The first purple Advent candle symbolizes hope. On Sunday last, I truly felt hope as I listened to the speaker from Catholic Community Services (CCS) at Mass and then the St. Vincent de Paul (SVDP) conference members. During Mass, the speaker talked about our community’s support of the Martina Apartments and what that has meant to the residents and CCS. At the SVDP meeting after Mass, the conference members were so grateful for the $2,000 plus raised during the recent fund drive and for the many hygiene kits. In addition to bringing compassion and caring to each home/car/tent visit, SVDP helps with housing, food, hygiene kits, utilities, transportation and many other needs. St. John community, you spread hope. May God bless you all. By the way, Fr. Crispin was delighted to see so many of you at Mass! Tomorrow, we will have Mass for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, so students should be in Dress Uniform. This Sunday, two Advent candles will be lit; the second one symbolizes peace.
The advent and Christmas spirit is also very much alive here in the school as the students pray each morning and practice for the Christmas programs. This evening we are enjoying the primary grades, and next week, we will have the PreK, intermediate and band programs. Students in grades 2-8 will have the opportunity to attend reconciliation.
With the excitement of the season and Christmas holidays intensifying, learning is still taking place in the classrooms. For example, this week, students celebrated Hour of Code with buddy time throughout the school. From Star Wars to Frozen activities, students were engaged in using coding blocks or writing their own code to move objects around the screen. Students can practice their skills at www.hourofcode.com/us/learn.
Be sure to review the calendar for next week’s Holiday Spirit Week. Also take a look at the opportunity to host Japanese exchange students for a week in March. We have been invited to join other Seattle Catholic schools in this cross-cultural event. Finally, I am thankful for all the hard work the Principal Search Committee has done in recent weeks. I encourage you to read the Principal Search Committee Update in this week’s NewsViews. It’s full of great information about the process and will answer some of your questions. See you at Mass this weekend.
Blessings,
Bernadette O’Leary
