St. Paul the Apostle School

From the desk of Sister Stella:

A former CEO of a large Canadian corporation is said to have offered
following advice to an up-and-coming executive" I always made a point of
eating supper with my family at least four or five time a week,
regardless what my schedule looks like." Quality time with loved ones
and friends inoculates against personal depletion.

Our first full week of school as been very busy for students and parents. A sincere thanks to all who attended the back-to school coffees. Hopefully you have had time to absorb all of the information. If you find that your are confused with an infinity of details or if you were not able to attend, please call one of your room mothers. The welcoming party for our new families was delightful. Thank You Tina and Peter Cathcart for hoisting us in your beautiful home.
Paulist Women's Club Board, room Parents and volunteers thank you for preparing all the events of the week.

On Tuesday, 24th of September, we have one more gathering. All parents please be seated in your designated areas in church by seven o'clock. The program will begin sharply at seven. You may park on the street or in the school yard. As you enter church you will receive a folder of information and a flow chart which will guide you through the evening. The program in church will be approximately 25 mins. The rest of the evening will be in the classroom with the teachers followed by refreshments in the pavilion.

You probably have noticed that your students third through eight grade do not have their homework notebooks and student handbook. The order was placed in July with a company we have done business with for many years. For some reason unknown to us they have disappeared off the face of the earth. We have tried every means of communicating with them to no avail.

We have placed an order with a new company and we are promised delivery by Monday 23.

Speaking of Handbooks---very shortly, parents, you will receive the school directory, which has two parts---the list of families and the guidelines for students and parents. It is a major piece of work put together this year by Mary Ann McQueen. Thank You, Mary Ann.
The request inside the front cover regarding the privacy of the families MUST at all costs be honored. This summer for the first time in history a school parent gave the names and addresses of a grade level of students to her tutor friend; who in turn sent a mailing to the students telling them how important it is to be tutored for admission into private schools--not very ethical and not very supportive of St. Paul's.

The class of 2002 a highly accomplished group of scholars, leaders, athletes, artists, and musicians, these students have generously contributed their gifts and talents to their schools, parishes, and communities. Among the many colleges and universities to which they have been accepted are the following
Boston College, Boston University, Bard College, Emory University, Georgetown University, George Washington University, Harvard University, MIT, Johns Hopkins University, Leigh University, Loyola Marymount University, Yale University, Santa Clara University, Sarah Lawrence College, Stanford University, New York University, USC, the University of Arizona, the University of Chicago, the University of Denver, the University of Michigan, the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Washington, California Poltechnic University, San Luis Obispo, UC Berkeley, UC Davis, UCLA, UC San Diego, UC Riverside, UC Santa Barbara, and UC Santa Cruz.

What are we modeling for our children?

I would guess that every adult (including me) has at one time or another - said, "Do as I say, not as I do!" And yet we all know that the old dictum, actions speak louder than words is an unassailable truth. When it comes to teaching our faith each adult Catholic needs to do an assessment of what we are modeling for our children. Are we asking them to do as we say…or as we act?

During the coming weeks Sr. Stella and I will be talking about faith formation and its many facets. How the faculty and staff here at St. Paul's can be more supportive partners to all of our SPA parents - who are after all the primary faith educators of their children. How we as faculty and staff can articulate more clearly the Catholic identity of St. Paul the Apostle Parish Grade School. How all of us can better share the Good News we have received.

We look forward to talking with you about how all of us can do better!

Thank you to Peter and Tina Cathcart for opening their home for the New Parent Wine and Cheese last Friday evening. It was a beautiful evening with wonderful food and conversation.

I hope everyone was able to attend one of the grade coffees last week. Thank you to all the room parents who hosted them, as well as to everyone who gave a presentation.

Parents, please remember that Back to School Night will be held next Tuesday, September 24th beginning in the Church at 7:00 pm. This is an important evening for all parents to learn about the academic curriculum for your children in the upcoming year. Please plan on coming to the pavilion after the presentations for a social hour hosted by the PWC

Many thanks to our Festival Chairs Debbie, Leslie, Wilma and Daryl for all their hard work for the upcoming Fall Festival, Celebrate America. The Festival Chairs are still looking for volunteers to Co-Chair the Bingo and Soccer booths. Please consider volunteering for these positions to help make our festival even more successful for the benefit of our students.

Caroline Moynagh - PWC President

Sacraments for Older Children and Adults
By Joan Doyle, Director of Religious Education

Children Third through Eighth Grades
Any parents of children older than Second Grade age, who are interested in
the preparation of their child(ren) for Baptism or First Eucharist, should
contact the Coordinator, Irene Holly, in the Parish Office (310) 474-1527,
v.m.# 212. This preparation process begins on October 6, and Irene will be
happy to speak with you about all of the particulars.

Do You Know a Teen Interested in Confirmation?
Parents of teens interested in receiving the sacrament of Confirmation are
invited to call our Parish Youth Minister, Therese Portman, at (310)
474-1527, v.m. #247, for more details. There will be a mandatory meeting for
parents of teens in this program on Sunday, September 29, at 4:00 PM.

Adults for Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist?
Adults interested in Baptism or Eucharist for themselves should contact Fr.
Brad Schoeberle, CSP -- (310) 474-1527, v.m.# 248 to inquire about the Rite
of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA)

Adults interested in Confirmation for themselves should contact Joan Doyle,
Director of Religious Education, in the Parish Office (310 474-1527,
v.m.#241.

If there are any questions I can answer or further information you need,
don't hesitate to contact me at the above number. I'll be happy to help.

"Don't forget to get your Festival Ticket orders in now! Presale ticket prices for booth and ride tickets are $.50 a ticket. During the Festival weekend, booth ticket prices will be $.60 a ticket and ride tickets will be $.75 a ticket. Act now for big savings!!!! Deadline for ordering tickets in advance is 12:00 Noon Friday October 4, 2002. KPM families: Be sure to get your form in on Thursday October 3, 2002 to ensure it is collected before the deadline. If you can't find a presale order form that has previously been sent home, additional forms are available at the school office.

These are the readings for next Sunday, September 22,
the Twenty-Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time.
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 Isaiah 55:6-9

Seek the LORD while he may be found, call him while he is near.
Let the scoundrel forsake his way, and the wicked his thoughts;
let him turn to the LORD for mercy; to our God, who is generous in forgiving.
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the LORD. As high as the heavens are above the earth, so high are my ways above your ways and my thoughts above your thoughts.

Brothers and sisters:
Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death.

For to me life is Christ, and death is gain.
If I go on living in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me.
And I do not know which I shall choose.
I am caught between the two.
I long to depart this life and be with Christ, for that is far better.
Yet that I remain in the flesh is more necessary for your benefit.
Only, conduct yourselves in a way worthy of the gospel of Christ.

Jesus told his disciples this parable:
"The kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out at dawn to hire laborers for his vineyard.
After agreeing with them for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard.
Going out about nine o'clock, the landowner saw others standing idle in the marketplace,
and he said to them, 'You too go into my vineyard, and I will give you what is just.'
So they went off.
And he went out again around noon, and around three o'clock, and did likewise.
Going out about five o'clock, the landowner found others standing around, and said to them,
'Why do you stand here idle all day?'
They answered, 'Because no one has hired us.'
He said to them, 'You too go into my vineyard.'
When it was evening the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman,
'Summon the laborers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and ending with the first.'
When those who had started about five o'clock came, each received the usual daily wage.
So when the first came, they thought that they would receive more, but each of them also got the usual wage.
And on receiving it they grumbled against the landowner, saying, 'These last ones worked only one hour,
and you have made them equal to us, who bore the day's burden and the heat.'
He said to one of them in reply, 'My friend, I am not cheating you.
Did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage? Take what is yours and go.
What if I wish to give this last one the same as you? Or am I not free to do as I wish with my own money?
Are you envious because I am generous?'
Thus, the last will be first, and the first will be last."

The Chess Club begins its 15th year at St. Paul and after-school classes will start on Monday, September 23rd. New and returning students, in all grades and at all levels are welcome to attend the first chess class. Come check it out, learn chess and have fun!

The Beginners' class will meet from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. in the Multipurpose Room. The Intermediate class will meet from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. in Room C-1 (Spanish Classroom). The Advanced class will meet from 3:00 to 4:30 p.m. in the Church Classroom. Students in grades 1-4 will be escorted from their classrooms to chess. Please pick up your child(ren) immediately after chess class. Students who are not picked up will be sent to Lenny's Extended Day Care Program.

The Kindergarten chess classes also begin on the 23rd, in the Church Classroom. The K-PM chess class starts at 10:30 a.m. (before school) and the K-AMers come at 11:00 a.m. (after dismissal). Kindergarteners enrolled with Lenny are escorted to/from chess class.

Sign-up forms will be handed out to students at the first chess class. Parents, please fill them out and return them to "CHESS" via the Black Bag. Don't forget to wear your blue chess club t-shirt to school on the 23rd.