Saint Rita News

December 5, 2009 Volume 3 Issue 14

Virtue of the Second Trimester
“Compassion”

Advent
Only a saint could maintain the patience needed to confront Christmas shopping,
Christmas stress, and Christmas credit card bills. That's too bad because something else
gets overlooked in the rush—and that's Advent. So here are a few brief ways to enjoy
yourself over the next few weeks.
First of all, get to know Advent. This liturgical season is a time of waiting—some-
thing that we all do: we're waiting for some good news, for a better job, or for our
lives to improve. Advent is a time when we think about waiting for God, so it fits
in perfectly with our natural human longings. “Come, thou long expected Jesus,”
as the hymn goes. Advent is also the time of beautiful Scripture readings, like
those from the Book of Isaiah. “The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad, the
desert shall rejoice and blossom.” These are readings to give all of us hope! And
Advent is the season for beloved church traditions, including the Advent wreath,
which can easily be translated into home rituals.

Second, cut back on the craziness of Christmas preparations. Here are just a few suggestions: send cards
only to close friends and family; drop one present per person from your list; and go only to the most es-
sential holiday gatherings. Does that sound selfish? It's just the opposite! It will give you time to spend
with those you really love, and more time to spend in prayer.
Maybe Advent is when you can really settle into your spiritual life, by finding joy in the season and less
stress in Christmas. In short, Advent may be the time that you've been waiting for!

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom

Today, our students were delighted by a visit with John Archambault, a St. Rita alumnus
and a children's writer dedicated to making reading comfortable, stimulating, and above
all, fun for young readers. He has enjoyed a productive and successful collaboration with
Bill Martin, Jr., with whom he shares an interest in the art of storytelling and in creating
books that are meant to be seen and heard, as well as read. Archambault and Martin have
also combined their efforts in designing innovative ways to help
children discover the sheer joy of reading.

Archambault was an eager reader and writer as a child. He was particularly inspired by
E. B. White's classic novel Charlotte's Web after being introduced to the book by his
third-grade teacher. Archambault read the book cover-to-cover and it was then, as he
recalled on his Web site, that he realized what he wanted to do with his life. "I told my
teacher, Mrs. Williams, that I wanted to do what E. B. White does," Archambault com-
mented. "She said, 'John, if you want to be a writer, you have to be a reader.’”

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 Saint Rita News
Important Dates Tuesday 12-15 School Mass Sponsored
by the 4th grade class. Please arrive at 7:45.
HOLY CHILDHOOD
ASSOCIATION
Sunday 12-6 Second Sunday we practice the songs in the church before
of Advent -- Today we light the second Mass
candle of Advent, the candle of Love or
Bethlehem. As we gaze on this candle may
its glow warm us and fill us with the love
of Christ, now and forever. May we reflect Wednesday 12-16
upon God’s greatest gift of love, His Son.
Thursday 12-17 6:00 All School
Monday 12-7 Moola Monday Christmas Program K-8 in the
Happy Birthday Mrs. Cash Church
1:45 Assembly with John Archambault UPDATE!
WOW! The Students
Friday 12-18
Tuesday 12-8 T-Shirt Tuesday have collected.
Immaculate Conception $1018.18 so far.
Saturday 12-19 Happy Birthday Jose Our Goal is to collect
School Mass Sponsored by the 4th grade
class. Please arrive at 7:45. we practice the $4500.00 by the end of
songs in the church before Sunday 12-20 Fourth Sunday of Advent the School Year!
Mass Today we light the fourth candle of Advent, The 6th grade class
the candle of Peace or Angels. Just as the
angels who appeared to the shepherds collected over
Wednesday 12-9 Warm up Wednesday 3200 PENNIES
brought them news of peace on earth, so
La Salle Science outreach 5:30- we pull away from the busy pace of the Keep up the good work!
7:00 p.m. season to focus on the peace Christ
PTO Board Meeting brought to the world.
Virtus Training Grades K-8
Candlelight Walk and Christmas Caroling:
Thursday 12-10 Toiletries Thursday A special Sierra Madre community tradi- Attention Parents:
tion! 6:45-8:00 p.m. Bring a sturdy can-
dle in a cup and meet on the church
Friday 12-11 Footsie Friday steps. Please fol-
Happy Birthday Mrs. Davies low our
Field Trip 4th grade to the Cathedral Thursday 12-24 Christmas Eve safety
4 p.m. Children’s Mass. Families guidelines
invited to bring an unwrapped at all times.
Saturday 12-12 Feast of Our Lady children’s gift donation. 10 p.m. If it is rain-
of Guadalupe Mass Carols and meditations ing you still
followed by 10:30 p.m. Vigil need to drop
Sunday 12-13 8:00 a.m - 12:00 Mass with Choir. off in the designated
8th Annual Men’s Club Pancake Breakfast areas. 2 Mom’s this
and Visit with Santa
Friday 12-25 Merry Christmas morning parked in
Third Sunday of Advent-- Today we light
the third candle of Advent, the candle of 8:30 a.m. Mass the handicapped
Joy or Shepherds. Jesus’ birth brought joy 12:00 noon Mass parking by the
to the shepherds in the field that night. In church. These spots
the 2,009 years since, He has brought joy
to the hearts of millions of people. Let the Tuesday 12-29 Happy Birthday Mrs. are reserved for
light of joy shine forth from us to all those Pearson Handicapped drivers
in need of God’s message of truth and going to Mass. The
peace. Advent Concert of Lessons Carols Fine for parking in a
The Community Chorus of Redlands 5:00
p.m. in the Church. Freewill offering handicapped spot is
$450.00
Monday 12-14
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 Saint Rita News
Eighth Grade
The 8th graders are in the trenches with analytical essays on the short stories from
their literature anthologies.  In Social Studies we are studying the US. Constitution
and the Bill of Rights, thus the students act as judges when deciding the legality of
gathered evidence, sentences, individual rights, etc. In science we just finished the
skeletal and muscular system and are moving into the digestive system.  Perfect
timing for Christmas dinner!  Outside of the classroom, various activities are un-
derway for these maturing individuals.  Some of the students have decided to be-
come "pen friends" with students from Kings College  in Wimbledon, where my
cousin teaches.  Others are on the road to making 100 blankets to donate to two lo-
cal charities.   Eight are taking on Academic Decathlon, whose competition is in
early March and another eleven are trying out for Speech & Debate whose next
competition is February 11th.  They are looking forward to three upcoming activi-
ties: A presentation at St. Philip's by Rachel's Challenge on December 14th; making
Christmas ornaments with our 2nd grade buddies the following Wednesday; and
finally presenting the traditional tableaux at the Christmas Pageant.  Have a won-
derful holiday season!  Love, Ms. Carnighan

Rachel’s Challenge Field Trip

In connection with St. Philip the Apostle, our junior high students will take a
field trip to their school to participate in a presentation by Rachel's
Challenge.  Rachel Scott was the first victim in the Columbine High School
shootings and Rachel's Challenge wants to continue her to dream of creating
a chain reaction of kindness throughout the world. (For more information,
please check out www.rachelschallenge.org)  Their middle school program is
called Rachel's Story, and lasts 2.5 hours.

Science
La
Salle
Science
Outreach

for
students
in
grades
6,7,8
This

Wednesday,
December
9th

5:30­7:00
p.m.
Fun,
interesting
and
educational
experiments
in
biology,
chemis­
try
and
physics
provide
a
“first
look”
at
high
school
science.
Sign

and
return
the
parent
permission
slip
today
and
return
to
school

tomorrow
along
with
a
$2.00
admission
fee.


Hot Lunch
Attention all parents that we pre-order all our lunches, we are not cooking on
the premises.  This is why we do not allow the kids to change their orders.  If
a child wants to wait until after all kids have been served what they ordered,
no problem.  However if we allow the kids to change their orders at whim,
many kids will not get what they originally ordered.  If this is an issue, maybe
the parents could take a little more time discussing with their child what
they would like and fill out the form more carefully.  If we have to order extra
to accommodate changes we will have to operate the program at a loss which
does not benefit our school.
Thank you,
Diana Nofal

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 Saint Rita News
Tents are made for Camping, not housing
Over 9,000 individuals and children are living in tents, cars, or under
bridges in the San Gabriel Valley. These and thousands of others are at
risk of hunger. Help us together with Catholic Charities in alleviating their
suffering during the Christmas Season.

“The King will reply, “I tell you the truth, whatever you did
for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for Me.”

Help the homeless during the Holiday’s the week of December 7-11

Moola Monday
Today we collected $ for bus tokens. A simple bus token (worth $1.25) can honestly make a world of dif-
ference for a person if it is for their job interview, medical appointment, and social services registration.
Kindergarten $30.00 First $ not counted Second $ not counted Third $ not counted
Fourth $66.86 Fifth $75.10 Sixth $ not counted Seventh $90.00 Eight $ 261.50
$....and Still Counting 419 tokens so far
T-SHIRT TUESDAY: Out shopping for your children? How about picking up an extra pair of socks, under-
wear, or package of T-shirts.

WARM-UP WEDNESDAY: Did you know our 8th grade class has been making blankets, I am sure we all have
a few too many blankets in our homes. Let’s see how many we can gather to help out those who are cold and
living on the street. If you donate used items be sure that they are CLEAN and in good con-
dition, (please only give what you yourself would wear or use.)

TOILETRIES THURSDAY: Did you collect lots of those sample shampoo’s and soaps
while on vacation this summer. Why not clean out your travel bag?

FOOTSIE FRIDAY: New or gently used shoes. Can you imagine not having something
warm on your feet? Just can’t believe your child never wore those dress shoes more than once
or twice, how about those tennis shoes that you just had to have but gives you blisters? Why not
give them to someone who can use them?

HELPING HANDS
If you can help gather and box items, or transport items to Los Angeles, please
contact Mrs. Landis 355-6114 e-mail Landis@st-ritaschool.org