RENEWING CHRISTIAN WITNESS:
Reflections on Catholic Schools as Instruments of the New Evangelization
Our annual Catholic Schools Week (PLEASE SEE SCHEDULE BELOW) and our 2014-2015 Current Family Registration is QUICKLY approaching! Next week we will be sharing our CSW calendar of GREAT events so you can mark your calendars! So why Catholic Schools?
“…Catholic schools are at the very heart of the New Evangelization. They are instruments of grace, sacred places where the gospel comes alive daily – and where children and families encounter (and, not infrequently, re-engage) the faith. In Educating Together in Catholic Schools, the Congregation for Catholic Education identified the fundamental aim of the Catholic school as one of ‘forming the person in the integral unity of his being.’ In response to their call, Catholic schools in the United States shine forth as beacons of hope in our increasingly secular culture. More then ever we need strong Catholic schools perhaps our most effective means to bring families and children to completeness in the image of Jesus Christ.
As the recent Synod of Bishops articulated: ‘If evangelization is to be true to itself, it cannot take place apart from education; it is directly related to it.’ Can we imagine a more vibrant and authentic context for this work than the Church’s K – 12 Catholic schools where God’s love and truth inform all learning?”
The USCCB Committee on Catholic Education has published reflections on the vital role Catholic schools play in the New Evangelization. Following are a few reflections from our Cardinals and Bishops included in the publication, RENEWING CHRISTIAN WITNESS: Reflections on Catholic Schools as Instruments of the New Evangelization a document by the Secretariat of Catholic Education.
Cardinal Dolan, Archbishop of New York
“Christ the Teacher is indeed present in all our Catholic schools where students learn to be disciples-Jesus’ friends-and then learn to be evangelists who witness to His truth and love.”
Cardinal Wuerl, Archbishop of Washington, DC
“In a national environment that often seems morally confused, and increasingly indifferent to religion in general and Christianity in particular, Catholic schools offer a path not just to knowledge but to moral wholeness.”
Most Rev. Chaput, Archbishop of Philadelphia
USCCB - Secretariat of Catholic Education
The Catholic School Advantage:Forming Children for College and Heaven
1. Catholic schools form children for a personal and living encounter with Jesus.
2. Catholic school communities stimulate parental engagement.
3. Catholic schools generate social cohesion and preserve civic order in the local community.
4. Catholic schools are sacred places serving important civic purposes Christ.
Parental Choice in K – 12 Education:A Matter of Social Justice
Forms of Parental Choice
1. Opportunity Scholarship Programs (Vouchers)
2. Scholarship Tax Credit Programs
3. Parental Tuition Tax Credit Programs
4. Educational Savings Account (ESA) Programs
Parental Choice Benefits
1. Parental Choice improves student achievement and attainment
2. Parental choice empowers families
3. Parental choice provides fiscal savings
“The education of children and young people is such an important task in forming them as free and responsible human beings. It affirms their dignity as an inalienable gift that flows from our original creation as children made in the image and likeness of God. And because education truly forms human beings, it is especially the duty and responsibility of the Church, who is called to serve mankind from the heart of God and in such a way that no other institution can.”
Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio (Pope Francis)
VOTE for CCCS for Best In the Springs (AGAIN)
Last year we won our first "Best of the Springs" award and we were so thankful for your votes in making this happen! Well, it's that time of year again!
A few months ago we asked you to nominate Corpus Christi in the Gazette's Best of the Springs. Thanks to your nominations, we are contenders in 4 categories - Best After School Program, Best Elementary School, and Best Preschool and Best Day Care! Please take a few minutes now and VOTE. Here's how:
This is an easy way for you to get involved, and it will be difficult to win without 100% participation (get your friends and family involved too). We want to be make this a repeat year of being a BEST OF THE SPRINGS!
A few months ago we asked you to nominate Corpus Christi in the Gazette's Best of the Springs. Thanks to your nominations, we are contenders in 4 categories - Best After School Program, Best Elementary School, and Best Preschool and Best Day Care! Please take a few minutes now and VOTE. Here's how:
- Go to http://www3.gazette.com/thebestofthesprings/
- Click on the Click Here to Vote Now tab
- Choose the FAMILY tab on the left side of the page
- Vote in the following areas: Best After School Program, Best Elementary School, and Best Preschool and Best Day Care
- You can also click on Best Middle School and fill in Corpus Christi Catholic School at the bottom.
- Join us at the event where they announce the winners! More info to come on this!
This is an easy way for you to get involved, and it will be difficult to win without 100% participation (get your friends and family involved too). We want to be make this a repeat year of being a BEST OF THE SPRINGS!
Thank God for Catholic Schools!
The Colorado Catholic Herald will feature Catholic Schools Week coverage in its February 7, 2014 issue. Catholic Schools Week is the perfect time to thank your favorite Catholic school faculty and staff (past and present!) for the special roles they have played in your and your children’s lives. We ALL had a favorite teacher, an inspiring coach, a memorable lunch lady or bus driver – and now is a great time to thank them for their years of devoted service. You could even share a moving story from your (or your children’s) days in Catholic schools!
To place your message – only $15 for 50 words! – contact Marie at The Colorado Catholic Herald at 719.866.6492, or email your message tomarie@coloradocatholicherald.
Celebrating Sunday- January 19, 2014
Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
We often hear that faith is a GIFT, which indeed it is! Nevertheless, all of need certain signs or confirmations that what we believe is true! John the Baptist, who had known Jesus all of his life, grew in understanding of who Jesus truly was! As you think about your faith journey, what moments strengthened your faith journey? These may be major life events or simply moments of insight in which you are unsure where they came. For most of us, there is a mix of these - momentous and insightful moments! Think about these this week and share them with your family!
On the Way to Mass..Talk with your child about WHO God is to you - what image do you have of Him? What do you visualize as you pray?
On the Way Home from Mass...Talk about some of the different ways in which we experience God's presence at Mass: in God's word, in the gift of the Eucharist, and in the people who worship together!
Living the Word
Throughout the week, give thanks for the gift of faith and for the people and events that have contributed to it. Pray for those around the world who can not live their faith "outloud" and that they may have religious freedom! Maybe this week, create a special prayer space or table in your home. Add a bible, a green cloth (for ordinary time) or some beautiful religious art pieces that remind you of our faith. This is a great place to gather as a family to pray or for children to go when they need some time to reflect.
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 have not done so already, 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!
Corpus Christi Scouts and American Heritage Girls
We are so proud of our Parish sponsored Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and American Heritage Girls and want to better promote participation in these groups! We therefore are beginning a new opportunity of all boys and girls who belong to any of these Corpus Christi Catholic Parish groups! They get to wear their uniforms INSTEAD of their regular uniforms if:
Their Meeting is immediately after school
It is NOT a Mass day of Holy Day
Their Meeting is immediately after school
It is NOT a Mass day of Holy Day
If your child is interested in joining one of these groups, please contact the parish office for more information!
New ATTENDANCE PHONE LINE at CCCS
Now available is our new CCCS attendance line. By calling 719-632-5092 and pressing extension #106, you will be able to leave a message concerning absences, tardies and another attendance related message. We are excited to have this new line so we can better be able to serve our community by knowing quickly when students are absent or tardy. As a reminder, when calling into this new line - we ask that you call your child in each day they are absent or tardy.
Allergy Alert
As most of you know, we work under delegation of a registered school nurse here at Corpus Christi. At our last monthly visit, our nurse has given us direction related to any students who have allergies to such things as peanuts, bee stings, etc. Many students, with these type allergies, already have medications such as epipens and the required medical paperwork here at school in case of such an emergency but we have a few that do not. A private list of these students is available at all times in our school office and the cafeteria and it is noted whether or not we have meds available. Teachers are also informed on how they need to handle each situation if needed.
PLEASE NOTE: From this point forward - if a student has an allergy and we do not have emergency response medication or paperwork at our school office - 911 will be called immediately and then parents will be called, per our delegating nurses' direction. If your child does have an allergy and you would like emergency response medications to be kept here at school, please contact Dawn Ambuul or Nichole Munoz to acquire information on how to make this happen.
Get TEXTS from CCCS!
Now available is our new CCCS attendance line. By calling 719-632-5092 and pressing extension #106, you will be able to leave a message concerning absences, tardies and another attendance related message. We are excited to have this new line so we can better be able to serve our community by knowing quickly when students are absent or tardy. As a reminder, when calling into this new line - we ask that you call your child in each day they are absent or tardy.
As most of you know, we work under delegation of a registered school nurse here at Corpus Christi. At our last monthly visit, our nurse has given us direction related to any students who have allergies to such things as peanuts, bee stings, etc. Many students, with these type allergies, already have medications such as epipens and the required medical paperwork here at school in case of such an emergency but we have a few that do not. A private list of these students is available at all times in our school office and the cafeteria and it is noted whether or not we have meds available. Teachers are also informed on how they need to handle each situation if needed.
PLEASE NOTE: From this point forward - if a student has an allergy and we do not have emergency response medication or paperwork at our school office - 911 will be called immediately and then parents will be called, per our delegating nurses' direction. If your child does have an allergy and you would like emergency response medications to be kept here at school, please contact Dawn Ambuul or Nichole Munoz to acquire information on how to make this happen.
Get TEXTS from CCCS!
We are really excited to offer a new tool to our CCCS community! We are inviting parents, students and staff to subscribe to a program called SchoolTextLine so we can share announcements and reminders via text message!
To subscribe, you simply text: CCCS27 to: 96298 to start receiving text announcements and reminders from our school! We currently have 13 individuals who have signed up! Let's make this grow so it can be an effective communication tool!
Get your Yearbook for 2013/2014
Check it out! On line ordering for the first ever, student-produced Corpus Christi Yearbook is now available. Please follow the links below to order books, purchase an ad to promote your business or pay tribute to your child. You can also upload your favorite photos from school events for inclusion in the yearbook; action sports pictures are especially needed!
- Cost is $25.00 per book
- Deadline for orders is March 31, 2014
- To buy a yearbook: https://yearbookforever.com Type in: Corpus Christi Catholic School
- Full Page $60, Half Page $30, and Quarter Page $15
- Deadline for orders is March 1, 2014
- To buy an ad: https://yearbookforever.com Type in: Corpus Christi Catholic School
Submit your school event photos – Our yearbook team can’t be at all school events. Please upload only clear, sharp images.Our yearbook team will select and edit images as required - thanks for sharing!To upload photos:
- Go to: https://yearbookforever.com
- Type in: Corpus Christi Catholic School.
- Look for: Community Upload (lower right corner of the Corpus Christi page)
- You will need our access code to upload: CCColts (case matters)
Thanks to those of you who have already purchased your yearbook and uploaded photos using the PDF in the digital locker.
Dave Ramsey's Financial PEACE at Corpus Christi
We have just set the dates for our next FPU classes here at Corpus Christi. This will be our 9th class in the past 3 1/2 years! Over 120 families have completed the series so far! Here are the details for the next sessions:
Financial Peace University (FPU)
It is a nine week series that runs from 1/24/2014 - 3/21/14. It will be on Friday nights in the Youth Room (church basement) from 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. Baby sitting will be provided (let me know if your high schooler wants service hours). Cost is still right around $100 and interested parties can contact me directly to sign up at 593-9503. FPU "gives you the same financial advice that your grandma would" and helps you to "act your wage".
Generation Change
Many parents have been asking us how they can get money and budgeting information to their high school kids. Well, this Winter we are conducting a new program called "Generation Change". It is basically FPU for our teenagers. It presents one way for kids to look at their relationship with money from a biblical point of view. It will be a lot of fun!
Classes will be every other Sunday night from 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. starting on1/12/2014 (through May 11th). There are a total of 9 classes which covers three separate series; BE, DO and GO. Total cost of the nine weeks is only $30.
Budget Counseling:
One other activity we are doing through the Budget Ministry is One-on-One budget counseling. Whether you want to work towards tithing as a goal or you want an overall review of some of your budgeting categories we will sit down with you at your kitchen table and talk things over with you. It is part of the ministry so there is no cost to you.
Please contact John Krause directly at 593-9503 or johnbkrause@aol.com to sign up for the classes or to schedule a counseling session.
SMHS FREE TUTORING
SMHS National Honor Society began their 2013-2014 peer-tutoring at St. Mary's (3:30-4:30) on Wednesday, January 8th. They will be offering this free opportunity every Wednesday for students K-8th grades. SMHS is more than willing to help with bus transportation Please contact Mrs. Robyn Cross for more information or to arrange transportation to St. Mary's at rcross
Flu Season Is HERE!! - UPDATED WELLNESS POLICY now available in Digital Locker
Flu Season has hit Colorado Springs with it's annual vengeance! :( Please reference our new document from the Colorado State Health Department entitled - "How Sick is TOO sick?" for the our updated school wellness policy in the digital locker of www.teacherease.com
SCRIP Letter Coming Home This Friday!
As a reminder, in January 2013, we began a diocesan mandated requirement that each family participate in our school SCRIP program or pay a flat fee instead of participating. As we put this incremental plan in place the first year requirement was that every family bring in a profit of $75 in SCRIP percentage credit or pay the $75.
Here's How it Works:
As an example, we get an average of 5% back on SCRIP cards. This means that for every $100 purchased in SCRIP cards, the school receives $5. By just purchasing $1500 over this last year in SCRIP that earns 5%, families have been able to meet the $75 requirement.
Here's How it Works:
As an example, we get an average of 5% back on SCRIP cards. This means that for every $100 purchased in SCRIP cards, the school receives $5. By just purchasing $1500 over this last year in SCRIP that earns 5%, families have been able to meet the $75 requirement.
Coming home soon will be a letter stating any outstanding balances your family may have if this year's SCRIP requirement has not been met. The balance will be due on or before your family's re-registration process can begin.
Beginning this month through December, 2014, the expectation is that each family will purchase enough SCRIP to bring in a profit of $175. So using the 5% idea again, that would mean purchasing $3500 in 5% Scrip cards. As always, if you do not wish to participate, a flat payment of the $175 (or $75 for this year) is always acceptable *.
* Scrip requirements for new families to our school are based on the number of months of attendance and they are not responsible for the total amounts.
Rocky Mountain March for Life 2014
Monday, Jan. 20th
in honor of
Martin Luther King Day
and
the 41st anniversary of Roe v. Wade
at the sidewalk near the
Planned Parenthood facility at 3480 Centennial Blvd.
v 9:00 – 10:00 am: Silent hour of prayer
v 10:00 – 10:30 am: Balloon release & march lineup
v 10:30 – 11:30 am: *March to Corpus Christi church
v 11:30 – 12:00 pm: Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
v 12:00 – 1:00 pm: Mass with Bishop Sheridan
*Shuttles to Corpus Christi will be provided for those unable to march.
Please join us and invite others. All are welcome!
“How can there be too many children? That’s like saying there are too many flowers.” - Mother Teresa
KOAM - EXPAND YOUR FAMILY - EXPAND THE FUN!
For your children, their new brother or sister may be their first exposure to another language, different customs, and new ways of thinking. These early experiences teach tolerance and may spark a lasting interest in world cultures, history, geography, and language. KoAm students arrive with round-trip airline tickets, complete medical insurance, tuition, school fees and personal spending money for the duration of their stay. The exchange students show appreciation to the host family with a monetary gift.
We have students ready to come in January and February. Please apply to become a KoAm host family by contacting Area Coordinator, Choungin Gilbert at 719-637-3584/719-201-7685
We have several students who would like to come in January/February and we would love to place them at your school. The following article placed in your school newsletter may bring forth new host families!
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, January 20- NO SCHOOL! MLK and March for Life Day
Tuesday, January 21 - Everyday Uniform for K-5; PE Uniforms for 6-8
Wednesday, January 22 - Mass Uniform for K-8; 1:45 - School Mass
Thursday, January 23- Everyday Uniform for K-8
Friday, January 24- Jeans Day! Students can wear jeans with their regular uniform shirts!
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.
- Look for re-registration info coming from Al Chromy very soon!
EVENTS COMING SOON:
We are excited to begin CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK - January 26-February 1! Here's the EXCITING ways we are celebrating:
Sunday, January 26 - Faith, Knowledge and Service: In Our Parish
Corpus Christi School Day at Corpus Christi Parish! Students who attend Mass at Corpus Christi Catholic Church for Mass in UNIFORM will receive a FREE DRESS DOWN PASS today! We will then have two open house times at our school today - one at 10 AM and one at Noon! Come join us after Mass for coffee and donuts and bring a friend to show around the school!
Monday, January 27 - Faith, Knowledge and Service: In Our Community
Today our CCCS will be showing our appreciation to our wonderful community! Today we will be going out on class service projects! Please send back permission slips that your child's teacher asap if needed. Also, we are making BIRTHDAY BOXES! Each class is assigned an item (listed below) to bring today! These items will be put together and placed in a box by our 8th graders and then given to Catholic Charities to share with the low income families they served so they can celebrate their family birthdays! It should be a GREAT learning experience! Here's what to send to school with your child:
- Pre-school, Pre-K Wrapping paper or gift bags
- Kinder –Wilson Paper plates/napkins
- Kinder-Leckey Balloons
- 1st – Maloney
Party Bags - 1st-Baca
Party hats - 2nd – Ortiz
Party bag fillers - 2nd-Gonzalez
Streamers - 3rd – Corbett P
arty Bag Fillers - 4th – Gieck
Balloons and Streamers - 5th – Nuvolini
Birthday Cake Candles - 6th – Degenhart
Forks/spoons - 7th – Hennessey Frosting
- 7th – Conlon
Cake Mix - 8th – Bruno Boxes/Baskets
Tuesday, January 28 - Faith, Knowledge and Service: In Our Students
Today we have celebrate our daily theme of: CATHOLIC SCHOOL IS A FIESTA! Today students dress down in their "fiesta" colors or clothing! We will have dancing, food and fun beginning at 1:45 today! We are asking our CCCS Fiesta Dance Team to perform and then teach us some moves! This will be followed by a fiesta dance for our students! Parents are HIGHLY encouraged to join us for this celebration of our students!
Wednesday, January 29 - Faith, Knowledge and Service: In Our Nation
NO CCCS Mass due to Friday's events
NO CCCS Mass due to Friday's events
Children will have the opportunity to “Dress Down” in
red, white and/or blue “Americana” clothing.
During this day each homeroom class and middle school religion classes
will be making Valentines for Vets and a thank you craft for our
volunteers. At 2:00 PM this afternoon,
our Corpus Christi Boy Scouts will be invited to perform the Flag
ceremony. Families will be invited to
attend – especially those that are active and retired military. We will ask Father Mark and/or Fr. Joe to
join us to say a blessing for us and then we will join hands in a prayer
circle around the gym to pray for those serving our nation.
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Thursday, January 30 - Faith, Knowledge and Service: In Our Vocations
Friday, January 31- Faith, Knowledge and Service: In Our Faculty, Staff and Volunteers-
This day we will be celebrating how we are each called
to serve God in different ways! We
will be inviting area Priests, Deacons, Sisters and other religious Lay
employees in our Diocese to come and have lunch with us for the day!
We will run an assembly schedule today and at 1:45 PM,
a special presentation about vocations will be held for all 6-8 grade
students with a sister speaking with girls and a priest speaking with
boys. Our religious visitors for the
day will be invited to visit Preschool-5th Grade to perhaps read them a
story. Students in Preschool-5th
Grade will create thank you notes that will be given or sent to area
religious. Invitations to today’s
events will also be sent from the school office to all religious in our
diocese.
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ALL SCHOOLS MASS at St. Dominic's! Students picked up after Mass at school at around noon!
This day we will be focusing on the value that our
dedicated Teachers, Staff and Volunteers make in our Catholic Schools! During morning drop-off, teachers will be
serving a cup of hot chocolate to parents as they drop off students! Included with the hot chocolate the CCCS
Student Council will present the thank you crafts created by homeroom classes
to our volunteers/parents as they drop off students!
We will be showing our appreciation to all who serve as staff and teachers of our diocese who make Catholic education a wonderful experience by
celebrating our annual ALL SCHOOLS MASS and Staff Awards Assembly at St.
Dominic’s Catholic Church!
To continue to honor faculty and staff, we will be
hosting a special Staff Luncheon when they return this day and ask students to make thank you
notes for teachers and staff.
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Saturday, February 1- Faith, Knowledge and Service: Celebrating Our SHARED Faith
This evening we will have our annual HSA Spaghetti Dinner and Basket Raffle to celebrate the conclusion of Catholic Schools week here at Corpus Christi Catholic School. All parishioners, parents, and adult community members will be invited to join us this evening beginning at 6PM with a beautiful dinner, drinks, fun and fellowship! This event has been so well attended in the past, we have grown out of our cafeteria space! It will be a great time to celebrate the gifts Corpus Christi Catholic School is providing today and has been providing for the last 93 years!
This evening we will have our annual HSA Spaghetti Dinner and Basket Raffle to celebrate the conclusion of Catholic Schools week here at Corpus Christi Catholic School. All parishioners, parents, and adult community members will be invited to join us this evening beginning at 6PM with a beautiful dinner, drinks, fun and fellowship! This event has been so well attended in the past, we have grown out of our cafeteria space! It will be a great time to celebrate the gifts Corpus Christi Catholic School is providing today and has been providing for the last 93 years!
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