Heart Beat Weekly Online Newsletter

Dear Sacred Heart Families,

REFLECTION
What follows here is probably one of my favorite quotes to live by, from a man whose writings I admire very much, C.S. Lewis. I don't know about you, but for me, the image of "wild animals" is spot on. I've resolved to practice this idea for many years now... maybe this is the year I will succeed!

"The real problem of the Christian life comes where people do not usually look for it. It comes the very moment you wake up each morning. All your wishes and hopes for the day rush at you like wild animals. And the first job each morning consists simply in shoving them all back; in listening to that other voice, taking that other point of view, letting that other larger, stronger, quieter life come flowing in. And so on, all day. Standing back from all your natural fussings and frettings; coming in out of the wind.

We can only do it for moments at first. But from those moments the new sort of life will be spreading through our system: because now we are letting Him work at the right part of us. It is the difference between paint, which is merely laid on the surface, and a dye or stain which soaks right through."

By C. S. Lewis (excerps from Mere Christianity)

GIFTS OF THE HEART
Included in this week's envelope is a repeat flyer for our technology-focused Gifts of the Heart campaign. I know that there are many "asks" on your plate, and we thank you so much for considering this one... Our campaign this year will benefit our students in a very direct and positive way.

PSAS AND 2010-2011 FINANCIAL AID
We do not want finances to prevent a family from remaining part of the Sacred Heart Community and will do our very best to help. Though our tuition rates for next year are not yet determined, if you believe your family will need financial assistance please complete the PSAS forms. The forms must be postmarked by 2/19/10 so please have your forms in to us a week earlier, by the 11th of February. The School Code required by PSAS is 3073. The forms are available in the office, and are attached here.

Please note: THE PSAS FORMS MUST BE COMPLETED IN ORDER TO BE CONSIDERED FOR FINANCIAL AID IN THE 2010-2011 SCHOOL YEAR.
Please let us know if you have any questions.

PARKING LOT SAFETY
A reminder to all drivers at pick-up and drop-off time: The pick up locations are the front of the breezeway towards the school, or the side by the preschool. No students are allowed to wait by the church entrance, or cross the driveway. Safety is our primary concern and we thank you for helping us keep all the students and parents safe!

WASC ACCREDITATION
As you may be aware, the staff and I have busily been preparing for the visit of our Western Association of Schools and Colleges WASC accreditation team. The team is led by Mr. William Langley. Mr. Langley was a longtime principal in our Diocese, and in Arizona, where he now resides, and his experience will be supported by five other team members, all of whom are either administrators or teachers. WASC accredits many private schools, and some public schools, by reviewing all of the facets of the school organization, from the curriculum on down to the plant and other resources. The focus of the visiting team is always on the school's impact on student learning and achievement. The team's first visit to our school is today, they will receive our self-study document and plan their more comprehensive visit that takes place in late February. When finalized, I will make the self-study document available, for checkout, to any parent who would like to review it.

IN THE CLASSROOMS...

AWASO ACADEMY BOOK DRIVE
The 7th Graders are leading the way with our gently used book Drive for the Awaso School Academy in Ghana. The school is the dream of Fr. Paul Mensah. We are hoping that he will be visiting the school this week. Please be generous with any books, in good condition that you have.

This is Vocations week, and this week, we have visitors to the classrooms talking to the students about Vocations. Sr. Chang of the Daughter's of Mercy spoke with the 5th graders about her ordeal as one of the Vietnamese "boat people" and how that experience strengthened her faith and led to her vocation. Many thanks to Mr. Striebel for organizing these visits to our students.

God bless, Tom Pulchny

Financial Aid For 2010-11
PSAS Forms

If your family is interested in applying for Diocesan Financial Aid, please stop by the office to pick up an application. Forms are due to the school office by February 11, 2010.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Day School Closure

Please be aware that on Monday January 18, 2010 SHS will be closed for Dr. Martin Luther King Day. School will resume on Tuesday January 19, 2010.

Did you know?
At the White House Rose Garden on November 2, 1983, President Ronald Reagan signed a bill creating a federal holiday to honor King. Observed for the first time on January 20, 1986, it is called Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Following President George H. W. Bush's 1992 proclamation, the holiday is observed on the third Monday of January each year, near the time of King's birthday. On January 17, 2000, for the first time, Martin Luther King Jr. Day was officially observed in all fifty U.S. states.

Please find the Class Basket and Silent Auction forms for the 2010 Under the Sea Auction. The forms are attached below. Paper forms have also been placed in today's Tuesday Envelope.

Class Basket Forms

Donation Forms

Sacred Heart Women's Club 8th Grade Class

Workshops for Busy Mom's

School Moms will not want to miss this very special seminar just for you; Mom Group : Nutrition for a Healthy Family.

Sponsored by the Sacred Heart Women's Club see the attached flyer for complete details.

Workshop Information

The Center for Developing Minds Presents

"Building an Organized Mind"

Presented by Dr. Damon Korb, Center for Developing Minds

Wednesday, January 13
7:00pm-8:30pm

St. Leo the Great School
1051 West San Fernando Street, San Jose

Free event for the community

- invite your friends to attend this great presentation!

hosted by St. Leo the Great School and PTG

Complimentary on-site babysitting available, with RSVP below.

The Center for Developing Minds, created by Damon Korb, M.D., is a specialty clinic in the Silicon Valley devoted to developmental and behavioral pediatrics. The Center for Developing Minds provides care for children and young adults who struggle at home and school due to behavior issues, learning difficulties, attention problems, social skill deficits, autism spectrum disorders, developmental delays and psychological disorders.

Dr. Korb has been a featured speaker at many events and conferences, and lectures to parents and professionals on a wide range of neurodevelopmental topics. Previous presentations have included: Oppositional Behavior in Children and Adolescents, Attention Constraints on Friendships and Learning, Helping Your Child to Navigate Their Social Worlds, Developing the Attention System, Stopping Meltdowns and Tantrums, What Pediatricians Should Know About Attention Deficits.

Please RSVP by January 10th to attend this Speaker Night. RSVP to Rhonda Del Valle at rdelvalle@stleosj.org

If attending this presentation, free babysitting available onsite.

Wrap With Love
Christian Living

Christian Living is conducting a collection of warm clothing, blankets, coats, sweatshirts, shoes, socks, boots, sleeping bags. These gently used and clean items will help keep recipients warm at local shelters and EHC Lifebuilders.

We will be collecting before Mass on Thursday January 14 and the weekend Masses of January 16 & 17, 2010. Thank you for your continued support of our stewardship efforts within the greater community.

Postagepalooza Update

Happy New Year and welcome back! Just wanted to give everyone an update on Postagepalooza's fundraiser! Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, to all who participated! We made over $700 ($728 to be exact!) for Sacred Heart! The company called me over the holidays to let me know that all is well and they were busy processing the orders! Hopefully your product will be here before the end of January so that all your "goodies" can be used as the Valentine's they were meant to be!

Again, thanks to everyone who participated! It meant alot to me and I know it means alot
to the children! All the best to everyone for a Peaceful and Beautiful New Year!

Sincerely,
Miss "T"

School Speak URL

Please click on the link below for School Speak. Then save the URL in your Internet bookmarks.

School Speak

Mustang Classic Snack Shack
by Gail McCarrick

It's time for the 26th Annual Sandy Foehr Mustang Classic. We are hoping to stack the snack shack with your help. If you would like to donate scrip, cash or specific items (please see flyer) to help stock our snack shack our sports program would greatly appreciate your support. Thank You!

Snack Shack Flyer

Sandy Foehr Mustang Classic
by Bill Kellinger

We need volunteers to Clean-up, keep the Scorebook, work the Clock, the Snack Shack and manage the Admissions Door.

The basketball tournament runs from Wed Feb 3rd through Sunday Feb 7th.

To volunteer, pick your time and enter your name ( as many times as you want) on the spreadsheet at the link below:

http://sheet.zoho.com/home.do

Username: mustangclassic
Password: mustang
Click on "Mustang Classic" spreadsheet on the left hand side.
Enter name in for the times and job you want.
Click the save icon in the toolbar and exit.

If you prefer, you can also volunteer by email or phone:
b_kellinger@hotmail.com
408.324.6203

Mustang Classic Flyer

Thank You!

Impromptu Lunch Orders

You may still order lunch for the month of January. Please contact us impromptulg@aol.com or 408-605-1777.

Impromptu Catering Website

Pizza Lunch
by Vicky O'Hara 8th Grade Class

Last Friday, there were over 20 students who expected pizza lunch but had not submitted their order. While there are a few extra slices ordered each week, we cannot accommodate that many students. Please make sure that you have submitted your new order. Your order needs to be received by the end of the school day Wednesday for your child to receive lunch this Friday. Thank you for your cooperation.

Pizza Lunch Order Form

Movement Lab
Debbi Salom

Movement lab resumes this week. Please note the upcoming dates and scheduled families. If there are any questions or concerns please contact debbi_salom@yahoo.com or by phone at 408-375-7117.

January 19
K Pesce
K Sykes
1Grubinskas
1Kipp
2Icasiano
3Wang
3Fritch

January 26
KRusconi
KSalom
1Burke
1Zmrzli
2Aboud
3Boswell
3Vallen

Sports News

Our Mustangs are off to a great start! Congratulations to both the 8th boys and girls on their come from behind victories and to 7th boys on their win! Both 5th boys teams played as one team in the Lucy Tournament and finished 4th. Way to go!

This Week
1/12                 5G go to Holy Spirit 1 at 3:45, 5R boys go to Lucy 1 at 3:45 &
                        5W boys go to Lucy 2 at 4:45
1/13                 7G are at Andrews at 5:00 & 8B are at Andrews at 6:15, 6G play
                        Andrews 1 at 3:45. 6B play Holy Spirit at 4:45 & 8G play Mary at 6:00
1/14-17            7 & 8 boys play in the Bengal Classic
1/15-17          6B are at the Lucy Tournament

Next Week
1/20                 6B plays Andrew 2 at 3:45, 8G plays SFC 2 at 4:45, 5-1B goes to
              SFC 2 at 3:45 & 5-2B goes to SFC 1 at 4:45
1/21       8B plays Holy Spirit 2 at 3:45 & 7G plays Holy Spirit at 4:45
1/22                 5G plays Holy Spirit 1 at 3:45 & 6G plays Holy Spirit at 4:45

Sandy Foehr Mustang Classic--please check out our volunteer needs to see if you can help us make the 26th Classic an awesome one!

Alumni News: Wow did you see the HS sports VB section last week? SH had 3 players make the Mercury Team--Joan Caloiaro (06 Formico) was 1st team WCAL and Mercury news. Shannon Fleming was 2nd team Mercury News and WCAL. Riana Brennan was 1st team All League and Freshman of the Year. Honorable Mention for Marianne Gera (St.Francis) Middle Blocker. AWESOME JOB!

Have a great week, Sandy.

Faith Formation DSJ Logo

In the movie Avatar, there are these large winged birds called Toruks. Toruks are partnered with members of the Na'vi (blue people) for life. The Na'vi people have tentacles that connect to the Toruk birds, like a USB connector of some sort, whereby they can read each other's minds. As Christians, we too have connectors. Jesus said, "Remain in me, as I remain in you. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in me. I AM the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing." (John 15:4-5).

The questions are: how are we connected to the Vine? How can one be disconnected from the Vine? We are connected to God every time we do a kind act, for all goodness comes from God. We are connected every time we pray, for all inspiration to pray comes from the Holy Spirit. We are connected to the Vine when we put Him first in our life; when we surrender to His love and kindness; when we allow Him to fill us with His peace. Jesus is the Vine we are the branches and we know we are connected when we do acts of love, for God is love (I Jn.4:8).

Patrick DeLorenzo
Pastoral Associate for Faith Formation

Second Grade Parent Reminder:

Grade 2 Parent/Child First Communion Session
Sunday, January 24
Geary Hall (10:15-11:30)

Saint of the Week:
St. Paul the Hermit

It is unclear what we really know of Paul's life, how much is fable, and how much is fact.
Paul was reportedly born in Egypt, where he was orphaned by age 15. He was also a learned and devout young man. During the persecution of Decius in Egypt in the year 250, Paul was forced to hide in the home of a friend. Fearing a brother-in-law would betray him, he fled in a cave in the desert. His plan was to return once the persecution ended, but the sweetness of solitude and heavenly contemplation convinced him to stay.

He went on to live in that cave for the next 90 years. A nearby spring gave him drink; a palm tree furnished him clothing and nourishment. After 21 years of solitude a bird began bringing him half of a loaf of bread each day. Without knowing what was happening in the world, Paul prayed that the world would become a better place.

St. Anthony attests to his holy life and death. Tempted by the thought that no one had served God in the wilderness longer than he, Anthony was led by God to find Paul and acknowledge him as a man more perfect than himself. The raven that day brought a whole loaf of bread instead of the usual half. As Paul predicted, Anthony would return to bury his new friend.

Thought to have been about 112 when he died, Paul is known as the "First Hermit." His feast day is celebrated in the East; he is also commemorated in the Coptic and Armenian rites of the Mass.

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" and fliers are due by email to the school office by Friday of each week at 12pm.

Please send your emails to c.parra@sacredheartsaratoga.org

Any items received on a Monday will be placed in the next week's bulletin. Please be prompt with sending in your bulletin items.

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.