Portae (newsletter) for 9 October 2013

Click to download a .pdf of the newsletter for the final full week of the first quarter.

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For faster reading, the newsletter contents are copied below:


Comal Co. Fair Float! Many thanks to the committee, led by Mrs. Haney, that worked so hard to make such a great representation for our school in the Comal County Fair Parade.
JPII showed its colors at the Comal County Fair Parade! The school float rocked the 50s theme and was followed by the fabulous Equestrian Club all decked out in blue and gold. Thanks to the students who showed up (on a day off) to support our school by riding on the float and on horses: (on horseback) Mikaela S., Aeslyn B., Ben P., Audra M., and Sean H.; (on the float) Taylor E., Catherine B., Jazmin S., Kelsey H., Nevenka G., Ellaiza A., Alexa B., Lindsey H., Rose M., Alex M., Krystal M., Lizzy S., Cade A., Alex G., Riess D., Caroline Z., Zach Z., Stazzi C., Nicole G., Cary S., Courtney J., Sarah M., Priscilla G., Andrea G.

Many thanks for the hard work and contributions from the following: Brendan M., Jeffrey B., Jacob B., Mike M., Ryan G., Yvonne McKinley, Amy Glatt, Tanya Moczygemba, Celeste Bradley and Erin & Mikaela Grosso.

And special thanks to Gery Moczygemba for driving the float, Carlos and Gina Salazar for the trailer (and moving it), Beth Haney for the float and Lisa & Jack Sebastyn for those beautiful Guardian horses!

All students who served – see the front office for Blue & Gold Pass!

Catholic Life Sweepstakes Thank you for the solid start to the Catholic Life Sweepstakes! Students have sold $8,325.00 worth of tickets the four weeks. Here are the next 2 weeks worth of incentives:
10/14/13 Sell 25 tickets Every student selling 25 tickets receives a cookie in Solidarity meeting.
10/22/13 Sell 30 tickets Every student selling 30 tickets receives ONE FRIDAY FREE DRESS PASS.

Home football game This Friday, our varsity hosts Shiner St. Paul at 7:30 p.m. at the Judson grey campus. There is a fan bus – please sign up on the front counter. Please plan on attending the game to support Guardian football.

Volunteer opportunity Next week Friday, we have an opportunity for service hours. We are looking for twenty-five students to head out to St. Thomas the Apostle Canyon Lake Parish. Last spring our Class of 2015 worked a full day on their parish grounds, working phase one of a garden area, walking trails, and reflection area. Friday, 18 October 2013, a day off for students, is phase two. They will be doing planting and expansion of the trails. We have about ten students signed up, and are looking for more. The work will start at 9 a.m. and run until 2 p.m. Please sign up on the counter. We will run a bus out to the site, if needed.

Volunteering Over the past number of years, we have had a major volunteering event for students on the last Saturday in February. On that evening, we assist the Knights of Columbus in New Braunfels with their event, Knight with the Seminarians. On that evening, they raise money for area seminarians and host them for a nice evening out. Our students have helped each year with serving the meal and with the entertainment (the choir sings at the 5 p.m. Mass). We will again be helping this year: Saturday, 22 February 2014, 5 p.m. Mass at Sts. Peter & Paul, followed by the event at 6:15 p.m. at the Knights Hall in New Braunfels. Last year, over sixty-five freshman, sophomores, & juniors answered the call to serve. Of course, that was far more than necessary.

In order to simplify this year, we are going to ask only our freshman to serve at the event. They will act as the catering staff, arriving at 4:15 p.m. to help with the setting of places and then serving and cleaning plates through the evening. Sign-ups will come in early January.

As was the case last year, our seniors will be invited to the event as special guest, be sure to save the date!

8^th grade tours October is a big recruiting month for our school where we host area middle school 8^th graders. We welcome JPII parents of these parishes to be in attendance these mornings to greet our visitors, attend Mass, & help serve refreshments after Mass. Please plan on attending as many as your schedule allows: (We have a few more to schedule as well.)
Tuesday, 15 October – Sts. Peter & Paul
Wednesday, 23 October – Rolling Hills Academy, Blessed Sacrament, & St. Thomas More

PSAT The PSAT will be Wednesday, 16 October (Note: no Mass this day as it will be on the 15^th when we host our middle school visitors). This is a very important day for our freshman, sophomores, & especially juniors. Please make sure that your student gets to sleep early & eats a hearty breakfast.

4^th Annual Guardians GALA Save the date: Our annual Guardians Gala will be held Wednesday, 20 November 2013. This year’s event honors Tom Peterson of Catholics Come Home. Please refer to the link: http://johnpaul2chs.org/?load=page&page=260 for additional information.

Upperclass retreat Just a reminder -- we are looking for a few dads and a few moms to help with food/kitchen/site work at the upperclassmen retreat on Wednesday-Friday, 4-6 December 2013 at Camp HEB in Kerrville. Please contact Mrs. Harkins at pharkins@johnpaul2chs.org if you can volunteer.

Founders’ Day 9 November 2013 – 4^th annual chili cook-off at 10 a.m. with Powder Puff to follow. Please contact the school office if you are interested in volunteering for this year’s Founders’ Day events. The

Open House This year we are planning on having our Open House during Founders’ Day. The hope is that this will be a well-attended event where prospective families can meet our JPII community and learn more about the great things that our school offers.

JPII Robotics team meetings! Meets every Wednesday, 3:45 – 4:45, Room 105