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St. Pius X School Newsletter

IN THE NEWS

Announcements

www.stpius.org January 19, 2017

Calendar Items

Thursday, January 19 5-7pm School Open House for New Families in the 2017-18 School Year

Friday, January 20 Re-Enrollment/Applications Opens for 2017-18

Sunday, January 22 2:30-4pm School Open House for New Families in the 2017-18 School Year

Monday, January 23 2:00pm—School Dismissal

Wednesday, January 24 9:15am—School Mass

Friday, January 27 Progress Reports—K-5

Sunday, January 29 Catholic Schools Week Begins

Monday, January 30 2:00pm—School Dismissal

Wednesday, February 1 Friends & Family Day School Mass—TBA

Friday, February 3 SCHOOL IN SESSION/IN-SERVICE CANCELED

Newsletter article deadline is 3:00pm on Tuesdays. All articles must be in writing. Email: [email protected]

Please note that the Archdiocese has canceled the in-service for Friday,

February 3rd. School will be in session 8am-3pm. This will count towards snow

make-up days.

A Message from Mary …

As we ended 2016 you were invited to participate in a survey. We had 395 parent submissions. The categories identified in the

survey were communications, community, academics, and religious education. Thank you for taking the time in sharing your thoughts and expressing your expectations and areas of improvement for the

school community, for you, and your family. As I reviewed the survey and feedback I wanted to share my thoughts and plans and to

assure you the information gathered from the survey will be incorporated into the development of short and long term goals.

In the area of communication we will be looking at the school newsletter and teacher/classroom communication and examine the short-term steps we can take. Long term steps will be developed as we review the school’s forms of communication including the school’s

web page, RenWeb, and the school’s newsletter.

We also asked for feedback around our school community at St. Pius X. The past 8 years the school has expanded in both

enrollment and in space; this has been a blessing to welcome so many new families into the school. Along with opening our doors to many new families and expanding our school building, this has also

brought up many challenges. We have moved from an intimate community of 270 students to a vast community likely exceeding 500 students next year. As the school community has grown, we have introduced new ideas, policies, events, procedures, and programs.

Some have been successful, some not as successful. We are challenged to think of new and better ways, to be open to growth. We have seen an increase of school parents stepping forward in

giving of their time and support. It has been amazing. As we finish expanding our school in 2017-2018 we are going to focus on

celebrating our successes and learning from the challenges we have faced to build a stronger St. Pius X School community.

During the 2017-2018 year St. Pius X will undergo a self study process as the first step in the accreditation renewal process.

The Self Study phase of the accreditation process focuses on the ongoing task of gathering and analyzing data. This analysis is critical

to assessing and evaluating the spiritual climate and academic instructional program.

Your participation in the accreditation survey next year and information gathered from this year’s survey are crucial parts of our process. From this process the school will establish short and long term goals to enhance and improve our Catholic identity, student

learning, communication, and community. Throughout this planning, the School Advisory Council, Parent Teacher Organization, and school

staff will be advising and participating in establishing long-range and short term goals.

In the coming weeks you will be sent an overview of the survey results.

I am glad to say “good-bye” to 2016 but I also need to say “thank you” to the year because it has shown me that people can come together and be a part of a community that continues to grow in

providing a faith-centered Catholic education that builds community, forms lifelong learners, and promotes academic and moral

excellence.

Mary Thompson, Principal

School Make-Up Days

This has been a challenging year of icy roads and below freezing temperatures that closed schools in many

districts. St. Pius X School will be revising the 2016-17 calendar to make-up days missed due to the weather.

I will be sending out a revised calendar listing the dates that will be designated as make-up days in the

newsletter next Thursday.

We know the changes of canceling school and revising the school calendar can be difficult for families. If you have made vacation plans based on the last day of school on the current calendar, please do no change them. We understand how difficult and expensive it can be to

change travel arrangements.

Thank you for your understanding.

Be courageous Christians, anchored in hope and capable of enduring dark moments. This was the forceful invitation of Pope Francis at the morning Mass on Tuesday at the Casa Santa Marta. Lazy Christians, on the other hand, are stationary, the Pope said, and for them, the Church is a good parking spot.

The life of a Christian is a “courageous life,” Pope Francis said in his homily, which he based on the reading from the Letter to the Hebrews. The zeal spoken of in the reading, the courage to go forward, ought to be our attitude toward life, like the attitude of those who train for victory in the arena. But the Letter also speaks of the laziness that is the opposite of courage. “Living in the fridge,” the Pope summarized, “so that everything stays the same”:

“Lazy Christians, Christians who do not have the will to go forward, Christians who don’t fight to make things change, new things, the things that would do good for everyone, if these things would change. They are lazy, “parked” Christians: they have found in the Church a good place to park. And when I say Christians, I’m talking about laity, priests, bishops… Everyone. But there are parked Christians! For them the Church is a parking place that protects life, and they go forward with all the insurance possible. But these stationary Christians, they make me think of something the grandparents told us as children: beware of still water, that which doesn’t flow, it is the first to go bad.”

Be anchored in hope, and able to endure in difficult moments

What makes Christians courageous is hope, while the “lazy Christians” don’t have hope, they are in retirement, the Pope said. It is beautiful to go into retirement after many years of work, but, he warned, “spending your whole life in retirement is ugly!” Hope, on the other hand, is the anchor that we cling to in order to keep fighting, even in difficult moments:

“This is today’s message: hope, that hope that doesn’t disappoint, that goes beyond. And he [the Author of the Letter to the Hebrews] says: a hope that ‘is a sure and firm anchor for our life.’ Hope is the anchor: We threw it, and we are clinging to the cord, but there, but going there. This is our hope. There’s no thinking: ‘Yes, but, there is heaven, ah, how beautiful, I’m staying…’ No. Hope is struggling, holding onto the rope, in order to arrive there. In the struggle of everyday, hope is a virtue of horizons, not of closure! Perhaps it is the virtue that is least understood, but it is the strongest. Hope: living in hope, living on hope, always looking forward with courage. ‘Yes, Father – anyone of you might say to me – but there are ugly moments, where everything seems dark, what should I do?’ Hold onto the rope, and endure.”

Parked Christians look only at themselves, they are selfish

“Life does not come to any of us wrapped up like a gift,” Pope Francis noted; rather, we need courage to go forward and to endure. Courageous Christians might make mistakes, “but we all make mistakes,” the Pope said. “Those who go forward make mistakes, while those who are stationary seem to not make mistakes.” And when “you can’t walk because everything is dark, everything is closed,” you need to endure, to persevere.

Finally, Pope Francis invited us to ask ourselves if we are closed Christians, or Christians of the horizons; and if in ugly moments we are capable of enduring, with the knowledge that hope does not disappoint – “Because I know,” he said, “that God does not disappoint”:

“Let us ask ourselves the question: How am I? How is my life of faith? Is it a life of horizons, of hope, of courage, of going forward; or a lukewarm life that doesn’t even know to endure ugly moments? And that the Lord might give us the grace, as we have requested in the Collect [Opening Prayer], to overcome our selfishness, because parked Christians, stationary Christians, are selfish. They look only at themselves, they don’t raise their heads to look at Him. May the Lord give us this grace.”

With God’s Grace,

Fr. Sean Weeks, Pastor

Pope: Christians are not 'parked' but rather courageous


Page 2 January 19, 2017 IN THE NEWS

Scrip

After many years of serving on the Scrip Team, Dawn O'Rourke has passed the torch as Scrip Volunteer

Coordinator to 1st grade parent Koren (Korie) Ferriola! Many thanks to Dawn! As we welcome Korie to the team, we encourage you to work with her to get on the Scrip

volunteer schedule and earn your fair share hours!

Scrip Did-You-Knows: ~ A 1 lb box of See’s Candy is $19.90 at the store,

but the scrip is only $18 ($1.90 savings and 7% contribution to SPX).

~ Kohl’s scrip can be used to pay your Kohl’s charge bill (in-store only).

~ Bridgeport Village Scrip is good at ALL stores & restaurants at the mall (including the Apple Store).

~ McMenamin’s Scrip can be used for parties, receptions and weddings—not just in their

restaurants and pubs.

~ Landry’s scrip is good at Claim Jumper, McCormick & Schmicks, Chart House and Morton’s Steak House.

~ You can use Fred Meyer scrip to pay for gas at Fred Meyer gas stations. You can use Safeway scrip to pay for gas at Safeway gas stations (and at a much higher

contribution % than traditional gas stations)

Is keeping a family budget one of your resolutions for 2017? Scrip can help! Fill out a Standing Order

Form (available at the Scrip Counter and at the end of the newsletter) with your most frequently

purchased Scrip items (think grocery, gas, coffee, and regular restaurants). Standing Orders ensure that

the Scrip you want will be in stock when you need it. The Scrip Team will have your order ready and waiting

for you to pick up once or twice a month, allowing you to budget (and fundraise) in 2017!

Questions, suggestions, or special orders? Email the Scrip Team at [email protected]. Shop for Scrip 24/7

online at ShopWithScrip.com.

Used Books Needed!

Are your shelves and closets bursting with unused books and DVDs? Bring your gently used children’s books (and newer adult books), and DVD/Blu-rays to the

school library. We will be holding our annual Friends & Family Used Book/Movie sale during Catholic Schools

week on February 1st. This is a great way to make sure your unused books will go to a good cause. All proceeds of the sale will be used to purchase new books for your

school library, plus you will have the opportunity to purchase the used books for $1.00 or less;

movies for $4.00 or less!

Thank you! Margaret Burd, Librarian

We did it! The St. Pius X Christmas Programs

were beautiful! From the Advent Reflection with grades

Kindergarten through 5th and the middle school play -

A Charlie Brown Christmas, we are in awe and fortunate

to have such talented students at St. Pius X School.

We are truly amazed at the talent and enthusiasm of our

students and faculty.

A huge thank you to Lesley Lindell and Mark Anctil for

their leadership and dedication. We also thank the

teachers and aides for their patience and willingness to

jump in and help.

Thank you for your wonderful children and support.

Appreciate your patience and flexibility with the weather

and schedule changes.

Re-Enrollment & New Application Timeline for 2017-18

Friday, January 20th

RenWeb Online Re-enrollment will open on Friday, January 20th.

Online Application for New Students K-8 will open on Friday, January 20th

(www.stpiuspanthers.org—Application 2017-18)

FACTS online Financial Aid Application Process Opens (www.stpiuspanthers.org—

Admissions/Financial Aid)

Friday, February 3rd

Financial Aid Grades K-8 deadline. All financial aid applications and documentation due online to FACTS.

Online re-enrollment deadline for grades 1-8. Re-enroll online RenWeb Grades 1-8 and pay fee online

($225 per student).

Kindergarten sibling online application deadline. (Please note: you must apply for your kindergarten

sibling online—not re-enroll.)

Friday, March 3

~ K-8 Admission notices sent to applicants.

~ Financial Aid decisions mailed to all families.

Monday, March 13

K-8 new student/kindergarten sibling enrollment deadline online RenWeb and fee ($225 per student).

If you have any questions, please contact Kristine DaSilva or stop by the school office. If you are not planning to register for the 2017-18 school year, we

would appreciate you notifying us as soon as possible.

Thank you!



Auction News! “Back to the 80’s”

Saturday, February 25th

St. Pius X Gym

We are just 39 DAYS away from the auction of the year! The excitement and anticipation are building up,

and I'm sure you can't wait to hear all of the FANTASTIC bidding opportunities ahead. Please check your

email - Auction Invitations will be emailed to you this evening! Registration will be open today

through Friday, February 17th.

Here's this week's highlight to kick things off:

I am THRILLED to announce this year's Special Appeal will be a "Curriculum Enhancement Appeal" to raise

money for the wonderful staff of St. Pius X School. Every member of this team works tremendously hard to

create a positive difference in our children's lives spiritually, academically, and socially. And now, we have

the privilege of giving back to them - 100% of the money raised for this appeal will go directly to our

teachers and support staff.

Each staff member has created a short wish list of things they would like to have to continue to provide a

top-rate education for our children. I hope you will join me in showing the staff of our school how much we

love, support, and care about them, and please contribute to this appeal. Together, let's help make their

wishes and dreams become a reality.

Thank you,

Erin Cahill

Auction Chair

Help Us Grow!

Tonight - Thursday, January 19th from 5:00-7:00pm and on Sunday, January 22nd from

2:30-4:00pm we open our doors to the community and encourage people to consider sending their children to

St. Pius X School. You can help with this effort by inviting any friends, colleagues, neighbors and family who have

potential students to visit our school during our Open House.

Prospective families will be able to take a tour with our students and parents. They will learn more about our academic and spiritual curriculum including elementary and middle school, music, Spanish, physical education,

extra curricular activities and more.

As a supporter of our community, we appreciate your willingness to help us grow. We have Open House

postcards available in the school office. Please feel free to pass them out to those families who are interested

in our school.

Thank you for helping to spread the word!

Free Dress and Spirit Wear Days!

Dates have been set for Free Dress and Spirit Wear days!

Free Dress includes tops, bottoms, socks and shoes (per guidelines in the School Handbook).

Spirit Wear includes tops, socks and shoes. Students are to be in uniform bottoms. Spirit Wear consists of any

SPX Jog-A-Thon shirt, CYO top or PTO SPX Spirit Wear top.

Free Dress dates are: February 14; March 17; April 13 and TBA for May.

Spirit Wear dates are: January 27; February 24; March

24; April 28; and May 26.

If you have any questions, please contact the school office!

Thank you!


Included in this Newsletter

REVISED JANUARY HOT LUNCH MENU 2017-18 FACTS Grant & Aid Information CYO Baseball CYO Lacrosse SPX Spirit Wear Scrip Standing Order Form


PTO Updates

Like us on Facebook! St. Pius X is on Facebook. Please “like” the St. Pius X School page to get timely updates and school news.

For questions or comments, please contact PTO at [email protected].

Parents ... Please

If your student is not going to be attending school due to illness and/or has been diagnosed with strep, lice, etc.,

please notify the school office with this information. It is very important that we are aware of these health concerns

for the well-being of all students, staff and faculty.

Thank you for your help!

St. Pius X School Office Hours: 7:30am—4:00pm

Fran Wilson—[email protected] / Kristine DaSilva—[email protected] 503-644-3244/Office

503-213-1379/Attendance stpiuspanthers.org

Did you know …

… that you can check your hot lunch balance on RenWeb? It’s easy! Log-in to RenWeb, click on Family Information, then go to Family Billing and click on

Details. Scroll through to see recent hot lunch charges and credits. Please note that you cannot pay online as this feature is not activated. Hot lunch payments are applied to

your account on a weekly basis.

If you have any questions, please contact the school office. Thank you!

Box Tops

Please continue to collect box tops and turn them into the school or parish office. The bin is located in the

school lobby by the Scrip table.

Thank you!

Lost & Found

There are many, many items in Lost & Found! Lost & Found is located in McMahon Hall. Please claim your items! Please remember to put your child’s name

on all jackets, sweatshirts, lunch boxes, etc!

Thank you!

Upcoming Events Bethany Public House Dine-Out Box Tops

Here is a quick glance at our

upcoming events:

PTO Meeting Wednesday, February 1st

7:00 – 8:00 PM School Faculty Lounge

Uniform Exchange

Wednesday, February 1st 2:30 – 3:30 PM

Community Center

THANK YOU! Thank you to everyone who braved the snow packed roads to join us for our Bethany Public House Dine-Out. What a great way to raise money for

our school.

Are you saving your box tops?

Don’t forget to turn them in. This is an easy way to earn money for

our school.

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