Parent Link Feb/March 2019

PA RENT LI NK FEB/ M A R '19

Spring 2019 Honors Convocation, Outstanding Community Service, Mya Martinez-Metzgar, Aaron Sandoval, Isabella Minick, Alex Sandoval, Carisa Salcido, Lukus Lucero (not pictured). For additional Honors Convocation photos visit sartanx.smugmug.com

FEA TURES YEARBOOK SENIORADDEADLINEAPPROACHING

SOCIALSTUDIES HAILTOTHECHIEF

THEOLOGY THEREALST.PATRICK

ATHLETICS THEDOCTORISIN

DEARPARENTS,GUARDIANSAND FRIENDS, WEHAVEFACEDSEVERALCHALLENGES one month into the second semester of the school year. The positive is that tuition will not change for the 2019-2020 school year. The challenges we face include a proposal to raise public school teacher salaries significantly and bills in the legislature that directly affect non-public schools, non-profits, as well as to our Catholic faith.

The raise proposed for public school teachers by the new Governor would strongly affect the quality of teachers applying to St. Pius X. Public school teachers received about a 2.5% raise this school year, 2018-2019. In the State of the State address, the Governor suggested a 6% raise for public school teachers. We have to be realistic--money talks. If approved, the SPX salary scale cannot compete. The Business Manager and I have been working on the next budget to tighten belts. Also, I have requested that the St. Pius X Foundation increase their fundraising to support salaries. I ask all parents to continue to give through the SPX Foundation to help this movement and receive a tax deduction for their donation. As we move toward the spring hiring season, our job postings are more attractive offering a competitive salary.

HB 45 and HB 170 are the bills that could rescind financial allotments for instructional material including textbooks for non-public schools. Please send your state representatives a note to vote against HB 45 and HB 170. You will find a message from me in Plus Portals last week with a form letter to vote against this measure.

The New Mexico Bishops have come out strongly against abortion and end of life issues found in HB 51, HB 90, and SB 153. Please support our Catholic faith and send your voice of opposition to your representatives. Also, the Governor is taking a tally on these issues by telephone call. I called to register my opposition to these bills at 505-476-2200. Please join me in opposing these bills. You never know when it will directly affect you or a loved one.

Another bill, HB6, opens the door for non-profits to be taxed through gross receipts tax. This will directly affect your pocketbook (potentially taxing your tuition) and weaken those non-profit agencies who work for the good of the community. We need strong non-profits and strong non-public education to change lives. People need emergency financial support, food to eat, and educated citizenry to move New Mexico forward. Be aware!

Barbara M. Rothweiler, Ph.D. Principal

?WHATISACATHOLICEDUCATION?(IT) ISNOTSIMPLYTHE COMMUNICATIONOFARELIGIOUSTHEORY.RATHER,IT INTENDSTOSETALIFE-PROCESSINMOTION:NAMELY, GROWTHINTHELIFEGIVENTHROUGHBAPTISM,GROWTHIN COMMUNIONWITHGOD.?

The Consultative Council is looking for new members for the board and new members for their committees. The Consultative Council is the governing body that works with the Principal to forward the school in the areas of finance, facilities, and enrollment. Board members commit to the Counsel for three years, and committee members work with the committee chair (on the Counsel) on an as needed basis. Last year the Counsel did a fabulous job revising the strategic plan for St. Pius X High School. Community members who have a vested interest in St. Pius X are welcome. If you would like more information, please call Bunny at 831-8411.

Catholic Schools Week was exciting on the SPX campus with activities for students and teachers alike. The Freshmen Class attended the Catholic Schools Mass at St. Joseph on the Rio Grande Church. The church was filled with Catholic school students from all the Archdiocesan schools. The SPX choir and orchestra provided the music under the direction of Ms. Clark and Mr. Jordan. Archbishop Wester presided and was thrilled with the music and participation at Mass.

In addition, The Parenting Now! 2019 education session was attended by St. Pius parents as well as parents from the K-8 schools. It was a great evening of discussion about teens, their behavior, and the consequences that can ensue. Also, during this week SPX held two Open House morning recruitment events. We were visited by nine families, with a potential of 11 students. The parents and students appreciated the opportunity to see the school in action.

So you know!! The WCEA accreditation process is coming along nicely. It is a tremendous amount of work for the entire faculty and staff. We are entering phase two of the process, which is a review of the data we have collected. Our first meeting to begin phase two will be on Friday, February 15. Additional meetings for phase two are Wednesday, February 20, Wednesday, March 27, and Monday, April 8 (this is an additional date). Each meeting will be in the afternoon from 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. These dates are early dismissal days for students.

We need parents and alumni to participate in phase two meetings. If interested, please email Mrs. Hillsey at jhillsey@spxabq.org or Mr. Robinson at mrobinson@spxabq.org.

This is the time of year the administrators finish the second semester, design graduation, announce summer school programs, and plan for next year. Faculty and staff want to thank you for bringing your child(ren) to St. Pius X High School. I want to leave you with thoughts from Pope Benedict XVI (Gospel, Catechesis, Catechism, p. 18) ?What is a Catholic education? (It) is not simply the communication of a religious theory.

Rather, it intends to set a life-process in motion: Namely, growth in the life given through baptism, growth in communion with God.? Tell your friends and relatives what a good thing we have going at St. Pius X High School!

Barbara M. Rothweiler, Ph.D. Principal

FROMTHECOUNSELINGDEPARTMENT Financial Aid Forms for Parents of Seniors The FAFSA and CSS Financial Aid Profile are available online.

FAFSA: www.fafsa.ed.gov CSS Profile: www.collegeboard.com Please continue to check Naviance Family Connection for ongoing scholarship opportunities.

2019-2020 COURSE SELECTION FOR REGISTRATION: Beginning in February, Counselors will present course selection information to students through their English classes. After a presentation of the four-year plan and course options for next year, counselors will begin individual student course selection conferences. Forms will be sent home and must be signed by parents and returned to their counselors who will meet with each student.

Juniors/Seniors remember to register for the April 13, 2019 ACT by deadline March 8, 2019. EVERY Junior should plan to take the test at this time (Spring 2019), and Seniors who want to better their scores are also welcome. Find out if your future institution of higher learning requires the Plus Writing portion or not. This information can be found on the individual college?s Website or in their admissions materials.

(Most state universities do NOT require the Plus Writing portion, but some do; many private colleges DO require it, but not all. Find out before you register and sign up for the regular ACT or the ACT Plus Writing soon.) Visit www.actstudent.org for details or see your Counselor.

NOTE: Both College Board and ACT have specific guidelines to be approved for extended time on either the SAT or ACT. If your student needs to be approved, please have your student see their counselor ASAP to review the application process.

PRACTICE ACT TEST? FREE SERVICE! On Saturday, February 23, from 9 a.m. - 12 p.m., there will be a FREE Practice ACT Test provided by Omniac Education at St. Pius X, for any student who wants practice. Parents and students are invited for a score interpretation from the results of your student?s test on Thursday, February 28, 6:00 p.m. in Assumption Hall.

Application for AP® Classes for School Year 2019-2020: Teachers are talking with students about Advanced Placement courses. Students must fill an application for each AP® class they apply to. These forms may be picked up from AP teachers. Return these forms to the appropriate teacher. Applying for AP® classes does NOT guarantee acceptance into the class; students will receive written notification of acceptance/denial.

Interested Students Who Plan to Apply for Honors/AP® Classes School Year 2019-2020: The Advanced Placement Program entails: ? College level work at the high school level ? Preparing for and taking the Advanced Placement Examination in May ? Paying for each AP® exam taken ? Taking the exam on the national test date ? Receiving college credit depending upon the score earned on the exam and the policy of the college. Admission to AP® classes is very competitive. Students will be selected on the basis of their: ? Maturity ? Class participation ? Academic ability ? Paying $94 for each exam taken Admission to AP® classes is very competitive; students are selected on the basis of their maturity, class participation, and academic ability. Students enrolled in AP® classes must be willing to work hard and demonstrate the required academic attitude and appropriate behavior that is demanded in a college level course. If you or your student(s) have any questions about the AP® Program, contact the AP® teacher or call Mr. Cornelius at 831-8429.

FROMTHEFACULTY FRENCH Let them eat cake!

After the visit of 22 French seniors from The Chateaubriand High School this fall, the French Epiphany Cake gave a great reason to Sartans to run to French class right after Christmas break. While it may be challenging for students to go back to school after a long, relaxing Christmas break, Sartans found one great reason to run to French class early January: To celebrate the Epiphany in the French fashion by tasting the traditional Parisian King?s cake, La Galette des Rois. It was made especially for us by local French baker Bruno from La Quiche Bakery. In France, this cake is eaten on January 6th across the nation to celebrate a long established Catholic holiday. In 2017, no less than 32 million king?s cakes were sold in French bakeries! Vive le roi, vive la reine! Long live the king and the queen! In this to die for cake made of almond paste, a tiny object called la fève is hidden, representing baby Jesus or a symbol of monarchy. It used to be fava bean in the 18th century. The person who has the hidden object in their cake is declared king or queen of the day. A crown is then placed on their head. Now, not surprisingly, after the 1789 French Revolution, the ?kings?feast?was abolished, and as to not upset the people, renamed ?The feast of good neighbors?. The cake took the name of Equality or Liberty Cake. In post-revolutionary France, the lucky person who had the cake slice containing the fève would not be crowned, but offered to put on a ?phrygian?(revolutionary) hat.

In addition to having fun while learning French, French classes are now studying to prepare for Le Concours National de Français or National French Contest on March 18, a competitive test taken by 80,000 students across the nation. Top French students have fared well with this test over the past 8 years and have been state champions as well as ranked in the top 10 nationally. But since nothing comes easy, ?il y a du pain sur la planche? as the French say, which literally translates as there is bread on the plank, meaning much work to tackle! SIGN-UP for French next year: We offer French I to French IV classes, including honors classes, all taught by a native French speaker from the Lorraine region of France.

MATH News from the Math Department It is time to be thinking about what math class you will be taking next year. Students at St. Pius X need math credits for all four years of high school. Counselors will be coming into freshman, sophomore, and junior English classes to help students register for the courses they want to take in the 2019-20 school year. Juniors have several options for Senior math classes. Some math placements may require the student to fill out a petition form and/or an AP application form. Please speak with your math teacher about recommendations for next year if you have questions or concerns.

Are you planning to take the ACT this spring? The ACT will be given here at SPX on April 13. Register early to ensure your spot. Keep working with your Method Test Prep practice sessions.

MODERNLANGUAGES On February 7, students from the St. Pius X AP Spanish and Language Class were invited to judge the science fair at Longfellow Elementary School. The all-day event will feature several science fair projects presented in Spanish by bilingual Spanish-English students from Longfellow.

Our students will be judging the Spanish projects, asking questions regarding the students?projects, allowing our students to utilize their Spanish skills which will also include vocabulary from the field of science.

This is the fifth year that St. Pius X students have been invited to this fair. Prominent members from the community, including local TV personalities and members from Kirtland Air Force Base, have also been invited.

Nathan, who runs the science fair at Longfellow, mentioned to me that our students are always so very professional and he is so impressed with their level of Spanish mastery.

I personally am very proud of these students and the great strides they have made this school year. This experience, amongst others, will hone their skills in preparation for the AP exam at the end of the school year.

PERFORMINGARTS The Spring production of The Bear and The Proposal by Anton Chekhov opens Friday, February 22 at 7:00 p.m. with additional performances Saturday, February 23 at 7:00 p.m., and Sunday, February 24 at 2:00 p.m.

Tickets are $3 at the door, free with an SPX ID. Choir, Band and Orchestra are helping the Archbishop with the All-School Mass at St. Joseph's this year.

Band, Choir, and Orchestra all have their Music Performance Assessment coming up, we perform for three judges that are our peers or collegiate level.

Spring trip to NY for the Choir/Band/Orchestra is coming up.

YEARBOOK We?re in this together.

Senior recognition (baby) ads on sale! Deadline is 11 p.m. on Feb. 16th!

In September, we mailed a brochure to all parents of seniors about purchasing a recognition ad (also called a senior ad or a baby ad) for your son or daughter who is a senior this year. Deadline is around the corner: Saturday, February 16, 2019. Senior ads are purchased online at www.jostens.com/yearbookads Prices range from $150 to $450. However, the earlier the ad is placed, the better its placement in the book.

WHY buy a senior ad? Senior ads represent a chance to congratulate your senior on the occasion of his or her graduation and a wonderful opportunity for contemplation, reflection, and celebration. Yearbook recognition ads are an excellent way to commemorate and highlight student achievements and important milestones. They also provide a unique space to leave an inspiring message to your loved one and to capture moments and thoughts to cherish for a lifetime. In addition, revenues from these ads help our school to create a better yearbook and balance the yearbook production budget. Jostens handles the production and all payments for the ads; the SPX yearbook staff does not. If you have any questions about these ads, email the yearbook advisor, Ms. Laurence Godret, at lgodret@spxabq.org Thank you for your generous support.

Buy your yearbook NOW. Price rises on 2/23!

Buy a yearbook and remember the year forever! You can buy your yearbook online at jostensyearbooks.com or call Jostens and place your order on the phone at 1-877-767-5217. Price is $75, but will go up to $80 on February 23rd. So buy early to save the most money!

WHY buy a yearbook? The most exciting story of the year will cover the greatest moments and memories of 2018-19 with hundreds of photos and stories about student life, academic accomplishments, school sports, clubs, art performances, special events, and class histories. The yearbook is special because there?s simply nothing else like it. You?ll never find a better way to capture school life and the achievements and experiences of every student inside and outside of school all in one place. Thank you for your generous support.

SCIENCE Though it may feel that the spring semester just started, it is already time to start thinking about summer school and classes for the 2019-2020 school year. Please keep in mind that many of the science classes offered over the summer require the completion of an application prior to registration and the deadlines are quickly approaching! The following science classes will be offered at St. Pius this summer: Biology I (June 3 ? July 12) Principles of Chemistry (June 3 ? July 12) Chemistry (June 3 ? July 12) Honors Chemistry Extension (June 3 ? June 21) In addition to summer school registration, the application process is also underway for Advanced Placement courses next school year. The science department will offer 4 AP classes next year: AP Biology II AP Chemistry AP Environmental Science AP Physics C Please make sure you see the appropriate teacher for information on how to apply for the AP course of interest because many of the courses have placement exams and/or require the students to submit an AP Application Form to their current science teacher by February 22, 2019. If accepted into the class, students will most-likely have an assignment to complete over the summer so make sure to follow-up with the teachers!

SOCIALSTUDIES Hail to the Chief!

Following extensive study and testing of the Executive Branch, students in many American Government classes closed out the semester by choosing roles at random to participate in a ten day simulation of the Presidential election process. They began by competing for their party?s nomination in each state's primary election or party caucus, with the numerous delegates available in California and New York, the coveted "silver tunas" to reach a majority. An exciting, old-fashioned nominating convention capped off the first round of competition, complete with backroom political wrangling and delegate defections. The successful nominees, including two 3rd parties to liven up the competition, then proceeded to the general election to develop platforms and campaign for support from seven interest groups which controlled the popular vote.

Students, and candidates on a very personal level, learned the difficulty of gaining support from a broad coalition of diverse interests to achieve a majority in the Electoral College. Students enjoyed the project and an overwhelming number agreed that their understanding of the Presidential election process was much improved due to the simulation.

THEOLOGY The Real St. Patrick

By Lorcan MacMurchadha As March comes upon us, many get into the festivities of St. Patrick's Day without knowing who he really was. St. Patrick was born 387 AD ? a citizen of the Roman Empire ? in either Roman Britain or Gaul. His father was an official of the Roman government, and his mother was probably the sister of St. Martin of Tours. He was captured by Irish raiders as a teenager, spending a number of years there before escaping. St. Patrick returned home and entered training for the priesthood, being consecrated as bishop by Pope St. Celestine I. He returned to Ireland, where his mission to convert a nation from paganism to Christianity became a life task. He used a Three Leaf Clover ? not four ? to explain the Holy Trinity. St. Patrick is credited with many miracles, not the least of which was an exorcism of the entire country (after which his driving out the serpents ? devils ? became misinterpreted as driving out snakes). By the time St. Patrick was called home to God at the end of his life, he had converted almost the entirety of Ireland to the Catholic faith; and from those converts had ordained three-thousand priests and consecrated seven-hundred bishops, and thousands more monks and nuns. Among the many traditions associated with St. Patrick, the wearing of green is relatively new. Many Irish Catholics associated blue with St. Patrick, and his feast-day, until the 19th Century.

Lorcan MacMurchadha Theology

ATHLETICS The Doctor is In Athletic trainers, known informally as docs, are first responders to athletes on the field. St. Pius is blessed to have Juanita Marquez as its athletic trainer for multiple reasons. She teaches a state wide recognized sports medicine class, researches and implements the latest in treatment and sports medicine technology, and most recently she successfully completed her oral defense presentation for her dissertation, the final requirement of her doctoral program.

Dr. Marquez?s educational doctorate program was completed through the University of Phoenix. A requirement of her doctorate was to produce original research, such as a dissertation or thesis, that expands the boundaries of knowledge. Her thesis focused on examining the extent of the relationship between participation in high school athletics and the development of leadership skills. She sampled 102 student-athletes and evaluated their leadership skills using a Leadership Practices Inventory. This, along with their demographics, was placed into a statistical analysis tool and a regression relationship was evaluated.

Along with her Ed.D., she also holds a bachelor?s degree in Athletic Training from the University of New Mexico, and master?s degree in Education from Grand Canyon University. Her education is put to good use as a teacher of sports medicine, a course for students interested in medical fields. As the school?s athletic trainer, she provides medical care and game coverage for all 23 varsity and sub-varsity sports.

When asked what she found most rewarding of her profession, she stated, ?Watching an injured athlete return to play and knowing that I had a hand in helping them to return to the field.?

For more on Dr. Marquez?s work at St. Pius X, see page 15 of the inaugural issue of Est. 1956, the SPX athletics magazine.

Juanita Marquez, Ed.D. Athletic Trainer

JOINUSTOCELEBRATEMARDIGRAS on Saturday, March 2 at Hotel Albuquerque from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.

An evening of fine dining, elegance, entertainment, auction, and dancing benefitting the St. Pius X High School Foundation.

For more information, please contact Jean Marie Skipp at jskipp@spxabq.org, (505) 831-8500, or visit our website at www.saintpiusx.com