Please find in this issue

DON BOSCO PREP
“Empowering Young Men for Life”
Volume 126
January 2016
Please find in this issue:
Article
Page
Article
Page
Director’s Message
2
Mothers’ Guild
6
Principal’s Letter
3
Salesian Formation
Scholarship
7
Nurse’s Notes
4
Yearbook Corner
8-9
Invitation to Attend Teen
Suicide Presentation
5
Fundraising
10
MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR/PRESIDENT
January 2016
Dear Parents and Students,
Saint John Bosco is remembered in a special way each January. His feast
day is the last day of the month, the day on which he died at the age of 72
in the year 1888. He had spent his entire life for the good of young people,
and promised them before taking his last breath that he would await them
in heaven.
Here at the school that proudly bears his name, we seek to live his spirit. For us he remains a living
presence, in a sense, as we come together each day and seek to create a home, a school, a church and a
playground for the young.
Francis Besucco was a 13 year old young man from the hills outside Turin who came to Don Bosco’s
oratory in the heart of the city in the year 1863. A week after his arrival, he casually asked Don Bosco
how he might grow into a young man of honor, that he might be a good Christian and honorable citizen.
Don Bosco replied, “Francis, here are three tips to help you become really good: cheerfulness, study and
prayer. That’s the program. Follow it and you will be able to live happily and do a lot of good for your
soul.”
Those three elements are for us to practice too, a century and a half later.
cheerfulness
For Don Bosco, cheerfulness arises spontaneously from a
contented heart, content because we have done the right thing.
It is the happiness of one who is not self-absorbed but rather
open to God and to one’s neighbor.
study
Study refers to the doing of one’s daily duties. We usually connect it with
matters related to academics, which certainly holds true here. But it can be
broadened to include our responsibilities in all areas of our lives, such as family
and chores, athletics and the arts, and more – wherever we have commitments.
prayer
And prayer indicates our awareness that our life is a gift, given us by a loving
God, whom we wish to thank and to praise. None of us have created ourselves.
Rather, we were called forth by the grace of a loving God revealed to us by
Jesus Christ. Any life lived on its own terms can never yield happiness.
As we take our first steps into 2016 this month, let us commit to Don Bosco’s daily program of
cheerfulness, study and prayer. It is guaranteed to bring happiness to ourselves and to others.
Cordially,
Father James Heuser, SDB
Director/President
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FROM THE PRINCIPAL
January 2016
Dear Parents/Guardians,
Greetings and Happy New Year as we enter 2016! I hope that everyone had a relaxing and enjoyable
Christmas season, and was able to spend quality time with family and friends. Christmas is a wonderful
time to reconnect, rejuvenate and remember the presence of Christ in our lives. It is with good fortune
that it precedes the New Year and new beginnings!
I have always found January to be a wonderful time for sincere reflection. I share with you 10 ideas His
Holiness Pope Francis has suggested as resolutions for the New Year:
1. “Take care of your spiritual life, your relationship with God, because this is the backbone of everything we do and everything we are.”
2. “Take care of your family life, giving your children and loved ones not just money, but most of all your
time, attention and love.”
3. “Take care of your relationships with others, transforming your faith into life and your words into
good works, especially on behalf of the needy.”
4. “Be careful how you speak, purify your tongue of offensive words, vulgarity and worldly decadence.”
5. “Heal wounds of the heart with the oil of forgiveness, forgiving those who have hurt us and medicating the wounds we have caused others.”
6. “Look after your work, doing it with enthusiasm, humility, competence, passion and with a spirit that
knows how to thank the Lord.”
7. “Be careful of envy, lust, hatred and negative feelings that devour our interior peace and transform
us into destroyed and destructive people.”
8. “Watch out for anger that can lead to vengeance; for laziness that leads to existential euthanasia; for
pointing the finger at others, which leads to pride; and for complaining continually, which leads to desperation.”
9. “Take care of brothers and sisters who are weaker … the elderly, the sick, the hungry, the homeless
and strangers, because we will be judged on this.”
10. “Making sure your Christmas is about Jesus and not about shopping.”
Let us all resolve to collaborate together, in Don Bosco, as we educate the young.
During the month of January, we commemorate St. John Bosco, founder of the Salesian priests and
brothers and the patron of our school. The school community will celebrate his feast on January 29th.
We welcome during that same week, Fr. Steven Shafran, Provincial. We look forward to welcoming Fr.
Steve back to Don Bosco, as he conducts his formal visit at provincial.
I wish you all a Happy New Year, and let’s work together towards an exciting and fruitful second semester.
God Bless!
John Stanczak
John Stanczak, Principal
3
Flu Season is Here!
Flu season is on its way. Although the timing of flu varies from year to year, it commonly peaks
in January or February. Here are some tips to protect yourself and your family against this
contagious respiratory illness. It is not too late to get your flu vaccine.
First, recognize the differences between a cold and the Flu:
The Flu
A Cold
Onset
sudden
gradual
Fever
high, often with chills
none or mild
Headache
severe
none or mild
Muscle/Body ache
severe
none or mild
Fatigue/Weakness
severe
none or mild
Nasal Congestion
none
present
Cough
severe dry cough
none or mild
Sore Throat
possible
present
Duration
4-7 days, fatigue can last 2-3 weeks
2-4 days, congestion longer
Complications
Bronchitis, pneumonia
Sinus Infection, ear ache
Prevent spread of Flu:
Cover nose and mouth with tissues when coughing or sneezing and throw away tissues after use.
Wash hands often with soap and water or alcohol based sanitizer.
Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth since germs are spread this way.
Avoid close contact with those who are sick.
Stay home for 24 hours after you are fever free (without the aid of fever-reducing medicine)
Hoping your New Year is happy and healthy,
Mrs Cena RN
4
Don Bosco Prep Presents
REMEMBERING T.J
Open to Parent and Friends –January 19, 2016 - 7:00 PM
DBP Auditorium
5
January 2016
Dear Moms,
Happy New Year! On behalf of the Mothers’ Guild, we want to wish each and every one
of our families good health and happiness in 2016. We hope that all of the boys,
especially the freshmen, are excited to continue the second half of the school year at
Don Bosco. We pray, too, that our senior boys stay focused as they embark upon their
final months of high school. Congratulations to all who have received their college
acceptances and good luck to those who are still waiting. We are all very proud of you
and your accomplishments.
The Mothers’ Guild is excited to continue to provide support to our beloved Don Bosco
Prep. We have several things planned over the next few months.
First, please join us on Monday, January 11, at 7:30 p.m. in the cafeteria for a special,
informative meeting. A member of the Ramsey Police Department will be our guest
speaker. He (or she!) will be open to discussion on various topics specific to our
teenage sons including, but not limited to, drug abuse, social media, and bullying.
Come prepared with questions or just choose to sit and listen. We are certain it will be
an important and enlightening evening.
At the beginning of March, we will be hosting Pocketbook Bingo. The logistics are still
being worked out but please keep this one on your radar. It promises to be a fun
evening and bonding experience for our moms. Details to follow by email and in the
February bulletin.
Until then, all the best.
Jeanette Hanson
Gina Stanziale
Co-Presidents
6
DON BOSCO SCHOLARSHIP
Is being offered
To any graduate or alumnus
Who is interested in entering the
Salesian Formation Program
And studying to become a Salesian
Priest or Brother
$1,000 for the first year (per semester)
$1,500 for the second year (per semester)
Contact Fr. Jim Heuser
201-327-8003
7
Yearbook
Corner
IMPORTANT DATES
SENIOR ADS DUE
1/29/16
Senior Quotes/Activities
due 1/29/16
Senior Ads – deadline January 29, 2016
NEW
NEW this YEAR !!!! Parents must submit their
congratulatory ads using the Online Ad Creation
option through www.yearbookordercenter.com . Don
Bosco Prep is job # 5097. You can visit this website
to design, proof, submit and purchase your ads. You
can select a template, upload images and input
copy. Once the ad is created and proofed,
corrections can still be made. You must approve and
may print the ad before the purchase is final. Only
half page ads will be accepted. Each half page ad
is $220.00. Contact Ms. Cutter or Ms. Fecht with any
questions.
Senior Quotes/Activites - January 29, 2016
On November 17, an email was sent to your son containing an electronic
form and detailed instructions on how he could submit his Senior Quote/list
of school activities online. Please encourage him to complete the form
by January 29, 2016.
Do YOU have any school event pictures you would like to
submit to the Yearbook staff? See next page for instructions on
how you can share your pictures with us by using eShare, a utility that is
available through our publisher, Herff Jones!
8
9
DON BOSCO PREP
FUND RAISING
Based on the recommendations of the Meitler Study and as part
of the implementation of our Centennial Strategic Plan,
all Don Bosco Prep fundraising activities
for all constituent groups will be coordinated through
the Advancement Office.
If you have any questions or would like to discuss a fundraiser,
please contact
Michael Driscoll, Assistant Vice President for
Institutional Advancement,
in St. John’s Hall or call him at 201-327-8003 ext. 187.
10