Dear Parents and Students, As you well know, service to the poor and disadvantaged is a very important part of our philosophy and your child’s education. We want our children to recognize poverty and injustice in our world, and respond to it with a caring heart. In the act of caring for others we are changed—we are Christ for others. Here is an overview of how our children will be involved in social outreach this year. Kindergarten: They begin a mitten tree in December and during the springtime they pick up litter around the school building. First Grade sponsors the monthly “Free Dress-Bring A Can Of Food Day.” Food is collected and taken over to the parish pantry for St. Vincent de Paul. Second Grade will visit West Hills Convalescent Home for Seniors who are Alzheimer’s patients. The children will perform, do activities and converse with the residents. Third Grade will work with the Children Relief Nursery, adopt a child/family, and make cards for the elderly. Fourth Grade will continue to serve the residents at the Outreach Ministry in downtown Portland. Fifth Grade plans to visit Blanchet House, and visit the residents at Mary’s Woods Infirmary, and count pop tabs for dialysis patients. Sixth Grade is still working on identifying a project but will most likely join the 8th grade adopting a family through the St. Clare Giving Tree. Some students will deliver baskets. Seventh Grade plans to have a Lenten Sock Drive for Outside In. They will also participate in the Classroom Cares Books Collection for Scholastic Magazine. Eighth Grade, in addition to Adopting a Family through the St. Clare Giving Tree, will do a Food Fast with Catholic Relief Services during the Lenten season. Parents, CYO has been a vital appendage to our school program. We talk about teaching to the whole child, including the athletic, physically-developing child. CYO provides the best program to help round out our students. Not every child will choose to play sports, and that’s just fine, but for those who do choose it, the values CYO promotes, and the opportunities to develop team work and team spirit along with skill development is unparalleled. CYO is charged with coming up with enough money to rent our gym, pay refs, buy equipment and uniforms, and generally keep our program a “happening thing” for our kids. Whatever you can do to help them raise that money is most appreciated. There will be some fundraising. We count on our parents to help the St. Clare Athletic Board with person-power to run these events and raise at least a couple of thousand dollars. Thanks for all of your support in past years, and all you will do this year.