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February 2016 / Forms and links

Lunch menu

Volunteer survey for 2015-2016

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Teacher emails

Annual calendar 2015-2016

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Scrip order form

Option C (grades)

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Sports forms

Calendar

School website

Catholic Schools Week

Next week we celebrate Catholic Schools Week across the United States.  In doing so, we—the students, teachers, religious leaders, and families of Sacred Heart—reflect upon our history and the qualities that make our school special.  For more than 140 years, Sacred Heart Elementary School has served the Pittsburgh community providing its students with a quality education.  However, the characteristics of a Catholic education are unique; and when joined together, these components create an school environment that is wholesome and rich.

The first component is Faith.  Through our faith, we share a common set of beliefs, and recognize Christ as the center of all things.  We pray together, worship together, and grow as family of compassion and mercy.

The second component is Academics.  Through our studies, our teachers are bringers of insight.  As students, we are seekers of wisdom and knowledge.  Therefore, through our academics, we develop the skills that will prepare us for the future.

The third component is Service.  We recognize that when we serve one another, we are serving Christ.  Through humble actions, good deeds, and kind words, we open our hearts to love and serve all of God's people.  

We are especially grateful for our priests and the many parishioners who actively support this educational ministry of Sacred Heart Church. We ask for God’s continued blessing on our wonderful families, beautiful children and dedicated teachers.

Notes from Father Grecco

The season of Lent is a time set aside by the Church for Catholics to consider in a more serious manner their relationship with God. They are to evaluate, according to the Scriptures and the teachings of the Church, how healthy that relationship is, and whether they have been faithful to their baptismal promises to know God and faithfully serve him. Lent offers us opportunities for a reception of the sacrament of Reconciliation (which in fact must be received as the incidence of mortal sin occurs) and public as well as private spiritual exercises (Stations of the Cross, fasting, personal sacrifices & prayer). We unite ourselves to Christ in his suffering all the while recognizing that our sins caused the need for Him to come as our Redeemer.

The Church offers for our annual observance also the following: Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are days of Fast and Abstinence. Fasting (for Catholics ages 18-59) on those days is satisfied by taking only one full meal and, if necessary, two lighter meals with no eating between meals. This obligation is not to be taken lightly. Abstinence (for Catholics beginning at age 14) takes place on those two days as well as all Fridays during Lent. This obliges us to refrain from meat & poultry. Obviously these requirements are not binding on those who have health issues. These are the primary obligations for an observance of Lent. They are by no means exhaustive.

The Catholic Church requires her members to observe the “Easter Duty” each year. This requires all Catholics to receive the Eucharist during the time between the First Sunday of Lent (this year: February 17) and Trinity Sunday (this year: May 26). The sacrament of reconciliation is required before reception of the Eucharist if the faith is not practiced and Mass attendance is not regular. The ideal for the individual Catholic is that the Eucharist be received regularly if the recipient is spiritually eligible.

We are each expected to make the best of the season so that when we arrive at the celebration of the great feast of Easter, we will be prepared spiritually to receive the Eucharist and renew our baptismal promises—true to our God and all that he expects of us. What you do to observe this season will teach your children volumes…of good or bad.

Please note that school families planning to apply for the “Bishop’s Education Fund” scholarships MUST meet the following criteria for a pastor’s signature on the application: 1) Child(ren) must be baptized Catholics; 2) the family must be registered in the parish whose pastor’s signature they seek; 3) the family must be using the “envelope” offering system of the parish and practicing the Catholic faith (attending Mass and receiving sacraments) regularly.

Notes from the Office

Scrip Program
A Scrip update was made available with your child’s second quarter report card. If you have any questions, feel free to call the office or email April Garfinkel at aprilkeener@hotmail.com.  A Scrip calendar for the remainder of the school year is in this month’s family envelope. The last day to order scrip for credit towards your 2015-16 family assessment is March 23rd. A final report will be made available at the end of the third quarter, with all balances due before April 15.

Scrip orders for credit towards your 2016-17 family assessment begin on May 11th. A summer schedule for ordering Giant Eagle cards will be available later in the year.

Stay tuned for important Scrip changes and opportunities coming soon.

PSAS
The Private School Aid Service forms for 2016-2017 aid through the Diocese of Pittsburgh for both Catholic and non-Catholic families will be available soon.  Your 2015 tax information is required and the due date is March 15, 2016.  Check our school website, www.sacredheartpgh.org, for updated forms in the first week of February. An electronic version of the PSAS paper application as well as a link to an on-line application will be available.

2016-2017 Registrations
If you have a child needing to enroll in Kindergarten or Preschool next year, please apply soon.  Classes are almost full. Make sure you have a place saved.

First Reconciliation

First Reconciliation for 2nd grade students will take place on Saturday, February 13, 2016 at 1:00 p.m. Students are to arrive at church by 12:45 p.m. Upon completion of each child receiving the sacrament, families are free to leave. No reception will follow.  If you have any questions, please contact Sharon Smoller at  sacredheartparishreled@gmail.com.

Confirmation date

The Sacrament of Confirmation will be celebrated at Sacred Heart on Sunday, April 10 with Most Reverend Bishop William J. Winter during 11:30 a.m. Mass.

Alive in our faith

"Alive in Our Faith” for 8th grade Confirmation candidates, parents and sponsors is scheduled for Sunday, February 7.  The event will take place from 1:00 - 3:30 p.m. in the Auditorium. Special guest speakers Rev. Ken Marlovitz and Deacon Tony Giordano will present what our Baptismal call means to the fully initiated members of the Church. If you have questions, please contact Sharon Smoller at sacredheartparishreled@gmail.com.

Children's Liturgy of the Word

A children’s Liturgy of the Word will take place on February 21 during the 9:30 a.m. Mass.  This Mass will be for children in 1st through 4th grades.

Protecting children online

To learn about protecting your children when they are online, be sure to check out the Protecting Your Kids security awareness video at http://www.securingthehuman.org/u/2uX and the RSA panel discussion at http://www.securingthehuman.org/u/3Tu.

In addtion, the following links are additional resources:

OnGuard Online: http://www.onguardonline.gov/topics/protect-kids-online

Stay Safe Online: https://staysafeonline.org/

Securing Kids Panel: http://www.rsaconference.com/media/into-the-woods-protecting-our-youth-from-the-wolves-of-cyberspace

Sarris Easter candy sale

The annual Sarris Easter Candy sale began Tuesday, January 19 and runs through Wednesday, February 10. Profits from the sale help support many of the PTG sponsored activities held throughout the school year. We encourage the children to sell to family, friends and neighbors.

Pick-up will be on Wednesday, March 16 in the lower level of the Monsignor Keane Activities Building (the gym), between the hours of 2:00 and 6:00 pm.

We will be offering online ordering again this year. Online ordering is available for out-of-town friends and family.  Visit www.sarriscandiesfundraising.com  and enter the Sacred Heart Group ID:  10-1411.

For more information, please contact Danielle Cessna at mainierodj@hotmail.com.

Sacred Heart Moms

Sacred Heart Moms is a new group forming for all moms of the parish to come together in prayer, worship and social activities.  Moms, take a break from your schedule for one hour to recharge your spirituality! 

The group will gather on the following dates:

February 11 at 8:10 a.m. to pray the rosary in the Lady’s Chapel prior to 8:30 a.m. Mass.

February 25 at 8:10 a.m. to pray the rosary in the Lady’s Chapel prior to 8:30 a.m. Mass.

February 18 from 6:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. for a social gathering at Panera Bread, Bakery Square

More information can be found on the parish website: http://www.sacredheartparishshadyside.org/sacredheartmoms or by contacting Sharon Smoller at sacredheartparishreled@gmail.com.

Bring a friend and join us!

Volleyball open gyms

Be on the lookout for information about spring volleyball open gym sessions starting in late March.

The sessions will be weekly open gyms for girls currently in 4th-7th grade who are interested in joining the Sacred Heart volleyball teams in the fall.

February food: tuna

In conjunction with Sacred Heart Parish, the school will collect tuna to be contributed to the food bank run by the East End Cooperative Ministry.

Each month, the Student Council members encourage all of us to contribute a different featured food to share with our neighbors in need. Thank you for your support.