News - December 2021

The Annual South Boston Catholic Academy Jingle Bell Run was held on December 4, 2021 which included Youth Races and a 5K Run in which many current and former students, families and friends participated in. Thank you to everyone who participated in the Jingle Bell Run and making it a huge success! A Special Thank You to Mrs. Katie Marshman who continues to be the master of organizing a successful event along with the help of the parents, students and friends on her committee. Thank you to all our supporters and sponsors and to everyone who helped to make this fun event possible for all ages! New families are welcome to email Mrs. Jamie Brown at j.brown@sbcatholicacademy.org to learn more about South Boston Catholic Academy.

In the beginning of November, Mr. Cole Stautberg's third grade class tested their wind vanes for three days to track the wind direction. Tracking this data helped them understand how air pressure can push air masses around to create wind. This assisted them in understanding the weather of our world and how it is created. We also welcomed back Mrs. Emily McGilvery, our former K0 Teacher, as our new STEM Teacher for our students in the Early Childhood Program. STEM is an acronym for the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. Each subject or pillar is part of the greater whole of the lesson plan. So instead of teaching math as separate from technology or science, the concepts work together. From November 8 to November 22, SBCA students/families brought in nonperishable items for the Annual Food Drive we had at South Boston Catholic Academy to help families in our community have a Happy Thanksgiving. Thank you to everyone who generously donated to this Food Drive. On November 24, in the spirit of Thanksgiving and the ending to the Liturgical Year, the 6th grade class led us, via intercom, in a prayer of Thanksgiving that consisted of the Prayer of St. Francis…Lord make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred let me sow love. Where there is injury, pardon. Where there is doubt, faith… and they also did readings from the Psalms and A Litany of Gratitude to God... “Father, We Give You Thanks”. Quoting our Principal, Dr. Helenann Civian, “As we reflect on the many things for which we are thankful for, I want to take this opportunity to share just a few of them with you: We are thankful for our students who come to school every day ready to learn – they give us all a daily reminder of what is important and why we are here. We are thankful for the teachers, assistants, health aides, secretaries, nurses, support staff, and administrators who really care about student achievement and have the best interests of our students at heart. We are also thankful for our volunteers who enthusiastically contribute so much to our school. In these most difficult and challenging times, we see dedicated and tireless individuals going above and beyond to make sure that great things happen in our school. They do make a difference, and the children, in their own individual ways, benefit from those efforts. Thank you to our families and to everyone for helping to make this 2021-2022 school year possible for all.” This past Sunday, Nov. 28, marked the First Sunday of Advent and the beginning of a new Liturgical Year. Father Christopher Boyle, our Parochial Vicar, Blessed the Advent wreath and lit the first purple candle on the Advent wreath during the 10:30 Mass at St. Brigid Church. Advent is a Latin word that actually means “coming.” It refers to the period encompassing the four Sundays prior to Christmas. In Christian churches everywhere, Advent is a time of preparation and waiting for the birth of Jesus at Christmas. The candles on the Advent wreath symbolize hope, love, joy and peace. The circular shape of the wreath, without beginning or end, symbolizes God's complete and unending love for us—a love that sent his Son into the world to redeem us from sin. It also represents eternal life which becomes ours through faith in Jesus Christ. New families are welcome to email Mrs. Jamie Brown at j.brown@sbcatholicacademy.org to learn more about South Boston Catholic Academy.