) on Friday, January 24
at St. Pius X. His visit was in
conjunction with the Michael
C. Carlos Museum’s three
day Odyssey Read-A-Thon
of Lombardo’s translation, an
event in which many of our
Latin students participated as
volunteers for a weekend.
discussed his own writing process, his personal muses, and
character development in both Greek and Roman epic. This
opportunity allowed students
to explore various ideas to
deepen their content understanding, foster meaningful
connections and fortify our
students’ critical thinking
skills. Dr. Lombardo praised
our students for their insight
and enthusiasm in what was
truly a fruitful and engaging
academic conversation and
memorable event for both our
students and their teachers.
AP Latin students currently
read Dr. Lombardo’s eloquent translation of Vergil’s Aeneid to supplement their own
interpretation of Vergil’s text. Dr. Lombardo shared and
Maria Kepler and Conway Brackett
Latin Teachers
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Campus News and Events
2014 ACADEMIC SUMMER ENRICHMENT COURSES
In order to help prepare students academically for the 2014-2015 school year, St. Pius X is offering eight academic course opportunities this summer in the subjects of math, foreign language, and English. These courses also offer freshmen the opportunity to
become more comfortable with the St. Pius X setting and meet new friends before starting school in August. Each session will consist of four classes lasting two hours a day and cost $120.00 per student. Information and the online registration forms for all classes
are available under “Summer Enrichment Courses” on the Academics tab of the St. Pius X website. The registration deadline for all
courses is Friday, June 30, 2014.
MATH ENRICHMENT: Students who will be in Algebra I will
have the opportunity to practice math concepts in the Math Enrichment Course. The focus of this course is to strengthen the student’s
mathematical foundation and build confidence in math. Some of
the topics that will be covered are integers, fractions and decimals,
simplifying and evaluating expressions, and solving equations.
GRAMMAR: Students taking freshman English will study parts
of speech, parts of the sentence, and other important and practical
information such as fragments, run-ons, and misplaced commas
to prepare them for their four years of English at Pius.
SPANISH FUNDAMENTALS: Students who will be in Spanish I
will practice basic Spanish vocabulary and grammar in the Spanish
Fundamentals Course. The focus of this course is to strengthen
the student’s second language foundation and to build confidence
in speaking and writing Spanish. The grammar topics we will
cover include subject/verb agreement, noun adjective agreement,
present tense verb conjugations, and vocabulary fundamentals.
GEOMETRY JUMP START: Students who will be in Geometry
will have the opportunity to learn geometry study techniques in the
Geometry Jump Start course. The course will teach students how
to learn and apply the many definitions, theorems, and postulates
in order to be successful. Additionally, we will review the algebra
topics that will be covered in the initial chapters of geometry.
SPANISH ENRICHMENT: Students who will be in Spanish
II or Spanish III will have the opportunity practice intermediate
Spanish vocabulary and grammar in the Spanish Enrichment
Course. This course is designed for students who need a refresher
on the topics taught in Spanish I and those who come from a
middle school Spanish program. The grammar topics we will
cover include: present tense verb conjugations, past tense verb
conjugations, and direct and indirect object pronouns.
ALGEBRA REFRESHER: Students who will be in Algebra
II are encouraged to review important topics that were taught in
Algebra I. Many students either did not fully comprehend or cannot recall these important topics. This course will help students
make the transition more easily from geometry to algebra as well
as giving them an advantage by not having to relearn material,
allowing concentration solely on the new information.
FRENCH ENRICHMENT: Students who will be in French II
or III will have the opportunity to practice intermediate French
vocabulary and grammar in the French Enrichment Course. This
course is designed for students who need a refresher on the topics
taught in French I and II, those who come from a middle school
French program, and those who simply cannot practice speaking
French over the two month summer break.
Math
8:15 a.m.
to
10:15 a.m.
10:30 a.m.
to
12:30 p.m.
1:00 p.m.
to
3:00 p.m.
Math
LATIN ENRICHMENT: Students who will be in Latin III or AP
Latin will have the opportunity to review fundamental elements
of Latin I - II grammar. This course is designed for students
who need a refresher on the topics taught in Latin I and Latin II
before entering Latin III or AP. Examples of topics covered: all
noun and adjective endings, noun-adjective agreement, conjugating verbs in various tenses (indicative and subjunctive), various
uses of the subjunctive, and vocabulary.
French/English
Latin
Spanish
7/15-7/18
7/21-7/24
7/21-7/24
7/21-7/24
7/21-7/24
Dena Peck
Dena Peck
Carrie Stockard
Maria Kepler
Jennifer Bafundo
dpeck@spx.org
dpeck@spx.org
stockard@spx.org
mkepler@spx.org
jbafundo@spx.org
Room 217
Room 217
Room 213
Room 212
Room 214
Math
Enrichment
Math
Enrichment
French
Enrichment
Spanish
Enrichment
(Algreba I
Students)
(Algebra I
Students)
(French 2 or 3
Students)
(Spanish 2
or 3 Students)
Algebra
Refresher
Algebra
Refresher
Grammar
Latin Enrichment
(Algebra 2
Students)
(Algebra 2
Students)
(Freshmen)
(Latin 3 or
AP Students)
Geometry
Jump Start
Geometry
Jump Start
(Geometry
Students)
(Geometry
Students)
Grammar
(Freshmen)
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Spanish
Fundamentals
(Spanish 1
Students)
Home and School
Grade Level Pot Luck Dinners & Meetings
By now you are all probably at least familiar with the fact that throughout the
school year each grade has one or two
potluck dinner meetings. But do you
know what these events are all about?
Have you attended one?
The Home and School Association
works closely with the Counseling
Department to bring you these potluck
dinners to offer fellowship and fun with
other parents as well as useful information for your student’s journey to college, which all begins at St. Pius X.
Home and School Association
Upcoming Events
Parent University - Senior 402
Sunday, March 23 at 5 p.m.
New Parent Reception
Thursday, May 8 at 7 p.m.
Junior Move-Up Mass
Tuesday, May 13
Senior Graduation Practice
& Yearbook Breakfast
Wednesday, May 14
SPX Publications
Available Online
Current issues of all St. Pius X publications including Spiritus, Alumni
News, Golden Lines newspaper, and
eSPX, are all available on the St.
Pius X website, www.spx.org under
the "About" tab on the main header.
Here’s the deal: the dinners occur on a Sunday evening and kick
off at 5 p.m. with a good old-fashioned potluck meal. You are
asked to bring a main or side dish or a dessert to share while you
enjoy home cooking and have an opportunity to meet and share
experiences with other parents. After you finish your meal, the
meeting portion of the evening commences at 6 p.m. This meeting, otherwise known as Parent University, is led by Mr. Spellman and faculty from the Counseling Department and provides
important information about college preparation that is relevant
to each grade level.
The general schema for these Parent University Potluck Dinners
is as follows:
• Freshman: Parent University 102 occurs in November and focuses on the registration process and general college information.
• Sophomore: Parent University 201 occurs in October and covers graduation, college and HOPE requirements as well as the
SPX registration process, services and the college application
process.
• Junior: Parent University 301 occurs in February and consists
of senior students and parents sharing their experience through
the college selection process and application journey.
• Senior: Parent University 401 occurs in September and covers
college admissions (eg, dates and deadlines, test scores, transcripts, acceptances) and financial aid options. Parent University
402 occurs in March and reviews all the details about graduation.
Our Home and School Association grade level board members, parent volunteers and the Counseling Department all put a lot of time
and energy into bringing you these Potluck Dinner Meetings. So be
sure to pencil the next one for your student’s grade level on your
calendar. We hope you will attend. It will be worth your while!
Claire Gilmore
Home and School Secretary
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Spiritus, Alumni News and the Annual Report are available
on the website as soon as they are sent to press. Be sure
to keep up with all of the news from St. Pius X online and
in print.
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Campus News and Events
Mothers' Prayer Group
The Mothers' Prayer Group invites all St. Pius X mothers to attend their monthly meetings. The next meetings will be held at 9 a.m.
on March 19, April 16 and May 17. We offer the following prayer:
Heavenly Father, You have blessed us with the joy and care of children.
May we always remember they are Yours. Help them to appreciate their uniqueness and their individual talents.
We thank you God for St. Pius X, for Your presence here, and the dedication of
caring teachers, staff, and parents. May You be glorified in the academics, arts, athletics and service in our school.
As our students walk these halls, we pray in thanksgiving for their successes, and ask You to help them accept disappointment,
not as a measure of their worth, but as an opportunity for growth. Help these special young people to love You with all their
hearts, souls and minds; give them grace to love themselves and others, following the example of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Adoration of the
Blessed Sacrament
At St. Pius X, we are fortunate to have Adoration of
the Blessed Sacrament every Friday from 8 a.m. until
3 p.m. in the Chapel. Please stop by the Chapel to
spend some quiet time before the living God. If you are
interested in becoming a guardian for an hour weekly,
biweekly, or once a month, please contact Theresa
Lewis at tlewis29@bellsouth.net.
"Adoration is essentially an embrace
with Jesus in which I say to him:
I am yours, and I ask you,
stay with me always."
- Pope Benedict XVI
Save the Date
Mothers' Club
Annual Retreat
(Morning of Reflection)
March 22, 2014
8:30 a.m. -12:30 p.m.
Speaker:
Father Michael Silloway
Mark your calendars and join the women of St. Pius
X! The morning will begin with Mass. Breakfast
and lunch will be provided. Fr. Michael will speak on
the topic of Womanhood: For Such a Time as This.
If you have any questions or would like to RSVP for
the event, please contact Debra Halbig (halbig06@
bellsouth.net) or Christina Brady (cmbradyathome@
bellsouth.net).
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Arts
SPAS Promotes
Student Artwork
The St. Pius X Arts Society is excited to showcase our talented
visual artists with our first ever SPAS note cards. Ten pieces
of our students’ artwork are highlighted on these beautiful
note cards, which are packaged with envelopes. The packages
are $10 each and all proceeds will go directly to SPAS and
our fine arts department. The note cards were first offered
for sale at the Juried Arts Exhibition on February 21 and we
will continue selling them at every fine arts performance that
follows. You won’t want to miss this stunning stationary!
Look for them in the lobby of the Young Center at the SPAS
table. Artwork above by Christina DeLurgio '14.
Pius Players News...
Theatre lovers,
Our senior Pius Players (pictured below) have dedicated four years
to the program. These seniors have given talent, time, energy and
ultimate dedication to the theatre program here at St. Pius X. Their
performances began long before Play On! and Hi! Ho! Robin Hood, as
they have graced our stage so beautifully in Hot Mikado, Get Smart,
The Sound of Plaid, Fools, Beauty and the Beast, Charlie Brown's
Special Christmas, Arsenic and Old Lace, and now The Sound of
Music. We are highly proud of the service that these exceptional
young people have demonstrated on and off the stage.
The theatre department awards five stars to our "golden" actors! Bravo!
Hope to see you in the theatre!
Theatrically,
Bonnie E. Spark
Director of Theatre
Amy F. Williams
Assistant Director of Theatre
Helen Young
SPAS President
Save the Date
March 5-9
Spring Musical
March 19-22
Spring Dance Concert
April 3
Spring Band Concert
April 24
Spring Guitar & Choir Concert
May 2
NOVO Dance Choreography
& Benefit Performance
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It's not too late to show your
support for the arts and join the
St. Pius X Arts Society!
Please visit the website at
www.spx.org/SPAS for more
information or to join today!
Arts
Visual Arts Update...
The beginning of the new year is off to a great start as many of our students
have been recognized outside of the hallowed halls of St. Pius X. Most
recently news was afoot of a number of students receiving gold and silver
key awards and honorable mentions from the Scholastic Art and Writing
Awards, an annual regional competition that is hosted by Savannah College
of Art and Design. Congratulations to the following students:
Savannah Tully: Gold Key for Painting, Silver Key for her Portfolio
Christina DeLurgio: Gold Key for Painting
Ana Haynes: Silver Key for Comic Art, Two Honorable Mentions (for
Painting and Drawing)
Ashley Hogan: Silver Key for Ceramics
Gemma DiCristina: Silver Key for Photography
Elizabeth Carr: Honorable Mention for Design
Kathryn Pelli: Honorable Mention for Design
In addition, several students were also selected to exhibit at the Wade Young
Women’s Art and Design Exhibiton at The Leo Castelli Gallery at Brenau
University. Congratulations to those students:
Alexis Harrell, Ana Haynes, Claire Monsour, Mary Papania, Marian
Metzger, Gabriella Mancini, Kathryn Pelli, and Victoria Arenz.
Many of the students listed above also submitted work to the X Annual St. Pius X Juried Arts Exhibition. Please be sure take some time and
visit the fine arts hallway and the Young Center Lobby to view our exceptionally talented students’ work. The show will end on March 27.
While writing of the show I must thank all the wonderful parents who offered their Saturday to help mat, frame and hang the show this
year. David Shanahan was incredibly helpful, as always, and Kathleen Wildhaber and her sons were invaluable and saved us so much
time getting measurements right! Thank you also goes to the Pelli's who kept the cutting machine going at the back of the art room, Mrs.
Savoie, Mrs. Beyer, Mrs. Scheff, Mr. Mancini and Mrs. Tanzy. And, of course, the fine arts wonderful V.P.’s Mrs. Monsour and Mrs.
Metzger. Finally, thanks to all the wonderfully talented students who submitted their work this year. Without your courage in putting
your work “out there in the public eye," the show would not go on!! For a list of successful entries and winners in each category, please
visit the fine arts website.
Corinna Brannon
Visual Arts Instructor
Winter Sports Wrap-Up
The varsity basketball teams began the state playoffs at press time with the girls’ taking the top seed from Region 6-AAA after defeating Decatur for the region title. The Golden Lions have advanced to the Final Four as the team defeated North Oconee, East Hall and
Morgan County in the first three rounds. The ladies will take on Savannah Beach in the semi-finals. Asia Durr was region player of
the year, while Jasmine Carter was chosen for the all-region team. St. Pius X is 28-3.
The boys’ team completed its season 24-6. After a thrilling come from behind win at Elbert County in the first round, the Golden Lions
dropped its second round contest at Cartersville. Nick Harris captured region player of the year honors while Will Maguire was selected to the all-region team. St. Pius X finished the regular season 10-4 in the region and went undefeated in the non-region schedule.
The wrestling team sent three athletes to the state meet, which was held Feb. 21-22 at Buford High School after being postponed due
to the inclement weather. Seniors Dalton Scoggins and Nick Twiner, along with freshman Jack Marsh competed in the event and all
three state qualifiers placed at the meet. Scoggins took fourth place, while both Twiner and Marsh finished in sixth place. Congratulations on a wonderful season!
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Athletics
Swim Team Takes First-Ever State Meet
The 2014 swimming and diving
season culminated in the first-ever
state championship for swimming as
the boys’ team took the top honor.
The ladies finished in fourth place
in the overall event and finished as
the top AAA team.
Jeffrey Durmer, Zach Halbig, Bentz
and Orr capped the meet with a comefrom-behind first place finish.
The diving portion of the meet saw
the Golden Lions get off to a quick
start with a second place finish
from freshman Grant Summers.
Senior Gunnar Bentz continued
the pool dominance shattering two
state records, one in the 200-meter
individual medley and the other in
the 100m butterfly. Senior Basil Orr also finished fourth in the
200m IM. Orr also set a school record by finishing second in
the 100m breaststroke. Finally, the 400m freestyle relay team of
In the girls’ portion of the meet,
junior Cat Gross placed 12th in the
diving portion to pace St. Pius X to
a strong start. Julia Durmer paced
the swimmers by finishing third in
both the 500m freestyle as well as
the 200m individual medley. The
200m Medley Relay team of Sara
Gilbert, Anna Nowak, Sarah Schantz
and Durmer finished fourth, while the
400m Medley Relay team of Alana
Davis, Durmer, Gilbert and Schantz
placed fourth as well to pace the Golden Lions to its fourth-place
overall finish.
Photo courtesy of Debra Halbig
St. Pius X Athletes Sign With Colleges
St. Pius X is pleased to announce that 15 seniors have signed National Letters of Intent to further
their athletic careers in college. Congratulations to the following student-athletes:
Gunnar Bentz
University of Georgia
Swimming
Thomas Glenn
Mercer University
Soccer
Nick Ruffin
Auburn University
Football
Blaine Boaz
University of North Carolina, Greensboro
Tennis
Bobby Grunow
Berry College
Soccer
Austin Sprague
Furman University
Track/Cross Country
Jasmine Carter
University of Georgia
Basketball
Leah Hardeman
Coastal Carolina University
Volleyball
Amanda Vocelka
Villanova University
Soccer
Megen Chey
Emory, Oxford College
Soccer
Kaitlyn Orman
Samford University
Soccer
Grant Williams
Kennesaw State University
Baseball
Daniel Crochet
Cornell University
Football
Basil Orr
University of Georgia
Swimming
Peter Zyla
Duke University
Baseball
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PRE-SORTED
FIRST CLASS
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
Permit No. 104
Atlanta, GA
St. Pius X
Catholic High School
2674 Johnson Road, NE
Atlanta, Georgia 30345-1720
404/633-4290
www.spx.org
Return Service Requested
March
3
5
5-8
9
10
12
17
19
19-22
22
23
25
April
Athletic Association Meeting
All School Mass - Ash Wednesday
Pius Players Present: The Sound of Music 7 p.m.
Pius Players Present: The Sound of Music 2 p.m.
Daylight Savings Begins
Summer Uniform Begins
Home & School Association Meeting 7 p.m.
Dresden School Supply Collection Begins
Mothers' Prayer Group 9 a.m.
Spring Dance Concert 7 p.m.
Mothers' Club Retreat
Senior Pot Luck Dinner 5 p.m.
Spring Blood Drive
St. Pius X Publications
Available Online
Current issues of all St. Pius X publications including Spiritus, Alumni
News, Golden Lines newspaper, and
eSPX, are all available on the St. Pius X
website, www.spx.org. Spiritus and Alumni
News are available on the website as soon as they are sent to press.
2
Home & School Association Meeting 7 p.m.
3
Spring Band Performance 7 p.m.
4
Acceptance Packets Mailed
7-11
Spring Break
Spiritus is a publication of the Development Office of St. Pius X
Mission Trips
Catholic High School and is published eight times per year.
14
All School Mass
St. Pius X is a unit of the Archdiocese of Atlanta.
Athletic Association Meeting
Submissions: Mail or e-mail djones@spx.org or fax
15
Works of Mercy Due
404.320.0308.
16
Mothers' Prayer Group
17
Holy Thursday - Noon Dismissal
18
Good Friday - No School
20
Easter Sunday
Communications Coordinators:
22
Mothers' Club General Membership Meeting 7 p.m.
Deanna Jones-Puig '01 (djones@spx.org)
24
Guitar & Choir Concert 7 p.m.
Kyle Snipes (ksnipes@spx.org)
26
Junior/Senior Prom
Copyright 2014
28
Senior Pilgrimage