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Please take the time to read today's newsletter. It is rather lengthy but all of the infomration is so very important.
Remeember, if you would like to submit an article to our PUMA PRIDE Newsletter, please email it to:
All articles need to be submitted by Wednesday, 3:00 PM
Student written articles are also encouraged.
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A Time for Thanks, A Time for Giving
by Garrett Culkowski, Grade 7
How often do we take the time to think about all the graces God has given us? Our family, our friends, the clothes we wear, the food we eat and the bed we sleep on. Surveys have estimated the total number of homeless people in Toledo at 0ver 2,500. A recent "point-in-time" survey showed that there were 94 families with children living in participating emergency and transitional shelters, How often do we take the time to think about all the graces God has given us?
On Thursday, November 17, I was able to take part in the City of Toledo's 14th Annual Homeless Holiday Luncheon. Every year the city partners with area homeless shelters and service agencies to sponsor a Thanksgiving lunch for the less fortunate individuals and families living in Toledo. This year, seven agencies: St. Paul's Community Center, Glass City Church of God, Martin Luther King Kitchen for the Poor, Good Samaritan, Cherry Street Mission, Helping Hands of St. Louis, and Toledo Seagate Food Bank all worked with the City of Toledo's Department of Neighborhoods to provide a full Thanksgiving feast. Another nine agencies were there to provide services such as health checks and tests, housing assistance, legal assistance and recovery assistance.
My job at this yearly event was to serve desserts. I wasn't sure what to expect. When I arrived, there were already a few families, not just individual people, but actual families starting to gather. It stunned me to see a great number of people who probably just live day to day in a shelter or on the street. I never even thought of how many people, just in Toledo, don't get all of their daily needs and essentials met. But I was there to work and work I did. My assignment for the day was to prepare and set up the desserts for the meal. That meant cutting pies and cakes and putting them on plates and making sure both serving lines always had enough. It also meant being the "go-fer" for all of the other people that I was working with. "Garrett, go-fer more trays, go-fer more gloves..." When the meals were all served, it was time for clean-up. There were enough trash bags and boxes to be hauled away that they filled an empty dumpster.
It was a long day and I was exhausted when it was over, but I was amazed when I heard we had served over 800 meals in less than three hours. It was also a bittersweet day. I felt good for being able to give back to my community and truly provide service for others. I also felt sad. Knowing that there are so many people in need, so many people in our own city, kids my own age and younger were all there just to get a full warm meal.
So, how often do I take the time to think about all the graces that God has given me? Probably not often enough. But after this great experience that I had, that will all change.
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 Reading is FUNdamental How many times have you seen this phrase or heard various media stressing the importance of reading in the daily lives of our children? Routinely, teachers in our classrooms work to help today's students understand and enjoy reading. Reading can and should be fun. Modeling reading at home is one way to show our children how important reading is and also how reading for enjoyment can be just that - enjoyable. According to a recent article in the Toledo Blade, Thomas Friedman states that "parental actions that support children's learning at home are most likely to have an impact on academic achievement at school."
Please do your part and help the classroom teachers support reading, not just as a subject in school, but as a fun activity that can be done in the home, in the car, on the beach, in a chair, under a bed, with a cat or even reading to the family dog. Reading CAN be FUN! |
Photo Courtesy of Abbi Weber, Gr. 8
Lunch Line Dilema
We have four microwaves in the cafeteria. Each lunch period has approximately 90 students. The students have 20 minutes for lunch which includes coming in from outside and opening their lunch. Each microwave has an average of seven students waiting in line. Each student has food that takes at least two minutes to heat up.
How much time will the last student microwaving have to eat their lunch?
ANSWER: 1 minute 5 minutes to come in from outside, take coat, hat and gloves off. Unpack lunch. 2 minutes - first student at microwave
2 minutes - second student at microwave
2 minutes - third student at microwave 2 minutes - fourth student at microwave 2 minutes - fifth student at microwave 2 miinutes - sixth student at microwave 2 minutes - seventh student at microwave - YOUR CHILD
1 minute to "woof" down their food knowing they can't eat it all and will still be hungry when they go back to class AND they are thinking about how they are going to tell Mom or Dad that they didn't have time to eat their food at lunch and they are now starved...
SOLUTION: Pre-heat or defrost any microwavable food at home as much as possible. Or, be daring... send in a homemade lunch and surprise everyone!!!
Thank You,
Marilyn Gerathy
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Parents' Night Out - Tomorrow!
Yes, you are reading it right! St. Pius X School is offering you a free night out on the town to do whatever you want. You can go shopping, take in a movie, dine without the munchkins, the choice is yours! Drop your children (ages 2 1/2 years old - 6th grade) off after 6:30 PM at the Family Life Center. We will provide adult-supervised activities, student volunteers to assist when needed, pizza, juice and snacks for all. A Christmas-themed movie, basketball activities, and a Uno table are just a few of the events planned. A free-will donation basket will be provided. Children need to be picked up by 9:00 PM.
Flyers have gone home with a returnable pre-registration slip attached.
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 Student Council Holiday Jeans Day A special $1.00 Jeans Day has been planned for Friday, December 16 by our St. Pius X School Student Council. All students are invited to bring in a $1.00, wear jeans and a holiday top to celebrate the season and help someone's Christmas wish come true. Proceeds will benefit the Angel Tree. |
Counselor's Corner
Mrs. Elise Buchhop 
A large part of my role and goals at St. Pius X involve working with students and teaching in the classrooms. Here are some of the ways we've been doing that: M&M's-(K-8) Our first school-wide lesson for the year involved M & M's! · Grades 4-8 focused on ways we can stop labeling others, and start focusing on the good that is on the inside. We discussed how labeling affects St. Pius X, and each student reflected on what they can do to make St. Pius X a better place to be. Ask your 4th-8th grader about their goals to achieve this. · In grades K-3, we learned the M & M motto that what's on the inside is the best part of who we are. Ask your K-3rd grader about Mrs. Buchhop's gifts she brought in, and about the M & M color taste testing (hint: they taught us a lesson)! Peacemakers Program (K, 1, 2, 4, and 5) · Penny Jenkins, a presenter from the Peacemakers Program, has been coming in over the past month to work with grades K, 1, 2, 4, and 5. She adjusts her presentation and activities about being respectful and friendship building based on the grade level. This program is put on at no cost to St. Pius X, and is much appreciated. Second Steps and Steps to Respect- (1st and 3rd) · I have been in first grade each week implementing the Second Steps program. We are currently finishing the first of three units, which focuses on feelings. Through videos, role-playing, photographs, activities, and discussions, the students better understand the feelings they feel, along with learning to recognize how others feel. · The third grade Steps to Respect focuses on treating others the way you want to be treated. I come into the classroom once per week. So far, we have learned about respectful behaviors, communication, joining groups, bullying, what a bystander is, and what to do when you are in difficult situations. The third grade also learns these skills through videos, role-playing, photographs, activities, and discussions. Crash- (6th) · I have been meeting with the 6th grade during their language arts class a couple times per week as we read the book, Crash, by Jerry Spinelli. This book is a part of a 6th grade Steps to Respect curriculum. We discuss respectful behaviors, and bullying as it relates to the book and to our experiences at St. Pius X. Role-playing, writing, and activities were just a few ways we processed and understood the message and skills that the book taught us. As you can see we have been busy in the classroom, and there is much more to come. I value my time in the classrooms, because I feel I can reach more students, be more proactive, and work to prevent problems before they even happen. I also continue to work with small groups and individuals as needed. I you would like me to work with your child on things such as academics, personal matters, social concerns, or just have a question in general, please don't hesitate to e-mail, call or send in a note to me. Mrs. Elise Buchhop, School Counselor Stpiusx_buchhop@nwoca.net 419-720-2191 (ext. 260) - Mon., Thurs., or Fri.(am) |
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Santa Shop is Here!
The day all our students have been waiting for is finally here. TOMORROW, Friday, December 2 is the day for our annual Santa Shop. There will be many gifts to purchase and ALL items are priced between $1 and $5.
Please remember to send in money with your child along with their shopping list. It works best when you send the money in to school in a zip lock plastic bag.
Parents! You are more than welcome to come in and shop with your child. Just check with the classroom teachers for the specific times reserved for their class.
If you have any questions or would be interested in volunteering, please contact: Aili Meyers at quiltgirl@bex.net or call 419-349-1317.
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Brrr....It's Getting Colder...
The weather is quickly changing and with the seasonal changes comes colder, wetter weather. Please, please, please help us out. All students need to come to school with a winter coat, hats, gloves and boots when needed. We try to get the students outside daily (providing that the temperature is above 25 degrees). Because they ALL go outside, they ALL need hats, gloves and winter coats. Also, please remember to pack shoes when the students wear boots to school. Boots are not part of our uniform and are not permitted in the classrooms.
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December Calendar of Events
Friday, December 1 $1 Jeans Day, Power of the Pen
2:30 PM Benediction in Church
Sunday, December4 Cub Scout Pancake Breakfast after
all Masses
Wednesday, December 7 Barnes and Noble Day
Thursday, December 8 Holy Day of Obligation. Masses at
8:30 AM and 5:30 PM
Saturday, December 10 Breakfast in Bethlehem, 9:00 AM
Thursday, December 15 Christmas Program, 1:30 and
7:00PM
Friday, December 16 Student Council $1 Jeans Day
Wear jeans with holiday top
Sunday, December 18 Grade 7 presents The Living
Nativity, 6:30 PM
Wednesday, December 21 Last day of school before break
Dismissal at 2:00 PM
Thursday, December 22 through Monday, January 2 -
Christmas Break
Tuesday, January 3, 2012 - First Day of Second
Semester, 3rd Quarter
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St. Pius X Day at Barnes and Noble Do you love to read? Is there a special book that you have been dying to get from the bookstore? Is there a person on your Christmas list that is really hard to buy for? If you answered 'yes' to any of these questions, then make sure you mark your calendar now for December 7, next Wednesday and join us at Barnes and Noble for our St. Pius X School Reads for Kids bookfair.
Proceed from this fund raiser will benefit our Angel Tree. St. Pius X will receive a percentage of sales for the entire day as long as you mention St. Pius X School when you check out. If you can't get to the store, you may purchase items on line. Just mention our code ID#10569051.
At 6:30 PM, a selection of holiday books will be read by Mrs. Sue Richardson, Mrs. Beth Patrilla and our very own, CHAMP. |
St. Louis Helping Hands Food Drive Contest...
Christmas is a time for giving and it is the hope of all at St. Pius X School that each and everyone of us can be actively involved in this year's Advent Mission Project. St. Loius Helping Hands has put out a plea for some very wanted items to help them continue their mission in helping the poor and needy of our area. This year the 7th grade class has taken on the role of Class A mbassadors and they will be working in pairs with their designated classes to encourage all of our students to do what they can to help fill up our baskets for the needy. On a daily basis, we will be collecting the following items that have been requested by St. Louis Helping Hands: Canned Soup Canned Fruit Cereal Tuna Macaroni and Cheese Students will be given one point for each item that they bring in. However, there are also Bonus Items that St. Louis is in dire need of. For each of these items, the students will be given two points. These items are: New or Used Pots and Pans New or Used Bed Sheets New or Used Towels New or Used Blankets The class that has the highest number of points accumulated throughout the contest will win a Surprise Treat to be enjoyed in January. The 7th grade student ambassadors will collect the items from the classrooms on a daily basis. The contest runs from Monday, December 5 through Monday, December 19. Please help us help others!! |
Income Based Vouchers for Private Schools
The Ohio House of Representatives have introduced a bill, House Bill 136, also known as the Parental Choice and Taxpayer Savings (PACT) Scholarship that, if passed would provide income based vouchers so families could send their children to a participating private school. These vouchers would be worth up to $4,626 per student for a family of four earning $61,189 or $2, 313 per student for a family of four earning $95,000.The bill creates ways for parents' tax dollars to follow the education of their children, regardless whether they have attended public or chartered nonpublic schools. In order for this bill to pass, your representative needs to hear from YOU. If you do not know who your Ohio representative is, visit: For an overview of the bill, please visit the Parish website at www.parish.org. |
Christmas Performances
This year's Christmas program will be Dec. 15th with an afternoon performance at 1:00 and an evening performance at 7:00 in the church. For both afternoon and evening productions the students are expected to wear their Christmas best. This means, no jeans, t-shirts, sweatshirts, hooded sweatshirts, tennis shoes etc. for all students, no exceptions. Students will NOT be wearing gym clothes to school on this day.
See you on the 15th! Come early to get a good seat!
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St. Pius X is Proud of Our Alumni
Congratualtions to all of the following St. Pius X alumni who have graduated from St. Pius X School and have now earned honors at their respective high schools this past quarter:
Cardinal Stritch
First Honors Catherine Rieker, Nicholas Torres
Kirsten Zalewski
Second Honors Cora Adkins
Third Honors Brennan Crawford
Central Catholic
First Honors Eileen Iannone, Zoe Jones, Bailey
Platz
Second Honors Jacob Anderzack, Katiann Boose,
Rachel Byczynski, Caitlyn Canestraro,
Caleb Lohman, Logan Lorenzen,
Samantha Roe, Maggie Steinmiller,
Kelsey Sullivan, Benjamin Sullivan,
John Todak, Kaylie Wales
Notre Dame Academy
First Honors Haley McPartland, Olivia Hauser
Second Honors Sophie Daiber, Maureen Hack,
Molly Wells
St. Francis deSales
President's List Andrew Quattromani
Second Honors Sean Culkowski, Sammuel Nusbaum,
Thomas Pasch, Thomas Quattromani,
Joseph White, Noah Whitehill
St. John's Jesuit
Class Honors James Stephens
St. Ursula Academy
President's List Erin Kelly, Madison Linenkugel,
Lauren Petersen
Dean's List Stephanie Cisek, Erin Grisham,
Elizabeth Hertz, Molly Joyce, Mara
Kalinoski, Caroline Kelley, Margaret
Kelly, Megan McCabe,Jessi Riley
First Honors Neera Martin, Catherine Weaver
Second Honors Emily Clark, Shelby Linenkugel, Morgan
Ziegelhofer
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