Gracious St. Joseph, protect me and my family from all evil as you did the Holy Family.  Kindly keep us ever united in the love of Christ, ever fervent in imitation of the virtue of our Blessed Lady, your sinless spouse, and always faithful in devotion to you.  Amen  

Prayer to St. Joseph for Protection

St. Joseph's Feast Day is tomorrow, March 19

Upcoming Dates

Fri., March 21                Mom's Scripture Study, 9:15 a.m.

Fri., March 21                Cub Scout Meeting 3:00 p.m.

Fri., March 21               GSCM Fine Arts Center Benefit Bluegrass  

                                    Concert, 7:00 p.m. 

Friday, March 21, 7:00 p.m.

Admission:  $10.00 adults; $5.00 children 13 and under

Proceeds benefit the GSCM Fine Arts Center Improvement Fund

Enjoy an evening of bluegrass music, featuring the bands, Nightflyer and East Fork Junction.   Enjoy great live music and help our school raise funds for further improvement of the fine arts center.  For tickets Click Here.

Facility Improvement News

Announcing Our Lady, Queen of Angels Chapel

Recently, Fr. Dave Lemkuhl, pastor of St. Margaret-St. John Parish, informed us that the parish would cease celebrating Masses at St. John Vianney Church as of June 1.  After our June 6 Graduation Mass, the parish will remove all of the sacred articles to St. Margaret Church, both to use in the sacred liturgy and so that the St. Margaret-St. John parishioners continue to have the visual signs of their history and roots as a parish. 

GSCM has asked Archbishop Schnurr for permission to reserve the Blessed Sacrament in our chapel.  One requirement for this is to have a custodial priest for the Blessed Sacrament, and happily, Fr. Benedict O'Cinnsealaigh has offered to serve in that capacity.  Fr. Benedict takes time from his duties as rector at our Archdiocesan seminary, The Athenaeum, to celebrate Mass with us each month.  We are blessed with his interest in our school's spiritual life!

We also need to provide a suitable space for celebrating Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, and other forms of worship with our community.  The parish's removal of all sacred articles (statues, tabernacle, crucifix, decorative panels behind the high altar, etc.) will mark a significant change to this space. While it will be a disappointment to the children to lose the sacred articles to which they have developed such affection, this time of change also offers a time for fresh renewal.

Planning for "Our Lady, Queen of Angels Chapel"

With this in mind, pending Archbishop Schnurr's approval, we plan to re-name our chapel in honor of Our Lady, Queen of Angels, and to re-decorate it as a beautiful, inspiring, reverent space for worship and prayer.  This work has several facets, and we are seeking help in all of these areas:

• Obtaining articles for sacred liturgy.  We have begun contacting priests, parishes, and other Catholic institutions in search of a long list of articles for the chapel.  The list includes big items such as statues of the Blessed Mother and St. Joseph, and small items such as cruets, corporals, and albs. 
• Action items:  Please contact Dan Teller if ...
• you want to obtain a complete list of the articles we are seeking,
• you have a source for obtaining sacred articles for the liturgy and worship.

• Chapel Design; Many design opportunities now present themselves to us, both in the sanctuary and the nave (main body) of the church.  The entire rear decorative panel wall of the sanctuary will be removed by the parish, so we must re-design the space.  We are consulting with professional designers, artists, and lighting specialists to formulate our design plans.
• Action item:  Please contact Dan Teller if you have design/aesthetic skills and would like to provide input to the design of our renovated chapel.

• Funding:  Because the sudden news of this need came just two weeks ago, we do not have these funds in our budget, nor do we want to approach the GSCM community for funding, as our parents already support the school in so many ways.  We have developed a fund-raising appeal to take to potential outside benefactors to raise needed funds to carry out our chapel re-design. 
• Action item:  Please contact Jana Widmeyer if you know someone outside the GSCM community who would be interested in supporting the evangelistic work of the larger Church through our efforts to serve children and families through a beautiful worship space in Our Lady, Queen of Angels Chapel.

Program News

Staffing Changes for 2014-15

Please note the following staffing changes for next year:

Thank you, Lindsey Schmitt!

Lindsey Schmitt will not be returning as a pre-primary teacher in 3-6 St. Gabriel next year.  Over the past two years, Lindsey and her family have experienced significant life changes, including the arrival of their fourth child and Lindsey's inheritance of a family business upon the recent death of her father.  These life changes have prompted Lindsey to discern that she is called to devote more time to her family and the management of the new business.  We thank Lindsey for her service to our school for the past two years, and are grateful that the Schmitt family will remain a part of the GSCM community, as Evie, Gabriel, and Libby will continue as students in our school.  So, happily, we are saying "Thank you!" but not "Farewell" to Lindsey and the Schmitt family.

Welcome (back), Kara Shade!

Kara Shade will be taking the lead teacher position in 3-6 St. Gabriel.  Kara is a well-known, beloved figure in the GSCM community.   After obtaining her AMI Montessori training (Montessori Institute of Atlanta, 2000) and teaching at the Montessori School of Kokomo (2000-01), Kara moved to Cincinnati to serve as a lead pre-primary teacher at Queen of Angels Montessori (now The Good Shepherd Catholic Montessori) in August, 2001.  Kara's son Kole started as a QAMS kindergarten student at that time.  Kara had a very successful five years at our school as a lead pre-primary teacher and atrium catechist (she is trained in Catechesis of the Good Shepherd) before leaving to raise her growing family.  In addition to serving as a lead Montessori teacher, Kara has served as a long-term Montessori substitute teacher and a lead catechist at our school.  Her son Kole graduated from GSCM in 2010 and will graduate from Moeller High School this May.  Two of her younger children, Isaac and Maria, are lower elementary students at GSCM.  We welcome Kara back to our staff!

Thank you and farewell, Pat Landers!

Pat Landers has decided to leave her position as assistant teacher after this school year in order to devote more time to the care of her family members.  Pat has been a stalwart member of our staff for the past eight years and has been a source of stability in this classroom amidst several lead teacher changes over the past five years.  We thank Pat for her steady, calm, supportive demeanor and work with the children over the years, and we wish her the best as she leaves our staff.

We are in the process of hiring a new assistant teacher for 3-6 St. Gabriel.

Thank you and farewell, Beth Wolfzorn!

Beth Wolfzorn will not be returning to her position as assistant teacher with Mrs. Griffin in 9-12 Guadalupe next year.  This has been Mrs. Wolfzorn's first year at GSCM, and the staff and children have appreciated her kind, calm, helpful demeanor.  Beth has decided to pursue a position as a full-time lead teacher.  We wish her the best and thank her for her service to our students and school.

Next year, Shannon Lotterer will move from her position as assistant teacher in 3-6 St. Michael to assistant teacher with Jenny Griffin in 9-12 Guadalupe.  Shannon's capable, positive energy is a hallmark of her style, and has been a key component of the St. Michael community for the past two years.  Previous to this position (and prior to the birth of the Lotterer's fourth daughter, Ava), Shannon served for three years as an assistant teacher with Mrs. Griffin in the 9-12 environment, supporting the upper elementary students' math and science learning.  Mrs. Griffin and Mrs. Lotterer were a highly effective team, and we are pleased that they will be re-united next year.

Next year, Eileen Myers will move from her position as GSCM After-Care Directress to serve as the assistant teacher in 3-6 St. Michael with Carrie Bucksath.  Eileen has done a superb job running the GSCM Preschool After-Care Program this year in the St. Joseph House, and recently took over the After-School Program as well.  She has provided a variety of experiences for the children, including lots of outdoor experiences (weather permitting!), arts and practical life activities, and extending Montessori work from the classroom into the St. Joseph House.  Eileen has a personal background in fine arts and ceramics and enjoys gardening.  We are pleased that she will work directly with the children of 3-6 St. Michael as an assistant teacher, and we thank her for her fine work with the after-care programs this year.

Positions Available:

GSCM is hiring for the following positions for 2014-15:

• Pre-Primary Assistant Teacher (7:45 a.m. - 12:45 p.m.)
• Extended Care and After Care Directress (11:15 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.)

Applicants should submit a resume and letter of interest to Dan Teller (dteller@gscmontessori.org).

3- and 4-Day Option for 3-Year Olds

Beginning next school year, 3-year olds may select a 3- or 4-day option for attending our morning pre-primary program.  The 5-day program is also available.  Children must turn four after October 1, 2014 to utilize this option.  Parents who have already enrolled children as three-year olds for 2014-15 may also select this option.

Pre-primary tuition will be as follows:

HALF-DAY PRE-PRIMARY:                                                       $4,500.00

3 DAY PRESCHOOL (only if child turns 4 after 10/1/2014)           $2,925.00

4 DAY PRESCHOOL (only if child turns 4 after 10/1/2014)           $3,825.00

Further information will be sent to all current and prospective GSCM parents.

CONFIRMATION ANNOUNCEMENT 

All-powerful God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
by water and the Holy Spirit
you freed Maggie and David from sin

and gave them new life in Baptism.
Send your Holy Spirit upon them

to be their helper and guide.

Give them the spirit of wisdom and understanding,

the spirit of right judgment and courage,

the spirit of knowledge and reverence.

Fill them with the spirit of wonder and awe in your presence.

We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

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Gala News

Did you miss the sign-up sheets for the various children events for sale at the gala? Well, it's your lucky day: it's not too late for your child(ren) to join the fun! You still can make purchases online  Click here. 

Were you unable to attend the gala, but would still like to make a donation (c'mon we know you want to ... remember, it's for all of our children!)? As luck would have it again, it's not too late to donate either! Simply go to the same link as listed above and look for the tab on the left that says Contribute to Our Backyard, it's that easy! Want to boost your personal donation to GSCM without spending more? Huh?! Check with your company's HR Department about a Corporate Matching Donation Program! Yes, companies of all sizes, from GE to small businesses, participate in this wonderful program, and it's as easy as filling out a form from HR to have our school receive more money in matching your own donation. 

The students enjoyed their reward last Friday for their hard work exceeding the raffle sales goal! All celebrated their success at the faculty-hosted karaoke party complete with snacks while watching their teachers and principal perform, singing favorite songs learned in music class to enjoying big hits such as "Let It Go" ... thanks to all the staff who kindly (and bravely!) shared their musical talents with us!

Once again, a HUGE thank you to the Gala Planning Committee who so kindly offered countless hours over these past six months to make this event possible: Rachel Sabo, Susan Thomas, Karen Aust, Mary Beth Escamilla, Kathy Paulin, Katie Kerrey, Jana Widmeyer, Sheila Lichtenberg and KC Stagaman ... and to all those assisting this committee with specific roles: Dan Teller, Nancy Toon, Lynette Rosati-Shim, Annie King, Michelle Housh, Jeff Koehn, Julia Lotterer, Lori Richard, Kathy Restle, Mary Rieke, Kara Shade, Jill Greek, Julia Damico, Christy Pucci, Susan Fisher, Steve Aust, Karen Guilford and Lisa Schmitz. Thank you also to those who assisted with check-in/out, auction spotting, setup and cleanup! Thank you to all who solicited and gathered items for the Live and Silent Auctions, it was greatly appreciated! 

Finally, we would like to thank our entire group of event sponsors for their generosity: Donald "Buddy" LaRosa, Mobile Radon Diagnostics, Joe and Margaret Seta, Seemless Printing, Seeskin, Paas & Blackburn, Inc., Shade Law Group, The RDI Corporation, Time Timer, Ultimate Air Shuttle, Watson's, Isgrig Capital Asset Management, Servatii Pastry Shop & Deli and UBS Financial Services. 

Stay tuned for an update on the amount of money raised - hint: early results are showing that we've surpassed last year's amount!

PTO News:

PTO Board Members Needed for 2014-15

From Lisa Schmitz current PTO President

Do you enjoy learning about our school, meeting new people and being a "good shepherd?"  The PTO Board is a small group which meets monthly to plan and discuss upcoming events.  We also implement new ideas and fund various important events throughout the school year.

We have (5) board positions that need to be filled for the continued success of the PTO next school year.

Open positions:  Vice President, Secretary, Celebrations Chair, Community Outreach Chair, Arts & Education Chair

Please prayerfully consider joining us at our next PTO meeting, Tuesday, April 8, 2014, at 8:15 am in the Music Room to learn more or contact any of the board members listed below.

Current Board Members:

Lisa Schmitz:                lbschmitz61@gmail.com

Jane Koenig:                 dnjnkn@msn.com

Maria Lang:                   mlang31@cinci.rr.com

Nicolay Walz:                nicolay.walz@gmail.com

Carrie Ellis:                   carrielynnellis@yahoo.com

Christine Godar:            chiristinegodar@hotmail.com

Sheri Mitchell:               sheri.mitchell@verbargsfurnniture.com

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Office News:

Graphic Designers -- We need you!

If you are a graphic designer (or know someone who is) and you have some time to help out with upcoming projects at GSCM, please contact Annie King at aking@gscmontessori.org or (513) 236-1917.  Thanks!

77 Items Collected for IPM

Our collection for Inter Parish Ministry's pantry last week brought in 77 cans of meat products and seafood.  Thank you very much for your generosity.

Our next collection will be Thursday, April 10^th.

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