TheST. COLUMBA SHEPHERD
FORMERLY THE FRIDAY FOCUS GUIDANCE FOR THE WEEK AHEAD
FRIDAY OCTOBER 6, 2023 READ THE SHEPHERD
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!
10/9 - Individual School Pictures 10/10 - Class Pictures 10/11 - School Mass - 7th Grade Leading Liturgy - 8:15 10/12 - Prayer & Praise Assembly - 8:15 10/13 - Middle School Dance - 6:30 10/17 - 5th Grade Instructional Mass - 10:00 10/18 - School Mass - 2nd Grade Leading Liturgy - 8:15 10/19 - No School - Preschool Closed, K-8 Parent/Teacher Conferences 10/20 - No School - End of 3rd Qtr/Teacher PD 10/25 - School Mass - 8th Grade Leading Liturgy - 8:15 10/26 - Kindergarten & 1st Grade Field Trip to Jackalope Acres 10/28 - Oktoberfest - After 5:00 Mass 10/31 - Preschool Early Dismissal - 12:30 10/31 - K-8 Halloween Parade & Celebration - Time TBD 11/1 - School Mass - 1st Grade Leading Liturgy - All Saints Day - 8:15 11/2 - Prayer & Praise/ 2nd Qtr Honor Roll - 8:15 WWW STCOLUMBASCHOOLDURANGO ORG/
TO REMEMBER 970-247-5527
DATES
We would like to welcome Fr John Moses Jatau to the St. Columba community. He is an associate pastor that will be assisting Fr. Kevin at St. Columba, Bayfield, and Ignacio. Please introduce yourself and give him a warm Durango welcome when you meet him.
END OF THE 1ST QUARTER
It’s hard to believe that it is already almost the end of the first quarter. The official last day of the quarter is less than two weeks away on October 20th. Remember that we will have no school for Pre-8 on the 2oth as staff will be working on grades and comments for report cards. Please make sure you are checking grades in Blackbaud. Let Heidi know if you are having trouble logging into our student information system.
WELCOME!
PARENT/TEACHER CONFERENCES
Our K-8 Parent/Teacher Conferences this year are on Thursday, October 19th. We ask all families to sign up for a time to meet with your student’s homeroom teacher Specials teachers and those who teach additional middle school subjects will also be available for conferences. Each family is expected to sign up for a conference, and a time will be assigned to you if you do not. Please remember that there is no school on October 19th as the preschool is closed and K-8 teachers will be in conferences
CONFERENCE SIGN UPS
Kindergarten - Ms. Garcia
First Grade - Mrs. DeRaad
Second Grade - Mrs. Robertson
Third Grade - Mrs. Lee
Fourth Grade - Mrs. Washburn
Fifth Grade - Mrs. Bowman
Sixth Grade - Mrs. Nakamoto
Seventh Grade - Mrs. Poettgen
Eighth Grade - Mrs. May-O
Mrs. May
Art - Mrs. McMillen
Spanish - Mrs. Santiago
PE - Mrs. Rifilato
Music - Mrs. Stuard
Learning Lab - Ms. McMahon
PRAYER & PRAISE
K-8 students will be attending their first Prayer & Praise Assembly of the year on Thursday, October 12th at 8:15. Families are invited to join us at our assembly. Each assembly includes lessons from Fr. Kevin and Mr. Chick and an introduction to our monthly Friendzy theme as well as St. Columba Awards for students who have gone above and beyond expectations.
THINGS TO REMEMBER:
School Pictures: All Preschool-8th Grade students will be taking their individual school pictures on Monday, October 9th, and class pictures on Tuesday, October 10th. Even if you aren’t purchasing pictures, your student will be photographed for the yearbook and we ask that they are in their best, clean school uniforms for picture day (K-8) No sweatshirts including school quarter zips will be allowed in pictures
Make-up pictures will be taken at a date to be determined in November or early December for anyone who is absent for pictures
Important message from the photographers: A/M Photography has taken their ordering process online and you will receive a link on how to place an order shortly after photos are taken Please reach out to a/m photography directly with any questions.
CALLING ALL ST. COLUMBA COMMUNITY MEMBERS!
Come join us for Oktoberfest, a fun and festive community event benefitting the La Plata County Humane Society. After feedback from many parents, the consensus was that it feels important to model giving and abundance and God's love to our children by showing love to our community In honor of St Francis and his message of peace for all of God's Creation, we are happy to support this cause. The need has never been greater for the Humane Society, as numbers of homeless animals continue to rise in our region.
Please join us for a cozy evening of pumpkin carving + painting, fall fare, and community.
Food and drink tickets can be purchased HERE Help us plan ahead by purchasing online, it’s quick and easy. Grownups will be grilling brats and hot dogs
Craft beer, cider, and wine will be offered for a suggested $5 donation. Middle school students will be hosting a dessert station and selling handmade goods.
Special (adoptable) guests from LPCHS!
GIFT (Growing in Faith Together) activities for the whole family to enjoy!
Proceeds will benefit the La Plata County Humane Society
We would love to see our young alumni high school students, older siblings, and former teachers and staff! We will have tables reserved for these guests to carve pumpkins and catch up on post St. Columba life.
As always, your helping hands would be greatly appreciated in making this a successful event. Please keep an eye out for volunteer opportunities and ways to get involved this coming week Thank you so much!
6TH & 7TH GRADE RETREATS & 5TH GRADE’S MESA VERDE TRIP:
THE PRESCHOOL CORNER
St. Columba Montessori Preschool will be holding free faith based parenting workshops each month. All are welcome!
The Art of Inner Discipline - October 16th at 5:00
Presented by Sherry Herrin, Director of St. Columba Montessori
What does supporting the development of your child’s inner discipline look like in practice, both in the classroom and at home? It means discipline isn’t about taking away something; it’s about repeatedly teaching the child what to do instead as well as illustrating the natural consequences of actions
We’ll be focusing on self-esteem and it’s importance in developing healthy children Parents will have an opportunity to look at their own self-esteem and discuss ways to foster positive self-esteem.
THE PARISH CONNECTION
AT ST. COLUMBA CHURCH, WE ARE DEDICATED TO CREATING A VIBRANT AND WELCOMING COMMUNITY FOR FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS SEEKING FAITH FORMATION. HERE ARE SOME OF THE EXCITING ACTIVITIES THAT WE OFFER EACH WEEK. WE INVITE YOU TO JOIN US FOR THESE EVENTS AND EXPERIENCE THE WARMTH AND HOSPITALITY OF THE ST COLUMBA COMMUNITY
VITA MIDDLE SCHOOL WILL MEET THIS SUNDAY FROM 11:15-1:00 PM. SERIOUS TEXAS IS ON THE MENU FOR LUNCH! ALL 6TH - 8TH GRADERS ARE WELCOME TO JOIN THE FUN, WHILE GROWING IN FAITH AND FELLOWSHIP WITH PEERS.
ARE YOU AN ACTIVE OR RETURNING CATHOLIC WHO DESIRES BAPTISM FOR YOUR CHILD? A SMALL FAITH-SHARING GROUP WILL START SOON TO PREPARE FOR THE SACRAMENT WITH OTHER PARENTS. GET IN TOUCH WITH JULIE ROMERO IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE ABOUT THIS OPPORTUNITY - JROMERO@STCOLUMBACATHOLIC.ORG
HTTPS://WWW.STCOLUMBASCHOOLDURANGO.ORG/ OFFICE@STCOLUMBASCHOOLDURANGO.ORG ATTENDANCE LINE: 970-828-9356 SCHOOL OFFICE: 970-247-5527 THANK YOU TO OUR GENEROUS SPONSORS
