JEFFERSON CITY -- Construction on a major addition to a Jefferson City parochial school halted for a brief time yesterday for a special ceremony.Workers laid the cornerstone for a new wing of the St. Joseph Cathedral School.The expansion nearly doubles the size of the facility on W. Main St."We have a few kids in different buildings,” said Principal Spencer Allen. “We're going to bring everybody into the same building. We're adding 16 classrooms, a music and band room, a new library attached, a new cafeteria, kitchen, administrative offices.""We here St. Peter and his letter talking about living stones,” said Bishop John Gaydos of the Jefferson City Diocese. “That's what all of you are. If it weren't for you, we wouldn't need this building.”The expansion should be finished in time for the start of the next school year.
Friday, March 13, 2009
Cornerstone Blessing
Here is the text from the KRCG 13 March 13th coverage of the bishop's blessing of our cornerstone. The video of this coverage can be accessed here.
Monday, March 9, 2009
Optimism is ...
2nd place Optimist Club essay by Mackenzie Mertins, 8th grade:
For me, optimism is the tendency to believe, expect, or hope that good things can happen no matter how bad the situation. I believe good things don’t happen on their own unless you make them happen. If a student desires to make good grades, they will have to work for them. They will need to pay attention in class and make sure they comprehend what is being taught. It is their responsibility to ask questions if they don’t understand. When doing homework they should make sure they know what they are doing and check their answers they shouldn’t just hurry through the assignment to get it done. If a student has a test to study for, they need to concentrate on memorizing the material needed. Another example would be if someone wants to work at a job that’s good for them they need to know what duties are required. It will help them if they are organized and have their priorities in order.
An example of optimism in my life is when my great-grandmother suffered a stroke when I was 9 years old. The doctors said she would likely die and never live a normal full life. I was at a dance competition out of town when the doctor called my mother and explained that there was no hope and to expect her death. When we rushed to the hospital, my great-grandmother could not remember us. We visited her every day and talked to her and told her stories of her life to help her to remember. We prayed for her every day. After the first week she started to look at us when we talked to her. After the second week she could actually remember my mom’s name and talk to her about her childhood. The doctor couldn’t believe the progress she had made in such a short time. She was actually released from the hospital after the third week and is still living in a retirement home today. My family remained optimistic the whole time and tried everything they could to help her remember things and made sure the doctors were doing everything in their power to help her and not just give up on her because she was 89 years old.
A quote about optimism that speaks to me is “I can’t change the direction of the wind but I can adjust my sails to reach the destination,” by Jimmy Dean. I think this quote means that some things in life cannot be changed no matter how hard you try but you can always adjust yourself to obtain your goals. For example, let’s say you are paired up with someone in class that you have never worked with before to work on a project together. You can’t change the fact that this person is your partner but how you respond to this situation is up to you. You can get to know this person and discuss their views as well as your own and come up with a good compromise. By doing this you will reach your goals much easier rather than trying to do the project yourself.
Another quote about optimism is “Having a positive mental attitude is asking how something can be done rather than saying it can’t be done,” by Bo Bennett. To me this means asking for help when you can’t do something rather than giving up on it. If you are in a math class and you’re having trouble understanding how to do a really hard section instead of giving up and failing that lesson you should ask your teacher to explain it so you can understand. If you have the attitude that failing is not an option you will have a much better chance at succeeding in life.
To summarize, optimism is the philosophy that things are continually getting better and that good will ultimately triumph over evil. To me this is what my whole Christian beliefs are based on, doing good things for others without the expectation of anything in return. If I practice what is being taught to me in Church, it will help me to make the world a better, happier place to live. If all the world leaders shared this belief in optimism for their people, imagine what a wonderful world this would be.
For me, optimism is the tendency to believe, expect, or hope that good things can happen no matter how bad the situation. I believe good things don’t happen on their own unless you make them happen. If a student desires to make good grades, they will have to work for them. They will need to pay attention in class and make sure they comprehend what is being taught. It is their responsibility to ask questions if they don’t understand. When doing homework they should make sure they know what they are doing and check their answers they shouldn’t just hurry through the assignment to get it done. If a student has a test to study for, they need to concentrate on memorizing the material needed. Another example would be if someone wants to work at a job that’s good for them they need to know what duties are required. It will help them if they are organized and have their priorities in order.
An example of optimism in my life is when my great-grandmother suffered a stroke when I was 9 years old. The doctors said she would likely die and never live a normal full life. I was at a dance competition out of town when the doctor called my mother and explained that there was no hope and to expect her death. When we rushed to the hospital, my great-grandmother could not remember us. We visited her every day and talked to her and told her stories of her life to help her to remember. We prayed for her every day. After the first week she started to look at us when we talked to her. After the second week she could actually remember my mom’s name and talk to her about her childhood. The doctor couldn’t believe the progress she had made in such a short time. She was actually released from the hospital after the third week and is still living in a retirement home today. My family remained optimistic the whole time and tried everything they could to help her remember things and made sure the doctors were doing everything in their power to help her and not just give up on her because she was 89 years old.
A quote about optimism that speaks to me is “I can’t change the direction of the wind but I can adjust my sails to reach the destination,” by Jimmy Dean. I think this quote means that some things in life cannot be changed no matter how hard you try but you can always adjust yourself to obtain your goals. For example, let’s say you are paired up with someone in class that you have never worked with before to work on a project together. You can’t change the fact that this person is your partner but how you respond to this situation is up to you. You can get to know this person and discuss their views as well as your own and come up with a good compromise. By doing this you will reach your goals much easier rather than trying to do the project yourself.
Another quote about optimism is “Having a positive mental attitude is asking how something can be done rather than saying it can’t be done,” by Bo Bennett. To me this means asking for help when you can’t do something rather than giving up on it. If you are in a math class and you’re having trouble understanding how to do a really hard section instead of giving up and failing that lesson you should ask your teacher to explain it so you can understand. If you have the attitude that failing is not an option you will have a much better chance at succeeding in life.
To summarize, optimism is the philosophy that things are continually getting better and that good will ultimately triumph over evil. To me this is what my whole Christian beliefs are based on, doing good things for others without the expectation of anything in return. If I practice what is being taught to me in Church, it will help me to make the world a better, happier place to live. If all the world leaders shared this belief in optimism for their people, imagine what a wonderful world this would be.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Optimism
Jessica Duncan - 8th grade (first place entry in the Optimist Club oratory club contest):
'Positive things happen to positive people.' Quoted from Sarah Beeny. Likewise, a teacher of mine said, "A positive mindset leads to a positive result."
A perfect example of these quotes is studying for a test. When I study for a test, the pressure to do well can be, and most often is, excruciating. So much is riding on my doing well on this one test. If I don't do well, my entire grade for that subject drops, often to the point where it is hard to raise it back up before the end of the quarter. I have often found that when I tell myself that I am running out of time, the material is too much for me to handle, and that I'll never be able to memorize it all in time for the test I most often find myself giving up before I've given myself the chance to even try. Then the day of the test comes, and I am stumped on most every question. I can't even remember the answers to questions that I already knew. I can't concentrate on my test. My mind wanders back to what I had been doing instead of studying. I feel once again the frustration of not remembering what I have already learned. Then I start to play the 'what if' and 'if I only had' games. What if I was super smart like some of my other classmates? If only I had a photographic memory, then I would have no problems at all. What if I had the power to read minds, then I could read the mind of the smartest person in my class, and get all the right answers. It's hard to be positive after being negative for such a long time.
However, when I study, and I tell myself that the material is simple and that I can do well on the test, I find that I more easily remember the harder material. I find that it takes me a matter of minutes to memorize most of my note cards. I feel elated. I feel empowered. I no longer need a photographic memory, I don't need the power to read minds, and I don't need to be the smartest person in my grade. I am already equipped with a more powerful tool: positivity.
The day of the test, I wake up well rested and feeling like I could soar. I sit down at my desk, calmly waiting as my teacher passes out the tests. Others are fretting, trying to fit in a couple last minutes of studying, and I feel empathy towards them, knowing exactly how they feel. The story is always the same. I get my test, I calmly write my name, I look at the first question, and I'm on my way. Nothing distracts me. I am completely engrossed in my test and nothing can tear away my focus. I feel as though, with every question I know and answer, my spirit is lifted from my seat. Time seems irrelevant. Nothing else but completing my test seems important. The feeling of euphoria closes upon me as I turn my test in, knowing that I did extremely well. It was all because I was positive that I would do well, that I did.
So optimism is having a positive mindset on life.
Being optimistic helps you be happier in life. If everyone were optimistic, we would all have hope. Where hope is, what you are hoping for eventually comes to pass.
If you want something enough to will it to happen, it will. Through thinking and hoping that something will happen, through working hard to get to that something, you will succeed.
So optimism is hope.
For me such a hopeful experience was when I started Taekwondo. I started when I was seven years old and was in second grade. I began as a white belt, working to achieve orange, then yellow, and so on. It was grueling work. I had class two or three times a week, in which I spent my time conditioning, sparring, and working to memorize my form. After a time, testing would be held at which everyone in the Taekwondo School would perform their form, spar, and occasionally break boards in front of judges and in front of a crowd composed of friends and family of all of the testers. If you passed, you would receive the next belt. If you failed, you would try again at the next testing. I worked very hard, wanting to be like my instructors, and become a black belt. I joined the Leadership Group which performed at schools and other assemblies. I practiced at home. I wished every star and eyelash on getting to that black belt. I thrived in the environment. I was excellent at Taekwondo. It was my forte. My family tried to get into Taekwondo as well, but they eventually dropped out while I kept going. I was so excited that out of all of my family, of which I was the youngest, only I had been able to make it through.
Eventually, I was testing for my black belt. I was so nervous. I executed the form and sparred expertly. At this testing, I needed to break boards to pass. I had to break the boards using various methods: a backwards elbow, a front kick, and a side kick. Out of these three methods, a side kick was my weakness. It happened that I was not able to break it. I nearly broke down in front of everyone as I watched others break their boards and pass.
So it was then, when I got another try during class to break that board with a side kick and pass, with my friends cheering me on from the sidelines that I succeeded and broke that silly board. I was so ecstatic! I had passed! I was now a black belt. It was the hope that I would achieve my black belt that made me so determined, so aggressive. It was because of that hope, that my victory was all the sweeter.
Deepak Chopra said, "Miracles happen every day. Not just in remote country villages or at holy sites halfway across the globe, but here, in our own lives." Achieving that black belt was my miracle. It was my hope, my reason for being who I was.
I believe that optimism is having the strength to have a positive outlook on all things, that hope is at the heart of optimism, and that optimism can be achieved by anyone.
'Positive things happen to positive people.' Quoted from Sarah Beeny. Likewise, a teacher of mine said, "A positive mindset leads to a positive result."
A perfect example of these quotes is studying for a test. When I study for a test, the pressure to do well can be, and most often is, excruciating. So much is riding on my doing well on this one test. If I don't do well, my entire grade for that subject drops, often to the point where it is hard to raise it back up before the end of the quarter. I have often found that when I tell myself that I am running out of time, the material is too much for me to handle, and that I'll never be able to memorize it all in time for the test I most often find myself giving up before I've given myself the chance to even try. Then the day of the test comes, and I am stumped on most every question. I can't even remember the answers to questions that I already knew. I can't concentrate on my test. My mind wanders back to what I had been doing instead of studying. I feel once again the frustration of not remembering what I have already learned. Then I start to play the 'what if' and 'if I only had' games. What if I was super smart like some of my other classmates? If only I had a photographic memory, then I would have no problems at all. What if I had the power to read minds, then I could read the mind of the smartest person in my class, and get all the right answers. It's hard to be positive after being negative for such a long time.
However, when I study, and I tell myself that the material is simple and that I can do well on the test, I find that I more easily remember the harder material. I find that it takes me a matter of minutes to memorize most of my note cards. I feel elated. I feel empowered. I no longer need a photographic memory, I don't need the power to read minds, and I don't need to be the smartest person in my grade. I am already equipped with a more powerful tool: positivity.
The day of the test, I wake up well rested and feeling like I could soar. I sit down at my desk, calmly waiting as my teacher passes out the tests. Others are fretting, trying to fit in a couple last minutes of studying, and I feel empathy towards them, knowing exactly how they feel. The story is always the same. I get my test, I calmly write my name, I look at the first question, and I'm on my way. Nothing distracts me. I am completely engrossed in my test and nothing can tear away my focus. I feel as though, with every question I know and answer, my spirit is lifted from my seat. Time seems irrelevant. Nothing else but completing my test seems important. The feeling of euphoria closes upon me as I turn my test in, knowing that I did extremely well. It was all because I was positive that I would do well, that I did.
So optimism is having a positive mindset on life.
Being optimistic helps you be happier in life. If everyone were optimistic, we would all have hope. Where hope is, what you are hoping for eventually comes to pass.
If you want something enough to will it to happen, it will. Through thinking and hoping that something will happen, through working hard to get to that something, you will succeed.
So optimism is hope.
For me such a hopeful experience was when I started Taekwondo. I started when I was seven years old and was in second grade. I began as a white belt, working to achieve orange, then yellow, and so on. It was grueling work. I had class two or three times a week, in which I spent my time conditioning, sparring, and working to memorize my form. After a time, testing would be held at which everyone in the Taekwondo School would perform their form, spar, and occasionally break boards in front of judges and in front of a crowd composed of friends and family of all of the testers. If you passed, you would receive the next belt. If you failed, you would try again at the next testing. I worked very hard, wanting to be like my instructors, and become a black belt. I joined the Leadership Group which performed at schools and other assemblies. I practiced at home. I wished every star and eyelash on getting to that black belt. I thrived in the environment. I was excellent at Taekwondo. It was my forte. My family tried to get into Taekwondo as well, but they eventually dropped out while I kept going. I was so excited that out of all of my family, of which I was the youngest, only I had been able to make it through.
Eventually, I was testing for my black belt. I was so nervous. I executed the form and sparred expertly. At this testing, I needed to break boards to pass. I had to break the boards using various methods: a backwards elbow, a front kick, and a side kick. Out of these three methods, a side kick was my weakness. It happened that I was not able to break it. I nearly broke down in front of everyone as I watched others break their boards and pass.
So it was then, when I got another try during class to break that board with a side kick and pass, with my friends cheering me on from the sidelines that I succeeded and broke that silly board. I was so ecstatic! I had passed! I was now a black belt. It was the hope that I would achieve my black belt that made me so determined, so aggressive. It was because of that hope, that my victory was all the sweeter.
Deepak Chopra said, "Miracles happen every day. Not just in remote country villages or at holy sites halfway across the globe, but here, in our own lives." Achieving that black belt was my miracle. It was my hope, my reason for being who I was.
I believe that optimism is having the strength to have a positive outlook on all things, that hope is at the heart of optimism, and that optimism can be achieved by anyone.
Monday, February 2, 2009
Catholic Schools Week Thoughts
Some of our 5th grade students recently submitted some thoughts on what a Catholic education means to them:Catholic schools are important because they teach us about God. There are so many good people at Catholic schools. You always get a good education. The teachers are very nice.
My parents sent me to a Catholic school because they wanted me to be a follower of Christ. At Catholic schools there are a lot of good role models, not to mention how much fun we have. People should send their kids to a Catholic school.
I wish everyone went to a Catholic school. We get to talk about God, and we can pray whenever we want. At a Catholic school there is very little bullying. My favorite thing we do is field day. You get to do a lot of fun games and activities. It is AWESOME!
-Jacob Brune
This week all Catholic schools are celebrating Catholic Schools Week. We celebrate this to show that we are Catholic. There are a lot of unique details about this week, like Spirit Day, Teacher Appreciation day, etc… I enjoy going to a Catholic School because you can always pray or spread the works of Jesus. My friends and I, for example, always say a Hail Mary when we see or hear an ambulance or fire truck go by.
-Jacob Brune
This week all Catholic schools are celebrating Catholic Schools Week. We celebrate this to show that we are Catholic. There are a lot of unique details about this week, like Spirit Day, Teacher Appreciation day, etc… I enjoy going to a Catholic School because you can always pray or spread the works of Jesus. My friends and I, for example, always say a Hail Mary when we see or hear an ambulance or fire truck go by.
I have been going to a Catholic school for seven years. Over the time I’ve learned a lot about a ton of things, but what astonishes me is what happened in Jesus’ time period. There were a lot of miracles being performed then. That’s what’s cool about Catholic school: you can learn so much if you go here.
I go to EER, and I know a lot of people who go to public schools. Sure, they get to dress down every day, but they don’t get to learn about God as much as we do. Catholic Schools Week isn’t just about dressing down or doughnuts, it’s about expressing your faith. Public schools don’t go to Church during school, but we do. We learn a lot about God but we have fun doing it. So go to a Catholic school today.
-Sarah Luebbert
-Sarah Luebbert
Catholic schools are important because they teach children the importance of having God in your life. Catholic schools let you talk about God. I have gone to Saint Joseph Cathedral School for seven years. I made my first communion and reconciliation here too.
You should go to a Catholic school because you get to learn about God. At our Catholic School there is hardly any bullying. You can always go to a teacher for moral help and support too.
It is a good idea to send your children to a Catholic school because it can have an effect on them for the rest of their lives. I have done a lot of growing up here. Most Catholic schools try to teach responsibilities and kindness. We get to go to church at least once a week, too.
-Lilli Buxton
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Rudy Saves Christmas
Jordan Wright - 4th Grade (This story received a "first place" recognition as an entry for a writing contest coordinated by Ms. Mary Lou O'Brien, our school counselor.)It was two weeks until Christmas Eve,and Santa wasn’t feeling so well.
“What are we going to do?” asked Santa as he was sipping hot cocoa.
Rudy the elf said, “Maybe we should make flyers for a substitute Santa.”
“Excellent idea, Rudy,” said Mrs. Claus.
“Wait a second! Wait everybody!” said Santa. “What if a child wakes up and expects to see Santa and sees you, Rudy?”
“Good point,” said Rudy and Mrs.Claus at the same time.
“You could wear his outfit and a fake beard,” said Mrs.Claus.
“What about the ol’ bowl full of jelly?” asked Santa.
“I could add a stitch of velvet to the inside of your coat and make a pillow to velcro to it,” said Mrs.Claus.
“Well let’s see what the results of the flyers is,” said Santa.
A week passed, and the result of the flyers were that everybody thought it would be too big of a job to do, especially on Christmas Eve.
“I just don’t see why people won’t sacrifice on Christmas for Santa,” said Rudy to Mrs.Claus.
“I can’t do it because my bones are too old,” said Mrs.Claus.
“I’ll do it!” exclaimed Rudy. “I can spare one Christmas for Santa. It’ll be lots of fun”
“That’s the spirit Rudy,” said Santa. “I’ll even let you use Rudolph.”
“Thank you Santa. I really appreciate it,” said Rudy.
Three days later a doctor came to see Santa. “I checked his temperature, and Santa has a fever of 103.5 F,” said Dr. Snowcare.
“Oh, dear,” said Mrs.Claus.
“Can somebody please get me some water?” said Santa.
“I will,” said Mrs.Claus.
“Santa, you’re going to be out of work for another week or so. What are you going to do about Christmas?” asked Dr. Snowcare.
“My best helper elf, Rudy, is going to be my substitute,” said Santa.
“Good for you Rudy.” said Dr. Snowcare.
“It’s Christmas Eve, it’s Christmas Eve!” Rudy told his mom when he went to her house for breakfast.
“Rudy, I’m so proud of you!” exclaimed his mom, Ruby the elf.
“I’m going to go to Santa’s Workshop now. I don’t want to be late,” said Rudy. Rudy rode his favorite way to Santa’s Workshop, which was by Reindeer. Santa let Rudy take Dasher home with him the night before so Rudy could have fun coming back to work.
“Hi, Rudy, did you have fun coming back?” asked Mrs.Claus.
“It was so much fun!” said Rudy as he dismounted.
“Why don’t you help me and Emily Elf fill the sleigh?” said Mrs.Claus.
“Sure.” answered Rudy.
After about four hours, Mrs.Claus suggested, “Rudy, why don’t you go ahead and change into your Santa outfit and hitch up the reindeer, okay?”
“Okay. Where is Rudolph kept?” asked Rudy. “Over there in the red stable,” said Mrs.Claus.
“Thanks.” said Rudy. After an hour, Rudy had everything ready.
“Rudy, it’s ten minutes from midnight. I think you should start leaving,” said Mrs.Claus.
“Okay, thank you Mrs.Claus.” said Rudy.
With that Rudy took off into the night. “This is the best night of my life,” said Rudy as he passed over Greece. After 5 hours of flying over the world putting gifts in stockings, Rudy returned to Santa’s Workshop with the biggest smile on his face, and said, “This has been the best Christmas ever!”
Monday, November 24, 2008
Kindergarten Puppet Show
The afternoon kindergarten class is in the process of making a full-scale puppet show about Jonah. This file is a compressed version of the opening number (because it is compressed, the quality won't be perfect). Enjoy this product of some fun, but hard work from our kindergarteners, Mrs. Braddock, and Mrs. Jurgovan!
Monday, October 27, 2008
Emotions
Poem by an anonymous St. Joseph Student:
Love and hate, two in one, my feelings are but brief.
When I feel emotions, I never feel relief.
Emotions aren’t just feelings, but how we feel inside.
Everyone has emotions, but most of them we hide.
People do not like to talk about how they feel;
But if you hide emotions you will never heal.
Love and hate, two in one, my feelings are but brief.
When I feel emotions, I never feel relief.
Emotions aren’t just feelings, but how we feel inside.
Everyone has emotions, but most of them we hide.
People do not like to talk about how they feel;
But if you hide emotions you will never heal.
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