PRESIDENT'S

PRESS

NEWS AND UPDATES FROM THE DESK OF THE PRESIDENT

Congratulations to our 2022 valedictorian, salutatorian, and STAR Student and Teacher!

Valedictorian: Katherine Graebner

Salutatorian: Maximilian Brogi

STAR Student: Samuel Grass

STAR Teacher: Ms. Lesley Bowman

Congratulations to Karen Travers who was honored by Archbishop Hartmayer at the Archdiocesan Office of Catholic Schools Employee of the Year ceremony on February 5.

THREE YEAR PLEDGE:

HOW DOES THAT WORK?

The financial goal for the Ring the Bells capital campaign is $12 million, which is twelve times as much as this year’s Annual Fund. As such, we are asking our families to stretch themselves when considering what they can contribute annually for the next few years. St. Pius X is offering a three year pledging program, which allows families to commit to a larger pledge that can be paid during 2022, 2023, and 2024. We also have recurring online giving options, allowing you to set up monthly or annual contributions via credit card.

You may contribute via:

• Credit Card at spx.org/ringthebells

• Pledge online or by mail

• Stock

• Check

• FACTS (current parents only)

• Matching Gifts

A NEW LIBRARY FOR A NEW ERA

I vividly recall memorizing as a child the different sections of St. Cecilia Catholic School library, all split up according to the Dewey Decimal system. Our librarian would quiz us on the contents of each area, and she was adamant that our chairs be properly pushed back neatly into their places at the tables. Our voices were to remain at a hushed level, ever appreciative that the library was a room of silent learning. Orderliness, calm, and independent study ruled our time within those walls. Flash forward to today in our Flannery O’Connor Library, and though the expectation has remained the same that students still enrich their understanding of the world around them through research, the means by which they go about accomplishing that task has changed tremendously. This is a prime reason why the renovations to our library are such a key aspect of our Ring the Bells capital campaign.

Our students now rely heavily on electronic subscription databases to unearth pertinent information for their projects, and group work has become a common pedagogical tool to promote interpersonal skills and learning. We hope to meet these adjustments by incorporating new design and style elements into the reimagined space. There will be small group breakout areas for focused work, collaborative steps for more organic interactions, and flexible seating and tables throughout to accommodate whatever the school day requires. Making certain the furniture is comfortable and easily reconfigurable is essential to encouraging our students to make the most of this favorite space on campus. Our library staff is eager to continue to bring to our students new and creative ways of engaging with their education, not confined to Dewey’s means of organizing. Through this campaign, we all can aid in that effort, as we promote our Christ-centered vision and mission.

Your generous contributions to our Ring the Bells campaign will help to realize our library’s new look and layout. We excitedly boosted its cause at the Under the Tuscan Sun Auction and Gala on February 5, where the "Fund-a-Need" portion of the event went directly to outfitting the renovated library with refreshed furniture and purposeful accoutrements. Let’s make certain that we give our students the best and encourage them to return again and again to our library as they explore the limitless possibilities a Catholic education can unlock.

Peace,

John Favier

President

St. Pius X Catholic High School

FACT OR FICTION?

There's lots of talk about the library renovation, the Field House, Seaver Field, and what this all means for the future of St. Pius X, but not everything that's out there is true. We're setting the record straight on the most common misconceptions. See below to find out what's fact and what's fiction.

CAMPUS HAPPENINGS

ARTS

The SPX Theatre program participated in the Georgia Thescon conference February 3-5. Students worked with professionals, participated in workshops and master classes, and performed. The SPX Thespian troupe achieved and was awarded "GOLD" honor troupe. Avery Jones' '23 film The Accident was selected for a showing at the Film Festival. Logan Yates '24 and Amelia Gerdes '24 directed and wrote our Freestyle Festival performance of 5 Stages. Shawn Smith '24 was awarded All Star for the Improv Challenge. The troupe received one Superior and four Excellent ratings for their Solo Acting, Solo Musical, and Group Musical performances.

William Kaplan '24 made the GMEA All-State Band. He will perform in March with top students from all over the state.

The SPX Dance Company worked with a world-renowned choreographer, Autumn Eckman, earlier this month. Her teaching and choreographic credentials include Northern Illinois University, the University of Arizona, Giordano Dance Chicago, and Hubbard Street Dance Chicago.

Artwork by Liv Diaz '23, Lily Perella '23, Mary Claire Morrison '22, and Kate Richardson '22 was selected for the All-State Art Symposium. Only 100 works out of 1600 were accepted by a panel of esteemed judges. These students will attend the event on February 25.

ATHLETICS

Winter sports are nearing post-season as most spring sports have opened their regular seasons.

Girls' Swim and Dive brought home the AAAAA state championship while the Boys' Swim and Dive captured third-place. Julia Herring '23 set a state record en route to a state championship in the one-meter dive competition.

Wrestling saw 12 wrestlers advance to the state sectionals in Cartersville. Wrestler Gene Smith '24 advanced to the state traditional finals. He will compete this weekend in Macon.

Boys' Basketball sits in the No. 2 spot in the AAAAA state polls with a 20-3 record and 13-1 in the region. Girls' Basketball moved to 14-9 overall and 12-2 in region play with two wins.

CAMPUS MINISTRY

St. Pius X kicked off Catholic Schools Week by celebrating our community with a multilingual all-school Mass on Friday, January 28. Throughout the week we highlighted Saints from around the world who represent different cultures present here at Pius. We also enjoyed meals in the cafeteria from the various countries that our student body represents. Students made rosary bracelets in the library with their theology classes and Fr. Michael blessed them. We ended Catholic Schools Week with an assembly featuring the Sisters of Life. The nuns spoke to our students and faculty about the importance of being Pro-Life and what it means to respect the dignity of every person from conception until natural death. After the assembly, we prayed a decade of the rosary with the Sisters of Life using our newly blessed rosary bracelets.

PRAYER FOR CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK

Heavenly Father, thank you for allowing Catholic Schools Week to draw our school community into a deeper love with you. Thank you for showing that you love us and you care for us. May our relationships with one another continue to grow because we see you in each other. May we continue to recognize the dignity and worth that you alone have placed within each of us. Lord Jesus please walk with us daily and help us to grow in holiness. We ask all these things in your most Precious and Holy name. Amen.

UNDER THE TUSCAN SUN GALA UPDATE

The St. Pius X Under the Tuscan Sun Auction and Gala was a huge success, grossing over $300,000! We'd like to thank our incredible team of volunteers, our sponsors, our attendees, and our remote participants. We are so grateful to the school community for your support.

WINNERS: If you purchased an item at the Gala and haven't picked it up, please visit the Donnellan Center by Friday, February 11. Someone will be in the office to greet you anytime between 7:40 a.m. and 3:40 p.m. If you prefer, your student may pick up the item on your behalf.

IN-KIND DONATIONS & SUB-CONTRACTORS

The magnitude of the upcoming construction projects at St. Pius X require a myriad of products and skilled labor to complete. Do you own or work for a company that might be able to provide an in-kind contribution of goods or services to the Ring the Bells effort? Would your company like to bid on a portion of the project?

Please review the list below and if you can help with any of these needs, or if you would like a link to the bidding process when it opens, please contact Blaise Wannemacher.

Bricks and Masonry

Commercial Laundry

Concrete

Doors & Hardware

Drywall

Electrical

Fencing

Fire Suppression

Floor Covering

HVAC

Lighting - Indoor

Lockers

Mechanical

Office Furniture

Paint/Painting

Plumbing

Roofing

Security Equipment

Store Front

Structural Steel

TVs/Electronic Billboards

DID YOU KNOW

When St. Pius X opened in 1958, most other Catholic high schools in the state were staffed by single religious orders. St. Pius was unique in that it was staffed by four different religious orders of women: Grey Nuns of the Sacred Heart, Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, and the Religious Sisters of Mercy. The staff also included lay teachers and diocesan priests.

ST. PIUS X CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL www.spx.org