As many of you have heard, St. Peter School will soon have a brand new backyard! The parish was approached by a group of caring generous parishioners who proposed to fix the drainage in the backyard which has been plagued with swampy conditions since underground drainage pipes were crushed over the years. This will make the backyard Prayer Garden more accessible to students and anyone from the parish who wish to visit there. The plans also include a playground and swings. The playground will be commercial grade and be handicap accessible. The PTA has generously offered to finance the playground portion of the project with current funds and upcoming spring fundraisers. THANK YOU PTA! Donations are also being accepted to help finance an outdoor pavilion to be named after Monsignor Tomaselli. Many are donating their labor, materials and machinery to make this project a reality and we couldn't be more grateful. Work will begin as soon as weather permits. It never fails to amaze me the spirit and love that people have for this school whether it is on a grand scale of a new playground or baking cookies for the entire school for your pastor's birthday or dropping off a couple reams of paper just because. This school may only be a one hallway building but the love that is within it and given to it on a regular basis by our benefactors, volunteers, teachers, students and families is enough to fill 100 hallways. Thank you one and all, and God bless our school!

Have you ever had a relationship that has become strained or too much time has passed since you replied to a text or phone call or you had a misunderstanding that resulted in a distancing of resentment and sadness? When we asked students what they would do if this happened to them, they said "I would pray for them," "I would take the time to talk to them," and "I would do something nice for them." These are they very things we are called to do during Lent - strengthen, renew and heal our relationship with God. Acts of prayer, fasting and alms giving are to remind us and join us in the sufferings of Jesus but they also are invitations to "return" to God in our hearts after sin and the daily busyness of life has drawn us away. Sometimes the distance seems too great to be healed - but the good news is he is just on the other side of the door waiting for us to invite him in so we can greet each other and settle in to a nice conversation like two friends getting reacquainted. This morning's Lent devotions with the students talked about how following Jesus is like putting on a pair of glasses that help us see how God is present in our world even in the toughest most difficult and seemingly meaningless situations around us. Each day our school family is gathering in the hallway to offer up a Lenten prayer together and we receive a faith challenge about how we can do a specific act of prayer, fasting or alms giving to bring Jesus closer to us this Lent. How is your family observing Lent at home? If you are looking for some good ideas, see the purple calendar sent home this week with students. May this Lent be a time of joyful reunion of the most important friendship of all as we journey together. Be sure to check out our Facebook page (StPeterSchool1) for the daily faith challenges so you can join along or talk to your children about them!

St. Peter School works hard to protect all students with its participation in all state and diocesan MANDATED guidelines and requirements for students and volunteers and employees. All volunteers must have all necessary background checks, clearances, paperwork and trainings on file prior to any volunteer opportunities or employment or to be in attendance at any school event during school or non-school hours. Students in grades 5 & 6 are also given training in the Safe 2 Say anonymous reporting system and all students in grades K-6 participate in the VIRTUS Youth Protection lessons. Links below will take volunteers to the diocesan Youth Protection site for all required items and the second link gives parents more information about the Safe2SaySomething training.

Many parents and others in our school and parish community will need to renew their background checks/clearances and trainings during 2020 as it has been five years since these were mandated. We are in the process of sending out letters to those volunteers who need to renew theirs with directions on how to do so. The link to the Diocesan Youth Protection Office is below. A reminder to please turn in all certificates and paperwork to the St. Peter School office where they will be copied and sent to the Diocesan office.