April 2010A Publication of the CSJ Educational Network

CSJ Educational Network A Ministry of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange

440 South Batavia ● Orange, California 92868 ● (714) 744-3113 ● Fax (714) 744-3168 ● www.csjednetwork.org

Network NewsSt. Cecilia, Tustin seventh and eighth grade classes welcomed Holocaust survivor and speaker, Marianne T. Dazzo. As a seven year old, Mrs. Dazzo experienced first-hand the horrors of the Holocaust and is now committed to helping educate the community about its realities and repercussions.

The students listened in rapt attention as Mrs. Dazzo recounted her experiences during World War II. Her happy family life in Holland changed forever during the 1940s. She told of narrowly escaping a raid en route to school, living on the run while caring for her two year old sister, accepting the kindness of strangers, and struggling to resume a normal life following the end of the war. The events were made even more vivid as students studied original documents including Mrs. Dazzo’s Star of David badge, her mother’s Dutch identification papers, and photographs from the time.

Seventh grade students reflected on Mrs. Dazzo’s presentation. One student noted that it “made you think about what being alone really means.” Another commented, “Hearing about it makes me think differently about my life today.” The students were particularly surprised to hear about the devastation that Mrs. Dazzo’s family experienced long after the war ended as they struggled to cope with anger, depression, and violence.

Mrs. Dazzo’s visit was part of the school’s Catholic Action Responsibility Education (C.A.R.E.) program. In addition to listening to Mrs. Dazzo’s first-hand account, students researched the Holocaust with a focus on the role of rescuers, visited the Museum of Tolerance, and participated in the Chapman University Holocaust Art and Writing Competition.

As Catholics, we are called to spread St. Paul’s message that “nothing can separate us from the love of Jesus Christ and that as part of the body of Christ we all have gifts to share.” At St. Cecilia the students experience

this teaching of our faith through the Catholic Action Responsibility Education (C.A.R.E.) program.

C.A.R.E.GoAls And dREAms

To create in our children an informed and compassionate attitude toward others that will remain with them throughout their lives.

To teach the children that Christ’s words must

not only be learned, but lived at home and at school, and acted upon in our world.

That students, parents, and teachers model Christ in the way we live by treating others with respect and consideration at home and at school.

As God’s people, we will put our beliefs into action by reaching out in service to those in need in our communities, our country and the world.

NETWORK SCHOOLS SHINESt. Eugene Cathedral School, Santa Rosa won first place overall honors at the Santa Rosa Diocese Junior High Academic Decathlon. Four of the team members received individual subject medals in math, science, social studies and literature. The team will compete in the state competition in May.

Competing in the Orange Diocese Junior High Academic Decathlon, the team from St. Juliana, Fullerton placed fourth in the Super Quiz competition. Two falcons were awarded individual medals in math and current events.

Also competing in Orange, St. Cecilia, Tustin won two sets of team medals. The team placed fourth in both the Super Quiz and in the overall competition. Two students earned first place medals in English and current events.

The Academic Decathlon team from Notre Dame des Victoires, San Francisco earned third place overall at the Junior High San Francisco Archdiocesan competition. Sixteen

schools participated in the annual event. NDV took second place in the Logic Quiz. Three students earned medals in fine arts, literature, and current events.

Corpus Christi, Piedmont seventh and eighth graders participated in the first Diocese of Oakland Science Fair. More than 160 students from 30 diocesan elementary schools showcased their science projects. Six of the Corpus Christi students received awards. One student was awarded the “Grand Champion” and blue ribbon in biological sciences, another earned a red ribbon in environmental sciences. Both have qualified to participate in the regional San Francisco Bay Area Science Fair.

St. Eugene Cathedral School

St. Juliana

St. Cecilia

Holy Family Cathedral School, Orange received a proclamation from the city of Orange honoring the school’s 60 years of educating over 20,000 students.

On March 13, 1949, Bishop Timothy Manning officially broke ground at the Holy Family School site. The school doors opened in September of 1949, with eight grades in four classrooms and an enrollment of 225 students. The Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange were given the charge of teaching in the school. In 1976 Holy Family was chosen as the cathedral for the Diocese of Orange and “Cathedral” was added to the school name. Today HFCS includes a pre-school, a Pre-K, and two classes of grades from Kindergarten through eighth with a total of 541 students. Holy Family is a three generation school. Many alumni send first their children

and then their grandchildren to the school.

Led by an energetic sixth grade student, the families at Our Lady of Guadalupe, La Habra came together as a community to support the Haiti

relief effort. In addition to funds, they were asked to donate shoes in good condition to send to Haiti. They collected 742 pairs of gently used shoes. The students had a meaningful Lenten season. Together with the School of Religious Education, students wrote their Lenten promises on small paper crosses. These crosses were put on banners and displayed in the church, showing the commitment of the school community. During the school week, classes focused on almsgiving, fasting, and prayer. Each grade level participated in a special way. The third graders made individual “Trees of Kindness” focusing on the themes from the Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein. The second graders focused on their daily Lenten promises. Many of the classes committed themselves to praying the Rosary and learning about the Stations of the Cross. As a school, the students learned

their Lenten ABC’s, reflected on one letter a day, and contributed to the Holy Childhood Association.

A talented eighth grade student from St. Irenaeus, Cypress was the first place winner in the Catholic Charities of Orange County poster contest. The contest theme was “Blessed are the clean of heart, for they shall see God.” The annual contest is open to all diocesan schools. The St. Irenaeus eighth grader and her parents were the guests of honor at the Catholic Charities Mardi Gras Ball held in February. She received a framed picture of her art and a beautiful gift basket. Guests at the dinner received a special coaster imprinted with her prize winning art work.

ORANGE DIOCESE

Holy Family Cathedral School

Our Lady of Guadalupe

St. Irenaeus

As they continue to celebrate its one hundred years of excellence in education, Star of the Sea, San Francisco has not forgotten the importance of playing well with others. Last month they invited five Catholic elementary schools in San Francisco who are over 100 years old to participate in a Centennial Basketball Tournament. Under the leadership of the school athletic directors, the tournament lasted all day and a total of twelve games were played. All students were able to participate. The dads played a game of “old style” hoops. The purpose of the day was not to win games but to celebrate with other Catholic schools that have served the children of San Francisco for more than a century. The day was a great success and a tradition in the making!

The staff and the CJSF (California Junior Scholastic Federation) students of Notre Dame des Victoires, San Francisco hosted the first “Empty Bowls” soup dinner to raise money for the Haiti disaster relief effort. Under the direction of the art teacher, students and staff artistically glazed ceramic soup bowls. The beautiful bowls were available for purchase at the benefit dinner. The menu, consisting of generously donated food items, included soup, salad, and bread. The students decorated the church hall with candles and flowers. Haitian music added to the festivities.

SAN FRANCISCO ARCHDIOCESE

St. Joseph, Santa Ana sixth, seventh and eighth graders are required to complete twenty service hours during the school year. The hours are counted toward their religion grades. No more than one half of their service hours can be done by helping with the various ministries in the parish church and school. All other hours, or the entire amount, are volunteered elsewhere in the community.

Under the direction and leadership of a volunteer school mother, the students have helped to clear brush at the Environmental Nature Center in Newport Beach and have done beach clean up at Bolsa Chica State Park. They are given the opportunity to work at the Orange County Food Bank, helping to box meals for the elderly and other members of the community. By taking part in these activities, the students have come to appreciate their role and responsibilities to all members of God’s family.

Notre Dame des Victoires

St. Joseph

“Parables to Guide Us Through Lent” was the theme of the Lenten Wednesday assemblies at Corpus Christi, Piedmont. Classes paired up to dramatize a parable from the Gospel of Matthew. After the presentations the students had time to reflect on the message of the parable and how it applied to their life.

The first grade class at St. Eugene Cathedral School, Santa Rosa embarked upon an exciting service project. The students worked together to host a bake sale. The first graders had fun making posters, baking goodies and selling their tasty treats to the student body. The recipients of the bake sale were thrilled with their purchases. The icing on the cake? The students raised approximately $355 to benefit the victims of the Haiti Earthquake.

In February St. Jude Academy, San Diego held their second annual Jump Rope for Heart fundraiser. The St. Jude heart heroes raised $1100 for the American Heart Association. The money helps children who “have hearts that don’t work exactly right” receive the necessary medicine and treatment.

Jump Rope For Heart develops skills that are fun for everyone while promoting the value of physical activity and teamwork. Students learn about the seriousness of heart disease and stroke, the lifelong benefits of physical activity and the importance of living a heart-healthy lifestyle. The program also teaches students to set and achieve goals and shows them how they can make a difference through volunteering and community service. (www.americanheart.org)

A long standing tradition in the St. Charles, San Diego fabulous fifth grade is the deeply moving and touching presentation of the Living Stations of the Cross to the school and the parish. The students reenacted the journey of Jesus to Calvary as seen through the eyes of Mary, the mother of Jesus. The students look forward all year to teaching and witnessing the Gospel message of Jesus. This reflection helped develop a deeper understanding of the Way of the Cross. The presentation was a memorable and prayerful part of the community’s Lenten experience.

SAN DIEGO DIOCESE

SANTA ROSA & OAKLAND DIOCESES

St. Eugene Cathedral School

St. Jude Academy

St. Charles

NCEA ConventionApril 6 - 8

Ministerial Formation, Orange 4Holy Family Cathedral School

April 12

Network News DeadlineApril 14

Advisory Committee MeetingApril 17

Humboldt Catholic UpdateApril 20 - 21

Spring Principals’ MeetingApril 26

Ministerial Formation, Orange 3St. Cecilia

May 28

To Bury the Dead

Important Dates

Standing With People Who Are PoorTaken from the 2006 - 2011 Chapter Directional Statement Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange

Lord, you invite all who are burdened to come to you. Allow your healing hand to heal others through me.

Touch my soul with your compassion for others. Touch my heart with your courage and infinite love for all. Touch my mind with your wisdom, that my mouth may always proclaim your praise. Teach me to reach out to you in my need, and help me to lead others to you by my example. Most loving Heart of Jesus, bring me health in body and spirit that I may serve you with all my strength. Touch gently this life which you have created, now and forever. Amen. Anonymous

The Corporal Works of Mercy

To Feedthe Hungry

“For I was ill and you cared for me.” Matthew 25

To Clothethe Naked

ToVisitthe Sick

ToGiveDrink to the Thirsty

ToShelterthe Homeless

Printed on Recycled Paper