2023 Catholic Schools Week at Gross Catholic

Aloha and Mahalo to all who make Gross Catholic Fin-tastic!

National Catholic Schools Week (CSW) is an annual celebration of Catholic education in the United States. Now entering its 49th anniversary year, CSW has traditionally been held the last week in January. #CSW23

Catholic Schools Week Schedule

Parent Paws 11-18-2022

Welcome to the Parent Paws Newsletter!

The Parent Paws Newsletter appears in the News section of our website every Friday during the school year.

From The Principal

Thank you to everyone that volunteered at our Open House last Sunday and to those of you who attended. Also a BIG thank you to Mr. Larson for planning and coordinating a very successful day. We had a record number of families attend.

Also, thank you to all who helped out on Thursday evening, with the Accreditation interviews. We appreciate all your help with this process through the surveys you all completed, to those participating in the various interviews and for allowing your students to participate as well.

The holiday seasons are upon us and that means cooler weather. Please continue to monitor your family’s health. If your student is not feeling well, keep them home and contact the office.

Semester exam schedule

  • Wednesday Dec. 14th: Periods 1, 2, 3
  • Thursday, Dec. 15th: Periods 4, 5, 6
  • Friday, Dec. 16th: Periods 7, 8

More details about semester exams to come

Announcements

Find out more info about the game and purchase tickets now to the Class B State Football Championship game on Tuesday, November 22nd at 7:15 PM.

Student Council is sponsoring a Blood Drive on Wednesday, November 30th from 7:30 AM – 1:30 PM in the gym.

Gross Catholic High School is looking for a Director of Finance and Staff Accountant. The position offers a competitive salary and benefits including: medical, dental, vision insurance; matching 403B; generous vacation and holidays; tuition remission; scheduling flexibility; summer hours/off Fridays; Catholic mission and family environment; free access to all home games/events; and a team of fun, caring colleagues. You can find job qualifications and responsibilities in the employment section of our website.

Reserve your 2022-23 yearbook today for the early bird price of $70. Books can be ordered online at yearbookforever.com or by check to the front office.

You can read Catholic Charities monthly mental health newsletter now. Lea el boletín en Español.

Congratulations to this week’s $50 Booster Club Calendar winners Lynne & Rich Laux!

Our “Cougars Leading the Way” campaign provides an opportunity to recognize our students for being a leader and demonstrating our core values. The President, Principal, and leadership team will be recognizing students who are demonstrating our core values in the classroom, on the athletic field/court, and in the community, with a limited edition sticker. Students will also be recognized in the spring edition of Dux Esto magazine. These stickers are available to parents, alumni, and friends of Gross Catholic only by making a gift to our annual fund through the Cougars Leading the Way campaign. All gifts $30+ are eligible to receive a “Cougars Leading the Way” sticker. If you would like to purchase a sticker or sponsor student recognition, please make your gift now.

Thank You for Reading Parent Paws

Finally, we want express our gratitude to you for reading this week’s edition of Parent Paws!  Stay up to date on all that is happening by going to our News section.

What You May Have Missed

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Parent Paws 11-11-2022

Welcome to the Parent Paws Newsletter!

The Parent Paws Newsletter appears in the News section of our website every Friday during the school year.

From The Principal

Thanksgiving break is quickly approaching as well and soon December will be here. Semester exams are December 14th, 15th and 16th. Please remind your student to stay on top of their academics so that they are prepared for their semester exams and don’t feel rushed and unprepared.

Remember there is no school on Monday, November 14th and the office will be closed as well. Classes will resume on Tuesday, Nov. 15th. Thanksgiving break is Nov. 23rd through Nov. 27th with classes resuming on Monday, Nov. 28th.

Again, thank you for all your cooperation and working with us at school as we approach the end of our first semester. It truly does take a village to help our students become the best version of themselves as they can be.

Announcements

We need a couple more volunteers to help with our “Sip and Sing” event. Please consider helping with this event. If you prefer to attend the event you can register now.

Open House is this Sunday from 11 AM – 2 PM. Please join us with your younger students and also help us spread the word and encourage all to come. You can RSVP now.

Gross Catholic High School is looking for a Director of Finance and Staff Accountant. The position offers a competitive salary and benefits including: medical, dental, vision insurance; matching 403B; generous vacation and holidays; tuition remission; scheduling flexibility; summer hours/off Fridays; Catholic mission and family environment; free access to all home games/events; and a team of fun, caring colleagues. You can find job qualifications and responsibilities on our website.

Watch the varsity football team take on Scottsbluff tonight at 7 PM. This is behind a paywall.

Orders are being accepted for the 2022-23 yearbook! Reserve your copy today at the early-bird price of $70, either online at yearbookforever.com or by check to the school office. Also, there are a few 2021-22 books still available. Email kmiecik@gcgmail.org for more information.

You can read Catholic Charities monthly mental health newsletter now. Lea el boletín en Español.

Congratulations to this week’s $50 Booster Club Calendar winner Eric Wieczorek!

Thank You for Reading Parent Paws

Finally, we want express our gratitude to you for reading this week’s edition of Parent Paws!  Stay up to date on all that is happening by going to our News section.

What You May Have Missed

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Gross Catholic Adds New Admissions Director

New Admissions Director, Ryan Larson

Mr. & Mrs. LarsonMr. Ryan Larson comes to us from more than a decade of recruitment experience at the college level. Most recently, he was Assistant Registrar for the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha. He has served in admissions leadership roles at Buena Vista University, Iowa Western Community College, and the University of South Dakota – where he recruited primarily from the Omaha metro area.

From Farm to Admissions Director

He grew up on a farm outside of the small town of Ute, Iowa (70 miles northeast of Omaha) and attended Charter Oak-Ute High School. Mr. Larson and wife Samantha reside in Council Bluffs with their dog Molly. In his free time, he enjoys woodworking, watching sports, traveling, photography and spending time with family.

The Most Important Thing I Learned in High School Was

Getting involved with athletics and clubs gives you a great sense of school pride and helps create lifelong friendships.

My Favorite Movie Is

Field of Dreams

If I Were a Superhero, My Superpower Would Be

The ability to instantly teleport to other locations

My Favorite Place I Have Traveled to Is

New York City

What Do You Look Forward to the Most About Working at Gross Catholic?

I look forward to working with the great staff and students here at Gross Catholic to recruit future Cougars!

Welcome to the Cougar Family Mr. Ryan Larson!

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Parent Paws 10-28-2022

Welcome to the Parent Paws Newsletter!

The Parent Paws Newsletter appears in the News section of our website every Friday during the school year.

From The Principal

Where does the time go? We are approaching the end of October and moving right along into November. With that comes the holidays and soon semester exams and Christmas break. Don’t forget to keep looking at the calendar for updates. There are a lot of things happening these next few days, weeks and months and soon the holidays will be here.

As we move forward into our second quarter, please keep an eye on your student’s academic success. We find that the first semester goes quickly and it is easy to fall behind. Please remind them often to turn their work in on time and spend some extra time studying for tests and quizzes. Many of the students on progress report are missing daily homework and then scoring low on exams. This is a direct correlation to each other. We are also mandating an after school study hall for students on their 2nd progress report. These students will be required to attend a mandatory study hall from 3:00 to 3:30 PM, Monday through Thursday.

Thank you for your continued cooperation. It truly does take a village to keep our students moving in the right direction.

Announcements

Open House is Sunday, November 13th from 11 AM – 2 PM. Please join us with your younger students and also help us spread the word and encourage all to come. You can RSVP now.

Watch the varsity football team take on Mount Michael tonight at 7 PM.

Please remind your students they need to charge their laptops or tablets for school every night. They should also bring their charger to school in case they need it during the day.

Looking for a Christmas present for your favorite Cougar? House sweatshirts make a great gift. Students can wear these sweatshirts to school on Mondays. Orders are due to the office by October 28th and will be delivered in time for Christmas! Order forms are now available.

You can read Catholic Charities monthly mental health newsletter now. Lea el boletín en Español.

We need your help with “Sip and Sing”. This is a very fun event to volunteer at! People will sample wine, whiskey and beer and play Music BINGO! Many spots are available to help out. Sign up now.

Congratulations to this week’s $50 Booster Club Calendar winners Dan & Kris Placzek and Paul Casart!

Counselors Corner

Junior students have 3 assignments to complete for Mrs. McNamara regarding college and future planning. Ask your junior what they need to do for Mrs. McNamara. Have them show you the Class of 2024 Google classroom.

Senior parents: Please work to complete the FAFSA with your student. If you need help, look for resources in the parent newsletter or consider calling EducationQuest for a free appointment, 402-391-4033.

Check in with your senior about college applications and scholarships! 4 senior newsletters are available in the Class of 2023 Google classroom! FAFSA info is also in the Google classroom.

Special thanks to all who made our first College and Career Day such a huge success!

Campus Ministry

We are collecting cans of pasta sauce! Each year Archdiocesan high schools join together to provide meals of families in need. Currently we only have 650 cans collected. Our pasta sauce drive ends on November 9th. Please consider helping us reach our 1600 can goal!

Thank You for Reading Parent Paws

Finally, we want express our gratitude to you for reading this week’s edition of Parent Paws!  Stay up to date on all that is happening by going to our News section.

What You May Have Missed

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Sip & Sing Tasting Event

Join Us at Sip & Sing 2022 November 18th

Sip & Sing Questions

If you are over 21 years old, we have 7 important questions for you…
1. Do you like to taste different kinds of whiskeys?
2. Do you like to taste different kinds of wines?
3. Do you like to taste different kinds of beer?
4. Do you like to snack on free appetizers?
5. Do you like singing along to all the hits?
6. Do you like musical bingo?
7. Do you like to have fun?
If you answered “yes” to any of the above questions, we have a special event you may enjoy.

Sip & Sing is Just For You!

It’s the Sip & Sing tasting event on Friday, November 18th at Gross Catholic High School.
Sign Up Now

We have whiskey, wine, and beer stations for your sampling enjoyment beginning at 6:30 PM. All refreshments provided by our dear friends at Cornhusker Beverage.

We have free appetizers provided by Eddie’s Catering.

We have bingo starting at 7:30 PM provided by the Music Bingo People.

We have fabulous prizes and exciting raffles.

And we have a whole lot of fun starting the minute you step inside!

All that for $50 per person. Text your friends, get together and buy a table or two.

All the Details

What: Sip & Sing Tasting Event (21 & over only)
Where: Gross Catholic High School (Enter at the west commons doors)
When: Friday, November 18th, 2022 (6:30 PM tasting, 7:30 bingo)
Why: To get your friends together, have fun, and build community
How much: $50 per person
We will see you there!

Sign Up Now

Further Information?

Need more information? Call Dawn Sledge at 402-734-2000 (Ext. 124) or email her at dsledge@grosscatholic.org.

Dho Sisters Selected for 2022 All-State Band

All-State Band Honorees

Each year, approximately 3,000 of the best high school musicians in the state audition for the Nebraska All-State Band, Chorus, Jazz Band and Orchestra, sponsored by the Nebraska Music Education Association. Selection as a member of one of these groups is one of the highest music honors attainable in Nebraska.

Anna and Amy Selected

Mr. Dan Sodomka, Director of Band Affairs for the Nebraska Music Education Association, is pleased to announce that Gross Catholic senior Anna Dho and freshman Amy Dho will be among the 161 students selected to be a part of the 2022 All-State Band. Guest conductor for the group will be Dr. Cynthia Johnston Turner, Dean—Faculty of Music at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario.

Anna and Amy Hail from South Korea

Sisters, Anna and Amy, moved to the US four years ago from Busan, South Korea. Anna has been playing the flute since she was nine years old and had ambitions of joining her grade school youth orchestra in Busan. She stated “The orchestra looked great playing their instruments as a large group of about 80 people, and I wanted to be one of those who make great harmony. I auditioned and was selected to play with the orchestra when I was 10.”

The Strengths of the Dhos

Anna Dho All-StateAnna believes one of her strengths is that she has a good ability to interpret songs. “Understanding the song’s mood and the composer’s intentions makes me a better performer. And I try to convey the feelings of the music to listeners,” she said.

Any Dho Freshman Amy Dho has been playing the clarinet for the past five years. Amy attended one of her sister’s orchestra performances and loved the uniformity and sound from the musicians and aspired to play in the orchestra as well. Patience and perseverance are Amy’s strengths, validated by her countless hours of practicing for the All-State Band audition. She explains “I kept practicing until my body remembered the song without focusing on the music, so during the audition I could play with fewer mistakes”.

All-State Rehearsals and Concert

The band will rehearse Wednesday, November 16th through Friday, November 18th on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln campus, the host site of the 2022 NMEA Conference/Clinic. A final public concert will be held on Friday, November 18th, 7:30 p.m. at the Lied Center for the Performing Arts on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln campus.

All-State Cougar Congrats

The Cougar Family offers their sincere congratulations to Ann and Amy on making All-State Band. We are so proud of you!

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First Quarter Honor Roll Announced

Congrats to our Honor Roll Students!

Congratulations to our 1st Quarter Honor Roll students. High Honors is awarded to students who earn a grade point average of 3.75 or higher. Honors is awarded to students who average 3.25 to 3.75.

This quarter, our students represent over 20 different parishes in the Omaha Archdiocese.

Freshman High Honors

Brace Adamson, St. Bernadette
Daphne Campos, St. Bridget
Alyssa Cap, St. Thomas More
Cooper Capece, Mary Our Queen
Ryker Casart, St. Bernadette
Olivia Chau, St. Columbkille
Jason Demman, St. Columbkille
Amy Dho, no parish listed
Tyson Heilig, no parish listed
Lauren Kosse, St. Gerald
Charlie Kuiper, St. Thomas More
Abigail Lee, St. Mary’s Bellevue
Logan Legner, St. Mary’s Bellevue
Sienna Miller, St. Gerald
Alex Nano, Holy Cross
Hannah Marie Payumo, St. Frances Cabrini
Ryan Stuhr, St. Columbkille
Nicholas Swiecicki, St. Mary’s Bellevue
Chloe Thompson, St. Gerald
Elisabeth Upah, St. Thomas More
Louise Waldron, St. Gerald
Anna Zuber, Our Lady Of Lourdes

Freshman Honors

Bennet Achterhoff, St. Mary’s Bellevue
Maddie Alvarez, St. Columbkille
Derek Balis, St. Gerald
Tessie Biros, St. Joan of Arc
John Blickenstaff, St. Gerald
Erin Cassoutt, St. Matthew The Evangelist
Dominic Chiarello, St. Thomas More
Daniel Cogswell, St. Bernadette
Brooklyn Donaldson, St. Gerald
Mariah Dutcher, St. Thomas More
Maggie Earnest, St. Bernadette
Molly Exline, St. Thomas More
Olivia Goodwin, St. Thomas More
Eric Hall, St. Columbkille
Lucy Kaczmarek, Holy Ghost
Lucy Linder, St. Bernadette
Kolbie Minardi, St. Columbkille
Ava Moline, St. Columbkille
Griffin Pechar, St. Columbkille
Carter Persing, Mary Our Queen
Emiyah Pettis, no parish listed
Cassandra Rexin, St. Gerald
Mackenzie Riggs, St. Columbkille
Maximus Rock, Holy Cross
Carter Sauley, St. Matthew The Evangelist
Mia Winkelmann, St. Columbkille
Zachary Yeshnowski, St. Columbkille

Sophomore High Honors

Laura Acevedo Sanchez, no parish listed
Marie Brousek, St. Columbkille
Amy Campos, Sts. Peter & Paul
Yasmin Cardenas, Sts. Peter & Paul
Widni Castillo Menjivar, All Saints
Alex Cogswell, St. Bernadette
Mia Donohue, St. Bernadette
Adelade Fehrman, St. Gerald
Shawn Gomez, St. Columbkille
Robert Greenhagen, St. Gerald
Jacob Heffelfinger, St. Columbkille
Joshua Jansen, St. Bernadette
Keaton Meyer, St. Gerald
Grace Nilson, St. Bernadette
Mae Peters, Our Lady Of Lourdes
Andrew Powers, St. Columbkille
Ava Puentes, St. Gerald
Evan Rexin, St. Gerald
Taylor Ross, no parish listed
Mackenzie Serow, St. Columbkille
Kelsey Sigmund, St. Gerald
Grace Wozniak, St. Columbkille
Camila Zamora, Our Lady Of Guadalupe

Sophomore Honors

Thomas Brousek, St. Columbkille
Aillyn Bugarin, St. Francis Of Assisi
Olivia Cap, St. Thomas More
Alyvia Christensen, St. Columbkille
Armando Cordero Sanchez, no parish listed
Nghi Dam, St. Peter
Tony-Maria Digny, St. Gerald
Peter Ginn, St. Columbkille
Ashley Gogal, no parish listed
Autumn Hall, St. Columbkille
Jane Hiatt, St. Bernadette
Noah Holoubek, St. Stephen The Martyr
Lucas Janovich, St. Gerald
Joelle Krzemien, St. Gerald
Gracye Laney, St. Columbkille
Nicholas Maldonado, Sts. Peter & Paul
Raymond Mansisidor, Our Lady Of Peace Offutt AFB
Kaden Mumm, Our Lady Of Lourdes
Anna Rice, St. Bernadette
Brady Robbins, no parish listed
Dominic Roos, St. Mary’s Bellevue
Jessica Treu, St. Matthew The Evangelist
Mary Kate Upah, St. Thomas More
Kali Wonderlich, St. Gerald
Abigail Zeleny, St. Gerald

Junior High Honors

Arianna Alcala, St. Thomas More
Anush Bhujel, no parish listed
Joseph Conner, St. Wenceslaus
Ella Curry, St. Bernadette
Cooper Franks, St. Bernadette
Megan Hempel, St. Columbkille
Makenzie Hughes, St. Bernadette
Anna Jacobs, St. Gerald
Ainsley Krehbiel, Mary Our Queen
Ayla Lee, St. Mary’s Bellevue
Augustine Maldonado, Sts. Peter & Paul
Connor McGarry, St. Mary’s Bellevue
Nicholas Meier, St. Gerald
Jack Miller, St. Columbkille
Marissa Monico, St. Columbkille
Monica Mora-Becerra, St. Francis Of Assisi
Raiyah Nader, Greek Orthodox
Nathan Pechar, St. Columbkille
William Pelton, St. Columbkille
Madison Riggs, St. Columbkille
Grace Riha, St. Bernadette
Noemi Riniková, St. Columbkille
Aaron Schmitz, St. Mary’s Bellevue
Molly Shanahan, St. Columbkille
Anna Simpson, St. Columbkille
Lauren Stuhr, St. Columbkille
Savana Sweeney, St. Columbkille
Christian Swiecicki, St. Mary’s Bellevue
Jacob Vankat, Assumption/Guadalupe
Saydie Waldron, St. Gerald
Ryan Weiss, St. Columbkille
Martha Yanovich, St. Columbkille

Junior Honors

Isaac Bies, Immaculate Conception
Annie Biros, St. Joan of Arc
Allison Carroll, St. Gerald
Carly Chase, St. Columbkille
Tyler Chau, St. Columbkille
Kate Demman, St. Columbkille
Colby Duncan, St. Thomas More
Evangeline Elia, St. Columbkille
Grace Fanowiel, St. Thomas More
Robert Fitzpatrick, no parish listed
Gabrielle Hunter, St. Bernadette
Natalie Krehbiel, Mary Our Queen
Ethan Le, St. Bernadette
Leah Martin, St. Bernadette
Ava Pajnigar, St. Bernadette
Mason Rempe, Mary Our Queen
Olivia Riera, St. Frances Cabrini
Samuel Shepoka, St. Columbkille
Brooklyn Vomacka, St. Thomas More
Jack Von Osterheldt, St. Matthew The Evangelist

Senior High Honors

Harshil Amin, Assumption
Christian Anderson, St. Columbkille
Jayden Bowen, St. Bernadette
Julia Brennan, no parish listed
Owen Brennan, St. Gerald
Thu Bui, All Saints
Connor Capece, Mary Our Queen
Maria Connealy, St. Mary’s Bellevue
Caecilia Cronin, Mary Our Queen
Daniel Crow, no parish listed
Theresa DeWerth, St. Columbkille
Anna Dho, no parish listed
Mary Engelkamp, St. Peter
Jake Garcia, St. Columbkille
Jason Goetz, St. Mary’s Bellevue
Joanna Goetz, St. Mary’s Bellevue
Nicole Hanus, St. Bernadette
Gabriel Hardisty, St. Stephen The Martyr
Kayleigh Hofmann, St. Bernadette
Josephine Jansen, St. Bernadette
Kate Kirwan, no parish listed
Alec Kleinsasser, St. Columbkille
Alex Kosse, St. Gerald
Joseph Kouba, St. Mary’s Bellevue
Michael Kowal, St. Bernadette
Josephine Mansisidor, Our Lady Of Peace Offutt AFB
Margery McCartney, St. Columbkille
Isabella Nastase, St. Mary’s Bellevue
Nathan Paczkowski, St. Bernadette
Charlie Paladino, St. Columbkille
Shawn Pelchat, St. Columbkille
Olivia Persing, Mary Our Queen
Andrew Podkovich, St. Stanislaus
Andrew Powers, St. Bernadette
Emily Ramirez, Assumption
Jazlyn Rodriquez, Assumption
Collin Sauley, St. Matthew The Evangelist
Isabel Simpson, St. Columbkille
Audrey Swanson, Our Lady Of Lourdes
Julia Swiniarski, St. Matthew The Evangelist
Lucia Venegas Barrantes, St. Columbkille
Jaksen Wonderlich, St. Gerald
Isabell Zeller, St. Gerald

Senior Honors

Mauricio Aguilar, Our Lady Of Guadalupe
Carson Almgren, St. Gerald
Laci Arends, no parish listed
Julia Bennett, St. Mary’s Bellevue
William DeLaet, St. Columbkille
Jackson Drake, no parish listed
Joseph Dunham, St. Mary’s Bellevue
Thomas Eckley, Our Lady Of Lourdes
Alex Gonzalez, St. Columbkille
Austin Hynes, St. Matthew The Evangelist
Shane Kielion, St. Bernadette
Khoi Le, All Saints
Jacob Legner, St. Mary’s Bellevue
Malual Mamer, St. Mary’s Bellevue
Jesse Musgrove, St. Matthew The Evangelist
Salvatore Nacarelli, Our Lady Of Lourdes
Owen Nolte, St. Gerald
Benjamin Pajnigar, St. Bernadette
Makayla Plisek, St. Mary’s Bellevue
Seth Roos, St. Mary’s Bellevue
Alexis Villagomez, Assumption/Guadalupe
Skyler Walkingstick, Holy Cross
Tyler White, St. Gerald
David Winkelmann, St. John Vianney
Ella Zuber, Our Lady Of Lourdes

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Parent Paws 10-14-2022

Welcome to the Parent Paws Newsletter!

The Parent Paws Newsletter appears in the News section of our website every Friday during the school year.

From The Principal

Welcome to the end of our 1st Quarter! Today is the last day for students to get work turned in. Please know this will affect their grade. Wednesday, October 19th are fall parent teacher conferences. This day will be a noon dismissal for students, to allow us to run conferences in the afternoon and evening. We will host in person conferences from 1:30 – 4 PM and 5 – 6:30 PM. Each conference will last between 5 to 7 minutes and if parents need additional time, we ask that you schedule that outside of these conference times.

This year juniors and seniors are REQUIRED to be in school on Oct. 20th for our College and Career Day. Freshman and Sophomores will be taking the Pre-ACT so their attendance is required also. Students will be dismissed at 11:45 AM.

If your family has not completed the Accreditation surveys (both parent and student surveys) we ask that you please do so this weekend. We need this for our Accreditation Review that takes place on December 1st. We value your feedback and thank you for your help with this. You can find the survey now.

Please remember if your student will be out for any reason, to contact the office via phone or email about their absence.

Announcements

Gross Catholic is hiring a full-time Staff Accountant. Benefits include tuition remission, medical insurance, matching 403B, generous vacation, Catholic mission and family environment, free access to all home games/events, team of fun, caring colleagues, and more! We are also hiring an Assistant Technology Coordinator. You can find the job descriptions now.

Gross Catholic Monster Mash will be Wednesday, October 26th from 6 – 7:30 PM in the commons. We ask that you bring CANS of PASTA SAUCE (like Hunts) to support Operation Others for entry. There will be games and over 20 candy stops for your child to enjoy.

Thursday October 20th is movie night with LIFE at 6:30. Weather permitting, we will be outside watching Hocus Pocus. Be sure to bring blankets to sit on and bundle up with.

You can read Catholic Charities monthly mental health newsletter now. Lea el boletín en Español.

We need your help with “Sip and Sing”. This is a very fun event to volunteer at! People will sample wine, whiskey and beer and play Music BINGO! Many spots are available to help out. Sign up now.

Counselors Corner

Junior/Senior Parent Permission Needed NOW! Please complete the form indicating whether or not you give permission for your student to use Strivescan for the college fair.

The 2022 – 23 Guide for the College-Bound Student-Athlete is now available for download! The guide is designed to assist you with understanding the NCAA, NCAA Eligibility Center registration and academic requirements, and how you can help your student-athletes work toward their collegiate dreams.

10th – 12th graders will be completing a panorama survey at the end of the college/career/testing day. Students will be dismissed after this is completed, around 11:45 AM.

Campus Ministry

We are collecting CANS of PASTA sauce! Each year Archdiocesan high schools join together to provide meals of families in need. Please help us reach our goal of 1600 cans of pasta sauce. If we reach our goal by November 4, we will have November 22nd off school.

Thank You for Reading Parent Paws

Finally, we want express our gratitude to you for reading this week’s edition of Parent Paws!  Stay up to date on all that is happening by going to our News section.

What You May Have Missed

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Jazlyn Rodriquez Speaks at the President’s Circle Dinner

Rodriquez Wows

Jazlyn RodriquezFor those of you who were unable to attend this year’s President’s Circle Dinner, we bring you senior Jazlyn Rodriquez’s speech to the attendees.

Jazlyn wowed the crowd with her address. There wasn’t a dry eye in the place.

The school president introduced her. “It is now my pleasure to introduce to you why we are all here. Our featured speaker this evening is Jazlyn Rodriguez, one of our amazing Cougars. All our Cougars are amazing. And Jazlyn is like “amazing plus”. She is a senior and has been involved in nearly every facet of the school – athletics, drama, campus ministry. She is a Eucharistic minister, and last year was the junior grade winner for the Archbishop’s pro-life essay content. She was recently recognized by the College Board, receiving a National Hispanic Recognition Award. This program has a prestigious list of partners, including the Jackie Robinson Foundation, the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation, and the Hispanic Scholarship Fund. And, talk about Cougars getting noticed, Jazlyn was profiled in the World Herald for receiving the award. When a student meets the criteria and is accepted and recognized into the Hispanic Recognition program, her award status is shared with colleges nationwide. And so, I give you, Jazlyn Rodriguez…

Jazlyn’s Address

Good evening. I’ve attended Gross Catholic for all of high school, and in that time, I’ve managed to dip my toes in just about everything.
• Athletics-wise I’ve played on the basketball team, I used to hurdle in track which was a terrifying learning experience but pretty fun when I got the hang of not falling, or um, testing gravity if you will.
• I’ve been in a few of the drama shows, mainly as an extra, in fact most recently you may have seen me last Spring as a happy little cloud with the very important role of doing this *cloud dance move*. I also directed and edited a short film for Theater, and I additionally directed, filmed, and edited six music videos for the streamed Christmas Cabaret of 2021.
• I’m a mandated EMHC and a volunteer Catechism teacher for children looking to receive the sacraments of Baptism, First Communion, and Reconciliation. Last year I was the Junior level winner for the Bishop’s pro-life essay contest,
• I’ve been an honor roll student throughout my high school career, and I was recently awarded by the College Board with a National Hispanic Recognition award which is a part of their National Recognition Programs that grant underrepresented students with academic honors and connect them with universities across the country to help them stand out during the admissions process. Additionally, I’ve taken advantage of every single honors and AP class I could possibly handle.
• After Gross, I plan on double majoring in English and Criminal Justice, and I dream of attending Swarthmore or the University of Chicago. I’ve already sent in all of my applications, so I’m just kind of holding my breath right now.
• From there I plan on entering into law enforcement with the goal of influencing and implementing policy changes that ultimately create more collaborative and safe communities. I am so in love with the idea of being a first responder and getting to help people, to protect them, and to work with them on a day to day basis in order to strengthen the bond of trust between law enforcement and citizens.

That’s enough about me! I want to spend the majority of my time talking about Gross Catholic and why you have made it such a special place.

Find The Why

Does anyone know what Find The Why is?

This is a program encouraged by Gross Catholic. Joining Find The Why did a lot of things for me, besides contributing to my bank account – yes, they pay students real money. These competitions were presented to me and my 3D Engineering class as early as Freshman year, which I think is the perfect example of how Gross just absolutely jumps at the chance to open their students to new possibilities as soon as possible. Find the Why is a genuine opportunity to work with real companies and to really get your name out there in various industries which go a long way to helping students make real connections right from the get-go. Through Find the Why, I discovered my passion for filming videos, and now I post on YouTube once a month and it has been such a great creative outlet for myself.

And I mean, that’s kind of the goal of High School, right? To help students explore what’s out there and discover what they love. Gross Catholic is a really great place to foster and nurture that journey of self-discovery. There’s something here for everybody, whether you’re looking for an easy four years with only the basic requirements, or if you are someone who is absolutely ravished for knowledge. Then Gross challenges you, revolutionizes your view, and strengthens your mind. Whichever path you choose, no one leaves Gross the same person they were when they came in.

Something Different About Gross Catholic

Any school can be great. Any school can spew out a few successes, make a few splashes for the sake of media coverage, and pose for a pretty brochure. But there’s something different about Gross.

At Gross Catholic, there’s a beating, bleeding heart inside of these walls. It’s almost tangible. You can feel it in every classroom.

You can hear it from the mouth of every teacher and from the fruits of every student.

You see, Gross Catholic has this way of taking the most immature and hopeless of middle-school graduates, and just absolutely transforming them. Shaking their foundation to the very core until they find someone deep within themselves that they never dared hope they could be. The staff are the lifeblood of this beating heart. I am so very grateful to all of my teachers, I wish I could recognize every single one and thank them over and over again. Miss Holys in the Advancement office helped me strategize on my top five to mention tonight. Gross has what I like to refer to as an “all-star cast”, which is just my way of saying that they literally have the greatest teachers I have ever encountered.

Rodriquez Speaks About the All-Star Cast

Mrs. Michele Sweetmon

We have Mrs. Sweetmon, who is someone I genuinely admire so much. This woman is so dedicated to what she does, and she bends over backwards to make our time here at Gross not just formative, but so incredibly fun. She is the reason Gross functions as a community. As a family. Because of her effort, her creativity, and her passion and dedication we get to be four houses in one home. Even her classroom has literally been transformed into a safe haven for students who are struggling with mental health and just need a place to escape to. Essentially, there is not an inch of this school that bears not her touch.

Ms. Paulette Neuhalfen

We have our wonderful principal, Mrs. Nehauflan who is exactly what a principal should be. She is so incredibly attentive to the needs of the students, and she always keeps her ear to ground, listening intently. I’ve been to many schools, and the biggest complaint I’ve always heard is that “the principal doesn’t do anything!”. Mrs. Nehauflan couldn’t be farther from this. She makes change happen, whether it wants to or not. She is a force to be reckoned with, to which our obstacles dare not contend. She truly is our knight in shining armor, and this woman will go to battle for the future of her students.

Mr. Mike Dempsey

We have Mr. Dempsey, who I kind of see as an archangel. He commands respect and enforces the rules, which is never a fun job, but he executes it with grace. Like a reverence for a task that allows his corrections to shape our morality and conscience rather than embitter us towards high standards. He somehow manages to be intimidating enough to wrangle with the antics of a 6’5” football player, yet can be so encouraging at the most pivotal of moments. Which is honestly why every time he gives you a compliment it feels like this precious gem. He bears the praise of glittering emeralds.

Mr. Tim Powers

We have Mr. Powers, who I look up to both literally and figuratively. (It’s funny because he’s really tall). The way he teaches always leads to such interesting discussions in his classroom. He encourages us to ask questions, and he also values a student’s ability to argue their case more than a student’s ability to test well. I’ve never been afraid to approach him whenever I need help. On top of all this, his hard work as the Dean of Dual Enrollment is one of the reasons why I get to leave not just with a diploma, but guaranteed college credits. So thank you so much for that.

Mr. Steve Hamersky

Mr. Hamersky, who is one of the sweetest people I’ve ever known. His mind works a million miles a second, yet he’s always willing to slow down to help catch you up. He’s one of those people that kind of catapults you forward and just forces you to grow no matter how self-obstructive you tend to be.

Mr. Dan Connelly

And now retired, Mr.Connelly – so he doesn’t count in the five! I could go on here all night about our awesome teachers! He’s so beloved that everyone gets so excited whenever he pays us a visit. His theology classes taught me to have confidence in my faith. Before him, I was embarrassed to say the name of Jesus out loud, and I kind of hid my love for Christ because I was afraid of being ridiculed for it. But Mr.Connelly changed all that. He helped me discover that if I have God and my faith, nothing else matters. And nothing can do me harm with the Lord in battle beside me. And that is the greatest gift that someone can give to you, so I owe this man a million thanks.

Erick and Irma

Even the work study here is life changing. Our custodians are Erick and Irma, whom I have had the privilege of working with every summer for the past four years. The true effort and elbow grease that goes into maintaining this building is incredible. Look at this room right now. It wasn’t just like this. They work so hard, and I know it’s hard because I was always left utterly exhausted after work. Yet, they do this every day behind the scenes, so they don’t get a lot of the spotlight. But they deserve all the thanks and appreciation. They’ve taught me what hard work truly is, and to clean up my messes out of respect for the fact that if I don’t, someone else has to, and there is nothing more disgusting than someone who believes it is anyone’s responsibility but their own to clean up after themselves.

Faith, Courage, Integrity, Dedication, Passion

Now do you see what I mean by a completely all-star cast? Other places may have similar curriculums and technology and intelligence, but they don’t have our all-stars. Every staff member in this building has something that is difficult to encounter in any other place. They have faith. They have courage. They have integrity. They have dedication and passion. And they have endless love. And it is inescapable. They are truly men and women of Christ. They embody the message of the gospel. Just take five minutes to talk to a single teacher and you’ll see it. Like a bright vocational stamp on their forehead, they were called to be here.

And they get to be here, largely because of all of you. Because of your generosity they have the tools and the resources they need to help us succeed. I am one student, one story, of more than 400 others. Plus the countless alumni.

You Make This Happen

You make this happen. You embody Christ’s virtue of Charity, and His commandment to love your neighbor.

I may not know you very well, and you may not know me (all though you may know at least just a tiny bit after this whole speech), but your actions have directly touched my heart, and those of every foot that enters this building.

So thank you, so, so much for what you’ve done and continue to do for us. Thank you for taking the time to care about the next generation. And most of all, thank you for believing in us.

Thank You to Jazlyn Rodriquez

And Gross Catholic would like to thank you Jazlyn for all you do and for the person that you are. We are grateful for our journey together as one in the Cougar Family.

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