SPB Family Newsletter
October 21, 2021
Mission Statement
The Eucharistic community of Saint Paschal Baylon Catholic School
focuses on Christ-centered values and develops the unique potential of each student
through a rigorous and engaging curriculum.
Calendar of Events
Monday, October 25
Girls on the Run--2:30-4:00 pm
Tuesday, October 26
Wednesday, October 27
All School Mass--9:00 am
Girls on the Run--2:30-4:00 pm
Thursday, October 28
ALICE Training Day
Grade 6--DARE
Junior High Pumpkin Decorating Contest
Friday, October 29
End of the First Quarter
Orange/Black Dress Down Day
ALICE Training Day
Grade 6--DARE
Grade 4--Connections Program
Grade 3--Fostering Friendships Program
A Note from the Principal
Enclosed in today’s communication folder you will find your child’s MAP Student Progress Report which includes results from the fall testing window. MAP tests measure growth over time, provide information used to target individualized instruction, and are aligned to state standards. In addition to the Student Progress Report, there is a Quick Reference sheet that explains different parts of the progress report. Questions about MAP scores can be directed to your child's teacher and discussed at parent-teacher conferences.
Tomorrow is the BIG DAY....Walk-a-thon 2021: Go Forth and Light Our World! Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU to our amazing PTO for all of the work that went into preparing for this special day! We hope to see a peek of sunshine, but no matter what the weather is, it will be a great day for the SPB community! See the information below regarding attire tomorrow, and make sure your child has a water bottle tomorrow. There will be no water station along the route this year. The Walk-a-Thon kicks off at 1:00 tomorrow. Please say a prayer for good weather!
Grace and blessings,
Diane Raguz, Principal
Playground Safety
WALK-A-THON ATTIRE FOR TOMORROW
Our Walk-a-Thon is tomorrow, Friday, October 22, and it looks like the weather is going to be a little chilly! Students who have an official 2021 Walk-a-Thon t-shirt may wear the shirt with jeans, sweatpants, or windpants and tennis shoes. Students should not wear shorts or torn/ripped jeans. If your child does not have the 2021 Walk-a-Thon shirt, he/she may dress in his/her gym uniform with tennis shoes on Friday. Please note: The Walk-a-Thon committee does not sell t-shirts. They were only available by participating in one of the fundraising options of the Walk-a-Thon.
BE SURE YOUR CHILD HAS A WATER BOTTLE as there will be no water station this year.
Recess Lap Walking Medals will be distributed to students before the walk on Friday. Students can proudly wear them during the Walk-a-Thon.
Look for the final earnings report and sponsor thank you letters in your communication folder soon.
Walkathon Update
A big THANK YOU to those who were able to help with the lap counting:
Kim Brandich, Sarah Echan, Lauren Jamieson, Kelly Keefe, Leigh Ann Kerns, Kathleen Kern, Miss Martinson, Emily Orlando, Sheila Palumbo, Grace Powell, Gina Quagliata, Joni Ribic, Kate Roddy, Julie Seline, Aaron Sutton, Jen Sutton, Clare Taricska, Melissa Vogley, Sean Vogley, Janelle Washington, and Amy Wujnovich.
Walkathon Dress Down Days:
Friday, November 19
Monday, December 13
Tuesday, January 18
Thursday, February 24
Friday, March 18
Wednesday, April 13
Monday, May 16
Tuesday, May 31
From the Pastor's Perspective
Special to the Family Newsletter, Thursday, October 21, 2021
WHY DO WE OFFER A MASS FOR THOSE WHO HAVE DIED?
Here’s a bit of Catholic trivia that I would like to share because it is often a question I hear. One of our special Catholic traditions that we faithful do at this time of the year is to remember those who have died with a special Mass - an intention that is a special remembrance - which can be part of every Mass. This Mass and remembrance of the person may be on the person’s birthday, wedding anniversary, anniversary of death, or some other special occasion in your family’s life to mark our remembrance of the deceased’s life on earth.
Through the Mass, where we believe our prayers at our altar unite ourselves with “those who have gone before us in faith.” We celebrate the great gift the person was on earth and the communion of the saints in heaven. Each Mass unites heaven and earth through the special prayers of the Eucharistic Prayer. Therefore, we go as often as we can Mass (especially for our Sunday obligation) - to keep in touch with those who have lived their faithful Christian life on earth.
I am sure you have viewed the animated movie “Coco.” (If you haven’t - please make sure you do with a box of facial tissue!) Through this movie, we were able to see the great history of the “day of the dead,” November 2, when we take the time on this day to commemorate the dead. It’s also a day we schedule our Masses for the people we have lost and loved for the coming year. (Or, if not on this day, when available to come to the parish office.)
This tradition comes from the Bible, when the Jewish people, in the Book of Second Maccabees 12: 43-46, acknowledged those who died in God’s grace and offered special prayers back to God in gratitude. We, as Christians, have kept this tradition and built upon it over the centuries. Saints (like Saint Monica to her son Saint Augustine) said to their family members, “Remember me at the altar of the Lord.” Relics of the saints were placed in altars to united the sacrifice or prayers of the Mass with the holy person who had gone before them. (Our church altar has three saints relics: Saints Paul, Peter Julian Eymard, Paschal Baylon and Rose of Lima.)
As we come to November, it’s a chance for us to remember in a special way, through an “All Souls” envelope, spiritual bouquet and intention for a Mass stipend this “holy soul” that has gone to God. Throughout the year, we keep this person holy in our lives. This is another reason where there is no such belief in “last rites,” because as was discussed in the movie “Coco,” these folks lives last forever as we remember them here on earth, especially with a holy Mass.
I hope that this question and answer was helpful – and if you have other ones about Catholic traditions, please do not hesitate to email (jtlanesss@gmail.com) or call me to ask.
WALK-A-THON THANKS!
Special thanks to all of you, but especially Melissa Vogley for being part of the Walk-a-Thon, our 11th annual! What a great, healthy way for our students and families to raise funds for our award-winning school. Thank you, PTO, for your leadership of this event and we look forward to seeing these funds benefiting our students in the coming year. I know that the PTO has earmarked these funds for learning tablets or other direct-need purchases for the benefit of our students in the past and will do so again. It’s always so wonderful seeing the enthusiasm from our students when they use these items from Walk-a-thon monies that help them learn, enrich their minds and nourish their souls.
THANK YOU SO MUCH PARENTS and PTO!!! Also, for those of you who got sponsors from outside of our SPB community. - we appreciate your extra effort and the ways these organizations support our school. Seeing the students’ t-shirts, we can read “their backs” and say a special prayer of gratitude for their donations to our students!
Blessings & prayers – and see you at Sunday Mass where we give our ultimate thanks to God as a community of faith!
- Father Lane, SSS
Pastor
Looking Ahead to Halloween
Halloween is approaching quickly and with it comes various activities. Our Student Council will once again host their games for grades K-2. Some lower grades will also have Halloween activities/parties in their classrooms. We will allow two parents to come in to help per homeroom. If teachers are planning on a party, they will reach out to their room captains.
As a school community, we are asking that parents do not send in any candy treats for grades K-8. Should a teacher need help with something for Halloween, he or she will reach out to parents for whatever is needed.
Halloween Attire
All students may dress down in orange and black on Friday, October 29. Please, no Halloween costumes for K-8.
Congratulations, Brain Brawlers!
Please help support our 8th Graders' Spring Musical by ordering this delicious meal...
Cub Scout Pack 555 News
Come and have fun with Cub Scout Pack 555! We will have cookie decorating, crafts, snacks, games, and a movie. All girls and boys in grades K-5 (and their parents/adults) are welcome to attend. Costumes optional. See the picture below for details.
Picture Re-Take Day is Coming!
Did you forget to order your child's pictures? You can still order on mylifetouch.com, with the SPB picture day ID: EVTSV7FW4.
Was your child absent on the original picture day? Please email or call the school office to receive an order form. Thank you.
A Green Knight to Remember Gala
Altar Server Training
Playground Volunteers Needed-Grades 4-5-6-7
We are asking that each family (mom, dad, grandma, etc.) choose at least two days to volunteer each time slot being 11:15 am-12:50 pm. There are many, many time slots open! We are so grateful for the help!
This is a great way for you to interact with your child and his/her classmates during the school day! Recess Volunteers should arrive to school at 11:10 and check in at the office. Duties will include supervising students at recess, escorting the students to and from the school doors. Volunteers will be with one school staff member each day to help direct.
Remember that after your two volunteer time slots, you are done for the year, as each month is assigned to a different grade.
COVID-19 Volunteer Protocol: all recess volunteers are required to wear a mask when in the building.
Thank you again for your time and service to the students and teachers of SPB! Simply click on the following links to sign up: Grade 7, Grade 6, Grade 5, Grade 4
Fall Open House for Prospective Families (K-8)
Athletic Association News
Athletics Help Wanted
We are looking for a site director for this coming basketball season. This is a paid position ($20/hr). The individual will be required to work weekends, Saturday and Sunday, during basketball season. Interested parties must be over 21. If you or anyone you know is interested, contact Joe Carlton - joe.carlton@gmail.com
"Faith and Racial Healing" Study Group
"Faith and Racial Healing" Study Group: Eight-Week Parish Small Group Process
Contact Gail Mastrangelo, 440.442.2854 or by email: gail_mastrangelo@sbcglobal.net We plan to begin on *November 4th, from 6:30 to 8:30 pm in the Kazel Room of Saint Paschal Baylon Church Offices. Meetings will continue every Thursday (except Thanksgiving) through December 16th returning January 6th & 13th to complete the program. Three books are required for study and discussion. The SPB Social Action Commission will cover the cost of books if the expense would be burdensome or prevent your participation. All are welcome!
Course topics:
· The Big Picture of Racial Injustice;
· The Middle Passage;
· Recovering the Voices of the Slaves;
· From Convict Leasing to Mass Incarceration;
· Confessing Our History of Lynching;
· Civil Rights and the Struggle for Equal Education;
· The True Theology of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.;
· Seeking Restoration
*Note change in start date!
Moe's Fundraiser
What's in this week's folder?
The following information can be found in your child's communication folder this week:
K-8:
Please return your child's folder to school tomorrow.
Community News
Girl Scouts Animal Dance Party
Gilmour Admissions Information
St. Ignatius Math Courses-Grades 6-8
Lake Catholic High School Admissions:
Open Houses:
This year we will be having two Fall Open Houses at Lake Catholic. These are currently scheduled for in-person, but if that changes, we will notify everyone as soon as we can!
October 18 from 6-8pm
November 15 from 6-8pm
Placement Exams: OLSAT
This fall, we will be using the OLSAT 8 as our Placement Exam for incoming freshmen students. We will be offering a number of dates in the fall for this, but students are welcome to take it as a part of their shadow day experience as well! If you’d like your students to take it on their shadow day, please let me know! Students will need to have their exam taken by November 13 to be considered for a scholarship. Our dates are below:
October 20 @ 5
October 27 @ 5:30
November 13 @ 9:00 am & 11:00am
Students can sign up here: https://forms.gle/5ZK6Ek7GM2Nm6A7L9
Saint Paschal Baylon Catholic School
Email: office@saintpaschal.com
Website: www.saintpaschal.com
Location: 5360 Wilson Mills Road, Highland Heights, OH, USA
Phone: (440) 442-6766
Facebook: facebook.com/stpaschalbaylonschoolohio
Twitter: @SPBGreenKnights