From the desk of Sister Stella
PWC President
Parish News
Traffic Duty Assignments
Weekly Readings/Reflections
Students School Activities
From the School Nurse
Miscellaneous

" Parenting is an inefficient vocation. It is much more about mystery
than mastery. But over time certain lessons have become clear."
Tom McGrath

From the Desk of SSM

The above quote is taken from an article entitled BEGINNING IN AWE--ON BEING A CATHOLIC PARENT which you will find enclosed with this hard copy of the Epistle. Fr. Tom found this article and forwarded it to me; if you take time to read it you will find it very down to earth and most helpful especially since it is written by a parent. ALSO ENCLOSED ARE TWO COPIES of EVERYDAY CATHOLIC,

On Back-to-School night we gave you an article on WHY I GO TO MASS.A great number of parents had a very positive response to the information, which this article provided. Although, I think some parents did not take it to heart. I was absolutely startled to hear that from time to time Birthday parties are planned for 8:30am or 9am on Sunday morning. I was furthered startled that the hosts of the party were offended when an invitation was not accepted because people had Mass scheduled into their lives. Can this be true???

The faculty, staff, and families of our school offer our prayers and congratulations to our Paulist Fathers as they celebrate the feast of their patron and the feast of our parish---St. Paul the Apostle. We pray in thanksgiving for the gift of the Paulist Fathers and ask many blessing on them and their ministries and especially our parish.

The fourth graders will lead us in a liturgy at 9am to celebrate the feast of our patron, St. Paul the Apostle. Following the Liturgy the students will have treats provided by our hardworking room parents--thank you.

During the Liturgy we will have the official opening of our READ-A-THON
which is a benefit for the homeless children of St. Joseph's Center. Our first graders take a major role in guiding us through this great program which will close on Ash Wednesday, March 3rd.

During this time we are also having a children's book-drive known as BOOKENDS.
The sixth graders are leading this project which provides children's used books for schools who have no books or very few. We are asking all families to place any books your children no longer need in the boxes outside Sr. Stella's office.
Thank you so much for enriching the lives of children through reading..

The following articles are taken from Elementary Parents make a difference!

GOOD STUDENTS TAKE TIME TO FOLLOW DIRECTIONS CAREFULLY
Your child got a lower grade on the test, because he didn’t write in complete sentences. His/Her paper was marked down because he wrote in pencil, not a pen.
If kids don’t read directions, they may pay a price. Here are five steps to teach your child;

1. Read all the directions. Read them out loud, if possible.
2. Underline, circle, or put an X beside the actions called for in the directions such as "Circle the correct answer."
3. Have your child number the steps if they aren’t already numbered.
4. Think. Have your child think through everything he’ll need to do before he starts.
5. Review the numbered list of directions once he’s/she’s finished. Cross off each one as he checks to make sure he’s/she’s done what the directions say.

Prepare for Teen Years by Teaching Your Values Now

You are careful about the movies and videos that your child sees. But now your fifth grader is going to a friend’s house. You know that this friend is allowed to watch anything she wants.
Sooner of later, your child is going to meet up with families whose rules are different. How can you teach your values while still allowing your child to be with others?

Here are some tips:
Make sure your child knows your rules. Now is the time to build habits that you will want your child to follow when she/he becomes a teen.
Take the rap. If your child is going to a friend’s for a sleepover, call the parent, ask questions, what will they be watching.

Remember your child spends more time with you than anyone else. In the end, it’s your values that will carry the day.

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PWC President

Dear SPA Parents,

Christmas is now Officially Over

Many thanks to Mary Curry, Mary Kay Lalli and Sheila U’Ren for helping to take down the Christmas decorations throughout the JCPC and school.

Feast of St. Paul’s

Tomorrow your children will be enjoying a treat in honor of the Feast of St. Paul. Thanks to all the Room Parents for organizing this special day for our children.

4th Grade Potluck

4th Grade, enjoy your Potluck on the 28th!

Caroline Moynagh PWC President

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Parish News

Household Candles for Candlemas

On Saturday and Sunday, February 1 & 2, we will be celebrating the feast of the Presentation of the Lord, also known as Candlemas Day. It is the traditional day when the church blesses its candle supply for the year, and some families may choose to have blessed candles in the home.

This year, we invite you to bring to mass any candles you would like blessed, for use in your own home. You may also wish to bring a baptismal candle, or other special candle as a reminder of your wish to remind yourselves of Jesus as the light of the world.

If you would like, you may also purchase Household Candles by filling out the form below and including your payment. The (pre-bought) candles will be available after any of the masses the weekend of February 1 & 2.

I would be interested in purchasing a set of blessed household candles.
(Candles are packaged 2 to a box and are 25/32nds x 10 1/4 inches).

How many boxes? ________ (x $3.50)

Price is $3.50 per box. Please indicate total amount enclosed. _________________

(Return to the Parish Office by January 30, 2003)

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Traffic Duty Assignments

For the Month of January 4th grade Parents Traffic Duty

Substitutes:
Thurs. Morning only: Janet pregler
Otherwise conslut your room parents or call me

Teresa McDugal

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Weekly Readings/Reflections

Next Sunday, January 26, is the Conversion of St. Paul.
Please read and reflect on these readings during the week (alone or with family and friends), and come to next Sunday’s liturgy prepared to listen attentively to the proclamation of the Word of God..

READING I Acts 22:3-16

Paul continued:
"I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city.
At the feet of Gamaliel I was educated strictly in our ancestral law and was zealous for God, just as all of you are today.
I persecuted this Way to death, binding both men and women and delivering them to prison.
Even the high priest and the whole council of elders can testify on my behalf.
For from them I even received letters to the brothers and set out for Damascus to bring back to Jerusalem in chains for punishment those there as well.

"On that journey as I drew near to Damascus, about noon a great light from the sky suddenly shone around me.
I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me,
'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?'
I replied, 'Who are you, sir?'
And he said to me,
'I am Jesus the Nazorean whom you are persecuting.'
My companions saw the light but did not hear the voice of the one who spoke to me.
I asked, 'What shall I do, sir?'
The Lord answered me,
'Get up and go into Damascus, and there you will be told about everything appointed for you to do.'
Since I could see nothing because of the brightness of that light, I was led by hand by my companions and entered Damascus.

"A certain Ananias, a devout observer of the law,
and highly spoken of by all the Jews who lived there,
came to me and stood there and said,
'Saul, my brother, regain your sight.'
And at that very moment I regained my sight and saw him.
Then he said, 'The God of our ancestors designated you to know his will, to see the Righteous One, and to hear the sound of his voice; for you will be his witness before all to what you have seen and heard.
Now, why delay?
Get up and have yourself baptized and your sins washed away, calling upon his name.'"

READING II 1 Corinthians 7:29-31

I tell you, brothers and sisters, the time is running out.
From now on,
let those having wives act as not having them,
those weeping as not weeping,
those rejoicing as not rejoicing,
those buying as not owning,
those using the world as not using it fully.
For the world in its present form is passing away.

GOSPEL Mark 16:15-18

Jesus said to them,
"Go into the whole world
and proclaim the gospel to every creature.
Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved;

whoever does not believe will be condemned.
These signs will accompany those who believe:
in my name they will drive out demons,
they will speak new languages.
They will pick up serpents with their hands,
and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not harm them.
They will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover."

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Students School Activities

Chess Club to Host Championship Tournament in February

On Saturday, February 8, 2003, in the JCPC, our chess club will host the 2003 Southern California State Elementary Chess Championship. This is a great opportunity for students to try their skill and have some fun. This tournament is open to grades K - 6 and all those SPA students are encouraged to register. It can be a long day for your kindergartener, however, so consult with Jack Peters or Richard Rico if you have concerns. You could always just stop by to observe tournament play. Sign-up forms are available on the clipboards near 1B and can be e-mailed to you upon request. Forms must be received by February 5th for early registration. We are asking for parent volunteers to help staff the snack bar, playground, and safety positions. Contact Richard Rico for more information on times and duties.

Renewal notices will go out this week for 2nd trimester Chess class fees. The notices will be sent home via email, "student take home", or U.S Mail, depending on your indicated preference.

The Chess Club t-shirt back orders were filled this week (including size child small). If you have not received your t-shirt order, please contact Mark Raineri.

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From the School Nurse

FROM THE HEALTH OFFICE:

RE: EXPIRED TB MANTOUX TESTS FOR VOLUNTEER WORK AT SPA

THE FOLLOWING PARENTS NEED TO SUBMIT A CURRENT TB TEST TO THE HEALTH OFFICE. YOUR TB RESULTS ON FILE HAVE EXPIRED. THE TEST IS GOOD OR FOUR YEARS. REMEMBER YOU MAY NOT VOLUNTEER WITH AN EXPIRED TB TEST.

MADELYN BAILEY - 11/O2
SUSAN BERGER - 10/02
BRIDGET CONLEY - 10/02
LYNN DAVIS - 12/ 02
MARGARET GRANT - 1/02
SUSAN KAHN - 09/02
CRISTINA MARTINEZ - 02/02
ANA PAIVA - 07/02
CLAUDIA RYAN 09/02
KELLY WORKMAN - 10/02
TRUDY BERINGHELE-01/03 (EXPIRES SOON)

THANK YOU FOR KEEPING OUR CHILDREN SAFE.
MISS ANDERSON/RN

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Miscellaneous

TOURS AND APPLICATIONS FOR 20003-20004

St. Paul the Apostle School will be conducting
school tours Jan 28th, 29th and 30th at 8:15 a.m
1:15 p.m.

You do not need to sign up for a tour.
The tour starts at the main office. At the end of
the tour you may pick an application for the
2003 - 2004 school year for Grades 1 - 8. Our
kindergarten applications were last November.
If you have any questions please call the school
office at (310) 474-1588 ext. 220

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SPA Ski Club News

Thanks to the support of SPA Students, Parents, and Faculty the Ski Club was able to raise $678 (our best results ever!) in last Friday’s bake sale. Special thanks to Jackie Brooks, Tina & Jonathan Cathcart, Julie Chait, Columba In, Andrew Page, Celeste Plueger, and Anne Watne for their outstanding help!

Our ski trip, Feb 7-10, is quickly approaching! To date we have 55 SPA families totaling 205 people. If you have not turned in your forms (Liability Waiver, Member Application, Participation Form), please give them to me NOW. Also let me know of any changes to your forms (ie., adding or deleting people) – this is IMPORTANT.

Thanks to Karen Knott and Michael Hook for our ski club badges again this year – they look terrific!
-- John Plueger

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SCHOOLS RULE AT THE WESTSIDE PAVILION

If you shop at the Westside Pavilion (any shore, kiosk, or restaurant) remember to save your receipts and bring them to customer service so that St. Paul can get credit in the Schools Rule contest. See the flyer attached to this Epistle for details.

For your added convenience, on Friday, January 24th and Monday, January 27th, Mark Raineri will be available on the playground at pick-up to collect your receipts and turn them in so you won’t have to. Just bring your receipts (dated September 15, 2002 to the present) and indicate whether you want them back. Contact Mark if you have any quest

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