Father Andrzej—Leadership and Kindness During the 2016-17 School Year the Day Bishop Solis Came to School
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The Day Bishop Solis Came to School A day that students, teachers and the administration will always remember is when Bishop Oscar Solis paid a visit to J.E. Cosgriff School. Here is how that magnificent day unfolded. First, Bishop Solis celebrated Mass with our very own Fr. Andrzej, assisted by Deacon George Reade, Fr. Rowland Nwokocha, and Luis De-Dios. In his homily, Bishop Solis asked the students to pray for him, help others, and to be hopeful and positive. Second, Bishop Solis paid a visit to J.E. Cosgriff School. He took time to visit every classroom from kindergarten through eighth grade. The students were captivated by his questions and comments regarding the subject they were studying and his straightforward, sometimes humorous pitch regarding a “vocation.” Bishop Solis was genuinely interested in what students were learning in the classroom. He sat down to discuss a literature, history, and Latin lesson to name a few. The Student Council presented Bishop Solis with a “Welcome to Utah” basket of gifts from the school. He acknowledged that a snow scraper, gloves, wool hat, and Bear Lake jam would come in handy. Also included in the basket was essential University of Utah sportswear. He immediately took out the U of U baseball cap and wore it for the rest of his school visit. The students and teachers welcomed Bishop Solis with open arms. It was a positive and exciting visit because faculty, staff and students had a chance to meet, interact and laugh with this kind and personable new Bishop of Utah. We hope he will visit again soon! Father Andrzej—Leadership and Kindness during the 2016-17 School Year J.E. Cosgriff administration, faculty and staff are deeply grateful for a successful and productive year with our many wonderful students, toddler through eighth grade. A special word of gratitude goes to Fr. Andrzej for his leadership with weekly Masses, Sacrament preparation, Youth Group formation, parent religious education, and faith formation on all grade levels. Also, much appreciation for his cheerful presence at many school activities and events. Fr. Andrzej wears many hats as Pastor of St. Ambrose Church. At J.E. Cosgriff School, he works tirelessly to meet and become friends with students and parents. He also offers love and support to families during sad and difficult times. We are all very blessed to have Fr. Andrzej’s guidance as our religious leader and pastor of St. Ambrose Parish. Fr. Andrzej, thank you for another great year! “Do not be afraid! God is great, God is good, and we all have something good inside us.” ~ POPE FRANCIS CatholicJ.E. Cosgriff Schools Memorial :: Communities Catholic School of Faith, Knowledge & Service St. Ambrose Parish/J.E. Cosgriff The Youth Group met for the first time on Sunday, October 16, 2016, with over sixty young people in attendance. The group Youth Group Ministry 2016-17 attended the 5:00pm Mass and then enjoyed pizza and a lively visit in the school library. After dinner, students joined in a A new St. Ambrose/ J.E. Cosgriff Youth Group for sixth, seventh, short conversation with Fr. Andrzej, Pastor, and Jill Curry and and eighth grade students in the parish and those attending J.E. Martina Gehrig, Youth Group directors, to discuss the gospel Cosgriff School took off in October 2016 with great enthusiasm, and message of the homily from Mass. The evening ended with high attendance and encouraging results. a fun sport activity in the school gym. YOUTH GROUP GOAL: To increase and renew faith Fr. Andrzej was excited about the formation of the Youth Group. formation and pastoral practice with middle school students He views this as a viable opportunity for public and parochial through prayer, Mass attendance, community service, and school students to meet each other and become friends. He also recreational activities. hopes that bringing our youth together will encourage more families to attend Sunday Mass on a regular basis. Ms. Gehrig and Ms. Curry were excited and encouraged after the first year of Youth Group. They consider it an extension of their ministry as middle school religion teachers at J.E. Cosgriff School. The eager group of young people were busy with the following service projects the six times they met during the school year. They raked leaves for seniors in the neighborhood, and tied lap quilts and crafted note bags for seniors in a retirement home. They also wrote inspiring quotes to hang up in J.E. Cosgriff classrooms, the rectory and their own homes. The next Youth Group meeting is planned for Sunday, September 24, starting with 5:00pm Mass. Youth Group Autumn Service Project 8th Grade Gift Cosgriff eighth grade students spent several weeks reading and studying Harper Lee’s novel To Kill a Mockingbird. Learning about life through the eyes of the novel’s narrator, Scout Finch, as she and her brother Jem navigate Maycomb, Alabama, during the segregated 1930’s, proved to the 8th grade that although things in this world change, many stay the same. One similarity is the heartfelt advice given by Atticus Finch to his two children, “...you never really know a man until you stand in his shoes and walk around in them.” Atticus’s profound words provided an opportunity for many class discussions. The characters, setting and themes made a real impact on the students this year. When it came time to decide on a class gift, they were in agreement that giving set of hardbound “Mockingbird” books to the school would be the best way to pass their love of Lee’s story to future classes of Cosgriff eighth grade students. Thank you parents for your generous donations that made the purchase of forty-two books possible. “The Gospel calls us to be close to the poor and forgotten, and to give them real hope.” ~ POPE FRANCIS ANNUAL NEWSLETTER & REPORT | 2016-17 SCHOOL YEAR AmeriCorps Volunteer Gold Club Insider Series Program A New Program for Grandparents, AmeriCorps is one of five core programs Parents, Parishioners and Friends under the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS). AmeriCorps The Insider Series, a new direction for harnesses America’s most powerful educational resources— the J.E. Cosgriff Grandparents’ Gold the energy and talents of our grandparents, parents and Club, began in September 2016. parishioners. The AmeriCorps volunteer program was started Purpose of the Insider Series: at J.E. Cosgriff School in 2007 and is still going strong today. Two AmeriCorps volunteers (employees) are employed for 1. To meet once a month and three years of service. This federally funded program requires enjoy coffee, pastry, conversations, Frank Layden the school to match the stipend offered by AmeriCorps. The friendships and common interests focus of AmeriCorps is to provide reading and sometimes math among Gold Club members, other support for students in kindergarten through fifth grade who parishioners, family and friends. may benefit from extra practice in order to maintain or reach 2. To gain a better understanding of the grade level. curriculum, programs, and purpose of the education offered to all Cosgriff Heather Burns, our third year students. During each meeting, AmeriCorps instructor provides in- a teacher from a different grade, service for incoming community subject or department offered a short volunteers in the statewide STAR reading summary of his/her specialty area. program. Hailey Liljenquist served as a Marguerite Henderson first year AmeriCorps instructor and also 3. To meet as a kindergarten assistant. This program and learn provides strategies for volunteers to use from guest when assisting students to read fluently speakers on on an instructional topics such as Heather Burns level. AmeriCorps is civic dialogue, a win-win program sports, at J.E. Cosgriff School. It provides our leisure, home AmeriCorps employees with additional decorating, income and a great teaching experience. personal It is a perfect venue for grandparents health, travel, Pam March, Owner of Every Palmer DePaulis and community volunteers to serve our SLC issues, Blooming Thing students in a mutually beneficial capacity. improvements Of course, students benefit the most from and events. reading two times per week with a loving Hailey Liljenquist 4. To promote learning, discussion and ways to support and caring community volunteer. grandchildren attending J.E. Cosgriff School. Watch for the first Insider Series guest speaker series to begin in September 2017. J.E. Cosgriff proudly supported the following charitable organizations during the 2016-17 school year. St. Patrick’s Parish J.E. Cosgriff Memorial Catholic School Spotlight on Ms. Megan Gale follow. She makes the most out of every instructional moment of the day. Ms. Gale “Megan Gale teaches every student as if they is kind, fair and respectful were the only one in the class. She uses math toward students, teachers strategies and techniques that do not leave any and parents. She expects the child behind. Students work to understand same from her students as key math concepts and have confidence in they interact with each other their ability to learn.” A fellow teacher who during the day. assists in Ms. Gale’s math class knows and shares first-hand how each student is treated Megan Gale is respected in fourth grade. All students feel special and valued for their by her peers for her differences, talents, and contributions as individuals in Ms. Gale’s positive disposition and classroom. encouragement. She is always interested in learning Megan Gale will begin her sixth year of teaching at J.E. Cosgriff Ms. Gale and students with knitted hats through professional School in August 2017. She has a magical way of making sure for Huntsman Cancer Institute development or observing all of her students feel comfortable and at ease when asking a a peer teaching a lesson.