Jan. 18, 2013 - St. John Bosco School

January 18, 2013
Our goal is to expose students to the design, construction, operation and
application of robotics and
the computer systems for
their control. Our ultimate
goal is for students to have
more opportunities for
learning outside of the
classroom . . . Loving to
LEARN and Learning to
LOVE.
The following students will
We are proud to announce that our SJB Drama Club is be representing our SJB
off and running. We are hoping to allow our students to Robotics Club: Elyse
“stretch their dramatic muscles.” Students will learn all Charles, Natalie Pastrano,
Bryce LeBlanc, Reynaldo
around performance skills and improve on teamwork
Cano, Evan Jew, Marina
abilities. We look forward to lots of fun!
Borrego, Sofia Biller, GabThe following students are participating in our SJB Dra- by Guajardo, Raul Vallejo,
Theresa Pohl, Lauren
ma Club: Miranda Contreras, Erika Aguirre, Emily
Saenz, Elyse Charles, Katie Schilling-Ramirez, Gabrie- Cheever, Gabby Coronado,
lla Coronado, Pablo Medel, Reynaldo Cano, Josiah Ala- and alternate Richard Daul.
nis, Angelica Flores, Diandra Soriano, Mia Hernandez, A special thank you goes
to Mrs. Flores for arrangCiera Contreras, Sylvia Veras, Shannon Salinas, and
Victoria Garcia. A special thank you goes to club mode- ing our partnership with
St. Mary's University.
rator, Mrs. Terry Cooper.
We are excited our SJB Robotics Club
has started. We offer a special thank you to St. Mary's
University for their support
in our continued development of our robotics program. St. Mary's University professors and students
will be, and have already
started, assisting in many
ways.
5630 West Commerce St.
San Antonio, Texas 78237
Just one more week before we
celebrate Salesian Week!
Jan. 28 - Super Heroes Day, Kids Art
Fair (3:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.)
Jan. 29 - High School or College Shirt
Day; Science Fair (3:30—6 p.m.)
Jan. 30 - Mission Fair (10 a.m.-2 p.m.)
Spirit Day, any SJB shirt
Jan. 31 - Feast of SJB Liturgy - 8:15 a.m.
Field Day (P.E. uniform)
Feb. 1 - Early Dismissal
Twin / Triplet Day
St. John Bosco School
www.stjohnbosco-satx.org
Phone (210) 432 - 80 11
Fax (866) 214—8033
Mrs. Flores with our VIDES volunteer,
Miss Chelsea Shoemaker
Sr. Gloria Mar and Sr. Theresa Jones
finished training another group of VIDES
volunteers. St. John Bosco School is
happy to be selected as a mission of
education where Chelsea Shoemaker
will be donating one year of her gifts in
the field of teaching. Chelsea received
her Bachelor of Arts degree in April of
2010 from St. Leo University in Florida
with her major in Theology and her minor in English, and a lot of experience in
drama and theatre. Chelsea will be
team teaching English with Mrs. Flores,
assisting with retreat work with Miss
Boone and working with Drama Club
with Mrs. Cooper. Through VIDES,
thousands of young adults are opting to
make a difference in the world.
We welcome and are grateful that Chelsea Shoemaker has volunteered to
make that difference at St. John Bosco
School. VIDES USA is part of VIDES
INTERNATIONAL, an NGO in special
consultative status with the Economic
and Social Council and the Department
of Public Information of the United Nations. It provides service opportunities
worldwide for volunteers (ages 21-35)
What! More Standards!
At first, one is understandably feeling overwhelmed
and questioning, “Which
way do we turn?” There
are The Common Core Standards, Content Standards and Frameworks, school wide learning objectives and now the new “National Standards and Benchmarks
for Effective Catholic Elementary and Secondary Schools”! After a little bit of reflection, a sense of being grounded and confident replaces the angst as we exclaim, “Finally! We now have a well-researched, tried and true tool to help us face
in the same direction to share the vision of Catholic Education! We have been
given a gift with this list of standards and benchmarks for all of us to define, assess, strengthen and sustain excellence in Catholic education. Literally everyone
can participate more meaningfully and focused into rich and productive conversation, joining many voices and hearts in deepening our understanding, describing
our identity and providing the means to observe and measure our effectiveness.
Excellence in faith formation
and academics is a must!
Salesian education at
St. John Bosco School settles
for nothing less. How much
“The Preventive System” is mirrored in the National Standards.
“The Preventive System”, as St.
John Bosco’s system of education is called, is an original synthesis of education and evangelization, directing young people towards becoming “. . . good Christians and honest
citizens.” (Don Bosco) This goal is sought within a community where all participate,
though with different roles and areas of competence, in a journey of holiness
marked by joy, sharing and everyday effort, and nourished by the Eucharist and by
trust in Mary our Help.
One certainty that directs and accompanies every Salesian educator in the
classroom, on the playground, in administration or at home, is knowing that Mary
accompanies us as guide, teacher and mother. Mary, Mother of Jesus the Good
Shepherd, is at the origin of Salesian education, at the core of who we are. She
guided the lives of our founders, Maria Domenica Mazzarello and of Don Bosco
and continues to be the inspirer of every initiative in favor of youth to this day.
For Don Bosco, as for us, the dream of nine years is a precious mandate.
Jesus gave us his Mother as helper, and as teacher of an educational method.
Sure of the educative presence of Mary and docile to her invitation “. . . do whatever he tells you . . .” (Jn 2:5), we allow her to take us by the hand so that, day by
day we may learn her educational method, which is capable of transforming our life
and that of the young.
Precious words from our dear Don Bosco which can strengthen all of us in
the beautiful vocation of Catholic education are:
“Remember that education is a difficult art, and that God alone is
its true Master. We will never succeed in
it, unless He teaches us the way. While
depending humbly and entirely on Him,
we should try with might and main, to acquire that moral strength that is a stranger
to force and rigor. Let us strive to make
ourselves loved, to instill into our pupils
the high ideal of duty and the holy fear of
God, and we will soon possess their
hearts. Then with natural ease, they will
join us in praising Jesus Christ, Our Lord,
Who is our model, our pattern, our exemplar in all things, but especially in the education of the young.”
Our National Junior Honor Society took a trip to the Kenedy Ranch to observe
the benefits of wind farming; today’s minds reaching for ways to conserve our
natural resources while still providing the energy we need for the future.
We are very proud of our students who prepare and compete academically for our various academic competitions. Pictured here are several of our students who placed and championed
scholarships for their high standing in the St. Anthony Academic Contest. Let’s study and get
ready for the big one coming up! PSIA!
Learning is all around us! In loving God’s
creation we find the answers to life. St.
John Bosco’s students discover the wonder, joy and purpose of learning. . . To
know, love and serve God in this life and
to be happy with Him forever in eternity!