Dear Religious Education Families,

I hope this newsletter finds your bellies and hearts full after a season of preparation and celebration of the birth of Jesus on Christmas. I know as much as I look forward to the holiday season, I also really look forward to the reset button that January offers us.

As you are reflecting on 2024, and setting your goals for the upcoming year, I just ask you to remember this, every day is a fresh start. Whether you have big goals, healthy habits, improved routines, or a plan to build prayer and faith back into your life just a little bit more, each day is a new opportunity to start. If your goals didn't get off on the right foot, try again tomorrow.

I'm going to challenge you to a task this year. We are doing it in our house, and I hope you will join me. Start out your year with a blank jar. Give your family a mini post it notes stack, and every time something goes well, a test is aced, a goal is achieved, a memory is made... write it down and place it in that jar. When you wake up New Years Eve next year, you will have a JAR FULL of your joys from the year. Regardless of the challenges that may lie ahead for 2025, your GOOD will outshine it.

The second suggestion I am offering is to routine stack. If you feel pressed for time, but want to build prayer back into your family's foundational routine, add prayer into a time frame where you may already be folding laundry, stretching, cooking, etc. Focusing on prayer and the power of it, give yourself that break. You can listen here as Fr. Mike Schmitz talks for 30 seconds of building prayer back into our lives.

Happy New Year everyone!

Whitney Bargerstock

Religious Education Coordinator

This January, start the year with an empty jar.

Every week add a note with a good thing that happened.

On New Year's Eve empty the jar and read about the amazing year you had.

Here are some important dates and updates to keep in mind:

• January 1st - Solemnity of Mary (Holy Day of Obligation) Why the Church starts the year out celebrating Mary
• January 5th - The Epiphany of the Lord
• January 5th - CLASSES RESUME
• January 12th - The Baptism of the Lord
• January 12th - CLASS
• January 18th - Soup Pre-Orders are Due Contact Michelle Aikens 814-952-0702
• January 19th - CLASS
• January 19th - Knights of Columbus Hoop Shoot Registration begins at 12:00 Competition runs from 1:00-4:00. Parent or Guardian must be in attendance.
• January 20th - Glowing in God's Light 5:00 - 7:00 in the Gymnasium. Glow in the dark dodgeball for families. (Adults can attend but are not required to stay) Kids may bring a friend. Entrance fee is simply a canned good donation to St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry. (Permission required - signed in advance or at the door)
• January 23rd - Bible School Planning Meeting - If interested in assisting with Bible School this summer, reach out to Whitney Bargerstock (814) 952-0920
• January 25th-26 Soup Pick Up after Masses.
• January 26th - CLASS

There will not be class on February 2nd.

I will continue to share any additional information and helpful resources through our Facebook Group and Remind App as I come across them.

As we welcome the new year, let's combat that cabin fever with some fun! This month we are offering a community-building event to focus on how God's light can lead us through the darkest of times. Entrance fee will be donations towards the St. Vincent DePaul Food Pantry.

All parishioners are welcome to bring a friend!

Please RSVP by January 12th.

As we draw near to our upcoming Sacraments, your students will be diving deep into preparation this month.

This section will house resources and supports for you as you work through the chapters at home, and as we work to prepare your son or daughter for the exciting events to come. Specific information, chapter work schedules, and registration for retreats will be sent out over the upcoming week to our families in both First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion preparation.

Upcoming Dates:

• February 9th - Reconciliation Retreat - This will take place during the normal class period, and 2nd grade families should plan to attend with your child.
• March 1st - First Reconciliation - Second grade families are invited to join us in celebrating the Sacrament of First Reconciliation at 10:00 am.
• April 13th - First Holy Communion Retreat - This will take place during the normal class period, and 3rd grade families should plan to attend with your child.
• May 3rd - First Holy Communion - Third grade families are invited to join us in celebrating the Sacrament of First Holy Communion at 10:00 am.

As much as I KNOW it will break your children's hearts to hear 😜, we will actually have a few LESS classes at the end of the Religious Education year. I was a little too excited when creating my calendar of classes for the year, so I apologize for the change on you, but realized I scheduled classes into May when our mass times change, and your children are awarded a much-deserved break for their hard work!

Please see below for an updated calendar.

The best events are only successful with the best volunteers! We NEED YOU! Please consider helping to plan, gather supplies, or attend the much overdue return of VBS to SSCD!

REGISTRATION INFORMATION:

Know someone interested in attending? Please share this link with them! You can also direct all interested families to the Church Office for hard copy registration forms.

FORM LINK HERE

Possible ways to help:

*Set up and Tear down of events

*Working a station (sensory bins, play dough, or telling the story)

*Extra hands to assist navigation to and from parking lot and/or directions to access the restrooms.

Continuation of the upcoming classes:

January 12th 11:00 - 12:00

February 9th 11:00 - 12:00

March 16th 11:00 - 12:00

April 13th 12:00 - 1:00 (Inclusive story of the resurrection and egg hunt for all students.)

This section of our newsletter will focus on volunteering opportunities along with resources for you as the parent to continue to support the faith formation of your child converting to an "Adult" within our faith.

As parents, the idea of our 14- and 15-year-olds transitioning to adulthood is TERRIFYING! I will be sharing some meaningful and hopefully helpful resources for you as you make this journey with your child.

Upcoming Volunteer Opportunities:

January:

* SSCD Bible School Planning Committee - January 23rd

*Sensory Classroom Bible Study - Contact Whitney Bargerstock (814) 952 - 0920

February:

* SSCD Bible School Planning Committee - Date TBD.

*Sensory Classroom Bible Study - Contact Whitney Bargerstock (814) 952 - 0920

March:

* Fish Dinner Clean-up / Set-up - More information to come.

* Easter Egg Hunt Planning/Organization - Contact Whitney Bargerstock (814) 952 - 0920

All weather-related class cancellations will be announced through REMIND. Please be sure to download this app and join our class so you aren't left out in the cold this winter season!

I have just recently really started diving into this app, but I am really loving what I have found so far!

You can register at Formed | On-Demand Catholic Movies, Audio Books, Podcasts & More and then when you log in with your email, you simply select our Parish, and you're granted access to all of the content.

Netflix recently released a movie on the power of love and the struggles Mary went through, and how her faith and love saved us all.

I recently came across a trailer for a new Martin Scorsese mini-series. It looks incredible! Check out the trailer below.

As we prepare for the upcoming school year, we want to ensure the health and safety of our students and staff. Here are the diocese expectations for working with students:

• Volunteering for Parties: Parents are welcome to attend and participate in holiday parties if they would like. We simply must have volunteer Criminal Background and Child Abuse clearances on file prior to attending the party.
• Guest Speakers: Throughout the school year I have scheduled several speakers and opportunities for our students to learn more about their faith and the organizations that support our local parish. You are welcome to attend any of these sessions, but clearances must be on file.
• Field Trips: Our goal is to provide a day trip fieldtrip to all of our students in Religious Education programs this spring. In order to attend and chaperone clearances must be provided.
• Community Activities: To participate in any activities sponsored AFTER class times on the weekends, no clearances are required. Only class-related activities require Volunteer Clearances, as part of the diocese Child Protection initiatives.
  
  

Thank you for your cooperation in keeping our school safe and healthy!