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December 2013 Alumni E-Newsletter |
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Dear Friends,
During the season of Advent we wait in hopeful anticipation of Christmas. Daily, we recognize God's presence among us through his Holy Spirit and as a community we make an effort to worship fully, give more and pray deeply.
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Graduates join the choir for the Hallelujah Chorus.
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This month we gathered together for the Advent Wreath blessing and a reconciliation prayer service. On Friday, December 20, we will welcome hundreds of visitors for our annual Advent/Christmas Mass.
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The Eagles' live Toys for Tots appearance on KARE 11.
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Totino-Grace students donated to the boys' hockey team's Toys for Tots Drive and collected items for the Giving Tree. Upperclass LINK Crew members hosted a Christmas party for freshmen as a part of their high school transition program.
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Past and future Eagles at Breakfast with Santa.
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Our extended community spent a festive Saturday morning at Totino-Grace for Breakfast with Santa. This year's event reached record-breaking attendance with over 450 guests gathered for holiday fun and games with their family.
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Fall service project and mission trip groups.
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Totino-Grace students and staff have ventured to New York, St. Louis and Chicago on mission trips this fall and we continue to serve after school at a number of local schools and non-profits. In addition to our morning chapel and Mass schedule, we now offer Friday morning Praise and Worship for our students to join their peers in song and prayer.
At Totino-Grace, we are blessed to be a community of faith. We are called to care for one another and be of service and support to those who need us most. We are a tight-knit and dedicated community and we are a family. As we near the end of this calendar year, we examine the challenges and successes of the past and look forward to the opportunities the future has in store for us.
Blessings to you and your family during this season of anticipation and celebration. We hope that the new year brings you and your loved ones many joyful moments and memories to last a lifetime. We look forward to seeing you and hearing from you in 2014!
Live, Jesus, in our hearts...forever!
Kelly Refsnider
Director of Constituent Relations
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In Memory
Susan Ward
Mother of Chadwick '90 and Christopher '93.
LaDonna Van House
Mother of Michael '73, Stephen '76, David '77, Marie '80, James '86 and Karen '90. Grandmother of Dan '96, John '97 and Beth '02 Van House.
Angie Ley Henderson
Class of 1998
Sister of Michelle Ley Skalicky '95.
Denise Fournier Nelson
Class of 1972
Sister of Cyndee Fournier Iannazzo '70
Gerald Primmer
Father of Anne '80, Patricia '81, Sarah '82, Robert '83, Susan '86 and Tim who attended with the class of '87
Jean Price
Mother of Kathleen '08
Laura McGinnity
Mother of John '70 (Corrine Carpenter '70), Harry '71, Patrick '72, Michael '74, Mary '76, Kathleen '78 and Anthony '82. Preceeded in death by William '77 (Mary Jo Goodman '78).
Frank Arellano Sr.
Father of Frank Arellano '81
Charles LaVaque
Father of Julie '79
Adeline Zelenak
Mother of Jeannine '73
Father of Leo McFarland '84
Greg Weinand
Husband of Mary Gundersen Weinand '73. Brother of Annette '75, Monica '78, Mary '77, Rochelle '83 and Scott '84. Father-in-law of Justin Kindelspire '97.
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School News
 SpotLight Musical Theatre Program Awards
Totino-Grace High School's fall production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat was part of Hennepin Theatre Trust's SpotLight Musical Theatre Program. The program recognizes, encourages and celebrates student participation and achievement in musical theatre. Visit www.hennepintheatretrust.org and the SpotLight Musical Theatre Program page to learn more. This year's Spotlight Theatre Awards were given out mid-December and the cast, crew and pit orchestra received a number of honors. Click HERE to view the complete list. Congratulations to all who participated in the production!
Honoring a Special Student 
As you may have heard or seen from our social media pages or local media, Rachel Woell - a junior at Totino-Grace - is battling a brain tumor and recently completed her radiation treatments. On December 6, our community held a convocation to celebrate Rachel and recognize the important gifts she has shared with each and every one of us. A video, including all students, faculty and staff members, was created to visibly show our love and support for Rachel. We surprised her with this special convocation and a display of 700 lime green t-shirts in her honor. Click HERE to learn more about Rachel's special day, view photos from the event and read our blessing for her. Please keep Rachel and her parents in your prayers and visit her CaringBridge page to follow her story.
3M Educator Award
Congratulations to Mr. TJ Paal, Enrollment Director and Social Studies Teacher, for receiving 2nd place in the 3M Innovative Economic Educator Competition. To have been selected for this competitive award is an outstanding achievement and it reflects highly on Mr. Paal and his creativity in the classroom.
Junior Donates 3,000 Hats
Totino-Grace junior Joe Schwartz was featured in the Sun Focus for his work with Hats Off for Cancer. After Joe volunteered at Children's Hospital for the St. Baldrick's Foundation's "Conquer Childhood Cancers" event, he felt the need to do more. In three short weeks, Joe collected and donated 3,000 hats to the University of Minnesota Amplatz Children's Hospital, Children's Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota and Blank Children's Hospital in Iowa. We are so proud of Joe and his service! Click HERE to view the article.
President Search
The Totino-Grace Corporate Board is pleased to announce it has formed a Presidential Search Committee to oversee the Board's search for the next President of Totino-Grace High School. The selection of the next President to lead our community is perhaps the most important responsibility of the Board. For more information on the Search Committee's work, visit the Presidential Search page on the Totino-Grace website.
Discover TG: Winter Open House
Thanks to all graduates and past parents who promoted and participated in our Discover TG: Fall Open House. On Wednesday, January 8, we will welcome interested students and parents to attend our second Discover TG: Open House event. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. with our program beginning at 7:00 p.m.
The Placement Exam and Registration event for the Class of 2018 will begin at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 18, at Totino-Grace. Current and former members of our community are our best ambassadors. Please continue to share the good news of Totino-Grace with family, friends and neighbors. If you or a prospective family have questions, contact TJ Paal at 763-586-6314.
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Alumni News
 Breakfast with Santa
Totino-Grace's annual Breakfast with Santa took place on December 7. Children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews of current and alumni parents, graduates, faculty, staff and friends joined us for our special holiday event. Young guests played games, made Christmas crafts, had their faces painted, jumped in the bounce house, took photos with Santa and shared breakfast with their family. Our event was supported by a number of volunteers, including our photographer, Jesse Johnson '08! Free-will donations were accepted for Totino-Grace's Angel Outreach; our guests generously donated nearly $2,000 to the fund! Thank you to all who attended and donated!
Advent/Christmas Mass and Luncheon
On Friday, December 20, our community will gather for the annual Advent and Christmas Mass. Mass will begin at 10:00 a.m. in the large gym. Totino-Grace graduates are invited to stay for the alumni luncheon in the Retreat Center immediately following the liturgy. Please consider joining us for this celebration.
St. Charles School Hosts 75th Anniversary Reunion
Calling all St. Charles Borromeo School alumni! Planning for an All-Class Reunion is underway with the event set to be held on September 27, 2014 in conjunction with the 75th anniversary of the school. If you are a St. Charles graduate, please CLICK HERE to provide your current contact information. You are invited to forward the link to your fellow St. Charles alumni (siblings, children, relatives and friends) in an effort to reach as many as possible.
Class Reunions
Classes that end in 4 and 9 are due for a reunion. If you are interested in helping coordinate your class reunion, please contact Kelly Refsnider in the Alumni Office at kelly.refsnider@totinograce.org.
Visit the Alumni Reunion page of the Totino-Grace website for details regarding your class event or to contact the reunion coordinators.
Benefit for Rolayne Renstrom '72
On November 3, Rolayne Renstrom experienced a very unfortunate and tragic accident. The outcome was life-changing and has left her unable to continue her work as a hairdresser and business owner. Family members and friends will host a benefit in her honor on Sunday, January 5 from 2:00-6:00 p.m. at the Crystal VFW #494 located at 5222 56th Avenue North. The benefit will feature a $10 spaghetti dinner, silent auction, music and cash bar.
Benefit for John Bautch '82
Family members and friends of John Bautch '82 invite the Totino-Grace community to attend John's Fight - A Benefit for John Bautch '82. Proceeds will assist John and his family with the expense of his cancer treatments. John has battled cancer on and off since 2002. The benefit will take place on Saturday, January 18, 2014 at Uppercut Gym, located at 1324 Quincy St NE in Minneapolis. 5:00-6:30 p.m. - Social and cocktail hour. 6:30 p.m. - Live music performed by Easy Speak. The event will include appetizers, a cash bar and silent auction. For more information, visit johnsfight.com.
Angie Ley Henderson Memorial Service
A memorial service for Angie Ley Henderson '98 will take place in the Totino-Grace High School chapel on Friday, December 27 at 10:00 a.m. A brief reception will follow. Angie passed away in November after a long battle with cancer. Click HERE to view her obituary.
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Advancement Office News
Year End Giving
Our faculty, staff and students would like to thank all alumni and past parents who contributed to Totino-Grace last year. The support received by alumni accounted for more than $150,000 in the 2012 - 2013 school year and we hope to exceed that amount this year. We are blessed to have 800 young men and women enrolled at Totino-Grace and graduates like you willing to invest in their future. Thank you for your support in the past and we hope you will continue to keep Totino-Grace in your thoughts, prayers and charitable giving during the holidays.
Thank you in advance for your generous financial support. God bless and merry Christmas.
Donate online at: www.totinograce.org/giving
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