We Are Called

So I run straight toward the goal in order to win the prize, which is God's call through Christ Jesus to the life above. Phil 3:14

I have enjoyed watching The Olympics some over the past couple of weeks. When I see the young teens competing, I wonder what it would be like to be their parents. I wonder how they were so goal driven? Did they get that from mom or dad?

This month we are working on the theme "We are Called to be Christ to one another". We are talking about the virtues of prudence, judgement and foresight. Foresight is defined as consideration of the consequences of one's actions. This is a great virtue to help us with goal setting. If we want to make the basketball team but always practice video games rather than free throws, our foresight isn't too keen.

Lent starts on March 2 (a week from Wednesday). We could use foresight to plan for an effective Lent. Or consider the Bible verse to remind us about eternity.

We are Called!

Kathy Rhodes

Feb. 21 No School President's Day

Feb. 24 Mornings with Mom's (donuts at 7:30)

March 2 Ash Wednesday

March 4 Spirit Day - CYO Track Pictures

March 11 Serve Day and Talent Show

April 20 Confirmation

We're so excited to include the SHOJ Classroom Projects for this year's Brown Bottle Dinner and Auction, which will be held on Saturday April 30th! We've come up with some fun classroom projects that will be available for purchase or bidding on during the silent auction but we need your help! Beth Menghini and Megan Ubben are graciously leading the efforts and have come up with some great ideas. We're trying to take as much off of the teachers as possible, so they are looking for 1 parent per classroom to help with these projects! (No art degrees are necessary!) Please sign up here: https://m.signupgenius.com/#!/showSignUp/10c0f4baaae2da6f94-brown

We are so excited to be bringing our Annual SHOJ Brown Bottle back IN PERSON this year! The event will take place on Saturday April 30th and it will be a “Derby” of a time! One of the more popular items for Brown Bottle are the amazing Raffle Baskets we’re able to assemble thanks to generous donations from our Sacred Heart School and SOR families!! This year we are streamlining the process and have created a sign up genius (https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B0844A5AA22A7F94-2022) based on the various themes! We prayerfully ask that you select an item(s) that you’d like to purchase and donate. No time to shop?...there is a link imbedded in the sign up genius where you can make a cash donation and we’ll do the shopping for you! Your child(ren) can bring in their item(s) anytime between now and April 1st and drop them by the office or give them to their teacher! Details on how to purchase raffle basket tickets for your opportunity to win, will be forthcoming!

Here is an Amazon link:

https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2SKGX1MNPKINW?ref_=wl_share

One of the greatest and simplest things we can do as part of the SHOJ school community is to pray for one another! During the month of February, we are inviting families to pray for other school families. Please sign up with this link by 2/18, and you will be emailed a family (or a few) to pray a Rosary for with your own family. Thank you!

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F4BAAAE2DA6F94-shoj

Some families may be accustomed to praying the Rosary together, while for others this may seem new and uncomfortable. A wonderful place to start is using the Holy Family School of Faith Daily Rosary podcast, during which the Rosary is prayed, with very relatable meditations shared between the decades. You can scroll through the podcast episodes here to find a topic that sounds intriguing.

This video also includes a brief history of the Rosary and an overview of how to pray it (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GuT7HI7ZvfA&ab_channel=BustedHalo%C2%AE) , and this link (https://www.dynamiccatholic.com/rosary/how-to-pray-the-rosary.html) includes the written prayers for a Rosary.

We hope the ways listed above will bring some new opportunities for your family to pray together this semester!

SHOJ Rosary Committee

One of the coolest things I get to experience as a school counselor is to watch kids grow. I get the privilege of knowing and working with your students throughout their entire SHOJ career. I see them face many new things such as starting school, making new friends, making their First Communion and Confirmation, and seeing them graduate from 8th grade. I am sure you can agree that all of these moments include some mixed feelings and maybe even some level of stress. We talk often about stress and anxiety during my counseling lessons and when I meet with students individually and in small groups. I can easily see that it is a universal feeling; kindergarten students might feel it when trying to learn how letters and numbers work together while our 8th graders might feel it when trying to learn how to work well together with their friends. It can be rooted in excitement or it can come from the fear of doubting that we can handle what is ahead. Stress can be strong enough to cause pain. C.S. Lewis said “pain is God’s megaphone.” What I notice is that some of us are hard of hearing. We tend to ignore physical, mental, and spiritual warning signs. God wants us to tune our ears to the messages He sends us through our minds and bodies. My job is to encourage students to become aware of their stress and start to name it in order to start taming it. But stress and worry isn't all bad. It can be helpful and keep us safe if we act on it in conjunction with the Holy Spirit. In this way, it can act as a caution signal.

If you are wondering if your child's worry is creeping into more concerning anxiety or if you are interested in learning how you can help your child prepare for the unknown ahead, check out the links below...

https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/worrying.html

https://catholiccounselors.com/three-steps-to-peaceful-parenting/

During the week of Valentines, we would like to celebrate love, friendship and the art of being kind. National Random Acts of Kindness Day (February 17th) allows us to think about others and how we can take initiative to pay it forward with a simple act of kindness. During the month of February, try out some of the simple and creative ideas from the grid above to really get the kindness flowing. Help your student take note of how he or she feels after initiating a kind deed. Chances are good that he or she feels as good (or better than) the recipient of the kindness.

Here is another healthy recipe to enjoy!

White Bean Chicken Chili

1 pound chicken tenderloins (season with garlic salt and cumin)

2 cans navy beans

1 can pinto beans

2 4oz. cans diced green chilies

1 white onion chopped

1 green pepper

1 poblano pepper

1 jalapeno (remove seeds for less spice)

1 spoon full of minced garlic

1 tablespoon oregano

1 tablespoon chili powder

4 cups low sodium chicken bone broth (can use chicken broth instead)

Pinch of sea salt and black pepper

Steps:

1. Cook the chicken in the skillet first

2. Combine all other ingredients and cook on stovetop for about 45 minutes

3. Add toppings

*Also could make in the slow cooker

Toppings: avocado sliced, shredded cheddar cheese, jalapenos, cilantro, tortillas warmed up in skillet with butter and sliced on top. Enjoy!

Source used: The Wellness Remodel book by Cara Clark (nutritionist) and Christina Anstead

*****Please remind students to bring a water bottle every day! Thank you!*****

Nurse Mary

All Parish Serve Day

Join Sacred Heart Parishioners for an ALL Parish Serve Day on Saturday, February 19! We will meet in the Johnson Drive Parking lot by the basketball goas and travel to various Catholic Charities locations to serve. We will complete the experience with a 12:30 luncheon at a location to be announced. You are welcome to bring your children age 8 and older unless you feel your younger disciples are mature enough to handle a morning of “light labor.” More details and a schedule with be forthcoming. This experience will count for Confirmation service hours. Sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0f4baaae2da6f94-allparish

Registration with our unique charity link: https://smile.amazon.com/ch/48-0625990

Sunday, February 27th

7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

The Jr. High Youth Rally is an annual event hosted by the Office of Evangelization and Catholic Formation of Youth.We will meet at 7:30 a.m. in SHOJ Johnson Drive side parking lot to carpool to Prairie Star Ranch (1 hour drive).

After registering, please fill out this permission slip and return to Jen beforehand at jen.zans@shoj.org or at drop off Sunday morning: https://files.ctctusercontent.com/593b3045601/bc5114ff-41db-4529-b3f9-75ce815a883c.pdf?rdr=true

Prayer & Action: A 5 day mission trip in Emporia, KS helping homeowners with yardwork, painting, organizing and other projects. Through Prayer & Action you receive 30 hours of credit towards any service hour requirements you might have for the 2022-23 School year for CSP, NHS or you are welcome to come if you just have a desire in your heart to serve!
Cost: $175

Prayer and Action Dates:
June 12-17
June 26-July 1
July 17-22

Steubenville Conference: is a high-energy youth conference where thousands of teens are invited to encounter Jesus Christ through dynamic speakers, engaging music, the Sacraments, small group discussions and friendship with other teens. The conference takes place on the campus of Missouri State University in Springfield, Missouri. This year's theme is FEARLESS. "I have told you this so that you might have peace in me. In the world you will have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world." John 16:33
Cost: $300

Date for Steubenville: July 8-10

Register for one or both trips here: https://web4u.forms-db.com/view.php?id=1244037

Faith and Family Night with the Kansas City Mavericks is on February 25th. $5.00 from each ticket sale will be donated to Catholic Charities. Use the link to purchase your tickets and join your friends and family for an evening of ice hockey with the Mavericks while supporting Catholic Charities. https://offer.fevo.com/mavericks-vs-utah-grizzlies-k6pybhb-80484cb?fevoUri=mavericks-vs-utah-grizzlies-k6pybhb-80484cb%2F

Save the Date!

3rd-8th grade CYO Track Team Yearbook photos will be taken at school on Friday, March 4.

· Please remind your students to wear their “We are Called” school spirit shirt with uniform bottoms or jeans on that day.

· CYO Track photos will be taken during the 3rd-8th grade lunch times. Please talk with your child about this in advance so that they know if they are planning to be in track or not. I will just ask that all track members join us for the photo at their grade-level’s time.

Email: kathy.rhodes@shoj.org
Website: school.SHOJ.com
Location: 21801 Johnson Drive, Shawnee, KS, USA
Phone: 9134225520
Facebook: facebook.com/SacredHeartCatholicSchool