Good Shepherd Catholic School

Home & School Association

We thank Mrs. Sylvia Mesa, Mrs. Pattie Fernandez, and Mrs. Cristina Espino for doing a wonderful job this year as Co-Chairs of our Home and School Association!

Summer Prayer

Father, Creator of all, thank You for summer!

Thank you for the warmth of the sun

and the increased daylight.

Thank You for the beauty I see all

around me and for the opportunity to

be outside and enjoy Your creation.

Thank You for the increased time I

have to be with my friends and family,

and for the more casual pace of the summer season.

Draw me closer to You this summer.

Teach me how I can pray no matter

where I am or what I am doing.

Warm my soul with the awareness of

Your presence and light my path with

Your Word and Counsel.

As I enjoy Your creation, create in me

a pure heart and a hunger and a thirst for You.

Amen.

HAPPY SUMMER GSCS FAMILY!

WITH LOVE,

HOME AND SCHOOL ASSOCIATION

Dear Good Shepherd Parents,

We are so grateful for all the volunteers and Room Mothers that participated in the Home and School Association for 2009-2010 school year!

The key to our success rests in people like you, who embody the spirit of greatness by saying, "Yes I can!"

Thanks for your inspiring dedication and tremendous example to the Good Shepherd Catholic School Families.

We want to thank you for your dedication, and being there from the very start. Words cannot convey our gratitude for your tremendous contribution.

It’s hard to believe that this academic year is almost over. With this in mind, we would like to start planning for next year’s Home & School Association.

If you are interested in becoming a Room Parent or Assistant, please e-mail your information at office@good-shepherd-school.org.

Please note that in order to be considered, your volunteer file must be complete prior to your selection. This includes attending a Virtus® session, fingerprints, and completion of a volunteer application and volunteer code of conduct.

However, at this time, we just need to know if you are interested to participate and be a great help to our school.

You may find information on the Virtus® training at www.virtusonline.org. However, if we have enough interested candidates, we may be able to host a Virtus® training session here at Good Shepherd.

If you are already a Room Parent you will need to be up to date with your on-line Virtus® articles. You must submit a “Training Report” to Mrs. Del Riego indicating that you have read the articles. If you have any questions on how to do this, contact either one of us.

The credit for our good deeds firmly rests with our dedicated volunteers. Thank you! For your interest and may God bless you and your families,

Silvia Mesa

Pattie Fernandez

Home and School Association

Good Shepherd Catholic School

“Ten plus One” Quick Ways to Pray

Do you struggle to find time to pray during your hectic daily life? These 11 suggestions for quick ways to pray will help you catch a few moments to talk to God in the most unlikely of places, from the shower to the elevator. Get started on your new daily prayers routines now.

Give an Alarm Clock Alleluia When your alarm goes off in the morning, open your eyes and repeat this line from the Psalms: "This is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad."

Commit to living in gratitude for the day, and you'll soon notice how much happier your days can become.

Practice Shower Power Water is a powerful spiritual symbol. As you soap and rinse in the shower, pray to be cleansed of any feelings of anger, bitterness, resentment, or regret.

Practice Driveway Meditation This one is especially for those who commute to work. Turn your time behind the wheel into time for prayer. Before starting the car engine, place your hands lightly on the steering wheel and breathe deeply several times. Ask the Holy Spirit to steer you through your day. Back out of your driveway slowly, and remain aware of the slowness.

Climb Stairs If you work on an upper floor in a multi-story building, skip the elevator and climb the stairs. Make your climb work for your body and your soul. Climb thoughtfully, breathing slowly. Use the time alone to experience a connection with God. Pause at each landing. Catch your breath, and focus for a moment on the blessings in your life. Say thanks before continuing your climb. Elevator Blessings No stairs? Next time you share an elevator with someone, say a silent prayer. Ask God to meet the other person's unique needs. Add a smile of your own.

Single-Tasking We all feel too busy. It has become a workplace axiom that multi-tasking is a good thing, but a growing body of research shows that it actually erodes productivity. Instead of dividing our concentration among many tasks, do one thing at a time-prayerfully. Offer your work as a prayerful gift to God. Ask for the grace to do it meaningfully, and without anxiety.

Fast for One Minute In times of stress, we are often tempted to reach for foods that aren't healthy for us. Before you reach for the fried foods, sugar or chips- try this. Wait one minute. Offer the minute to God and ask for the grace you need to control your appetite. Chances are you'll no longer be tempted until the minute is up. If you do give in-just remember, God forgives you. Forgive yourself. call the words of Isaiah (58:11): "The Lord will guide you continually… You shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters never fail."

Touch the Earth Native Americans have this saying: "Never let a day go by without touching the earth with your foot." If only a couple of times each week, take a five or ten minute break to walk in a meditative way. Give up your usual energized stride to pay attention to the movement of lifting your leg, bending your knee, and placing your foot. Observe your breathing and your body. Look around. Notice the squirrels, the trees, and the sounds of nature. Nature tunes us into God's presence.

Cook up a Memory Next time you cook, pay attention to the memories that are sparked by the dishes you make. Perhaps you have old recipes lying around that you have forgotten about. Bless all those who sweeten your recollections, thanking God for the spiritual nourishment these people have brought to your life.

Pray a Peanut Butter Minute This is a good one for moms of school kids. When making your child's lunch, whisper a prayer as though you are sending the prayer right into your child's meal. You might even tuck in a blessing on a post-it note

Excerpted from "Grace on the Go: 101 Quick Ways to Pray" by Barbara Bartocci with permission from Morehouse Publishing.

Our Welcome Back Dance was wonderful!

We thank all the Room Mothers and those who worked so hard to make this evening possible. We especially thank Mrs. Mesa, Mrs. Espino and the Men's Club!