New SC Photo Gallery
Please take a moment and check out the new link on the bottom of our homepage www.stceciliaschool.org The link takes you to our new photo gallery of school and parish pictures.

Computer Classes - Senior Citizens
A total of seven computer classes for Senior Citizens will be offered beginning November 4. This is a basic level course. Classes will be held on Tuesdays in St. Cecilia’s Computer Lab from 3:15 p.m. – 4 p.m. The cost is $30. The dates are: November 4, 11, 18, 25 and December 2, 9, and 16. Space is limited to 15 people. Please contact Diane Weinkauf (566-2690) in the Collins Center if you are interested in signing up.

Parent Teacher Conferences
The first quarter ended on Friday, October 24, and report cards will be distributed tomorrow, October 30. Mandatory Parent-Teacher Conferences will be held from Monday, November 3 through Friday, November 7. Your confirmation paper with time and date for conferences will be sent home today. We do our best to accommodate your schedule, but are not always able to make changes given the number of families in the school.

Spirit Day Free Dress — Friday, November 7
This is a free dress day for students who wear school colors—blue and gold! Here’s a chance to wear that new SC t-shirt or sweatshirt! Click here to check out the “SC Spirit Items” for sale. We’ve added pictures of the items, with sizing tips. You can order t-shirts, sweatshirts, and shorts by filling out the order form and sending it to school with a check.

Parent Meeting
Thank you for your positive responses to our speakers last Thursday night. I am sending home a booklet entitled “Keeping Kids Healthy in a 24/7 Media World”. Your child should be bring the booklet home today, one per family. Click here for a Common Sense flyer on cyberbullying.

Kindergarten Open Houses
Our next Kindergarten Open House dates for prospective parents will be Thursday, November 13 and Tuesday, November 25, from 8:30-10:00. If you have neighbors, relatives, or friends who are interested in our school, please share this information with them.

Thursday Sandwiches for the Poor
Many thanks to those who have been sending sandwiches for the poor on Thursdays. The success of the Sandwich Program is outstanding, and the St. Vincent De Paul Society thanks parents, students, teachers, and staff for their continued support of this work of charity.

Parent Reminders
I ask parents for cooperation with the following dress code items:
Haircuts: Students should not have hair in their eyes! Boys hair should be off the collar.
Belts: All boys should be wearing a belt!

School Finance Committee
The School Finance Committee has been in existence for many years. The members, representing the parish and the school, are appointed by the pastor and the principal to serve a six year term on a rotating basis. The following are members of the School Finance Committee for the 2008-2009 school year:
Representing the parish: Kathy Atkinson, Barbara Cutten, Joe Grazioli
Representing the school: Steve Johnson, Sally Maske, Ray Williamson

The primary goal of this committee is to ensure affordable Catholic education for the families of St. Cecilia Parish. The committee meets monthly, assesses the status of tuition collection, and makes every effort to deal compassionately and sensitively with parents who are experiencing financial difficulties. This committee also approves the school budget and capital expenses, and based on the proposed income and expenses, determines tuition rates and fees for the following year. As the school year progresses, the committee provides consistent monitoring of receipts and expenses. We are grateful for the service these parishioners perform for the school community.

Birthday Book Club
Thank you to those of you who have donated books to the Birthday Book Club. Another 21 books have been generously donated to our school library. Click here for a list of those who recently donated or Click here for a list of available books.

St. Cecilia School 2008-2009 Yearbook
Capture those memories that last a life time! All yearbooks must be pre-ordered. (Click here) for the order form. Just complete the form, print it, and enclose it in an envelope (marked “Yearbook”) with $15.00. All orders are due orders are due by Friday, November 7.

Yearbook Pictures
Please send in pictures of any school event for the 2008-2009 School Yearbook. We would like to include as many students and events as possible in the yearbook. We especially need pictures of athletic events. Please send pictures to: Yearbook Staff--Grade 8 Room 14. We will be collecting pictures through the end of January.

Scrip!
Orders received:
October 23: 6 orders! - Help! Please Order Scrip!
October 16: 11 orders
October 9: 11 orders
October 2: 15 orders
Please visit www.escrip.com to register or renew your grocery cards and earn contributions for our school. Contributions can also be earned at by shopping at selected retailers and dining at participating restaurants.
To order Scrip please (click here!)

Mothers' Club News
Janice Biasotti and Stephanie Pasini are calling all Disco Divas for the first Mothers’ Club Fundraiser Committee Meeting, Wednesday, November 12th, 7:00 pm, location TBD. All Moms welcome! Thanks!

Mothers' Club Winter Brunch
Save the date! The Mothers’ Club Annual Winter Champagne Brunch will be on Sunday December 7, 2008, at the Olympic Club. Take time out to enjoy this special event with your friends.

Ninth Annual Post-Thanksgiving Family CYO Camp November 28—November 30 (Friday 1:00 p.m.—Sunday 1:00 p.m.) The Staff will be Msgr. Harriman and parishioners.
Enjoy our unique St. Cecilia Parish Family spirit together at CYO Center in the heart of the Redwoods in Occidental, California. Activities for the entire family (children, teens and adults) as well as time in separate groups. Free baby-sitting for 3-6 year-olds. All six meals will be provided at the retreat center. You choose...come as a family...or come as an individual. Stay at the Center ...up to 12 beds per heated cabin, or stay at a motel in Occidental for an additional fee. You may drive or be part of a car pool.

WHEN: We will begin on Friday, November 28th at 1:00 p.m. and end on Sunday, November 30th at 1:00 p.m

COST: $100.00 per Adult; $50.00 per youth ages 8-18; (children 7 and under FREE). This includes 6 meals, beautiful heated sleeping cabins, as well as use of all facilities, including heated lodge, heated pool, campfire areas, basketball and volleyball courts, outdoor chapel, playing field, and hiking trails. For those choosing to stay at the motel in Occidental, there is an additional $250 for a room with 2 double beds for 2 nights. Click here for the Registration Form!

SNACK BAR
As the girls' volleyball season winds down, we would like to give a huge thank you to all of the third grade parents and junior high volunteers for helping us get the Snack Bar up off the ground and flying high. Thanks to the past two weekend's volunteers: Teresa McNamara, Kathy McKeon, Marty McKeon, Susie Buckley, Steve Feiner, Sean Watkins, Mary Driscoll, Theresa Driscoll, Matthew Cheong, Pat Downes, Thelma Coffey, Regina Burke, and Henry Lima.

ATTENTION ALL FOURTH GRADE PARENTS: We need volunteers for the following shifts. This will be the last regular season game day for girls' volleyball: Saturday, November 1, 2008, 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Saturday, November 1, 2008, 12:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

ATTENTION ALL SEVENTH GRADE PARENTS: Boys' basketball season kicks off the weekend of December 5 which also happens to be the same weekend as the Confirmation Retreat. However, we still need help on December 5 and 6. Please watch the newsletter for upcoming requests.

NEW ITEMS BEING SOLD: Eddy Salazar and Katherine Ragusa are helping get out the S.C. Spirit by selling S.C. t-shirts at the Snack Bar. Show your spirit and pick one up for you or your family - they make great gifts! GO IRISH!

LASTLY: The Snack Bar will be closed November 2 through December 4, the down time between the end of girls' volleyball and the beginning of boys' basketball. We look forward to starting up again in December.

Boys’ Basketball: Try Out Selection Dates and Time
Parents and Coaches (Click here for player/team selection dates and times.)

CYO Cross Country Meet
Any student who wants to race in the upcoming CYO cross country meet this Sunday, November 2, at the Polo Fields, please meet Jeff Waite at the South Bleachers located next to the registration table 20 minutes prior to your scheduled race. Each racer should wear his/her SC uniform top. If you don't have one, wear an SC T-shirt. Jeff will issue name tags for all our runners with the required information for the race. See the CYO website for further information. We want to see many athletes out on the course representing St. Cecilia. (Click here for a schedule!)