Heart Beat Weekly Online Newsletter

Principal's Corner

If enough people think of a thing and work hard enough at it, I guess it's pretty nearly bound to happen, wind and weather permitting.

~Laura Ingalls Wilder

Dear Sacred Heart Families,

I really like stormy, rainy days. In spite of all the hard work we will all do today, inside or out, the weather is bound to get in the way somehow. The wind and rain are exciting, and no matter how much we try to bundle up and protect ourselves, we always come up a bit short in the face of Mother Nature. But of course, this doesn't mean that we shouldn't try to keep dry and warm. A day like today has its upsides too. For one, I'm reminded of the people in the Philippines who are dealing with the aftermath of a devastating storm and flood, and how lucky we are. The storm also reminds me of the goodness of the people in our community. Just brave the winds and drop by the school office sometime today, you'll see what I mean. Mind the boxes, bags of clothes and blankets.

INNISBROOK FUNDRAISER: Once again, I want to say a hearty thank you to Mrs. Ratra, Mrs. Zoco. We posted a very high participation rate, and to me that fact is as important as the actual funds raised. Thanks again to them, and everyone else that helped make this fundraiser a success.

YOSEMITE: Our 8th graders, along with some brave parents and teachers, are now trekking around one of the world's most beautiful parks. We wish them a safe journey as they hike their way around and about the park's many natural jewels.

PARKING LOT SAFETY: We had a car break-in yesterday in the lot directly in front of the school. In broad daylight, the thief smashed a window and got away with an iPod and a camera. The Sherriff's deputy who investigated asked us to warn everybody to keep all valuables on your person, or locked in the glove compartment. Do not leave items on the car seats, and do not leave GPS, cell phone or music player mounts visible. Do all you can to keep your belongings safe.

FINALLY: Please pray for Sam Callahan and his family. Sam is currently a student at St. Lucy's and used to be a student at Sacred Heart with our 8th graders.

Thank you for your continued efforts in making Sacred Heart a great school and community.

God bless,

Tom Pulchny

.

Open House at St.Francis

We would like to invite all parents and students to attend our annual Open House on Sunday, November 1st from 9:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. Tours leave from Raskob Gym every 15 minutes, and last about 1 to 1-1/2 hours. Registration is not required and you are welcome to join us when it is most convenient. Saint Francis High School is located at 1885 Miramonte Avenue, Mountain View, CA.

Sports News

Congratulations to the 5th girls VB team on their 1st ever Mustang win and a big "Way to Go" to our other teams who finished 2nd by only a few points! Glad to see & hear you are all giving your best effort.

This Week:
10/13 6VB plays SFC 1 at 3:45
10/15 5VB goes to Clare at 3:45
10/16 6VB plays Holy Spirit 1 at 3:45, 7VB plays Holy Spirit 2 at
4:45, 5/6 FB plays Mary at 3:45

Next Week:
10/20   5/6FB plays SFC 1 at 3:45, 6VB is at SFC 3 at 5:45 & 7VB is at
SFC at 6:45
10/21   7/8FB goes to Morgan Park to play Lucy at 4:00, 5/6FB plays
Lucy here at 3:45 & 6VB goes to Holy Spirit 2 at 3:45
10/22   5/6FB hosts Holy Spirit 6 at 3:45 & 8-2VB takes on Lucy at 3:45
10/23   7/8FB play SFC here at 3:45
10/23-25 The 7th & 8th VB teams will take part in the Bengal Classic at St Martin of Tours

Good Luck everyone!

Special Note: I would like to thank Ramon Icasiano for totally redoing our Stegal apparatus---it looks AWESOME!

Pictures: OK all you digital people, I know there are pictures out there from last year that I desperately would like to have for the Sport's Loft scrap books. I need 09 8th boys VB, 09 7/8 girls SB and any track or walk-a-thon pictures.

Sports Calendar: Thanks to Mrs. Para for inputting all the sport's info into a calendar--instructions below--now if I can just keep it updated--lol! The Sports Calendar is now online! Just click on the link below! You can also find the Sports Calendar on the school website under the Calendar tab.

October Sports Calendar

If there is any parent out there who can use hours, I'd love to have you be "my" Tec guru for sports--let me know!

Have a great week, Sandy

Faith Formation

8th Graders Reminder
What: Confirmation Parent and Youth Meeting
When: This Sunday 3:30-5 pm
Where:Geary Hall
Agenda: Overview of the Program in 8th Grade

Discuss:

Service Projects

Sponsors (encourage asking godparent)

Mass Journal

Letters on why you want to be Confirmed? What you like about the Roman Catholic Church? Questions you have about the Roman Catholic Church?

Retreat

Confirmation Name

Confirmation Questions

Bible Study
Twice a week I teach catechism to the children in the morning at the general assembly before school begins. This year I have been focusing on God's Word, the Bible and the Sacred Scriptures. We must ask ourselves what is the purpose of God's Word? Why is God's Word so important? The New York best seller list will not even put the Bible on its list because it by far out sells every other book consistently. Throughout history they estimate that there has been between 2.5 billion to 6 billion Bibles sold. The next biggest seller is from Communist China the sayings of Mao Zedong with about 800 million sold and many more freely distributed.

The Bible - is the revealed truth about God, the way God wanted it told. We believe the Bible is the inspired word of God. Meaning inspiration by the Holy Spirit was imparted to the writers. Not that God dictated to these writers what to say, but God used people in their time, culture and experiences to convey a message about who He is through the ages. There will be no new revelation about God until He returns. This means that our understanding of God must be found in the Scriptures - one could not make up things about God and pass it as truth if it is not somehow found in the Sacred Scriptures. As Catholics we believe, tradition is as important as Sacred Scripture. Scriptures, however, come from tradition and that the Holy Spirit continues to guide us, but in like manner tradition could never contradict Sacred Scripture.

Why study the Bible? Why is it so important? Simply, the Bible is the owners manual on life. Now imagine getting a new Tivo, or a new camcorder that came without any instructions - it can be frustrating trying to figure out how to use it. I think about software and the people in the office using it for years without ever knowing all the other functions the software could do. They are so surprised and grateful when I have shown them. If we wonder why our lives might be out of sync, if we feel unfulfilled or lack of joy, we simply need to start going through the owners manual to figure out how to live this thing we call life. If you are interested in a Bible Study we will be beginning Thursday at 9 am in the Parish Center. For more info call me, Patrick DeLorenzo at 408-867-1530. All are welcomed to join.

8th Graders Reminder
We ask all 8th graders who are planning on being Confirmed to be present at the 5 pm Sunday Mass October 18. There will be a public recognition of all candidates and a blessing.

2nd Graders Reminder
What: First Communion meeting with both children and parents
When: This Sunday, October 18 at 10:15 am - 11:30 am
Where: Geary Hall
Agenda discussion on First Reconciliation:
Preparing our children for the Sacrament of Reconciliation
Upcoming Second Grade Sunday Mass on October 25 at 9 am
The upcoming enrollment on November 7, 8 - where the children write their names in the book of enrollment at all the Masses except 7:30 am

This week at the morning assembly we continue to discuss about God's word. The disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray. Jesus began by saying Our Father...This sets the tone; this begins the mystery we have with God in that Jesus did not say My Father. From the beginning God desires greatly to be in a relationship with His people, from Adam and Eve to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob to the prophets and finally to us. Jesus says Our Father... this is the height, depth, and breath of the intimacy God desires to have with us. The ideal father is a provider, protector and models love to his wife for the children. A father is someone who also provides spiritual protection for the soul of the family, a father is one who will sacrifice himself for the sake of the family. God reveals the endless love He has for each of us, by sending His only Son. God is love and His love knows no end. God even now is watching us read this article because He is intimately acquainted with all of our ways (Psalm 139). God knows the longings of our heart, our soul and He is able and willing to enter into our lives in a deeper way if we ask Him. Jesus looks into the eyes of his disciples and says this is how you ought to pray Our Father who art in heaven... Jesus is willing and wanting to share what is most precious to him to those who ask, his Father. Jesus teach us how to pray. Jesus lead us in Your ways. Jesus lead us to the Father. John's gospel says Jesus and the Father are one (John 10:30). He who knows me (Jesus) knows the Father who sent me. Jesus says, I am in the Father, and you are in Me, and I in you (John 14:20). St. Paul states, you are temples of the Holy Spirit (I Corinthians 3:16). God dwells within each of us. May each of us begin to open the temple doors of our soul to the world around us and we begin by praying, Our Father...

Patrick DeLorenzo
Pastoral Associate for Faith Formation

SHS Halloween Carnival

The Halloween Carnival will soon be upon us, Friday October 30, 2009. Please download your forms and turn them into the school office via the Tuesday envelope. Please click on the links below to dowload the forms:

Halloween Carnival Information

Bake Walk

Halloween Raffle

Halloween Carnival Volunteer Form

Student Belongings
by the School Office

Parents please write your students name on thier lunch boxes, sweatshirts, and sweaters. Please check the fence near the playground or the trunk near the school office for any items your child maybe missing.

After School Dance Program
Dance from the Heart

So you think you can dance?

Sacred Heart School is proposing an after-school dance program. One of our new Moms (Marylinn Fleming) taught dance and creative movement classes at her previous Parish school. Over a 14-year span hundreds of St. Bede students enrolled, performed and benefitted from the program. With your interest and support we would like to offer the same excitement, training and joy at SHS.

Classes would begin in November at the start of the second trimester. Boys and girls from every grade are welcome. The tentative schedule would be a one-hour weekly class from 3:15p- 4:15p on Tuesdays for grades K-3 and Thursdays for grades 4-8.

The suggested per-student fee would be $75 per trimester with a 20% sibling discount per family. As a school fundraiser 100% of "Dance from the Heart" program fees will be donated to SHS.

Principal Pulchny and the After-School Enrichment Program would appreciate your feedback. If you are interested in participating in this program we'd like to know. Please contact us on/before October 16th and tell us of your interest and how many of your children might participate (please include grade level).

Please contact: Kathy Jain kathyjain@pacbell.net
Or Marylinn Fleming marylinndances@yahoo.com
(If you have questions please call Marylinn at 818-416-0066 - cell ph)

Thank you very much.

Impromptu Catering
DSJ Logo

Reminder from Impromptu: Ordering for the month of October is now closed. You can no longer place orders online. Please email Impromptu at impromptulg@aol.com or call Eileen Boyer at 408-605-1777.

News Around The Community

Los Gatos Christmas Parade: The deadline for submitting groups for participation in the Los Gatos Christmas Parade is next Monday, October 19th. Is anyone interested in organizing a group of Sacred Heart students to walk in the parade and represent Sacred Heart? If so, please contact Lynn Ball at 255-0320 ASAP.

Sacred Heart Scrapbook: We would like to put together a Sacred Heart scrapbook of past news articles to keep in the office for prospective families to see. If you would be willing and interested to create this scrapbook, please contact Lynn Ball at 255-0320. The deadline for completion of the book is November 11th.

Past news articles: If you are a saver by chance and have copies of past Sacred Heart news articles that you are willing to pass on, please drop them by the office. Anyone keep copies of past years' Teacher of the Year features in the San Jose Magazine, for instance? See scrapbook note above. Thank you in advance for sharing your treasures!

Saint of the Week : St. Marguerite d'Youville
Friday October 16

We learn compassion from allowing our lives to be influenced by compassionate people, by seeing life from their perspective and reconsidering our own values.

Born in Varennes, Canada, Marie Marguerite Dufrost de Lajemmerais had to interrupt her schooling at the age of 12 to help her widowed mother. Eight years later she married Francois d'Youville; they had six children, four of whom died young. Despite the fact that her husband gambled, sold liquor illegally to Native Americans and treated her indifferently, she cared for him compassionately before his death in 1730.

Even though she was caring for two small children and running a store to help pay off her husband's debts, Marguerite still helped the poor. Once her children were grown, she and several companions rescued a Quebec hospital that was in danger of failing. She called her community the Institute of the Sisters of Charity of Montreal; the people called them the "Grey Nuns" because of the color of their habit. In time, a proverb arose among the poor people of Montreal, "Go to the Grey Nuns; they never refuse to serve." In time, five other religious communities traced their roots to the Grey Nuns.

The General Hospital in Montreal became known as the Hotel Dieu (House of God) and set a standard for medical care and Christian compassion. When the hospital was destroyed by fire in 1766, she knelt in the ashes, led the Te Deum (a hymn to God's providence in all circumstances) and began the rebuilding process. She fought the attempts of government officials to restrain her charity and established the first foundling home in North America.

Pope John XXIII, who beatified her in 1959, called her the "Mother of Universal Charity." She was canonized in 1990.

Heart Beat Weekly Deadline for Submissions

The procedure for placing articles, information, flyers or announcements in our weekly Tuesday bulletin is as follows: All "blurbs" are due by email to the school office by Friday of each week at noon. Please send your emails to c.parra@sacredheartsaratoga.org

Non-Discrimination Information

Sacred Heart School does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and/or ethnic origin, age, sex or disability in administration of educational policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school administered programs.