tvc.dsj.org | November 19, 2019 CATHOLIC SCHOOLS
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Giving Thanks at Archbishop Mitty High School
By Fionnuala LaTourrette ’20
The Bay Area is finally beginning
to cool down a little bit and leaves are
starting to fall from the trees, which
can only mean one thing: fall is upon
us. This means that Thanksgiving is
right around the corner. On Novem-
ber 26, Archbishop Mitty High School
students will be given the chance to
take a break from the hubbub of a
busy school day and reflect on what
they truly appreciate in their lives
during the annual Thanksgiving
Liturgy.
A special moment in the liturgy
will occur when Monarchs watch
a video of students from Queen of
Apostles, the elementary/middle
school adjacent to campus, as they
share what they are thankful for. The
video is a good reminder to every-
one of the blessings in their lives for
which they can be thankful, and of
how even younger students are able
to recognize and identify this sense
of gratitude. When our lives get busy
and hectic, sometimes it is hard to be
grateful for our blessings. A child’s
perspective can be very helpful in
pointing us toward gratitude.
Centered around the theme that
adopting a grateful spirit can change
the world, students will be reminded
of this message throughout the litur-
gy, as they sing “Grateful,” by Better
than Ezra, for the opening song and
“Blessed,” by Brett Dennen, during
the student and faculty reflections.
During the liturgy, students will hear
from Bea Scott, a Spanish and religion
teacher; Jimmy Burden, a Campus
Ministry intern; senior Urvi Bajaj, and
sophomore Sebastian Young as they
reflect on Matthew’s Gospel story of
the feeding of 5,000 people. The songs
will be played by Exodus, the school’s
liturgical rock band conducted by
school president, Tim Brosnan, and
during these songs and reflections,
the spirit of Thanksgiving will be
especially evident.
It’s easy to forget how powerful
gratitude can be in our lives. The
Thanksgiving Liturgy helps remind
everyone in our community to take
a grateful attitude and make it into
something that can change the world.
When we give thanks, we remain
humble and appreciative of the many
gifts we are blessed with, and this al-
lows us to share what we have with
others, which is truly powerful.
Saint Martin of Tours School Rose Garden Homes Tour:
A Student Docent’s Perspective
By Kate Campisi and
Caitriona Winston
Eighth Grade Students
Saint Martin of Tours student docent in
action.
“This backsplash is made of very
unique handmade tiles that accent the
green granite wonderfully. This wood
carving is a replica of the very last
picture of the homeowner’s deceased
mother.”
These quotes are two of the many
that were said repeatedly at the Saint
Saint Mary School in Los Gatos Combines
Pep Rally and Service
Every year, the parents, students
and staff of Saint Mary’s School get
together for three evening Pep Rallies
spread throughout the school year to
celebrate community.
The first pep rally took place on Oc-
tober 18, but there was something new
this year – a service opportunity. The
school introduced Acts of Kindness, a
fun way for all ages to participate in a
service project while enjoying a night
out together as a school community.
The Pep Rallies are a wonderful way for
families to spend time getting to know
each better, share a meal, and now – to
give back to the greater community.
The school partnered with the par-
ish to see where there was a need. They
quickly discovered they could decorate
over 100 brown lunch bags for lunches
that are delivered to the ConXión Day-
worker Center for men and women who
go out looking for jobs. You can learn
Saint Mary students decorating lunch bags
for the ConXion Dayworker Center.
more about this organization online at
http://conxion.org.
The parents and students can’t wait
for the next Pep Rally and Community
Service Project in January.
Martin of Tours School Rose Garden
Homes Tour. During this annual
school fundraiser, seventh and eighth
graders present homes belonging to
various Saint Martin’s families and
alumni. This event allows students
to showcase not only the beautiful
homes of the Rose Garden, but also
the exceptional public speaking and
presentation skills they learned at Saint
Martin of Tours.
The event is a great way to raise
money for the school and provides the
opportunity to practice life skills, such
as communication, all the while having
fun hanging out with friends.
The stories from the Saint Martin’s
alumni, who come back to visit at the
Rose Garden Homes Tour, provide the
motivation to work hard and excel in
the next phase of life. The skills learned
and the advice received at this event
and will be used in the students every-
day lives as they continue to believe,
achieve, and roar long after their time
within these halls.