: I just returned from the Sylvania Business Expo where our “Schools Lighting the Way” team has a display complete with the Academy banner and BOGO lights. The students, under the direction of Mrs. Chambers, are continuing their campaign to raise awareness of the “energy poverty” that pervades the lives of almost two billion people globally. Sean Wheelock, Dominic Zirbel, Amir Horani and Mrs. Chambers manned the booth and spread the word. Mrs. Chambers put together such an effective display that it drew the attention of WTOL-TV 11 and meteorologist Robert Shiels sent a crew over to do a story. Look for it tonight on the 11:00 p.m. channel 11 news. The “BOGO light raffle/dress down pass” sale was a big hit–$955.00! The boys will use this money to buy BOGO lights to send to “light impoverished” areas. A special thanks to Mr. Welling for his “persuasive” selling of tickets and passes in his classes!
I am glad to report that both 7th grade travel groups returned safe and sound (and tired) from their Space Camp and Chicago experiences. The boys had a great time on both excursions and pictures will be posted on the website in a few days.
Congratulations to Mr. Heintschel and the varsity basketball team on another in a long line of successful seasons. Reaching the final four of the state tournament for the sixth time in the last seventeen years is a tremendous accomplishment that brought excitement to the large community of proud SJJ fans throughout northwest Ohio.
Academy spring sports are getting underway. Mr. Butler does a great job of organizing all of these programs and trying to control the costs associated with all of them. Your cooperation in paying the fees for each sport is crucial to allow us to provide these opportunities. If you still have fees outstanding from the winter season or owe for fees for the spring season please pay them as soon as possible. Thank you!!
On Thursday the 8th grade travels north to the DeSales center in Brooklyn, Michigan to retreat from the business of Academy life for a day of reflection. Please keep them in your prayers on that day especially.
Last call for raffle tickets! Please turn in all ticket forms and money by the end of school on Tuesday, March 31. The raffle will be held next Sunday during intermission of the SJJ production of “Beauty and the Beast.” Tickets for this tremendous production are available by calling the Valentine Theatre box office-419-242-2787- or by visiting www.valentinetheatre.com -Special offer—-I will give a dress down pass to any Academy student who presents me his ticket stub from attending a performance of the musical. My incentive to go see a show I know everyone will enjoy!
Next Friday Mr. Huther and I will travel to Columbus with the Mock Trial team to participate in two trials. The “case” is based on the novel “The Outsiders” and the team will present one side—prosecution or defense—in the trial. Thanks to Mr. Huther for his time and effort preparing the team.
Next week there will be a school wide mission collection to support the 16 high school students who will be journeying to Guatemala this summer on a service experience. Money collected will be used to buy school supplies for the Francisco Coll School and the Santa Clara Nursery that are located on the edge of the city dump where many of the schoolchildren’s parents labor to make a living by scavenging each day. I had the privilege to travel with this group over the last four summers and I can promise you that your contribution is both greatly needed and appreciated by the children of the dump community. It is through caring for those in need that we can find deeper meaning in our own lives. In that spirit I also extend my thanks to John Emmenecker, Kassem Abbas, Marcus Thornton, Connor Bopp, and Hunter Clay for volunteering to spend their Easter break working with the mountain community in Mingo County, West Virginia. They have opened their hearts, minds and committed their time and labor to work with those in need and I know that they will come back telling us that they received much more than they gave.
Enjoy the rest of your weekend.
