Saint Rita News

November 30, 2009 Volume 3 Isssue 13

Virtue of the Second Trimester
“Compassion”

Compassion
“Jesus saw her weeping...
his heart was touched , and he was deeply moved.”
•Try to show compassion by thinking about how your words make people feel.
•Try to show compassion by thinking how your actions make people feel.
•Try to show compassion by understanding WHY someone is acting the way they do.
•Try to show compassion by being considerate to other people.

What is Stewardship? St. Rita Night at the Si-

“Follow Me,” Jesus sim-
ply but powerfully
commanded of the
Apostles and they did.
That call is made to us
as well in this time. How
do we follow Jesus? We
try to live our lives as he did – the exam-
ple of the perfect steward. It is the care
and use of all that we have been given by
God and is often explained in terms of
talent, treasure and time. Giving of self is
one of the most charitable acts we can of-
fer.
Our former students, Austin Alvarado,
Nick Clarizio, Kate Liberio, Bridget and
Ivy Fitzgerald, Josh Valmonte, Dylan Si-
mone, Royce Holly-Ledwig, James and
Connor Nelson and Conor Schatzel
cooked and delivered hot food to the
Pasadena Union Station on Thanksgiving
morning. Conor Schatzel, James and
Conor Nelson stayed to serve as well.
The mission expected over 2,000 people
on Thanksgiving day. When the kids and
parents arrived with the food, they were
greeted with applause from the waiting
crowd.
erra Madre Playhouse was a
sell out success! Our stu-
dents and cast members,
Sophia Davis and Elysee
Vielma were fantastic. We
raised $500.00 for the Playhouse and $460.00
for Holy Childhood Association.
Students in grades 4 and 7 under the
direction of Mrs. Horn and their
homeroom teachers made decora-
tions for the St. Rita Tree in
Kersting Court for Saturday’s Dick-
ens Village.
Thanksgiving morning, our
dads held the annual Turkey Bowl at Sierra
Madre School. The white team won al-
though it was close down to the final sec-
onds. I must admit it was the most excit-
ing game I watched all weekend (well, the
Stanford- Notre Dame game was a close
second).
Delicious refreshments and the cheers of the chil-
dren and moms made for a Norman Rockwell
reminiscent Thanksgiving portrait.

1
 Saint Rita News
Important Dates
Sunday 11-29 First Sunday
of Advent--Today we light the first candle
of Advent the candle of Hope or Prophecy.
This candle reminds us that God made a
promise to His people. he gave them hope
by promising to send a Messiah. Let hope
enter our hearts as we wait for the Mes-
siah, Jesus Christ, to come again. 10:00
Mass Welcome to the new Music Minister
Monday 11-30
Tuesday 12-1 School Mass Sponsored by
the 5th grade class. Please arrive at 7:45. we
practice the songs in the church before
Mass
Cyber Bulling presentation will be hosted
at Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Parish
Wednesday 12-2 Consultatve Board
Meeting
3rd grade Field Trip. Fenyes Mansion.
7th grade Field trip to the Norton Simon
Museum.
Thursday 12-3 Hot Lunch Roma Pasta
Friday 12-4 Report Card Day
Saturday 12-5
Sunday 12-6 Second Sunday
of Advent -- Today we light the second
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
upon God’s greatest gift of love, His Son.
Monday 12-7 1:45 Assembly with
John Archambault
Tuesday 12-8 School Mass Sponsored by
the 4th grade class. Please arrive at 7:45. we
practice the songs in the church before
Mass
Wednesday 12-9 PTO Board Meeting
Virtus Training Grades K-8
Thursday 12-10
Friday 12-11 Field Trip 4th grade to the
Cathedral
Saturday 12-12
Sunday 12-13 Third Sunday of Advent--
Today we light the third candle of Advent,
the candle of Joy or Shepherds. Jesus’
birth brought joy to the shepherds in the
field that night. In the 2,009 years since, He
has brought joy to the hearts of millions of
people. Let the light of joy shine forth from
us to all those in need of God’s message
of truth and peace.
Welcome to the
Advent Season
“Make ready the way of the
Lord.”-Matthew 3:3
The word Advent comes from two
Latin words, ad and venire,
meaning “to come.” Advent be-
gins the fourth Sunday before
Christmas and ends on Christ-
mas Eve. To Christians every-
where, Advent is the season for
waiting and watching for Christ.
During the dark month of De-
cember we think of what Jesus’
coming meant to the people who
waited for Him to be born and
what it means to us today. We
light one additional candle on the
Advent wreath each Sunday, add-
ing more light to our world the
closer we come to Christmas Day,
the day when Jesus, “the Light of
the World,” took away darkness
and fear forever.
The students in second grade have been
off to a great start and are continuing to
learn new things every day. So far this
year we have continued to grow in our
fluency and comprehension by reading
enriching stories in our new reading se-
ries, California Treasures. We've built on
our math facts and even baked Apple
Jack cookies as we learned more about
fractions. We've studied frogs and their
life cycles in Science and are excited to
move on to our Fossils unit where we will
be building a dinosaur! Come check it out
in PAC hall in January. In Social Studies,
the students did a fantastic job on their
"Depending on Others" project where
each student had a different fruit or vege-
table to research how it goes from the
farm to the market. Our next project, due
after Christmas vacation, is "A Flat Stan-
ley Adventure" where we send flat ver-
sions of ourselves to family and relatives
throughout the United States. We are
excited to learn about our nation! Finally,
the second graders continue to grow in
Christ as we learn about God's Rules - 10
Commandments - as well as the impor-
tance of forgiveness in preparation for our
First Reconciliation at the end of January.
It has truly been an honor and a pleasure
to work with your children as they demon-
strate their learning every day. I am over-
joyed to be a part of the St. Rita family
and I thank you all for your kindness and
warmth as you welcomed me.
God Bless,
Mrs. Melissa Cash
PS. The second graders are running
VERY low on pencils (we go through
them like crazy) and we would very much
appreciate any donations. Thank you!