FROM THE PRINCIPAL: HGP NEWSLETTER November 2012

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1 FROM THE PRINCIPAL: HGP NEWSLETTER November 2012 Dear Parents: I hope this newsletter finds you well and back to your normal routine after the effects of Hurricane Sandy. We did lose a number of trees on campus, but the grounds and buildings are as solid as the traditions we live on a daily basis. On Sunday, November 4 the juniors received their rings during our annual Ring Mass. This year the mass was centered on the theme of Companions On The Journey, in which the students come to know one another through the breaking of the bread. The annual Morthers Guild Craft Show will be held in our Field House Saturday, November 10 and Sunday, November 11. This is a major event run by the mothers. On Tuesday, November 13, at 7:30 PM in our Dining Hall, we present the first session of our Parent Education Series. Mike DeAngelo, a doctoral candidate and adjunct professor from La Salle University, will speak to the students and parents on how to communicate to your sons about sensitive topics, behavioral pitfalls and how to avoid drugs and alcohol. Juniors and seniors will attend a similar presentation that morning. Parents of juniors and seniors, please note that attendance at any one of these lectures by at least one parent is required for current juniors and seniors to be able to attend the Prom on April 12, Junior peer ministers will once again lead a student morning of reflection on Wednesday, November 21. Our National Honor Society will run a benefit 3 on 3 basketball tournament on the same day to fund their annual scholarship program. We are in the heart of our admissions season for the class of Thanks to all of our parents who helped make Open House so successful. We have our make-up entrance exam Sunday, December 9 at 8:30 AM. If you know of any interested applicants please have them contact Ryan Abramson for further details. Second Progress Reports will be issued online Friday, November 30. We will not have face-toface meetings after this progress report. However, I would encourage everyone to review your sons grades and contact the teachers with any concerns you may have. Sincerely, Jeffrey Danilak

2 CHRISTIAN SERVICE PROGRAM UPDATE November, 2012 Below is information regarding upcoming service opportunities. Please review it with your son(s) and encourage him/them to participate whenever possible. Information about service projects is announced at lunch, at morning meetings, in the daily announcements, and through flyers posted on the service bulletin board on the second floor of Cornwells Hall. If your son(s) has already completed service applicable to this school year, please ensure that your son(s) has obtained a service verification form, completed it, and remitted it to me. Verification forms are available on the Service page of the school s website - along with the Program s Brochure and a listing of approved volunteer agencies and internet links to some. Upcoming Service Opportunities 1) HGP Craft Show Students are needed to help elderly and disabled crafters unload and load their wares on Friday, November 9 th from 2:30-8, Saturday, November 10 th from 7-9 AM, and Sunday, November 11 th from 2:30-5:30. Sign up with Mr. Fitz ASAP. Note: Students earn service hours only for helping crafters, not for helping the Mothers Guild decorate or sell items. 2) Saint Francis Inn HGP will send 4 students to this Philadelphia soup kitchen to help serve the evening meal. A van will leave HGP at 3:40 PM and return at 7:00 PM. Students who are interested in this service project should sign up with Mr. Fitzpatrick. The next trips will occur on November 6 and November 20. Students may bring casual clothes into which to change. 3) Holy Family Regional School HGP will send students to this Levittown School on the 1 st and 3 rd Thursdays of most months to assist with the after-school CARES program. Van transportation will leave HGP at 2:50 and return circa 5:30. See Mr. Fitzpatrick to sign-up and obtain a permission form. The next trips will occur on November 15 and December 6. 4) AARP Service Project On most Tuesdays, HGP will host a group of retirees from a local AARP chapter. The group will interact with HGP students through discussion and activities in the hope of promoting inter-generational understanding. Meetings will occur from 2:30-3:45 in the Fr. Brown

3 Conference Room (adjacent to Main Office). Students do not need to sign up in advance. One hour of service credit is granted for each meeting a student attends. 5) HGP Fathers Association Christmas Blessings Project Each year, the Fathers Association matches HGP families with needy families in the area to provide food and gifts for Christmas. The Association is still seeking students with and spreadsheet knowledge to assist in the communication and database construction necessary for this year s event. See Mr. Fitzpatrick if interested. Volunteer teams of fathers/sons will be needed in December on Sunday the 16 th from 9:00 AM -1:00 PM to deliver donated items. Stay tuned for more information from the Fathers Association about how to sign up for this portion of the project. 6) Fathers Association fall Clean-up at Libertae Each fall, some dads and sons rake leaves and do grounds maintenance for this half-way house for women in Bensalem. The project will take place on Saturday, November 17 from 8:00 AM - Noon. Sign up with Mr. Fitzpatrick ASAP. [Note: This is a re-scheduled date] Upcoming service and travel opportunities 1) Trip to West Virginia with Mr. Fitzpatrick March, 2013; open to seniors and juniors only; more details to be released in December. 2) Trip to Dominican Republic with Mr. Ryan & Mr. Griffin summer, 2013 (usually early July); those interested should speak to Mr. Ryan 3) Trip to Tanzania with Fr. Chris summer, 2013; those interested should speak with Fr. Chris. NB Sometimes, HGP learns of service projects in the interim between publications of this monthly bulletin. So, it is important that students listen to announcements and check the PowerPoint presentation in the dining hall for additional service opportunities. Thank you for your attention to this update. If you have any questions about the Service Program, please contact me via me at jfitzpatrick@holyghostprep.org Respectfully, Mr. Fitzpatrick and Mr. Eckerle

4 HOLY GHOST ATHLETIC UPDATE November, 2012 Winter Sports Registration Rescheduled; Important Concussion Education Requirement Winter Sports will begin on or shortly after November 16, The parent and student information letter can be read on the Athletics page of our website by clicking on "Sports Forms" on the left. Please read the Winter Sports Information link. Please read this thoroughly so that you can be prepared for the winter season. THE REGISTRATION NIGHT HAS BEEN RESCHEDULED TO MONDAY, NOVEMBER 12TH. CONCUSSION TESTING All Winter Athletes are required to attend the Concussion Awareness Seminar on Monday, November 12th at 3:30pm in Chapman Arena with our athletic trainer, Mr. Shvartsberg. Parents are encouraged to attend as well. All students intending to try out for Basketball (9th/JV/Varsity) will take the IMPACT Concussion Test at 4:15 that day. The other winter sports teams will be tested at a later date. All questions related to Concussion Testing are to be sent to Mr. Alex Shvartsberg at ashvartsberg@holyghostprep.org or x233 XC Defends BAL Title, Qualifies 2 to PIAA State Championships The Cross Country Team finished its season with its 17th consecutive Bicentennial Athletic League Championship. The team was led by Seniors Kyle Spielberger and Sam Kuchma, Juniors Dan Connell, Christian Kardish, Jacques Linder, Andrew Prior, Nick Elliott and Evan Calvo, Sophomores Patrick Dineen and Antonio Gil, and Freshman Joe Iwasyk. In the PIAA AA District Championships, the team lost to a strong squad from Pottsgrove, but became the District Runner-Up in their first year in the medium size school division. Juniors Dan Connell and Christian Kardish qualified as individuals to represent our team in the State Championships at Hershey Park on November 3 rd. Golf has another amazing season The BAL Champion Holy Ghost Prep golf team came in 2nd place at the District 1 golf championships held at Turtle Creek Golf Course. Individually, freshman Steve Cerbara won the District 1 championship shooting a two day total 2 under par 142. Sophomore Reilly Erhardt came in third place shooting a two day total of 145. At the Eastern Regional championships, Erhardt came in fourth place shooting a 74, while Cerbara shot a 77 securing thirteenth place. With their efforts, both Erhardt and Cerbara qualified for the PIAA State Championships held at Golden Oaks Golf Club in York, PA. This is the second time in HGP history that 2 golfers qualified for the state championships in the same year.

5 Holy Ghost Prep soccer takes District 1 AA boys' soccer title with 3-0 win over Pottsgrove Good luck to Ken Lawson 92 and assistant coach Davey Simpson and the rest of the soccer team as they continue post season play in the State Tournament. Congratulations to the 2012 BAL Champion Firebirds and to our All-League Selections: 2 nd Team: Matt Crawford 14, Ryan Ockford 14, Pierce Skelly 14, Tom Timmerman 14 1 st Team: Tim French 14, Ryan Roth 13, Trey Grupp 13 and Colin O Neill 13. Colin O Neill was also voted league MVP, and is a Southeastern PA and All-State Nominee. Congratulations to the BAL Coach of the year, our very own Ken Lawson.