Corpus Christi Catholic School is always looking for ways to more richly integrate our Catholic faith into our school and to help you do the same in your own homes! This week our Colt Express will begin a new feature called "Celebrating Sunday". In this section, we will be giving your family "food for thought" and ways you can "celebrate Sunday" as a Catholic Family! Enjoy!Celebrating Sunday
On October 27, 2013, we celebrate the 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time and read the Gospel of Luke 18:9-14. This week we continue our focus on PRAYER!
On the Way to Mass...Let your family know that Luke's Gospel reading this Sunday will focus on prayer. Ask your children to listen to the words and actions of the Pharisee and the tax collector.
On the Way Home from Mass...Ask your child to describe what they heard in the Gospel. Ask them what the difference was between the Pharisee and the tax collector. You might ask, What was missing for the Pharisee?
Living the Word
On Friday, November 1, we celebrate the Solemnity of All Saints. In preparation for our celebration and dressing as their favorite Saint for this very special day, talk to your child about why they are choosing the Saint they will dress as.
Ask them...How do people become Saints? Why is he/she your favorite? Explain why you chose to name them after their patron Saint. What characteristics did that Saint have that you wanted your child to also have? At mealtimes or before bed next week, pray a short Litany of the Saints using the names of your family's patron saints: "Saint___________, pray for us." An example of the Litany of the Saints can be found at the following link: Sample Litany of the Saints
AdvancEd School Survey and YOUR Participation
Every five years, it is an honor to welcome an AdvancEd (formally known as NCA) evaluation team to CCCS to determine our level of accreditation Your teachers, staff, the Home and School Association Board and the School Advisory Council are well on the way in preparing for this team to arrive here on March 17 and 18, 2014.
We need your input as stakeholders in our school! If you were not able to complete the parent survey during Parent/Teacher Conferences, please access our school parent survey at AdvancEd Parent Survey and complete our survey. Your input is greatly needed and will be used in determining the next steps we take as a school! Thank you!
Also, if you are interested in serving on March 17 or 18 as a parent the team will interview, please let Mrs. Schindler know at kschindler@corpuschristicos.org. Thank you!
What is the BEST style of Parenting?
During his presidency, Bill Clinton once remarked that running a country was a lot like running a cemetery: you have a lot of people under you and nobody is listening. His remark seems to suggest that being a leader is a little more difficult than it might appear to be. The leadership role of parents in their family situation is likewise more difficult than it appears to be. The degree of difficulty depends somewhat on the style of leadership we choose to use and our reason for choosing that particular style.
If we, as parents choose to use an autocratic style, where we totally dominate and use the benefit of our adulthood to impose our will on our children, then, we will be in for a power struggle and will have to use threats, fear and punishment to achieve what we want. Unfortunately, our children will probably feel unsafe, unloved and untrusting of us. Our very strict rules and suffocating structures will cause our children to yearn for freedom, to be rid of us and our heavy-handed style of parenting.
If we choose the opposite extreme and choose to use a permissive style and choose to be physically or emotionally absent, don’t set limits, be afraid to say “no” and never hold our children accountable, then, we will reign over chaos. Our children will think they have the right to do anything they like and, because they don’t respect us, they won’t respect other forms of authority. Unfortunately, our children will probably be perplexed by life, lack motivation to achieve because they have never known structure in their lives, and will find themselves easy prey for people who do not have their best interests at heart; they too, will live in fear and feel unloved.
If we choose to be in the middle of these two styles, we will be choosing an authoritative-democratic style. This style is based on respect, love and trust, where positive communication and cooperation are enjoyed on a daily basis. Our children will probably feel safe, loved and accepted yet free to be who they are. If we are pro-active and foresee problems before they can fully emerge, if we can welcome opinions and offer choices while not guaranteeing that our children will always get what they want, then, our children will be confident, able to think for themselves and able to make decisions that have a positive outcome. If a parent's leadership has a confidence about it, it will inspire our children to take up the leadership role in their own lives.
A parent's leadership style is of vital importance to our children because, for better or worse, parenting styles tend to repeat from one generation to the next. The good news is that everyone has the capacity to develop good parenting skills and to be aware not to repeat patterns that expose children to negative and destructive experiences. Our children will feel loved and secure, if the way we go about living our lives and engaging with our children is in a positive, friendly yet firm manner.
Our children will sense a comfortable and uplifting atmosphere and environment that allows them to be relaxed and optimistic about life. Our children might even agree with the comment, “Your actions speak so loudly, I can’t even hear what you are saying.” Author unknown.
Here is a prayer to focus our efforts on this approach to "balanced parenting":
“Jesus, our leader, with the guidance of the Spirit within us, may we bring a spirit of joy, generosity and enthusiasm to the leadership role we have as parents. May our children learn about you by the way we lead our lives. Amen.”
JOURNAL OF A SOUL- Father John Crossin, OSFS
Rereading
Pope John XXIII’s Journal of a Soul
decades after its initial appearance in 1965 can be a transforming experience.
One encounter with a saint can change us. But reading the saint’s personal
reflections from his earliest days as a teenage ‘seminarist’ until a few months
before his death presents numerous opportunities to pause, pray and compare our
own spiritual journey to his…
Read more at:Journal of a Soul
CATHOLIC EDUCATION: DOES IT STILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE?
“Catholic schools are
less available now than they were 50 years ago and fewer Catholics are sending
their children to a Catholic school. Catholics remain conflicted about their value,
expense, necessity and efficacy. Nevertheless, the data show that attending a
Catholic school does make a difference in many aspects of Catholic identity and
practice. For Hispanics in particular, Catholic schooling can also make a
difference in socioeconomic status.”
Check out this link for more info: Catholic Ed Makes a Difference
Correction To Conduct Grades
After report cards were printed, we discovered that there was an error for many students in Spanish, Computer and PE. Please note these have been corrected and will be reflected on the next printing of report cards for the second quarter. As this was not discovered in time for our Awards Assembly on Wednesday for 5-8 Grade, the St. Francis de Sales Award will be distributed by homeroom teachers to students in class.
CATHOLIC SCHOOLS RESPOND TO THE CHARTER
SCHOOL CHALLENGE
“‘Certainly the greatest challenge we have is
the economy. Because of the economy, our schools have to charge more for
tuition,’ said Frederick Kalisz, the executive director at Parents
Alliance for Catholic Education…’The second challenge is there are fewer people who attend
church,” Kalisz told the Register. ‘The educational component of parish schools
as a ministry in itself is very important. It not only reinforces to young
people the Catholic faith, but they also take that home, and it gets them to
ask questions to their parents, such as: ‘Why are we not attending Mass as a
family?’…
‘Catholic schools can be a very effective
tool in evangelization,’ Kalisz said.
Christian Brother Robert Bimonte, president
of the National Catholic Educational Association, agreed. ‘Not only do we teach
the faith, but, for six to eight hours a day, children are immersed in a
Catholic culture,’ he said. ‘The Church really has no other vehicle like
that.’’
‘The schools are so much an extension of the
family,’ McNiff (Superintendent of the
Archdiocese of New York, Dr. Timothy McNiff) added. ‘As custodians of the
children, they are in a safe, nurturing, loving environment, where they come to
learn to be productive adult citizens and come to encounter the love of Jesus
Christ.’”
Check out the following link for more info: The Charter School Challenge
An ATTITUDE of GRATITUDE
One of the core virtues of our founding sisters - The School Sisters of St. Francis is love for creation. With our school-wide yearlong theme - "See Christ in all Things", this week we focused on respect for Creation! So we are challenging students to use those simple but VERY important words - PLEASE and THANK YOU! This may be when their teachers open the car door for them in the morning, welcome them into the building, when a friend helps them out or when someone does something for them at home. Learning to show gratitude and speak when spoken to are wonderful life skills that every adult needs, especially those who live in the light of Christ!
Standard Response Protocol Training
On Wednesday, October 16, right before our noon dismissal, we had a full school training on our Standard Response Protocol. This is the safety plan we have adopted across our Diocesan Catholic schools. For more information please access www.iloveyouguys.org to learn more about this protocol and how it works! Also, avaialable in the digitial locker section of www.teacherease.com is a link to the classroom poster we will use in each classroom and around our building. Please talk with your students about this plan to keep them safe! :) One of the core virtues of our founding sisters - The School Sisters of St. Francis is love for creation. With our school-wide yearlong theme - "See Christ in all Things", this week we focused on respect for Creation! So we are challenging students to use those simple but VERY important words - PLEASE and THANK YOU! This may be when their teachers open the car door for them in the morning, welcome them into the building, when a friend helps them out or when someone does something for them at home. Learning to show gratitude and speak when spoken to are wonderful life skills that every adult needs, especially those who live in the light of Christ!
Standard Response Protocol Training
Vote CCCS for BEST IN THE SPRINGS again this year!
Last year Corpus Christi Catholic School received the Bronze award for BEST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL in Colorado Springs! It is an honor we want to repeat! Please go to the family section of the following link Best of the Springs and vote CCCS for:
- Best Elementary
- Best Middle School
- Best Preschool
- Best Elementary Teacher
- Best Middle School Teacher
- Best Early Childhood Educator
- Best Preschool Teacher
- Best After-School Program
D11 Good Food Project
As I'm sure you are aware of, Corpus Christi Catholic School is contracted with Colorado Springs District 11 Food Service to supply our hot lunch program for our school! They have created a piece for Corpus Christi Cahtolic School to share with our students, parents, and teachers about their philosophies. I especially LOVE the scriptural reference. As you will read, the philosophies align with our Catholic virtues as food prepared through the program is made to be calorie low, protein rich and full of yummy fruits and vegetables, thus giving each child's "temple of God" (their bodies) the benefit of healthy and nutritious lunches! Check out the link in the digital locker of www.teacherease.com for the flyer!
SEVEN THEMES OF CATHOLIC SOCIAL TEACHING
“The Church's social teaching
is a rich treasure of wisdom about building a just society and living lives of
holiness amidst the challenges of modern society. Modern Catholic social
teaching has been articulated through a tradition of papal, conciliar, and episcopal documents. The depth and richness of this tradition can be
understood best through a direct reading of these documents. In these brief
reflections, we highlight several of the key themes that are at the heart of
our Catholic social tradition.”
§ Life and Dignity of the Human Person
§ Call to Family, Community, and Participation
§ Rights and Responsibilities
§ Option for the Poor and Vulnerable
§ The Dignity of Work and the Rights of Workers
§ Solidarity
§ Care for God’s Creation
For more
details on each of the seven Catholic social teachings, please visit: Catholic Social Teachings
Mark Your Calendar for Our Annual Dinner/Auction - FIESTA STYLE!
Dinner Auction Date – Saturday, Nov 9th starting at 6 pm
Don't forget students can wear their Dinner Auction shirts any day (Monday, October 14 through Friday, November 8th ) when they would be wearing the Lt Blue polo. We will continue Mass Wear on days we attend Mass. In addition, the Middle School students can wear the Dinner Auction T-shirt on Tuesday instead of their PE shirt.
Do you have something to donate to the auction? Please let Caroline Nelson now what you have you would like to donate so we can get the item ready for the auction at carolinenelson28@gmail.com . Questions – please let Al Chromy know! :)
Raffle Ticket Sales Have Begun!
A few weeks ago, an envelope with raffle tickets enclosed came home with your YOUNGEST child! Prizes are $3000 for first place and $2000 and tickets will sell for $10 each! Each family is asked to sell all the tickets that are included in the envelope and PLEASE ask for more if you can sell more! This is a GREAT way to support our school!
Times Teachers Are Available to Meet
A few parents have asked when the best time is to meet with teachers. This year, we have organized our duty times so that elementary teachers have afternoon duty and middle school teachers have morning duty. Morning duty is from 7:15-7:40 and afternoon duty is from 2:40-3:15. As we are sure you understand, we ask that parents schedule meetings/conferences so teachers can make sure they have what they need to answer your questions, they can speak privately about individual students and they can focus their attention on answering your questions accurately.
Elementary teachers are therefore available from 7:15-7:35 AM to meet and Middle School teachers are available from 2:45-3:15 PM. They are also available during each of their planning periods. Some teachers are also willing to meet before 7:15 AM or after 3:15 PM but are contractually not required to do so. Please let them know if you need to meet to discuss the needs of your child! :)
St. Mary's Middle School Dance
6th-8th graders are invited to attend St. Mary's annual Halloween Middle School Dance on October 26th from 7-9 PM. Please go to Teacher Ease and access the digital locker to find the flyer from St. Mary's for more information.
GOOD NEWS on Removal of Microwaves
The transition to no microwaves in the cafeteria is reportedly going VERY well! Students are now able to sit down and enjoy their lunches rather than fretting about waiting for the microwaves or burning themselves! We have had some VERY gracious parents who have offered to purchase microwaves for our school but we have made the decision not to replace them due to the following. By not having microwaves students can:
We have the blessing of having the opprotunity to offer free and reduced lunches to many families in our school through the USDA food program. Not only does this program support those eligible for the services but our school also received 36 cents per lunch sold for all regularly priced lunches. This means the cost passed on to full pay families is greatly reduced.
As you may or may not be aware, Mrs. Dawn Ambuul took over the responsibility of running the lunch payment program at the beginning of this year and her job thus far has been to ensure all accounts have correct accounting, etc. Even with the government shut-down, she has brought our school lunch payment system to a VERY good place and we are very comfortable that accounts are accurate now.
All this to be said, we are now at the place where we can no longer allow students to continue purchasing lunches if their accounts drop below Negative $6. Mrs. Ambuul sends out a notice every Friday to communicate low balances and on Wednesday of this week, she sent a note related to need for payments to be made to all families with more than a Negative $6 balance.
Please note, beginning Wednesday, October 31, any student who has less than Negative $6 in their account will receive graham crackers and be charged for a milk. They will not be able to have a full hot lunch until payment has been made. If you go to www.teacherease.com and click on the FEES tab, you can see up to date information on your child's lunch account. If for any reason, you believe there is an error, please contact Mrs. Dawn Ambuul at ext. 100.
Safe 2 Tell
Sometimes it is hard for students to report to teachers and parents when there is something going on in their lives that they know is not ok and they don't know what to do about-abuse, suicide, etc. Corpus Christi Catholic School is now partnering with a wonderful organization formed here in Colorado Springs called Safe 2 Tell. Safe 2 Tell - http://safe2tell.org/ is an organization designed to allow youth to anonymously report events that they may not be willing or able to report to adults in their lives. These reports are then sent to the school where we can contact local authorities or parents to get students the help they may need. Please access the website above or call 877-542-7233 for more information.
Library Open for Accelerated Reader Testing on Wednesdays After School
In order for 3rd-8th Grade students to have more opportunity to complete AR testing, Mrs. Marcia Gieck is hosting an AR Testing time in the the library from 3:00-3:45 PM each Wednesday starting October 16. The library will not be open for book check out or in- it will be open for AR testing only. This opportunity is available for 3rd-8th grade CCCS students. As we want students to do their best during this time, younger siblings are not allowed to to be in the library or left unattended outside the library.
As students complete testing, or no later than 3:45 PM, this AR testing time will end and any remaining students will be taken to After Care or delivered to their waiting parent. Parents are encouraged to wait outside the library for their students to complete testing. Charges for after care will be incurred at the normal rate. A huge thank you to Mrs. Gieck for making this happen! We are excited to give our students every opportunity for success!
A few parents have asked when the best time is to meet with teachers. This year, we have organized our duty times so that elementary teachers have afternoon duty and middle school teachers have morning duty. Morning duty is from 7:15-7:40 and afternoon duty is from 2:40-3:15. As we are sure you understand, we ask that parents schedule meetings/conferences so teachers can make sure they have what they need to answer your questions, they can speak privately about individual students and they can focus their attention on answering your questions accurately.
Elementary teachers are therefore available from 7:15-7:35 AM to meet and Middle School teachers are available from 2:45-3:15 PM. They are also available during each of their planning periods. Some teachers are also willing to meet before 7:15 AM or after 3:15 PM but are contractually not required to do so. Please let them know if you need to meet to discuss the needs of your child! :)
St. Mary's Middle School Dance
6th-8th graders are invited to attend St. Mary's annual Halloween Middle School Dance on October 26th from 7-9 PM. Please go to Teacher Ease and access the digital locker to find the flyer from St. Mary's for more information.
GOOD NEWS on Removal of Microwaves
The transition to no microwaves in the cafeteria is reportedly going VERY well! Students are now able to sit down and enjoy their lunches rather than fretting about waiting for the microwaves or burning themselves! We have had some VERY gracious parents who have offered to purchase microwaves for our school but we have made the decision not to replace them due to the following. By not having microwaves students can:
- Begin eating immediately rather than waiting to heat their lunches.
- Keep themselves safe as many students have burned themselves by opening their Ramen or pasta bowls when the contents were boiling.
- Keep spills on themselves from happening when they attempt to open the "red lid" and it the hot contents spills all over them.
- Teachers, staff and volunteers can address real needs in the cafeteria rather than focus on policing the microwaves and opening containers for students. This is alleviating a lot of behavioral concerns that often come up at lunch.
- Have your child make their own healthy lunch - it is a great life skill to create healthy, well-balanced meals. Often when kids are involved, they eat what is sent!
- Go online and check out the great websites available for Lunchbox ideas! Have your child make a menu and purchase what you will need to make their yummy lunch! A few great websites we have found are- Bon Appetit and Disney Lunch Box Ideas
- Buy a Thermos and send food from home that is heated before they leave for school! Many parents do this for their students and it works really well! :)
We have the blessing of having the opprotunity to offer free and reduced lunches to many families in our school through the USDA food program. Not only does this program support those eligible for the services but our school also received 36 cents per lunch sold for all regularly priced lunches. This means the cost passed on to full pay families is greatly reduced.
As you may or may not be aware, Mrs. Dawn Ambuul took over the responsibility of running the lunch payment program at the beginning of this year and her job thus far has been to ensure all accounts have correct accounting, etc. Even with the government shut-down, she has brought our school lunch payment system to a VERY good place and we are very comfortable that accounts are accurate now.
All this to be said, we are now at the place where we can no longer allow students to continue purchasing lunches if their accounts drop below Negative $6. Mrs. Ambuul sends out a notice every Friday to communicate low balances and on Wednesday of this week, she sent a note related to need for payments to be made to all families with more than a Negative $6 balance.
Please note, beginning Wednesday, October 31, any student who has less than Negative $6 in their account will receive graham crackers and be charged for a milk. They will not be able to have a full hot lunch until payment has been made. If you go to www.teacherease.com and click on the FEES tab, you can see up to date information on your child's lunch account. If for any reason, you believe there is an error, please contact Mrs. Dawn Ambuul at ext. 100.
Safe 2 Tell
Sometimes it is hard for students to report to teachers and parents when there is something going on in their lives that they know is not ok and they don't know what to do about-abuse, suicide, etc. Corpus Christi Catholic School is now partnering with a wonderful organization formed here in Colorado Springs called Safe 2 Tell. Safe 2 Tell - http://safe2tell.org/ is an organization designed to allow youth to anonymously report events that they may not be willing or able to report to adults in their lives. These reports are then sent to the school where we can contact local authorities or parents to get students the help they may need. Please access the website above or call 877-542-7233 for more information.
Here's What Happening Next Week:
Monday, October 28 - Regular Day Schedule, Everyday Uniform with Dinner Auction Shirt for K-8
Tuesday, October 29 - Assembly Schedule, Everyday Uniform with Dinner Auction Shirt for K-5; 6-8 - PE Uniform with Dinner Auction Shirt; Mike McCoy, #1 Draft of the Green Bay Packers and Play Like A Champion Ministries HERE for Middle Schoolers at 1:30 PM
Wednesday, October 30- Regular Day Schedule, No School Mass today due to Holy Day on Friday - Everyday Uniform with Dinner Auction Shirt for K-8
Thursday, October 31 - Assembly Schedule, Preschool-8th Grade Wear Halloween Shirts/Colors with Uniform Bottoms; Halloween Parties for Preschool-5th Grade 1:45-2:45 PM - no costumes today due to our All Saints Day Dress Up tomorrow! :)
Friday, November 1 - ALL SAINTS DAY - Noon Dismissal Schedule, All students dress as FAVORITE SAINT or wear Mass Uniforms!
8 AM - MASS - Parents are ENCOURAGED to join us for this Holy Day of Obligation!
11:15-11:45 AM - First Friday Adoration - CANCELLED due to Mass Today!
NOON - Noon Dismissal - First Friday PLC
8 AM - MASS - Parents are ENCOURAGED to join us for this Holy Day of Obligation!
11:15-11:45 AM - First Friday Adoration - CANCELLED due to Mass Today!
NOON - Noon Dismissal - First Friday PLC
Reminder of THINGS to DO:
- Check out your classroom teacher's blogs! They are working hard to keep you in the loop of all that is going in in their classrooms! This is a great way to be in the "know" of what your students are learning in class! These can be accessed via our website or by following your teachers at the link they have shared.
- Come pick up more Raffle Tickets - BIG prizes available! All funds support our HSA initiatives of support of your children's education!
EVENTS COMING SOON:
Tuesday, November 5 - Meet Me at the Pole 7:40 AM - come join our school as we gather around our flag pole to pray for our nation on election day!
Wednesday, November 6 - School Picture RETAKE Day - students who wish to receive retakes or were absent on picture day should bring back the pictures they ordered (if applicable) and wear their Mass uniforms today!
Thursday, November 7 - HSA Board Meeting - 7:30 AM
Friday, November 8 - Spirit Day - students wear their uniform bottoms and a CCCS Colt shirt or a "Holy" spirit wear (Christian-type shirt)
Saturday, November 9 at 6PM - Our ANNUAL Dinner Auction - here at our CC Gym! Bring your checkbook or credit card for all kinds of GREAT auction offerings!
Sunday, November 10 - Corpus Christi Catholic School Colors Sunday - all students who wear their Mass uniform to Mass at CC Parish earn a free dress down pass! See Mr. Chromy for a pass while you are at Mass.
Monday, November 11 - Veteran's Day Celebration - 1:45 PM - please invite your veteran family and friends to join us as our school honors those that have served so boldly! SCHOLASTIC BOOK FAIR OPENS Today! More info to come!
Monday, November 25-Friday, November 29 - THANKSGIVING BREAK! :)
Sunday, December 1 - First Sunday of Advent
Monday, December 2 - Friday, December 20 - Advent Celebration in Gym EVERY Morning at 7:40 AM
Have a BLESSED Weekend and a GREAT next Week!
Tuesday, November 5 - Meet Me at the Pole 7:40 AM - come join our school as we gather around our flag pole to pray for our nation on election day!
Wednesday, November 6 - School Picture RETAKE Day - students who wish to receive retakes or were absent on picture day should bring back the pictures they ordered (if applicable) and wear their Mass uniforms today!
Thursday, November 7 - HSA Board Meeting - 7:30 AM
Friday, November 8 - Spirit Day - students wear their uniform bottoms and a CCCS Colt shirt or a "Holy" spirit wear (Christian-type shirt)
Saturday, November 9 at 6PM - Our ANNUAL Dinner Auction - here at our CC Gym! Bring your checkbook or credit card for all kinds of GREAT auction offerings!
Sunday, November 10 - Corpus Christi Catholic School Colors Sunday - all students who wear their Mass uniform to Mass at CC Parish earn a free dress down pass! See Mr. Chromy for a pass while you are at Mass.
Monday, November 11 - Veteran's Day Celebration - 1:45 PM - please invite your veteran family and friends to join us as our school honors those that have served so boldly! SCHOLASTIC BOOK FAIR OPENS Today! More info to come!
Monday, November 25-Friday, November 29 - THANKSGIVING BREAK! :)
Sunday, December 1 - First Sunday of Advent
Monday, December 2 - Friday, December 20 - Advent Celebration in Gym EVERY Morning at 7:40 AM
Have a BLESSED Weekend and a GREAT next Week!
