December 2nd, 2024

Get ready! Our annual Five Days of Christmas celebration is just around the corner, bringing joy and holiday spirit to campus from December 9th-13th. Each day will feature a festive dress theme and a special treat for our students, ending with a visit from Santa and a blessing over the student body as we prepare for exams.

This cherished tradition is made possible by the generosity of our parent community. This year, we are inviting parents to support activities by purchasing something from the wishlist or by working with our Parents Club Chairs to support the activities in person or through donations. A $400 donation covers all 10 parent service hours. Other amounts are credited at one hour per $40 donation.

We specifically need help purchasing, picking up and delivering supplies on certain days. For more information, please contact our Parents Club Chairs: Michelle Custodio P '25 or Ivy Willing P '28

Thank you for helping us make this season magical for our Crusaders!

Dress Code

Parent Service Hour Opportunities

The opportunities listed in this section can help you fulfill your

 required 10 hours of service. Sign up today to get involved!

Cross & Shield Gala

Join the 2025 Cross & Shield Gala Committee!

We’re seeking a dedicated parent to be a member of our Gala committee as the Program Ads Chair for the upcoming Gala. Position Highlights:

• Program Ads Chair: Take charge of program ads, which help highlight our school community while generating revenue. This role is perfect for someone organized and creative who enjoys working with local businesses and families. This role can be done from home and is mostly email communication with local businesses.

If you’re ready to make a lasting impact at Tampa Catholic, consider stepping up as a Chair. We’re excited to welcome passionate and engaged parents like you to our team. Let’s make this year’s Gala unforgettable—together!

Please email Courtney Frisch if you are interested in helping

or have additional questions.

Faculty and Staff Christmas Luncheon Support

The plans are set for our annual faculty and staff Christmas luncheon on December 20th. You can get involved by helping to decorate the day before or helping set up, serve and clean up on the day of the luncheon.

Please consider signing up for one of the shifts on X2VOL to help make this an unforgettable event for our teachers and staff.

You can also make a donation by purchasing from this Amazon Registry.

If interested, please contact Meghan Dickerson.

Campus Ministry's Charitable Christmas

Mr. Mulligan and the Campus Ministry team are working on Charitable Christmas, an event where they will have a prayer service to begin the Advent season then process the cafeteria to work on a project for a charity. Purchasing items from their Sign-up Genius will ensure the success of the evening.

Donate Gift Cards for Faculty and Staff

Thank you to all who have supported our gift cards for teachers. We are on the way but still working toward our goal of providing one $25 gift card to each member of our team at the faculty and staff Christmas luncheon.

Please see use this link or contact Missy Vivino if you are considering donating a $25 gift card. The gift cards are needed by December 13th.

Enter your gift card donations & receipts in X2VOL for parent service hours.

Donation and Support Opportunities

The opportunities listed here are outreach opportunities that, while NOT counting toward parent service hours, are greatly appreciated contributions to our community.

Annual Toy Drive

Our 5th annual Blanket and Toy Drive is underway to help families of the agricultural communities in Hillsborough and Polk counties.

Please consider donating new toys from ages 0-17 to help spread a little joy this Christmas.

Donations can be dropped off in room 203 from Nov 18-Dec 11.

Another option is to purchase from the amazon wishlist. Be sure to select Tampa Catholic for the delivery address and it will be delivered right to school.

For more information please contact Señora Barragan.

Gift Wrap Drive

Tampa Catholic's Beta National Honor Society will be sponsoring a Gift Wrap Drive to benefit the Children's Cancer Center of Tampa this holiday season.

During the week of December 9-December 13, we are asking each grade to bring in the following items: Faculty/Staff-Bows, Seniors-Gift Wrap, Juniors-Tape, Sophomores-Gift Bags and Freshman-Tissue Paper. We ask that these items be brought into your child's Homeroom the morning of the week of the drive and Betas will be collecting these items from all of the homerooms.

Thank you for supporting this drive and opening your heart for this most deserving local organization.

Any questions, please reach out to the Beta National

Honor Society Moderator, Mr. Mark Szczepkowski

Packing Material Collection for Gala Baskets

As we head into the holiday season and packages start arriving, we ask for your help collecting packing materials for our Gala baskets! Items like bubble wrap, styrofoam, and other fillers are invaluable for safely arranging our baskets. Please save these materials as you unpack and bring them to the school in the new year. These contributions help us create beautiful baskets for our Gala. 

Any questions, please contact the Gala Procurement Chair, Jana Jenkins.

Learn more and sign-up to serve using your X2VOL parent account.

Girls Varsity Soccer - Press Box, Admission Gate, Concessions

Wednesday, 12/4

All School Mass - Set-up & Breakdown

Monday, 12/9

Monday, 1/30

Thursday, 2/13

Sign up on X2VOL or send questions to Missy Vivino.

Class Parent Representatives can help you with questions that do not necessarily need the attention of a member of TC's staff, faculty or administration: Do parents attend the games? How do I add hours to X2VOL? Where do you park for a school day meeting or event?

Junior Class Representative Michelle Wolfinger and Senior Class Representative Mirna Nieves speak Spanish and are happy to communicate via phone, text or email.

La representante de la clase del tercer año, Michelle Wolfinger y la representante de la clase del cuarto año, Mirna Nieves ambas pueden comunicarse por teléfono, mensaje de texto o correo electrónico en el idioma español. 

Please contact Missy Vivino if you have any questions

LEADERSHIP

Chairpersons are working to coordinate the events and opportunities and are the main point of contact for interest in helping with any event or opportunity. General members are essential in supporting the events through in person volunteering and donations. 

Please contact Missy Vivino if you have any questions

EVENTS

Events are great opportunity to earn service hours, be part of the Crusader Family, enrich the TC community and encourage pride in our students through our dedication and service to their school.

For more information on any event, please send an email to the chair or co-chair or contact Missy Vivino.

Crusader Parent Involvement hours are tracked in X2VOL. X2VOL will allow you to join a pre-defined opportunity or to add a personal project, to upload your receipts and to keep track of your parent hours.

• Each family will have one account for tracking parent service hours. This account will be established when you enter TC and will follow you through to your youngest Crusader's graduation. There is no need to create a new account each year.

• All hours performed on behalf of Crusader Parent Involvement hours should be tracked in that parent account. The parent account and opportunities are separate from the student account and opportunities.

• As stated on page 36 of the Parent/Student Handbook, Crusader Parent Involvement hours must be performed to directly benefit Tampa Catholic High School. Working for three hours at a non-profit organization will not earn parent service hour credit, but acting as a chaperone to TC students working at a non-profit as requested by a TC faculty or staff member will earn parent service hours. Writing a check to a specific team or TC organization will not earn parent service hours, but providing a meal to a specific TC team or organization will earn parent service hours once the X2VOL entry is completed with a receipt attached.

• Authorized donations of items will be credited at a rate of one hour per $40 spent on donations. A receipt must be attached to X2VOL in order to be credited for a donation.

• All opportunities during the school day or involving direct contact with the students require a valid Safe Environment Certification and background check.

• All parent service hours are due on or before April 7, 2025.

Questions regarding parent X2VOL accounts

and activity may be directed to Missy Vivino.

If you have a submission you would like to see in the Crusader Parents

Club Newsletter, please share with Allison Munden.