SCHOOL NEWS: October 14 - 20
Thanks!
The Student Council would like to thank you for your generous support of our $1.00 Free Dress Day on October 9th. All of the proceeds from the collection will benefit the victims of the earthquakes, tsunamis, and floods in the Philippines, Samoa, and Indonesia. We collected $1,170.00. We will be sending a check to the Catholic Relief Services in this amount. The students of St. Cecilia School are truly active Christians who participate in service to others and are socially responsible citizens who share their abundance with others and are aware of global situations that need their attention.
LAST WEEK! Macy’s Shop For A Cause on Saturday, October 17, 2009!
With a $5.00 donation you can receive a shopping pass to save 10-20% off most of your Macy’s purchases on Saturday,
October 17! You’ll also be eligible for a change to win a $500 shopping spree! 100% of the ticket sale proceeds benefit St. Cecilia School. Please send cash or check made payable to
St. Cecilia School. The tickets will be sent home with your child. Buy one or more for family and friends. Thanks to Laura Wallace for coordinating this program.
Extended Care
Due to preparations for the Parish Festival, Extended Care will be closed all day on Friday, October 23.
Halloween Candy Guess
The Student Council is sponsoring its annual Halloween Candy Guess.
When: October 19th – 23rd during morning recess The cost is 1 guess for 10¢ or 3 guesses for 25¢. There will be a grand prize winner for the closest guess throughout the whole school and a winner for the closest guess at each level (primary, intermediate, and junior high).
The winners will be announced at the Halloween Parade on October 30th.
Halloween
So that you can plan ahead -- all students may wear costumes to school on Friday, October 30. But, remember they must be simple so that the children can sit in their desks and can go to the restrooms. NO VIOLENT CHARACTERS; NO BLOOD AND GORE; NO CROSS DRESSING! ALL COSTUMES MUST BE MODEST (no bare midriffs) and in good taste.
No costumes are allowed which:
Show disfigurement of the human face or body
Depict boys dressed as girls or women
Imitate “heavy metal” music groups that advocate violence
All must use sensitivity towards people of other cultures and those less fortunate. No students should have “weapons” as part of their costume.
Any child who comes to school with an inappropriate costume will be sent home to change. If children choose NOT to wear costumes, they must wear their school uniform.
All parents are welcome to the parade of classes at 11:10 A.M. in the schoolyard. Dismissal is at the regular time (3:00). In the afternoon, the eighth grade will sponsor a mini Halloween carnival for Grades K-3 in the Pavilion. No money is necessary for this fun event!
SC Screamer
The staff of the SC SCREAMER is pleased to invite you to read the school newspaper on-line! Click here, and you will find the SC SCREAMER.
Parish News
10th Annual Parish Thanksgiving Retreat:
November 27-29 CYO RETREAT CENTER
Contact the rectory for complete details. 415-664-8481. 
Following are quotes from fellow parishioner who have attended past Thanksgiving Retreats.
Describing the natural beauty of CYO Camp:
“A feeling of peace, tranquility, and presence of God is felt in the fresh air, the sun on your face, the beautiful trees, and the starry nights.”
“CYO camp is located in the natural beauty of the redwoods.”
“Usually, wild turkeys and deer can be found wandering around the camp. There is also an quaint little lake with a beautiful reflection of the trees surrounding it.”
“The scenic surroundings of CYO Camp are a pleasing escape from the city.”
Describing the lodge and cabins & restrooms:
“The lodge is the perfect place for Mass, dining and group activities. Each family is assigned their own cabin, that are clean, comfortable, and heated. The restrooms and showers are very clean with plenty of hot water!”
“The lodge is comfortable, clean, and a fire is always burning. It is a wonderful place to gather and connect with people. I enjoy sitting by the fire with my sister and friends while listening to stories and singing.”
Describing the value of a retreat at this time of year:
“We have school-age children, so the months before Thanksgiving are filled with jobs, getting back into the swing of school, two birthdays, the Parish Festival, volleyball, soccer, and so on, ending the big meal on Thanksgiving. When we arrived at retreat we can just let it all go. I didn’t have to cook (hurray!).”
“There’s no TV or computer to distract us so we were able to recharge and focus on each other.”
“It was a lovely break. The Thanksgiving Retreat is really relaxing.”
“The retreat provides an excellent opportunity to think about God and reflect upon the blessings in my life.”
Describing how this is a real coming together of Saint Cecilia Parish Family:
“This retreat is a wonderful way to strengthen friendships outside the traditional Mass and school environments.”
“The topics encourage talking and sharing with each other but without any pressure. This closeness helps us to see ourselves as our neighbor sees us.”
“At Thanksgiving Retreat you can meet new people from St. Cecilia and get closer to God.”
Describing how this retreat deepens your spiritual life:
“This retreat allows the opportunity to spend more time in personal prayer, spiritual reading, meditation, and sharing of faith with others. There is a sense of peace with no distractions.”
“It’s spiritual to just walk the trails and take in the beauty.”
The retreat helps me step away from distractions and to deepen my relationship with God through quiet prayer.”
“I liked the focus on spirit, identifying ways to be a better person, and recognizing your own challenges. My husband isn’t Catholic, and we were worried that he’d be uncomfortable. But the focus isn’t on dogma, so inter-faith families shouldn’t hesitate to attend.”
“The retreat helps you deepen your relationship with God - and you get to play fun games!”
Additional thoughts and reflections:
“The food at retreat is delicious! My favorite was the grilled cheeseburgers with a side of fries. The salad bar and buffet meals were also excellent.”
“The cost of the retreat is very reasonable and includes the cabin and all meals.”
“Children of all ages are welcome. Child care is provided by our high school parishioners who do a great job caring and entertaining the children.”
“St. Cecilia families should share this experience with their friends and family visiting for the Thanksgiving holiday.”
MOTHERS' CLUB
Mother's Club Meeting Thank You
Eddy and Katherine thank everyone who assisted with the Mothers’ Club Meeting on September 30. Especially Mrs. Fergus and Ms. Santy for their presentation, Sally Maske for putting together the cookbook, the moms who brought delicious dishes to share, and the Hospitality Committee headed by Gina Miglio and our other volunteers. Click here for information on the wine from the tasting test. We look forward to seeing you at the next meeting in February!
Birthday Book Club
Five different books were found in the library with no paperwork attached. We don't know if someone intended to donate these to the Birthday Book Club. As of Friday, October 9, all books have been processed and certificates have been given to each student or adult who has donated to the club. We would like to give proper credit to the person(s) who donated these stray books. So if they belong to you, please call Luana at 415-682-3610.
SCRIP
Scrip Gift Card Program:
Remember scrip gift card orders are filled every Thursday, and this is the easiest way for our school to earn money. Click here for the new order form. Please do not use previous order forms as there have been vendor changes for this year.
eScrip
Renew your grocery and debit cards on eScrip. If you have not yet enrolled, registration is free and easy. For more information or to join eScrip: www.escrip.com or 1-800-592-0942.
St. Cecilia Parish group ID #136952501. For current members: You must RENEW your annual membership by NOV. 1, 2009 by visiting www.escrip.com, click "members/supporters", click "myescrip"
Lucky S.H.A.R.E.S. Cards
Help our school earn 3% when shopping at Lucky Supermarkets. We just recently received a check for $450!). Simply swipe the S.H.A.R.E.S. card before paying for your groceries (whether you pay by cash, check, credit, debit or gift card). If you do not have a Shares Card, contact Elaine Shanahan who will send one to you via your oldest child. Contact scrip coordinator Elaine Shanahan, 269-5562 or Shanfam@pacbell.net, with questions about any of this. Thanks for your support of our school!
Save the Date
St. Cecilia’s Mothers’ Club Winter Social
Cliff House
Saturday, December 5, 2009
11:00 A.M. – 3:00 P.M.
FESTIVAL: Parish-Roman holiday OCTOBER 23 - 25
Only 9 days until the Parish Festival!
Visit our website at: WWW.SCFESTIVAL.COM. It is filled with all the facts you need to know about the Parish Festival. Preview Raffle and Silent Auction items, be a Booth Sponsor, Volunteer to help out and join in on the Fun! See what's new!
Here's A Preview Of What's In Store At The Festival!
Play BINGO in the lower church and Children's games in the Durocher Pavilion.
Get a tattoo or your face painted by one of our very own artistic and talented SC parents!
Take a ride down our giant slide, take a run through the Adrenaline Rush obstacle course, see who's the last man standing at the Gladiator Joust.
Bid on fabulous items at the Silent Auction.
Spin one of our many wheels and see what your luck has in store! Ring a bottle at Ring Toss! Win a Stuffed Animal!
Browse Books & Video.
Take a home a gourmet dessert at the cake booth.
Get a head start with Halloween at the Candy Booth!
Spin and win at the Blue & Gold and Sports Booth!
Take a souvenir photo!
Get a sweet tooth at Sandy Candy!
Dine on delicious food at the snack bar!
Shop our Spirit Store for SC logo apparel and SC spirit items
NEW! Soccer Kick Contest, prize awarded for making the most soccer goals over the weekend
NEW! Win a Salami at the Salami Toss.
NEW! Chill out or warm up at the Italian Soda, Coffee and Espresso Bar!
Questions? Please contact Festival Chairpersons, Stephanie Pasini 415-516-2614 or Janice Calonico 415-309-8073 or email scfestival@comcast.net.
Booth Sponsors
Time is running out to become a Booth Sponsor! You can contribute at the Colosseum Level for $200, the Trevi Fountain Level for $150 or at the Spanish Steps Level for $100 or the Vatican Level of $400 will prominently display your business or family name on your favorite booth for the entire weekend! All donations graciously accepted. Please fill out the Booth Sponsor form (click here) and return it to the school office or parish rectory.
Hey Dude! One week left to enter the Unlimited Outdoor Games Raffle!
Don't miss your chance to WIN! For only $1.00 you can win free rides on ALL of our outdoor inflatables, including the Giant Slide, Joust and the Adrenaline Rush...all weekend long! Winners will be announced on Friday, October 23rd during afternoon announcements. Send in your tickets today! These tickets cannot be bought at the festival. Check your festival packet or (click here) to download and return to school office. Don't delay!
Grand Awards Cash Raffle...Big Bucks!
Get your tickets in early! Over $5,000 in cash prizes. Don't miss the Grand Awards Daily $100 Cash Drawing. In addition to the Sunday Grand Awards drawing, we will be pulling winning tickets each evening of the festival. Don't wait until Sunday at 5 P.M. to submit your tickets. You will miss out on the daily cash drawing. You need not be present to win. Extra tickets are available at the rectory and school office.
Flip Video Camera 
This could be yours! Meet the world's slickest HD camcorder - The Flip MinoHD. You can have run making movies and recording memories. Show off your work on YouTube. Download tickets (click here) or check your festival packet.
American Girl Doll Raffle 
Show your school spirit! Win Chrissa, a beautiful 2009 American Girl Doll-of-the-Year who shows her SC spirit. This 1st prize includes the doll, her American Girl doll outfit, and a custom sewn SC outfit. 2nd Prize: Lovable teddy bear in a SC uniform. Download the raffle tickets (click here) or check your festival packet.
iPod Touch Raffle 
The Ring Toss booth is raffling an iPod Touch from Apple. You can be the lucky one to own it! With its revolutionary Multi-Touch surface, 3.5 inch widescreen color display, the iPod Touch handles music, videos, Wi-Fi, Safari, Mail and You-Tube. This iPod Touch has 8GB of storage and is sure to be a hit. Be sure to stop by the Ring Toss Booth. Download the raffle tickets (click here) or check your festival packet.
Pavilion Raffle
The Durocher Pavilion can be yours for a Saturday night party! The winner also receives a pizza from Mozzarella di Bufala and a $50 Safeway Gift card. Download the raffle tickets (click here) or check your festival packet.
Irish Blanket Raffle
Stay warm this winter with a beautiful wool Irish knit blanket. Gorgeously handcrafted, this blanket can be yours! Download the raffle tickets (click here) or check your festival packet.
Free Dress Passes For A Week
Show off your cool jeans or wear your favorite sports jersey. Don't do laundry for a week! Here's your chance to win free dress passes for an entire week. (The winner must follow St Cecilia Free Dress Guidelines). Download the raffle tickets (click here) or check your festival packet.
St Ignatius Pool Party Raffle
Pool party in San Francisco? In the Sunset? Yes, you can! Here's your chance to throw the coolest pool party ever at St. Ignatius College Preparatory. Great spot for birthday parties. Download the raffle tickets (click here) or check your festival packet.
Silent Auction Needs Your Help!
We are in need of more donations for our silent auction. You can help contribute to make this festival a success! Please consider donating an item or two. Even better, personalize and design a themed basket to be auctioned off! Please check out our "wish list" below. Click here for a donor form or look in the festival packet. Drop off your tax deductible donations along with the form to the church rectory. This is the perfect opportunity to clear your home of those not-quite-right gifts, never-used purchases, and miscellaneous gift cards you don't need! Please contact Kate Stein with any questions at 415-531-4315 or email katecavalier@sbcglobal.net.
Silent Auction Wish List:
Large baskets
Gift certificates or donate scrip to restaurants, spas, or retail stores
Tickets to movies, symphony, theater, sporting events
Wine, or liquor
Anything Christmas themed, decorations, ornaments
Coffee/Tea
Baby items
Toys/books
Coffee mugs, glassware, stemware
Paper Magic Booth
Want to learn how to create a boat, airplane or snowflake out of origami paper? Volunteer at the Paper Magic Booth at the Festival. Sign up now (Click here) or look for the form in the festival packet.
Questions? Please contact Stephanie Pasini 415-516-2614 or Janice Calonico 415-309-8073 or email scfestival@comcast.net.
Scrip Donations for Festival
Purchase scrip to donate to the upcoming parish festival, and your contribution will help out both the school AND the festival. Click here for the Scrip Form Questions-- contact Elaine Shanahan at Shanfam@pacbell.net. Thank you!
Festival Volunteers Needed
It’s that time of year again when we ask all of you to work a shift at the St. Cecilia Festival. It won’t be a success without your help so please volunteer today! Back by popular demand, we are offering one SC FREE DRESS PASS to each adult that works three shifts. You must sign up for your three shifts before Thursday, October 15, to be eligible. If you have already signed up to volunteer with a Booth Chairperson directly, please do not sign up for the same shifts on this form. Return your completed Volunteer Form to the school office.
Click here to download your volunteer form.
**Reminder: Children are not allowed behind the booths, so please choose times appropriately**
Cake Booth
Attention all cookie, cake & brownie bakers! It’s Festival time once again, and we’re asking for donations to the Cake Booth. We ask that each family donate three items. These may be home baked items or purchased items (no items that require refrigeration, please). If you are not a baker, a $10 donation is welcome.
Please complete this form (click here) and return it to the school office. If you have any questions, just contact us-- Elaine Shanahan at Shanfam@pacbell.net or Susan Dal Porto at sdalporto@astound.net or Ann Hildula at annhildula@yahoo.com.
Book and DVD Booth
The Festival's Book and DVD Booth is looking for your donations of new or used books in good condition and DVDs. Clean out your bookcases and closets of those books you're never going to read or have already read, and donate them to the SC Festival! You can leave your donations on the bench in front of the school office. Although we greatly appreciate all your donations, we will not take any VHS tapes, cassettes, or computer games this year.
Thank you very much for your consideration!
If you have any questions, please call Luana Letele at 415-682-3610 or Mona Burke at 650-755-6281.
Candy Booth
It’s time again to begin collecting candy for the festival Candy Booth. The class who donates the most candy will be the WINNER of a fabulous pizza party with all the trimmings. Please mark donations with your child’s name and room number. We appreciate your support in making this year’s festival a huge success!
Should you have any questions, please contact Mary Laffey at 415-310-8068 or Laura Marchini at 650-994-6681.
OTHER ITEMS...
Girls' Soccer
There will be a pre-season girls' soccer coaches' meeting on Thursday, October 29, at 7:15, in the Collins Center. If you are planning on coaching, you MUST attend the meeting.
Any parent that is interested in coaching girls soccer for this school year, please e-mail me at mariesarahmatt@yahoo.com with your name, phone number, and the grade you would like to coach.
Snack Bar Sign Up Dates
The Saint Cecilia Athletic Board fundraising activities help to defray many of the costs for our sports programs. We need your help. We are asking that each volleyball athlete’s parent sign up for ONE THREE HOUR SHIFT serving in our snack bar during volleyball season. A similar sign-up sheet will go out for boys’ and girls’ basketball seasons. It is really fun and serves a great cause.
Click here for schedule and sign up sheet. Return the completed form to the school office. Our snack bar coordinator will call you to confirm the date on which you will work.
Thank you in advance for your support and time.
-John and Janice Calonico
Boys' Basketball
Applications for boys’ basketball coaches were due on October 13.
Pete is looking for potential evaluators for tryouts. If you would like to help, please contact Pete at (415) 250 – 6800.
Important dates for the upcoming season:
Mandatory St. Cecilia Coaches Meeting: Thursday, October 15 @ 7:00, Collins Center
Pre-season Tournament: Monday, November 23- Saturday, November 28
Coaches Clinic (3rd-5th): Sunday, November 29 @ 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm & Monday, November 30 @ 6:30 – 8:30
Coaches Clinic (6th-8th): Sunday, November 29 @ 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm & Tuesday, December 1
@ 6:30 – 8:30
Regular Season starts: Friday, December 4
Christmas Break: No games scheduled between Sunday, December 20 – Sunday, January 3
Regular Season ends: Sunday, February 7
Post-season starts: Monday, February 8
Post-season ends: Sunday, February 21
