Between the Lions Winter/Spring 2020

BETWEEN

Lions

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WINTER/SPRING 2020

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

Why St. Pius X

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 Mary O’Brien Beyer ’82 Advancement Coordinator Catherine DeWitt Rice ’00 Special Events Coordinator Kyle Snipes Communications 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, LifeTouch, and the numerous students, parents, faculty, and staff who submitted photos used in this publication.

Photograph by Ashley Curlette.

Students participate in the Works of Mercy project for the benefit of Hospital Art.

Contents Letter from the President

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Letter from the Principal

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Why St. Pius X?

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Virtual Learning Day

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Faculty Feature: Mrs. Sara Schmitt

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Campus Ministry: Catholic Heart Work Camp

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From the Office of Advancement

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Fine Arts News

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Athletics News

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Parent Organizations

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19th Annual Christmas Classic

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Sophomore Studies with Seniors

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SPX News

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Homecoming 2019

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Trivia Night at St. Pius X

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Totes to Tots

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SPX Military Alumni

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A Hero Among Us: Msgr. Lopez

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Lion Lines

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In Memoriam

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From the President

Dear Golden Lion Families, It is always a good practice for a school or company to talk about what its mission is, and why it exists. I have always thought the Pius mission statement was one of the most simple and effective at highlighting our reason for being: 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. It highlights the work our teachers strive for in the classroom— to minister to students in all the ways they need to grow. It helps us to determine our enrollment strategy, our budget, our curriculum, and all the decisions that help us prepare students for their near future and everlasting future.

A second phrase that I thought could be trite, but has grown on me as an authentic distillation of Pius is: Faith, Family, and Futures. Our mission (faith) draws families together for the future. That sense of family is real! I was talking to prospective parents from a partner school today who are drawn to be a part of our family—they feel an atmosphere that is relaxed, authentic, and focused on kids. It is good to be reminded by parents who are seeking Pius that we offer not only an excellent educational environment, but a home away from home for their children. It

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is that same family sense that has drawn more than 35 of our alumni to return to St. Pius X as faculty and staff. They are great stewards of our mission and incredible ambassadors safeguarding what makes Pius so different and special.

As I prepare for a move to Louisiana with the family, I want to say thanks to the Pius family. You adopted me with open arms and made me feel a part of this vibrant history and community. I feel confident that our family—parents, alumni, faculty, staff, and Pius supporters, will ensure that our unique feel, our “charism,” continues for generations of Golden Lions to come. You are in my prayers daily and will always have my gratitude, my heart, and my affection.

Domini Sumus!

Yours Gratefully in Christ,

Chad Barwick President

From the Principal Dear Parents and Friends of St. Pius X, It began like any great love story. From a distance, you heard nice things and you became interested. Within the first few dates, you learned even more and found yourself wanting to spend more and more time together. Eventually you came to the stark realization that you truly wanted to commit a large portion of your life together. As time passed and the mutual sharing of life’s experiences, the good times and the not so good times all fused together forging a lasting admiration and love.

And that love burns even brighter today, which is why it is so difficult for me to leave this wonderful school and this amazing community. Over the past twenty years I have loved being a part of this very unique school and as Alfred Lloyd Tennyson’s quote states, “I am a part of all whom I have met.”

There are many memories that stand out for me, but perhaps one illuminates the true heart and soul of this school. It was 2005 and Hurricane Katrina had hit the gulf coast like no other storm with the result being the schools near New Orleans would be closed, many for long periods of time. A decision was made that we would reach out to the Catholic schools in the area and open our doors, resulting in 60 students arriving to our campus. Here is where the magic of St. Pius X began. The Archdiocese took care of their tuition, the Mothers’ Club had them all in uniforms and prepared with books, families came forth and paid their lunch bills, the Athletic Association and SPAS helped them with extracurricular needs and the faculty and staff reached out to them to make sure they were academically successful. Most of the faculty gave up their early mornings and afternoons to tutor these young people as they struggled with all they faced. The outpouring of compassion and love was one of the greatest displays I have ever witnessed in a school, and it validated the very best of St. Pius X as we watched many of those young people graduate.

I remember talking with Father Jim Harrison, the founding principal of St. Pius X, as he shared his thoughts on what made this place so special and he quickly stated, “The parents.” This is a trend that remains consistent today.

Parents have made this school what it is today by entrusting their most precious gift, their children to us and in helping with every endeavor and need in this school. We have made great strides in every area of school operation and involved and supportive parents are the reason these accomplishments have come to fruition.

I give thanks thanks for the extraordinary students, teachers, staff, and fellow administrators for their commitment and passion to the life and mission of St. Pius X. To work in such an academic environment with such a talented, dedicated and passionate group of professionals has been a great joy. To have watched the extraordinary growth of each student as they enter looking like “deer in the headlights” to young adults who have learned to discern their gifts and talents, and are prepared for college life and the world beyond, has been a pure gift and what makes this job the best possible.

I look forward to this second semester knowing it will be highly successful.

Warmest regards,

Steve Spellman Principal

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Why St. Pius X? Founded in Faith...Joined as Family...Focused on Futures...

Introduction by Aaron Parr, Director of Admissions Speech by Kaitlyn Orman ’14

The admissions department is in full swing processing applications for the class of 2024, touring families each week, and hosting student shadow days.

The top question families want to know is “Why St. Pius X?” As an alumnus of St. Pius X and now as a faculty member, this question is easy for me to answer as I love this school.

Our admissions department believes that this question is also answered once a family comes on campus. Upon entering campus, our prospective families get a great sense of the unique family atmosphere that we have here.

The prospective families who attended Open House got to hear first hand what makes this place so special through alumni speaker Kaitlyn Orman ’14, who did an amazing job telling our school’s story. Orman attended Samford on a soccer scholarship and served as captain of the team. She recently graduated Magna Cum Laude and is currently enrolled in the Ph.D program at Emory University in Physical Therapy. For the next few months, she will be doing hands-on training at UAB Hospital, Sports Rehab, and the Shepherd Center.

Please take a moment to read her speech...

I want to begin by telling you guys a story.

Picture me, an innocent freshman in homeroom on my first day of high school.

I’m wearing my saddle oxford shoes fresh out of the box, spotless new Pius polo, and my plaid skort down past my knees just to ensure I complied with the dress code on my first day of high school. I was feeling a mix between being anxious and excited,

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but most importantly, at peace. Sitting in homeroom that day felt so right. I knew I was in the exact place that I was supposed to be and that I had 100 percent made the right decision in where to go to high school. You may think that sounds crazy, to have such a sense of affirmation on the first day of school, but a unique sense of peace consumed me.

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After my homeroom teacher called my name off of the roll call list, she summoned me to the front of the classroom. Nervously, I scurried up to her and grabbed the envelope that she was extending to me. I could feel heat rising to my face and my heart begin to rapidly increase. Once back in my seat, I discretely opened the envelope to find a note inside saying, “Stop by my office after school today.” Signed Mr. Spellman. What could I have possibly done in just the first hour of school?!

It was safe to say that the rest of the day I was an anxious wreck. My mind kept going back to the note and my after school meeting. I had never met Mr. Spellman before and I certainly didn’t think he knew who I was!

When the last bell rang I found my way to the administration office, anxious as ever.

As I peered around the corner, I could see Mr. Spellman’s door wide open. He beamed the most welcoming smile and exclaimed, “Kaitlyn! Come on in.”

My anxiety was quickly abated as Mr. Spellman spoke to me that day. He hadn’t welcomed me into his office to reprimand me for any sort of dress code violation or academic concern—he sought me out with

The people inside these walls not only celebrated with me in my times of success, encouraged me in times of struggle, but ultimately shaped me into the person that I am today.” the intention of introducing himself, putting a name to a face, and above all he welcomed me into the St. Pius X family.

Mr. Spellman knew that I had spent middle school at a non-parter school and through a mutual friend, known that it was a big deal for me to choose St. Pius X. Amidst the anxiety of my first day of high school, my principal, of all people, wanted to ensure that I felt at home.

As you may have heard Mr. Spellman say, St. Pius X is simply a building made of walls of brick and mortar. That’s it. But the true beauty behind this unique place is the people that fill them. My four years spent at St. Pius X were some of the best years of my life thus far. I experienced some of the happiest days there, filled with success and celebration ... but at the same time I also experienced some of my darkest days there, filled with struggle and failure. What I want to share with you today is just a glimpse of the way the people inside these walls not only

celebrated with me in my times of success, encouraged me in times of struggle, but ultimately shaped me into the person that I am today.

As a soccer player under Coach Sara Schmitt, it would be very easy for me to stand here and share numerous stories from my time playing for her. However, what I find so unique to my St. Pius X experience is that our relationship went beyond that of the soccer field. My next memory is from our time spent in Kingston, Jamaica, during a mission trip my junior year. From the moment we got off of the bus, Sara knew no strangers and absolutely lit up the entire room. Each of the kids at Sophie’s Place clung to her as if she was their big sister. Throughout this trip, I got to witness our fearless leader love on these kids in such an extraordinary way and sacrifice her own comfort for us as a mission team and for the people of Kingston as well. I was in the very beginning stages of my faith journey when I was on this trip, and I can still vividly remember us sitting on the porch each night, praying and reading scripture together during our devotion.

She was the first person that taught me the importance of reading the Bible and centering all relationships on Christ. These moments with Sara at Sophie’s Place would eventually serve as the stepping-stones of my faith today. Where else could you say that your high school math teacher also doubled as your soccer coach, mission trip leader, mentor, crossfit partner, and sister in Christ?

My next memory is of Mrs. Ashley Wright, my former computer teacher. I was just a freshman when I had her for class and eventually she would become my basketball coach later that fall. We were in the last stretch of the season and I was thoroughly

stressed out because it just so happened that soccer tryouts overlapped with the end of our season. I was distraught that I wouldn’t be able to compete the full season of each sport and was left with a difficult decision to make. Mrs. Wright sat with me in the locker room after practice one day for several hours as she shared her advice and hashed out what would be best for me. She encouraged me and left me feeling at peace about my decision. Where else could you find a teacher and coach that would sit with you for hours to give you advice?

As my senior year was coming to a close, I found myself thriving—I was set on where I was going to college and graduation was just a few months away. All of that seemed to fade when I found myself sitting in Gary Schmitt’s office on a Saturday evening after returning from our annual Jekyll Island soccer tournament. I had injured my knee in the game that day and it was sitting in his office that he had to break the news to me that I did, in fact, tear my ACL. While this seemed like the most earth shattering news to me at the time, I wouldn’t have wanted to receive that news from anyone other than Schmitt. He knew just how to deliver this news, console me, and yet encourage me in the reality that things would be okay. It was through this injury that I felt an overwhelming sense of love from my classmates and grew closer to them. One classmate in particular surprised me with a card, signed by each person in our graduating class of seniors, with a handwritten get well note. Where else could you find a staff and student body that lifts their peers up and serves them so intentionally during times of need?

Where else could you find a psychology teacher (Alison Wright) that writes your parents a handwritten card expressing her gratitude in having you as a student in her class?

Where else could you find that your chemistry teacher (Melissa Beam) is your #1 fan and traveled over an hour to see you play in the playoffs?

Where else could you find that your math teacher (Lesley Bowman) gives you her phone number to allow for further homework questions just to ensure you are ready for the AP exam?

Well, the answer is nowhere else other than within the unique walls of St. Pius X Catholic High School. I could stand here for hours and continue to share a number of stories about all the people that served me day in and day out during my time at St. Pius X. I hope that through just a few of these memories you can hear an underlying theme in the way that the people within this special place transformed my life and shaped me into the woman I am today. I got to experience first hand what it meant to go out of your way for someone, serve them, and share Christ’s love with them. Because of this, I stand here today with the amazing gift of knowing Christ and furthering the Kingdom so that others might as well. If it weren’t for the leadership of St. Pius X Catholic High School and the incredible people that filled these halls, I wouldn’t be able to stand here with such confidence.

Thank you all for having me here today, I hope you have that innate sense of peace and know that you are sitting in the exact place you are supposed to be just like I did my first day of high school.

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St. Pius X Hosts First Virtual Learning Day Written by Golden Lines Staff Writer: Henry Guynn ’20

It’s the end of January and a blizzard hits Atlanta, forcing St. Pius X to close for several days in a row. While this sounds like a dream come true for students and teachers, the situation can quickly turn into a nightmare when they learn that any additional school cancellations will have to be made up during upcoming scheduled days off such as teacher workdays, or, even worse, spring break.

To prepare for scenarios like this, St. Pius X held its first-ever Virtual Day on Monday, November 4.

For students, this meant doing schoolwork from the comfort of their own homes or favorite coffee shops while teachers spent the day on campus ready to help students or answer any questions.

Virtual Day assignments were posted on PowerSchool Learning and went live at 8 a.m. that Monday. Teachers had a lot of flexibility with the work they assigned, but they were instructed to plan something that would take the average student approximately 20 minutes to complete and that could be checked for completion. Assignments included watching brief videos and answering questions, posting on PowerSchool Learning discussion boards, or taking electronic quizzes.

Students could choose when to complete their work, but all assignments had to be turned in no later than 3 p.m. Those who didn’t turn in work received a zero for a grade and were also marked absent from that particular class.

The structure of the day allowed students the flexibility to work at their own pace and take breaks as often as they wanted. “I liked it a lot because I finished all my work by 10:00 am,” sophomore Emalyn Yantis said.

Senior Witt Hollensbe also enjoyed the day, and he took full advantage of being able to sleep in without waking up to an alarm before the sun was up. “I loved Virtual Day,” he said. “I woke up at 10 a.m., did my homework in a few hours, and then watched a whole season of Gossip Girl.”

Most teachers also enjoyed Virtual Day because it gave them time to catch up on a lot of work at school. “It was good. Students did what they were supposed to do, and I got a workday out of it,” theology teacher Mr. Charles Hicks said. Spanish teacher Mr. Michael Abbott agreed, saying, “My students learned the same amount [as they would in class], and I got a lot of stuff done.”

Students, faculty, and parents were sent a survey a few days after Virtual Day and the results were overwhelmingly positive. Some

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even commented that they’d like to see the school have it more regularly, even up to once a month.

Hollensbe said he would definitely support more Virtual Days in the future. “I think it has a lot of potential to eliminate the redundancies we have during the school day,” he explained. “When moving at my own pace, I was able to work pretty quickly and not waste time doing things like moving between classes, waiting for instructions, or spending 45 minutes on a lunch period.”

Despite the overall success of the day, not everything went according to plan. For some students who logged on to PowerSchool Learning early in the morning, they got the dreaded yet comical error screen featuring a cat tangled up in a ball of yarn with the message “Oops, we’re a bit tangled up. Kitten detangling units have been dispatched.”

The intermittent technical difficulties were somewhat frustrating for students and teachers, but the site was back up and running properly before lunchtime. Even without the temporary glitches, though, some students said they’d rather be at school. “I already can’t focus at school, let alone at home with all the distractions that come with it,” senior Paddy Gannon said.

“I just prefer to be taught in person so I can ask immediate questions and get immediate answers,” junior Rachel Grubbs said. “There’s just something about being in-person that I love about school.”

Journalism teacher Ms. Ashley Curlette said that although personal contact with students is better, Virtual Day is still a great alternative to use when needed. “I’d much rather have a virtual learning day than have to make up school days,” she said. “Obviously face-to-face teaching with students is ideal, but this is a great substitute. Most of us have gotten feedback from our students about the day and learned what worked well and what didn’t. I think the whole process will be easier and more effective for everyone the more we do it.”

A second Virtual Day is planned for Monday, March 16. Should a major weather event strike between now and then, however, and schools are closed for an extended period of time, we may see another Virtual Day sooner rather than later.

Faculty Feature

Getting to know...Mrs. Sara Schmitt

At St. Pius X, we believe that some of our greatest assets are our faculty and staff. These extraordinary people strive to give our students the best education possible so that they are able to achieve their greatest potential. We invite you to take a moment to learn more about the real people who keep our classrooms running. Today, we meet Mrs. Sara Schmitt.

Can you tell me a little about yourself?

I have always been a tomboy and just loved playing sports growing up. I wanted to challenge and beat all the boys all the time so naturally my mom enrolled me in every sport possible to keep me busy. In high school I decided I wanted to play soccer in college and ended up going to Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama.

There my love for the game and math grew, eventually leading me to St. Pius X to teach and coach. Now I live in Atlanta with the best husband ever and we enjoy Sunday walks around town, finding some local watering holes to watch sports, and being the social chairs at our condo pool.

What drew you to St. Pius X originally?

I was at a Christmas party and explained to some people why I wanted to be a math teacher. Then someone said, “Hey, come work for me.” That person happened to be Steve Spellman. He had overheard me talking about teaching math and coaching soccer and we set up an interview two weeks later. I came in and loved the environment and wanted to get back to Atlanta from Birmingham after college. Mr. Spellman and Coach Mark Kelly took a chance on a young 21 year old right out of college and I am so thankful that they did. I feel at home at St. Pius X, have met my husband here, had some of the best years teaching and coaching, and just love getting to see former students succeed in life!

Can you talk a little about what you teach?

For the last 12 years teaching math was a great place for me because I just love math! I mean who doesn’t? Well I found out that a lot of people don’t and that is why I decided to teach math. I wanted to bring some entertainment to a somewhat dry subject. I tried to fill the classroom with some funny stories, active ways of learning, and applying it to everyday life.

This year I have transitioned into the weight room to help encourage our female participation and I have loved trying to bring an active and healthy lifestyle to all students whether it is for their sport or future life! We can all benefit from being active!

What is your favorite part of teaching and your favorite thing to teach?

What do you enjoy the most?

My favorite part of teaching is the students of course! I just love getting to see students come in as freshmen and watch them develop spiritually, mentally, and physically over some of the most important years of their lives.

It is not always easy and kids test your patience but deep down they want to do right and succeed and I love trying to foster that as well as teach them to be independent learners and thinkers!

AT A GLANCE HOMETOWN: Lilburn, Georgia AKA Thrill-burn or L-town HIGH SCHOOL: Parkview High School COLLEGE/DEGREES: Played soccer and earned a Bachelors in Mathematics from Samford University. Then earned my Masters of Arts of Teaching from Mercer University.

CLASSES TAUGHT/EXTRACURRICULARS: For the past 12 school years I have been a part of the Math Department, teaching Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, and Statistics. This year I began in the PE department teaching the weight training classes. Currently coach soccer but spent six years as assistant coach for the girls cross country team.

FAMILY: I am the oldest of four. Two younger sisters, Jessica (31) and Megan (28) and a younger brother, Jared (23) FAVORITE BOOK / FAVORITE MOVIE: To Kill a Mockingbird / The Holiday FAVORITE QUOTE: “I think the challenge is to take difficult and painful times and turn them into something beneficial, something that makes you grow.” - Michelle Akers LITTLE KNOWN FACT ABOUT YOURSELF: I enjoy lettering in my free time. This is basically just writing different types of letters and words in cute ways....not quite Calligraphy but similar I guess HOBBIES: Spending time with my husband, lettering, Crossfit, eating Waffle House PERSON YOU’D MOST LIKE TO MEET: Michelle Akers FIRST JOB: I worked at a daycare after school called Lil People daycare and took care of three and four year olds.

FAVORITE ST. PIUS X MEMORY: There are too many great ones but I will never forget Dancing with the Teacher Stars in which I joined 6 other female colleagues and we danced to Single Ladies during halftime of a basketball game.

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Campus Ministry

News and Updates from Campus Ministry

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Catholic Heart Work Camp June 2019 was a new beginning for our Campus Ministry team as we started the summer joining forces with Catholic Heart Work Camp (CHWC) for a domestic mission in New Orleans, Louisiana. Fifteen students, rising sophomores to rising seniors, bused seven hours during the sweltering summer heat to enjoy a week of service and programming with the international service camp. Catholic Heart Work Camp started in 1993 in Miami, Florida and has grown to over 50 locations worldwide. The mission of CHWC is to provide a Catholic mission trip centered on Christ that gives young people an opportunity to serve “the least of these” (Matthew 25:40). Every morning, the campers joined together for Mass and breakfast, and packed vans for the day of work ahead. Most of our week in New Orleans was spent working in low-income schools, serving in food pantries, landscaping in local parks, and rebuilding homes in the Lower Ninth Ward. The evenings were spent with lively music and programming provided by CHWC with Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, Confession, and opportunities for prayer.

The 2019 theme of the camp was “Radiant,” focusing on how we can shine brightly the Light of Christ in a world that is desperate for His presence.

For some of our student missionaries, this was one of many mission trips they had participated in during their high school years. For others, this was a brand new experience. However, spending a week away from our beloved home state of Georgia, meeting

other high schoolers from across the country, and diving into a completely different culture was a tremendous gift for our entire team. There were games to be played, skits to be performed, dance parties to be had, and lots (I mean, lots) of coffee to be consumed. We ended the week of hard work by celebrating with a Creole dinner, beignets from Cafe Du Monde, a trip to the famous Audobon Zoo, and spending a few hours at a local trampoline park. We laughed as much as we worked, and it was a joy to make new friends and continue building strong relationships.

One of the most memorable nights of the week was the last evening together. Each team was able to invite the family or representative from each of the different apostolates or homes we worked with over the week. There was one woman named Leonie whose husband had passed away years before, and his one dream was to have their porch fixed after Hurricane Katrina.

Leonie was so moved by the Catholic Heart missionaries service to her family, especially since her husband’s goal was finally accomplished. One thing she said that still sticks with us was this, “God’s got you, baby! He takes care of our things.” It’s true, God really took care of us that week in New Orleans, and we are forever grateful for that experience. After last summer, we are gearing up to spend another summer with Catholic Heart Work Camp at a new location in Greenville, South Carolina. If you are interested in learning more, please visit heartworkcamp.com.

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

Scholarships Established at St. Pius X Honor Loved Ones Our most sincere thanks to those who have established scholarships in honor of their loved ones at St. Pius X. Student scholarships provide financial aid for students with a demonstrated need. All St. Pius X scholarships are awarded to qualified students by the scholarship committee based on the nomination of St. Pius X faculty (for current SPX students) and elementary school personnel (for incoming freshmen). These funds make all the difference for many of our students and we are grateful to those who share their generosity through scholarship giving. The following scholarships have been created this year.

Charles and Mildred Hart The Charles and Mildred Hart Scholarship Fund was established posthumously, based on their wishes as noted in their will. Charles and Mildred were the parents of St. Pius X Catholic High School alumni, Kathleen Hart Hanofee ’72 and James B. Hart ’75. They were also the grandparents of St. Pius X alumnus Charles Dixon Edwards ’12.

Del and Carol Homrich The Del and Carol Homrich Family Scholarship honors the faith of Del and Carol as expressed through their commitment to Atlanta’s Catholic community. Del served as St. Pius X Athletic Association Director from 1970-71, and Carol began working at Immaculate Heart of Mary in 1973 and retired in 2010. The fund was established by their children: Christine ’69, Patricia ’70, David ’71, Joan ’74, Janice ’76, Dan ’77, Mark ’80, and Tim ’84. This scholarship is awarded to students who demonstrate a commitment to serve others through community involvement and volunteer work, and preference is given to students from single-mother households. This scholarship is not yet fully endowed.

Jill Mulligan This fund was created by the family of Jill Mulligan as a legacy to her lifelong commitment to Catholic education and her deep love of St. Pius X Catholic High School and, in particular, St. Pius X Catholic High School’s band and arts programs. Elena Mulligan ’18 and Jackson Mulligan ’21 have both been involved in the St. Pius X Arts programs with Jackson having been involved since joining the St. Pius X Honor Band while in middle school. It is the family’s belief that this scholarship will help sustain the beauty and meaning that music and the arts bring to life at St. Pius X Catholic High School by providing scholarships to students in the band program.

Owen Stokes Laura and David Stokes began raising funds in 2013 with the desire to fully endow a scholarship fund in memory of their son Owen. One of five children in the Stokes family, Owen passed away suddenly two months before he was to begin kindergarten at Christ the King school. Owen had a passion for reading, sports and arts and crafts. Owen was known for his kindness and good manners, and was always ready to do the right thing. This scholarship is not yet fully endowed.

L-R: Hart, Homrich, Mulligan, Stokes.

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Under the Big Top Gala Raises Record Dollars For one magical night the St. Pius X gymnasiums were transformed into a circus-like atmosphere complete with a stilt walker, aerialists hanging from silks and hoops, and a crowd of 450 party goers. The biennial gala and auction, held on February 1, was a resounding success, grossing over $280,000 and bringing much needed funding for the school. The evening began with a special hour for gala sponsors, with Dumbo the elephant greeting attendees as they entered the school through a red silk tent. By 7 p.m. the remaining guests began arriving to bid on over 250 packages including vacation homes, jewelry, unique experiences, artwork, sports memorabilia and more. School Chaplain Father Rey Pineda led grace prior to the doors being opened to the game gym, where the dinner and dancing took place.

According to one attendee “[the game gym] was the best makeover of any gym I’ve ever seen. You’d never know our kids play sports in here!”

Draped in gold, red, and white silks and accented with white lights, the entire gym became the inside of a circus tent. Large silhouettes of circus performers adorned the walls and tables were set with miniature circus animals and colorful table settings. Circus-themed food choices included lobster corn dogs, kobe beef sliders and more, while a popcorn station, cotton candy and cupcakes on trapeze rings finished out the offerings. An exciting live auction ensued with seven fabulous items offered including dinner with tennis great Rafael Nadal, Notre Dame and Tennessee Titans football packages, special dinners with Father Rey, the Spellmans and more.

After viewing a student-produced video illustrating the need for new buses, attendees quickly got out their paddles and phones, donating $42,000 to purchase one bus. Knowing we needed a full $55,000 to complete the purchase, two generous families stepped in to make up the difference to reach the goal. The night came to a close with local band King Street packing the dance floor with their 80s dance tunes. Thanks to the generosity of the Pius community, two buses totaling $110,000 will be purchased for the school. In addition, at least $50,000 will be given for security improvements as part of the larger facility improvement plan, and $50,000 will be deposited in the school’s unrestricted endowment fund, which helps ensure the future stability of the school.

On behalf of the Pius community, we extend our heartfelt thanks and appreciation to gala co-chairs Molly Schlader, Elaine Dolt and Chris McMullan, and to the many volunteers who made this evening a success.

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1 STILT WALKER 2 AERIALISTS 450 ATTENDEES 2 BUSES PURCHASED ADDITIONAL FUNDS FOR BUS UPDATES $50,000 SECURITY UPDATES $50,000 UNRESTRICTED ENDOWMENT

Fairleigh

Tharpe

Fine Arts Department Continues to Impress Audiences at St. Pius X Students in the fine arts department have continued to wow audiences this year with their talents. Continue reading below for recent highlights from the various fine arts disciplines.

Band

The Marching Golden Lions will be representing St. Pius X, the Archdiocese of Atlanta, and the State of Georgia in the official 2020 Pearl Harbor Memorial Parade commemorating the 75th anniversary of the end of WWII. The Marching Golden Lions went #MarchingForMulligan as they sported their memorial bracelets during their final marching contest in November. Students, staff, and parents wore these to remember Jill Mulligan, mother of Jackson Mulligan ’21, who tragically passed away earlier this school year.

The St. Pius X Symphonic Band performed for the faculty and students at Margaret Harris Comprehensive School this past Halloween for their Fall Festival. Students dressed as colorful vegetables and performed the theme song from “Veggie Tales” as the students and staff of Margaret Harris presented smart and healthy food choices.

Chorus

The chorus program enjoyed a terrific Fall Concert! The group worked hard preparing for the Christmas Concert, held on December 7. The program featured all choruses, soloists, and the SPX Dance Company in the music of the holiday season.

Solsrud. Advanced Ensemble performed at Immaculate Heart of Mary and SPX Open House.

Ms. Millie Turek, Director of Choirs, conducted the Archdiocese Youth Choir Festival on November 9. The group is looking forward to a successful spring concert.

Dance

The Dance program welcomed two new choreographers to work with the SPX Dance Company, SPX Dance Team, and the Dance III classes this year.

Rachel Truitt is creating a beautiful contemporary piece for the SPX Dance Company which will be featured in the spring. Rachel studied dance at Kennesaw State University, Atlanta Ballet, Gotta Dance Atlanta, and Dance 411. From 2009-2011, Truitt was a member of Georgia Dance Theater, performing ballets including Coppelia, Peter Pan, Nutcracker and West Side Story, as well as choreographing contemporary works “Broken Dolls” and “Roads.” She was also a guest artist for Tisch (NYU) master program’s end of year showcase. Her commercial experience includes: featured performer for the Super Bowl XXXlV 2000 Halftime show produced by Disney; Falcons Halftime shows produced by the Georgia Lottery in

Congratulations to Daniel Buckley, who was selected for the 2020 GMEA All-State Reading Chorus. He was named one of the top 100 sight singers in the state!

2010, 2011 and 2012; a dancer for ESPN Commercials featuring Charles Barkley; featured dancer and assistant to the choreographer for Vampire Diaries in 2011; and head choreographer for the Vampire Diaries in 2012.

Calan Bryant has shared his range of choreographic talent by setting contemporary and modern pieces for the SPX Dance Company and Dance III classes and also setting a hip hop piece for the SPX Dance Team. Originally from New London, Connecticut, Bryant is trained in Ballet, Modern, Jazz, Hip Hop, Contemporary, Lyrical, and African. He has choreographed and taught for countless institutions including the Ella Fitzgerald Theater (Newport News, Virginia), RISPA (Alpharetta, Georgia), Triple 7 Dance Company (Snellville, Georgia), Hampton University (Hampton, Virginia), Old Dominion University (Norfolk, Virginia), Reaction Dance Company (New York, New York), Oasis Dance Company (Washington, D.C.), and Bad Boy Entertainment (New York, New York). He has worked with artists from multiple genres such as Andrew Donoho (VMA award-winning Director), Levi Little (from the Grammy awardwinning R&B group Blackstreet), and Erica Dixon (VH1’s Love & Hip Hop Atlanta). In addition to his dance career, he is also an actor and has appeared on Netflix’s Raising Dion, Greenleaf, FX ATLANTA, and Power.

Four Advanced Ensemble members auditioned for the 2020 GMEA AllState Chorus: Daniel Buckley, Sterling Hudson, Jamie Martin, and Tati

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Buckley

Truitt

Bryant

Drama

The drama program performed four fantastic shows of Clue - On Stage for audiences. William Warren ’10 offered a workshop for the directing class. Professional director and maker of horror films, Tony Larkin ’99, professional actor and nephew of Mr. Monk star Tony Shaloub, gave a seminar to the Directing Class.

Seniors Hailey Miller and Adam Schuh directed the Holocaust production of The Last Train in November. Pius Players will present the hit Rodgers and Hammerstein musical Oklahoma! March 5-8.

Reserve your tickets early as this will be the final show directed by our beloved Bonnie Spark prior to her retirement at the end of the academic year. Cast members from 1986 and 2007 casts will join students on stage.

Guitar

The intermediate guitar program has begun songwriting in their class. The advanced guitar ensemble performed for audiences at St. John Neumann.

They also performed at the University of North Georgia, which featured the world premiere of Dr. Phil Snyder’s “Fluorescence” at the Kennesaw State Jazz Performance and at Open House. The group performed with guest artists DNT Guitar Trio, Dr. Phil Snyder and Professor Wright.

Music Technology

Music Tech I students are working on audio engineering projects where they create a radio commercial from scratch for any product or service (real or imaginary) that they like.

These students are only just getting their feet wet in the wide world of Music Technology, and by the end of the semester the goal is for each student to have a working knowledge

of the digital and analog tools used in the audio engineering trade. The semester will culminate with their first electronic music composition!

A Special Message from the Director...

In January, the St. Pius X Fine Arts Department began offering Music Technology II. In Music Tech II, the primary focus is music production and live sound engineering. These advanced students will be learning the industry standard program for live performance and production - Ableton Live. Students will also learn how to use various hardware peripherals and MIDI controllers that interface with Ableton Live to help streamline the creative process.

By the end of the semester, these students will have a foundational understanding of electronic music production, and they will be prepared for further study at the college level or even a starting position in the field.

Howdy, Partners!

Were you a Pius Player from 1982 on? Were you on the ranch in our 1986 or 2007 production of Oklahoma? Then Saturday, March 7 is your chance to return to a special hoedown! We are planning for you to appear on stage after the show to sing a little song, take a photo with Bonnie (me!) and Monsignor Terry Young, and then celebrate together at a joyous reception. Please contact your fellow castmates and let Director of Alumni Karoline Brennan know if you are coming. Please spread the word!

Visual Arts

Congratulations to Elizabeth Fairleigh `19 for winning the student scholarship at Encounter 2019, an exhibition held at Ignatius House Retreat Center in Roswell. Participating sophomore artists Kate Richardson (recognized as a finalist) and Claire Tharpe both entered icons to be judged. St. Pius X faculty members, Corinna Brannon and Jason Eaglen, participated in the show as well.

Top left, Elizabeth Fairleigh is shown alongside her winning piece, “Crown of Thorns.” Pictured with her is Mr. Nardelli, the sponsor of the student scholarship and former CEO of General Electric and Chrysler Motors.

Claire Tharpe `22 is pictured in front of her icon of Jesus Christ.

Our theatre program has created wonderful memories for so many of you (and me). How could we possibly forget those fabulous experiences? Wow! In this production, we are proud to celebrate three legacies: James Martin ’82 and his daughter Jamie ’20, Alex Catroppa Azzarello ’95 (who performed in the first production of Oklahoma!) and her son Brennan, who is currently in the seventh grade at St. Thomas More, and Maria Hernandez Miller ’87 and daughters Hailey ’20 and Ash ’09. What could be more amazing than to see our program represented through all these years? James has also appeared in Grease, the 60th Anniversary Review, and Newsies. I am truly a very proud mentor.

Remember to join SPAS, our Arts Society and continue to support our theatre department. And never forget Monsignor Young’s vision for us to have a working and successful fine arts department! We made his (and my) dream come true.

I can hardly wait to see you all at the ranch! God bless.

Theatrically, Bonnie bspark@spx.org Please note! Oklahoma! will be Bonnie Spark’s final performance prior to her retirement at the end of this academic year. Let’s pack the theater and send her off well!

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Athletics News

Golden Lions stats, scores, and news

Fall Sports Wrap-Up and a Look Ahead St. Pius X enjoyed another fall of post-season play. For the first time in five years every sport advanced to post-season play, accumulating two state championships, a state runner-up finish, a school-record tying state competition and two additional playoff appearances.

Boys’ cross country won its second consecutive state championship, eighth since 2010 and 11th overall by recording a 57-point win over second-place Denmark.

Chad DeWitt paced the Golden Lions with a third-place finish overall. Patrick McDonald finished ninth and Ryan Boyle placed 11th in the race. Andrew Ryan ran in 12th place and Logan Wiley rounded out the top five St. Pius X harriers with a 14th-place finish. All five runners were selected to the All-State Cross Country team, and Ryan McClay was named state Coach of the Year.

bid to post back-to-back state championships fell short in a 3-1 loss to Blessed Trinity. The Golden Lions (45-5) fell 21-25, 24-26, 25-15, 25-27 to the Lady Titans in a rematch of the 2013 championship contest won by St. Pius X. The two teams have met in the finals three times since 2012. Ava Pitchford eclipsed the 1,500 assist mark during the season and Emma Farrell crossed the 1,000 digs plateau during the campaign.

Among the many honors the team received this season, Farrell was selected as State CoPlayer of the Year for AAAA. Joining her on Girls’ cross country won its fourth state crown the All-State team were Maggie McCurdy in school history and with the win snapped and Pitchford. Farrell also garnered Region an 11-year win streak by Marist. Morgan Player of the Year with Annemarie Rakoski, Vaden finished fourth, while Catherine Lura Underwood, McCurdy and Pitchford Breault placed fifth. Mary Brady ran in voted to the All-Region team. seventh place with Hannah Schemmel in 12th and Grace Von Biberstein in 18th Football reached the state playoffs for the to complete the top five runners. Brady, 14th consecutive year and 17th in the last Breault, Schemmel, and Vaden were All-State 19 seasons. The Golden Lions finished the selections and first-year head coach Mary Pat year 6-6 advancing to the second round.

Martin received the state Coach of the Year First team All-Region selections included award. Both McClay and Martin became the Nick Joiner, John McKimmy, Joseph Miller, first coaches honored from the same school Lawson Schultz, Walker Stevens, and Casey in the same season by the United States Track Ver Meulen. R.J. Brewster, Ryan Kirschner, and Field and Cross Country Jadon Rogers, Austin Taylor, Cameron Coaches Association.

Wingo, and Camden Wooden were all voted second-team All-Region by the region Volleyball advanced coaches. Miller and Joiner were selected to the state title to the All-Metro team in addition to the game but its region honors.

Competition Cheer won its third straight region title. The ladies placed seventh in the state championship meet,

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which ties for the highest mark in school history. This marks the sixth season in a row that the cheer team made the final day of the state championship. The team placed seventh on the all-region team. Seniors Sean Taylor, Camile Jackson, Logan Sarajian and Ansley Petersen were joined by juniors Charlotte Hodge, Maggie Maloof, and sophomore Lea Costas.

Softball advanced to the state playoffs for the first time since 2015. Junior Lindsey Broadway was named First-Team All-Region at shortstop hitting .407 with six triples, one home run, 11 runs batted in and 14 stolen bases. Senior Josie Lord led all batters with a .579 average and 16 runs batted in and recorded nine wins while being selected to the All-Region Second Team, along with sophomore Lola Frankowski and senior Ellie Taube.

Boys’ basketball finished the regular season 18-7 and claimed the top seed in the region tournament. The Golden Lions have been led by the sharp shooting of Brookes Kahlert and Cal Petersen. Eamonn Kenah and Daniel Beverly have also contributed with multiple double digit scoring nights. The cagers have qualified for the state tournament for the ninth season in a row, and will look to make another deep run in the tourney. St. Pius X knocked off Marist for the ninth straight time and took a second place finish in the Christmas Classic.

Girls’ basketball also qualified for the state tournament, finishing 18-7 in the regular season. Senior Wylie Sheridan led the team in scoring, while sophomore Kate McBride leads the team in rebounding. The Golden

Lions finished as Christmas Classic runnersup and defeated Blessed Trinity for the 19th consecutive time. This return to the state tournament marks the 10th straight season, and 19th appearance in 21 years.

Wrestling finished fourth at the region traditional tournament. Will Pentecost took the region crown in the 132-lb weight class. Earlier in the day, Pentecost won his 100th career match. Joel Chatfield and Vincent Thomas also took individual region titles. Zani Patasin placed second in his weight class and Ryan law finished third.

The Golden Lions had three wrestlers finish third including Brett Baker, Connor Sharp and Andrew Soha. The grapplers will head to the state sectionals and championships in early February. The team placed fourth in the region duals tournament in early January.

The Swim and Dive team opened its season with impressive wins over Marist, Greater Atlanta Christian, North Atlanta, Lovett, and Riverwood. At GAC, Tyler Feild took first place in the 200 and 500-yard freestyle and also helped take first place in the girls’ 200 and 400 relays. Joining her on the 200 relay was Anna Maloof, Kathleen O’Shea and Sydney Reynolds, while Ashley Elder, Samantha Feild, and Morgan Jenny made up the 400 relay. Jenny posted a win in the 100 breaststroke and Elder took first in the 100 butterfly. Julia Herring set a GAC pool record with a 271.5 score in the one-meter dive. The boys’ squad was led by Noah Daniels first place in the 100 butterfly and 200 individual medleys. Daniels also swam on the 200 medley relay team that took first place along with Tucker Bush, Max Craciun and Ian O’Hara. O’Hara also placed first in

the 500 freestyle and Bush finished first in the 100 freestyle. Thomas Miles won the 200 freestyle event. In addition to the pool record, Herring also set a new school record in the one-meter dive versus Lovett.*

*As of press time, February 2020.

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Mothers’ Club Serves Local Community through Partnership By: Rhonda Ficco and Cheri Montello “Volunteers do not necessarily have the time; they just have the heart.”

- Elizabeth Andrew The Mothers’ Club motto is meeting in friendship, sharing in faith and working in service together for the good of our community. Our service is focused on our surrounding community and we are guided by our Christian values to serve others. For many years, the Mothers’ Club - Dresden Partnership has been active. Throughout the year, we help support the teachers, students, and families of the Dresden Elementary community.

In the spring and fall, we treat the devoted staff at Dresden to a coffee breakfast and a luncheon, with all donations for these events coming from our generous Mothers’ Club members.

The faculty and staff at Dresden Elementary are so appreciative of the simple acts of kindness that we show them each year.

In March, we begin our school-wide Dresden School Supply drive. This event helps the teachers at Dresden from having to personally buy school supplies for their students. It provides students with basic supplies needed to help with their education.

In the fall we participate in the Beautification Day as part of the Dresden Elementary Service Project. This event allows our

Please Join Us! Mothers’ Prayer Group The Mothers’ Prayer Group meets monthly at 8:30 a.m. in the Chapel to provide prayer support for the intentions of our students.

All are welcome to attend! Upcoming meetings will be held February 19, March 18, April 15, and May 6.

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students at St. Pius X and our Mothers’ Club members to help with maintenance projects and improvements in and around the school.

Our most rewarding event of the year is the Dresden Christmas Project. Between the Mothers’ Club members and our entire St. Pius X school community, we are able to provide support to many families at Christmas time. Our goal is for each child to receive school uniforms, winter coat, warm accessories, pajamas, and some toys, as well as a gift card for groceries for the family. In conjunction with that, we also give a blanket that was made by St. Pius X students and Mothers’ Club members in the fall. These Dresden families are so grateful and appreciative of not only these gifts but the act of giving as well. It opens ones eyes to the true meaning of the season.

The Mothers’ Club, believes strongly in our motto, “We serve our Faith, Faculty, Community and our Spirits.”

Home & School Association

Home and School Association Serves the St. Pius X Community

St. Pius X

By: Brian Mulligan

A school, particularly a Catholic school, has many elements. St. Pius X Catholic High School has developed a well-deserved reputation for offering an outstanding educational experience, dedicated to the development of the mind, body, and spirit, within the context of the teachings of the Catholic Church.

Of course, that mission begins in our classrooms but there are also several other events, activities, and programs that serve to supplement and enhance the educational experience while building the greater St. Pius X community.

The St. Pius X Home and School Association provides a vehicle for communication and community building between parents and the administration, faculty, and staff.

The group also promotes and maintains parental and student involvement at various school events as well as sponsoring events that promote the mission and vision of the school.

The Home and School Association year begins with a couple of significant events, including Camp Golden Lion and the New Parent Mass and Dinner. These events welcome new students and their families to the St. Pius X community on the eve of the school year.

Not long after Camp Golden Lion, students are treated to another Home and School sponsored event, the annual Field Day, as students from all grades join in unique games and events that create special bonding opportunities.

Beyond events and programs built to create community, the Home and School Association also works on several programs that provide service opportunities to our students and the greater St. Pius X community.

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Save the Date!

Spring Blood Drive

Home & School is proud to sponsor the blood drives at St. Pius X! Please mark your calendars for the Spring Blood Drive on March 26, 2020.

One of the most successful of these programs is the blood drive, held in both the fall and spring. The American Red Cross recognized St. Pius X Catholic High School as one of their leading contributors last year. This past October the blood drive generated over 156 units of blood resulting in the potential to save 460 lives!

Service, faith and education are also hallmarks of Home and School Association programs including assemblies and the Career Day event which bring relevant information to students and parents on spiritual, academic, and other matters of interest and relevance to the St. Pius X Catholic High School community.

“The community of St Pius X Catholic High School is more than just a school community. It is a community of faith, service, and education,” said Martin Planas, current co-president of the Home and School Association. “Our programs are intended to support the mission and vision of the school, focusing on building strong character, deep faith and a commitment to serve others.”

The strength of St. Pius X is reflected in the continued role the school, our community and graduates play in embodying the call to live beyond ourselves in service to others. The Home and School Association seeks to assist and amplify that mission by serving as a vehicle to facilitate communication and coordination for all elements of our community.

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SPX Basketball Program Hosts 19th Annual Christmas Classic While most students and parents celebrated an extended Christmas during the holiday break, the St. Pius X boys’ and girls’ varsity basketball teams took to the court in the 19th Annual St. Pius X Christmas Classic, December 27-30. The event, which is widely known as one of the premier Catholic School tournaments in the nation, featured seven boys’ and eight girls’ basketball teams from five states and the District of Columbia. Canisius (NY) and Father Ryan (TN) were the champions of the boys’ and girls’ divisions, respectively. Both Golden Lions teams finished as runners-up.

The first day of the tournament featured seven games on the slate. The boys’ team received a bye into the semi-finals as a last-minute cancellation re-shuffled the boys’ bracket. The Golden Lions girls’ advanced to the championship game with wins over St. Joseph’s (SC) and Athens Academy and the boys advanced to the title game with an overtime win over Charlotte Latin (NC) in the semifinals. Fr. Ryan knocked off the ladies for their third total Classic championship and the boys’ dropped the title game to Canisius. Wylie Sheridan and Kelly Stephenson were named to the All-Tournament team for the ladies division, while Daniel Beverly and Devin Portee garnered AllTournament honors for the boys.

On Sunday, the tournament featured Mass, the tournament banquet and the tournament dance. Many teams used the afternoon to sight-see in Atlanta. While some traveled downtown to the College Football Hall of Fame or World of Coca-Cola, others attended college games at Emory and Oglethorpe.

The girls’ bracket included Archbishop Carroll (DC), Athens Academy (GA), Cardinal Gibbons (NC), Charlotte Catholic (NC), Father Ryan (TN), Our Lady of Mercy (GA), St. Joseph’s (GA) and St. Pius X. On the boys’ side, the hosts were joined by Archbishop Rummel (LA), Canisius (NY), Cardinal Gibbons (NC), Charlotte Catholic (NC), Charlotte Latin (NC), St. Joseph’s (SC), and St. Pius X.

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BBB Photography / Liddell Photos

Sophomore Studies with Upperclassmen in AP Calculus Written by Golden Lines Staff Writer: Anna Buyarski ’20 When looking around Ms. Bowman’s 6th period AP Calculus AB class, one student may seem out of place. Unlike the rest of her class, she’s not allowed to wear a sweatshirt, has never experienced prom, and isn’t even old enough to drive a car. Since most plan to take the course their senior year or even in college, sophomore Katie Graebner is certainly not your average calculus student.

For starters, Graebner doesn’t have a conventional schooling background. Before attending St. Pius X, she was homeschooled for nearly all of elementary and middle school. ’’My favorite thing about being homeschooled is that I could move at my own pace and that I could sort of sleep in. I didn’t have to wake up really early every morning,” she said. “I also liked how there wasn’t any homework, and it wasn’t as stressful either because we didn’t have official grades.”

With more freedom in her schedule, Graebner was able to focus on her strengths. She continues to excel in all of her subjects, but her passion lies with math and science. “Math has probably always been one of my best subjects. It just makes sense to me. I really like math and science. I don’t know which one I like better,” she said.

“I don’t know if I necessarily think that it’s quite as incredible as the rest of the school seems to think because to me, it’s just a class that’s at my level.”

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She also credited her parents for instilling a love of math from an early age. Her dad graduated from MIT and is a computer engineer, and her mom used to work in finance. “They’re definitely math people,” she explained. “If I have any questions [with my math homework] I can go to them because they know how to do it, although they may be a little more rusty. But, they understand it.”

Since Graebner took geometry in eighth grade, she was already taking Algebra II Trigonometry Honors, the most advanced sophomore math class, as a freshman. Because of her outstanding performance, she skipped Honors Analysis, the most advanced junior math class, and went straight into calculus.

While taking an advanced placement calculus class at only 15-years-old is unimaginable for most students, the material is at the perfect level for Graebner. Next year she plans on taking AP Calculus BC followed by AP Statistics her senior year.

Although she is two years younger than all of her classmates, Graebner enjoys the perks that accompany taking a class with all seniors. “The best part is getting to meet a ton of new people whom I would have never met otherwise,” she said. “The first week was a little intimidating because everyone knew each other. Even Ms. Bowman [knew all of the students.]”

Graebner said that at first, no one really seemed to even realize that she was the only student who wasn’t a senior. “I don’t know how fast they noticed, but no one said anything about it for the first few weeks,” she explained. Then one day, “they were like, ’You’re a sophomore, right?’ because they were talking about a class or something. They almost seemed less surprised than my friends did.”

Graebner started making a name for herself around school once word began to spread that a sophomore was taking an AP math class. “People talk to me about math a lot. Like, people will come up to me a be like, ’You’re the sophomore in calculus?’ or I’ll be talking about calculus and they’ll be like, ’You’re that person?’” she said with a laugh. “It’s a little bit surprising that people care so much about which math class I’m taking. I don’t know if I necessarily think that it’s quite as incredible as the rest of the school seems to think because to me, it’s just a class that’s at my level.”

Due to her proficiency in calculus, Graebner hopes to attend the Governor’s Honors Program for mathematics at Berry College over the summer. Just like most high school sophomores, though, she’s still unsure about her future career.

“I haven’t thought about it a lot, and what I have thought about hasn’t been super serious, but I think it would be cool to pursue something related to STEM [science, technology, engineering, and math] and then find a job related to that,” she explained.

With a quiet and humble sweetness that’s as noteworthy as her math skills, the seniors in Ms. Bowman’s sixth period AP Calculus AB class are proud to call Katie Graebner a classmate and friend.

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St. Pius X News Donna Owens Named Archbishop’s Honoree of the Year Congratulations to Nurse Donna Owens for being honored at the 13th annual NCEA sponsored Education Banquet. Owens was recognized alongside honorees from each of the 18 archdiocesan and six independent schools. She has been serving as school nurse at St. Pius X for the past 14 years.

Owens handles a myriad of medical issues, with responsibility for the health and wellbeing of 1,100 students and 147 faculty and staff members. Owens organized the school’s First Responders Club, a group that manages emergency situations and teaches hands-only CPR to students. Annually, she organizes the flu shot clinic and the Mammogram Mobile Unit visits. We are so grateful for Donna Owens!

RoboLions Membership Continues Upward Trajectory

The RoboLions, the St. Pius X Robotics Club, started in the fall of 2015 with nine students and just one competition. The club has grown to 15 this year and the members will be competing at a total of five competitions through January as well as at the State Championship in February. If they qualify, the club hopes to compete in the World Championship this year, too. The team practices Monday through Thursday for three hours, and two hours on Fridays.

For competitions, the club enters three robots, with five students working on each robot. In the first three competitions, two of these robots have placed in the top ten after the qualification matches. Following

teams where they can represent the US in international competition. It is intended that future members of the US Olympic team may be identified through this process. the elimination rounds, the RoboLions had a robot go all the way to the quarter finals, just one victory short of winning and qualifying for State! The team continues to be supported financially with grants from Clipper Petroleum and its foundation.

RoboLions members are a mix of all grade levels and both female and male. The club provides a great opportunity for students seeking a STEM experience.

Water Polo Student-Athletes Particpate in Olympic Development Program

St. Pius X students, sophomore Ayden Hess and freshmen Cooper Howard and Jameson Chatfield, have been selected by USA Water Polo as Southeast Zone team members for the Olympic Development Program (ODP).

The ODP program is intended to identify athletes with the ability to be considered for selection to various national age group

Grandparents’ Day

On Friday, November 1, 2019 Pius welcomed grandparents for the second annual St. Pius X Grandparents’ Day. The school hosted over 250 grandparents on campus for this special day. The event commenced with Chaplain Father Rey Pineda celebrating Mass for All Saints Day for students and

Grandparents Day

Owens

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These athletes, identified in a competitive selection camp, were some of the best players in their age group from athletes around the Southeast. They competed in a tournament in Greenboro, NC in January, with the goal of selection to the Zone team for the national ODP tournament in California in February where they will compete against teams from other zones around the country. This is the second time Ayden Hess has been selected to compete in this event It is an honor for each of these athletes to be selected. It is a testimony to their hard work and dedication to the sport and their St. Pius X team.

RoboLions

grandparents. Following Mass, a light sit down brunch was served as the percussion class entertained the audience. To conclude the day, grandparents were offered tours of the school, led by members of the faculty.

The day was a great success and everyone enjoyed having our grandparent visitors on campus!

World Languages

AP Biology Class Gains Real-Life Experience in Georgia Mountains

Seniors Visit U.S. Capital

Every year, the AP Biology classes take a weekend-long field trip to the North Georgia Mountains. The purpose of the trip is to experience field work in biology. Students gather water samples and macroinvertebrates from both a pond and a creek. These samples are brought back to a make-shift lab where chemical tests are conducted on the water samples, and the invertebrates are analyzed to determine the species and abundance. After this initial analysis, the data is used later in the year when studying the ecology unit. Aside from lab work, students prepare and eat meals together, go on hikes, explore the farm where they stay, and attend Mass in Cleveland, Georgia. It is the hope of the faculty that this is truly a trip that helps in forming the mind, body and spirit of each student who participates.

In October, World Languages faculty members took 36 juniors to Georgia State University’s World Language Day. Students heard testimony from panelists on the importance of language in the 21st century job market, met industry leaders, and enjoyed cultural performances.

In November, 37 seniors in Mr. Dennis Ruggiero’s Genocide and the Holocaust class traveled to our nation’s capital to tour the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.

The popular class is a seniors only elective.

Each year, the group visits a number of monuments, including the Washington Monument, World War II Memorial, Martin Luther King Junior Memorial, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, and Korean War Veterans Memorial. The group visits the Capitol Building and the Library of Congress as well as the Smithsonian. They also take time to view the Shrine at Catholic University. In addition, they spend time at Arlington National Cemetary and are able to watch the Changing of the Guard.

Water Polo

Students Attend March for Life

Twenty-seven of our Golden Lions traveled on pilgrimage to our nation’s capital to participate in the 47th National March for Life. St. Pius X was among the 215,000 demonstrators who stood in solidarity with the unborn, praying for the recognition of the sanctity of every human life from conception until natural death.

Science Department Develops New Elective

In August 2020, the science department will offer Environmental Science for juniors and seniors. It will join elective options: Anatomy and Physiology; Forensics; Oceanography; AP Biology; and AP Chemistry. The CPA class will be an interdisciplinary, laboratory, and field research-based course that will introduce students to the complex interface and impacts of human activity on Earth’s ecosystems at local and global scales. Students will investigate topics such as biodiversity, population dynamics, sustainability, and environmental economics within a framework that also deeply examines the social and ethical implications of human impacts on the environment.

Environmental science is an upper-level physical science elective.

March for Life

Genocide and Holocaust Class

AP Biology Class

World Languages

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Alumni News Pius Community Celebrates Homecoming Reunion Weekend 2019 Homecoming at St. Pius X is a time when alumni return to their alma mater to reconnect and reminisce about their time at Pi-Hi. Homecoming 2019 was no different, with 12 reunions celebrated and a weekend full of activities.

Homecoming-Reunion Weekend kicked off on Friday, September 27, 2019 under the lights at George B. Maloof Stadium. In spite of the heat, alumni and families gathered to enjoy the pre-game BBQ catered by PigN-Chik and a 23-6 win against Loganville High School. The half-time festivities included the recognition of St. Pius X club representatives and crowning of the 2019 Homecoming Queen and King Natalie Gresham and Rafa Celedon.

The spirit of service and giving back was felt Saturday morning when more than 80 alumni, students and parents showed up to the annual Alumni Service Project held in the St. Pius X cafeteria. The fourth annual Sandwich Build for Crossroads Community Ministries* was a huge success with over 1,200 sandwiches made for Clyde’s Kitchen in downtown Atlanta.

Saturday evening brought class reunion celebrations scattered across the metro Atlanta area. Class years ending in four and nine partied the night away at locations including Manuels Tavern, The Corner Pub in Decatur, the Brittany Club, Secreto in Brookhaven, hosted house parties and more! Members of the class of 1959, the first graduating class of St. Pius X, gathered for happy hour and dinner at the Downwind in Chamblee. To include as many classmates as possible, the class of 2014 chose to celebrate their five year reunion on December 21, 2019 at Manuel’s Tavern.

Homecoming King and Queen

The weekend culminated with the celebration of Homecoming Mass in the Young Center for the 1959

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Mass and Brunch

Priests at Mass

Performing Arts. Monsignor Richard Lopez, Father Rey Pineda, and Father Joseph Van House `99 led our faith community in prayer and thanksgiving for our amazing school.

Before Mass, student ambassadors gave tours and shared the changes that have been made over the last 61 years. Following Mass, brunch was served to the more than 250 attending the weekend’s finale events.

Mass and Brunch

Service Projects

*Crossroads Community Ministries is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization that provides a variety of services to help empower the homeless along the road to self-sufficiency.

Save the date for the 2020 Homecoming - Reunion Weekend: September 25-27, 2020

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Davidson Joyce Family

Crossroads

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Trivia Night at St. Pius X Alumni, parents, parents of alumni, faculty, staff, and friends of St. Pius X came out in full force Saturday, January 11, 2020, for the 12th annual Trivia Night at St. Pius X. In spite of the stormy conditions, more than 530 gathered for the fan-favorite event held in the Mark Kelly Gymnasium.

For the past 11 years, St. Pius X alumnus Michael Trujillo `01 has been gracing the fundraiser with his wit, challenging questions and ability to transform into characters such as Pee-Wee Herman, Elton John, Pope Francis, and Michael Jackson, to name a few.

This year, Trujillo, a.k.a. Harry Potter, took the fundraiser over the top raising $4,000 within minutes as four lucky recipients bid on lunch and breakfast, respectively, with Mr. Steve Spellman and Monsignor Richard Lopez.

From its inception in 2008, Trivia Night has grown from the St. Pius X cafeteria with fewer than ten teams to 54 teams, filling the gym to capacity. Former St. Pius X Alumni Director Vicky Dorsey `81, recalled, “When the Alumni Board members first suggested a Trivia Night, I told them to run with it. Their enthusiasm, combined with great support from alumni, faculty and staff, and parents ensured the success of future endeavors. It is so wonderful to see this event continue to be nurtured by current alumni board members. Trivia Night at St. Pius X has surpassed our wildest expectations!”

To add to the excitement of the event, Zoo Atlanta CEO and St. Pius X alum Raymond King `83, donated a “Lion Experience” which was raffled off and won by Lawrence Bridges `72. Trivia Night 2020 raised more than $15,000 for the St. Pius X Alumni Scholarship Fund. Long-time Trivia Night attendees Fred Nort `66 and Chris Homrich Nort `69 said it best, “Win or lose, Pius Trivia Night is one of our favorite events and the best way to begin the New Year. Wining, dining, reuniting with alums, and all the while attempting to get the correct answers! It is always great entertainment and a fun evening.”

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St. Pius X Supports Totes to Tots for Fifth Year An estimated 14,000 foster children live in Georgia. For them, life often consists of moving from home to home. Many of them don’t even have a suitcase or bag in which they can pack their belongings.

On January 17, 2020, St. Pius X partnered with Totes to Tots, an annual drive to collect backpacks, suitcases, and duffel bags for foster children in Georgia. For the fifth year in a row, St. Pius X, along with Our Lady of Assumption School, participated in this service project sponsored by Georgia Cancer Specialists. The drive, which is traditionally held the Friday before MLK Day, is a fitting way to honor the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. Making this year’s event extra special were Master of Ceremonies Monica Kaufmann Pearson and First Lady of Georgia Marty Kemp. St. Pius X and OLA School were recognized for their on-going support and participation.

The two schools, along with Holy Cross Catholic Church, collected more than 300 bags to contribute to Totes to Tots on behalf of the Georgia Division of Family and Children Services. Representing St. Pius X were senior class leaders Caroline Oliver, Caroline Hollensbe, Matthew Gregg, Henry Guynn, Mary O’Brien Beyer `82 and Karoline Rumps Brennan `82.

“

“Not everybody can be famous but everybody can be great because greatness is determined by service…

You only need a heart full of grace and a soul generated by love.”

- Martin Luther King, Jr

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Yeoman Senior Chief Robert O. Davidson III, Administrative Leading Chief Petty Officer Senior Chief Robert “Robbie” Davidson `89 joined the Navy in November, 1993. He retired in November, 2019 after 26 years of service to our country.

As a member of operational commands, he completed deployments in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM and Operation ENDURING FREEDOM, deploying directly to Iraq twice. He has also provided expert leadership at staff and support commands from San Diego, CA to Washington, DC. He is qualified as a Navy rescue swimmer and is authorized to wear the Bronze Star Medal along with other personal, unit, service and campaign decorations.

Rob is married to Sheilah Joyce Davidson ’90. They have a son, Nolan and a daughter, Patricia. During his time at St. Pius X, he was involved in student government and lettered in both soccer and basketball.

In his words, “What made Pius so special to me was that it became a place that I could be with friends, learn, and grow. There was always so much going on. While at Pius, I thought all schools were the same, it was only later on that I realized how special it was. It truly set the tone for my success later in life.

When thinking back about a favorite teacher, it is hard to pinpoint just one. I wasn’t always the most focused student and needed to be influenced in different ways. The teachers I remember most were Father Lopez, who helped me see my faith as more than just an hour on Sundays, Davidson and Family Father Kenny and Father Terry, who projected discipline through peace and the occasional demerit, and Mr. Grodd who encouraged me not to take myself or my putting game too seriously. Sister Mim who taught keyboarding before it was cool and Coach Scirroco who showed me that you could Thank you for your service! find the will to win if you are looking for it, even in M&Ms. I remember Coach Byrd, who showed me that a good offensive We are so proud of our alumni and members of the St. Pius begins with a good defensive, and finally, I learned a lot from X community who have served and are currently serving our my classmates every day as we challenged each other and country. To honor and thank them, we began collecting names worked to become the best version of ourselves.” of these brave men and women. The St. Pius X Alumni office would like to hear from you. Please help us grow this list and continue to share your information at alumni@spx.org.

Shortal Speaks to Students at Assembly We were honored to have Brigadier General Denis L. Shortal speak to the students at the Annual Veteran’s Day assembly on Friday, November 7, 2019. General Shortal is the father of St. Pius X alumni Brian `88, Matt `90, and Andrew `02.

Brigadier General Denis L. Shortal retired from the Marine Corps November 1, 1994.

His last assignment was as the Commanding General, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, Camp Lejeune, N.C. In his civilian career he was a Commercial Pilot for Northwest Airlines from which he retired on February 1, 2007. He retired as the Mayor of the City of Dunwoody in December, 2019.

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Bud Duncan `69 Gary Durst `79 Tom Fannon `76 George Ronald Fannon `63

Tom Fannon `76 James Nick Hall `65 David Hammond `65 William (Robby) Jackson `13 John Jackson `11 Robert Jones `83 Brennan Jones `16 Frances Kassinger `68 Christopher Koc `88 Diane Komodowski `70 Sonyong Lee `97 Brooks Montgomery `72 Patrick Murphy `67 Charles Shikany `08 Paul Standard `80 Kerry Stewart `69 Terry Trotochaud `64 Bill Waidelich `62 John White `06

LTC Marine Corps SSgt Air Force P03 Navy SFC-E7 Georgia Army National Guard E4 Navy Sgt Marine Corps SSgt Air Force 1 LT Army CPT Air Force 1 LT Army SPC Army, 82nd Airborne MAJ Air Force Colonel Army LT COL Air Force SFC Army, Army Reserves LT Navy MSGT Marine Corps SGT Army 1 LT Army SN Navy SPC 5 Army 1 LT Army LT Navy

A Hero Among Us

By Karoline Rumps Brennan `82, Director of Alumni Relations A hero is a person who is admired or idealized for courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities. Each week, Monsignor Richard Lopez eloquently puts pen to paper (or hands to keyboard) writing about his Hero of the Week. The weekly posts to his Facebook page reach far and wide to thousands of fans of our beloved priest.

her orphan children. I hope many Pius alumni can reach out to both Catholic Near East Welfare Association and Aid to the Church in Need and help our fellow Christians suffering so much for the faith.”

He writes of saints, lay people, martyrs, and more from times gone by to the present. His messages never fail to resonate and leave you feeling so blessed to know him and have him in your life.

One of the causes that is near and dear to his heart is helping raise awareness about the plight of Christians in the Middle East. Catholic Near East Welfare Association (CNEWA) and Aid to the Church in Need are two organizations that attempt to be the voice for Christians suffering persecution and other difficulties.

Through Monsignor’s efforts, CNEWA has raised more than $40,000 to help their partners in places such as Iraq where the Dominican Sisters of St. Catherine of Siena, beloved by Msgr. Lopez, have stood by the people, offering education and hope.*

In October, Monsignor Lopez was honored to be recognized along with Pius alumni for supporting Catholic Near East Welfare Association. Monsignor Lopez said, “However the real hero of the moment was Sister Lettemarian Mogos, a Daughter of Charity, who works with orphans in Eritrea.

Eritrea is facing some terrible problems and the government has recently shut down Catholic medical centers, leaving thousands without help.

Sister Lettemarian was modest, humble and gentle in her remarks. All I could think of was my great aunt who was also a Daughter of Charity who died young taking care of orphans as I listened to her compelling and gentle appeal for help for

*Credit to CNEWA interview 90 Years, 90 Heroes

Monsignor Lopez, you are our hero of the week, year and more! You can follow Monsignor Richard Lopez on Facebook and learn more about CNEWA at cnewa.org.

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Lion Lines 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!

Karen Nelson McCarthy `61, after retirement from practicing law in Memphis, TN for 25 years, has just published her book “Murder at the Candlelight Vigil,” a mystery that takes place during Elvis Week in Memphis. The murder occurs at the famous candlelight vigil at Graceland which draws thousands of fans from all over the world. Karen’s first breakout into print was as a senior at St. Pius X when her poem was selected for a national anthology of student poetry. She went on to write newspaper articles and other poetry. This is her first full length novel.

McCarthy

Schmitt-Stone

Egan O’Shea Spellman was born November 21, 2019, joining big sister Collins. Egan is the son of Greg and Ali Spellman, and the grandson of St. Pius X Principal Steve and Maureen O’Shea Spellman `70.

Debbie Schmitt-Stone ’78 recently received her Masters Degree in Project Management from the School of Engineering at the University of Kansas. Rock Chalk, Jayhawk! She works as a Deployment Solutions Engineer at Sprint in Overland Park, Kansas.

Friends from the Class of 1984 gathered at Seasons 52 at Perimeter Mall for lunch on November 17, 2019 to celebrate their friendship. Their parents were included, many of whom have known each other as neighbors, attending church together and sharing stories through the years. Lisa LaMoy `84 said it best, “When you find a group of friends you call sisters and keep those friendships for 38 years, it’s special. When you get those friends together with their parents, it’s amazing!”

Pictured Back Row: Deacon Mike Jones, Nancy Jones `84, Sally Asip Beach `84, Bill Ollinger, Tricia Ollinger Ward `84, Sally Asip, Sr., Emily Roberts `84, Joe Skillin, Lisa LaMoy `84, Maria McHugh Pagoaga `84, Ethel Hernandez Holyfield `84, Christi Lampe Caragher `84.

Pictured Front Row: Julie Murphy Davis `84, Celeste Pratt Murphy ’60, Kay McHugh, Carol McLaughlin, Mary Kay McLaughlin Brown `84, Penny Lampe, Les Lampe.

Sam Noyd `03 and Carolyn Noyd welcomed Benjamin Gabriel Noyd on November 27, 2019, six minutes before his mother’s birthday. Ben weighed in at 8 pounds, 13 ounces. Big brother Joe (2) is very proud.

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Class of 84 with parents

Spellman

Noyd

Family is everything for these sweet cousins! It was an extended Kingery family reunion over Christmas break on St. Simons Island as the kids of Matthew McConnell `00, Christy Sherry Moynan `02, Stephen McConnell `03, Stacia Kingery Kratzer `03, and Teresa Kingery Sattelmeyer `05 all celebrated in matching pajamas!

Danielle Fannon ’07, daughter of Michael ’74 and Paula Thomas Fannon ’82, married Ian Barnes on December 7, 2019 at St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church in Savannah, Georgia. Members of the wedding party included Megan Fannon ’09, Courtney Kennedy Richardson ’07, Katie Davignon Masoor ’07 and Ashley Schoenith Hughes ’07. The couple enjoyed a honeymoon in Barbados. The couple currently resides in Charlotte, North Carolina and both work in the logistics industry - Danielle for The Allen Lund Company and Ian owns IB Logistics.

Kingery

Nikki Cline Elmore `10 and Alex Elmore married on September 29, 2019 at West Milford Farm in Cumming, Georgia. Nikki and Alex met through golf in high school and went on to play golf together at Berry College. Nikki is currently a realtor in Atlanta, while Alex is a private wealth manager. Nikki is a member of the St. Pius X Alumni Board and is an assistant coach for the St. Pius X boys golf team.

Cline

Smith

Jackson Smith ’12 married Abigail Ferguson on June 8, 2019 in Athens, Georgia. Both are teachers in the Forsyth County School System. Jackson teaches and coaches football at North Forsyth High School and Abby is a special education teacher at Vickery Creek Middle School. They reside in Cumming, Georgia.

Fannon

Fannon

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Marissa Rufolo `10 married Brody Nieporte `09 on October 12, 2019 at Fordham University Catholic Church, where Brody attended college. The couple resides in Greenwich, Connecticut. The wedding party included many St. Pius X alumni; Quincy Nieporte `13, Mimi Bollaci `10, Dan Rufolo `12, Derek Rufolo `15, Joey Rufolo `18, Ellie Morrison `10, Kat Crawford `10, Pamela Pimentel `10, and Alexa Newfield `10.

Rocco Thomas ’12 and Shannon Moore ’13 were married on April 27, 2019 at St. Lawrence Catholic Church with the reception at 173 Carlyle House in Norcross, Georgia.

Rocco and Shannon met in kindergarten while attending St. John Neumann. They remained close friends throughout their time in school, and began dating while attending St. Pius X. They both graduated from Georgia Southern University, and shortly after graduating the two got engaged in Nashville and were married a year later.

Amanda Stitt `13 married Jonathon Moore on October 12, 2019 at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Peachtree City, Georgia and celebrated at Dunaway Gardens in Newnan.

Erin Villella ’13 and Jessica Mall ’13 were attendants in the wedding party. After their wedding, the couple attended Sposi Novelli at the Vatican where they had a personal blessing from Pope Francis.

Rufolo, Nieporte

Stitt

Thomas

Midshipman Brian Rainwater `15 organized and coordinated a Solemn High Mass celebrated in the Mariners’ Memorial Chapel on the campus of the United States Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) on Saturday, May 18, 2019. The historic event was the first traditional Latin Mass celebrated there in fifty years. Photo courtesy of the United States Merchant Marine Academy.

Cameron Liss `16 is doing amazing things at the University of Georgia and beyond as she paves a path to her future as a physician.

Slated to graduate in spring 2020, Cameron has been working at Mercy Health Center in Athens as a clinic manager. She was recognized by the University of Georgia as one of the UGA Amazing Students in 2019.

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Rainwater

Liss

Shannon Kang `18 was elected City Councilwoman representing West Lafayette City Council District 3 in Indiana in November of 2019. Shannon is studying Political Science at Purdue University and is minoring in Spanish and Statistics.

Peter Tran `18, a sophomore at Yale College, had the opportunity to experience his ancestor’s country, Vietnam, through a fellowship from the Council on Southeast Asia Studies. Last summer, he lived in Hanoi for eight weeks while learning Classical Chinese at the Institute of Hán-Nôm Studies.

Kang

Members of the Dooley family and friends gathered for a tailgate prior to the Pius vs. Marist home game on September 20, 2019. The tailgate was a raffle prize won at the George B. Maloof Lion Nation Classic. Pictured L-R: Kenneth Dooley `92, Matt Edwards, Arthur Benoit, Noeleen Dooley Benoit `98, Ann Marie Dooley Edwards `96, Mark Dooley `90, Susan Dooley, Kelly Hejhal Dooley `94, Jamie Robinson Podraza `96, and Brad Podraza.

Members of the St. Pius X Alumni Board enjoyed celebrating their annual Christmas party with Monsignor Lopez. Included in the festivities were L-R: Mary Pat Conboy Wilson `83, Mary O’Brien Beyer `82, Julia McDevitt Jones `85, Siobhan Rieger Finnegan `85, Fran McLellan Buis `83, Karoline Rumps Brennan `82, Alyson McGowan `81, Msgr. Richard Lopez, Maggie Gonzalez Hoback `89, Liz Standard Reynolds `10 and Tommy Williams `90.

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!

Tran

Alumni Board

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In Memoriam

We remember our loved ones Tim Lee, September 29, 2019 Father of Christian Lee ’04 William Hogan, November 25, 2019 Father of Kathleen Hogan Reichling `71 (Kim Reichling `70), Angie Hogan `80 (deceased) and Stephen Hogan `80

Amador Bengochea, November 10, 2019 Father of Ana Pariselli, former SPX Registrar, grandfather of Peter Pariselli ’02, Carmen Pariselli Masalin ’02, and Alyssa Pariselli ’09

Robert Hollis, September 16, 2019 Brother of Mac Hollis `74 (deceased), cousin of Jane McLellan `71, Emily McLellan `73, Jim McLellan `77 and Fran McLellan Buis `83

Theodore (Ted) Borzak, November 21, 2019 Father of James Borzak `73, and grandfather of Angela Borzak Piszczek `95

Dr. Larry Bruce Howard, January 3, 2020 Father of Laure Howard Kenyon `75 and Lisa Howard Longanecker `79

Dean Brazier `74, June 24, 2019 Brother of James Brazier `75

Dr. Bruce Jagor, November 26, 2019 Father of Ann Jagor `69 (deceased), Carolyn Jagor Williamson `75 and uncle of Allyn Simon Bell `69 and Laura Simon`71

Maria Demos, August 16, 2019 Mother of Johnny Demos `14 and Eleni Demos `16 Katie-Grace Hopper Edgin `02 Isaiah Gerard Edwards, December 9, 2019 Nephew of Andrew Pudysz, St. Pius X Theology teacher Sister Margaret Goode `60, November 26, 2019 Former St. Pius X faculty member, and Aunt of Dan Goode `76, Marian Goode Rosenberg `77, Mike Goode `79 and Kathy Goode McGonegal `81 Sonia Guigou, December 26, 2019 Mother of Eddie Guigou `82, mother-inlaw of Diane Alfaro Guigou `82, Clara Montealegre Guigou `81 and grandmother of Alyssa Guigou `13 Larry Hogan, August 19, 2019 Father of Elizabeth Hogan Fragulis `02, Kathleen Hogan Clay `05, and MaryEllen Hogan `07

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Eugene Jordan, October 28, 2019 Father of Kathie Lyons, former St. Pius X staff member, grandfather of Molly Lyons `04 and Patrick Lyons `11 Tony Joyce, December 23, 2019 Father of Marycarol Stout (Carter Stout `78), Patrick Joyce `87 and grandfather of Carolann Stout `16 and Anthony Stout `19 Mike Kimble ’70 Brother of Don Kimble ’69 Leslie Kochensparger `06, December 30, 2019 Patti Kramer `70, October 25, 2019 Sister of Bill Kramer ’64, Steve Kramer ’67 (Sally McQuaid Kramer `69), Mary Kramer ’71 and aunt of Kristin Kramer ’98, Michael Kramer ’00, and Anna Kramer ’05 James Julian Lampkin, July 6, 2019 Brother of Donna Lampkin `80, and Diandrea Lampkin `81

Lan Mahon, October 25, 2019 Mother of Sophie Mahon `16 Bill Markham, September 14, 2019 Father of Billy Markham `71, Terry Markham `72, Rob Markham `75, Tim Markham `77, Chris Markham `82, grandfather of John Markham `03, Kaley Markham `11, Chandler Markham `14 and Mallory Markham `16.

Gloria Margeson, December 5, 2019 Mother of Kathy Margeson Cotney ’69, Rick Margeson ’72 (deceased), Tim Margeson ’74, Kevin Margeson ’75, Jan Margeson Savage ’76, Tommy Margeson ’79 (deceased), Steve Margeson ’81 and Melanie Margeson Ham ’82.

Karolyne Shealey Meredith, January 4, 2020 Mother of Donna Meredith Zucco `75, Sharon Meredith Wood `79, John Meredith `81, Tim Meredith `82, and Karolyne Meredith Thompson `86, grandmother of Kimberlea Oakes Elliott `94 Chris Mitcham `79, August 6, 2019 Brother of Matt Mitcham `71, Mike Mitcham `72 and Mark Mitcham `76.

Mary Mullally, December 13, 2019 Mother of Kevin Mullally `95 and Amy Mullally `92 Jill Mulligan, October 18, 2019 Wife of St. Pius X parent Brian Mulligan and mother of Elena Mulligan `18, Jackson Mulligan `21, sister of St. Pius X parent Shari Moody, aunt of Delaney Moody ’19 and Adeline Moody ’22.

We Remember...

Sister Margaret Goode, Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur

Sister Margaret Goode `60, of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur died November 26, 2019 at the Notre Dame Care Center in Worcester, Massachusetts. She graduated from St. Pius X High School in 1960 and entered the Sisters of Notre Dame in 1961.

Charles Richard (C.R.) Munhall III, August 18, 2019 Son of Charles (Chick) Munhall `66, nephew of Kathy Munhall Barber `64 Audrae Nichols, July 16, 2019 Mother of Tom Nichols `71, John Nichols `73 and Kathryn Nichols `74

Sister earned her B.A. in chemistry at Trinity College in Washington, D.C. and taught in Philadelphia prior to returning to St. Pius X to teach from 1970 to 1978. At St. Pius X, she taught Chemistry and served as Dean of Girls’ Discipline.

Vandy O’Brien, July 27, 2019 Mother of Lucey O’Brien ’17 and Nina O’Brien ’22 Eamonn O’Riordan, October 9, 2019 Father of Kathleen O’Riordan Howlett `04 and Caitlin O’Riordan `11

Volunteering to teach with the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur in Zaire in Africa (later, part of the Democratic Republic of Congo), she taught gym and chemistry. She learned French, served as principal, became a director at a boarding school, managed school properties, and experienced the impact of civil war. Sister also worked on solar energy and other infrastructure projects in area villages.

Victor Pariselli, September 2, 2019 Husband of Ana Pariselli, former St. Pius X Registrar, and father of Carmen `02, Peter `02 and Alyssa `08 Stephen Petroline, December 11, 2019 Brother of Nancy Petroline `79, Gail Petroline Hanning `81 (Jack Hanning `81), and Linda Petroline Alley `83

Known to her family as “Sissy,” she was funny, smart, and kind. She returned to the United States several years ago for medical care, eventually settling at the Notre Dame Care Center.

Patricia Lindley Schmidt, July 11, 2019 Mother of Emily Schmidt ’73 Mike Schwartz, December 28, 2019 Father of Megan Schwartz Shelley `12 and Craig Schwartz `15 Randolph Sharp, October 15, 2019 Father of Lewis Sharp ’88, Margaret Sharp Hough ’92, Mary Sharp Cantwell ’93, St. Pius X current parent Maureen Sharp Burke (Damian) and grandfather of Cecilia Burke `22.

Richard Stepka, December 29, 2019 Father of Paula Thomas Fannon `82 Marcia Goda Taft `69, October 11, 2019 Sister of Jay Goda `79 and aunt of Jayson Goda `11 and Zach Goda `17

Bryan Tate, September 28, 2109 Son of Laurie Auer Sawyer `84, nephew of Julie Auer Brandon `87, Christy Auer Schwartz `90, Sarah Auer Kaliner `96, and cousin of Aidan Schwartz ’22 Christine (Chris) Taylor, July 22, 2019 Mother of Richard Taylor `08 and Luke Taylor `13 Joseph Troncale, August 9, 2019 Father of David Troncale `91, John Troncale `94, grandfather of Joshua Troncale `21 and Mary Grace Troncale `23

Susan Walsh, June 14, 2019 Wife of former St. Pius X community coach, Jim Walsh Sue Weiss, June 27, 2019 Mother of Cathy Weiss Lavallee `82 Diana Wright, October 6, 2019 Mother of Chad Leiba`10, Blair Wright `12 and Camille Wright `18

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

February

22 Mothers’ Club Retreat 26 Ash Wednesday - All School Mass 28 16th Annual Juried Visual Arts Exhibition 5-8 16 20 26 26-29

4-11 6-13 12 16-17 23 28

1 13 14 16 21

March

Pius Players Present: Oklahoma!

Virtual School Day All School Mass Spring Blood Drive Spring Dance Concert

April

Jamaica Mission Trip Spring Break Easter Sunday Guitar Concert Band Concert NOVO Dance Performance George B. Maloof Lion Nation Golf Outing

May

Spring Chorus Concert Fine Arts Signing Day Baccalaureate Mass Graduation Last Day of Finals

June

5 George B. Maloof Lion Nation Tennis Mixer

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.

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