Celebrating Faith!
March 23, 2014 - Third Sunday in Lent!
Who are You Bringing to the Well?
As we read the entire passage of John 4, it is amazing how rich the conversation and meaning is that Jesus has with the Samaritan woman is. Biblically, we see Jesus often having significant encounters with people who we were consider outsiders, foreigners or second-class citizens. Yet in this conversation with the Samaritan woman, He approaches her in thirst. Jesus went to her! In Jesus' time and even today - fear, lack of trust and prejudice separate us from one another. What might we discover about if we approached someone we consider "the other." Is it possible that we are missing the chance for a greater life?
On the Way to Mass...Mention that on the next three Sundays, we will hear rather long but very important stories from Jesus' life. Perhaps discuss why the woman was an outsider. Who are the "outsiders" in your life?
On the Way Home from Mass...Explore the term "living water" as a symbol. What gives us meaningful live?
Living the Word
We are nearing the midpoint of Lent. Even though we are still getting some snowflakes and cool mornings and evenings, signs of Spring are appearing! Bring this your prayer space. Some possibilities may include a budding branch (forysthia or pussy willow are good choices) or a bowl of water (clean and fresh each day). Consider who is "the other" for you and your family. Perhaps do a little research on this group of people, or if possible, find a way to meet and talk together.
Celebrating Faith
March 30, 2014 - Fourth Sunday in Lent!
What Can You Not See?
Who among is not blind in some way? Don't we all have "blind spots"? We are all a bit like the blind men in the Indian folk tale who encounter an elephant: each man thinks the part he can touch - the long trunk, the tusks, the big ears, the leathery skin - is the whole animal (if you are not familiar with the tale, search for it on the web). The challenge is that usually we don not know what we are seeing! It takes a bit of humility and honesty to admit that we all have partial vision. It is only when we have been healed of our blindness that we become aware of what we are missing.
Next Week On the Way to Mass..Tell the tale of the blind men and the elephant
Next Week On the Way Home from Mass...Talk with your children about what it would be like to be born blind and then all of a sudden be able to see. Discuss how this may have changed the man's life!
Living the Word Next Week
Is there an idea or an issue about which someone in your family may have felt strongly about and now see it differently? What contributed to the change of view or opened the possibility of a new understanding? Talk about this as a family. For younger kiddos, it may be a subject or assignment in school. Sometimes it is a particular person or group of people that as we come to know them better, our views about them change. In what way is this a type of healing?
Celebrating Faith
April 4, 2014 - Fifth Sunday in Lent!
Death Leads to New Life
As we listen the this Gospel story of Jesus' raising of Lazarus two weeks before Easter, we might ask ourselves:
- Who in this story is like me?
- Am I like Mary or Martha, grieving someone or something I love?
- Am I like Lazarus, dead in some way and in need of new life?
- Am I like Jesus, consoling the grieving and giving hope?
This Gospel reminds us that for Christians, death does not have the final word. Instead, death leads to new life. We do not deny the part of death or the reality of grief, but in their midst, we hold fast to promise that, like Lazarus, we too will rise.
Next Week On the Way to Mass..Discuss the signs of Spring you may be seeing.
Next Week On the Way Home from Mass...Talk about the story of Lazarus on your way home. How have you experienced "life" after "death"?
Living the Word Next Week
We all participate in the cycle of life - death - new life. Sometimes for new life to break through, something must die. Plant a few fast-growing seeds (grass or wheat seed, for example). point out to your children how the seed must be buried in dirt to be able to grow. Then watch over the next few weeks how the new green begins to sprout!
WE DID IT!
We are so proud of our students, teachers, staff and other stakeholders for achieving the prestigious recommendation of accreditation through the highly esteemed AdvancEd process! We also achieved accreditation for our entire school - Preschool-8th Grade which has not occurred before for our Early Childhood program! Some of the commendations the team expressed were:
1. CCCS is INCREDIBLY welcoming!!
2. CCCS has enthusiastic leadership!
3. It is evident that KIDS ARE LEARNING!
4. CCCS has a collaborative culture among our teachers and staff!
5. CCCS has above all - a STRONG Catholic identity - both in instruction and the interactions among all!
So as you can see - we are VERY proud of how well we were evaluated by the AdvancED team and are pleased that we continue the honor of being recognized as a nationally accredited school! A huge thank you to all of our stakeholders who helped out in so many ways! We could not have done this without you!
FOLLOW US on FACEBOOK and TWITTER
We have really been working our Facebook and Twitter pages. We now have 299 followers!
That is HUGE for a school our size! We have some great things to share! Check us out!
Corpus Christi Catholic School, Colorado Springs @CorpusCOS
How Do We Best Raise our Children
Check out the following link on ways to raise great kids: 10 Common Mistakes Parents Make
Future of Education?
Have you wondered what K-12 and Higher level education will look like in the future? Here is a guess of what we may be seeing in the future: The Future of Education
March 14 was our Annual Corpus Christi Catholic School "PI DAY". Preschool-8th Grade student participated by being able to state Pi to at least 20 digits past the decimal point and earned a piece of PIE! Thanks to the many parents who brought PIES! You made this event a reality!
Sign up now for a GREAT event CCCS is hosting - it's the Daughters of the King (AHG) Girl's Retreat for 1st-8th grade girls on April 12! Please go to the Digital Locker Section of www.teacherease.com for the flyer for this great event and to sign up! It is going to be a beautiful day! Lenten RICE Projects
As Lenten projects, our school is participating in two different events. We have first of all distributed the Catholic Relief Service Rice Bowls. Please have your child earn and collect funds and fill the bowl with their coins. We will be collecting these at our school mass on April 16. This is a great way for students to practice Alms giving by giving what they have to others.
Here is a link to an article about how CRS Rice Bowls affected a 3rd Grade Classroom:
Lesson in Faith
Diocesan School Calendar for 2014-2015 NOW Available
Can you believe we are in full swing in planning for the 2014-2015 school year? Now available in the digital locker section of www.teacherease.com is our finalized diocesan school calendar for the 2014-2015 school year! Please access this calendar for general full diocesan school dates. To see what is happening at CCCS - go to the calendar on www.teacherease.com for more articulated day-to-day events for Corpus Christi individually!
Can you believe we are in full swing in planning for the 2014-2015 school year? Now available in the digital locker section of www.teacherease.com is our finalized diocesan school calendar for the 2014-2015 school year! Please access this calendar for general full diocesan school dates. To see what is happening at CCCS - go to the calendar on www.teacherease.com for more articulated day-to-day events for Corpus Christi individually!
It's that time of year again! We are looking for some new additions to our Home and School Association Board! For the 2014-2015 school year, Mr. Ed Wilcox will be serving as our President/Treasurer as well as the HSA Representative on the School Advisory Council. Mrs. Michelle Giancamilli and Mrs. Jackie Rodriguez will serve as our Vice Presidents! Mrs. Markita McKamey has served as our secretary but with Brianna graduating, we are looking for a new SECRETARY and a MEMBER AT LARGE! Please access the HSA Application in the digital locker section of www.teacherease.com if you would like to serve in either of these rolls!
CCCS Text Line
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 non-emergency announcements and reminders via text message!
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 non-emergency announcements and reminders via text message!
To subscribe, simply text: CCCS27 to: 96298 to start receiving text announcements and reminders from our school! We currently have 60 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!
Secure on-line ordering via our publisher’s web site
- 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 or download an order form on www.teacherease.com in the digital locker section and send it to school with your payment.
SCRIP Info!
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. The balance will be due on or before completion of re-registration for 2014-2015.
As stated, this is a three year incremental implementation for our school with the final 2015 year profit expectation capping at $275. In this final year of implementation, once this $275 has been met, all "extra" profit will come back to families in the form of TRIP (a Tuition Reimbursement Incentive Program) which will be credited to their tuition accounts. Many families in other schools use SCRIP to pay most of their tuition just by buying gift cards to make their regular family purchases!!
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.
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 Coming Up:
Monday, March 24-Friday, March 28 - SPRING BREAK - NO School!
Monday, March 31 -Regular Everyday Uniforms for PK-8
Tuesday, April 1- Everyday Uniforms for PK-5; PE Uniforms for 6-8
Wednesday, April 2 -Mass uniforms for PK-8; Lenten School Confessions - 10 AM - No Mass
Thursday, April 3 - Regular EVERYDAY uniforms for PK-8; HSA Board Meeting - 7:30 AM Tuesday, April 1- Everyday Uniforms for PK-5; PE Uniforms for 6-8
Wednesday, April 2 -Mass uniforms for PK-8; Lenten School Confessions - 10 AM - No Mass
Friday, April 4 - Regular EVERYDAY uniforms for PK-8; First Friday Adoration - 11:15-11:45; NOON DISMISSAL; CCCS Staff Hosts Parish Soup Supper at 6 PM in Parish Hall
Monday, April 7- Regular Everyday Uniforms for PK-8
Tuesday, April 8- Everyday Uniforms for PK-5; PE Uniforms for 6-8
Wednesday, April 9 -7th graders to SMHS for Diocesan 7th Grade Visit Day- parents take to and pick up from SMHS; 5, 6 and 8 Grade Awards Assembly (BEFORE MASS) - 1:15
Thursday, April 10 - Regular EVERYDAY uniforms for PK-8; 7th grade to International Towne
Friday, April 11 - SPIRIT DAY - students wear CCCS or "Holy Spirit" shirts with uniform bottoms for PK-8
Saturday, April 12 - American Heritage Girl FULL DAY event at CCCS- see digital locker for a sign up sheet
Sunday, April 13 - Corpus Christi Colors Sunday
- 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.
- Complete your re-registration paperwork and call Al Chromy with any questions!
WHAT'S COMING SOON:
Monday, April 14 - HOLY WEEK Begins! No Homework or Extra Curricular Activities this week!
Wednesday, April 16 - SAC Board Meeting - 7:45 AM
Thursday, April 17 - Holy Thursday Celebration at School
Friday, April 18 - GOOD FRIDAY - No School
Sunday, April 20- EASTER!!!
Monday, April 21 - EASTER MONDAY - No School; 8th Graders Leave for 8th Grade Trip to Washington DC
Wednesday, April 30 - Corpus Christi Confirmation - 7 PM
Thursday, April 17 - Holy Thursday Celebration at School
Friday, April 18 - GOOD FRIDAY - No School
Sunday, April 20- EASTER!!!
Monday, April 21 - EASTER MONDAY - No School; 8th Graders Leave for 8th Grade Trip to Washington DC
Wednesday, April 30 - Corpus Christi Confirmation - 7 PM
