THE
SHINER CATHOLIC SCHOOL
WINTER 2015
CARDINAL
Bishop Cahill Visits Shiner Catholic School The Most Reverend Brendan T Cahill was welcomed to C Shiner Catholic School by S tthree hundred and eighteen eeager students on August 21, 22015. Bishop Cahill was rrecently ordained Bishop for tthe Diocese of Victoria on JJune 29, 2015. Bishop Cahill’s vvisit to SCS marks his first sschool mass and tour after his new appointment. h
Students were able to see and touch Bishops Cahill’s ring and cross. In addition, they learned about the crosier and its symbolism. Three interesting facts about Bishop Cahill are he is from Houston, Texas, is a big sports fan, and prefers to wear cowboy boots daily. The St. Paul Booster Club made sure to outfit him with some red Cardinal gear and Mrs. Yackel invited him to the rival Sacred Heart football game. He himself is a product of Catholic education and a strong advocate for Catholic education. Bishop Cahill made the students comfortable with his approachable persona. He wants everyone to learn of God’s love and mercy. Shiner Catholic School was blessed and honored to host Bishop Cahill’s visit and looks forward to next time…
Bishop Cahill’s visit began with celebrating Mass at Saints Cyril and Methodius Catholic Church. The senior class participated in the ministries and the sixth grade class provided the music. Many parishoners came to meet and hear Bishop Cahill. It was a full house! Afterwards, Father Kirby and principal, Neely Yackel, gave Bishop Cahill the tour of both St. Ludmila Elementary and St. Paul High School campuses. Bishop Cahill was a trooper, because he visited every class from Pre K 3 through 12th grade. SCS students were full of inquisitive questions and star stuck by his presence.
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SHINER CATHOLIC SCHOOL
WINTER 2015
2015 State Champs
Marco Ynclan, Austin Barton, Eudosio Garza, Noah Leist, Conor Kresta, Tre'Zell Jenkins-Perry, Ryan Malinovsky, Nathan Wagner, Ryan Geiger, Derek Kapavik, Andrew Wagner, Jed Janecek, River Haynes, Joseph Natal, Jaydon Darilek, Nathan Pilat, Ryan Bell, Cole Brown, TJ Bell, Colton Machart, Alex Hull, Michael Wagner, Reagan Beal, Jacob Darilek, Garrett Knox, Max Patek, Weston Davis, Jack Janecek, Josh Haynes, Patrick Green, Coach Wachsmuth, Coach Neelley, Coach Diefenbach, Trainer Johnson and also pictured are SPH waterboys and student trainers.
TAPPS Division III: 2015 State Champions - On Friday, December 4, 2015, the St. Paul Cardinal Football team traveled to Bastrop Memorial Stadium to compete in the TAPPS Division III State Football game against Trinity Christian. Earlier that day, Shiner Catholic School students, personnel and parishioners attended First Friday Mass. Father Kirby gave an eloquent sermon in which he touched on the saying “Seeing is Believing” challenging the congregation to focus instead on “Believing is Seeing.” Hundreds of Cardinal fans filled the home side bleachers wanting to see what they came to believe in. The 13-0 Cardinals who arrived prepared to battle the Trinity Christian Tigers, 10-3 and the 2014 defending Division III 2014 State Champions.
didn’t matter. They BELIEVED. They believed in their coaches, themselves and the team. Beginning in August, this team practiced and prepared daily for Friday night’s game. Week after week, they practiced and played in the heat and the cold, sometimes with injuries, racking up win after win and several shut-outs with one goal – STATE VICTORY. Coach Wachsmuth certainly thought his team had the potential, often referring to them in the newspapers as a “special group of kids.” He was right.
On December 4 in Bastrop, Texas, as the final 16 seconds ticked down, the St. Paul Cardinals beat Trinity Christian Tigers 43-40. The Cardinal’s perseverance, determination and unwavering belief in their team and coaches led them to a fifth TAPPS State Football title. For the 2016 Senior players, winning State was the final chapter in their football Trinity Christian, the defending 2014 TAPPS State careers which began as freshman members of the 2012 Champions were big and fast. Their line averaged over 200 pounds, many of their players only played offense or State Champion Team. For the Junior, Sophomore and Freshman players, winning State would be an enticement defense and they came from Cedar Hill, 16 miles from for future football seasons. Congratulations Cardinals and downtown Dallas whose population exceeds 45,000. Coaches on a 14-0 Season. Thank you for letting us come This team from a town with a population of 2069, was along on the ride of a lifetime. ready for them. The 2015 Cardinal football team knew all of this but it
WE A R E ST. PAU L .
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SHINER CATHOLIC SCHOOL
WINTER 2015
2 Cross Country Team State Titles
Girls Team: Bailey Blair*, Trinity Garza, Natalie Jackson*, Riley Johnson*, Hope Kapavik*, Kayla Kubenka, Emma Morgan*, Mackenzie Parker, Delynn Pesek, Caroline Spaeth, Ashley Wachsmuth*, Elyssa Wagner*, Coach Beal-Sestak, and Coach Morgan Boys Team: Cole Brown, Jacob Darilek, Walker Jackson, Lane Jackson, Andrew Wagner, Nathan Wagner, Marco Ynclan, Coach Beal-Sestak, and Coach
TAPPS Division 2A: 2015 Girls & Boys State Champs - The Lady Cardinals won three consecutive titles in 2008, 2009, and 2010 and after 2013 and 2014 State wins their focus was a Three Peat at the State Meet held October 31, 2015 in Waco. Earlier in the week, weather played havoc with the course. Dry, firm ground now resembled a three mile mud pit with knee deep water filled holes. If the course thought it would intimidate the Cardinal runners, it miscalculated. Emma Morgan, Bailey Blair and Hope Kapavik placed in the top ten while Riley Johnson, Ashley Wachsmuth, Elyssa Wagner and Natalie Jackson rounded out the team. Seventyfive runners and 9 teams competed at the TAPPS 2A Girls Meet. The Lady Cardinals finished first with an overall score of 35 and a third consecutive State Championship! In 2005, the St. Paul boys won their only State Cross Country title and their last appearance at State was in 2010. This year one senior, three sophomores and three freshmen decided to form a boys cross country team. Walker and Lane Jackson placed in the top ten while Nathan Wagner, Andrew Wagner, Marco Ynclan, Jacob Darilek and Cole Brown rounded out the team. 120
runners competed in the TAPPS 2A Boys Meet with 12 schools competing as a team. The Cardinal Boys Cross Country team finished first with an overall score of 66, their first Championship as a team, a second State Championship for St. Paul and the first title in ten years. Many of St. Paul’s runners competed in dual sports during the season. They ran three to four days a week in the early morning hours followed by 8 hours of academics and afternoon practice or competition in their other respective sports. While local meets provided challenging courses, the state course exacerbated by poor weather conditions made a brutal running environment. As the day unfolded, the Cardinal runners were challenged physically and mentally but their determination, inner fortitude and strength did not waiver. Coach Dana Beal-Sestak and Coach Kerry Morgan worked tirelessly with their athletes ensuring the runners were equipped to step up to the challenge and they did. Over 1300 runners competed that overcast day in Waco. The St. Paul Boys and Girls Cardinal Cross Country Team each brought home a State Championship and completed their mission: Run as One, Race as a Team, Finish as a Family.
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SHINER CATHOLIC SCHOOL
WINTER 2015
To Rank or Not Rank…That is the Question? At Shiner Catholic School, we are extremely proud of our students and their many accomplishments. We are also proud of our strong college admissions track record. In 2003, Shiner Catholic School joined many other top Catholic and private schools across Texas that dropped the policy of ranking students. By not ranking, our students are allowed to be more competitive, and it places them in the best position possible in the college admissions process. All accredited schools in the state of Texas, including private schools, take part in the Texas Top Ten Percent Legislation. This means that the top ten percent of our students receive automatic admission into
Alumni spotlight
public universities in the State of Texas. Because we are a non-ranking school, our students also benefit from the fact that those students who do not qualify for the Texas Top Ten Percent Legislation are reviewed holistically. In a holistic review, our students shine due to their extensive involvement in extracurricular activities, community service and strong scores on college entrance exams. We continue to work with college recruiters and admission directors from the post-secondary schools our graduates attend to help us make the best decisions for our students. This policy can be reviewed in greater detail in the Student/Parent Handbook beginning on page 14.
Lesley Herman Matias and Jeff Matias ‘95
Lesley and Jeff most likely don’t have many secrets when it comes to their elementary school days as well as their high school years. Lesley and Jeff, who are both graduates of St. Paul High School Class of 1995, were classmates for all thirteen years of school.
they replied that they had several favorites, including Sister Elaine, Danae Kozelsky, Tom & Susan Scott, and Bernadette Novosad. They stated that each of these had a unique way of relating information on their level while also being easy to talk to and having time for each student.
It could be said of Jeff and Lesley that there Cardinal roots run deep. Jeff is the son of Robert & Marie (Simper) Matias, while Lesley is the daughter of Alois & Georgie (Valis) Herman, who are all graduates of Shiner Catholic School. With such a solid foundation, it should not be surprising that Jeff and Lesley’s two children are current students at St. Ludmila Elementary. Addison is in the first grade, Jace in Kindergarten, and a third child is on the way.
When describing their most vivid memories of school they stated that their whole class got along really well, which created lots of happy memories while each student added their unique personality to the group. Athletics played a major role in school for both Lesley and Jeff. They fondly remembered celebrating together the accomplishments of winning state and district titles in various sports.
Upon graduation from high school, Leslie continued her education at what was then Southwest Texas State University in San Marcos where she received her Bachelors of Science degree in Respiratory Therapy. Lesley is currently employed by Texas Neurology Center where she is a registered respiratory therapist and polysomnographist. Jeff also attended Southwest Texas State University where he earned a Bachelors Degree in Exercise and Sports Science and Education. After teaching for one year, Jeff then accepted a position at the United Parcel Service where he is a UPS driver with 20 years of experience. Jeff and Lesley were married on July 28, 2001. After living in San Marcos, Austin and Round Rock, they must have heard Shiner calling them back home. They returned to Shiner approximately three years ago to raise their family in their new home. Lesley and Jeff treasure their time spent with family and friends and also enjoy outdoor activities.
When asked about memories of their high school classmates they stated they still keep in touch with many of them, some of whom live in Shiner as well as others who live elsewhere. The Matias’ are active parishioners and volunteers of Saints Cyril & Methodius Church and the Shiner Catholic School family. Now as parents, no doubt, they are reliving many of the memories of their school years as they take part in various church and school activities and watch their next generation of Cardinals, Addison and Jace, advance in age and knowledge.
When asked who there favorite teachers were in school,
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SHINER CATHOLIC SCHOOL Denver Diefenbach joins the St. D Paul coaching staff as an assistant P ffootball, basketball, and baseball ccoach. In addition to his coaching duties, he is also teaching high school d history, health, and speech. After h graduating from St. Joseph High g School in Victoria, Diefenbach played baseball for Texas A&M Kingsville, while earning his bachelors and masters in science. St. Paul struck him as a great opportunity to get involved with a program with a history of success, while remaining close to his family in Victoria. Debbie Bollom is welcomed to D Shiner Catholic School as the S sschool’s technologist and also ttechnology teacher. SCS has kept Debbie very busy with setting up our D tteachers new laptops, problemssolving and teaching. She moved here ffrom Houston where she worked for Hewlett Packard for fifteen years. She is married to Fred and has two children, Travis Bollom and Hillary Francis. She is a proud grandma to Joseph Francis aka the love of her life. Lance Giese joins the Cardinal ccoaching staff this year as head boys basketball coach, head softball coach, b aand assistant volleyball coach. Along with his coaching duties, he teaches w jjunior high history. He moved here from College Station, where he previously coached at St. Joseph Catholic School in Bryan, Texas for many years. His wife, Shannon, is from Yoakum and they wanted to move back to the area with their two boys Kai and Kade. He earned his degree at Stephen F. Austin University. Coach Giese was drawn to SCS because of the great people and great kids. Sister Maryanne Hoang is St. Ludmila Elementary’s new Religion L tteacher. Sister Maryanne is a member of the Dominican Sisters of Mary Immaculate Province in Houston, Texas. This is her first assiagnment at T a Catholic school; she is excited to teach religion. She graduated from Lamar University. Her parents and three brothers live in Springfield, MO.
WINTER 2015
New Faces on Campus
Sister Theresa Doan brings the gift of music to SCS. She is St. Ludmila’s music m teacher. She is originally from Vietnam and has been in the US since 1995. Sr. Theresa h iis a Dominican Sister of Mary Immaculate. She obtained her degree from Lamar University. She said her goal is to help her U students become closer to God through Christian songs.
M Mary Tomas joined SCS as the Pre K3 teacher. This Gonzales native brings over 30 years of teaching experience to SCS. M Mrs. Tomas specializes in Pre K. She has taught in Luling, Gonzales, Happy House and Grace Academy. She and her husband Daniel live on their family ranch. She has two sons. Justin works on the ranch and Bryan lives and works in Denver, Colorado. Derrick Neelley joined the Cardinals ccoaching staff this year as the head baseball coach, junior high basketball b ccoach, and assistant football coach. He tteaches junior high science, health, and speech.This Clifton, Texas native comes to Shiner with coaching experience under his belt from his time as the defensive line coach at Mary Hardin Baylor. Neelley also played football there himself as a cornerback and linebacker for the Crusaders while earning a degree in Exercise and Sport Science. SCS welcomes Neelley and his wife Stephanie to Shiner. Bodie Aragon joins Shiner Catholic B School’s team as a Pre K aide. She enjoys S working with our smallest Cardinals and w sshe has the perk of being around for her own two girls, Railey, 8th grade, and o Cailynn, 6th grade. The Aragon family C raise Angus cattle and grow olives for the Jewett Farm in Moulton where they live. Her husband Rick is the regional welding manager for Union Pacific.
You will be seeing new Cardinal wheels around! SCS purchased two new GM 20 passenger buses. The funding was made possible through a generous grant from the Dickson-Allen Foundation. These seatbeltequipped smaller buses will be versatile. They are great for transporting teams to games and classes on field trips.
New Wheels on Campus PAGE 5
SHINER CATHOLIC SCHOOL
f a l l
WINTER 2015
f e s t i v a l
Fall Festival 2015 was held on Sunday, F September 27, 2015 at the Shiner KC S Park. It was hosted by Shiner Catholic P School’s PTC. This year’s event was a S rrecord year and has grown to be one of SCS’s largest fundraisers. S The event began with a BBQ dinner T with giblet rice, green beans, and sweet tea. Meals were sold for dine in or to-go. Kid games were located at the outside pavilion and entertained the children for hours. New additional games this year included gaga ball, pencil pull, sidewalk chalk art contest, baseball toss, shooting game and TP toss. God blessed us with w pleasant weather and the kids had a blast. This T year’s live auction set a new record at $70,000! What a selection to bid from -trips, homemade goods, W home decor, Cardinal gear, cattle, etc! The highlight of h the auction was the class auction items. Each class donated a one-of-a kind auction item: class photos, autographed church pew, nativity, tee-pee, domino table, class quilt, bucket list, Christmas tree and many more. Lots of creativity and thought went into the class L auction items. Fall Festival = SCS Teamwork. It took the whole Cardinal village to cordinate this fun and worthwhile event. The money raised goes toward many educational projects: SCS annual budget, TAPPS academic meets, PSIA, teacher and staff appreciation, teacher Christmas bonuses, Catholic School sWeek activities, scholarships and much, much more. SCS appreciates everyone who came out to help, work, and support Fall Festival.
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SHINER CATHOLIC SCHOOL
WINTER 2015
Capital Campaign Update… When I arrived in Shiner 5 years ago, the parish was just completing the first phase of the convent restoration wich focused on the exterior. As many of you know, we have recently begun the planning process for a capital campaign. We engaged a consulting firm, Dini Spheris, who spoke with over 60 members of our parish and school community about several capital projects. The projects under consideration include the completion of the convent restoration and the construction of a new community center, as well as new investments in the academic programs of our school. Sincere thanks to everyone who participated in this process! We received the consultants' recommendations and we are now prayerfully finalizing our campaign goal and priorities. We are excited to share the next steps with you in the new year, and we w hope you will remain enthusiastic h and committed to the bright future of Shiner Catholic Church and School. Fr. Kirby Hlavaty, Pastor
Benefactors&Blessings Annual Fund 2015-16
A Gift of Real Impact. Benefactors & Blessings Annual Fund is necessary to sustain the life of our school. The true cost of a Shiner Catholic School education is well above the amount of tuition. Every student benefits from the Annual Fund, every day. Our entire community — parents, alumni, grandparents and friends of the school — understands the vital importance this funding plays in educating our students. We need your support to continue to provide the very best education to our students. Preparing the children of God for the Kingdom of God…since 1897 SCS PO Box 725 Shiner, TX 77985 or give online at www.shinercatholicschool.org/benefactors-blessings
alumni… update your contact information Please help us keep our Cardinal address book up to date. If you have moved and have a new address and phone number please send it to Ann Duke at the parish rectory: aduke@sscmshiner.org Send us your email address so we keep you
Name That Year?
1953, 1960, 1978, 1981, or 1995
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SHINER CATHOLIC SCHOOL STS. CYRIL & METHODIUS 306 S. AVENUE F SHINER, TEXAS 77984
NON-PROFIT ORG.
U.S. POSTAGE PAID Shiner, TX 77984 Permit No. 22
A Message from the Principal
Upcoming Events Jan. 31 - Feb. 5, 2016
Catholic Schools Week Hello Cardinal Family, We have had an amazing fall semester! We continue to grow spiritually, academically and athletically. I hope you will enjoy reading the many articles in the fall newsletter detailing some of the wonderful things happening at SCS. In this edition, one of the focuses is on the topic of ranking vs. non-ranking for college admission. This topic can be confusing so the intent is to help make this policy a little easier to understand as we enter into the spring semester.
Feb. 2, 2016 Talent Show and Chicken Noodle Soup Dinner Feb. 13, 2016 Legacy Endowment Gala March 6, 2016 Confirmation
As we end this year and reflect on the many blessings God has given us in 2015, I’d like to thank each of you for being a blessing to our school. Cheers to a prosperous and Happy New Year!
March 13-18, 2016 Spring Break
In Him,
May 1, 2016 First Holy Communion
Neely Yackel Principal, Shiner Catholic School
April 11, 2016 30th Annual Marathon
May 27, 2016 Class of 2016 Graduation
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