dabbles spring 14 news dabbles news 3/17/14 10:04 am … · in 1994, dabbles has been ... dan...

DABBLES, our communityof schools newsletter, is turning 20years old this year. First publishedin 1994, DABBLES has beenpublished twice yearly since then toinform the community about ourCatholic schools. With formatchanges in 2001, our newsletterhas seen tremendousgrowth in circulation.DABBLES now has acirculation of 10,000 inaddition to the on-linedelivery and visibilitywithin our Catholiccommunity.

DABBLES wasoriginally named after itsauthor and publisher, TheDiocese of St. Augustine’sAdvisory Board of Education(DABE). Over the years,DABBLES has expandedto include highlights ofacademic achievements,school profiles, articles byprincipals and alumnus,spotlights on outstandingteachers and principals,special celebrations, schoolboard updates andbusinesses who supportCatholic education in our diocese.

Diocese of St. Augustine Volume II, Number 25 - Spring 2014

DABBLES is published twicea year through the DiocesanAdvisory Board of Education(DABE). It has a circulation of10,000 and is distributedthroughout the Diocese of St.Augustine. We hope you findthe information on ourCatholic Schools bothinteresting and informative. Wewelcome any assistance eitherthrough sponsorship oradvertising. Please call theOffice of Educational Servicesat (904) 262-3200.Superintendent of SchoolsDr. Patricia Bronsard

Diocesan Advisory Board ofEducation ChairpersonJudy Tibbitts

Guardian Catholic SchoolsMervin Denny

Region I RepresentativesJudy Tibbitts Janet MortonVeronica ValentineFr. Jason Trull

Region II RepresentativesJohn Whitehouse

Region III RepresentativesSusan Hall

Region IV RepresentativesJohn Holzbaur

Region V RepresentativesKathy BoiceDan D’AlesioMike McCoyMike GoodbreadRamon MolanoAngel SanchezAmelyn Morodomi

Region VI RepresentativesChuck ParlimentDeb DiCairanoRobert Walpole

High School RepresentativesBishop KennyJohn Whitehouse

St. Joseph AcademyJudy Tibbitts

Bishop John J. SnyderJohn Whitehouse

St. Francis Catholic High School

www.dosafl.com

Rename This Newsletter And You Could Win $250!

With this spring edition, DABE iskicking off a contest to rename thenewsletter to more accuratelyconvey its purpose. “The newsletteris an excellent tool for parents tolearn more about Catholiceducation and the many service

projects by students inour 29 schools,” saidDr. Patricia Bronsard,Superintendent ofSchools.

How to EnterOur Contest...

The contest is open to anyoneassociated with a Catholic school inthe Diocese of St. Augustine.Students, parents, teachers, schoolstaff and parish members arewelcome to submit their idea forthe new name. One winner willreceive the $250 contest prize.

Below is a form to complete tosubmit your entry to the Catholicschool associated with your parish.Please limit your entries to one perperson. The deadline to submityour entry to your school is April30, 2014. Late submissions cannotbe considered.

Each school will determine theirown top three choices from allentries submitted to their school.Principals will submit the top threechoices from their school to theDiocesan Advisory Board ofEducation (DABE) contest judgesby May 6, 2014.

The winner of the contest will beannounced next school year in theFall 2014 issue of the newsletter, soit’s important to provide completeinformation on your entry form soyou can be contacted if you win.

Although theDabblesNewsletter hasbeen around for20 years, thename has often confused newcomers and theydon’t know what it is. DABE would like torename the newsletter in a manner thatbetter reflects what it is, –– and what it does.

Yes! I want to enter the contest to Rename the Newsletter!Please Print. Please fill out ALL blanks completely and take this form to the Catholic School Administrative Officeassociated with your parish. One entry per person, please. All entries must be received no later than April 30, 2014.

My Name:________________________________________________________________________________________

(Please check One) I am: n Student in Grade____ n Parent n Teacher n School Staff n Parish Member

Complete Name of School:____________________________________________________________________________

My Address: Street _________________________________________City_____________________ZIP______________

Phone _________________________________________________Email _____________________________________

Newsletter Name I want to Submit ______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

!

Judges decisions are final. Only one winner will receive the $250 contest prize.

Dabbles Spring 14 news_Dabbles News 3/17/14 10:04 AM

cracked screens notwithstanding, Iam happy to report that our 1:1iPad implementation has gone verywell. I have spent a great deal oftime visiting classrooms and what Isee is exactly what we envisionedwith this program. Our studentsare highly engaged in learningthrough the use of their iPads andthey are developing a skill set thatwill help them prepare for collegeand for life.”

This summer two major projectswill be undertaken on oppositeends of the Bishop Kenny campus.Both the existing Demetree Libraryand portions of the footballcomplex will undergo significantrenovation and improvement. Anew press box and brand newmen’s and women’s restroomfacilities will be added to the

William H. Johnston, Jr. Stadium. In all,more than one million dollars will be spent onthe two projects, both of which will becompleted in time for the beginning of theschool year in August 2014. The BK Boostersrecently made a pledge of $100,000 towardsthe stadium project.

It has been a memorable and busy year atBishop Kenny High School so far. Now welook forward to all of the activities related tothe senior class and, of course, tocommencement exercises for the Class of2014 scheduled for May 24, 2014 at the UNFArena.

This school year marksFather Michael Houle’s 25thyear of service as president ofBishop Kenny High School,as well as his 35th year ofpriestly ordination. Father isthe first graduate of BishopKenny to return to his almamater to serve as its president.

In the first of two partiesmarking Father’sanniversaries, the faculty,staff, administration, andinvited guests celebrated bothoccasions at the annualChristmas luncheon.Principal Todd Orlandospoke at the luncheon andpresented Father with abeautiful plaque, a gift of thefaculty and staff,commemorating thismilestone year. After renovations to the mainschool lobby are completed this summer, theplaque bearing the inscription, “We Do WellAlways and Everywhere to Give Thanks” willgreet all visitors to the school.

In January, guests including BishopEstévez, retired Bishops Snyder and Galeone,as well as Father’s family, personal friends, andcolleagues gathered for Mass, followed by acocktail party and dinner all held on campus.It was a beautiful celebration of Father’s manyyears of service to the Bishop Kenny andDiocesan communities.

In January, Bishop Kenny junior Matthew

Bishop Kenny High School

Iglesias, son of Paul and Elizabeth LanahanIglesias ‘83 won the High School Category ofthe Tomorrow’s Leaders Essay Contest, partof the City of Jacksonville’s annual Dr. MartinLuther King Jr. Day observance. Matthew, theonly winner from a private school, presentedhis winning essay to more than 2,000 guestsincluding Jacksonville Mayor Alvin Brown andkeynote speaker Soledad O’Brien, formerly ofCNN, at a breakfast held at the PrimeOsborne Convention Center. Matthew waspresented with a trophy and a check for $250as his prize.

In a recent iPad update to BK’s parents,Principal Todd Orlando reported, “a few

(L-R) Msgr. Frank Mouch, who was president of the seminary Father Houleattended, retired Bishop Snyder, Father Houle, retired Bishop Galeone, andBishop Felipe Estévez all attended the celebration of Father Houle'sanniversaries in January.

This year marks the20th anniversary of theUniversity of NotreDame’s Alliance forCatholic Education(ACE) program in theDiocese of St. Augustine.Since 1994, 62 teachers

have served in our Catholic schools andcompleted the program. The impetus for theACE program began as a way to bring talentedteachers to classrooms, especially to studentsunderserved in our community and nation.ACE now places over 170 college graduates inover 100 parochial schools throughout theUnited States. Catholic schools have servedchildren and families across the Diocese of St.Augustine and have closed the achievement gapfor poor and minority students.

To mark the anniversary of ACE, founders ofthe program have been traveling across theUnited States to visit each and every Catholic

Superintendent of Catholic Schools: Dr. Patricia Bronsardschool participatingin the program. Thebus tour entitled,“Fighting For OurChildren’s Future”had the name ofeach of the Catholicschools emblazonedon the side of thebus. Students at St.Pius and HolyRosary celebratedthe visit byshowcasing speechesthey wrote. TheDiocese of St. Augustine Catholic schoolsprovide a remarkable education for students.Like the mission of ACE, we believe Catholicschools succeed because the Gospel commandsus to love one another – and to treat eachperson we encounter as we would Christ. Ourschools work each day to live our mission in theways we teach and work with students and

parents. Ourmeasures ofsuccess are visiblein the many hoursstudents andteachers spend inservice to theircommunity and inthe 99 percent ofCatholic schoolstudents who goon to college.Like ACE, we alsoare aware of therole poverty plays

in access to quality education. We note therecent statistic that a black or Latino child is 2.5times more likely to graduate from college if heor she attends a Catholic high school. Thanksto the support of Bishop Estévez, our schoolscontinue to serve the diverse community of theDiocese of St. Augustine.

Dabbles Spring 14 news_Dabbles News 3/17/14 10:04 AM Page 2

computer lab so that many students couldlearn at one time. Before this was done(and it was just a matter of time) she saw toit that all classes had at least two computersin their room. The rest, as they say, ishistory.

Sister participates in activities involvingthe school and church. She is an avid sportsfan and you will see and hear her presenceat athletic events, notably basketball andsoftball games and more recently soccer.

For many years Sister has beenconcerned about our students getting a hotmeal at lunch. In August of 2012 SisterElise and Mrs. Janice Hice went to a 3-dayworkshop on how to have St. Pius becomepart of the National School LunchProgram and provide lunch free or at areduced price to qualifying students. Theycame back to school, rolled up their sleevesand began the process. By Thanksgivingthey had been approved for the program andnow their students are able to have that hotmeal every day.

Sister Elise says, “My 37 years at St. Piushave been happy, joy-filled, and challenging. Iam grateful for the blessings of these years. Iam most grateful for our benefactors, for all of

the “Guardians” who have so generously givenof their time and energy, who have kept thedoors of St. Pius and Holy Rosary open withtheir donations, large and small, who havecontributed to our growth and providedenrichment and support for our students andteachers.”

Sister EliseKennedy, SSJ

St. Pius V

Profile of Leaders

Sister Elise Kennedy, SSJ will end hertenure as principal of St. Pius V CatholicSchool, on June 30th of this year after 27 years.Sister Elise is a hometown girl. She went to St.Paul’s Riverside through 8th grade andgraduated from Bishop Kenny. She entered thenovitiate of the Sisters of St. Joseph in 1962.She taught in schools in many parts of the statebefore coming to St. Pius in 1976 as the firstgrade teacher.

St Pius Parish was established in 1919 andthe school opened its doors in 1921. It wasstaffed by Sisters of St. Joseph. The parish andthe school were established for the African-American community of Jacksonville. SisterElise has carried on that tradition

With reservations she accepted the role ofprincipal twenty-seven years ago. One of thefirst things she wanted to accomplish was tomake the school and community aware of thetechnology that the young students would befacing in the future. St. Pius was one of the firstelementary school in the diocese to becomecomputer savvy. Her next dream was to have a

If you were ableto hear Father JoeCorpora, CSC, speakat the Cody Centerat St. Joseph Churchin Jacksonville inFebruary, you wereindeed fortunate.Father Corpora, agraduate of theUniversity of Notre Dame, is a Director ofthe University-School Partnerships Alliancefor Catholic Education (ACE) Program. Heis also co-chair of the Notre Dame Task

Force on the Participation of Latino Childrenand Families in Catholic Schools.

His message was that the benefits of aCatholic education should be available tostudents from all nationalities and socio-economic groups. Our Catholic schoolsshould continue our uniquely AmericanCatholic tradition of providing qualityeducational opportunities for all.

Father Corpora noted some questions tohelp Catholic schools work toward this goal:• Do our schools reflect the faith, culture

and values of the home community of thechildren we seek to serve?

• What are our families’ needs and do ourprograms and policies reflect and meetthese needs?

• As Catholic schools, how do we makepeople feel when they first approach ourdoors? Are we welcoming and helpfullyassist all who enter and make every effortto meet their individual needs?

As we strive to be a culturally-responsiveschool community, we need to listen toexperts like Fr. Corpora who havesuccessfully evangelized to the multiculturalcommunities across the nation. For furtherinformation on successful programs, pleasevisit catholicschooladvantage.nd.edu.

DABE Chairman Update by Judy Tibbitts


had our first child, Nicole, there. Our next homewas in Patuxent River, Maryland, where we hadour second daughter, Kristen. From there wemoved to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

This is where I began my teaching career, atthe DOD school, W.T. Sampson Elementary, for

two years. Our family then moved toPensacola, Florida. I truly believe itwas the work of the Holy Spirit thatled me to Little Flower CatholicSchool. I was not Catholic, butMethodist. Sr. Marie Rene AzarS.S.J., the principal asked me if Icould be “Catholic” during schoolhours. I said sure, just show me, ortell me what I should do. Well, shedid that so well, that I grew to lovethe Catholic faith. I was alsoinspired, when one of my

kindergarten students asked me to read a book tothe class about St. Elizabeth Ann Seton. She had

Iwas born in Presque Isle, Maine to twowonderful parents, Robert and Barbara Boulier. Iwas the oldest of threechildren. I have a brother,Robert Jr. and a sister, Lisa.My father was a career man inthe U.S. Air Force. So, Igrew up living in severaldifferent places, the mostinteresting and memorablebeing two years in Portugal.

I graduated from theUniversity of Maine in 1976and also married myhusband, Kevin, that fall. Hewas in the U.S. Navy, so that took us to our firsthome-port of Whidbey Island, Washington. We

also been a Methodist and a teacher. I convertedto Catholicism, and was received into the Churchon May 5, 1989. I still am very much connectedto Sr. Rene and the Sisters of St. Joseph in St.Augustine.

My husband was then transferred toJacksonville. I interviewed at a couple of Catholicschools here. But, I knew immediately that Ibelonged at Resurrection Catholic School. Iloved the friendly, family atmosphere. So wow!Where has the time gone? These past 24 years atRCS have flown by. I have truly been blessed byso many amazing students, parents, and co-workers. I have seen many people come and go,and witnessed beautiful changes not only to ourfacilities, but in the growth of our students. It isan awesome gift from God to be able to come towork every day and be surrounded by His love inthe smiling faces of my students. Thank you to allwho have made my days and years so special andrewarding. ––Susan Hansen

Susan Hansen Resurrection Catholic School

School Advisory Board Highlight Epiphany Catholic School

The 2013-2014 EpiphanyCatholic School Board has beenbusy working on public relationsprojects this year. The addition ofan eight-page pamphlet, whichincludes information on teachersand staff and testimonials fromcurrent students, parents, andalumni, has greatly enhanced andshowcased everything our schoolhas to offer.

In addition to our standardmeans of advertising through localnewspapers, flyers, community service stations,and occasional radio interviews, we havereached out to our sister churches in both LiveOak and Branford, as well as the local cubscouts, daisies, and brownie troops, that utilize

our facilities for meetings each week. As we kick off the open enrollment period

for Step Up and McKay scholarships, we willbe including opportunities for families toreceive assistance in the form of utilizing our

computer lab and the experience of otherfamilies, to come on site on various Saturdaysand by appointment, to complete the initialapplications.

Another area of discussion andimplementation has been our increasedparticipation with Catholic Charities' projectsand programs. In addition to collecting food,raising funds, the Angel Tree Project andvisiting the office to hand out food, the schoolis currently raising monies for their MobileOutreach Project. Students in grade 8 will gowith Catholic Charities to one of the drop sitelocations this year, and assist with completingapplications, translating for Spanish speakingfamilies, and handing out backpacks filled withfood. The Epiphany Board is proud of thisnew opportunity for our young people toprovide outreach in their own community.

Pictured (L-R) Eduardo Bedoya, Fr. Mike Pendergraft, BarbaraMrvica, Robin Green, Pam Kahlich, Bonnie Green, Rita Klenk andK.C. Trowell. Not pictured: Larry LaTour and Suzanne Norris.

Once back in the UnitedStates, Joyce’s family movedto Central Texas, where shewas a Reading Resourceteacher in public schools.She was then hired at aCatholic school in Tyler,TX, where she taughtsecond grade and then againbecame a Reading Resourceteacher while she earned aMaster’s Degree in Readingfrom the University ofTexas.

The Racicots eventually moved to New York,North Carolina, and finally, Florida. Joyce was asubstitute at St. Joseph for one year before shewas hired to teach second grade. She was grateful

Joyce Racicot St. Joseph Catholic

School Mrs. Joyce Racicot is a

highly respected, much lovedpart of St. Joseph Catholic School, and herreputation as an excellent primary teacher hasbeen earned during the 25 years she has taughtfirst and second grade there.

Joyce’s road to St. Joseph was certainly awinding one. After graduating from Holy FamilyUniversity in Philadelphia, PA, she taught secondand third grade in public schools in New Jersey.She had only been married for 3 months whenthe Army sent her husband and her to Thailandwhere she taught Baptist missionary children.

for the opportunity to teach in the sameschool her children would attend.

Joyce has been married for 40 years toher husband, Gilles, and she has 2children; her daughter is a veterinarian inJacksonville and her son is a junior atFSU. She considers it a blessing to havehad such varied teaching experiences andsays that teaching first grade, which shehas done for more than 20 years at St.Joseph, is by far her favorite gradebecause the progress the children make iswonderful to see. First graders are opento the world and love to learn, and their

zest for life keeps Joyce energized. When sheends her teaching career, Joyce says she willalways be grateful that God’s plan for her led herto St. Joseph Catholic School.

Teacher Spotlights – Focus on Teachers


St. Pius and ACE CelebrateBlack History Month

In celebration of 20 years of the Alliancefor Catholic Education (ACE), theUniversity of Notre Dame is currentlyhaving a National "Fighting for OurChildren's Future" Bus Tour. Jacksonvilleand the Guardian Catholic Schools werechosen as one of the stops.

During their February 18th visit, ACErepresentatives attended a Black HistoryMonth Presentation put on by St. Pius

The Guardian Catholic Schools

students and celebrated morning Mass withHoly Rosary’s students. It was a wonderfulcelebration of faith and diversity.

Congratulations to Sister Elise Kennedy andJim Selzer who were recognized during thevisit with the University of Notre Dame SorinAward for Service to Catholic Schools.

Regional Current Events From Our Schools

Region 1Cathedral Parish School

We feel so blessed at Cathedral ParishSchool to be in the heart of St. Augustine,amidst the rich history of the Catholic faithand our founders the Sisters of St. Joseph.

Catholic Schools Week was a wonderfulopportunity to reflect on who we are and toshare that information with our community.The week included visits from noted cityleaders who led us in our morning prayerand/or the Pledge of Allegiance, includingDr. William T. Abare, President of FlaglerCollege; St. Augustine Police Chief, LoranLueders; and our very own Bishop FelipeEstévez.

Students were actively involved in serviceprojects throughout the week, makingsandwiches for a local homeless shelter,collecting items for Catholic Charities, andcollecting pledges in honor of St. Vincent dePaul. The week was highlighted by a beautifulLiving Rosary where we were joined by five ofthe Sisters of St. Joseph. CSW also saw thefirst annual school 5k, run in partnership with

St. Joseph Academy. Students, teachers andparents participated in this great run throughdowntown. The whole city shut down just forus!

We followed Catholic Schools Week upwith another great Cathedral Parish Festival.This annual event draws from all overNortheast Florida and is the biggest annualfestival in St. John’s County. It’s a wholeweekend of food, music, fellowship, and fun.

May God bless our school, our parishes,and Catholic education!

St. Elizabeth Ann SetonIn October, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton

Catholic School students, teachers and staffcame together to raise funds for the FloridaHospital Flagler Foundation's breast cancerfund which provides screening mammograms,diagnostic studies and education to localqualified women who are uninsured andseeking assistance.

The event leader was Shanna Daly, eighthgrade teacher at SEAS. The middle schoolhosted a pink bake sale to raise funds.Additionally, for a $2 donation students wereable to "dress down" and wear pink! In all we

were able to raise $900 to help women inneed obtain lifesaving detection services.

Florida Hospital Flagler FoundationAdministrative Director John Subers said,"How exciting it is to see the youth of ourcommunity do projects that will help others."

Palmer Catholic AcademyPalmer Catholic Academy celebrated

Catholic Schools Week with the theme“Communities of Faith, Knowledge andService.” The students celebrated the week byincorporating the Seven Pillars of CatholicSocial Justice into our theme. Students kickedoff the week by celebrating the community ofour parish by attending Mass at Our Lady Starof the Sea. They were invited to wear theirschool uniforms and serve as ushers, greeters,lectors, altar servers and gift bearers. Tworecent Palmer graduates also spoke at theMass about the importance of Catholiceducation in their lives. The week was filledwith fun activities such as: a dress-down dayto support our Sister Parish Mission, thestudents made bookmarks with mustard seedson them to represent the importance of ourfaith and wrote letters to the seminarians

Alumni Illumination Andrew Bieniek – Queen of Peace Catholic Academy

Andrew Bieniek graduated from Queenof Peace Catholic Academy’s first graduating classin 2008. When we think of Andrew, we think ofa young man who despite his physical challenges,was always optimistic, enthusiastic, loved toaccept a challenge and never allowed his disabilityto get the better of him… Andrew is a littleperson.

For Andrew the challenges of living with adisability are an everyday task. Personalcomputers, motorized scooters and modified carsare the norm. His strength comes from his faith,family and community.

“College is great and has been one of the bestexperiences of my life. I am currently attending

Embry Riddle AeronauticalUniversity in Daytona BeachFlorida. I am studying aerospaceengineering with a focus onastronautics. Pretty much I'mlearning how to build rockets. Ilove everything about thisschool. Everyone here shares thesame interests as me and there isso much to do. Our college isright next to the airport andplanes fly over constantly. Mostpeople find it annoying, but Ifind it amazing. Watching themfly over every day reminds me that I am alwaysone step closer to my goal.

I would not be here if I did not have theeducation from Queen of Peace CatholicAcademy and St. Francis Catholic HighSchool. Throughout my Catholic educationI learned valuable skills which most collegestudents don't have. Examples would betime management, working with others andindependence, but the most importantlesson that I learned from Catholic school isto be yourself, stand up for what is right andstay true to your faith. I have seen manypeople change who they are just to join asorority or a fraternity to become popular.In the end they are not happy. I have stayed

true to myself, made friends, joined organizationsand I could not be happier.” ––Andrew Bieniek

Students performing a scene from Aida during theBlack History Month presentation.


San JoseThe New Year brought much to celebrate

as San Jose Catholic School learned it hadbeen one of twelve schools chosen fromacross the nation to receive the 2014Innovations in Catholic Education Awardfrom Today’s Catholic Teacher Magazine. Aschool delegation, headed by Principal BrianWheeler, will receive the honor at a banqueton April 23rd, during the NCEA Conventionweek in Pittsburgh. The award, in thecategory of innovative project in promotingCatholic identity, recognizes the school’ssixteen-year fundraising commitment toGuardian Catholic Schools through its theaterprogram. For the past two years, includingsold out performances to this year’s “TheLittle Mermaid,” the cast has includedwonderfully talented students from HolyRosary School.

Academic, spiritual, athletic, and artisticactivities have made for a vibrant andenergetic school community. Young scientistsshone brightly in both the Diocesan andNEFRSEF Science Fairs. Students continuedSacramental preparations in retreats and byliving their faith in community service toothers.

As Bishop Estévez challenged us last year inhis Pastoral Letter, “Come, Live in theLight,” students at SJCS are encouraged andprovided opportunities to continuallystrengthen their Catholic identity andbecome genuine instruments of the Church’sevangelizing mission each and every day.

St. Joseph’s Catholic SchoolWinter 2014 has been a really busy time at

St. Joseph Catholic School. Our middleschool students participated in the AnnualAcademic Fair in January, during which theydisplayed their science, fine arts, and historyfair projects. After three months of research,

report writing, and gathering materials fortheir visual presentations, the students wereinterviewed by judges from the localcommunity and ribbons were awarded to thetop projects in each category. The winningscience fair projects were then taken to theDiocesan Science Fair and the NortheastFlorida Regional Science Fair as well. Ourstudents represented the school very well,with several receiving ribbons at the NEFRSF.

Catholic Schools Week was a wonderful,faith-filled week of activities for our students!We had visits from the BJS chorus and band,Seminarian David Keegan, Brian Shields ofLumen Entertainment, and Dana Edmondswith her “Yes, I Did” presentation. We hadour annual Brain Bowl competition, ParentBreakfast and Open House, Adoration forVocations and our Military, and TeacherAppreciation Luncheon, during which thefaculty finally met Fr. Thanh and welcomedhim as our new pastor.

Thanks to Fr. Mike Morgan and the parish,we have just had a new roof put on ourgymnasium, and we are very appreciative oftheir support. We look forward to workingwith Fr. Thanh now to continue our missionof Catholic education.

San Juan del Rio“The best way to find yourself is to lose

yourself in the service of others.” MahatmaGandhi

The students at San Juan del Rio have beensharing themselves and their treasure withothers. During Catholic Schools Week, thestudents had a “food collection” to supportthe Vincentian Food Bank at St. Vincent’sHospital. Mrs. Richie’s 6th grade classbrought in the most food items and won thefood collection competition.

In cooperation with the JacksonvilleHumane Society, the students collectedblankets for the animals. About 125 blanketswere collected to keep the dogs and catsresiding in the shelter cozy and warm. Thisopportunity not only provided students withthe chance to serve, but also gave parents areason to clean out and donate any unusedblankets or sleeping bags.

As Christian buddies, the students createdValentines for the veterans at the Clyde E.Lassen State Veterans Nursing Home. Thestudents made a variety of delightful valentinenotes of love and caring in thanksgiving fortheir years of service to our country.

With Lent right here, our students willhave many other opportunities to serve thosein the community.

AssumptionAssumption is excited to have held our

second annual health fair. One of our parentsorganized a weeklong event promoting goodhealth through our eating and exercise. Eachday students learned about healthy eatingchoices and were able to taste different health

Region 2

praying for them and supporting them ontheir faithful journey. We also had a“Leadership Day” where the upper grades ledthe younger students from pre-schoolthrough 3rd grade in a Bible verse and craftproject. Throughout the week, students alsocollected over 400 boxes of cereal for theSouper Bowl of Caring Food Drive forCatholic Charities.

Recently, one of Palmer’s 8th gradestudents was named the first place winner ofthe Maryknoll Student Essay Contest.Students were asked to consider Pope Francis’call to serve the poor through their actionsand words. With more than 10,000 entriesreceived in this nationally recognized contest,we are so proud of our winner and all of ourstudents who have followed our HolyFather’s teachings through their words anddeeds.

foods during lunch. The theme was eating therainbow. On Wednesday, all families wereinvited to attend our health fair on campus.There were many booths, such as, Pilates’lessons, a Jaguar player, petting zoo andTrad’s Garden. All P.E. classes had a specialfocus and emphasis on stretching for strength,good posture and greater health. This helpedus meet our goal of greater overall health andeducating the whole child.

We have also started a service club that hasreached out to help those in need in ourcommunity. Students made goodies for anursing home, lunches for the homeless andbookmarks and learning bags for a children’shome. We were excited to visit CatholicCharities in February where we were able tobag food for the homeless. Students learn tocount their blessings in the process of servingthose in need.

Holy FamilyTo celebrate this year’s Catholic Schools

Week, Holy Family Catholic School studentscelebrated a special Mass with theirgrandparents and showcased their projectsand classwork to family during our OpenHouse and Grandparents’ Day festivities. Ourschool and parish community also enjoyedour family-focused Fall Festival and recentlyattended the drawing for our PTO sponsoredMega Money Raffle. These efforts raised over$35,000 for technology enhancements at ourschool.

Our students continued to raise theirawareness of the needs of others by learningabout and collecting money for The AppleProject. The goal of this project is to build anew dental clinic in Jacksonville that will offerfree dental services to children and adults whocannot afford dental care. We hosted an AppleDessert Baking Contest at our Fall Festivaland encouraged students to wear red on non-uniform days. Fifth graders wrote essaysabout what it would be like to live withoutteeth. Representatives from kindergartenthrough eighth grade attended thegroundbreaking ceremony for the new dentalclinic and were able to experience firsthandthe effects of this worthwhile endeavor.

Holy Family Catholic School carries on itstradition of challenging students with avariety of academic opportunities. Ourstudents participated in the Diocesan ScienceFair as well as the Northeast Florida RegionalScience and Engineering Fair. Students ingrades six through eight sharpened theirpublic speaking skills through participation inthe Modern Woodmen Speech Contest.Students in fourth grade utilized scientificmethod to research, design and testinventions for the Invention Convention.Students in all grade levels are constantlystriving to deepen their faith, increase theirknowledge and selflessly give of themselves toothers.


St. Paul’s RiversideThe excitement continues to flourish at St.

Paul’s Catholic School Riverside. Our specialfamily community has had a wonderful schoolyear thus far and activities this spring havekept things electrifying! Catholic schoolsweek enabled us to collect over 400 diapers

St. Pius V School Father Tom Cody has been busy using his

carpentry skills at St. Pius School. We are sograteful for bookcases for the library, storeroomshelving, science room shelving, podiums forclassrooms, a podium for the church, and a reallyclassy (don’t laugh) sneeze guard, which wasrequired for our health permit for the lunchserving line. Father’s next project is revampingour trophy cases, which is timely, as our boys’basketball team were the Division I league andtournament champs. Many thanks, Father Tom.

Our annual Walsh/Selzer Oratorical Contest,sponsored by the Guardian Catholic Schools,was held on February 21st. Students in 6ththrough 8th grade presented an original speechentitled, “The Importance of Healthy Living ”(also level 1 of the Modern Woodmen SpeechContest.) Finalists from Level One: 1st Place -Cody Southerland; 2nd Place - MonetCameron; 3rd Place - Jordan Kelly. Cody andMonet participated in Level 2 held in March.Students in pre-kindergarten through 5th gradepresented a memorized poem.

St. Pius School is now proudly sponsoringHoly Rosary School in the National SchoolLunch Program. Their lunch program wentfrom serving 50 some lunches a day to over 150.

Holy Rosary School Inspired by the vision of El Sistema, the

founding members of JUMP!, the JacksonvilleUrban Music Project, chose Holy Rosary as thesite of their new string program. After attendingworkshops at Villanova University given by thePlay On Philly! staff from Philadelphia and atDuke University where they were furtherinspired by Durham, North Carolina’sKidZNotes, Peggy Toussant and Patrice Evanswere determined to found a similar program inJacksonville.

Students in the first and fourth grades havethe opportunity to become members of theinaugural class. The program includes weeklytraining in classical, orchestral music, lessons inmusic theory and literacy, and opportunities toperform in the community.

Region 4

On February 18, Holy Rosary and St. PiusSchools hosted guests from the University ofNotre Dame who visited Jacksonville as part ofthe ACE National Bus Tour. The national tour ismarking the 20th year of ACE’s service toCatholic schools. Jacksonville was one of thevery first ACE sites 20 years ago and is currentlyhome to six ACE teachers serving five schools inthe diocese. Congratulations to Sister EliseKennedy and James Selzer who were recognizedduring the visit with the Notre Dame SorinAward for Service to Catholic Schools.

St. Michael AcademyAll of us at St. Michael Academy are grateful

that our Parish Hall is now complete, andstudents are able to enjoy a hot lunch, thanks to“My Personal Chef” catering. It is exciting toonce again have a space for school activities! OurMiddle School students enjoyed a holiday dancewith a “Polar Express” theme. Our youngerstudents celebrated a Saturday morningBreakfast with Santa. Our Christmas musicalincluded all of our students in Prek through 8thgrade as they shared the story of Jesus’ birth. Wewere able to once again host a Grandparents Daybreakfast followed by visits to our classrooms.Teachers planned activities for grandparents andgrandchildren to complete together. We werehonored to have a parent of a former graduatecome back and organize our traditional pancakebreakfast for the last day before Christmas break.After three years without a parish hall, ourcurrent parents were given directions to keep thetraditions going after such a long gap!

Our students have participated in severalservice projects including collecting baby andtoddler food items for Hope House; adoptingfamilies for Christmas and delivering gifts andgroceries; as well as participating in the “Solesfor Souls” shoe project.

St. Patrick School - JaxIn June of 2013, the St. Patrick Catholic

School said goodbye to an old friend. Roomswere emptied, computers packed and stored,office supplies and library books inventoriedand set aside for a new destination. Yes, thefamily of this community said goodbye to thebuildings on Broward Road built in 1964.

Then the real adventure began. St. Patrick Catholic School began its 49th

year in temporary cottages. The twelvecottages, named after the 12 apostles, werebrought onto the Airport Center Drive Eastlocation for teachers and students to use whilethey waited and watched the construction of abrand new school. Most could not imaginethe new school when all that could be seenwas such a large area of dirt –– piles and pilesof dirt –– which at times turned into bogs ofmud. The children have loved watching theenormous trucks and bulldozers move the dirtand "play" in the mud. Students and teacherswatched as a huge crane lifted the roof trussesup, a set of bulldozers and tractors dug out anew retention pond –– now home to manygeese and ducks. All the while inside, thebeautiful new building was being completedwith what one would say, is the best-of-thebest in furniture, technology, and supplies forschool. At times it felt the wait would never beover.

And then... it was. The entire family of St.Patrick Catholic School was able to enter andoccupy the classrooms, offices, media center,science lab, and cafetorium in early January.With great excitement and joy the students satbehind their new desks ready to continuelearning. The teachers were just as excited (ifnot more) with their new SmartBoards,projectors, cabinets, closets, and all thetechnology. Everyone eagerly awaited theirchance to use the new state-of-the art sciencelab. It is something the children have neverexperienced.

The school and church are stilltransitioning –– but could not be more proudof everything they have been blessed with.

Region 3


Region 5for St. Gerard House, plus helping mothers inneed. We were also able to feed many familiesas we collected for Catholic Charities, all thewhile showing our hearts are at our littleschool. We may be small, but certainly mightyin helping those less fortunate! Our annualtalent show was a huge hit and we also“Danced our Teals” off to raise money forovarian cancer research.

We are thrilled to announce the addition ofa second kindergarten to our school, asevidence of our commitment to growth andacademic excellence. We welcomed ouraccreditation team late February as we havegone through the Continuous ImprovementProcess together as a family, and look forwardto the implementation of our new goals andprocedures. Our 80s prom Annual Auctionand Gala was an absolute blast, with high hair,great music and lots of fluorescent colors!Three cheers for St. Paul’s and its spectacularspring season!

St. MatthewSt. Matthew Catholic School returned from

Christmas break and has been moving non-stopever since! Catholic Schools Week was acelebration of all things wonderful at SMCS:alumni speakers, parent breakfast, Mass andinternational rosary, performances by the BJSHSband and choir, “Wake Up Your Faith Day”where all (teachers included!) wore pajamas toschool to remind us to enliven our faith, foodcollection for Catholic Charities, SVDP monthlycollection of $450, middle school biblical skits,BJSHS student-led discussions, BKHSNJROTC drill team, Dr. Stanley's Respect Lifepresentation, Cybercrime program, JEA-sponsored water and energy conservationdemonstration, PTO fundraiser "Fun Run,” andOpen House featuring student academic andscience fair projects and art show. And that wasjust Catholic Schools Week!

Our students have also excelled in academicand athletic endeavors this year. Both our soccerand volleyball teams placed first in the regularseason and were runners-up in the post-seasontournament. Our Bishop’s Bowl team won atthe regional level and moved on to the finals,and our Mathletes competed and placed againstmany other middle school teams at the annualMathletes Meet at UNF. The varied talents ofour students –– and faculty –– were showcasedin an evening performance of our annual talentshow, which was a hit with the entirecommunity. Blessings have been abundant forSMCS this year!

AnnunciationAnnunciation has had an eventful New Year.

We began with the 1st Annual Alumni-ParishDinner where we invited our current and pastfamilies, and parishioners from Sacred Heart, St.Catherine, and St. Luke. The media center wasrenamed in honor of former principal, SusanAltieri. About 115 guests attended including:Dr. Bronsard, Pastors Fr. Boddie, Fr.

Blaszkowski, Fr. Sullivan, and Fr. Rooney (ret.).The packed house had a great night of fellowshipand history.

As we looked behind, we also looked ahead tobuilding a gym for our 25th anniversary that willinclude a cafeteria/stage. There are FUNdraisersin our future, but we know that we can relyupon our parishes, parents, alumni, andcommunity sponsors to help us meet this need.We are also looking ahead with technology. Tocomplement our wireless campus and AppleTVs, we are adding additional laptops —expanding students’ access to educationalapplications and internet resources. Our newLego© Robotics and Math Counts teams roundout this STEM imitative.

In addition to rekindling relationships withour alumni, we also built our ACS community.On January 11th, our school joined theResolution Fun Run and sported 270participants — we had by far the mostparticipants of any group, including larger publicschools. On Feb. 20th, we hosted our 1stAnnual Spanish School Mass and on March 25thwe celebrated the Feast of the Annunciationwith Bishop Estévez.

Sacred Heart SchoolSacred Heart welcomed January with a

wonderful build up towards Catholic SchoolsWeek. The wonderful highlights of the festivitiesincluded a prayer service, pep rally, grandparent’sday, school service projects, and appreciationactivities for all those individuals who makeCatholic schools the beacon of light thatcommunities expect. What a wonderful time toremind others why we are here.

February brought recognition for ourstudents who competed in the Science Fair andSpelling Bee. We were very proud to haverepresentatives move toward county anddiocesan levels of competition. Seeing thesestudents succeed reflects on the wonderful jobthe teachers of Sacred Heart continue in themission of service. Finally, March brought ourannual Spring Carnival, which donned aRenaissance theme this year. Rides, games, andturkey legs were enjoyed by all as the three dayevent allowed Sacred Heart to share the school’sgifts with the community.

We are truly blessedto have had such asuccessful end to winterand look forward to theapproaching Eastercelebrations. As the endof another school yearapproaches we have allagreed to reflect on thegifts we are given eachday and anxiously awaitthe “good news” that“arises” with Spring!

Resurrection Parish SchoolResurrection Catholic School had a fun-

filled and faith-filled Catholic Schools Week!On Monday morning the students weresurprised with a Praise and Worship Concertpresented by the Resurrection Ryte Band.Students from pre-k 3 to eighth grade sang anddanced in prayer. The week was filled withmagic shows, service projects, school-wide linedancing, and worship.

On Thursday, Jacksonville SherriffRutherford presented Principal Pat Donahuewith a service award for the school, recognizingthe students’ caring and commitment to thecommunity. Pastor Appreciation Day wascelebrated with Mass and ice cream for all,(Father Zehler’s favorite treat!) Culminatingactivities included a talent show and chili cook-off open to the entire parish. The evening wasa fun and a delicious success.

The Drama Department ended its seasonwith the presentation of Peter Pan. Reviewswere outstanding. Meanwhile our 3 year-oldsheld their own Valentine’s Day production forthe residents of Hurley Manor. They alsoreceived outstanding reviews!

Along with the opportunity to participate inthe upcoming softball season, students will beoffered two new clubs this spring: BeginningKarate and Rainbow Loom. The school andparish community eagerly awaited theEucharistic Congress in March. The 19members of the school band, along with theschool choir, joyfully prepared for theirparticipation in the opening ceremonies. Theday held blessings for us all.

St. Paul BeachCatholic Schools week was a busy one at

St. Paul’s Beach this year. Every class wasinvolved in their own service project inaddition to the school collecting cereal forthe Catholic Charities Food Pantry. Frommaking valentines for our troops in 1stgrade, to collecting coats for foster childrenin 8th grade, our students logged many

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hours serving the community. On Friday ofthat week we hosted our annual Art Fest,which featured the music, art, culture, sportsand food of Brazil. Every class moved fromroom to room, eating new foods, learning todance, making crafts, watching performersand more.

Service work has been diverse and fun thisyear, with the Apple Project low-incomedental clinic receiving our attention early inthe year. Our school raised over $3,700 inthe fall and our partner here, St. Vincent dePaul, added $1,300 to that to make an even$5,000 donation! Several members of ourSGA, along with our principal, were able tobe on hand for “demolition day” in Januaryas they tore down the old clinic.

Our journey in the Seven Habits (ourLeadership program) continues as thestudents learn the language of living thehabits in the classroom and beyond.Students are taking on more leadership rolesin all of our classes, from kindergartenthrough 8th. Later this spring we will hostthe parents as our students teach them theSeven Habits.

As leaders, our students led their ownconferences when it was Parent Conferenceday. With the teacher in the background, thestudent presented his or her work, goals, andresults to the parents. Our students reallyunderstand that their choices about “beingproactive” (Habit 1), “beginning with theend in mind” (Habit 2), and “putting firstthings first” (Habit 3) mean the report cardis a result of those decisions.

Christ the KingChrist the King Catholic School is taking

continuous steps towards implementingS.T.E.M. activities throughout all gradelevels. At the start of school, we participatedin a Green Apple Day of Service wherestudents, parents and community organizersspent one Saturday getting many S.T.E.M.projects off the ground. A raised planter bedto grow nectar flowers to support a butterflygarden was constructed in kindergarten’s

backyard. UNF students majoring inconstruction designed a water collectionsystem to support our school gardeningprojects. A green house was installed alongwith a vermicomposting system. TheUniversity of Florida Agricultural ExtensionOffice came to till the soil and provide seedsthat grow into plants, which condition thesoil. With their planter box, first grade isconducting a comparison of sweet potatoes’growth. The biggest project of the dayinvolved mulching a nature walk alongStrawberry Creek. Middle school studentscaptured video of a fox hiding among brushalong the path.

The next step in the process is toincorporate a dedicated science lab forelementary students and a modern mediaresource center where students cancollaborate, think critically, create andcommunicate their ideas. Plans are now inprogress to get these needs met.

Blessed TrinityBlessed Trinity is making a name for itself

on the court, on the field, and off! Our girls’volleyball team, in only their second year,made it to the divisional semifinals. TheEagles’ soccer team won the divisionchampionship in a very exciting shootout!Our elementary and middle school Bishop’sBowl teams won first and second place,respectively, in the regional competition ofthe Bishop’s Bowl! Way to go, Eagles! Weare proud of our students and theiraccomplishments. Also, we give many thanksto the coaches and assistants for all of theirtime and effort. We appreciate you!

Blessed Trinity Catholic School studentsgive back! This school year we haveparticipated in various service projectsincluding making Thanksgiving Meal basketsfor needy families in our community,gathering gently used clothing and shoes forhurricane victims in the Philippines, anddonating Christmas gifts to children andteens living at the Children’s Home Society.Over 385 cans of tuna and chicken werecollected for the Souper Bowl of Caring.These were donated to Catholic Charities

and our parish food bank. We also will beraising funds for several other charities thisspring. BTCS families have big hearts!

Morning StarSpring is shaping up to be quite exciting

for Morning Star School. We will host our3rd Annual Gala, Morning Star CelebratesOld Florida, on May 3rd at Bella Sera,located in Historic Riverside. It’s not too lateto purchase tickets or sponsor the event.Tickets may be ordered online via the homepage at www.morningstar-jax.org. The eventwill feature a live band and DJ, a silentauction, food and signature drink, andcomplimentary valet parking. The proceedswill go toward special programs for theschool.

Morning Star completed its accreditationvisitation with Florida Catholic Conference –the visitation team’s comments reinforcedthe school’s quality instruction based onFaith, Service, and Academics.

Our students continue to learn about theimportance of sustainability and theirstewardship of the earth’s resources throughour school garden. As always, the 8th gradersare growing restless as they approachgraduation. They are looking forward to thefruit of their labors –– the end of the yearJunior High trip (funded by their monthlybake sale) is right around the corner!

Holy SpiritHoly Spirit Catholic School had a

wonderful Catholic Schools Week. Theyounger grades enjoyed an entertainingperformance from Mrs. Kate, whichemphasized Christian values and theimportance of good manners. The HAS,with the help of numerous parent volunteers,treated all students and staff to a pancake andbacon breakfast. The entire student bodyparticipated in a pep rally, recognizingstudents on our sports teams and clubs. Thepep rally ended in an enjoyable volleyballgame between our 8th grade class andparents/staff. The highlight of our week wasthe Activated Story Theater brought to uswith the help of our beloved music teacher,


EpiphanyCatholic Schools Week was a fun time for

all. The week was filled with theme daysthat included Parent Appreciation Day,Student Appreciation Day, Career Day andBBQ lunch with parents and grandparents.A “Coin Challenge” was also held to helpraise funds for Catholic Charities.

Epiphany was represented well in theannual Science Fair held in January.Winners from that event includedAlexandra Bedoya (8th), VeronicaRosenbaum (8th), Mason Cooper (7th),and Sarah Ordinario (7th). Congratulationsto all our students.

We held our “Open House” in Februaryand had a great turnout. Registration isunderway for the fall term, and we have setthe bar high for new student enrollment.We have developed new marketing materialand updated our website in hopes ofreaching this goal.

Our Pulled Pork Lunch in February wasa huge success with the help of a local“Award Winning” BBQ grill master! Wethank all our parents and staff for theirsupport in what now has become an annualevent.

Our dance team has some great movesthis year and they will be performing in anevening of dance for the school andcommunity this spring. Plans are underwayfor our End-of-the-Year Talent Show aswell. A great way to show off our studentsand we are proud of them all!

We have created an Archery Team andtheir first competition will be this spring.Three staff members and one parentvolunteer have become trained archeryinstructors. We wish the team much success.

Please check out our website to keep upwith all the current events at our school!www.ecslc.org

St. Patrick’s – GainesvilleService… It’s what we do!Here at St. Patrick Interparish Catholic

School our theme this year is the Spiritualand Corporal Works of Mercy. We chosethis theme to continue the vision of servicethat is the ongoing message of our HolyFather, Pope Francis. Our parents, teachersand staff have been involved in manyprojects that benefit those in need. Someexamples include donating over 1,000pounds of food a semester to our localCatholic Charities food pantry. ProvidingChristmas gifts to 16 less fortunate families.Supplying 17 Thanksgiving baskets andover $500 of gift cards to be distributedthroughout Alachua County. Visiting theretirement home, adjacent to our property,quarterly. Spearheading a baby bottlecampaign for A Women’s Answer MedicalClinic that provides free services toexpectant young mothers. Collecting pulltabs for the Ronald McDonald House tohelp children suffering from cancer. Inaddition, we work with Sidney LanierSchool for the mentally challenged byhelping set up and run two events each year.These are just a few ways that St. Patrick’shad reached out to our local community.

When one of our eighth graders wasasked about our projects, he simplyanswered “We’re St. Patrick’s School, it’swhat we do.” We believe that it is one thingto teach the gospel in our religion classes,

but it is more effective when we actuallyparticipate in spreading the gospel with ourtime, talent and treasure.

Queen of Peace AcademyWhat –– no more library?Our Technology Education &

Communications Hub (formally known asthe Library) currently represents a work inprogress. The center focuses on instruction,innovation, idea generation, andimagination to create an atmosphere thatpromotes “outside the box” thinking thatstimulates the expressive, problem-solvingaspect of each student’s mind. Five newdigital collaboration stations have beenadded to our media center including AppleTVs mounted on mobile carts. Students areable to mirror projects, assignments, andpresentations on these screens in an effortto communicate more freely with a largeraudience.

So, how does a school transform theirlibrary into a technology hub? One couldsay it was a “leap of faith” to take the firststep. Every effort was used to maximizefunding on the transformation of theiTECH vision through working with thecommunity, building relationships andhaving a supportive parish. But, no matterhow pennies were saved, the biggestchallenge was the implementation and thenutilization of the technology and this visionwould not have been possible without thecollaborative efforts of our teachers, faculty,parents, students, our principal, Sr. NancyElder and our faith. God is good all thetime!

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Region 6

Judy Steinmeyer. All students were able tointeract with the professional actors whileexperiencing storytelling in a whole new way.Our Drama Club students even received aspecial “acting lesson” from the travelingactors.

Our 8th grade recently put the CorporalWorks of Mercy into action with a field tripto the St. Francis Soup Kitchen. Thestudents prepared sandwiches, baggedcookies, and organized canned goods whilemeeting the faithful volunteers that servemany homeless in our community. The tripalso included a tour of the beautiful Basilicaof the Immaculate Conception. We remaintruly blessed!

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March for Life took on newmeaning for the 126 BJS students whotraveled to Washington D. C. on January20th. Participating with thousands of pro-life supporters on January 22nd in freezingtemperatures was memorable but whatoccurred in a McDonalds on the way homewas unforgettable. When over 130 studentsand chaperons crowded in the restaurantwearing their Pro-Life sweatshirts, a youngwoman approached five of our femalestudents. She told them she was scheduledfor an abortion the next day but seeing theirsolidarity changed her mind. Just think…one random stop, 126 kids and one lifesaved.

Catholic Schools Week began with an

Bishop John J. Snyder High School

opening Mass celebrated by Bishop Estèvezand Father Houle. Afterwards, BishopEstèvez met with our March for Lifestudents and visited our students in theirreligion classes. It was a great start to a funweek that reminded us of our commitmentto Catholic education. The week ended witha funny student talent show, and wecollected over 500 cans of tuna for CatholicCharities.

Our campus has been filled with activityas we've hosted many great events includingthe Diocesan Youth Rally, the grade schoolscience fair, the grade school and DanBrown (Catholic high schools) track meets,the regional wrestling tournament andOdyssey of the Mind. We are delighted to

have guests on campus to share our goodnews.

Another exciting "first" happened thisyear as we celebrate our first National MeritScholar finalist, Chris Buser. Chris attendedSt. Joseph Catholic School before choosingBJS for high school. College acceptances arerolling in and students are receivingacceptance letters from major colleges anduniversities across the country. Additionalcongratulations to Annunciation CatholicSchool graduate, Kyle Cowman, on hisacceptance to the U.S. Air Force Academy.Our strong college preparatory program andcommitment to our mission of"competence, conscience and compassion"is working!

“It’s a Great Time To Be A Flash!”echoes through SJA as the winter sportsseason closes with district titles and springsports are in full play.

Service is in the air –– frigid at DC’sMarch for Life and a balmy 82 on ourJamaica Mission Trip.

Curriculum-wise, St. Joseph Academycan see the day the school will becompletely paperless. To get there theschool started a pilot program this year thatlets students and teachers get used toGoogle Chromebooks. Next year theschool will make the switch to 1-on-1.

Science teacher, Grady Heiss, has workedwith students primarily helping to pilot this

St. Joseph Academy Catholic High Schooltransition through the newly addedEmergent Computer Technology course.The course has been successful and otheracademic areas have followed suit asteachers “go back to school” using theChromebooks in professional developmentmeetings.

The school community is excited! Thissummer St. Joe students can go to camps tolearn about creativity with Chromebooksand using technology to be a better student.A third camp “related more or less toYouTube video” will also be offered –– onethat will help students in creating videosand learning how to manage accounts.

Traditionally, the school has a 100percent college acceptance rate, a trend they

expect to repeat this year. With computertechnology playing an increasingly largerole in higher education, the school wantsto better prepare students. The technologyshift also will make for more independentstudents.

There’s another more observableadvantage. With textbooks stored in theirlightweight Chromebooks, students won’tbe lugging around 40 to 50 pounds ofbooks in their backpacks.

Lest we forget the arts, the spring dramaproduction was enjoyed in March and theannual Fine Arts Show in early April. Yes, itIS a great time to be a FLASH!

Dabbles Newsletter is also available for download online at the Diocese ofSt. Augustine Website: http://.www.dosafl.com

As we continue on our Lenten journeytoward our redemption and the holiest, most-important feast of the church, we anticipate ourspiritual celebration. Guided by our faith andadditional prayer and actions, we move towardEaster.

We have been on the move with our studentsand parents speaking at Masses about whatmakes St. Francis a place of Faith, Knowledgeand Virtue. We held our annual Open Houseon Saturday, January 11 and had over 50families come tour our beautiful campus andmeet our wonderful faculty, students andparents. We have already registered 52 studentsfor the Class of 2018 and are still in the processof registering both incoming freshmen andtransfer students for the fall of 2014. Next yearwill be truly exciting as we celebrate our ten-year anniversary.

St. Francis Catholic High School

Special recognition goes out to seniorHannah Rose Glynn, who has qualified as aNational Merit Finalist, joining our ten otheralumni who have been recognized. OurStudent Government was also elected DistrictII Vice President in the Florida Association ofStudent Councils. Saint Francis also competedin its first FRC robotics competition in mid-March. The team is aptly named Wolfbotics andis another first for our school as we continue toenhance our technology on different levels.

Our 7th Annual Souper Fun Sunday washeld on Sunday, January 26. This community-wide soup tasting competition featured 35delicious soups from 33 local restaurants,caterers, retirement homes and culinary artsschools. Our celebrity judges selected the topthree soups while the public voted for the“People’s Choice” award, a most coveted

award by all the soup providers. This uniqueevent drew its largest crowd ever as over 850people from the community visited ourcampus. We raised over $20,000 for technologyenhancements and professional developmentactivities that will help all our students andfaculty become cutting edge.

Our 3rd annual Wolves Golf Classic will beheld on April 26th at the Mark Bostick GolfCourse at the University of Florida. Allproceeds go to our Student Activities Fundsupporting athletics, clubs, dances and robotbuilding; everything that our students areinvolved in.

Truly, we are blessed as we move from ourLenten fasting toward the fullness of our faiththat is Easter morning.


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