READ THE SHEPHERD
FRIDAY NOVEMBER 17, 2023
The
ST. COLUMBA SHEPHERD GUIDANCE FOR THE WEEK AHEAD
EACH WEEK THE ST. COLUMBA SHEPHERD provides all the information you need to know and links to things that you might need to cross off your list. Stay organized by reading it every week and making sure that you add events and deadlines to your calendar!
LET'S DO IT!
DATES TO REMEMBER 11/20-11/24 - No School - Thanksgiving Break 11/26 - Family Mass & Advent Wreath Making 11/29 - School Mass - 4th Grade Leading Liturgy - 8:15 11/29 - Gift Giving for the Elderly - 10:00 12/1 - 5th Grade Choir Performing @ Botanic Gardens - 5:00 12/2 - Christmas Bazaar - 8:00-3:00 12/6 - St. Nick Visits 12/7 - Prayer & Praise Assembly - 8:15 12/8 - School Mass - 5th Grade Leading Liturgy - 8:15 Feast of the Immaculate Conception 12/8 - MS Theater Program - Wizard of Oz - 7:00 12/9 - MS Theater Programs - Wizard of Oz - 1:00 & 7:00 12/13 - School Mass - 3rd Grade Leading Liturgy - 8:15 12/13 - K-4 Christmas Music Program - 5:00 12/13 - MS Band & Choir Music Program - 6:30 12/14 - Preschool Music Program - 10:00 12/14 - Advent Penance Service - Time TBA 12/15 - Christmas Parties and Early Dismissal 12/18-1/1 - No School - Christmas Break
WWW.STCOLUMBASCHOOLDURANGO.ORG/
970-247-5527
HAPPY THANKSGIVING! Thank you to Kristyn Winn, the staff, and Parents Association volunteers for a beautiful Thanksgiving lunch! Friends, families, teachers, and staff gathered together for a lovely afternoon of fellowship. Those families and staff absent are in our prayers. Thank you to the numerous volunteers who generously shared their time and talents to prepare food, set up and decorate the gym, serve, and clean up after a feast that served more than 500 guests. We appreciate the members of the Catholic Daughters of America who also helped on the day of the event. We are truly blessed to have the support of Jeremy Koschke and Serious Texas Bar-B-Q who delivered the delicious turkey. St. Columba is bursting with gratitude for our wonderful school community! Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!
GIFT GIVING FOR THE ELDERLY NOVEMBER 29 A great opportunity for giving is our annual gift giving to the elderly. Four Corners Nursing Home has many residents who are forgotten or receive very little at Christmas. To make their Christmas a happy one, students bring items to school on Wednesday, November 29. A few of the elderly residents will join us as we gather in the gym. We will entertain them with Christmas songs and then shower them with gifts which will be distributed by the staff of both nursing homes to those most in need. We do ask that the items not be wrapped - the staff will wrap them after determining who the recipient will be. Here are some suggestions of popular items: Combs and brushes, toothpaste, gripper socks and regular socks, chapstick, sweaters, electric razors, t-shirts (either crew or v-neck), blankets, robes, pajamas, lotion, candy, herbal tea, calendars, word search books, crosswords, playing cards, and books. Large print text is preferred, but not necessary. No glass (such as picture frames) or candles. No electric blankets.
PRAYER AND PRAISE K-8 students will be attending our next Prayer & Praise assembly on Thursday, December 7th, at 8:15. Families are invited to join us as we enjoy lessons from Fr. Kevin and Mr. Chick, introduce our monthly Friendzy theme, and honor those students who have gone above and beyond expectations and are receiving a St. Columba award for the month. We hope to see you there!
Middle School arts presents: The Wizard of Oz On December 8th and 9th, come join the St. Columba Middle School students for the timeless tale of young Dorothy Gale's magical journey of self-discovery. We'll go over the rainbow to the Land of Oz with all of its colorful characters: munchkins, talking trees, flying monkeys, and witches good and evil! Follow the yellow brick road to the glorious Emerald City, and fall in love with the Scarecrow, the Tinman, and the Cowardly Lion as they help Dorothy learn that there's no place like home. Reserve your seats here
LEGO ROBOTICS LEAGUE Congratulations to the afterschool middle school Lego Robotics Team! We’re delighted to share that last weekend they wowed the judges at the regional competition and are headed to the championship round in Denver on December 9th! We’re so proud of this fierce group of students for their efforts! Thank you so much to school parents, Erin Cuthbertson and Mindy Potter for leading the team in this challenging and high-joy opportunity.
Christmas Music Programs December 13 & 14 The K-4 Christmas Program will be Wednesday, December 13th at 5:00. Please join us for a classic night of Christmas carols and community. The kids have worked really hard, and we can't wait to share this night with you! Performers are asked to wear either their school uniform or their Sunday best. Doors will open at 4:45 so that the performers can report to their classrooms and the audience can take their seats in the gym. Please look over the song lyrics with your students in these last few weeks before the show. K&1 Songs 2&3 Songs 4th Songs
The Middle School Christmas Concert (including all 5th graders) will be Wednesday, December 13th at 6:30. The kids have prepared a fun night of Christmas standards as well as popular songs, and are eager to perform for an audience! Students are asked to wear either their school uniform or school appropriate dressy clothes. Band students should arrive at 6:05 to assemble instruments and tune. The doors will open at 6:15 for all other performers and the audience. We are looking forward to a wonderful evening!
The Preschool Christmas Program will be Thursday, December 14th at 10:00 in the St. Columba gym. The front doors to theschool will open at 9:45 for audience seating. Students are encouraged to wear dressy clothes for the program, and some of the students will dress in costume as part of the nativity scene. Please look over the lyrics for the songs with your child in these last few weeks before our show. The children are very excited to sing on the stage for you! Preschool Songs
REFLECTION QUESTIONS FR. KEVIN PROVIDES WEEKLY SCRIPTURE REFLECTION QUESTIONS TO HELP INDIVIDUALS ENRICH THEIR FAITH BY CONTEMPLATING SUNDAY READINGS.
Based on the readings for the 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time Readings: Prv 31:10-13, 19-20, 30-31/1 Thes 5:1-6/Mt 25:14-30 or 25:14-15, 19-21 Proverbs praises the industrious wife. Though there is cultural bias in this scripture, it nevertheless reminds us of the value of production, and using the opportunities available to us for advancement. There is plenty of danger here as well. How have you been driven by the desire to advance your position? How have you put profit before persons? How has your reputation been more important at times than the care of others? The sudden return of the Lord is a frequent topic in New Testament writings. Does this idea play a role in your own spiritual life? Are you prepared for a sudden event, or have you been lulled into a false sense of security — “There’s still plenty of time!” There is at times a passive mind to Christianity, basically to pray, follow the rules, and go to heaven when you die. What we pursue in this world seems to be of another matter. Scripture reminds us, however, that God has placed us in the garden, to tend and care for it, and to see to its growth, using effort and work to make the creation better. How do you see yourself in this effort, fostering growth, advancement, and productivity? Have you given up on the created world, or do you see yourself as instrumental in its care?
THANK YOU TO OUR GENEROUS SPONSORS
HTTPS://WWW.STCOLUMBASCHOOLDURANGO.ORG/ OFFICE@STCOLUMBASCHOOLDURANGO.ORG ATTENDANCE LINE: 970-828-9356 SCHOOL OFFICE: 970-247-5527
HAVE A HAPPY THANKSGIVING!