In this season, we are reminded to wait patiently and to ready our hearts to encounter and receive Christ: “See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains. You too must be patient. Make your hearts firm, because the coming of the Lord is at hand.”

In James’s words, we hear the gentle admonishment of a loving parent, reminding the child to wait calmly, to be patient. We are promised that the fruit will be precious and the wait will be worth it.

On this third Sunday of Advent, “Gaudete Sunday,” we as a Church rejoice and focus our attention on the intense joy that we feel as we draw ever nearer to Christ’s birth. Like fidgety children, we, too, have become almost restless in our waiting. We will celebrate Jesus’s birth in little more than a week, and today, we cannot help but give in to the anticipation and excitement that we have been cultivating since the start of Advent.

Today, we can widen our smiles, throw our heads back with laughter, and exclaim our joy to everyone we meet. As we join together, our hope and especially our joy rise to a fever pitch. We are not individuals, but one body, wholly focused on the joy that will burst forth when we encounter the child who was born to save the world. The best is yet to come, and it is coming soon.

With the rapid approach of Christmas, we are being pushed and pulled in a number of directions. This Sunday, may we unite as one body to share our joy for the approaching arrival of Christ. May we allow the excitement that is coursing through our bodies to spread through a warm greeting or a tender moment spent with God in prayer. May we remember to cultivate cheer and joy not just in our homes, but in our hearts, as we know that Christ is coming to meet us soon.

~ copied from ACE Advent Reflections - 3rdd Week of Advent newsletter

Week of December 16th

Below is the schedule for Midterm week. Please note that Monday is a Friday schedule and will be a Midterm Review Day. Tuesday through Friday will be half-days dismissing at noon. There will be no lunch period Tuesday-Friday.

Please also note these additional details:

Students must wear their regular uniform for all finals.

* If a student does not have an exam during a noted period, they may leave early or arrive late.

* There will be NO mini-bus during Midterm Exams (December 17-20)

* 10:00a.m.-10: 25 a.m. during Midterm Exam days will consist of break/study time in the student center.

Monday, December 16 (full day) - Sweet Monday

· Friday Bell Schedule

· Christmas Sweater Day OR Spirit wear

Tuesday, December 17 (noon dismissal)

· 8:15 a.m. Morning Prayer

· 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. - Second Period Midterm Exam

· 10:30 a.m. to Noon - Sixth Period Midterm Exam

*Bus will leave Holy Trinity at 12:15pm

*All Students should be picked up by 1pm

• Interact Snack Sales - 10am - in the KC - bring cash

Wednesday, December 18 (noon dismissal)

· 8:15 a.m. Morning Prayer

· 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. - First Period Midterm Exam

· 10:30 a.m. to Noon - Fifth Period Midterm Exam

*Bus will leave Holy Trinity at 12:15pm

*All Students should be picked up by 1pm

Thursday, December 19 (noon dismissal)

· 8:15 a.m. Morning Prayer

· 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. - Fourth Period Midterm Exam

· 10:30 a.m. to Noon - Eighth Period Midterm Exam

*Bus will leave Holy Trinity at 12:15pm

*All Students should be picked up by 1pm

• Mu Alpha Theta ADDvent Snack sales - 10 am in the KC (must have solved Addvent math riddles to receive snacks)
• Staff Christmas luncheon - 1pm
• Bella Sona Christmas Concert in the Fr. Charles Davis Chapel - 4pm - All are welcome!

Friday, December 20 (noon dismissal)

· 8:15 a.m. Morning Prayer

· 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. - Third Period Midterm Exam

· 10:30 a.m. to Noon - Seventh Period Midterm Exam

*Bus will leave Holy Trinity at 12:15pm

*All Students should be picked up by 1pm

• Basketball game: @ CTCS - Girls 3 pm; Boys 5 pm
• Christmas Break begins - 12/20/2019 - 01/07/2020

Monday, January 6th - No school - Staff Work Day

Tuesday, January 7th - Start of Second Semester and Third Quarter

• Tuesday bell schedule
  
• School starts at 8:15 and ends at 3:45
  
• Uniform: regular uniform
• Prayer Service: PWP
• Basketball game @ HT vs. San Juan Diego CHS. Girls 6pm, Boys 7:30pm

Thank you especially to Ms. Snyder for her amazing planning and leadership of the retreat, and to Mrs. Rockwood for helping make sure all the behind the scenes needs were met.

Preparations are underway for the 2019 Celebrating Catholic Schools Awards Dinner, which will be held on Saturday, January 11, 2020, at the Hyatt Town Lake in Austin. This annual semi-formal dinner honors the “unsung” heroes at each of our 21 Catholic schools and raises much needed funds for Catholic school families who would otherwise be unable to afford a Catholic education for their child. Over $1 million has been returned to schools to increase accessibility to Catholic education for so many families. We are so appreciative of the generosity and look forward to this year's celebration.

Holy Trinity Catholic High School is proud to announce that it has nominated Dr. Philip and Mrs. Donna Reilly as the 2019-2020 Catholic Education Service Award recipients. Philip and Donna are perfect examples of ones who serve our community with unfailing commitment and dedication to the mission of our school.

Philip and Donna were a key part of a formative group of parents who worked with Father Charles Davis (Fr. Charlie) to help start Holy Trinity Catholic High School.The desire for a

Catholic High School in Central Texas evolved from their Advent group in 1994, made up of St. Mary’s Catholic School families. They recall attending many of the early formation meetings where basically the “hat was passed” around to raise the very first dollars towards the dream of opening a Catholic high school in the Temple/Belton area. Since Holy Trinity opened in 1997, Philip and Donna have worked tirelessly to ensure that our school grew from that first class of 12 freshmen to the 110 students we are blessed with today. In that span of time, Philip and Donna’s 4 children, John, Austin, Sarah, and Rebecca all graduated from Holy Trinity. The Reillys are truly pillars of our school’s history and success. Please join us in celebrating these exceptional members of our Holy Trinity Catholic High School family.

EIM TRAINING FOR ALL VOLUNTEERS

Ethics and Integrity Ministry (EIM)

In an effort to protect our children, the Diocese of Austin mandates that all individuals who have contact with our children must be in compliance with the Ethics and Integrity in Ministry Policy, which equips each of us with the tools and knowledge to protect our children from possible abuse and perpetrators. All parents MUST complete this process to volunteer at the school.

Registration is required through the Diocese. In order to register for an EIM Workshop, you must first complete the volunteer application which is on their website. Once you have attended the workshop please submit a copy of the certificate to the school office. This workshop is for new parents and those who are in need of the refresher course.

For more information, go to: https://austindiocese.org/eim

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