Crusader Chronicle
St. Ignatius of Antioch Elementary School
The Triumph and the Sorrow
in the Catholic Church, we celebrated two feast days this past week, back to back. On September 14, we celebrated the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, previously called the Triumph of the Cross. On September 15, we celebrated the feast of Our Lady of Sorrows.
The Church established the feast of the Exaltation of the Cross after St. Helena traveled to the Holy Land to find the cross on which Jesus was crucified, and, when she found it, it was given a place of honor and veneration in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem. This feast day celebrates not only the Cross of Jesus as a holy object but, of course, the Cross as a means of our salvation. The antiphon for Catholic Mass on the feast day of the Exaltation of the Cross expresses it beautifully, “We should glory in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, for He is our salvation, our life and our resurrection: through Him we are saved and made free.” The cross, an instrument of torture and death, becomes for us the means of our salvation and redemption, a symbol, not of death, but of life everlasting.
Our Lady of Sorrows is one of the titles of Mary, as it reminds us that Mary suffered many sorrows in this life, especially sorrows that are connected to the cross - meeting her Son Jesus as He carried the cross on the way to His crucifixion, standing at the foot of the cross as she watched her Son die, and holding His lifeless body in her arms when Jesus was taken down from the cross. In this feast, the Church teaches us that Mary experienced the joy and the struggle of being a mother, that she knows our human emotions and difficulties in a very deep way.
These two feasts should be a source of comfort to all of us, as they show us that both Jesus and Mary understand our human struggles and emotions. We can turn to Jesus and Mary when we doubt, when we are sorrowful, when we are joyful, and when we think we do not have the strength to do what we need to do. Jesus and Mary have been where we are, and they will help us. Ultimately, we know that God's grace, especially in the Triumph of the Cross, will prevail.
The Joys of the Beginning of the School Year
A Great Two Weeks!
I have had the great pleasure of visiting all the classrooms over these first two weeks, to witness the wonderful teaching of our great staff and to see the spark of learning in your wonderful children. I have been able to pray with our students, over the PA in the morning, in the classrooms, and in the cafeteria. On September 14, the 3rd through 8th grades had the opportunity to go to confession, after examining their consciences and making an act of contrition with Fr. Brownholtz. This week, we will join other parishioners at Mass on Tuesday, September 20, at 9:00 Mass. Thank you to all of you for your prayers and for a great start to the school year!
Picture Day is Coming!
All students are to wear the school uniform on September 30.
Order forms will be distributed on Monday, September 26.
Pre-K students who do not regularly attend on Fridays can come in on Friday, September 30, for Picture Day.
Picture re-take day will be November 7.
School Family Directory
YAY Lunch
Below is the YAY lunch information for how to cancel if your child is out sick, for those who may need it.
School Uniform Information
Below you will find an order form for the quarter zip grey sweatshirt, which is an approved St. Ignatius of Antioch uniform item, which can be worn during school hours.
Important Drop Off and Pick Up Reminders
For car drop off, please stay in the drop off line and do not drive around the car in front of you. Wait until the car in front of you pulls forward before you pull forward.
For car pick up, please wait until the school staff member gives the signal for your line of cars to pull out and drive out of the parking lot before starting to drive away.
For Pre-K drop off and pick up, please follow the procedures, leaving the lanes with cones at the ends empty for parents to drive out once they have walked their Pre-K students to the Pre-K building. Please take extra care as you are driving, parking, and leaving after Pre-K drop off and pick up.
Home and School Information on Upcoming Events
Thank you to the school community for a wonderful start to the 2022-2023 school year. As you have already seen, the Home and School Association has a number of events and initiatives currently running! We would like to thank those who have already contributed/participated, and invite those of you who haven't done so yet to take part. There is quite a bit of information below, so please read all and reply promptly, as a number of these links/forms have strict deadlines.
Movies Under the Stars: September 23
The St. Ignatius Home and School Association cordially invites all St. Ignatius 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students to attend Movies Under the Stars on Friday, September 23. This event is exclusively for our Middle School students! Please refer to the link below to for registration, payment information, and most importantly, give permission for your child to attend. All details are in the Google Form. If you have additional questions on this event that are not addressed in the form, please reach out to Giulia Monaco or Jackie Kush: giuliamonaco@hotmail.com or jkkush@hotmail.com
Middle School Movies Under the Stars (google.com)
Welcome Back Beef and Beer: September 24
Come celebrate with fellow SIS parents, alumni, and faculty in kicking off our new school year! This event is taking place on Saturday, September 24th at 6 PM in the school parking lot (in the event of rain, the event will move indoors). Tickets are on sale for $60 per person or $100 per couple. This event features food catered by Sweet Lucy's Smokehouse and beer provided by Yardley Beer Company. This is our first Home and School fundraiser of the year, so please help us make it a success! We have several local vendors that have generously donated amazing raffle baskets, so please come ready with cash to purchase raffle and 50/50 tickets! Event tickets must be purchased by September 20, 2022, NO EXCEPTIONS, as we must provide an accurate headcount for food and beer. We look forward to seeing and celebrating with you!
2022 Welcome Back St. Ignatius Beef and Beer (google.com)
Can't make it to the Beef and Beer but still want to support the fundraiser?! Here's your chance! Please see below for your opportunity to purchase 50/50 raffle tickets - all purchases must be placed by Friday, September 23 in order to be eligible for the raffle taking place on Saturday, September 24. Link below:
50/50 Raffle - SIS Beef and Beer (google.com)
Weekly Pretzel Snack: October through January
Pretzels are back! The Home and School Association is offering an opportunity to purchase a pretzel a week for your child for snack! This is a fundraiser, so proceeds go back to the school and the kiddos! Please see the Google Form below for details. All orders MUST be submitted for the duration of the 15-week period NO LATER than September 27th, as we need to pre-order! One form must be submitted for each child. Details are in the form. Thank you!
2022-2023 Soft Pretzel Orders (google.com)
2022-2023 Recess Duty Preference Request
We are currently in the process of completing the schedule for recess duty. Thank you to those of you that responded with your preferred days. For those of that have not had a chance to respond as of yet, we kindly ask you to do so. This will aid us in scheduling you for days that are most convenient for you. If we all commit to pitch in for several sessions throughout the school year, we can be sure to have appropriate coverage throughout the year. Please refer to the Google form below and reach out to the noted party to ensure clearances are up to date.
2022-2023 St. Ignatius School Lunch Duty Form - Google Forms
2022-2023 Parent Volunteer Survey
Many of you have asked how to get involved in Home and School events, and here is your opportunity! Please refer to the form below for an explanation of our events and opportunity to sign up for chairing an event or joining a committee. There is also a section to sign up if you are interested in being a homeroom parent. Please keep in mind that all clearances must be up to date and on-file in order to be a homeroom parent.
Home and School Volunteer Survey (google.com)
Thank you for all that you do as parents and volunteers and your efforts in making this the wonderful community that it is. We are truly blessed to have clergy, administrators, teachers, and parents that come together in Christ year after year for the good of our children.
Back to School Night
CARES News
Busing Information
Upcoming Dates
Tuesday, September 20th, is our first school-wide Mass for this school year. We will be joining the St. Ignatius Parish community for Mass at 9 am.
Friday, September 23rd, is the first event for our new Middle School Social Events for this school year. The first event is a Movie Night under the Stars. These Middle School Events are open to all 6th, 7th, and 8th graders. See the Home and School Upcoming Events section in this Crusader Chronicle for more information and to sign up.
Saturday, September 24th, at 6:00 pm, is the St. Ignatius School Welcome Back Beef and Beer. More information about this fun event is available on the school and parish websites.
Friday, September 30th, is St. Ignatius of Antioch Elementary School Picture Day. See the Picture Day Section in this Crusader Chronicle for more information.
CYO News
St. Ignatius of Antioch Cub Scouts
Other Important Information
For those of you who need to leave medications at school for your children, please complete the forms from the Health Office. Please bring the medication with the completed forms to the Health Office. See the Health Office Aide or the nurse (Wednesdays only) for more information.
Please check the school website (sischool.org) for updated documents (2022-2023 School Handbook, Responsible Use Policy for Technology, etc.) and for accompanying parent and student signature forms. Please return signed forms as soon as possible. Signature forms are attached here as well.
Parish Women's Bible Study - Walking with Purpose
WALKING WITH PURPOSE REGISTRATION NOW OPEN!
Walking With Purpose is a national women’s Catholic Bible study program. Participants at the St. Ignatius of Antioch chapter are women of all ages and faith backgrounds , seeking to grow in faith. Our first session is on Tuesday, September 13, 2022. The course this year includes two bible studies:
Ordering Your Priorities lays a foundation that helps women focus on the things that matter most. Diving into the pages of Scripture, we’ll connect our modern-day challenges with the changeless truths of our faith.
Reclaiming Friendship explores God's plan for friendship, and what it means to be created in His image. This study helps us to understand what it is to have lasting and abiding friendships.
WWP meets at St. Ignatius on:
Tuesday mornings from 9:30-11:15am in the church auditorium
OR
Tuesday evenings from 6:45-8:30pm in the Antioch Center.
No Bible study experience is needed.
If you can't attend every week, come when you can. If you can’t prepare for each week’s study, come anyway and join the discussion.
Register at www.stignatius.church - click on Ministries – Spirituality - Women’s Ministry - Walking With Purpose.
Contact us with any questions at: