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
11/25-11/29 - No School - Thanksgiving Break
12/3 - Gift Giving for the Elderly - 2:15
12/4 - School Mass - Staff Leading Liturgy - 8:15
12/5 - Prayer & Praise Assembly - 8:15
12/6 - St. Nick Visit
12/7 - St. Columba Christmas Bazaar
12/9 - 8th Grade Tree Cutting
12/11 - School Mass - 5th Grade Leading Liturgy - 8:15
12/11 - K-4 Christmas Program - 5:00
12/11 - MS Band & Choir Program - 6:30
12/14 - Sip, Build, & Snap Event Featuring Gingerbread House Making, Photos with Santa & Hot Cocoa Bar
12/17 - Advent Penance Service
12/8 - School Mass - 4th Grade Leading Liturgy - 8:15
12/20 - Preschool Christmas Program - 10:00
12/20 - K-8 Christmas Parties - 11:00
12/20 - Early Dismissal @ 11:30 - Preschool-8th Grade
12/23-1/3 - No School - Christmas Break
1/6 - Back to School
1/8 - School Mass - Staff Leading Liturgy - 8:15
1/9 - Prayer & Praise Assembly - 8:15
1/10 - Middle School Theater Program - The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe - 7:00
1/11 - The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe - 1:00 & 7:00
Living Stones Capital Campaign Update
We are filled with gratitude for the generous, positive response during Commitment Week and at the Thanksgiving Luncheon for our capital campaign. The total is now more than the $4.3 million and pledges are still being received! God has blessed our community in mighty ways!
Thank you to everyone who has already turned in their pledge card. If you have not had the opportunity to share your pledge intentions, please fill out a pledge card (found in the back of church) and drop it in the collection basket or mail it to the parish office Pledge cards are also available at the school office
Knowing the three-year commitments of our community members will help us embark on the next steps of the planning process as soon as possible. May God bless you with abundance for your stewardship of these important campus improvements!
For those of you who would like to fulfill your campaign pledges through an online donation, please click the button below. You can set up a one-time, weekly, biweekly, or monthly payment schedule. CLICK HERE TO PLEDGE NOW
There is more information including a FAQ available on the website.
Please take a moment to 'flip' through our Capital Campaign Brochure as you prayerfully reflect during Commitment Week. It's easy. Simply click the arrow back and forth to scroll through the brochure.
St Columba School Fall Drive November 2024 Thank You
Thank you once again to St Columba School families, students, teachers, and staff for your incredible generosity for the Fall Drive again this year!
St Columba Food Pantry received 1,509 items for a total value of $4,780 and Neighbors in Need Alliance (NINA) received 466 items for a total value of $ 1,415.
The St Columba Food Pantry continues to partner with and provide food to multiple social service agencies in the community for those in need. Neighbors in Need Alliance (NINA) will be able to provide basic household items to unhoused individuals and families moving into low-income apartments. Your compassionate response to unmet needs will make a difference in the lives of many of those less fortunate in our community.
Thank you to Kristyn Winn, the staff, and Parents Association volunteers for a beautiful Thanksgiving luncheon!
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–and worked the Book Fair! We appreciate the members of the Catholic Daughters of America and Durango Police Department who also helped on the day of the event. We are truly blessed to have the support of Jeremy Koschke and Serious Texas BBQ 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
Tuesday, December 3 at 2:15
A great opportunity for giving is our annual gift giving to the elderly. Durango Health and Rehab (formerly Four Corners nursing home) has many residents who are forgotten or receive very little at Christmas. To make their Christmas a happy one, students should bring items to school on Tuesday, December 3. 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 the home 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
Sip, Build, & Snap Event
Join us for an evening of holiday fun on Saturday December 14th! The Parents Association invites you to our SIP, BUILD, and SNAP event featuring:
Gingerbread House Making - Unleash your creativity with a sweet masterpiece!
Photos with Santa - Capture a magical moment with Santa himself (the Polar Express Santa!).
Hot Cocoa Bar - Cozy up with a cup of cocoa.
Wine, Beer & Adult Hot Cocoa - Enjoy festive drinks available for a donation to keep the holiday cheer flowing.
Featuring Gingerbread House Making, Photos with Santa & Hot Cocoa Bar This is a family-friendly event you won’t want to miss. Mark your calendars and get ready to celebrate the season with your St. Columba community.
Save the Dates for our Christmas Music Programs
The K-4 Christmas Program will be Wednesday, December 11th at 5:00 pm. 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 Lyrics
2/3 Lyrics
4th Lyrics
The Middle School Christmas Concert (including all students in 5th Grade Band & Choir) will be Wednesday, December 11th at 6:30 pm. The kids have prepared a fun night of familiar Christmas songs as well as popular tunes, 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 Friday, December 20th at 10:00 am in the St. Columba gym. The front doors to the school 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
Buddy Class Fun!
Picture Makeups and Retakes are Ready
Picture Make ups and Retakes are ready for anyone whose student had pictures taken on November 14th.
Text the access code STCOLUM24 to 90738 to receive access and ongoing alerts* or click HERE to view the photos.
Please send any questions directly to a/m Photography HERE.
December Lunch Menu
December’s Lunch Menu is now available for your convenience. All gluten free options are noted and the menu can always be found on our website, on the St. Columba App unter parent quicklinks, and under the calendar tab on Blackbaud.
December Lunch Menu
Used Sneakers Wanted
The 7th grade is still participating in a recycling fundraiser this year and we would love your help We have signed up to recycle sneakers with GotSneakers. All of our proceeds will go toward the new building fund.
This organization will recycle sneakers as well as pay for sneakers in good condition. Help us raise some money, keep old shoes out of landfills, and clean out your closets. We have boxes outside the office and in the Hauser building for you to drop these shoes off.
As always, thank you for all of your efforts and support,
Prayer & Praise Assembly
Families are invited to join us for our next Prayer & Praise assembly on Thursday, December 5th, at 8:15.
This month’s assembly will include lessons from Fr. John and Mr. Chick introducing this month’s Friendzy theme. We will also be recognizing our Lego League team and our St. Columba awards for those that have gone above and beyond expectations.
THE PARISH CONNECTION
St. Columba Church invites you and your family to kick off the Advent season with a cherished holiday tradition: our annual Advent Wreath-Making event!
Join us on Sunday, December 1st, beginning with the 10 am Family Mass, followed by a festive gathering in the gym to create beautiful, meaningful wreaths that symbolize the hope, peace, joy, and love of the Advent season. Enjoy brunch, hot coffee, hot chocolate, and donuts as you craft alongside family and friends. All materials are provided, but feel free to bring your own pruning tools and gloves if you have them! This is a wonderful way to prepare for the holidays, connect with our community, and make lasting memories. We hope to see you there! All are welcome.
THE PARISH CONNECTION
We are grateful for our St. Columba families! Happy Thanksgiving!!