September/October, 2016

Volume 53, Issue 1

ST. JOSEPH HIGH SCHOOL

KNIGHTS IN THE NEWS

GREETINGS SJHS COMMUNITY...

I am beginning this month’s article with an email I received from Mrs.

Cotti, the Principal of Notre Dame High School of Sherman Oaks, on the

Sunday after the game.

“Dear Ms. Poloni, I wanted to take this opportunity early in the school

year to commend your students, parents, faculty, and athletic staff. I at-

tended the JV and Varsity football games at St. Joseph on Friday night

and from the minute I set foot off the bus, members of the St. Joe's com-

munity were there to greet and welcome our team and fans. From the par-

ents working the concession stands and BBQ, to the men working the

chains, everyone was friendly and exhibited great sportsmanship. I was

most impressed when our band took the field. Rather than booing or even

ignoring them, many of your students cheered for them and compliment-

ed them on their performance. No team likes to lose, but your young men

and their coaching staff did so with class and great sportsmanship. Please

extend my thanks and appreciation to the St. Joe's community. Best of

luck this Friday against Righetti in your battle for the shield. From one

Knight to another---Go Knights!”

I read this email to the student body on Monday morning. Afterward, I

told the students that this letter is quite a compliment to all of them, as

well as to you, as it recognizes the pride we all have in being Knights. Let

us all continue our positive spirit and sportsmanship, both home and

away, in all we do!

God bless,

Joanne Poloni

INSIDE THIS ISSUEINSIDE THIS ISSUEINSIDE THIS ISSUEINSIDE THIS ISSUE

Youth Ministry ................... 2

Frosh Become Knights ....... 2

Art Fundamentals .............. 3

SJHS Service Program ....... 3

Golf Tourney and Bunco .... 3

Parent Board Welcome ...... 4

SJ Cross Country ................ 4

As God’s chosen people, holy and clearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. ~ Colossians 3:12

To Image Christ in Mind, Heart, Body, and Soul.

“Remember, wherever you go in the world, you are always a KNIGHT!”

YOUTH MINISTRYYOUTH MINISTRYYOUTH MINISTRYYOUTH MINISTRY

St. Joseph High School Youth

Ministry class joined together

with Bishop Diego High School

Campus Ministry for a leader-

ship training weekend in Santa

Barbara! The retreat included

an entire day of working with

StrengthsFinder facilitator

Stephanie Morris and adult

retreat leaders Jennifer Win-

newisser, Andrew Sacksteder.,

Darrell and Christy Reasner

and Elizabeth Gregory. The

next day was spent with Juan

Arambul who facilitated a day

of small group training. The

retreat ended with a Mass at St.

Mark’s in Isla Vista followed by

pizza at the beach. It was a

great time and very helpful. St.

Joe students made some great

new friends with Bishop Diego

students and learned a lot

about what it takes be a youth

minister and appreciate each

other’s strengths and talents!!

The Class of 2020 had their Fresh-

man Class Retreat at Waller Park

on Wednesday, August 31! The

Youth Ministers planned the

“Knight Around the World” retreat

and greeted the Class of 2020 with

a passport to the country that be-

came their small group. Each ta-

ble was individually decorated,

and the freshmen learned fun facts

about their country. Each student

received a passport that was

stamped at different activities!

The freshmen were fun to work

with, and they showed their great

class enthusiasm, even when the

sprinklers accidently turned on at

the beginning of Mass! Fr. Ed

held it all together and Mass pro-

ceeded! The Class of 2020 dis-

cussed the scripture of the year

and also experienced their first

traveling “Trust Trek!” Remem-

ber, wherever you go in the world,

you are always a KNIGHT. And

so, at the end of the day, each

freshman was knighted. Special

thanks to the freshman parents for

the generous amounts of snacks,

drinks, sandwiches, fruit, and

home baked goodies. Also the bal-

loons were beautiful! Thank you

for taking time out of your busy

lives to make this retreat special!

2

FRESHMEN BECOME KNIGHTS AT CLASS

RETREAT

SJHS SERVICE PROGRAMSJHS SERVICE PROGRAMSJHS SERVICE PROGRAMSJHS SERVICE PROGRAM

Knights of Service have been on the move early this year! Students

have been volunteering at many interesting locations! On Saturday,

August 27, SJHS students participated in Serve Santa Maria for the

fourth straight year. This year, students painted over graffiti under the

Santa Maria bridge, cleaned up Preisker Park, and painted a map of the

United States at Arellanes Junior High. Special thanks go to Justin

Rucker, St. Joseph’s class of 2004 and Mercy Church member, for be-

ing a great project

manager, and to Arel-

lanes Junior High

principal, Stacie Rive-

ra, who helped paint

the map with our stu-

dents and members of

Mercy Church. Check

the website for more

pictures, more oppor-

tunities, and service

deadlines.

GOLF TOURNAMENT AND

BUNCO LUNCHEON 2016

This year’s Golf Tournament

and Bunco Luncheon will be

held Monday, September 12,

2016, at the Santa Maria Coun-

try Club. If you don’t golf, con-

sider joining us for the lunch-

eon and Bunco. All proceeds

will benefit the scholarship

funds of St. Joseph High

School. If you are interested in

playing golf or bunco, please

call Ramona Souza at 937-

2038 ext. 163 or email

rsouza@sjhsknights.com.

Art Fundamentals is well underway with pencil and charcoal pro-

jects being completed by talented St. Joe's students! Bowls will be

painted for our collaboration with The Santa Barbara County Food-

bank’s Empty Bowls Project. Support our community and fill a stu-

dent's bowl on October 26th at the Santa Maria Fairpark!

3

Alumni Knight of Service: Justin Rucker,

‘04 and Mrs. Gregory, ‘81

ST. JOSEPHJOSEPHJOSEPHJOSEPH CROSS COUNTRY TEAM RUNS IN PACKS

WELCOME BACK FROM THE PARENT BOARD

4

The SJ Cross Country team has been doing service hours along with their running workouts at the San-

ta Maria Animal shelter. This has been a huge success and we are proud of our Knights. There is a

great video about the run that has over 1 million views! Check it out:

https://www.noozhawk.com/article/st._joseph_high_school_runners_ruffng_it_with_dogs

On behalf of the SJHS Parent Board, we

warmly welcome new and returning families

to the 2016-2017 school year. The Parent

Board is comprised of an executive board

and parent representatives from each class

who meet monthly with Ms. Poloni and Ms.

Perez. The Parent Board helps to facilitate

many of the events enjoyed by the students

throughout the academic year. Freshman

Parent Board members assisted at the first

Freshman retreat by contacting parent vol-

unteers to help with snacks and lunch, other

members offered refreshments to parents at

Substance Abuse Night, and we are current-

ly looking forward to Back to School Night

and additional class activities.