The Lord's Baseball Game - St. Cecilia School

I do not know if you are big Phillies fans. I enjoy watching and listening to the Phillies! I am excited about this week and am
going to hope and pray that the Phillies will make the playoffs!!! I thought this reflection would be very timely! I hope you enjoy
it!

                                            The Lord's Baseball Game
                                                        Author Unknown

Bob and the Lord stood together, watching a baseball game. The Lord's team was playing Satan's team.
The Lord's team was at bat, the score was tied zero to zero, and it was the bottom of the 9th inning with
two outs. Bob and the Lord continued to watch as the batter, Love, stepped up to the plate. Love swung
at the first pitch and hit a single, because Love never fails. The next batter was named Faith, who also
got a single because Faith works with Love. The next batter up was named Godly Wisdom. Satan wound
up and threw the first pitch; Godly Wisdom looked it over and let it pass, because Godly Wisdom does
not swing at Satan's pitches. Ball one. Three more pitches and Godly Wisdom walked, because Godly
Wisdom never swings at Satan's throws. The bases were loaded.

The Lord then turned to Bob and told him He was now going to bring in His star player. Up to the plate
stepped Grace. Bob made a face... Grace certainly didn't look like much to him! Apparently, Satan's
whole team agreed: they all relaxed and laughed a little when they saw Grace. Thinking he had won the
game, Satan wound up and fired his first pitch. To all but one's amazement, Grace hit the ball harder
than anyone had ever seen. But Satan was not worried; his center fielder, the Prince of the Air, lets very
few get by. He went up for the ball, but it went right through his glove, hit him on the head and sent him
crashing to the ground; then it continued over the fence for a home run! And so, the Lord's team won.

The Lord then asked Bob if he knew why Love, Faith, and Godly Wisdom could get on base but could not
win the game by themselves. Bob, looking a bit sheepish, admitted that he didn't
know. The Lord explained, "If your love, faith and wisdom could win the game, you
would think you could win it by yourself. Love, faith and wisdom will get you on base,
but only My grace can get you home. My grace is the one thing Satan cannot stop."

+Dear Parents,                                                                                       September 27, 2021

Just as our baseball story illustrated, we need God’s grace to get us to where we need to be at this time,
to get us through the challenges we face on any day. May we be open to God’s grace throughout this
week! Let us always be open to ask for and rely on God’s grace every day!

And, one more thing: let us pray for a good and successful week for the Phillies! May it not be the last
week of baseball!

Have a great week!
God bless you!
Sister Catherine Irene, IHM

      Gym Uniform Reminder: This is the last week to wear gym uniforms every day.
      Beginning next Monday, October 4, students should wear their regular FALL/SPRING Uniform.
      Please see https://scsfoxchase.org/student-dress-code for details. Thank you!

Looking Ahead:
September 27              Practices for Student Council speeches – Grades 7 and 8
                          Health Screenings for some grades
September 28              School Confessions: Grade 6 @ 9:30 a.m.
                          Speech Assembly in the auditorium for candidates, live-streamed for grades 4 -8
                          Elections will follow immediately after speeches, using Chromebooks to vote
September 30              School Confessions: Grade 5 @ 9:30 a.m.
                          Elections for Homeroom Representatives for Grades 7 and 8
October 1                 Last Day for Gym Uniforms to be worn every day
                          Health Screenings for some grade
October 4                 REGULAR FALL UNIFORMS BEGIN TODAY: SEE WEBSITE FOR DRESS CODE
October 4 and 5           Rehearsal for installation (1:00) in church
October 5                 School Confessions: Grades 3 and 4 @ 9:30 a.m.
October 6                 School Liturgy and Installation of Student Council at 10:00 a.m.
                          St. Cecilia Night at Rita’s Water Ice in Rockledge!
October 11                Faculty Professional Development: NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS
October 12                Hearing Screenings
October 12 – 15           Elementary Schools Administrators Association Conference – Cape May
                          Sister Carolyn Braun will attend
October 29                Monster Mash: Auditorium – Details will be sent home this week
October 31                Home and School Trunk or Treat: 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.; Church parking lot
November 1                All Saints’ Day: Holyday; No School
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Home and School Events: Favorites and New Adventures: The Home and School Board has met a
couple of times already this year. The plan is to do as many of our past events as possible and try a few
more things. One past favorite is Rita’s Water Ice Night. We will have one on Wednesday, October 6.
Also, Trunk and Treat is coming back. It will be held on Sunday, October 31, from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. in
the church parking lot. Families will sign up for a parking space and decorate their cars. Then the
children will be Trick or Treat from car to car. What is new will be that we will not have the evening
Halloween Parties. What we want to do is have a Monster Mash Fundraiser on Friday, October 29. It is
like a Dance-A-Thon. Here are some details, with more information coming home this week!
      Students will raise money from their family members. It will be all collected through our school
        website. The goal is for 100% family participation. We will have a minimum requirement, but
        there is no exact amount that is required.
      The students are then assigned to the auditorium for a given time for the DANCE-A-THON! The
        time frame is for dancing is about 30 minutes. The Home and School Board will give each
        student a treat bag after their dance times.
      On the Monster Mash Day, students wear Halloween accessories over and with their gym
        uniforms – They can wear Halloween T-shirts, color tutus over their gym shorts, crazy
        headbands, etc. The accessories have to be appropriate for Catholic schools and not scary or
        harmful.

Have you heard about the TikTok bathroom challenge? I did see it on the news, but my sister told me
that a student in her school has already been suspended. We have had issues with the bathrooms
since the first week of school. The problems we have had are like those in the challenge. Our teachers
are trying very hard to monitor the students but they are often too quick. I know that we try to
encourage the students to behave well. We try to be positive. I know that it is early in the year so we
want to fix things now. Therefore, I ask that you talk to your children about this, especially in the
upper grades and if your children are already on TikTok. I also ask you to speak to your children
about the general care of their school. I hope that by doing so, your children/our students will know
that we are working together for the good of St. Cecilia School and for every student, family, faculty
and staff member. Thank you!

                          Traffic Reminders:
                          We remind you that no one can double park on Stanwood Street for dismissal.
                          It is important you park in a safe manner on the street. If you have to do so,
                          please park up the next block or so and walk to meet your children. Double
                          parking is not safe. I do not want to think of the possibilities if someone
                          walked in between cars to get to a car across the street.

We also ask that no one park in the Church parking lot as students are arriving for school and at
dismissal. With the children walking the parking lot, it is too difficult for everyone to pay attention. I
know that the children won’t be looking around very carefully. At dismissal, when cars are parked, it is
too difficult for the buses to get around the cars. Again, the students walk through the parking lot.
Generally, all buses are gone when they start working out of the parking lot.

Please do not park in the spots on the side of the car facing the Library. The buses exit by way of Jeanes
Street, so they will have to pass families by. It is too narrow and again it makes me nervous to have
buses, cars, and walkers in the same area. In the morning, the same thing is true. The teachers and staff
are still arriving and some parents have parked in the teachers’ or staff’s parking spots. Even more
concerning is again students would be walking in an area where there can be a lot of traffic.

Since some buses are late or are not coming at all, there are a few students who do not know how they
are coming home. A reminder, Lines 3 and 4 are called after buses and they go to Stanwood. Lines 1 and
2 are for Rhawn Street. Line 1 is in the front of church and Line 2 goes toward the library. We have had
a lot of families looking for children on Stanwood and they find them in front of the church.

Thank you for all of your help to keep our children safe!

Faculty Update: After prayerful and careful discernment, Mrs. Kim Delaney, Room 62, has made the
difficult decision to resign. Mrs. Delaney needs to be more available to her family and their concerns
and needs at this time. She is not leaving for another job. Her last day is scheduled for October 1.

Mrs. Delaney is sad to leave St. Cecilia School and she was looking forward to teaching here. I ask that
you keep her and her family in our prayers at this time.

I ask that you keep us in your prayers as we look for another teacher. We will do all that we can to make
the transition as smooth as possible. Please share our job opening on your social media accounts.
Perhaps you have a family member or friend who wants to come back teaching, just graduated, or is just
about finished. If you have any questions, or if you have any leads, please email me! Thank you!