While I know many of you may have heard me share this story, I feel like Catholic Schools Week warrants repeating why I chose Catholic schools. I grew up with a physically disabled sister in the 70s, so attending a Catholic school was not an option for my family. Instead, we attended a Gahanna school just a few houses from where we lived. I LOVED going to school each day and my goal was to become a teacher in my public district; however, God had another plan for me.

I firmly believe fate placed me in a Catholic school for my student teaching experience, because it was almost immediately that I felt the Catholic school difference. When a member of the community was in crisis, everyone pulled together to help the family in need, which demonstrated a whole new level of community for me. At the time, our country was involved in the Gulf War. Each day, we gathered together in the hallways, held hands, and prayed a decade of the Rosary for an end to the war. Additionally, there was a strong emphasis on thinking beyond ourselves to serve others and make a difference in the world. Within weeks, I knew I was called to teach in Catholic schools, and I'm incredibly proud to be able to lead at a Catholic school where I can help form our future disciples of Christ.

During Catholic Schools Week, our students had the great opportunity to hear vocation stories from several people with SPX connections last week. As always, Fr. Dave demonstrated how gifted he is with sharing a message that children will remember. We are grateful for his faithful witness to his vocation. See below - his video was too good to not share!

Friday, February 10 Yearbook Sale Ends

(Go to hrimaging.com, search St. Pius X, then click Order a Yearbook.)

Tuesday, February 14 All-School Mass

Tuesday, February 14 Beta Club Jr. State Convention

Tuesday, February 14 Valentine's Day Parties Grades K-6

Wednesday, February 15 $1.00 Dress Down Day (This was moved off of the originally scheduled date of 2/14 due to Mass and has been paid through FACTS.)

Monday, February 20 NO SCHOOL Presidents' Day

Tuesday, February 21 School Board (Library, 7:00 p.m.)

Wednesday, February 22 Ash Wednesday Mass (1:00 p.m.)

Thursday, February 23 Kindergarten Screening

Thursday, February 23 Pizza With the Pastor (Grades 1-3)

Friday, February 24 Kindergarten Screening

Friday, February 24 Friends Across Time (Grade 5)

Friday, February 24 Stations of the Cross

Friday, February 24 Newsletter Published

Tuesday, February 28 All-School Mass

Thursday, March 2 Multicultural Night (Gym, 6:00-7:30)

Thursday, March 2 Used Uniform Sale (Cafe, 6:00-7:30)

Friday, March 3 Stations of the Cross (Led by 5th & 6th)

*Monday, March 6 Re-Enrollment Due for 23-24 School Year*

Tuesday, March 7 Lenten Penance Service

Wednesday, March 8 Coffee with Judge Cocroft (Parish Center, 8:00 a.m.)

**The yearly calendar may be found by logging in to your FACTS Family Portal.**

You should have received an email earlier in the week with a link to re-enroll. Please contact Cheryl at cvanmete@spxelementary.com with questions.

We are only able to provide financial assistance (from the diocese or SPX) to families who complete the application through FACTS Management. Please use the link below.

Congratulations to Mrs. Maloney's Class for winning our Food Drive Challenge for the HEART food pantry during Catholic Schools Week. Because of everyone's generosity, we were able to donate 1,292 items to the pantry! Mrs. Maloney's class will receive a catered lunch from Wendi's Catering! Thanks to Wendi Wagner, mother of David, for her generous donation!

Congratulations to the Boyet Family! Their name was chosen during our Open House and they will receive $250 off their 23-24 tuition for referring a family to SPX!

Congratulations to Mrs. Angle's Class for winning the CSW Door Decorating Contest! The winner was chosen by all the prospective families who attended the Open House event last week. The kindergarteners were excited to win an extra dress down day!

We'd like to thank the Fr. Andrew H. Hohman Council 5253 at SPX for hosting the Knights of Columbus Free Throw Competition. We had 269 total kids participate--149 boys and 120 girls. Congratulations to the following students who won their age group and will compete in the district level on February 11th at SPX!

Girls

Age 9: Katie Lewis - 4 baskets

Age 10: Zoey Locklear - 7 baskets

Age 11: Maggie Mertz - 7 baskets

Age 12: Hannah Held - 11 baskets

Age 13: Alexis Kline - 10 baskets

Age 14: Kaytlynn Murphy - 9 baskets

Boys

Age 9: Chandler Ross - 9 baskets

Age 10: Patrick Stevens - 12 baskets

Age 11: Joey Glanzman - 2 baskets

Age 12: Cristiano Mampieri - 10 baskets

Age 13: Jake Pitcock - 13 baskets

Age 14: Joe Zang - 8 baskets

Our fifth graders had the great opportunity to participate in their first Friends Across Time meeting last week. This inter-generational program partners our fifth graders with senior buddies from SPX or Seton parishes. During their monthly meetings, they spend time getting to know one another, play games, and participate in service activities. During this month's meeting, they created valentine door decorations for residents at The Bickford, an assisted living home for seniors. We'd like to thank Mrs. Moriarty for all of her research and organizational efforts that she gave to get make this valuable experience happen for our students. We are confident the students and seniors will both benefit from these new relationships!

Thanks to Mrs. Beth Hanna for organizing such a fun week for Catholic Schools Week!

Last week, our second graders had a special visit from Fr. Dave. He shared a personal story from his childhood, reviewed the process of Penance and Reconciliation, and answered many questions from the students.

Congratulations to our 2nd grade students who celebrated their First Reconciliation last weekend or who will celebrate this weekend! Thanks to Mrs. Hayson and Miss Thomas for all their help preparing the students for this special sacrament! Please pray for our second graders as the continue to prepare for First Communion.

We'd like to thank our 8th grade chairs of the Daddy-Daughter Dance for creating a great night of fun, dancing, community, and father-daughter bonding: Diana Glanzman, Tricia Gegorski, Erin Caldwell, and Theresa Kline. Additionally, we'd like to thank Jenn Sommer for designing and donating a BEAUTIFUL balloon arch, Shannon Miller for donating her time as their amazing DJ, Erica Pitcock for her incredible photography skills, Rees Flowers and Gifts for their gorgeous corsages, Sam's Club for their donations of food and gift cards, and all of the other 8th grade parents who volunteered the night of the event! We heard such positive feedback about the event and the girls look so darn cute!

SPX is looking for students in 3rd-8th grade (who have received their 1st Communion) to be trained as altar servers for school and weekend Masses. Please print and complete the application (below) and return the application to the school office by Friday, February 17th.

We are incredibly proud of Mr. Chris Kitsmiller, father of Caroline, who was inducted into the St. Charles Basketball Hall of Fame! Having girls from his 8th grade SPX basketball team show up to support him made the evening even more special!

Tickets for A Night In Green, St. Pius X Home & School Association’s largest fundraiser are ON SALE NOW! The 10th annual auction gala will take place on March 25th from 6-10pm in the school gymnasium. Don’t miss out on this fantastic evening! A Night In Green allows the community of St. Pius X to come together and enjoy a spirited evening of food, music, and fellowship in celebration of our faith, our school, and our future! Get you tickets now! https://one.bidpal.net/anightingreen/welcome

Interested in sponsoring, donating, or volunteering? Reach out to the auction committee via email at anightingreen@yahoo.com.

Please note we are still collecting donations for class baskets which are a favorite feature of our silent auction. You can make a monetary donation through this link. https://square.link/u/QiW0IIln

Can't wait to see you on March 25th!

Jen Harsh & Meghan Swails

Please use this link to shop the HSA Spirit Wear Store which is open until February 20th. All items are expected to be delivered the week of March 10th. Please contact Hilary at hgturpen@gmail.com with questions.

https://2023spxspring.itemorder.com/

Join us for Multicultural Night on Thursday, March 2nd from 6:00-7:30! Come learn about cultures from around the world! Guests will fill out passports and earn tickets for the chance to win fun prizes. We currently have 15 countries represented. There is still time to sign up to present! If interested, fill out this form: https://forms.gle/JaowEeVdT3qcSkbC6

Contact Miss Thomas at ethomas@spxelementary.com with any questions.

Spring sport offerings include:

Track and Field grades 4-8

Softball grades 4-8

Baseball grades 4-8

*Grade 4-8 sports are DRA SPX sports

*6U T-ball, Co-ed is through Reynoldsburg Parks and Rec

*8U Baseball through COIYL

*8U and 10U Softball through COGFP

- 8U Baseball and 8U and 10 U Sofball teams are made up of SPX kids on same

team

ALL SPORTS NEED VOLUNTEERS TO HELP COACH!!

To sign up as volunteer, use the same registration link but choose volunteer/coach

instead of athlete. Coaches for softball and baseball are needed at all grade levels.

Track and Field is especially in need of coaches for the 4/5 grade team and sprint

coaches.

Register at https://spxaa.net/home

If you have questions, use the contact us link on SPX AA home page.

Donate to Mrs. Dixon's Kickstarter campaign and be one of the first people to snag a copy of her newly published book! Please click on this link for more information: http://kck.st/3lmyGzc

Cristo Rey High School will be holding information nights at 6:00pm on the following dates:

• Feb. 22
• March 7
• March 22

Please contact Meghan Devring at mdevring@crchsworks.org if you'd like to attend!

Email: stpiusx@cdeducation.org
Website: https://www.spxelementary.com/

Location: 1061 Waggoner Road, Reynoldsburg, OH, USA
Phone: 614-866-6050
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SPXSchoolReynoldsburg