Thursday Thoughts – January 20, 2011

Posted by Carlton Rider on Jan 20, 2011 in School News, Thursday Thoughts

As you probably know by now, Dale Wotruba, husband of Kathy, who is a member of our advisory board and an officer in our Home and School Association and father of Hunter, a sixth grade student at our school, passed away unexpectedly this past Friday.  Mr. Wotruba was the third parent of a student here at St. Mary’s to die in a little over two months.  Again, we ask the question “Why, Lord?” and try to make some sense out of such an untimely death.  I always take consolation in the Scriptures when faced with something I don’t understand and wonder why God is testing me.  No where in the Gospels have I found Jesus saying that life on this side of the grave would be easy.  Instead, Jesus reminds us that if we are to follow Him, we will need to take up our cross each day and follow Him. There are days when that cross is heavy and we wonder if we can really carry it alone. It is during those times that we need to realize that in submitting to His will, Jesus will always give us the grace to face whatever comes our way.  I have known our school community to always reach out and help those who are experiencing difficult times, especially the loss of a loved one.  It is the collective pulling together ofour Catholic community that helps to lighten the burden of the cross that we sometimesexperience.  This is what makes our school so unique!  We are a community of not only those who have faith and hope, but also a people who are willing to be the hands and feet of Jesus in our world today.  Let us continue to remember the Kim, Reynolds, and Wotruba families in our thoughts and prayers.

Although each family deals with the death of a loved one in different ways, and Icertainly respect that fact, I have been looking for various types of information that may assist families in these situations.  Hopefully, in the next few weeks, I will be able to share with you various sources of information that may be a help to our families who have dealt with the loss of a loved one.  If you have any suggestions, please feel free to share them with me and I will make them available to our school families. I will be checking, among other sources, with our diocesan Marriage and Family Life Office to see what resources they might be able to suggest and share as well as our local Fairfield Medical Center.

Home & School Minutes January 4, 2011

Posted by Carlton Rider on Jan 10, 2011 in School News

Saint Mary School Home and School Association
Meeting Minutes- January 4, 2011, 8:10 a.m.
Attendance: Angie Seimer, Theresa Krooner, Jayne Bryant, Ann Canby, Eileen Gundelfinger, Kathy
Wotruba, Jennifer Blackston, Beth Baker, Theresa Fish, Holly Sutter and Deanna Ventura
1. Call to order: Angie Seimer called the meeting to order at 8:10 a.m.
2. Opening Prayer: Opening prayer was led by Ann Canby.
3. Welcome and Introductions
4. Approval of minutes: Ann Canby motioned to approve the minutes of the December 7
meeting. The motion was seconded and approved.
5. President’s report/Info from SMS Advisory Board: Kathy Wotruba reported that St. Mary
and Fisher Catholic Athletic Departments are working together toward more uniformity. The
appropriateness of some Holiday Happening performances and the Wine & Cheese Social was
discussed.
Open House will take place Sunday, January 30 from 10:00 a.m. to Noon. This will kick off Catholic
School’s Week. Home & School will have a presence. Yard signs, posters, a newspaper article and some
preschool notification are part of the marketing effort.
6. Faculty report: No report
7. Treasurer’s report: Eileen Gundelfinger distributed the December 2010 Treasury Report.
Available Home and School funds as of December 31, 2010 are $5,334.98. $17,000 of the $33,000
donated to the school was transferred in December. $21,877.64 is the current Auction Checkbook
Balance.
8. Fundraising Reports
-SCRIP: Theresa Krooner reported that the checkbook balance less pending bills is $20,315.21. The
Christmas season was very busy. Two to three more volunteers are currently helping with SCRIP.
- Fundraising (misc): Jayne Bryant reported that six St. Mark Parish Cookbooks were sold to benefit
the E2 program. Eileen Gundelfinger noted that St. Mary won the $2,000 prize from the River
Valley Mall Earning for Learning program this fall. www.goodsearch.com has brought in $25. $15.21
was raised through the paper recycling bin. Thanks to St. Mary Parish for recycling their missalettes.
Cristy’s cards now earn Home & School $5 of the $20 sale price rather than $10. A Bob Evan’s
Community Night to benefit St. Mary is in the works.
- Market Day: Kendra Gundelfinger noted that orders were low this month, as expected.
9. Services to Parents/Faculty
-Thursday Folder Newsletter: Greer Edwards encourages Home & School to use the newsletter
with all submissions due Monday evenings.
10. E-2 – Enlighten and Enrichment Program
-Accelerated Math-: Ann Canby reported that use of the program is being accessed.
-After School Success-: Angie Seimer noted that twenty-four students are currently utilizing this
program. Eight to nine tutors come each week from Fisher. Students helping students has been a
big benefit to our kids. Each student’s activities are set with their parent’s input. Mrs. Lindsey has
been very helpful in allowing After School Success to use the Library. An additional parent volunteer
would be helpful for occasional support.
-Enlighten and Enrichment -: Jayne Bryant indicated that Christmas Ornaments with Art & Clay
went very well. They will be back January 27 to begin a two-week clay sculpting project. COSI has
raised their prices a little, but will be reserved for the spring. Discussion on alternating grades to
reach the most students through COSI took place. They are also looking at other inexpensive ideas
for E2 programming.
-Math Counts-: No report.
-Spanish I & II- Spanish II has 36 participants. A volunteer to teach Spanish for a four-week period
this Spring is needed. The curriculum and relevant materials will be available. Contact Ann Canby for
more information.
11. Old Business
-Fifth Grade Activity with St. Bernadette: Ann Canby has contacted the St. Bernadette
representative.
-Inflatable Fun Day: Kindergarten parents are responsible for the event. A day during Catholic
School’s Week is optimal. A possible change in inflatable companies would cost significantly less but
require a number more strong volunteers for set up.
12. New Business
-Science Fair: Kathy Wotruba noted that Mrs. Yaple requested the $400 already budgeted to
support the Science Fair. This would fund awards and fees for winners who move onto the district
science fair. Kathy Wotruba made a motion to fund the Science Fair as requested. The motion was
seconded and approved.
-Sweatshirts: Angie Seimer reported that Home & School has organized a sweatshirt order in the
past. These have a shamrock and “St. Mary Irish” in the left-hand corner and are not currently
included in the dress code. Many students wear them and their cost is very reasonable. Mr. Rider
has worked with Home & School to include these in the dress code. Utilizing the new St. Mary logo
designed by the Marketing Committee was discussed. An order form will be sent home soon.
-Home & School Participation: All parents and/or guardians of students currently enrolled at St.
Mary School and all members of the school faculty are considered members of the Home & School
Association. Every member is urged to volunteer their time and talent to the organization for the
good of our students and school. Both President and Treasurer are up for vote this year. For further
information on becoming more involved in Home & School, contact Angie Seimer.
-Sandwich Saturdays: This program meets monthly in the Spirit Center and benefits area food
pantries. They have already doubled sandwich donations in the firs two months! If you are
interested in this worthwhile project, join them on Saturday, January 22 at 8:00 a.m. or call Eileen
Gundelfinger for more information. Donations are also welcome.
Jayne Bryant made a motion to adjourn. The motion was seconded and approved. The meeting
adjourned at 9:20a.m.
February Home & School Meeting - scheduled for February, 1, 2011 at 7:00p.m. in the Spirit Center

Thursday Thoughts – January 6, 2011

Posted by Carlton Rider on Jan 6, 2011 in Thursday Thoughts

Even though the Christmas season is supposed to be a joyful time and an opportunity for sharing with family and friends the many blessings of the season, such was not the case for many of us this year. The sudden death of Maria Reynolds struck all of us with shock and grief and probably caused many to question why this could happen to a loving wife and mother at such a young age. There are things that we will never understand and the death of a young person so full of life is one of those things that cause us to step back and take inventory of our lives and what is really important in our own life. I sometimes think that the reality of our own mortality helps bring perspective back to our lives. We are given the opportunity to reassess our own life and take a look at what is really important and do some much needed readjustment. Our thoughts, prayers, and support continue to be with the Reynolds family during this difficult time.

I was informed a couple of days ago by a friend of the Reynolds family that Don and Ruth Froehlich, parents of Maria, have set up an account with the Canal Banking Center (6360 Prentiss School Drive, Canal Winchester, Ohio 43110) for any donations to be made to the “Zeb and Maci Reynolds Education Fund”. So many people have inquired about making a donation, but nothing was set up at the time of Maria’s funeral. I am told that it is important to the Reynolds family that Zeb and Maci be able to continue their education at St. Mary’s and Fisher Catholic.

As was announced at the Christmas eve and Christmas Day Masses at Lancaster St. Mary’s, Fr. John Barry Bentz passed away suddenly while preparing for Mass on Christmas Eve in Columbus. Fr. Bentz served at Lancaster St. Mary’s back in the 1960’s and returned a couple of years ago to assist on Mondays by being celebrant for the 7:00 a.m. Mass. He was retired but assisted at several parishes in Fairfield county the past couple of years. Please remember Fr. Bentz in your prayers. Not much good news to share as we begin 2011!