St. Agatha Newsletter
Christ Centered, Academic Excellence!
March 16 - 22
Protocol on Continued Educational Instruction due to school closure
St. Agatha School (SAS) will provide communication/instructions to the parents about school operations via the School Messenger communication system. The SAS administration will maintain communication with the faculty and staff.
The teachers will continue student instruction through PlusPortal. The parents will be responsible to access PlusPortal to collaborate in providing continued student instruction. The teachers will post class announcements, assignments, assignment due dates and collection of assignment instructions though Plus Portal.
The teachers may use additional platforms such as EdModo and Google Classrooms. In addition, the teachers may provide instructional videos. Parents and teachers can communicate via e-mail. Teachers will respond within 24-48 hours (Monday - Friday) to e-mails.
If you are not an "active" PlusPortal parent, you should have received an email with instructions and the necessary link. You must set up your account by Monday, March 16th.
Parents will be responsible to access the PlusPortal to collaborate with St. Agatha Catholic School in providing continued student instruction. Use the link below to access PlusPortal.
SAS Book Fair
March 30th - April 3rd (Balado Room)
Monday, Mar 30, 2020, 08:00 AM
St Agatha School, Southwest 107th Avenue, Miami, FL, USA
MUSTANG MERITS
Share the amazing things happening at St. Agatha by
LENT
Lent has just started. This is great! Is it not? The holy or sacred season of Lent has already begun this means that Easter break is coming soon! I realize that I have to wait 40 long days to enjoy the break. Maybe, I am missing the important point…maybe it has to do with the fact that long ago Lent was a penitential time.
So what exactly is Penitential time? Although the word seems gloomy and it really was a penitential time, at the beginning of the last century there were no parties or celebrations; not even weddings would take place during Lent. During the period of 40 days, people use to spend their free time at church, praying, making penitential and acts of charity acts. That sounds like the Middle Ages, right? By the way, I just learned that in Medieval Times, it was even worse! People had very strict rules about fasting and abstinence; they abstained from meat, eggs and all diary products for 40 days!
Nowadays, the rules for Lent are much easier to follow. There are only two days of fasting; Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. Besides, it is not that rigorous because on those days I am allowed to eat two small meals and one full meal. And the days I have to abstain from eating meat are only Ash Wednesday, all Fridays during Lent and Good Friday. It is not that I particularly love meat, but it is enough that something is forbidden to make me desire it. Besides, I do not love meat, but a good serrano ham makes my mouth water.
Why is penance so important? Christ has already died for my sins and His love for me is unconditional. All the fuss about sacrifice is nonsense. What is the practical idea about Lent? This Lent I promise to be more Christ like than I already am. Is it not enough?
At night when I am surrounded by silence I dare to kneel in front of the crucifix. I look at the nails that tore his flesh, I see the crown of thorns and I see the face of the greatest suffering. What is even more shocking is that it is a self-accepted sacrifice, a chosen one and a loving one. His love for me does not add anything to him because being God, he lacks nothing. I cannot help but look at myself as I really am; a sinner who tries to justify her indifferences for his love. And despite all of it, he died for me so I should not perish but have eternal life!
Oh my God, your love for me is immense. Help me to understand that life is not suppose to be entertaining, but a pilgrimage to the house of the Father. I am so broken by sin, so tempted to do what I want, to enjoy all the things in which I find pleasure. Help me to do only not my will, but yours. You know how weak I am. How big is my attachment to earthy commodities? How difficult it is for me to renounce even a very tiny thing?
Lent is the perfect time for getting closer to you; for starting a real change. All the penitential things make more sense to me now. Of course, all the penance is useless if I do not practice the virtue of charity. Doing penance the right way means doing it with love and joy. This will remind me that You gave up your flesh for my salvation and that I have a soul who needs even more care than my body. I have offended you so many times but through my sacrifices, even if I start with very small ones, I can show You how much I regret my sins. Through penance I would free myself little by little of the sins and bad habits that keep me away from you. I know I am going to fail in my resolutions, but I am willing to get up every time I fall. As C. S. Lewis said: “The Christian does not think God will love us because we are good, but that God will make us good because He loves us; just as the roof of a sun house does not attract the sun because it is bright, but becomes bright because the sun shines in it.”
-Angelica Barragan, St. Agatha Parent
SAS Faculty Emails
Middle School Science Projects
6th Grade SCIENCE FAIR: PROJECT GUIDELINES
7th Grade STEM Shark Tank Invent-a-thon: PROJECT GUIDELINES
8th Grade STREAM Bridge: PROJECT GUIDELINES:
MIDDLE SCHOOL SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES
SERVICE HOURS LOG DUE DATES:
4th Quarter Hours Log – May 8, 2020
HOPE FOR THE HOMELESS: Cancelled for the month of MARCH
6th grade: 4/1, 5/6
7th grade: 3/11, 4/8, 5/13
8th grade: 3/18, 4/22, 5/20
PPB & PPC: 3/25, 4/29, 5/27
***6 Cup of Noodle donations is required
FEEDING THE HOMELESS: Cancelled for the month of MARCH
6th grade: 3/14, 4/4, 5/2 (Silvia Gonzalez)
7th grade: 3/21, 3/25 (Maria Paola)
8th grade: 3/15, 4/11, 5/9 (Claudia Orozco)
(only 7 participants; call representative to confirm participation)
FEEDING SOUTH FLORIDA (all grades) Cancelled for the month of MARCH
March 21: 8:30 - 11:30 am
April 25: 8:30 - 11:30 am
Contact: Joansis Pons (305-793-7807)
VISITING PALMER HOUSE: Cancelled for the month of MARCH
6th grade: 3/26
7th grade: 3/12, 4/23, 5/7
8th grade: 3/19, 4/2, 5/6
MISSION OF HAITI:
Flyers: 3/8, 4/12, 5/10 (Limit of 4 participants; see Mrs. Veciana)
Packing: 3/15, 4/19, 5/17 (Limit of 5 participants please call Cecilia Cortes)
ENVIRONMENTALLY ENDANGERED LANDS PROGRAM
Saturday, March 20: Florida City Pineland Preserve Palm Drive (Cleanup)
Saturday, April 18: Baynanza 2020 (Cleanup)
***For information contact, Yamille Rodriguez
FAMILY ROSARY (for all grades)
Once a month on Fridays @ 7:30 pm Balado Room.
Contact you grade representative for more information
6th grade: Mirella Burgos
7th grade: Yuri Concepcion
8th grade: Claudia Bailly
WALKS (for all grades)
Diabetes Walk: Saturday, March 14, 2020 @ Tropical Park - Cancelled
***Students will receive hours if they registered before 3/5/2020
2020 Walk For Wishes: Elena Cusano (305-962-8869) REGISTER HERE