From the Principal

Dear Alumni of SHF Catholic School,

Happy Spring!!!! May the risen Christ bring joy and happiness to you and your family. As we enter the last quarter of the school year, you will see and hear a great deal of joy and anticipation these last few weeks of the school year. Our second graders received Jesus for the first time at their First Holy Communion on May 3rd. It is a wonderful time in the lives of these students as they continue the traditions of our Catholic Faith. I am sure that you can remember your First Holy Communion and how special it was for you and your parents.

The month of May brings our annual Field Day, Parish Picnic, Spring Concert, Altar Server / Choir Picnic, and Graduation. On Friday, May 23rd, 55 young men and women will walk down the aisle and become the 79th graduating class from Seven Holy Founders Catholic School. They join a wonderful group of individuals who have gone on to high school with a strong academic foundation rooted in gospel values. Our graduating 8th graders will be attending 16 different high schools in the St. Louis area. I know you will join me in wishing them the best of luck in their future endeavors.

May you have the Peace of Christ in your soul, His presence in your heart and His power in your lives.

Sincerely,

Richard Danzeisen Principal

From the Pastor

Dear SHF Alumni,

Spring has been a busy time at Seven Holy Founders. Many Lenten and Easter celebrations brought us together as a community. It is also the special season for two of the Sacraments of Initiation. On April 11th, the seventh graders were confirmed by Archbishop Burke. Let us pray that what God has begun in them will be brought to full stature in Christ.

The reception of Holy Communion is the most important act of faith that we Catholics make every week. There is no more sacred moment or holier act in our lives. The oneness that we feel with God at that moment is beyond description. On May 3rd our second grade parishioners celebrated their First Holy Communion. Attendees were reminded that from this experience, the Lord sends us out into the world where we can find Him and share Him in acts of love, mercy, and compassion.

As our eighth graders prepare to graduate, they participated in a Luke 18 Retreat. During the first weekend of April they experienced the profound presence of the Lord through talks, sharing, and fun exercises. They left the Retreat with a great sense of energized faith in the Lord Jesus.

Finally, I ask you to join me in celebrating our principal’s ministry to our parish and school. Mr. Danzeisen is departing for another position and we will host a reception for him on Sunday, June 1, after 9:45 a.m. Mass.

Fr. Don

SHF HONORS MRS. ROSE SOMMERS
Mrs. Rose Sommers is the Cal Ripkin of Seven Holy Founders Catholic School, but unlike Cal, she is still pitching!! Over the thirty-four years of her reign, the school office has been a stockade, classroom, court room, comedy store, and confessional for thousands of students. Mrs. Sommers knows ‘where the bodies are buried,’ how to unearth records long thought gone, how to turn upset to laughter, how to advise the confused, teach proper manners, get straight to the point, and know every capability of a Mac computer.

While she has shortened her work schedule, she is still guiding Mrs. Chris Consiglio in learning the needs and minutia of our school. It’s a delicate balancing act - stretched between phones, doorbells, serving the emergency needs of teachers, staffing the volunteer duties, in addition to the daily secretarial duties – all with a smile and a snappy quip.

Thank You, Rose Sommers, and we look forward to many years of “just one more year.” After all, who can imagine “60 Minutes” without Andy Rooney??

AFFTON EXCEPTIONAL EDUCATOR
Kate Vernell has spent most of her life fulfilling the mission of Christ at Seven Holy Founders Catholic School. Ms. Vernell was recently recognized as the excellent teacher that she is by the Affton Chamber of Commerce with their “Exceptional Educator Award.” She was honored at a dinner, surrounded by family and friends. However, Kate believes her greatest honor comes from working these past thirty-four years with students and peers.

Students who have been touched by her teaching appreciate her vast knowledge of literature, passion for teaching and long loyalty to Snoopy! Friends appreciate her sharp wit, commitment to her faith, and enthusiasm for new adventures. Family appreciates her devotion to her dear mother, her generosity, and her affection for her nephews.

Seven Holy Founders Parish appreciates her presence. Kate graduated from SHF and returned to teach, enrich and influence generations of students. She participates in parish activities, fulfills Christ’s mission in quiet committee work and serves as a Small Church Coordinator. We are richer for knowing Kate Vernell and congratulate her on her honor.

SMART Boards THANK YOU GENEROUS DONORS
The interactive whiteboard connects to a computer and projects the color image onto a large screen. The teacher can add handwritten notes (like a blackboard), merge computer applications and explore Internet websites. She may write, erase or perform mouse functions with a finger, pen or eraser. It can be recalled or edited to help re-enforce a lesson. The screens can be printed or emailed; helping absent students ‘catch-up’ or as a homework aid.

Teaching with a SMART Board is limited only by the imagination. Students take virtual fieldtrips and watch science experiments by experts. Motivation and performance improves when the classroom experience is more dynamic and inquiry based. Visual and kinesthetic learners are especially enthusiastic. One student, Jenna Burgess says, “It is extraordinary electronics that teach us in an interesting manner.” Maria Grimaud states, “This is a hands-on interactive learning tool that all students can use.”

The whiteboarding software includes curriculum-specific templates that support math, literacy, and science. Ms. Petruska reports, “I use the SMART Board every day. Working math problems, reproducing problems, used in one class, into the next class allows for continuity between classes. Employing the math tools, such as number cubes (dice) which roll when touched, helps the understanding of the concept of probability.”

SHF students and teachers are grateful for the donations of five SMART Boards to enhance learning in the upper grades. At a cost of about $3,200 each, they are not within reach of our budget. We depend upon grants or tax-deductible donations to acquire such exciting, but expensive, technology enhancements

8th GRADE LEADERSHIP CLUB
The 8th Grade Leadership Club has over 50 members. The purpose of this club is to serve others, both in the parish and local community. Under the direction of parents, the students have the opportunity to assist those who are most in need. This past fall, they helped rake leaves at 15 homes. They set up and cleaned up for St. Vincent DePaul’s monthly rummage sale. Their assistance was most appreciated at the Lenten Fish Fries. Our Auction Committee was very impressed with all of the work that they did before and during the Parish Auction. The students recently prepared a dinner for resident families at the Ronald McDonald House.

When asked about this experience, Ally Giegling stated, “It was fun because we were helping others.” Her classmate Jamie Placht said, “It felt good to give back to the community. It really made me feel good inside.” The Leadership Club promotes a strong sense of “service” to these young men and women.

UPDATE YOUR ADDRESS PLEASE !
For this mailing, we included graduates names from recent years’ buzz books. So the newsletter is sent to your parents’ address. Please update your address on our website at www.shfschool.org/alumni/contact/. You can also join the online forum or enter a blurb on the notes page to keep up with your classmates.

REUNION UPDATE
We hope you will join us for the SHF 80th Anniversary Celebration on Saturday, 20 September 2008. An all-school reunion will begin with 4:30 pm Mass. A reception in the Parish Hall will follow, with refreshments served until 8:00 pm. The Affton Days Festival is also scheduled for that day and begins with a parade at 10:00 am.

If you have suggestions or wish to assist with preparations, please e-mail the coordinator at alumni@shfschool.org. We hope to identify a lead contact for each class to assist with communications and locate missing persons. SHF has about 3900 alumni and we have valid addresses for approximately 2000 persons. Could you help contact your classmates? Would your class enjoy a Sunday afternoon picnic?

To be advised of future details, visit www.shfschool. org/alumni/. A registration form is downloadable and the fee for the event will be $15 per person (beer and wine served). It is due by 10 September. Even if you cannot attend, can you share a brief summary about yourself to include in the Reunion Booklet (email to alumni@shfschool.org)?

Vacation Bible School

July 14 – 18th
Preschool Thru Grade 6