Holy Cross Value of the Month - Educating Hearts and Minds

Announcements and Key Dates @ SJD

Monday, September 16

6:00 pm - Freshman Parent Night in the Library

6:30 pm - Sophomore Parent Night in the Library

Tuesday, September 17

8:00 am - Shadow Visits (Prospective Students)

Wednesday, September 18

10:00 am - St. Ignatius School Student Visit to SJD

Thursday, September 19

12:30 pm - Salsa Competition

6:30 pm - Information Session for Prospective Families

Friday, September 20

Junior CIP

8:15 am - School Mass @ St. Ignatius Martyr Catholic Church

Saturday, September 21

San Jose's Church Jamaica. If you want to volunteer, please click here.

Monday, September 23

Sophomore Service Retreat

Tuesday, September 24

10:00 am - Senior Trip to the University of North Texas

1:00 pm - Senior Field Trip to University of Dallas

Wednesday, September 25

12:00 pm - ACC Information Session for Students

Thursday, September 26

8:00 am - Shadow Visits for Prospective Students

6:00 pm - Volleyball HOME vs Faith Academy Marble Falls

Friday, September 27

Senior CIP

8:00 am - School Mass @ San Jose Catholic Church

Saturday, September 28

Application Saturday (Office Open) 9:00 am - 4:00 pm. To schedule an appointment click here.

Last week was full of excitement! We’ve captured moments of learning, bonding, and spiritual growth. Follow us on social media to see pictures of all the events.

Save the Date!

Pictures are ready !

Good news!



School Pictures are Ready!

View and order at https://shop.jostenspix.com/login

• SAN JUAN DIEGO CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL
• Event Code: FE111524
• Images are secured using the email address(es) provided to us by the school.

NHS Fundraiser

Dear Parents,



September is Suicide Prevention Month, and the NHS is sponsoring a "Do-nut Let Your Friends Feel Alone" Fundraiser with proceeds going to  VIA Hope , a local Austin-based organization that works to "change the way we all think about mental health."

VIA Hope focuses on providing education, training, and support to individuals and communities, promoting mental health recovery and improving services for those affected by mental health challenges.

We would greatly appreciate your help in making this event a success. Please consider donating one of the following:

• Prepackaged juice
• Donuts
• Monetary contributions

Your generosity will directly contribute to helping VIA Hope continue its important work in the community.

Thank you for your support! National Honor Society-San Juan Diego

Message from Our Assistant Principal

Dear Saints, 

After considering the feedback received from our community and the school’s philosophy regarding service hours, we have adjusted our service hours expectations to provide students with more flexibility.

The hours limit students can serve at a single event will increase from 15 to 90 hours. This increase is applicable as long as the hours are dedicated to serving the poor and disadvantaged, as outlined below:

“Direct service to the poor and disadvantaged is part of the Catholic tradition of practicing the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy through such acts as feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, clothing the naked, visiting the sick, visiting the imprisoned, giving instruction, counseling the doubtful, and comforting the afflicted.”

This will be retroactive to June 2024. If you have submitted more than 15 hours at an event but were capped due to the previous policy, please talk to Dr. Pellot so the appropriate adjustments can be made.

Christian Pellot

Assistant Principal

Athletics Events Calendar

Tuesday, September 17

5:00 pm - Volleyball AWAY @ Live Oak Classical

Thursday, September 19

6:00 pm - Volleyball HOME vs San Marcos Academy

Friday, September 20

Hilltop Cross Country Invitational

7:00 pm Football Away @ TSD

Saturday, September 21

JV Volleyball Tournament at SoCo

Tuesday, September 24

6:00 pm - Volleyball HOME vs Central TX Christian-Temple

Thursday, September 26

Football - Austin Royals JV

6:00 pm - Volleyball HOME vs Faith Academy Marble Falls

September Athletics - Newsletter

Softball meeting! Wednesday, September 18 during lunch any girls interested in playing softball, please come to the gym classroom ( Coach Vondrak’s office). You can bring your lunch! Questions or cannot make it? Please see Coach Vernieuw

TAPPS Compliance - all student-athletes AND parents must download the new TMS (TAPPS Management System), update their profiles, and accept the Acknowledgement of Rules to be eligible to participate. This is new and TAPPS is no longer using Rank One. Instructions can be found on the website: https://sjdchs.org/athletics-announcements-1

First day of Winter Sports - October 21 Please make sure your physical and medical history form is current by this date if you are playing soccer or basketball to be eligible to practice.

From the Diocese of Austin - 

We are happy to share a first-of-its-kind online “all year around” (not just “in-season”) platform for middle & high school student athletes and their parents ---- a platform built by Athlete Foundry.

Athlete Foundry is an educational technology company that has built a powerful online student athlete platform to help 6th through 12th grade student athletes increase their odds to become a collegiate athlete, increase their college financial assistance potential, and help prepare for life after sports. Bottom-line, a holistic on & off the field approach that gives you full command of your student athlete journey to help each student athlete build a better version of themselves.

The Diocese of Austin has teamed up with Athlete Foundry to provide its online platform to every single Diocese of Austin student athlete at ZERO COST to you; this unique offer is only for Diocese of Austin student athletes. Even if you are not sure about becoming a collegiate athlete, this tool lets you build your options, so you have nothing to lose and a lot to gain.

We encourage you to visit their website www.athletefoundry.com to learn more.

Additionally here is a video with more information: https://youtu.be/_nKJfHmyes8

SIGN-UP: Our partnership with Athlete Foundry guarantees you access to this platform at no charge all the way through 12th grade. Please use the link below to create a “parent” account (you will be able to add your student athlete during account creation).

Sign-up from desktop: https://app.athletefoundry.com/register

Sign-up from mobile: Don’t forget to download their app to put the power of the platform in your pocket (you can sign-up via the mobile app too, just download then click “sign up”).

Partner/promo code: DIOAP1100

SPA News (Saints Parent Association)

Thank you to all the parents who attended the SPA meeting last week. Below is the agenda of the topics discussed. If you can volunteer in any of upcoming events, please send an email to office@sjdchs.org.

The Connection Between Faith and Mental Health

By Mason Moore

Mason is a ​​Sophomore at St. Edward’s University studying philosophy, psychology, and education seeking a challenging position where he can leverage his leadership experience, communication skills, and commitment to excellence through the Holy Cross Mission.

In today’s fast-paced world, mental well-being is a growing concern, especially for young people. At San Juan Diego Catholic High School, rooted in the Holy Cross tradition, we believe that spiritual practices like prayer and meditation play a vital role in fostering mental health.

As Blessed Basil Moreau said, “We shall always place education side by side with instruction; the mind will not be cultivated at the expense of the heart.” This holistic approach highlights the deep connection between spiritual and mental well-being.

The Power of Prayer in Mental Health

Prayer, especially meditative practices like the Rosary, offers a way to quiet the mind and focus on God. In our increasingly noisy world, where stress and anxiety seem ever-present, this time of peaceful reflection can help to restore balance. St. Thomas Aquinas spoke of the importance of prayer, reminding us that “Prayer is the raising of one's mind and heart to God.” Through prayer, we are able to bring our concerns and worries before God, offering a moment of calm in the storm.

In the Holy Cross tradition, prayer isn’t just an individual act—it’s a communal duty. Bl. Basil Moreau believed deeply in the mission to support young people in all aspects of their life, saying, “It is our duty to educate the whole child, heart and mind, soul and body.” In this mission, spiritual practices serve as a cornerstone in addressing not only the intellectual but also the emotional and psychological needs of students.

Practical Spiritual Tools for Well-Being

At San Juan Diego Catholic High School, we encourage students to integrate spiritual practices such as daily prayer, the Rosary, and Mass into their lives. These moments of reflection foster gratitude, mindfulness, and resilience, all of which are essential for mental health. Prayer offers peace in times of difficulty, while habits of meditation can help alleviate anxiety, promoting both spiritual and emotional well-being.

By nurturing the whole person—mind, body, and soul—we equip students with the tools they need to face life’s challenges. The Holy Cross tradition, inspired by Bl. Basil Moreau and St. Andre Bessette, call on us to trust in God’s covenant, finding both spiritual and mental strength through prayer and reflection.

Ave Crux Spes Unica - Hail the Cross, Our only Hope

Lunch Orders

SJD offers lunch from Flavia's Monday-Thursday.

On Fridays students may buy lunch from student council, different options will be offered every Friday as well.

To order lunch click on the link below or students can scan QR located in the concessions stand before 8:30 am every morning.

Lunch must be paid with cash and students should bring exact change.

Academic Calendar 2024-2025

(Click here to see the calendar)