Latest Newsletter

Our Very First Issue. Enjoy! In This Issue:          Pep Rally!Mass with the Archbishop Upcoming Events Homeschooling Tips   Founding Families SpotlightBosco Boutique Creative Corner Virtues What's Going OnSpotlighted Recipe A Mom's Prayer The Family Business Pep Rally! The first ever St. John Bosco pep rally was held Thursday morning, October 17.  It began with several fun games.              The youngest children competed in the Mummy Wrapping race, which sounds easy, until you learn it must be done with toilet paper!  Then there was the Baby Blocks Balancing competition which involved stacking blocks on a plastic plate---on someone's head.  Next up, teams had to empty a tissue box one-handed.  That was a dramatic competition with the winning team coming from behind!  Finally, the high schoolers played Mad Dog, emptying tic-tac containers by shaking their heads.  The winning team was the one who cleaned up all their tic-tacs off the floor first!             After the games, the inaugural SJBA Cross Country team was recognized, followed by the high school debate team.    Olivia Gannon      First Gold Medalist  for SJBA!                           The long-awaited moment finally came with the unveiling of the new St. John Bosco Academy mascot---the Gray Wolf. "Grigio" was painted by Mrs. Kathleen McCoy, whose story can be found in the Creative Corner of this issue.  Gabriel Ferrari then led the entire school in a series of rousing cheers, getting everyone full of school spirit.  It was a very exciting morning!      Mass with the Archbishop       SJBA Middle School Chorus led the singing. The children had a fun day! Artwork given to Arcbishop Gregory Upcoming Events.   Tuesday, October 22 Mother's Monthly Reflection with Fr. Paul followed by confession    Tuesday, October 29 SJBA Picture Day!     Wednesday, October 30 Hillcrest Orchards field trip   Friday, November 1 All Saints Day Holy Day of Obligation High school in session     Saturday, November 2 All Soul's Day   Thursday, November 21 Thanksgiving Feast/Bosco Boutique* All school early release   November 25-29 Thanksgiving Break   Saturday, December 14 All School Choral Concert 7 p.m.   December 16- 20 Lower School Enrichment days   December 16-18 High School 1st Semester Exams Half-days   December 19-20 High school Enrichment days     What are "Home school enrichment days?"   Enrichment days are days that "count" toward your 180 days of school as long as you go on a field trip or assign other, educational work to your student.     Homeschooling Tips Diane Brooke's favorite websites to keep her home organized, which she says is a key component to homeschooling:   http://www.motivatedmoms.com/ Motivated Moms is a chore planning system to help you have a clean and organized home and still have time to home school! Available as a printable ebook, or an app for iPhone/iPad/iPod touch or Android.   http://www.accountablekids.com/ A great method for assigning chores.  Kids earn tickets for work done which can be used for privileges.     http://wellnessmama.com/4290/wellness-mama-weekly-meal-plans/ Wellness Mama for weekly meal plans.     Founding Families Spotlight The McDonald Family Kim McDonald is a founding board member and Director of Curriculum for SJBA in grades PK4-8. She has been married to her husband, Jerry, for 25 years, and has 5 children. Kim has homeschooled all of her children on a journey that started nearly 20 years ago "My professional background was in the travel industry until my first child was born. I instantly knew I belonged at home with her. I've always loved reading and writing, so homeschooling came naturally to me.I feel blessed to have a part in what God has granted us at Saint John Bosco Academy. Besides developing and maintaining a balanced curriculum and loving the children, my passion is to assist parents and teachers to hold fast to their "homeschool heart" in a culture that is hostile towards it."   The Wilborn Family Rymon and Julie Wilborn have been married for 22 years and have seven children ranging in age from 21 to 3.  They met at the University of Georgia and married right after college.  Desiring a strong unity and closeness in their family, they felt called to homeschool from the very beginning.  However, they found as their children increased in age and number that juggling all the aspects of their education as well as the isolation they often felt homeschooling on their own to be very challenging at times. They love SJBA for the community life they have experienced as well as the academic support it provides for their children.   The Ferrari Family   Anthony and Vivian Ferrari have been married 23 years and are blessed with six children:  Anthony (20), Sofia (17), and SJBA students Gabriel (15), Dominic (12), Lucia (10) and Gemma (4). They, along with Anthony's 91 year old mother, live in Cumming just minutes from SJBA.  Over ten years ago, they became disenchanted with the cost of Catholic schools and the stress that five day traditional school puts on family life. During that time, they met a wonderful Catholic home school family in Baltimore who became their inspiration. After prayerful discernment, their prayers were answered on the Feast of the Assumption, and they began their home school journey. Later, Anthony's zeal met Julie Wilborn's vision and dreams, and the two families along with the Brenner family, the Zuniga family and the McDonald family kick-started a small co-op that quickly gave birth to St John Bosco Academy.  "We have never looked back and are grateful to God and to good friends for giving us the courage to act upon His inspirations,"         The Brenner Family After a chance meeting at the ferry station in Germany, Chip and Dana have celebrated 22 years of marriage and have six children:  Lizzie (19), Alex (17), Caroline (16), Katie (12), Joe (10), and Sophia (6). We began homeschooling in 2005.  The following year Julie, Vivian, Dana, and Kim came together to form a homeschooling co-op.  The kids (and the moms) loved the co-op so much that the group decided to start what is now St. John Bosco Academy with a small handful of families holding school in the north campus (Wilborn home) and the south campus (Brenner home).  It is amazing what God has done with the early and feeble efforts of a handful of families!   Homeschooling has been a wonderful adventure for our family.  We have grown closer and we absolutely love the extra family time it provides us!  And we are so thankful to God for SJBA because it brings balance, structure, friends and a community to our homeschooling world!        Bosco Boutique   Hear ye! Hear ye! Calling all Vendors and Volunteers! Introducing  the First Annual "Bosco Boutique!"   We need your help to make it a success! The boutique will take place in the FCS Gymnasium during the Thanksgiving Feast on Thursday, November 21, 2013. We have limited space for vendors so time is of the essence! We also need volunteers! Open to parents, teachers, students and families of SJBA. Bring your wares, services, goodies and gifts to sell just in time for Christmas. If interested please email us atnewsletterSJBA@gmail.com.  Vendors please include your email, phone number, two images and a brief description of your wares. If you would like to volunteer, please send your email and phone number.       Creative Corner CREATIVE CORNER  "To all who are passionately dedicated  to the search for new "epiphanies" of beauty  so that through their creative work as artists  they may offer these as gifts to the world. " Blessed Pope John Paul ll - 1999 Letter to Artists    Kathleen McCoy-artist New to the SJBA community, Kathleen, a mother of three, was absolutely honored and thrilled to paint 'Grigio,' SJBA's new mascot.  Since childhood, nature has always intrigued her. Even today animals are her favorite subject-dogs and horses especially.  Oils are her medium of choice, yet she is proficient with pastels as well. Most recently her work was featured in the 2013 Piccolo Spoleto Juried Arts Exhibition in Charleston, SC, where her work received acclaim. If the painting of 'Grigio' struck you, check out the artist's website at kathleenmccoystudio.com. Kathleen is currently accepting commissions-there is still time for her to create an ideal Christmas gift!   We would love to share your arts, crafts or beautiful creations! Please send in a short Bio and a picture of your work to: newsletterSJBA@gmail.com        Virtues           The saints experienced great reverence, awe and respect for God. Some of the saints that we honour in this month of October showed reverence to the Lord in a very special way:   Love and Mercy of God   Great devotion was spread by St. Margaret Mary Alocoque to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and by St. Faustina to the Divine Mercy of Jesus.    The Cross   St. Francis of Assisi had an intense love of Jesus' poverty and humility, while other saints like Ignatius of Antioch died a violent martyr's death rather than deny Christ.     Spiritual Life and The Eucharist  St. Therese of Lisieux loved the 'little way' of sacrifice, while St. Teresa of Avila soared to the spiritual heights of perfection, but both saints had a fervent reverence to the Holy Eucharist.     Sacred Scripture   St. Luke wrote of the Lord's life in the Gospel.    Life and Creation    Blessed Pope John Paul ll wrote 'Theology of the Body'. "Be subject to one another out of reverence for Christ" Eph 5:21   Upon disembarking from an airplane, he would kiss the ground to show love and respect for the people and their country. St. Gerard Majella is the patron of expectant mothers.       Blessed Virgin Mary    All the saints had great reverence towards the Holy Mother of God. On October 13th - the feast day of Our Lady of Fatima - Pope Francis consecrated the world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.       "...that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend,  of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."  Phil 2:10-11     What's Going On? SJBA Moms Social Time:  every FRIDAY:  1:30-2:30 p.m.   Betsy Nemec and Tina Gannon would like to invite all SJBA mothers to the Custom Coffee House every Friday from 1:30-2:30.  This is the same time as choir practice and art class at the school.  Come for a few minutes of social time or stay the hour.  All are welcome! Custom Coffee House is across the street from Sharon Elementary School, off Old Atlanta Hwy (blocks away from SJBA).       Moms' Faith Sharing:  Thurs, Oct 24th  from 8:30-9:15am.  RSVP to Karen Wise krwise1@comcast.net.  LOCATION - Starbucks 435 Peachtree Parkway, Cumming 30041 - just a few min from SJBA Cherie' Czabala will bring her ipad so we can see (and hear) Fr. Robert Barron's reflection on the upcoming Sunday's Gospel. We'll discuss it briefly, then you can be on your way to accomplish the million things on your list!   HA! But with Jesus' words ringing in your ears and guiding your priorities!  ** For those with younger kiddos, feel free to bring them. Cherie' has reserved a curtained area at Starbucks for us. Just bring some coloring books, small toys, etc. We'll keep it brief so the kids don't get too restless.   Family Apple Picking Come and join us for a wonderful fall Field Trip to "Hillcrest Orchards" on Wed Oct 30th!    Get your school work done early or the night before and meet at the orchard at 11:00am.     Price is $5 per person (child & adults) which includes: Wagon Rides, apple picking, cow milking, petting farm, live pig race and an educational session. You will also get to try some cider and take home some apples!     There is a playground and picnic tables so after the tour we can enjoy a picnic lunch. The website for info and directions is: http://www.hillcrestorchards.net/school_tours.htm   PLEASE RSVP BY OCTOBER 23rd to Cherie Czabala at cherie.czabala@gmail.com if you plan to attend!     Spotlighted Recipe   Basic Crock-Pot Oatmeal         from Betsy Nemec   2 C milk 1/4 C brown sugar 1 T melted butter 1/4 t salt 1/2 t cinnamon 1 C oats (NOT quick cooking; steel-cut for best texture, or old-fashioned)   Grease the inside of a crock-pot. Add all ingredients and mix well with a wisk. Cover and cook on Low for 8-10 hours. Before serving, stir well and add milk if more creaminess is desired. Recipe can be doubled in 6-quart or larger slow cooker.   If there's time, set up an oatmeal bar for everyone to top their own! Serve toasted walnuts or chopped pecans, raisins/craisins, or other favorite toppings.   Variations: APPLES Add 1 C chopped apples and 1/2 C raisins BANANAS  Add 2 medium ripe bananas, sliced (approx. 2 cups), 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla, 1 tablespoon ground flax seed; may substitute coconut milk for cow's milk too *             Optional garnishes: additional sliced bananas, chopped macadamia nuts or walnuts, toasted coconut, maple syrup, additional brown sugar, additional coconut milk or butter CHERRY-ALMOND Add 3/4 cup dried tart cherries, 1 apple, peeled and grated (approx. 1 cup grated) or 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce; SUBSTITUTE MILK with 2 cups unsweetened vanilla almond milk and 1-1/2 cups water, 1/2 teaspoon almond extract, 1 tablespoon ground flax seed *             Optional garnishes: toasted sliced almonds, maple syrup, additional almond milk or butter     A Mom's Prayer O Lord, Omnipotent Father, we give you thanks for having given us children. They are our joy, and we accept with serenity the worries, fears and labors which bring us pain. Help us to love them sincerely. Through us you gave life to them; from eternity you knew them and loved them. Give us the wisdom to guide them, patience to teach them, vigilance to accustom them to the good through our example.  Support our love so that we may receive them back when they have strayed and make them good. It is often so difficult to understand them, to be as they would want us to be, to help them go on their way. Grant that they may always see our home as a haven in their time of need. Teach us and help us, O good Father, through the merits of Jesus, your Son and our Lord.  Amen.   - Submitted by Tina Gannon      The Family Business Here we would love to highlight any businesses of the families of SJBA. We can create your banner ad or if you have one already we can add it. Free Advertising. We Love feedback! Please let us know if you have any ideas for upcoming issues or pictures to add! Email us at: newsletterSJBA@gmail.com