SEPTEMBER 2010 St. PiuS X CatholiC high SChool • atlanta Our Mission St. Pius X, an archdiocesan high school, provides a college preparatory education for the formation of the mind, body and spirit of each student in accordance with the teachings of the Catholic Church. Steve Spellman Dear Parents and Friends of St. Pius X, It’s hard to believe that we are already one month into the 2010-2011 school year! As I look at the faces of our children walking to class or enjoying each other’s com- pany in the plaza, I am thankful for the success of this institution. I know we have so much to look forward to, but I would be remiss if I neglected to share with you all the trials that led to this year’s successful opening. The summer months comprise one of the busiest times of the year. The summer of 2010 was not only one of the busiest I have ever seen, but it also proved to be one of the most memorable. Like most summers, we began by sending out final transcripts for our graduating seniors, mailing report cards and schedules, ordering books and supplies, and printing the student and faculty handbooks. Lion Leaders brought their “cubs” on campus for orientation tours and the various summer camps commenced. Between fine arts and sports camps, academic enrichment courses, driver’s education, weight training and senior portraits, we had over 1,500 young people on campus this summer, giving the school the feeling of being in session. In addition to our usual maintenance schedule, we had planned for the repair of our roof. As we do with all major projects, we interviewed five firms, received competitive bids, and selected the best firm to do the job. Unfortunately, once the work began, the roof literally caved in. Crews removing the outer layers of the roof surface discovered pervasive damage. Engineers assessed the damage and determined that the entire roof, joists and all, would have to be replaced. Much to our chagrin, the price of the roof tripled and became an almost $1 million project. Due to the generosity of our St. Pius X family and the fact we are so fiscally conservative, we were able to absorb this financial hit, but it has taken our capital reserve fund. Even while the saga of the roof continued, we were able to complete the rest of our summer projects. The success of the 2010 Gala event held in February enabled us to review and update our entire safety and security plan for the school. Through the installation of additional security cameras, a keyless entry system on all doors, and a new fire alarm system, we have made our school environment safer for our students and families. The launching of a new school Web site, installation of new carpet in several classrooms, resurfacing the track in the stadium, deep-cleaning the entire school and some cosmetic painting have all contributed to the rewarding opening of St. Pius’ 2010-2011 school year. My mother used to say, “This too shall pass,” and this summer I had to remind myself that as life presents us with its ebb and flow patterns we must learn to deal with them. With patience and prayer, all the chaos of this summer did pass! And the Lord continued to look out for us as we received two extremely gener- ous gifts to our Expanding Our Legacy Capital Campaign. Please take some time to read “Developing Excellence”—the development section of this edition of Spiritus which details these gifts as well as other aspects of our two campaigns: the Annual Fund and Expanding Our Legacy. I hope you will all be generous in your support of these two very important fund raising endeavors. Your support ensures a vibrant future for current and future generations of St. Pius X students. I thank each of your for what you do to make St. Pius a special place for young people, the glory of God and our Catholic faith. May this year be a wonderful year for each of you! I look forward to seeing you around campus! Warmest regards,
Transcript
July 2007September 2010
S t . P i u S X C a t h o l i C h i g h S C h o o l • a t l a n t a
Our mission
St. Pius X, an archdiocesan
high school, provides a college
preparatory education for the
formation of the mind, body
and spirit of each student in
accordance with the teachings
of the Catholic Church.
Steve Spellman
Dear Parents and Friends of St. Pius X,
It’s hard to believe that we are already one month into the 2010-2011 school year! As I look at the faces of our children walking to class or enjoying each other’s com-pany in the plaza, I am thankful for the success of this institution. I know we have so much to look forward to, but I would be remiss if I neglected to share with you all the trials that led to this year’s successful opening.
The summer months comprise one of the busiest times of the year. The summer of 2010 was not only one of the busiest I have ever seen, but it also proved to be one of the most memorable.
Like most summers, we began by sending out final transcripts for our graduating seniors, mailing report cards and schedules, ordering books and supplies, and printing the student and faculty handbooks. Lion Leaders brought their “cubs” on campus for orientation tours and the various summer camps commenced. Between fine arts and sports camps, academic enrichment courses, driver’s education, weight training and senior portraits, we had over 1,500 young people on campus this summer, giving the school the feeling of being in session.
In addition to our usual maintenance schedule, we had planned for the repair of our roof. As we do with all major projects, we interviewed five firms, received competitive bids, and selected the best firm to do the job. Unfortunately, once the work began, the roof literally caved in. Crews removing the outer layers of the roof surface discovered pervasive damage. Engineers assessed the damage and determined that the entire roof, joists and all, would have to be replaced. Much to our chagrin, the price of the roof tripled and became an almost $1 million project. Due to the generosity of our St. Pius X family and the fact we are so fiscally conservative, we were able to absorb this financial hit, but it has taken our capital reserve fund.
Even while the saga of the roof continued, we were able to complete the rest of our summer projects. The success of the 2010 Gala event held in February enabled us to review and update our entire safety and security plan for the school. Through the installation of additional security cameras, a keyless entry system on all doors, and a new fire alarm system, we have made our school environment safer for our students and families. The launching of a new school Web site, installation of new carpet in several classrooms, resurfacing the track in the stadium, deep-cleaning the entire school and some cosmetic painting have all contributed to the rewarding opening of St. Pius’ 2010-2011 school year.
My mother used to say, “This too shall pass,” and this summer I had to remind myself that as life presents us with its ebb and flow patterns we must learn to deal with them. With patience and prayer, all the chaos of this summer did pass! And the Lord continued to look out for us as we received two extremely gener-ous gifts to our Expanding Our Legacy Capital Campaign. Please take some time to read “Developing Excellence”—the development section of this edition of Spiritus which details these gifts as well as other aspects of our two campaigns: the Annual Fund and Expanding Our Legacy. I hope you will all be generous in your support of these two very important fund raising endeavors. Your support ensures a vibrant future for current and future generations of St. Pius X students.
I thank each of your for what you do to make St. Pius a special place for young people, the glory of God and our Catholic faith. May this year be a wonderful year for each of you! I look forward to seeing you around campus!
Warmest regards,
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Principal’s List, Dean’s List, and Honor Roll Second Semester 2009–2010 School YearPrincipal’s List students have an average of 95 percent or higher. Students named to the Dean’s List have an average between 90 percent and 94 percent and received straight A’s. Honor Roll students have an average between 90 percent and 94 percent. Congratulations to all these students for their outstanding achievement.
Attention All St. Pius X Parents:St. Pius X sends out a weekly e-mail newsletter, eSPX, which contains pertinent, up-to-date information regarding changes to the school calendar, SPX hosted events, out-of-uniform days, information from the Deans of Students and other important items. This e-newsletter is sent out every Monday, and all current parents for whom we have valid e-mail addressess are automatically set up to receive it. Each eSPX edition also includes direct links to Web pages as well as many other helpful features which should help our parents easily gain access to much needed information.
If you are not receiving eSPX or would like to make a change to your current e-mail address...
1. Contact Mr. Kyle Snipes at [email protected] with your information. Please include your full name, your child’s name and class year, and your preferred e-mail address.
2. Add Mr. Snipes e-mail address to your safe senders list. We occasionally experi-ence problems with e-mail providers blocking eSPX, and adding his e-mail address as a safe contact negates this issue.
If you are receiving eSPX, but wish to unsubscribe, contact Mr. Kyle Snipes at [email protected].
Campus Security Update
KEYLESS ACCESS: Information About the New System
Thanks to our generous 2010 Gala fundraising contributions, St. Pius has recently added a keyless entry system on all campus doors with “outside” access. This new system will provide your students with a more secure campus. The doors will operate on a timed basis and will no longer be open during the school day. Please do not ask students, faculty or staff to open doors for you. We are only as secure as our system. The students have also been asked never to let others in should they see someone waiting outside. Parents and visitors must report to the front office (off the breezeway) where they will sign in, and the St. Pius personnel with whom they are meeting will be called to the front office.
Please note and remind your students that they will not have access to the building after 4 p.m. unless they are under the supervision of a teacher or coach. Students who are waiting on their rides may wait in the cafeteria or in the library, which will remain open until 5 p.m. We appreciate your cooperation as we all get used to the new system!
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This is Ashley’s first teaching assignment. She earned her student teaching experience at schools in Gwinnett, Nashville and Valdosta, as well as at Winder-Barrow High School. She is excited to be here, so much in fact, that she was on campus almost every day this summer to prepare. We are very excited to have her as a part of our faculty.
Brion KennedyBrion joins our Fine Arts Department and will teach classical guitar. He replaces Esteban An-astasio who was offered a position at Georgia State University.
Another local product, Brion graduated from Lassiter High School. He went on to study at the
University of Georgia where he earned his bachelor’s degree with a double major in music composition and German. Brion currently owns his own music business, the Athens School of Music. We are thrilled to have him here.
Todd StewartTodd is a familiar face to all of us as he was a substitute and taught here last year. Todd is a graduate of Parkview High School and Ken-nesaw State University. He earned his bach-elor’s degree in both social studies and special education.
Todd replaces Joe Eineker in the Study Support Department as Joe has left to become the head basketball coach at Centennial High School. Todd is the son of SPX teacher and coach Gerry Stewart, and we are very excited to have him officially join our faculty.
Clay CauseyClay will join our faculty in January 2011. He worked for us last year by assisting Bonnie Spark with the spring musical production. Clay will continue in that role in addition to teaching the chorus class. He replaces Gail Goodman whose job functions at Holy Cross became too difficult to coordinate.
A seasoned educator, Clay taught drama at Woodward Academy for 16 years. We were pleased with his work with our students last year, and we look forward to his arrival next semester.
Amy EaglenWe are very excited to welcome Amy to our staff. If her last name sounds familiar, it is be-cause Amy is the wife of Jason Eaglen, theology teacher and department head here at St. Pius X. Amy is the new receptionist in the front office. She will handle the front phones and the numer-ous requests for information that we receive
throughout the day.
Amy graduated from Chattahoochee High School and earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Georgia. She is currently working on her master’s degree in theology at Spring Hill.
Ashley GreenWe welcome Ashley as she joins our Business/Computer Science Department. A local product, she grew up in Snellville and is a graduate of Brookwood High School. She attended Valdosta State University where she received her bach-elor’s degree.
St. Pius X is pleased to announce that the following individuals have joined our faculty and staff for the 2010-2011 school year.
Campus News and Events
Attention Parents of Seniors:
Important Information Regarding Yearbook Ads
All 2011 senior yearbook ads were due Au-gust 31, 2010 at Mini-Class Night. Materials for these ads were posted on the St. Pius X Web site in early June. If you have yet to turn in your ad for your student, please do so as soon as possible. All ads submitted after August 31 should include a 10 percent late fee. If you have questions regarding the senior yearbook ads, please contact Mrs. Curlette at [email protected].
St. Pius X Welcomes New Faculty and Staff Members
Student E-mail AccountsParents, please be aware that e-mail accounts have been set up for all our St. Pius X students. St. Pius X provides each student with an e-mail address in order to improve communication between teachers, students, and parents. Your student can access his/her account at http://spxstudent.org.
This free service will allow each student to have a similarly formatted e-mail address.For example, a student’s e-mail address would look like this: [email protected] (first initial, last name, and the last two digits of their graduation year).
All student passwords begin with “spx” followed by the individual’s student login password (i.e.: spx1234).
We understand that some families might not want their student to have an individual account. If you do not want your student to participate in this program, the process is a simple one. We ask you to notify Mr. Kyle Johnson in writing, or via e-mail at: [email protected] to take your student’s name off of the program list.
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Campus News and Events
Mothers’ Prayer GroupThe Mothers’ Club Prayer Group wishes to extend a warm welcome to all new and returning St. Pius X families! As we look forward to yet another meaningful year here at our beloved school, we strive to follow Christ as the author of our precious Catholic faith. Please join us for our monthly prayer meetings in the Campus Ministry. Prepare to bless and be blessed. All are welcome!
Virtue of the MonthThis year, we will continue our “Virtue of the Month” program, in which we focus on spiritual mottos that embody our faith. As we discuss these cardinal and human virtues described in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, we seek to encourage cultiva-tion of each virtue in our students and in all members of our St. Pius X community. Each month’s virtue will be emphasized in school prayer and featured in postings (provided by the St. Pius X Student Council) around the school during the month. Please read, consider and prayerfully contemplate these reminders of our faith and spiritual goals.
Upcoming Meeting
Wednesday, September 159 a.m. in Campus MinistrySeptember Virtue - Charity
September: Charity“And now these three remain: faith, hope, and charity.
But the greatest of these is charity (love).”- I Corinthians 13:13
A heartfelt welcome to all in the St. Pius X community for yet another wonderful school year! Our first Mother’s Club Prayer Group meeting went very well. Our new group of prayer warriors was larger than usual, and we welcomed many freshman parents. We look forward to continued growth in the months to come and hope that you will join us as we share in this meaningful ministry on behalf of the students and the larger St. Pius community.
As the school year begins, we contemplate the virtue of charity (love). What a great way to begin! Consider this in all of what we are about and all of what we do: the Lord directs our path with a clear understanding of the importantance of charity in our everyday lives. Remember the passage 1 Corinthians 13:6-8. “Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.” So our Lord says that charity is the “greatest,” “always” delivers and will “never fail.” Wow!
As we continue through this month and the rest of the school year, let us pray that this kind of charity may always be our guide. Blessings to you and your family!
Roar Store Manager: Sally King • (404) 636-3023 x242 • [email protected]
Winter Uniform: Please note that all students should be wear-ing the proper winter uniform beginning November 1. Winter uniforms are worn through March 11.
Roar Store Open During Home Football Games: This season, stop by the Roar Store for St. Pius X spirit wear and items during all home football games. Regular store hours will be extended through kick-off at 7:30 p.m. The next home games are on October 1 and October 22. We look forward to seeing you and helping you look your best while supporting our Golden Lions!
SAT Preparation Class September 11, 18, 25 and October 2, 2010 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
SAT Prep is a class offered outside of the regular school day for juniors and seniors who want extra preparation for the SAT tests. Although the best preparation for the SAT is a challenging college prep curriculum like the one offered at St. Pius X, some students will benefit from additional tutoring and practice before taking the SAT test.
The SAT Prep course offered to St. Pius X students consists of four hours of class for four consecutive Saturdays. Each Saturday, the students will work two hours on the verbal sections with Mary Martha Spear, English teacher, and two hours on the mathematics sections of the test with Beth Thompson, mathematics teacher. Instruction is given on test content and strategies for test taking. Students take practice tests every week and have the opportunity to discuss any questions they answered incorrectly. All materials are provided except for calculators. The cost is $200 and is paid at the time of registration.
Registration forms are available on Beth Thompson’s Web page on the St. Pius X Web site. Simply go to www.spx.org and click on academics and then departments. Open the mathematics link and find the Teachers and Classes link. You will see the SAT Prep Course link next to Beth Thompson’s name. Students may also pick up the registration forms in the Guidance Office once school starts in August.
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The St. Pius Arts Society (SPAS) is hosting its annual Sally Foster fund raiser. During Orientation, students were given their Sally Foster packets to bring home with them. Please take the time to review all the wonderful papers, gifts, and chocolates.
Treasures From Sally:• Premium giftwrap, value-priced• Gifts for everyone• Chocolates so good they’ll make your mouth water!• Over 200 items to select from
Cookie Dough, Anyone?Again, this year we will be selling cookie dough. Choose from several flavors of delectable dough. If you order cookie dough, you can only do so through school. All orders of cookie dough will be delivered to school.
Coupon Books For Sale!In addition, fine arts students will sell entertainment coupon books as part of our Sally Foster Fundraiser. Students will bring home The Entertainer Coupon Books to sell to their communities. The books are $25 each and contain hundreds of coupons to restaurants, stores, and businesses. Fifty percent of the proceeds will benefit the entire fine arts department.
New This Season! Purchase Sally Foster Gift Cards from students and make all your purchases online at www.SallyFoster.com. There will be no gift wrap delivered to school this year.
The Convenience of Ordering Online!This year, all orders should be made online at www.Sallyfoster.com. When placing an order, you will need to enter our school number (507258).
Turn-In and Delivery Days:• There is one more turn-in day remaining: September 15.• Cookie delivery will be October 27.• Delivery of all Sally Foster items will be on October 27.
If you have any questions please contact Angela McDaniel at 404.634.6544 or [email protected]. Thank you in advance for your support of the Sally Foster fund raiser and SPAS.
Don’t Forget About the
Sally Foster Fund Raiser
Attention St. Pius X Parents and Friends!Whether you’re an artisan with crafts to share or a shopper with a discerning eye, we want you
at the St. Pius X 2010 Holiday Marketplace!
This year, Marketplace is expanding to include BOTH SPX gyms, allowing for an additional 50
vendors (150 total). Want to become a vendor at this year’s event? Visit www.spx.org/marketplace or e-mail Anne Phillips at [email protected]
November 20, 2010 • 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Double the Space, Double the Fun!
Mark Your Calendars for theDresden Elementary Christmas Project!
Campus News and Events
The St. Pius X Mother’s Club will sponsor the Dresden Elementary Christmas Outreach program in November this year. Last year the St. Pius community made Christmas brighter for 131 children from 26 families by providing school uniforms, clothing and toys. This effort was supported by 22 St. Pius teams, clubs and student organizations as well as individual St. Pius families and their business offices. If you are interested in buying items, sponsoring a child or sponsoring several children, please contact Debra Coheley ([email protected]) for more information.
Guidance and Counseling
The Guidance and Counseling Department is happy to welcome the class of 2014 to St. Pius X! We are very excited to meet you and work with you and your families. In order to make the transition from middle school to high school seamless, every freshman is assigned a coun-selor. Counselors will be in touch with their students during August and September.
Though the first meeting between counselors and students is a planned one, we encourage students and their parents to contact our office at anytime if questions or concerns arise. We are here to listen and help in any way we can. Whether it be to discuss trouble with a friend, help with a class or teacher situation, answer questions about college, or give advice and tips on time management and organization, we love seeing the students and enjoy getting to know them. The more we have contact with the students the better we get to know them and can help them through their time at St. Pius X.
In order to make sure your child is starting the year off right, please share with him/her these helpful tips:
• Your Lion Leader is a good source of information. Use him/her to help direct you to whom you need to go to get answers to your questions.
• Get involved at school. Try to find something you enjoy doing. In addition to our arts and athletics programs, St. Pius X offers a wide
variety of clubs and organizations from which to choose. Joining a club or organization is a good way to meet people and to feel like you are part of the community. All clubs and organizations are listed in the student handbook.
• Do not neglect your school work. When you get your syllabi, get organized. Use your planner to mark due dates and to plan out your time. Homework is a big part of your grade. Make sure you do what is required for each class. Binders can be a good way to keep all of your classes organized. If you need help with organization or time manage-ment, visit the Guidance and Counseling Department. Your counselor can help you.
• Make sure you check your SPX student e-mail account. You will receive a lot of information at that e-mail address. If you miss the announcements at the end of the day, they are always sent to your e-mail.
As the school year progresses, keep in mind that we are one of the many resources on campus to help freshmen adjust to their new high school environment. Please do not hesitate to contact our office for anything you need.
Jenniffer KappDirector of Guidance and Counseling
want to miss all this helpful in-formation.
We provide a listing of Home and School sponsored events on our Web page, so we encourage all our parents to check the St. Pius X Web site regularly. Visit www.spx.org, and find the “Parents” tab at the top of the homepage. From there, click on the “Home and School Association” link.
Whether you are new to St. Pius X or a veteran parent, please continue to encourage your child to find a place to compete, to minister, or to just have fun outside the classroom. There are numerous opportunities, and all are listed in the handbook which your child received at Orientation. Additional copies can be purchased at the Roar Store.
We look forward to getting to know you and working with you over the course of the year. Get involved, and both you and St. Pius X will be better for it!
Debra CoheleySue ReynoldsHome and School Association Co-Presidents
On behalf of the Home and School Board, we would like to welcome all of our members to a brand new year at St. Pius X. That’s right, we are all members of Home and School. One of the fees paid on your student’s book bill was your membership dues to our organization. The mission of the Home and School Association is simple: we are a vehicle for communication and community building between parents, admin-istration, faculty and staff. We strive to maintain parental involvement in the school by promoting activities that are not only beneficial to St. Pius X, but more importantly are beneficial to our students.
Your summer mailing included a volunteer sign up form. Many of you have returned the form, and we thank you for your participation. To those of you who put it aside for later, please take another look and find an event that might be enriched by your efforts. It is never too late to make a difference!
There are several important events coming up in the next few months on our campus. On September 19, we will host the Senior Parents’ Pot Luck and Parent University 401. This is a fun and informative evening for senior parents as we will discuss the college application process. Please join us! On October 7 from 9 a.m to 3 p.m. St. Pius X will host a blood drive in the gym. Parents interested in participating can sign up by sending an e-mail with their contact information and their preferred appointment times to [email protected]. Finally, on October 17, we will host the Sophomore Parents’ Pot Luck. The evening will preview college requirements, and we will discuss the importance of students getting involved in extracurricular activities. Parents won’t
Don’t forget to use your Publix Card!
Home and School
Welcome Freshmen!
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DEVELOPING EXCELLENCE S t . P i u s X C a t h o l i c H i g h S c h o o l
Volume 5, Number 2
A Letter A Letter From the Director
Frank Talk About St. Pius X Finances
2010-2011 Annual Fund: Participation is Our Goal!Every year we reach out to our community of parents, grandparents, alumni and friends to help us fund the school year’s activities. This effort is cleverly called the Annual Fund. It covers the difference between what our tuition and fees generate and what it actually costs to educate your student(s). For the last reporting period, this shortfall was $627 per student.
The number we are most concerned with, however, is the participation percentage of parents in this effort. We ask simply that every family contribute something to this fund. One of the most interesting pieces of information I can give you is that our faculty participates at over 90 percent every year. Please bear in mind that teachers are modestly compensated, and they dedicate their lives to education. By and large, they give sacrificially, sending several precious dollars per paycheck back to the school. There is no better example of participation than our own faculty and staff. We ask so much of them, and yes, we ask them for money too. And they give, cheerfully and willingly because they believe in the mission of St. Pius X.
For those of you who can, please consider becoming a major donor ($1000) for the year. Broken down, the cost is $83.33 per month, and like all gifts to the Annual Fund, it is a tax deductible gift. Last year we had 205 major donors including 14 faculty members.
Our request is that everyone join in this effort, whether your gift is the equivalent of a cup of coffee, a lunch or a dinner for those of you watching the budget closely. In this case, the effort counts for much more than the actual dollar amount of the gift. Last year we had 48 percent participation from our parents. We believe we can achieve at higher levels in this school year. Please help us reach our goal of 100 percent parent participation.
Expanding Our Legacy Capital CampaignWhat is the capital cost of educating our students at St. Pius X? Simply stated, the school has drawn up a long term master plan for the completion of campus. We are in the process of making investments in the facilities that will provide more educational opportunities now and for the future families of St. Pius X. In order for us to make any significant improvements to our programs on campus, we need more land, period. We are in the process of acquiring the most significant addition to the school since it was founded. Bear in mind that there have been important improvements to the campus over its 53-year life, but these were almost all remedial in nature. We were playing catch up with our facilities and programs. The Expanding Our Legacy project has increased significance because it provides the essential ingredient to the campus of the future: land.
The Road AheadThe campus master plan is estimated at about $30 million to complete in today’s dollars. Simply put, the capital investment needs of the school are projected to be $1500 per student per year for the next 20 years. We are working on the first $8 million of this plan, the Expanding Our Legacy Capital Campaign. We will continue with the subsequent phases of the campus master plan once the Expanding Our Legacy campaign is fully funded. Quite frankly, the land acquisition project has been the most difficult project ever undertaken by the school and will be a major accomplishment once it is completed. Once we get over this hurdle, the next phases of construction will yield more dramatic results that will greatly impact daily life at St. Pius X. We also anticipate that major gifts from individuals and foun-dations will account for significant portions of future phases of the plans. The campus master plan, along with an animated fly-through of the proposed buildings, may be viewed on the Web site at www.spx.org.
David L. Buechner ’73Director of Development
Expanding Our Legacy Capital Campaign Recieves A Big Boost!
Dear St. Pius X Parents and Friends,
We have some great news to share with you regarding the Expanding Our Legacy Capital Campaign. In July, we were dealing with the financial and physical consequences of our school’s roof replacement. It was a difficult time, but we have made it to the other side.
Today our outlook is considerably brighter. As some of you may already know, earlier this past summer, St. Pius X received a $500,000 challenge gift in support of the Expanding Our Legacy Capital Campaign. This challenge gift stipulates that every dollar given to this campaign by September 15, 2010 will be matched by our anonymous benefactors up to $500,000.
We were thrilled and humbled to receive such a donation. So you can imagine our excitement when, just a few weeks ago, another anonymous donor came forward with an additional $500,000 pledge! This donation brings the total of gifts and pledges for the Expand-ing Our Legacy Capital Campaign to $4.6 million! If we are able to raise $400,000 in gifts and pledges by September 15 (thus bringing the total amount raised to $5 million), we could possibly begin construction and have the fields completed in time for Spring 2011 use!
Our community is indeed blessed, and we could not have reached this point in the campaign without the dedicated support of our St. Pius parents and friends. Those of you who have already donated are making a difference in the lives of our current and future students.
Recently, at the welcome dinner for freshmen parents, Principal Steve Spellman and Athletic Director Mark Kelly challenged the class of 2014 to make the difference in this campaign. I would like to challenge all those in our community who are still considering a gift to this campaign, but have not yet made a contribution. The freshman parents were ecstatic with the news, probably the most enthusiastic since we started this campaign. We hope that our entire community will be re-energized by these gifts as well.
If you have yet to make a contribution to this campaign, please prayerfully consider doing so. We need the support of every family to achieve these goals. We have been blessed with the opportunity to expand our campus (and in turn, future possibilities for the growth of our school), and we intend to make the most of this gift. You can be a part of this historic legacy. Your donation/pledge, no matter the size, says that you believe in the work of St. Pius X Catholic High School. Every gift makes a difference in the completion of this project.
If you have any questions regarding the campaign, please call me at 404.633.4290 x 273. If you would like to volunteer to work with the campaign please e-mail me at [email protected].
You may obtain additional campaign information by visiting our Web site at www.spx.org and clicking on the “Support SPX” link at the top of the homepage.
Thank you all for your prayers and support. I am confident that we can accomplish this together and will achieve our goals because of our faith and perseverance!
Domini Sumus,
David L. Buechner ’73Director of Development
*For a look at the proposed plans for our new fields, please see the site plan on the opposite page.
St. Pius X Catholic High SchoolDevelopment Office2674 Johnson Road, NEAtlanta, GA 30345-1720404-633-4290Steve SpellmanPrincipal
David Buechner ’73Development Director
Victoria Dorsey ’81 Alumni Director
Mary Vallés JonesRecords and Special Events
Noelle Amato ’00Publications Coordinator
Kyle SnipesAssociate Communications Coordinator
The Expanding Our Legacy Capital Campaign offers a wide range of opportunities for donors at all levels to make a differ-ence in the lives of present and future St. Pius X students.
You can participate in the campaign by making a pledge that permits both flexibility and time to complete the payment. Because the campaign is urgent, we have asked that all pledges be fulfilled by December 2011. In some cases, you may require a longer time to complete your commitment, and if so, we are pleased to work with you to arrange such a gift.
There are a variety of ways you can make a gift to Expanding Our Legacy. Each presents certain advantages. All are tax deductible within the limits specified by the IRS code. We would recommend that you consult with an attorney or financial advisor when planning your commitment.
Gifts may be made with cash, check, credit card, or through automatic transfer from your checking or savings account. Cash gifts qualify for a charitable deduction in the year they are given.
Gifts of Appreciated Securities held for more than one year permit a donor to use the full value of the security at the time of donation as a tax deduction, while avoiding the capital gains tax that would be imposed if the security were sold.
Gifts of Property, including residence, farm, vacation home, jewelry, art, etc. can provide significant benefits to the school and to the donor. The specialized help of appraisers and tax advisors is necessary to make such a gift.
Gifts of Life Insurance can provide a way to make a sizeable gift at a relatively low cost. Again, consulting with your at-torney or tax advisor is important.
Bequests and Life Payment Plans are excellent ways to par-ticipate in the campaign at levels you might not ordinarily consider. These include a bequest in one’s will as well as various trust instruments.
The main consideration in making any type of gift to the cam-paign is to find a way that brings joy to you and your family—joy in supporting a cause in which you believe.
If you have any questions regarding the planning of your gift to St. Pius X, please contact the Development Office at 404-633-4290, or visit our Web site at www.spx.org and click on the “Support SPX” link at the top of the homepage.
Planning Your Gift
In Memory of Chris SweeneyDonations have been made made to the St. Pius X Expanding Our Legacy Capital Campaign in honor of Chris Sweeney, former St. Pius X parent. Chris Sweeney was the husband of Diane Sweeney, and the father of two graduates, Patrick ’08 and Kyle ’10, and one current St. Pius X student, Kathryn ’12. Chris battled Leukemia for almost two years before passing away in June 2010 at the age of 54. He is fondly remembered as a supporter of the arts at St Pius. He was even elected to be president of SPAS for 2009-2010, but he fell ill the summer prior to the start of the year. He was a dynamic force on the board during 2008-2009 and was very helpful as the Guitar Vice President of SPAS. In lieu of flowers, the Sweeney family requested that donations be made to the Expanding Our Legacy Capital Campaign. To donate to the Expanding Our Legacy Capital Campaign in honor of Chris Sweeney, please contact the Development Office at 404-633-4290.
Margaret Gilbert ScholarshipThis newly endowed schol-arship honors Margaret Gilbert, 41, who passed away in April 2009 after a courageous battle with breast cancer. Margaret was a beloved wife, mother and coach who touched the lives of many in the St. Pius X community. Married to Bob Gilbert, current teacher and coach at St. Pius X, Marga-ret was the mother of four
beautiful daughters: Katy ’12, Sara, Jill and Mary. In her youth, she was a champion swimmer and turned her athletic passion into a career coaching young swimmers including the St. Pius X swim team. If you would like to donate to the Margaret Gilbert Scholarship Endowment, please contact the Development Office at 404-633-4290.
Expanding Our Legacy
Newly Endowed Scholarship
You are invited to our first-ever Marathon of Mercy, a school-wide service day to take place throughout metro Atlanta. Join us as we come together as a school family to
serve those most in need.
Saturday, October 23, 2010
7 a.m. Sign In
7:15 a.m.Introduction and Team Breakfast
7:45 a.m.Depart for Projects
8 a.m. - 12 p.m.Marathon of Mercy
St. Francis Food Table • St. Vincent de Paul • Samaritan HouseMissionaries of Charity House Homeless Food DeliveryDresden Literacy Outreach • Atlanta Children’s Shelter
Our Lady of Perpetual Help Cancer Home • Rosary ArmyElaine Clark Center • Foundation for Hospital ArtAfghans for Angels • Monastery of the Holy Spirit
Atlanta Homeless Food Gardens • And many more!!
Chaplain’s Corner
It is interesting how the questions we are asked vary and change with our age. For example, when we are very young, we are asked: “Did you potty?” Then when we get older, it is something like: “Did you finish your carrots?” or “Are you passing math?” or “What do you want to be when you grow up?” Then the ques-tions start to change. “You’re dating who?!” Then the big questions are: “What college are you going to?” And then “You want to marry whom?!” or “How’s the new boss?” Of course, when you hit 66 people start asking you again: “Did you go potty?”
However, at 66 I am ready to answer the question, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” I want to be Mr. Spellman! Let me tell you why.
First of all, Mr. Spellman and his family have not always had it easy. As with all families, there have been tragedies and setbacks. However, he takes everything in stride with a confidence in divine providence. He is a living example of Saint Francis de Sales’ saying: “The greatness of man is not seen in what he does, but what he does when things are done to him!”
Secondly you always know Mr. Spellman is glad to see you. He hugs you, and he remembers things about you. But you must know this: there are times he is not glad to see you, not because of you but because of the example of
Homily Senior Lock-In 2010At the Senior 2010 Lock-In this past May, Msgr. Richard Lopez celebrated Mass for the new graduates. During the Mass, he gave a homily which Spiritus would like to share with the rest of our St. Pius X community. Enjoy!
Augustine’s phrase: “Pretium caritas tu” – “the price of love is yourself.” If you ever marry, if you are ever a parent, you must learn that lesson by divine grace to die to yourself for the love of others.
Thirdly, Mr. Spellman lost his mother not too terribly long ago. She was in her 90s, but every day on the way home from work he would give her a call. I am sure he misses those calls now, but his example is a challenge to you. Call your parents—not just for money, but for gratitude and love, and do it regularly.
Finally, you have never seen Mr. Spellman angry at someone or shouting at them for something they did wrong. There is an important reason for that. He knows how to command from within. What I mean by this is that he knows and loves us, and we know and love him. For that reason, we want to obey him, we want to please him. Mr. Spellman loves Christ, and the Church, and obeys and honors both. We can never do the same until we come to know and love, personally, Christ and His Church. It is then that obedience becomes natural!
At your graduation, Mr. Spellman revealed part of the secret of the way he is. Each morning at school he keeps an appointment, an appointment with Christ in the Eucharist. He regularly meets and receives Christ in the Blessed Sacrament and that constant contact with grace has allowed us to see Christ in him. Mr. Spellman makes it very hard for us not to believe in the goodness of God. I hope all of us want to grow up and be like that!
One Day. 26 Projects. Giving Back.
A Campus Ministry Event
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Arts
The St. Pius X Fine Arts Department is excited to begin a new school year with our many talented artists, actors, dancers, musi-cians and technicians. We welcome our new faculty members, Brion Kennedy (Guitar) and Clay Causey (Concert Choir). They bring a wealth of talent and experience to our students, and we look forward to seeing the fruits of their labor as the year pro-gresses. Also new for this year, Mr. John Favier is teaching our very first Tech Crew class. It has been a longtime dream to offer this class. We know our students will value receiving elective course credit for the incredible work they do!
To the right is a listing of our performances for the year. Please be sure to mark your calendars for a fantastic season of the arts at St. Pius X. We look forward to seeing you in the audience!
Lisa O’ConnorFine Arts Department ChairDirector of Dance
It’s theatre time once again, and with my brand new indestructible knees, we are ready to perform! The summer drama workshop was A ++. The two groups of anxious actors had a blast. Kudos to my wonderful and dedicated assistants—Catherine Korizno, Marirose Allen and Jennifer Samaritan. Bravo, ladies!
A record 31 eighth-graders auditioned this year, and they were awe-some. What a talented new group.
My trip to New York was an absolute joy, and to stand on the stage of
2010-2011 Performance Schedule
October 13-16, 2010The Pius Players present the annual Fall Play
December 2, 2010Christmas Band Concert
February 12, 2011The Pius Players present a Children’s Musical
February 18, 2011Juried Visual Arts Exhibition
March 9-13, 2011The Pius Players present the annual Spring Musical
March 24-26, 2011Spring Dance Concert
April 14, 2011Spring Band Performance
April 15, 2011Spring Guitar and Choir Performance
The Artsat St. Pius X
On Stage, Everyone!the Music Box Theatre (after many, many years) was a thrill beyond belief. Tony Shaloub and his wife Brooke were appearing in “Lend Me A Tenor”—a riotous farce of blue ribbon quality—and Stanley Tucci directed the production! Tony is uncle to our very own Tony Larkin ’99, also a professional actor.
We begin the 2010-2011 season with a clever comedy, “Play On!” It’s a group of silly actors trying to play classical actors who end up as really bad actors. Don’t miss this hilarious production. The play runs October 13-16 at 7 p.m. There will be no matinee.
For the younger crowd, we have a special production, “Hi Ho Robin Hood,” on February 12. There will be two shows at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. Bring all of the little ones and wear green.
A TBA “sparkling” musical appears March 9-13, so please mark your calendars now!
We look forward to seeing you in the theatre all year. Our talented kids are the very best!! Our parents are too. God bless!
Bonnie E. SparkDirector of Theatre and Speech
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St. Pius X Catholic High School is pleased to announce that seven students have received national athletic and academic honors. We are proud of these students and their accomplishments.
Senior Shelby Ashe competed in the hammer throw event in the inaugural Young Olympic Games in Singapore with the Team USA Track and Field team. Ashe, who already holds the junior and national record for the hammer throw at 214’ 4’’, began her competition on August 19, and the finals were held August 23. The favorite for the gold at the games, Ashe unfortunately ran into some trouble during the rainy competition and finished eighth. The senior was named to the USA Today National High School Track and Field Team earlier this summer, and she has her sights set on the Pan American Games roster.
Senior William Brazell won the Bronze Medal in Shooting at the National Junior Olympics in July. Tied for sixth-place with three other shooters, Brazell posted a perfect score to advance to the finals in a shoot-off. Once in the finals, he tied for second but came home with the bronze following an additional shoot-off. Brazell also won the 2010 Georgia State Tournament earlier this summer.
Freshman Gunnar Bentz (not pictured) broke the national record for the 200-meter breaststroke for 13-14 year olds at the Junior Olympic Nationals in Irvine, CA last week. His time of 2:20.43 broke the former standard, set in 2002 at 2:20.81. Last month prior to the national event, Bentz broke Georgia state records in the 100-meter freestyle, the 200- and 400-meter breast stroke and 200- and 400-meter indi-vidual medley at the Southern Zone Meet at Georgia Tech.
Class of 2010 alumnus Christopher Carscallen was named third team All-American for water polo. This honor was awarded to a select few from all the water polo teams in the country and is a very high honor for Christiopher and the entire championship St. Pius team. Christopher was also named to the National Interscholastic Swim Coaches Association (NISCA) Academic All-American list for an academic average above 93.5 percent.
Sophomore Devon Dabney captured third place last weekend at the USA Triathlon’s Junior Triathlon Festival in San Diego, CA. Dab-ney, who is a member of the USA Southeast Junior Triathlon team, has also captured first place in her age group in five events this year en route to leading the Southeast Junior Race Series in 2010. In those events, she was the second top female finisher overall each time. Dabney is looking for her second consecutive Southeast Junior Race Series Title.
Class of 2010 alumnus Dillon Davis was named to the 2009-2010 National Interscho-lastic Swim Coaches Association (NISCA) Academic All-American list for academic av-erages above 93.5 percent. A talented athlete, Dillon was a member of the St. Pius X Water Polo team his senior year, and he played a key roll in the team’s accomplishments.
Sophomore Gaffney Taylor was named a 2010 National Interscholastic Swimming Coaches Association (NISCA) All-American for 1-meter diving. She joins only seven other divers from the state of Georgia to be selected for the honor. As a freshman last year, Taylor set school records for both the 6- and 11-dive events.
Athletics
St. Pius X Students Receive Athletic and Academic Accolades
Special Recognition: Several St. Pius X students and alumni were recently recognized for their ath-letic and academic accomplishments. (Left to right, top to bottom) Senior Shelby Ashe, senior William Brazell Christopher Carscallen ’10, sophomore Devon Dabney, Dillon Davis ’10, and sophomore Gaffney Taylor.
Spiritus is a publication of the Development Office of St. Pius X Catholic High School and is published eight times per year.St. Pius X is a unit of the Archdiocese of Atlanta.Submissions: Mail or email [email protected] or fax 404-320-0308.Editor: Ruth McCulloughPublications Coordinator: Noelle AmatoAssociate Communications Coordinator: Kyle Snipes Photography: Billy Howard Copyright 2010
St. Pius X Publications Available Online
Current issues of all St. Pius X publica-tions including Spiritus, Alumni News, Golden Lines newspaper, and eSPX, are all available on the St. Pius X Web site, www.spx.org. Spiritus and Alumni News are available on the Web site as soon as they are sent to press.
Subscribe to eSPXESPX is a weekly e-mail newsletter which provides up-to-date information on classes, events, calendar changes, and other items. This year we are sending out eSPX through a new system which allows for the incorporation of direct links to Web pages as well as many other features to help our parents easily gain access to much needed information. All current parents with valid e-mail addresses have been signed up to receive eSPX automatically. If you are not receiving eSPX or would like to update your e-mail address, please send your information to [email protected]. You may unsubscribe at any time by clicking on the link at the bottom of each eSPX edition, or by sending your request to [email protected].
September 11 Volleyball Playday at St. Pius X 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. 13 SPAS Meeting 7 p.m. 15 Mothers’ Prayer Group 9 a.m. Junior College Night 7 p.m. 18 Boys’ and Girls’ Cross Country vs. Multiple Team Meet at Mercer University (Home) at TBD 19 Senior Parents’ Pot Luck Dinner 5 p.m. 21 Volleyball vs. Druid Hills, Home 5 p.m. Softball vs. North Atlanta, Home 5:30 p.m. Volleyball vs. Columbia, Home 6 p.m. Volleyball vs. Stone Mountain, Home 7 p.m. 23 Softball vs. North Springs, Home 6:30 p.m. 25 Marching Band Contest at TBA 29 Softball vs. Dunwoody, Home 5:30 p.m. 30 Softball vs. Region Tournament at TBA at TBD
October 1 Band Performance: Homecoming vs. Riverwood 1- 5 Softball vs. Region Tournament at TBA at TBD Football vs. Riverwood, Home at 7:30 p.m. 2 Homecoming Dance at 7:30 p.m. 4 Student Holiday - Faculty Retreat Athletic Association Meeting at 6 p.m. 5-7 Volleyball vs. TBA at TBA at TBD 6 Late Start - Mass Assembly Schedule - PSAT writing 7 Blood Drive at 9 a.m. 7 – 10 Marching Band: Disney Performance - Orlando, Fla. 9 SAT @ SPX 11 Sophomore Pilgrimage SPAS Meeting at 7 p.m. 13 SENIORS - No School Late Start 8:40 a.m. - PSAT Testing Grades 9,10,11 Noon Dismissal Fall Play at 7 p.m. 14 Fall Play at 7 p.m. 15 Fall Play at 7 p.m. 16 Marching Band Contest Fall Play at 7 p.m. 17 Sophomore Pot Luck Dinner at 5 p.m.
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St. pius X Catholic High School2674 Johnson Road, NEAtlanta, Georgia 30345-1720404/633-4290www.spx.org
