Between the Lions Winter Spring 2019

BETWEEN

Lions

the

WINTER/SPRING 2019

NEWS and UPDATES for the St. Pius X Catholic High School Community...

Fulfilling VISION 2020

Campus NEWS

Alumni NEWS

School SPOTLIGHTS

This magazine is produced by the St. Pius X Catholic High School Office of Advancement.

Chad Barwick President Steve Spellman Principal Jenn Sedlack Director of Advancement Mary Vallés Jones Associate Director of Advancement Karoline Rumps Brennan ’82 Director of Alumni Relations Deanna Jones-Puig ’01 Communications Manager Kyle Snipes Communications Coordinator Mary O’Brien Beyer ’82 Advancement Coordinator Catherine DeWitt Rice ’00 Special Events Coordinator 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.

We would like to extend a special thank you to Billy Howard Photography, Cady Studios, and the numerous students, parents, faculty, and staff who submitted photos used in this publication.

Contents Letter from the President

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Letter from the Principal

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Fulfilling Vision 2020

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Theology Class Welcomes Msgr. Lopez

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Faculty Feature: Mr. Sean Hiland

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A Message from the Chaplain

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Campus Ministry: Fostering Discipleship

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From the Office of Advancement

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3D Printer Available for Students

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Pius News

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Fine Arts at St. Pius X

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Parent Organizations Make a Difference

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Schoolwide Service Project

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Students Visit National Holocaust Museum

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Athletics News

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Spotlight on the Pius Community

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Alumni News: Pius Pathways

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Homecoming 2018: 60th Celebration

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Lion Lines

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In Memoriam

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From the President

Dear Golden Lion Families, With half a year under our belts and great successes already achieved, it is a nice time to pause, celebrate, but also to look ahead.

Our seniors have started to receive their college acceptances (War Eagle and Go Irish!), athletic teams are bringing home state and region trophies, and our arts have been phenomenal and awe inspiring.

In addition, we’ve welcomed hundreds of our partner school 8th graders to take a peek at Pius. It is an electric feeling.

It is a great time to call Pi Hi home, and we are excited to strengthen the qualities that make us a family. Thanks to the talented folks at Collins Cooper Carusi Architects, we have a dynamic master plan that addresses facility needs for the next 4, 8, 12, and 30 years ahead. We hope to set some lofty building goals for the next few years that allow us to build a wellness building, strengthen campus security, improve our facilities for the Seaver Family Sports Complex, and create a 21st-century learning environment in our already bustling library.

To take these well-formed ideas and transform them into reality, we’ve hired long-time partners Coxe

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Curry & Associates to conduct a feasibility study from now until early spring. We will be engaging members of our community to measure our capacity to support this growth. Please keep these plans in prayer so that we can prepare generations of future Golden Lions to be good students, good athletes and artists, and good Christians.

Thank you, as always, for your support, volunteer time, and prayers for St..Pius X. We are a great community because of you.

Yours Gratefully in Christ,

Chad Barwick President

From the Principal Dear Parents and Friends of St. Pius X, The first semester of this school year has been one of the most enjoyable in recent years. Our 300 freshmen came on board and quickly assimilated into the culture and adapted to the daily routine of high school. Collectively they have had an excellent start and we all look forward to them sharing their abundant gifts and talents with the school over their four years.

Spiritually, we welcomed Father Rey Pineda as our Chaplain, and he has come in with excitement and is enjoying the energy of our student body. We made changes to our Works of Mercy program. Instead of waiting until the end of the year, with 1,100 students turning in over 5,000+ Works of Mercy at the same time, we developed a fall turn-in date for any Works completed over the summer.

This served two purposes: 1. Helped eliminate the procrastination of students attempting to do all five Works of Mercy in the month of April and 2. Spread the bulk of submissions over two turn-in dates. I am still amazed at the number of students that go over and above the requirement and the many places they contribute to in their effort to make Atlanta a better city.

Aesthetically, our fine arts students have once again displayed their God-given talents in the fall play, Antigone, and once again, did a masterful job in their performance.

The Marching Golden Lions maintained their traditional benchmark of excellence as they entertained everyone during the games by their wonderful half-time shows and their enthusiastic support of the football team. The visual arts students are producing works that we all enjoy with a talent level that continues to amaze those of us that can’t draw a straight line! And if you attended Open House, you saw the ever-growing and talented Women’s and Men’s Vocal Ensemble/Chorus performances to the delight of all.

Along with the displays of our popular Dance and Guitar programs, Open House was a huge success.

year in many years by placing in the region and entering the play-offs. With only one senior, the future is extremely bright for those talented young ladies. The weekend of November 3 and 4 was especially memorable for the school as that Friday, the football team won their second straight region championship sending them into the state play-offs with a 9-1 record. Saturday morning, the girls’ volleyball team won the state championship, while at the same time at another venue, the girl’s cross country team placed second in the state, and the boys’ cross country team won the state championship. Additionally, that afternoon, the girls’ competition cheerleaders won the region championship for the second year in a row, and proceeded to the state competition as well.

The three fall pilgrimages all went well and provided a unique perspective into the various parts of our Church not normally experienced. The senior pilgrimage is held in the spring, closer to graduation and it too, is always enjoyed by the seniors. The fall is quite busy for the seniors as their college applications demand their immediate attention to complete and submit the applications by the due dates.

Teachers are also busy writing recommendation letters for them. Our data has indicated that over the past five years the average number of recommendation letters written each year by our teachers is 1,536. A busy time!

Again, I thank each of you for your commitment to this wonderful school and I hope you know that any success we enjoy is directly attributed to your support and is truly appreciated. May God continue to bless us all.

Warmest regards,

Athletically, the girls’ softball team enjoyed their finest Steve Spellman Principal

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Vision 2020

Securing a Strong Financial Future for St. Pius X - Fulfilling Vison 2020 St. Pius X Catholic High School’s current Strategic Plan, entitled “Vision 2020,” included a thorough review of the school’s financial picture. From that review came two directives: substantially increase both unrestricted annual fund giving and unrestricted endowment giving. Thanks to a major push and an equally generous response last year, the school set a new record for unrestricted annual fund giving. There is a great deal of work still to be done to grow St. Pius X’s unrestricted endowment fund.

What is an endowment fund?

In layman’s terms, an endowment fund is invested money that earns interest, and is used for a stated purpose. The money used to start the fund, and any donations made to the fund, are not spent. Only the interest is used over time to support the stated purpose, allowing an annual stream of income forever.

What is the school’s current endowment fund value, and what is it used for?

Thanks to the generosity of decades of donors, the school’s endowment fund is currently valued at $8M. This $8M is made up of 69 individual named funds.

Of these funds, 88% provide funding for student scholarships, 9% support faculty and student enrichment, and 3% are designated for the unrestricted needs of the school.

Why is an unrestricted endowment fund important?

St. Pius X is eternally grateful for the many funds that support student scholarships and other enrichmentbased programming for both faculty and students. At the same time, the school must also focus on its longterm sustainability, and keeping

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tuition affordable for all families. An unrestricted endowment fund builds a reserve and creates a financial bedrock for the organization. It provides the school flexibility in spending, so that from year to year, Pius can use the funds where they are needed most. Once the fund reaches $3M, a steady stream of roughly $120,000 will be realized by the school each year. That income stream will exist forever for St. Pius X, and hopefully increase over time.

Doesn’t the Annual Fund already provide for unrestricted needs each year?

Yes, all donations to the Annual Fund are funneled directly into the current school year’s budget and are spent on needs now. However, these funds must be raised each year, and depending on the financial climate, the total raised can vary from year to year, and are not guaranteed.

Once an endowment fund is established, it provides funding year after year, for

Value of St. Pius X Endowment: $8M (includes 69 individual funds for the benefit of St. Pius X)

Value of Funds for Scholarships/ Enrichment: Over $7.5M Value of Funds for Unrestricted Purposes: $300,000 Minimum Needed for Unrestricted Endowment: $3M

eternity, regardless of whether or not any more donations are put into the fund.

When did the school first establish an unrestricted endowment fund?

The first unrestricted endowment fund was established in 2012 with proceeds from the estate of Margaret Mitchell’s nephew, Joseph Mitchell.

The Archdiocese of Atlanta was the recipient of much of Mr. Mitchell’s estate, and Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory chose to create an unrestricted endowment fund for each of the 18 schools in the Archdiocese.

Thus, the St. Pius X Catholic High School Endowment Fund was born.

At the same time, the Archdiocese stipulated that the fund must reach a value of $3M before any distributions can be made from the fund. At this time, the value is just over $300,000.

Our current goal is to get the fund to $3M so we can begin using those earnings to take care of the needs of our students now.

If I created an unrestricted fund for St. Pius X, could I still name the fund for someone or something I care about?

Absolutely! Named funds can be created for any purpose, whether it is restricted for something like scholarships, or whether it provides for the general needs of the school.

As an advisory board member for many years, Parent of Alumni Mike Petrik understood the daily needs of the school, and wanted to help secure a solid future for St. Pius X. He also wanted a way to honor his family’s legacy at St. Pius X. Mike found a way to do both by establishing the Petrik Family Endowment Fund, and he did so with an initial gift of $5,000. This fund is for the unrestricted needs of the school. The goal is to get the fund to $25,000 within five years, when it will be fully endowed and a portion of the interest can begin supporting St. Pius X forever.

How much does it take to start a named endowment fund?

Funds can be started with just $5,000, but must reach $25,000 before they are considered endowed. Once endowed, these funds generally provide about 4% a year to be used for the stated purpose, so for $25,000, we could expect $1,000. Depending on the

market, these funds can realize a far higher rate of return, which is rolled back into the fund so it continues to grow. If you are interested in establishing a fund, please contact the Office of Advancement.

I don’t have a lot to give now. What can I do to help?

Gifts of all sizes are welcome and help to build the fund each year. Perhaps when you make your annual fund gift, you might consider giving an additional 10% to be directed to the unrestricted endowment fund?

Are there other ways to help us reach our $3M goal for the Endowment Fund?

Individuals that are over the age of 70.5 are required to take money out of their IRA prior to December 31 each year. If those funds are sent directly to St. Pius X, they are considered nontaxable to the donor and in this way, the donor can meet their required minimum distributions. Another way to help is to name Pius as a beneficiary in your will, life insurance or 401K. This is very easy to accomplish. This form of giving can usually be done by simply requesting a beneficiary update form from your life insurance company and you can update your 401K online. In addition to your kids as primary beneficiaries, consider naming Pius as the recipient of 5% of life insurance proceeds, 401Ks and IRAs at your death.

Do planned gifts count toward the $3M needed?

Yes! Unless you specify otherwise, planned gifts to St. Pius X directly benefit the unrestricted endowment fund. Currently St. Pius X is aware of current planned gifts that range from $1,000 to one couple’s entire estate.

Anything that is contributed will help toward reaching the ultimate goal.

However you choose to support this effort, once you make your gift, you can feel confident that your gift will support St. Pius X forever!

Please visit www.spx.org/support/ endowment-fund to learn more or contact the Office of Advancement.

Theology Class Welcomes Msgr. Lopez to Speak Written by Golden Lines Staff Writer: Anna Galvin ’19 Monsignor Richard Lopez, a well-known priest in the Atlanta area and former St. Pius X teacher, spoke to Mr. Dennis Ruggiero’s Genocide and the Holocaust classes in September about the history of terror groups persecuting Christians in Middle Eastern countries and what is being done to help them.

“Fr. Lopez and I have been working together on these presentations on Christian genocide for the past three years,” Mr. Ruggiero said. “I do the research and he does the presentations.”

According to Fr. Lopez’s presentation, Islamic terror groups such as Boko Haram and ISIS have killed millions of Christians in the Middle East. About 200 million Christians live in danger of persecution in countries such as Cuba and North Korea. These Christians are given three options: convert to Islam, flee, or stay and risk their lives for their faith.

“I was really shocked by this information. The news never covers this, so I had no idea that it is going on and that the situation is so bad,” said senior Ella Cate Hungeling, who is in Mr. Ruggiero’s first period class.“It is crazy how many people are still dying for their faith today.”

Fr. Lopez also told students that in Egypt, 85 churches have been destroyed, as well as orphanages, shrines, monasteries, and libraries that were thousands of years old. Terror groups have also murdered men, women, and children because of their faith, and many have reported neighbors in desperate efforts to protect themselves.

“It is surprising to me that this is such a problem,” senior Georgia Brieske said. “I was especially alarmed that Christians are the most persecuted religious group in the world.”

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Despite these acts of evil, many Christians have responded with peace instead retaliation, and they’ve chosen to help those in need instead of turning their backs because it’s easier or safer. “Over and over again that’s what you see in these people, especially these religious women working with the poor. They forgive even though they are being killed,” Fr. Lopez said.

When talking about America’s role in stopping this persecution, he said that “the United States classifies these acts as genocide, but nothing has been done to help them.”

Fr. Lopez added that the United States has a responsibility to provide asylum, give aid, and prosecute the killers. So far, little of this has been done.

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It is surprising to me that this is such a problem, I was especially alarmed that Christians are the most persecuted religious group in the world.”

- Georgia Brieske ‘19

Our nation’s lack of action is particularly concerning terrorism is growing across the world. For example, Fr. Lopez said that there have been more acts of Christian martyrdom since WWII than there has been in the entire history of the church. In 2016, the terror brought on by ISIS forced daily mass to cease for the first time since 200 A.D. In just one year, approximately 90,000 Christians have died for their faith.

Mr. Ruggiero’s goal in having the presentation was to inform his students on the reality of what is happening to Christians in the Middle East.

If you are interested in helping, students are invited to join the St. Pius X STAND club. The STAND club gathers to discuss situations in the Middle East and organizes events to raise money for Christians in need.

You can also donate to organizations like CNEWA (Catholic Near East Welfare Association) and ACN (Aid to the Church in Need) who also work to help Christians being persecuted by terror groups.

Faculty Feature

Getting to know...Mr. Sean Hiland

Sean Hiland, the self-proclaimed “shy, quiet kid in class” began teaching at St. Pius X 16 years ago in the Social Studies Department.

Despite his introvert years in school where he performed with the drama club and participated in Quiz Bowl, he claims he was the “last person you’d expect to enter a profession like teaching!” Hiland graduated college with a degree in political science, and not knowing where to turn next, a friend suggested looking into teaching. The rest is history!

“I feel like God put me on this Earth for only two purposes: 1. To be a good husband and father to my family and 2. To promote the good citizenship that is essential for bringing about a better world. To that end, I have sought to use my all my classes - whether government or current issues or history to promote better citizenship. I try to equip my students with not only the knowledge they need to make good decisions but also the critical thinking skills necessary to form their own ideas based on that knowledge. If there’s one thing that history teaches us again and again it is that democracies are fragile. They rely on a well-informed, moral citizenry willing to act in the best interests of everyone in the community. Ignorance, fear, and hatred can easily bring down any democracy. Therefore, I have dedicated my career to doing what I can to promote better citizenship. I firmly believe that the only form of government to be able to achieve a lasting good is democracy. That’s why I teach government.”

Named Teacher of the Year in 2012, Hiland feels strongly that the people at this school make it the success it is today…he values and appreciates the students who are so willing to take their work seriously and respect their fellow students and teachers. They take pride in the work they turn in, and that means a lot. Hiland enjoys working in small groups in his classroom as he feels that is a perfect time and place to dig deeper into the subject matter.

He most enjoys teaching AP Comparative Government as he introduced the class years ago and enjoys “seeing the kids’ eyes open up to the unique ways countries around the world operate. It gives them a whole new perspective on, and appreciation for, their own country.”

He recalls, “My previous job was at a diocesan Catholic high school about the same size as St. Pius X. I remember Mr. Spellman telling me that I would probably find Pius to be about like my previous job. I’m happy to say he was quite wrong – Pius is worlds better than my last job!”

AT A GLANCE HOMETOWN: North Augusta, South Carolina HIGH SCHOOL: Aquinas High School, Augusta, Georgia COLLEGE/DEGREES: B.A. Political Science from Augusta University, M.Ed. Instructional Technology from Kennesaw State University - I also did some graduate work at South Carolina in Columbia and USC-Aiken.

CLASSES TAUGHT/EXTRACURRICULARS: AP US Government, AP Comparative Government, Current Issues, CPA Government. I also coach the Speech and Debate Team.

FAMILY: wife, Julie, three kids: Eleanor (9), Ethan and Grace (6).

YEARS AT SPX: 16 FAVORITE BOOK: Lord of the Rings.

FAVORITE MOVIE: Star Wars (1977 theatrical release).

FAVORITE QUOTE: “Politics is more difficult than physics” - Albert Einstein.

LITTLE KNOWN FACT ABOUT YOURSELF: I started out as a chemistry major and only changed my major to political science to avoid a test all chemistry majors were required to take.

HOBBIES: Podcasting - I have my own show “Slept in Government Class.”

PERSON YOU’D MOST LIKE TO MEET: Pope Benedict.

FIRST JOB: Working at the Great American Cookie Company in the mall.

FAVORITE ST. PIUS X MEMORY: Those all-too-few after school chats I would have with Charleen Klister.

She would chat about her memories of SPX past or share some wisdom of life. Whatever the topic, I treasure the memories of her kind and gentle demeanor.

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Campus Ministry

News and Updates from Campus Ministry

A Message from Our Chaplain Father Rey Many think celibacy is the most difficult promise a priest makes on the day of their ordination. What I’ve discovered in these early years of ministry is that being celibate is actually the easiest of the three promises made. Don’t get me wrong, the implications of sacrificing a family to serve God as a priest are real and require incredible surrender, but I’m in good company with many other priests who have discovered that the true test of our commitment is the promise of obedience.

On the morning of my diaconate ordination on May 25, 2013 I folded my hands in prayer and extended them to Archbishop Gregory who then, gripping them and looking intently at me, asked: “Do you promise respect and obedience to me and my successors?” As expected, I responded with a firm “I do” and then stepped aside for the rest of my classmates to make the same promise.

So began what has been a beautiful and rewarding ministry.

our minds about our readiness or ability to do well in our next mission.

Obedience requires great trust in God and, more importantly, true humility. We promise obedience not only so that the bishop can provide for the needs of his flock, but more so for our own spiritual growth and holiness.

Trusting that God knows best is a battle every disciple experiences. For a priest, however, winning this battle is at the heart of our calling. We trust that God who has called us to himself will continue to guide us to where we are needed. We just have to listen, trust, and go – much easier said than done.

The past few months have been among the most exciting and joyful times since I made that promise. I have been blessed with great assignments, but there is something special here. It has been a whirlwind since the day I arrived, but I don’t think I ever imagined I would enjoy being a high-school chaplain this much.

Coming to St. Pius X was the third time in four years that I was asked to begin a new assignment. At both of my previous assignments I was just beginning to develop friendships and connect with families when I suddenly had to uproot and begin again.

Because what we are doing is more than a job, the actual task of moving from one community to the next can be both mentally and spiritually strenuous. Add to that the doubts and fears that the devil tries to sow in

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Seminary prepares us to be parish priests.

That formation includes getting comfortable in a number of different settings such as hospitals, nursing homes, prisons, shelters, and even on the streets. However, for some reason, I never recall having to envision myself as a high-school chaplain. Unlike other parts of the country the Archdiocese of Atlanta is home to just nine Catholic High Schools, only three of which are diocesan.

These numbers suggest that the odds for a diocesan priest to serve as a high school chaplain are very small. Somehow, much to my surprise, I find myself among those fortunate few.

I still remember Bishop Shlesinger’s words to me: “You’ll love it. We think you’ll do really great at Pius!” I was incredibly nervous.

That was the first time I wanted to break my promise of obedience and ask him to reconsider. There must have been so much grace at work in that moment because doing so would’ve been one of the worst decisions of my life.

I expected to be greeted by young people who were uninterested in God and religion.

I braced myself for an uphill battle trying to convince skeptical youth that Christ is relevant and worth living for in our time. I feared being rejected at the first glance of my roman collar. I was wrong – and I’m happy for it.

What I’ve encountered during these few months has been quite the contrary. God is doing something great at this school.

As it often happens, He is working quietly

and hidden behind so many guises but His presence among us is palpable. I am truly and humbly inspired. Thankfully, I’m also not oblivious to the fact that many of our students struggle with their faith. I know that there are some who, like Jacob in the book of Genesis, wrestle with God. They are trying to understand what God is doing and why it is so.

Ironically, like the students, I learn new lessons every single day. I hear so many of our students asking the right questions. I never want anyone to take their faith for granted. I admire people who are honestly trying to understand the Truth and Love of God. I appreciate our faculty and administration who together embrace the task of journeying with our curious and sometimes frustrated students. There should be nothing more comforting for a parent than knowing that the people who spend so much time with your children are concerned also with their soul.

It’s been an exciting few months and I’m grateful to God for giving me this rare opportunity to serve him in this way. I have now stopped asking why God has brought me to you – there is no longer a need for that.

Now I just pray for the grace to do my best.

I look forward to meeting many more of you as I continue to settle in and I am happy God has brought us together. In the meantime, please be assured of my daily prayers and I ask that you remember me in yours.

Obedience has never been so liberating. God truly knows best.

In Christ,

Fr. Rey Pineda Chaplain

Fostering Discipleship The last weekend of September here at St. Pius X brought more than just the first chill of fall - it brought a deep bond of sisterhood in Christ. Campus Ministry hosted a brand new, all girl retreat at Camp Covecrest in Tiger, Georgia. Twenty-seven girls and six chaperones left St. Pius X on a Friday afternoon and headed to the mountains for a weekend of prayer, games, bonfires, the sacraments, and good community. The fall retreat focused on the theme “Chosen, Blessed, Broken, Given” inspired by the spiritual classic, Life of the Beloved by Henri Nouwen.

Girls were able to dive deep into intentional conversations about identity, loving others well, affirming our sisters in Christ, and returning to the Heart of God in our Belovedness. Director of Campus Ministry, Abby Bettencourt says that this was something that had been in the works for a long time. “In the

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“I felt strongly that a beautiful way to give our girls this opportunity was putting on a retreat that really spoke to their hearts and their need.”

spring, I was sitting down with a colleague talking about the growing desire among the girls at St. Pius X for more intentional community rooted in faith,” Bettencourt shares. “I felt strongly that a beautiful way to give our girls this opportunity was putting on a retreat that really spoke to their hearts and their need.” Through much prayer and collaboration, the retreat opened up the fall semester in a beautiful, new way.

inspired by the life of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, an Italian saint from the early 1900s. Frassati was an adventurous young man who lived a life of heroic virtue. He enjoyed many of the typical hobbies young people partake in including mountainclimbing, swimming, and skiing, to name a few. He advocated for and served the poor in his community and was often spotted kneeling in prayer in his neighborhood chapel. His passion for life and deep faith in God has inspired countless young men and women to pursue the call to holiness in their own context.

We hope the Frassati Brothers will follow in Pier Giorgio’s footsteps and see their own life and the activities they enjoy as compatible with their discipleship. Fr. Rey hosted the guy’s first kick off event with a successful tailgate for the Pius v. Stephens County football game. Students of all grades came to eat chili, cook burgers, and play cornhole. The evening took a pause in order for Fr. Rey to share about the life of their new patron saint and why living a life with Christ at the center is completely and utterly worth it.

As we continue to foster deeper and more intentional discipleship here at St. Pius X, please continue to pray for our students and their faith journeys. They truly are the face of the future of our Church, and not only that, they are the future saints of the Church! Let us continue to walk with them, love them, and disciple them.

This wasn’t the only change happening in the St. Pius X Campus Ministry department. Fr. Rey Pineda, our new chaplain, felt this same desire to foster a deeper discipleship with the young men of our school community. Fr. Rey thus began what is called the “Frassati Brotherhood,” a guys discipleship group

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From the Office of Advancement News and updates regarding advancement efforts at St. Pius X

St. Pius X #1 School in the Nation for #iGiveCatholic Day of Giving Tuesday, November 27 was unlike any other in Pius history. Over 300 people made contributions to the school on this single day, bringing in more than $110,000 in support of #iGiveCatholic. Armed with a $20,000 matching gift from three generous families, the goal was to raise $50,000, a 15 percent increase over the previous year’s total. When both the match and the goal had been met about halfway through the day, it was clear that an unprecedented wave of generosity had only just begun.

Funds raised from the #iGiveCatholic effort support the Annual Fund, which impacts every facet of campus life. Thanks to an invitation from the Catholic Foundation of North Georgia, Pius joined the #iGiveCatholic movement last year. Held on #GivingTuesday, #iGiveCatholic was created as a way to celebrate our unique Catholic heritage. Pius will remain a strong and vibrant school community thanks to the incredible generosity shown by so many on November 27.

Master Plan Update After a year of study and input, a new Master Plan for St. Pius X was created to address facility needs over the next 30 years.

Attention is now being focused on the first phase of the plan, which addresses the next five years. Areas of identified need include academics, safety and athletics. A feasibility study is underway to determine the greater community’s willingness to support these endeavors. The results of this study will drive how we accomplish the first phase of the Master Plan.

Please make plans to join us on December 3, 2019 for the next #iGiveCatholic Day of Giving.

Did you know?

Established in 2017, the “Going Out Golden” campaign is led by seniors in an effort to become the alumni class with the highest Annual Fund participation rate. While students make their gifts when they are still students at Pius, once they graduate they are considered alumni and their gifts for the year are tallied alongside the 60 other graduating classes from Pius.

This year, the Class of 2019 participated in #iGiveCatholic with 100 seniors making a gift to St. Pius X on that day. Pius is proud of these students and their willingness to give freely of their own money. Their faith in action is an inspiration to us all!

Grandparents’ Day Brings Generations Together All Saints Day was the perfect occasion to welcome guests to St. Pius X for the inaugural Grandparents’ Day celebration. His Excellency, the Most Reverend Joel Konzen, celebrated Mass for the standing room only crowd. Bishop Konzen used the solemn holy day as an opportunity to speak to the St. Pius X community about the joy of honoring saints as our role models in the path to holiness. His Excellency asked the congregation to think of people in their lives who emulate different virtues, including our beloved grandparents.

Following Mass a reception was held in the cafeteria and students and staff led visitors on tours of the school. It was a joy to host so many grandparents and plans are being made now for next year!

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New 3D Printer Available for Student Use in Library Written by Golden Lines Staff Writer: Abby Gillin ’20 Recently, the library installed a new 3D printer that allows students to print masterpieces rather than rough-edged creations.

According to Librarian Mrs. Meggan Wilcauskas, the new 3D printer “allows our students to design more higher-quality products, so that they look more professional, like something they might buy in a store instead of something that they made,” and added that “this machine also allows for much greater, finer detail [than the old one.]”

Mrs. Wilcauskas explained that the printer uses a technique called stereolithography, which “turns the build plate upside down” and immerses it one layer at a time into a bath of liquid resin lying underneath. While in the liquid, a UV laser hits it from beneath, and when “that wavelength [of the light,] when it hits the resin, solidifies [the layer,]” she continued.

Although the library already had two 3D printers, the resolution is much higher on the new printer.

With the old machines, “You’re just taking plastic, and melting it, and turning it into something else plastic,” Mrs. Wilcauskas said.

The new version can have its prints turned into a material other than plastic, allowing it to add a sharper look to the final product.

Assistant Director of Information Technology Mr. Daniel Foley said that “Once printed, certain resins can even be fired in a kiln and glazed, just like clayworks.”

The old printer also had a maximum resolution of only .1 millimeter per layer, but the new one can print in a variety of .1, .05, or .025 millimeters thick. To visualize, Mr. Foley said that “a typical sheet of paper is .08 to .1 millimeter thick, so this printer is able to print at one fourth the thickness of a sheet of paper.”

for students to use than the old one, but Mrs. Wilcauskas said that the price is worth it for the quality of the prints.

“I had a student build a belt buckle the other day and it was under a dollar. So if you really, really, really wanted a good belt buckle I could make it for under 10 with the new printer,” she said.

Because of the expenses of the new printer, Mrs. Wilcauskas said that students usually practice printing their creations on the old machine and use the new one for the final product.

Senior Michael Phillips is currently using this tactic. He frequently uses the original 3D printer and has created many unique prints in the past.

Right now, he is using it to print a 3D puzzle, which he describes as “a ball with several marble tracks running around the edge of it” that you can rotate to change the track with the goal of getting the same colored marbles to be together.

“Once I get this [new] puzzle completely functional, I might print one out of resin because the material is way smoother,” he said.

Other interesting items made with the printers include a mini-statue of a teacher and hand models for Anatomy class Although students like Phillips use the printers often, Mrs. Wilcauskas said that there still aren’t a lot of people who do. She hopes that more students will recognize the unique opportunities the printers provide and experience them before they graduate.

However, because of this enhanced feature, the 3D printer is 10 times more expensive

The images shown here of the Colosseum, Eiffel Tower, and Statue of Liberty are true to size, showing the amount of detail work that can go into these designs.

St. Pius X News Student-Athletes to Pursue Athletic Careers in College Seals of Biliteracy

In the 2017-2018 academic year, St. Pius X developed the Seal of Biliteracy program to encourage students to pursue advanced language study, to recognize graduates for their work, and to signal to colleges and potential employers that students have acquired advanced language and biliteracy skills. In particular, the Seal helps students as employers are increasingly requiring communication skills across multiple languages. To qualify for the Seal, students must complete all English classes with a 3.0 or above and earn a 4 or above on a World Language AP Examination. The Seal is retroactively applied to students’ files the fall after they graduate if they have taken the AP Exam their senior year.

The World Languages Department is proud to recognize their first seventeen Seal recipients.

Congratulations to the following studentathletes for signing on with colleges to continue their athletic careers. Abby Cohen will swim for Georgia Tech, Emma Drash signed to play basketball with Georgia State, Ian Grum will continue his swimming career with the University of Georgia, and Chandler Simpson will play baseball at the University of Alabama, Birmingham.

Hiland Leads Workshop at National Council for Social Studies

Social Studies teacher Sean Hiland recently led a workshop at the National Council for the Social Studies annual conference in Chicago, Illinois. Close to 4,000 teachers attend this conference every year, which brings together social studies teachers from across the nation. At his session, Sean showed teachers how to have students create

their own podcasts as an alternative to video projects and other more traditional types of assessment. The teachers who attended his session came from all over the country, including a teacher from Qatar! Sean’s students’ podcasts can be found at www. sleptinclass.com.

Latin Club Builds Mercy Kits for Those in Need

The St. Pius X chapter of the Junior Classical League (aka Latin Club) held its first-ever Work of Mercy on November 1, 2018. Over 75 students built Mercy Kits, also known as hygiene kits filled with travel-sized shampoo, soap, toothpaste, and more. These kits are distributed to homeless and low-income Atlantans in partnership with Mercy Care Chamblee, a Catholic ministry that provides free and low-cost healthcare to area residents

For their studies in the French language: Margaret Green Hannah Sik For their studies in the Latin language: Hollis Bakken Nathan Banks Nicholas Poulos Peter Tran Michael Wolfman

Hiland

Latin Club

For their studies in the Spanish language: Georgia Aguirre Ansley Boykin Mackenzie Bruce Sophia DeLurgio Valerie Garcia Victoria Gomez Jazmin Huerta Lauren Hutson Elena Mulligan Daniel Ocampo

Athletic Signings

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in need. Students and faculty members began collecting supplies for the kit build in September, and were able to build over 250 kits with the supplies donated. The club chose to work with Mercy Care because they wanted to support an organization that directly impacts members of the local community. In addition, the National Junior Classical League and the Georgia Junior Classical League have been making service a priority in recent years, in keeping with the Catholic mission of SPX.

Speech and Debate Team Display Growth Throughout Season

The Speech and Debate Team had a successful first half of the year, garnering many top finishes by students. During the junior varsity Public Form debate at Archer High School, Amelia Klein and KC Edwards were semifinalists and Ana Pichanick and Caitlin Noble won first place finishes, with Ana taking home the top speaker award.

At the varsity Public Form debate level, Witt Hollensbe and Patrick Jackson were undefeated. In the Lincoln-Douglas debate, the top speaker award went to Jared Druss.

Aidan Kelly took third place in individual debate, Jared Druss secured second place and Joey Tarnowski placed first - a clean sweep by St. Pius X! Competition continues in the new year, with finals in March.

Computer Publishing and Graphics Class Completes Living Legacies Project

Saint John Paul II once said, “Life with Christ is a wonderful adventure.” Every day we wake up carrying out our daily lives searching to find out how we can put a positive imprint on the world. What we don’t realize is that we have role models who have created positive footprints by living through and in the image of Christ. As these disciples of Christ reached sainthood, they left legacies for us to celebrate and follow. #livinglegacies was a poster campaign for students in the Computer Publishing and Graphics class. It was created to celebrate fourteen Saints’ feast days. Each poster was designed in a zestful modern style with elements based upon the values of each individual and group of saints. The objective was to inform a new generation of people

about how the lives of fourteen remarkable Saints changed society for the better.

Computer Publishing and Graphics is a graphic design class based upon using certain tools such Adobe Photoshop and Animate. Thirteen students participate in the class and are graded on research, storytelling, production, and overall composition. Andrew Mabini ’10 teaches the class with the hope that students learn that design revolves around stories and their purpose. The tools that they use only enhance and portray their storytelling abilities.

Carter Named NFHS Coach of the Year

Congratulations to Head Swimming and Diving Coach Scott Carter for being named National Federation of State High School (NFHS) Association’s Girls’ Coach of the Year for the State of Georgia! Coach Carter has been coaching Swim and Dive for 17 years at St. Pius X. During that time, the team has earned three state titles and four state runner-up titles.

Carter

Living Legacies Project

Speech and Debate Team

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Pius Players Give Their All to the Program Written By: Golden Lines Staff Writer Ellie Taube ’20 In addition to working diligently to get good grades, many high school students pursue their passions through a wide variety of extracurricular activities. While some love athletics, robotics or art, there’s a substantial amount of Golden Lions who put their blood, sweat and tears (or in this case, corn starch, stage makeup and fake tears) into the St. Pius X drama program: the Pius Players.

“The kids are all wonderful, talented actors,” said Director of Pius Players and Drama Instructor Ms. Bonnie Spark. “They put so much time and effort into every show.”

They performed their first play of the year, Antigone, in October.

Adapted from Sophocles’ Greek tragedy, the play was originally written by Mrs. Bonnie Roberts, who actually attended the play on its final production day. Roberts’ adaptation gave Ms. Spark a lot of creative license when it came to picking the setting of the play.

“I thought to myself, what could be the most entertaining?” she said.

“What period would be the most visually interesting?”

Ms. Spark ultimately chose to set Antigone in the 1960s because of the social movements taking place at that time, which she felt connected wholly with the themes of the play and even with the lives of present-day kids.

“There was nothing [in the 60s] that didn’t fit: the strife of war and parental strife, the determination of women, the power of a leader and complicated political issues,” explained Ms. Spark. “It was one hour and 15 minutes of sheer drama.”

The audience, including many students who had previously read Antigone for their English class, appreciated the thematic elements of the production.

“When reading it in class, I just thought of Antigone as just another thing to read for English. But watching it performed by friends, set in a more recent time period, I found the text much more relatable,” said junior Daniel Buckley. “I never realized how current the themes of the show are.”

After many rehearsals and late nights, the Pius Players themselves were very pleased with the final production.

“I’m really proud of how our hard work paid off,” said junior Claire Arnold, who played the role of a guide for a blind man.

This hard work didn’t go unnoticed by the audience, either.

“The acting was fabulous. I did not feel like I was watching a bunch of high school actors, but rather real people living through this hardship,” Buckley said. “ I loved the show, and I congratulate all the actors on their amazing performances.”

According to Ms. Spark, however, audience attendance at Antigone was not as high as she hoped. Although many students purchased tickets, only a small number came to the play. She intends on possibly doing a survey later this semester to determine whether the issue was either a lack of transportation or a lack of awareness about the play.

In December, the group enjoyed success with their production of Charlie Brown’s Special Christmas. They look forward to performing Newsies in the spring. Ms. Spark also encouraged student-athletes who are looking for something fun to do in their off-season to participate in Pius Players themselves in order to become more wellrounded students.

“In Newsies, we will have six or seven non-singing, non-dancing roles for students,” Ms. Spark said.

This isn’t the first year that Ms. Spark has offered roles like this, and in the past the students who took the opportunity often wished they had joined a Pius Players production sooner.

“Two senior boys joined my play a few years ago in non-singing, non-dancing roles,” she said. “They absolutely loved it!”

Did you know...

Established in 2013, the Bonnie Spark Endowment Fund for the Theatrical Arts was created in honor of Bonnie Spark and her many years of service leading the theater program at St. Pius X Catholic High School. Bonnie has been teaching and leading the drama department since 1981.

Nancy J. Pope donated the original money to begin the endowment fund. Her grandson, Neal Belden ’19, is a Pius Player.

Funds are fully endowed when they reach the $25,000 mark. Currently the fund is valued at roughly $16,000 and is held at the Catholic Foundation of North Georgia.

Once endowed the interest will be used to support the needs of the theatrical arts department at St. Pius X. If you are interested in learning more about this scholarship or perhaps another, please reach out to Director of Advancement Jenn Sedlack (jsedlack@spx.org).

2018-2019 Fine Arts Upcoming Performances 15th Annual Juried Visual March 1 Arts Exhibition The Pius Players Present: March 7-10 Newsies Spring Dance Concert March 21-24 Band Concert March 28 Spring Guitar Concert April 11-12 Spring Chorus Concert April 26 NOVO Choreography & May 3 Dance Benefit

Dance Company Performs at Pre-Professional Level While many students enjoyed a long Christmas break between semesters, St. Pius X Dance Company members Versaille Jones and Colby Johnson performed at the Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl on December 29 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. To prepare for the event, the duo were required to learn the choreography from videos and to rehearse independently. For two days prior to the performance, they were able to finally rehearse in person with over 90 other dancers from the metro area. In addition to their performance at the bowl in front of more than 70,000 spectators, Colby and Versaille also marched in the pre-game parade. We are so proud of their efforts and for representing St. Pius X so well!

Versaille and Colby are just two of the seventeen members of the highly-trained St. Pius X Dance Company. Most of the Company members have been dancing since age three and are required to train in ballet and pointe after school. The majority of the dancers spend five to six days per week at their local studios.

When the school day ends, many are rushing off to dance for another three to four hours per night and they spend most Saturdays dancing, too. The SPX Dance Company is a representation of dance at the pre-professional level.

Mrs. Lisa O’Connor, Director of Dance, said, “I love seeing what each year brings as the dancers’ styles blend and mold together to make an incredible troupe of dancers.”

The other members of the Dance Company include: Sophie Alarcon, Jordelle Beja, Lilly Cochran, Carmella Durand, Emma Foy, Lila Grass, Annie Hodge, Hannah Jung, Gabriella Pescitelli, Natalie Poole, Olivia Reeves, Kathryn Thomas, Ginny Tschirhart and Kate Washburn. The dancers train at more than ten studios, including the Decatur School of Ballet, the Atlanta Jazz Theatre, the Gwinnett Ballet Theatre and Atlanta Ballet, among others.

Some Dance Company members perform during halftime of Pius basketball games, and all are invited to the Spring Dance Concert March 21-24 and the NOVO Dance Performance on May 3.

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Mothers’ Prayer Group Welcomes All By: Wynne Callaway During Camp Golden Lion (an orientation for freshman parents and students), President Chad Barwick likes to introduce Mothers’ Club as the “Wonderful moms who pray for our kids!” I always think…yes, but we do SO much more! We have over 20 committees that do amazingly generous and impactful good deeds for our school and neighborhood community. We give scholarships. Don’t forget all these great accomplishments! Then every month when I sit in the Chapel with the Mothers’ Prayer Group reading the hand-written prayer intentions of our student body, I truly know there is nothing more valuable that we can do than listen to and support the heartfelt prayers of our precious students. They pray for their families, for healing and with love and thankfulness; they pray for themselves, to handle the stress of school, decisions, personal battles and dreams; they pray for strangers, including those

Holiday Marketplace Hosts 175 Artists and Raises Scholarship Funds The 25th annual Holiday Marketplace was a roaring success! Volunteers turned St. Pius X into an enchanting holiday village welcoming throngs of visitors to campus.

The Gourmet Café featured the traditional Fr. Lopez Soup, an exceptional bake sale and convenient frozen homemade casseroles. The first-class Market hosted 175 artists and craft vendors with an incredible selection of unique offerings, including a section dedicated to students and young alumni artists. All proceeds from this event fund the Mothers’ Club needs-based scholarships for current St. Pius X students. This huge event involves hundreds of parents, family and student volunteers.

Save the Date for the next Market – Saturday, November 23, 2019!

Dresden Christmas Project The St. Pius X community generously sponsored 89 children from 29 families from neighboring Dresden Elementary this year in the 12th annual Christmas Project. This special project exemplifies the spirit of St. Pius X, coming together and giving from the heart to help others.

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serving in the military, the homeless, the lost; they pray for the World, for all the good and the ugly. They are amazing children of God. We are always humbled and blessed to be trusted with their prayers.

If you ever feel your problems are too plentiful, or if you need to restore your faith in our younger generation, come join us as we pray the Rosary together asking Mary, our favorite Mother, to pray with us for the intentions offered by our children. It is another unique and invaluable aspect that makes St. Pius X such a special school.

Are you interested in seeing what the group has to offer?

Please join us! This group welcomes all members of the St. Pius X community including parents, grandparents, alumni and alumni parents. You do not need to be Catholic or a Mothers’ Club member to join our “meetings” and you may come or leave as your time allows.

We will meet in the Chapel at 8:30 a.m. on the following days: February 20, March 20, April 17, and May 8.

We hope to see you there!

Home & School Association

Home & School Association Strives to Connect Students with Speakers By: Brian Mulligan

St. Pius X

Community can be defined as a feeling of fellowship with others as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests and values. St. Pius X Catholic High School boasts a very special community and our continued strength can be attributed to many factors, most notably, the engagement of our alumni.

Whether it’s the numerous alumni to be counted among the staff and faculty, or the continued involvement of alumni in the life of the school, it’s clear that Pius has made an indelible mark on many of their lives.

Alumni involvement is also crucial to the success of the St. Pius X Home and School Association, whose mission is to plan and execute events and programs that support Pius and its mission. This year’s annual Career Day featured 45 speakers, including 10 alumni, offering information and perspective on their professional journeys.

In addition, several alumni serve on the Home and School Board. Sharon Fleming Adams `81, Mary O’Brien Beyer `82, Jennifer Smerek Harlan `90 and Nicole Hiltgen Jung `91 all bring a valued perspective to the Home and School Association.

“You know there is so much I love about St. Pius X it is so hard to capture it in just a few sentences,” said Sharon Fleming Adams `81 who serves as a Senior Class Representative.

“I can say that my Pius education changed my life in so many ways,” Adams said. “As an adult I truly value the foundation I received at St. Pius X. The words that Coach Maloof taught us still ring true today when I think of St. Pius X - Pride, Integrity, Unity, and Sacrifice. I wanted my children to experience and have the same positive influences that I had experienced.”

Mary O’Brien Beyer `82 brings a unique perspective to the Home and School Association. Mary initially served as a Junior Class Representative before transitioning to become the group’s treasurer. Today, Mary serves as a Freshman Class Representative and brings not only the perspective of an alumni and parent but also, as is the case with so many fellow

“

“As an adult I truly value the foundation I received at St. Pius X. The words that Coach Maloof taught us still ring true today when I think of St. Pius X - Pride, Integrity, Unity, and Sacrifice. I wanted my children to experience and have the same positive influences that I had experienced.”

-Sharon Fleming Adams ‘81

alums, as a member of the Pius staff on the Advancement team.

“I love being a part of Home and School because it gives me the opportunity to be involved as a parent, not just a staff member,” said Beyer. As Beyer points out, Home and School touches virtually every person at Pius, “Home and School Association supports the school’s mission to provide a wide arrange of events and services throughout the year that benefit the entire Pius community. From paying for the school directories to providing refreshments for the class nights, field day and the senior breakfast. We also manage the assemblies and career day, just to name a few events.”

Jennifer Smerek Harlan `90 also pointed to the Home and School Association as an effective way to support the spiritual mission of St. Pius X. “My family has a focus on our spiritual foundation to help us with those hard decisions and I hope that by surrounding them with like-minded families they will be encouraged to use their gifts for good in their pursuit of a solid education.”

Susan Piña, Co-President of the Home and School Association, points to the continued presence of alumni on the Home and School Board as a key element in helping maintain the traditions and values of St. Pius X Catholic High School. “Their connection to the past, to the traditions and values of our school, provides a vital perspective and helps the Home and School Association continue to carry out our mission of supporting our community and its values.”

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Theology Department Enlists Support of Entire School for Service Project In early November, the auxiliary gym at St. Pius X was turned into an art studio as students participated in a Work of Mercy for the non-profit Foundation for Hospital Art. The students provided touch-up work to hundreds of panels which will be donated to hospitals throughout the world. This is the second all-school Works of Mercy Project, following last year’s program with Rise Against Hunger, where students, faculty, and staff worked together to fill meal bags to ship to the Alliance for Children Everywhere in Zambia, Africa.

Theology instructor Lindsey Farrell coordinated the project and presented the various ways her department colleagues could incorporate the effort in their classroom instruction. Ideas included “how art itself is used to convey miracles” or how scientific research shows that art itself is calming and peaceful.

Using the gym, students were able to complete over 700 panels by touching up the already painted panels. Each panel is part of a six-piece set and the students completed more than 110 pieces to be donated to hospitals around the world. Several pieces will be donated to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.

Farrell said, “The touch-up work that was done is typically completed by the non-profit Foundation for Hospital Art staff and can take several weeks at a time. In our one day, we saved three months of post-production work for the non-profit and caught them up for a majority of their winter deadlines.

Working with Foundation for Hospital Art opened many of our students eyes to the different levels of service and care we can show towards one another. When CEO Scott Freight shared with the students that their hands were the last to touch the paintings before being sent to hospitals around the Atlanta area and across America, students began talking about what their 40 minutes of painting would really turn out to be. Several students, painting Disney pictures, talked about their favorite Disney characters when they were little kids and were excited that patients would be able to heal with these bright colored figures to keep their spirits up.”

The Foundation for Hospital Art was founded in 1984 by John Feight. Feight began volunteering at Northside Hospital in 1975 and noticed the blank walls in the patients’ rooms. He began painting the walls as a way to brighten their surroundings. The Foundation has donated over 44,000 paintings to over 4,000 hospitals and nursing homes in 195 countries.

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Students Visit Nation’s Capitol and Holocaust Memorial Museum For the last 16 years, Mr. Dennis Ruggiero’s History and Holocaust class has been going to Washington, D.C. each December to visit the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.

The semester-long class is taught as a Social Studies elective course for seniors only. An estimated 70 students register for the class and 45 are accepted. In addition to learning about the Holocaust, the Armenian genocide, Cambodia, the Balkans, Rwandan genocide, and the Iraqi genocide of the 1980s are also discussed.

In the Holocaust portion of the class, the group covers anti-Semitism with the beginning of Jewish persecution since the Early Church. The group studies ways the Church protected the Jewish people, as well as, ways the Church blamed the Jews for many things. The class reviews individuals and the Enlightenment period along with the rise of the Nazi party and Hitler’s election to Chancellor, leading to persecution of so many.

The group studies peoples’ reaction to the political regime and the implementation of Nazi policies.

“I think what separates this class from other high school and college Holocaust classes is

what we cover about the Catholic Church and Protestant churches in Germany and the rest of Europe. There were two popes during the Holocaust. What did they do or what didn’t they do? Did Pius XII do everything in his power to help save Jews? Some say this is the most controversial aspect of this study.

Pius XII saved thousands of Jews - the record speaks for itself,” says Ruggiero.

In December, 40 students flew up to Washington and while there, visited many of the sites our nations’ capitol has to offer.

“We were there for three and a half days and probably walked 26 miles and still didn’t see everything we wanted to,” said Mr. Ruggiero.

“There is so much history there and patriotism,” he added. The groups’ first stop was Arlington National Cemetery where students watched the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Senior Michael Marcinko stated “visiting Arlington gave me a real sense of reverence.”

many sobering moments on the trip. The group then traveled into DC to visit several monuments including WWII, Martin Luther King, the Lincoln Memorial, and the Vietnam Memorial. Later that night, many of the students took in an NHL game at Capital One Arena.

One of the highlights of DC is the Washington Mall situated between the US Capitol building and the Lincoln Memorial with its reflecting pool. “I think it’s one of the most beautiful sites in our country,” Mr. Ruggiero said. Right in the middle stands the iconic Washington Monument which is a massive 555 foot granite structure reaching high into the sky. At the Mall, students were able to choose to go to some of the many museums there. A lot of students went to the Air and Space Museum, while others chose to go to the National Gallery of Art, the Museum of Natural History, and the US History Museum, where they were excited to see Dorothy’s ruby red slippers from the Wizard of Oz.

From Arlington, students took a tour of the Pentagon and were able to go to where the planes struck on 9/11. That was one of

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Athletics News

Golden Lions stats, scores, and news

Golden Lions Wrap Fall Seasons, Look Ahead One of the hallmarks of St. Pius X is a successful athletic program. The 2018 fall sports season proved no different, as five of the six sports captured region championships and two took state crowns. Competition cheer, boys’ and girls’ cross country, football and volleyball won region titles, while boys’ cross country and volleyball won state championships. Girls’ cross country finished as state runners-up.

Volleyball won its second state title, and first since 2013, and completed the year with a 42-5 record which included a 19-match win streak. William & Mary commit Anna Porter led the team with 381 kills and 62 service aces. Maggie McCurdy recorded 96 blocks, while freshman Emma Farrell had 476 digs.

Abby Brown notched 571 assists on the season. Brown, Farrell, McCurdy and Pitchford were named to the All-Region team while Porter was named Player of the Year.

Farrell, Pitchford and Porter all garnered All-State honors.

The Golden Lions defeated rivals Blessed Trinity and Marist on the way to the state title. In the championship

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game against Marist, St. Pius X won 3-1 behind 10 kills each from Porter and freshman Annemarie Rakoski. Brown tallied 20 assists and Ava Pitchford contributed 18 in the win. It was the second time the Golden Lions had knocked off the War Eagles during the season. St. Pius X took a 3-1 win in the annual “Claws for a Cause” game that the two schools compete in to raise money for a charitable cause. The home team selects the recipient charity. This year the two clubs raised $5,700 for Kate’s Club, a support organization for children who have lost caregivers.

Boys’ cross country placed four runners in the top ten at the state championship meet to win its tenth title in school history and seventh since 2010. Jack Voss paced the Golden Lions finishing third overall, with Rowan Wiley right behind in fourth. Nicholas Fontova placed sixth and John Owens eighth in the meet. Chad DeWitt rounded out the points with a 19th place finish. The team also captured their third straight region crown.

Head Coach Ryan McClay capped the year being named State Coach of the Year by the Atlanta Track Club. Voss and Wiley were named to the Powerade All-Metro team presented by the Atlanta Track Club.

Football won its fourth region championship in five years and the seventh since 2009. The Golden Lions (10-2) dropped the opening game of the season and then proceeded to

reel off 10 straight wins before succumbing to Marist in the second round of the state playoffs. The year marked the sixth time since 2009 that St. Pius X has completed region play undefeated. The Golden Lions shut out Marist, 17-0, for the first time since 1969 during the regular season meeting.

Leading the way for St. Pius X on the gridiron was Region Player of the Year Zach Ranson.

The Wake Forest signee recorded 109 tackles along with an interception returned for a touchdown. Region Offensive Player of the Year Connor Egan rushed for 537 yards and five TDs, while throwing for 789 yards and 11 scores. DeMarcus Mitchell rushed for a team high 911 yards with eight TDs and Michael Benefield found paydirt on the ground 12 times. Jason Jones caught three TDS and Chris Miller hauled in two scores for the Golden Lions.

First team All-Region selections included Benfield, Jones, Miller, Mitchell, Nolan Aldrich, Connor Brown, Steven Hudson, William Kibler, Patrick Molnar, John McKinney and Jacob Pajer. Ryan Carney, Trent Gavron, Sam Granelli, Nick Joiner, Gavin McElroy, Joseph Miller, Will Possert, Lawson Schultz, Sam Schwaner and Cameron Wooden were all voted second-team AllRegion by the region coaches.

Girls’ cross country raced to the region championship and a runner-up finish in the state meet. The second-place spot marked the 18th time in school history that the lady

harriers finished as runners-up, as three Golden Lions ran in the top ten. Maggie Yankovich placed third in the state meet, followed by Catherine Breault in fourth.

Mary Brady finished in sixth. Allison Mackey placed 22nd, while Cala McEachron rounded out the runners in 25th. Yankovich was named by the Atlanta Track Club to the Powerade All-Metro team.

Competition cheer won its second straight region title. The ladies placed tenth in the state championship meet. This marks the fifth season in a row that the cheer team made the final day of the state championship.

Softball saw a nine game improvement in the win column from 2017. The Golden Lions finished the season 13-13, which marked the first time since 2014 that the club finished .500 or better on the season. Junior Josie Lord led all batters with a .453 average and 15 runs batted in. Lord recorded all 13 wins in the circle for St. Pius X and was named to the All-Region team. Sophomore Lindsey Broadway was named All-Region at third base hitting .394 with 9 stolen bases.

Freshman Lola Frankowski was named to the All-Region team as a utility player, batting .333 with 12 RBI. Senior Grace Bartle added 13 RBI with a .426 average.

As the first semester closes, winter sports are in full gear. Boys’ basketball has won 14 straight games since opening the season 2-2, including winning the Christmas Classic for the second straight year. Niko Broadway

earned MVP honors for the tournament and Matthew Gonzalo was added to the all-tournament team. The Golden Lions opened region play with a 71-47 win over Stephens County. Freshman Chase Cormier led the squad with 12 points in the win, while Gonzalo broke the all-time school assists record.

Girls’ basketball has won seven of its last 11 and opened region play with a 56-38 win over Stephens County. Emma Drash and Karis Coleman each had 17 points in the win over the Indians, with Wylie Sheridan chipping in nine points and 11 rebounds. Sheridan was also named to the Christmas Classic all-tournament team for the lady cagers, who finished fourth in the tourney.

tournament on January 1-2, having the opportunity to watch five of the top ten teams in the country.

Swim and Dive has opened its season with impressive wins over Marist, Roswell and Riverwood. In the win over Marist, the Golden Lions took first place in 20 of the 24 events. Ian Grum and Blake Reynolds have led the boys, while Abby Cohen and Riley Hendrix have placed first in events for the girls on the early year. Head Coach Scott Carter was named 2017-18 National Swim Federation Coach of the Year for the State of Georgia.

Wrestling competed in three tournaments over the Christmas break: Banks County Invitational, the Lambert Invitational, and the Prep Slam, hosted by Holy Innocents.

Joel Chatfield, Henry Cozart, Patrick Jackson, Zani Patasin, Will Pentecost, Dominic Thomas, and Vincent Thomas all finished in second place at the Banks County Invitational.

In addition, seven wrestlers traveled to the campus of University of Tennessee, Chattanooga, where the students worked the “Southern Scuffle” college wrestling

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Who Knew

Spotlight on the Pius community

St. Pius X Parent Volunteer Job Becomes a Mission Kate Kennedy Mother of John Robert `15, Sam `20, Crawford and Katherine Claire member who encouraged Kate to create a school.

Boyce was an active philanthropist and fundraiser and promised Kate she would help her raise money. Sadly, Mrs. Ansley died unexpectedly, but this only fueled Kate’s desire to see her vision realized. Two years later, with the help of friends with education and business experience, they created The Boyce L. Ansley School - a tuition-free private school for children of families who have experienced homelessness. They opened their doors August 1, 2018, and currently have 12 pre-kindergarten students. Her dream has become a reality and it has been incredibly rewarding.

Founder/ Executive Director of the Boyce L. Ansley School

Kate Kennedy and her family are members of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Downtown Atlanta. Crossroads Community Ministries and Clyde’s Kitchen are located on the campus of St. Luke’s. This organization provides food and resources to people experiencing homelessness to assist them on their road toward economic and personal stability. St. Pius X students have frequently worked with Crossroads and Clyde’s Kitchen on service projects.

Back in 2015 while Kate was driving home from church, she noticed a homeless woman with four young children. As a mother of four, she felt an overwhelming desire to do more than simply feed them. She found herself initiating a Parents Morning Out program. It was a chance for parents to leave their children for a few hours once a week and go to interviews, attend job training workshops or seek placement assistance. The PMO was volunteer-led and the response from parents was overwhelmingly positive. However, Kate noticed many school-age children attending. “The only way out of poverty is an education,” said Kate. She shared her concern and vision with Mrs. Boyce Ansley, a fellow church

“

Research tells us that if a child’s reading and math is not on grade level by the time they complete third grade, their chance of success is significantly reduced.”

In addition to Kate, they currently employ an Early Childhood Education Director, a lead teacher, an assistant teacher, a Case Manager/Family Liaison Social worker, a part-time after-school teacher and an administrative intern. They also have a 10 member Board of Directors who help guide the future direction of the school.

What was the first day like?

We were ready but also nervous. We had enrolled students but were unsure if any of them would come!

At 7:20 there was a line of people at the door. There were a lot of firsts that we never realized we would witness. Many of the kids had never seen a whole piece of fruit. All they ever had was pre-cut fruit or sealed fruit cups.

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How are your funds raised?

We made our first ask to our congregation and to some individuals last September. We didn’t have a 5013(c) at the time which meant we could not apply for grants or to foundations, yet we raised $300,000.

Next year we need $400,000 in order to add another grade.

What other outreach support do you offer parents?

Our full-time social worker hosts parent workshops every other Wednesday. The families learn about housing and employment resources, goal setting and how to support their children in school.

We partner with The Howard School for speech, language and hearing screenings, as well as other educational assessments. Good Samaritan Health Center has provided us access to a health clinic and well visits for the students and their families. We also work with CHRIS180 who provides trauma counseling for our families and many, many other wonderful community partners. We have had an initial conversation with Uber who wants to partner with us so we have more options than Marta.

What are your biggest needs?

Currently, we are only offering Pre-K with the plan to add another grade every year. Our existing space can only manage to add one more classroom, so we are currently looking for a nearby building.�

Also, since we follow the Atlanta Public School system, we will be closed for the summer. We are currently looking for a partner to provide summer care for our students. In addition, we are looking for a Pediatric Vision partner. My ultimate wish is to find a Section 8 apartment building nearby to partner with for housing for our families.

These kids are invisible to the world. If we can give them a good education and provide them with the proper tools to become more self-sufficient, we can break the cycle of generational poverty and help these children live beyond their circumstances to write their own stories of success!

To learn more about The Boyce L. Ansley School, please visit www.theansleyschool.org.

The Kennedy family.

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Pius Pathways

Spotlight on St. Pius X entrepreneurs The following alumni are a true testament to the mission of St. Pius X, to provide a college preparatory education for the formation of the mind, body and spirit in accordance with the teachings of the Catholic Church. These alumni have given back to those in need and shared their talents and faith in the Atlanta community and beyond!

Joe Crochet `12

Author, My Winning Seasons Post High School Education: The Citadel Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (Sales & Marketing) & Masters in Business Administration (Business Management).

Family: Brother: Dan Crochet ’14, Mom: Eileen, Dad: Don, Cousin: Elizabeth Freeman ’15, Mary Freeman ’22, Puppy/Daughter: Aspen, one year old.

Why the Citadel?

I didn’t choose The Citadel, rather it chose me. It was the first school to offer me a full scholarship to play football and I’ve been in love with the school ever since. Coach Standard, Citadel class of 1984, helped me see the amazing opportunity that The Citadel offered. As for me it went without saying. A great school, in a great city, and a good football program…

It was too good to pass up.

What inspired you to write your book?

Many personal influences inspired me to write My Winning Seasons. Originally, Pat Conroy wrote My Losing Season, a story about his senior year playing basketball for The Citadel. I wanted to write an optimistic and modern viewpoint of what it is like in today’s day and age being a student athlete at one of the most prestigious colleges in the United States.

On a more personal note, the passing of my teammate, classmate and brother Mitchell Jeter, who passed away the fall of 2017 in a car accident as well as my own battle with PTSD was what sparked my passion. I was diagnosed with an anxiety disorder and PTSD after having a severe encounter with an over the counter supplement in the beginning of 2017.

Ever since that day it put life in perspective. I also wanted to find a way to give back. Twenty-

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five percent of the profit is going toward a college fund for my teammate Mitchell’s two daughters that he left behind. It isn’t much but every little amount counts. Also, another 25% is going toward Mental Health efforts in research and bringing awareness for Depression, Anxiety, and PTSD. The cover of my book is teal which is the awareness color for those mental illnesses.

Tell us what you’ve been doing since college?

Currently, I am a published author, a SAG-AFTRA Actor (featured on the CBS series MacGyver Season 3 Episode 14), and an account manager for Stanley Black & Decker. I am also the linebackers coach for the SPX eighth grade football team.

Favorite Pius Memory: My favorite Pius memory was the senior trip the football team took in the summer before the start of our football season. We had so much fun white water rafting, and bonding in the great outdoors. We grew as teammates and were able to really connect as a class outside the locker room. That was a special trip with a special group of guys.

The Crochet family (L-R): Don Crochet, Dan Crochet `14, Joe Crochet `12, and Eileen Crochet.

Mike Rubesch ’75

It’s a Wonderful Soccer Life told through the words of his sister, Laurie Rubesch Wilson `81 Post High School Education: Erskine University - BS Physical Education `79 , played on the Erskine Men’s Soccer Team Family: Siblings: Mark and Laurie ’81.

Parents: Rudy Rubesch and Joan Rubesch Wife: Jeanne Rubesch; married since 1993 Children: Justine 21, Bradley 19, Kurt 13 Where is Mike Rubesch these days?

Mike lives in Hermanus, South Africa. He and his family have resided there since 2007.

Recent Honor/Achievement: Mike is a 2018 Inductee into the Emory Sports Hall of Fame. In addition, here is a list of his accomplishments at Emory: - U.S.S.F. National Coaching School “C” License Instructor - U.S.Y.S.A. Staff Coach, Region III, Assistant Coach 91 Region Team, Olympic Development Program.

- Chair, NSCAA/Adidas Ranking Regional Committee - Chair, NSCAA Scholar-Athlete Regional Committee - Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games, Training Site Coordinator, Soccer 1996 - During Mike’s Coaching career at Emory, he held Boy’s Summer Soccer Camps

Above: Mike’s son, Kurt Rubesch, accepting the award for his father at the Emory University Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony.

Other career highlights: - 1980-1985: Men’s Soccer Coach, St. Pius X - 1985-1988: Head Women’s Soccer Coach, Emory University - 1988-2007: Head Men’s Soccer Coach, Emory University - 2007-2008: Chief Scout/Coach, Ajax Cape Town PSL - 2008-2009: Assistant Coach, Overstrand Soccer Academy in Hermanus, South Africa Do you have any special memories that you can share?

Mike was a “pioneer” of soccer in Atlanta. He came to love the “beautiful game” as a young boy when Atlanta had its first professional team, the Atlanta Chiefs. We lived in Williamsburg Village apartments where many of the Chiefs lived. They quickly realized that Mike not only possessed the skill to become a great player, but also a passion for the game.

Mike loved every aspect of soccer; playing, coaching, watching, and analyzing. I remember watching him coach at St. Pius X while I was still a student. I always admired that he would run with his players at the beginning of practice, not just telling them to get moving! He had an amazing ability to not only explain technique and tactics, but also demonstrate. Mike could engage the players with his passion for the game and get them to become better both personally and as a team.

No matter what level Mike coached at, he gave it his all! He has loved the “beautiful game” all of his life!

Photos L-R: 1. Mike playing for Erskine University, 2. Mike with his children Bradley, Justine and Kurt, 3. Kurt Rubesch and Laurie Rubesch Wilson ‘81 on a visit to St. Pius X this past fall.

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Megan Fannon `09 Post High School Education - College/ Degree(s): Georgia Southern 2013, B.S. Sport Management with a minor in Business Mercer University 2018, M.A.T in Early Education How does it feel to be part of a legacy at St. Pius X? I always felt like it is a privilege to be part of the legacy at St. Pius X. As the 13th member of my family to go through St. Pius X, the legacy has always been family tradition. We joke in our family that our blood is not red but navy and gold!

What brought you back to coach at St. Pius X? My college career in track and field did not end the way I wanted it to and I had to take a step back from the sport for a couple of years. When I thought I was ready to get back into the sport (in a different role) it was not a hard decision to make the decision to come back and coach track and field at St. Pius X.

Favorite Pius Memory: There are so many memories it is hard to pick one! One special memory was my senior track and field spring break trip to Chattanooga. It was a great experience to compete out-of-state but it was also a great bonding trip for our team.

Advice to recent graduates: “Do the best with the ability God gave you and you will always be a champion.” George B. Maloof. I always try to coach with this quote close to my heart.

Recent Coaching Achievement: This past spring our boys track and field team won their second team title in 5 years! Our girls program recorded a fifth place finish as well. Tanner Duffin `19 swept the throwing events to take first place in shot put and discus.

Tanner recently committed to throw at the University of Michigan. Due to Tanner’s outstanding performance, I was named throws coach of the year by Georgia Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.

What have you been up to since graduation?

After St. Pius X, I went to Georgia Southern where I was part of the Georgia Southern Track and Field program as well as the Georgia Southern Media Relations Department.

I worked for professional sports teams when I finished my college career. I am currently a first grade teacher at Our Lady of Assumption Catholic School (my elementary and middle school alma mater).

Top Photo: The Fannon Family: Danielle `07 and fiance, Mike Fannon `74, Paula Thomas Fannon `82 and Megan Fannon `09, Bottom photo: Coach Ryan McClay, Tanner Duffin `19, Megan Fannon `09, and Coach Jason Eaglen.

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One Final Celebration of 60 Years!

Alumni, friends, and family gathered over Homecoming weekend in October to celebrate 60 years of St. Pius X. The weekend began with the Alumni BBQ and Golden Lion victory against North Oconee. To add to the festivities, players from the 1969 Golden Lions Championship team were honored and on hand to lead the Golden Lions into George B. Maloof Stadium.

Alumni, current parents and students hit the ground running Saturday morning with a “Sandwich Build” service project to benefit Crossroads Community Ministries. The class of 1963, 1968, 1973, 1978, 1983, 1988, 1993, 1998, 2008 and 2013 celebrated reunions around the Atlanta area.

The weekend culminated with the Alumni community gathering in faith for the annual Alumni Mass and Brunch celebrated by Monsignor Lopez and the St. Pius X Chaplain, Fr. Rey Pineda. Attendees were treated to a special performance from the St. Pius X Women’s and Men’s Chorale Ensemble which included a medley of songs from various eras and a beautiful singing of the alma mater. Lion pride ran deep and a great time was had by all!

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Save the date for Homecoming-Reunion Weekend 2019 to be held September 27 – 29, 2019. A reunion planning meeting for classes ending in 4 and 9 is scheduled for February 6, 2019. Please contact Karoline Brennan in the St. Pius X Alumni Office to get involved. Email kbrennan@spx.org.

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Lion Lines

Golden Lions Weddings & Births

Alex (Walter) Penn ’09 and Taylor Penn ’09 welcomed their first child, Charlie Walter Penn on July 8, 2018. He was born at Northside Hospital in Atlanta and weighed 7 lbs.,13 oz. The family currently resides in Tucker with their two dogs and cat.

Jessica Darga Sowers ‘97 and husband William welcomed Maxwell William Sowers on July 12, 2018. He was born 8 lbs, 14 oz and joins older brother Sam. Jessica teaches in the Social Studies Department at St. Pius X. Michael Hatter ’04 married Beth Feagain on June 30, 2018 at Kiawah Island, South

Carolina. A reception followed their sunset beach wedding. A honeymoon is planned for after football season! Michael and Beth reside in Johns Creek.

and four year old son, Walter, welcomed Lucille Kate on November 26, weighing in at 7 lbs, 11 ounces, 19 inches long. Mike teaches science at St.Pius X.

Mark Abinsay and his wife Acelyn welcomed Alana Grace Abinsay born on September 12, 2018 weighing in at 5 lbs and 16.5 inches tall. Mark Abinsay teaches math at St. Pius X.

Ryan Liccardo, along with his wife Kathryn and their children Landon (4) and Haley (2), welcomed Lucas James Liccardo, born November 19, 2018. He weighed 7 lbs 13 oz and 21 inches long. Ryan is the St. Pius X Strength and Conditioning Coach.

Jen Bafundo Cahill ’00 and Seba ’03 Cahill welcomed a daughter on July 31, 2018. Anna Joan Cahill weight 7 lbs, 7oz and was 20 inches long.

Mike Wentzler, along with wife Shannon

Walter Penn

Sowers

Liccardo

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Bafundo Cahill

Liz Standard `10 married Ben Reynolds on August 4, 2018 at St. Peter Chanel Catholic Church in Roswell, GA. The couple honeymooned in Rome and Greece where their marriage was blessed by Pope

Abinsay

Hatter

Francis. Liz teaches US History at Norcross High School and Ben works for Prestwick Companies. Liz is a member of the St. Pius X Alumni Board.

Marie Phelan `06 and Kevin Ksionzyk `05 were married on November 18, 2018 by Monsignor Henry Gracz from the Catholic Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.

Marie teaches English at St. Pius X and assists the Varsity Football Cheerleading squad. Kevin currently works in Business Development for Jacada, a global technology company in Alpharetta. He’s also the Head Coach of the SPX ninth grade baseball team.

Andrew Mabini `10 married Stephanie “Stevie” Gleason on November 10, 2018 at All Saints Catholic Church in Knoxville, TN. Andrew teaches Computer Science at St. Pius X. Stevie is a Missionary with His Safe Haven.

Martin Kaido ’08 married Laura Brazell ’10 on November 3, 2018 in Chattanooga, TN at Our Lady of the Mount Catholic Church. The couple honeymooned in Hawaii on the island of Oahu. The Kaidos met while in high school at St. Pius X and dated throughout college. Martin works in the Sourcing Department at Norfolk Southern Railway while Laura works as

Standard

Wentzler

Phelan Ksionzk

Mabini

an Associate Financial Representative with Northwestern Mutual. Martin recently accepted a position in Norfolk, VA where the two currently reside. While they are sure their time in Norfolk will be memorable, they expect to be relocated back to Atlanta in the near future.

Molly McCarthy Wack `06 and Kevin Wack along with their children Liam and Phoebe, welcomed Conor Behrens Wack, November 20, 2018. Conor weighed in at 8 lbs, 3 oz. Molly is on staff in the St. Pius X Admissions Office.

Kaido Brazell

Wack

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Lion Lines

Golden Lions Alumni News

What have you been up to since graduation?

Drop us a line at alumni@spx.org so we can share it with the St. Pius X community!

Joan E. Cashin, ’74, published two books in the fall of 2018: War Stuff: The Struggle for Human and Environmental Resources in the American Civil War (Cambridge University Press), and War Matters: Material Culture in the Civil War Era (University of North Carolina Press). Joan is Associate Professor of History at Ohio State University.

Dr. Karen Patterson Stevens (Gleason), PhD, MSN-Ed, RN ’77 finished her PhD in Nursing from Idaho State University in May of 2018. Her research focused on Factors that Influence and Predict Nurses’ Attitudes Towards Suicidal Patients.

Shannon Kang ‘18 returned to campus in November to address potential students and their parents at the school’s annual Open House, hosted by the Admissions Department at St. Pius X. In her speech, she explained the various ways that the school has impacted and prepared her for a future of success. “Ultimately, I gave this school my best because it deserved my best. I left the place I call home, but like they say, home is where the heart is. How lucky am I to call my teachers friends, my friends lessons, and my textbooks irrelevant. This was the place for me, and I believe it can be the place for you.”

Lexi and Caroline Orman `17 are majoring in health sciences at Samford University and showing their twin power on the soccer field.

The twins, along with older sister, Kaitlyn `14, helped lead Samford to its fourth-

straight Southern Conference regularseason title last year.

Helen Woodland `14, graduated summa cum laude from the University of Georgia in May, 2018, with degrees in Finance from the Terry College of Business and International Affairs from the School of Public and International Affairs. Helen, an Honors Program student, was selected to the Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society, Omicron Delta Kappa Honor Society, Blue Key Honor Society, Palladia Women’s Honor Society, and Beta Gamma Sigma Honor Society. She was also a member of the Apollo Society and the Corsair Society for business students interested in careers in finance, and was a sector leader of the Student Managed Investment Fund, which manages over $1 million in investments

Stevens

Woodland

Doyle

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C. Orman

L. Orman

for the University. Helen was involved in the Student Government Association while at UGA and is a member of Alpha Chi Omega sorority. Helen now works in equity derivatives sales for UBS Securities LLC in New York.

Patrick Doyle `14 hiked the Appalachian Trail over the course of 191 days last year, a trail spanning 2,190 miles and 13 states from Georgia to Maine. “It was tough going at times, walking for hours each day no matter what the weather or terrain was like, but I saw some amazing sights and met some amazing people along the way. I learned that with perseverance and a positive attitude, you can achieve anything that you are willing to work for, even though it may seem unlikely or impossible at the beginning. This

was the experience of a lifetime, and I cannot recommend it highly enough,� said Patrick.

Karleen Parks Ferguson `84 is the newly elected Gilmer County Commissioner Post 2, a four-year term starting January, 2019.

Karleen and her husband of 30 years, Robert Ferguson, have four children and live in Ellijay, Georgia.

Leah Hardeman `14 was named Coastal Carolina 2017-18 Sun Belt Conference athlete of the year. Leah was a four-year member of the Coastal Carolina indoor volleyball team. The award is the highest individual honor given in the conference, and is based on outstanding leadership, achievement and character.

Hardeman

Fleri

Sophia Fleri `15, an Honors student and Mechanical Engineer major at Georgia Southern University, completed her third and fourth study abroad experiences this past summer. After her freshman year, she traveled to Argentina. Then it was off to Romania after her sophomore year. And in 2018 she traveled to Shenzhen, China and Munich, Germany, spending a total of nine weeks outside of the country.

Anesia Reticker `10 is a first year resident pursuing post-graduate clinical pharmacy training at University of Illinois Hospital in Chicago. She just committed to a second year of residency at the same hospital for specialty training in solid organ transplant pharmacy.

Anesia got a B.S. at UGA in Nutrition Science, 2014 and a Doctorate of Pharmacy, 2018.

Reticker

Ferguson

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In Memoriam

Christian Broder, July 20, 2018 Brother of Nicholas `04, Caroline `07, and William `10 Reverend Noel Burtenshaw, July 27, 2018 Grandfather of Maddie Hughes ’16 and Taylor Fusto ’12 Dorothy Carter, September 8, 2018 Mother of Keith Carter `81 Bryan Chadwell `86 September 13, 2018 Brother of Diana Chadwell Brown `92 and Leslie Chadwell Moorman `94 Robert Comeau `75, March 6, 2018 Sister of Nancy Comeau `76 Moises “Moe” Dominguez, November 24, 2018 Son of Fiona Nichols Dominguez `86, nephew of Erina Nichols Lambert `83 and Hiram Nichols `82 David Downie, Jr., January 4, 2019 Husband of Francesca Downie, father of Kyle Alexander Downie ’18, Samantha Downie ’20, and Ethan-Graham Downie ’22 Anita Bishop Evans `68, August 8, 2018 Sister of Dennis Bishop `63, Bonnie Hunter Bishop `67, and Thomas Bishop `67 (deceased) Barbara Mae Foley, December 25, 2018 Mother of Pat Foley Martin `73, Pete Foley `75, David Foley `82, Bob Foley, Sue Foley Weatherly and grandmother of Patrick Foley `02, Kristin Foley `03, and Daniel Foley `06 Robert T. Glenn, Sr., July 30, 2018 Grandfather of Taylor Glenn ‘12, THomas Glenn ‘14, Katie Glenn ‘16, Ellie Glenn ‘19, and Emily Glenn ‘22 Glynn Hamilton `66, August 7, 2018 Mary Louise (Lou) Janas, November 29, 2018 Mother of Steve Janas `71, Tom Janas `73, Mike Janas `76, Mary Janas Reese `77, Barbara Janas Kemner`80, and Jeanie Janas Hall `82

We remember our loved ones

George Johnson, October 7, 2018 Cary Johnson Blackburn `85 (St. Pius X Math Teacher) and grandfather of Katie Blackburn `17, Rachel Blackburn `17, and Jonathan Blackburn `20 Kevin Jones `72, July 22, 2018 Brother of Dianne Jones Miller ’75, David Jones ’79 (deceased), Danny Jones `80, Robert Jones ’83 and Nancy Jones Atkinson `84 and uncle of Michael Ulm `00, Matthew Ulm `02, Callie Ulm `05, and Hannah Jones `16 Geraldine (Jerry) LeBlanc, January 2, 2019 Mother of Debbie LeBlanc Foster ’74 Stephen Leslie, May 10, 2018 Brother of Morgan Leslie `07 Ed Letts, Jr. December 13, 2018 St. Pius X Math teacher, 1998-2005 Louis Loncaric September 1, 2018 Father of Katrina Loncaric `92 Leo Mansour, December 27, 2018 Mother of Juliette Mansour ’85 and Monzer Mansour ’81 Mariette Sachs McDaniel, January 5, 2019 Mother of Angele McDaniel Barrow `74, Martine McDaniel Widmayer `75, current St. Pius X parent Matt McDaniel, and grandmother of Matthew McDaniel `20 Tom McMurry, December 17, 2018 Father of Jenny McMurry Schmitt ’92 Gerri Miller, June 2, 2018 Mother of Rich Arroll `80, Robby Miller `81, Katie Miller Einbender `82, and grandmother of Drew Einbender `15, and Cole Einbender `18

Susan Fechtel Pittman `59, October 21, 2018 Twin sister of Diane Fechtel Deriso `59 and mother of Shawn Pittman, Terri Pittman `88 and Keith Pittman `85 (Heather McDevitt Pittman `88), grandmother of Sophia Ergle `22 Greta Powichroski Powell `89, June 23, 2018 Robert Roche `86, September 23, 2018 Sister Barbara Sitko, HM, May 27, 2018 St. Pius X English teacher and department chair, 1972-85 Lewis Shropshire, November 23, 2018 Husband of Pam Barraclough Shropshire `68 Elizabeth Osborne Summerville, August 11, 2018 Grandmother of Jenna Repasky ’21 Roger White, November 13, 2018 Father of Francie Quigley, father-in-law of Chris Quigley and grandfather of Patrick Quigley ’08 (Caitlin Raines Quigley `08), Andrew Quigley ’10, Phillip Quigley ’12, Kevin Quigley ’14, and Paul Quigley ’21 Helen Wojcik Thompson, June 9, 2018 Sister of Mary Rose Wojcik Hilscher `61, Paul Wojcik `62, John Wojcik `63, Tom Wojcik and Greg Wojcik `67. Helen attended St. Pius X as a freshman in 1965.

Joe Warner, August 3, 2018 Brother of Mary Pat Warner Martin `86, Mark Warner `76, Rose Warner Anderson `70 and Danny Warner `70

Linda Marie Pirkl `05, June 26, 2018 Sister of Daniel Pirkl `02, Tom Pirkl `09 and Emily Pirkl `11

Eternal rest grant upon them, O Lord.

Let perpetual light shine upon them; for their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed. May they rest in peace.

Amen.

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NON-PROFIT U.S. POSTAGE PAID Permit No.104 Atlanta, GA

St. Pius X Catholic High School 2674 Johnson Road, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30345-1720 404/633-4290 www.spx.org

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January

Washington, D.C. March for Life Trivia Night at SPX Martin Luther King Jr. Day Mini Class Night Dad’s Day of Recollection Catholic Schools’ Week

February

8-10 Domini Sumus Retreat

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March

15th Annual Juried Visual Arts Exhibition Ash Wednesday Pius Players Present: Newsies Spring Dance Concert Spring Blood Drive Band Concert

April

Spring Break/Mission Trip Guitar Concert Holy Thursday Good Friday Easter Sunday Spring Chorus Concert Prom George B. Maloof Lion Nation Golf Classic

May

Honors Assembly NOVO Choreography & Dance Benefit Baccalaureate Mass Graduation Last Day of School

Do you have news to share? We would love to hear from you!

If you have news to share with the St. Pius X community, please contact Deanna Jones-Puig, Communications Manager, via email at djones@spx.org.