Holy Cross Academy Newsletter – December 2019 At math meets, all competing teams Christmas Eve. Her family opens are assigned to certain classrooms where presents on Christmas Eve and on they will be handed an answer sheet and Christmas Day. a sheet of math problems. Teams have Finally, we interviewed Mrs. 30 minutes to work. After the 30 Cernich, the school aid, to tell us about minutes are up, everyone heads to the her Christmas traditions. Her family all cafeteria for a snack while judges grade gathers together at the Maria Center the answer sheets. When the judges with her eleven siblings and their come back, they announce the ribbons spouses with their children on the 23rd, for each team. Both teams from HCA also known as Christmas Eve Eve. They Christmas Gift Giving won blue ribbons. are all assigned dishes to bring. Santa by Luke Salmo & Brody Zarky Their next competition is February visits and they all get a chance to sit on Every year, the Student Council puts 11 hosted by Christ Prince of Peace his lap. They have family come from all on a Christmas gift giving drive. School. So far, Holy Cross has won all over some including California, Students were asked to bring in money. blue ribbons this year and we hope they Colorado, Alabama, New York, North The money was then used to purchase keep up the great work! Carolina, and Illinois. Christmas gifts for people who requested them, but could not afford to Christmas Traditions Interesting Christmas Gifts purchase them themselves. Once by Lilly Saul & Chloe Steger by Carson Leahy & Luke Salmo STUCO purchased the gifts, we gave Since it is Christmas time, we This year, students at Holy Cross them to St. Vincent de Paul. In addition, decided to ask some students and some received many exciting Christmas gifts. if students brought in a donation of staff of HCA to see what their Christmas Some students, like Matthew $5.00 or more, they were rewarded with traditions were. Wingbermuehle received a new video a dress down day. First, we interviewed Madhavan game console. Matthew was “very much Aubukumar to see what his family’s surprised” to get a Nintendo Switch. Christmas traditions are. He told us that Other students received smartphones at Christmas his family watches a movie such as Ben Perkins, who acquired the together. Also, his mom makes new iPhone 11. One student, Ben Hiatt Christmas snowball cookies and he says received a piano! that they are so delicious. He said his Annika Nyberg received a very family hosts Christmas dinner at their exciting gift. She and her family went to house. One of their most sentimental Jamaica! “We flew there on Christmas Many of the gifts people asked for traditions is when he or his dad lifts his Day,” Annika told us. While they were were things most of us take for granted, little sister up and she puts the star on there, they went snorkeling. Annika said such as simple things like a coat or pair top of their tree. her favorite part of the whole trip was of socks. Many people ask for shirts, Next, we interviewed Samantha horseback riding on the beach. What an pants, hats, etc. Rickman. The Rickman family has a lot amazing gift! It’s really great that we have this of traditions. The first tradition starts on Another student with an amazing drive. Without it, many people would December 1st when she said: “My Christmas gift was Rachel Sitner. She not have had a Christmas present. family watches a Christmas movie every got a dog! Rachel said she was not day till Christmas.” Then on Christmas expecting a dog at all. She told us it is a Math Meet Day, their family has a big ornament white lab and they named it Phoebe. by Maggie Baker & Natalie Loida exchange and they also have a big Rachel said the best part of her surprise On December 4th, Holy Cross family dinner. They decorate their house puppy was knowing that “she will grow Academy’s math club led by Ms. for Christmas before Thanksgiving up to be big.” She thinks Phoebe will fit Tavernaro sent two teams to compete at because they also host Thanksgiving at in great with her family. What an the math meet hosted by St. Francis of their house. amazing surprise! Assisi School. This was the second math Next, we interviewed Caroline meet of the year. Mrnjavac to find out her family’s Bryce J., Patrick H., Sam J., Bryce traditions. Her family makes Christmas B., Madhavan A., Brie B., Jo W., cookies together. They cook deer and eat it together. They make and eat keske, Maggie P., Miles R., Jack M., Maggie a Croatian dish. Every year her whole B., and Andy B. all attended the math meet representing HCA. family gathers at her aunt’s house. Her family always goes to midnight Mass on Holy Cross Academy Newsletter – December 2019 Principal of the Year Master's Degree at the University of has a great art program, and she enjoys by Lilly Saul & Chloe Steger Missouri - St. Louis. Mr. Sullentrup’s electives. “I really like Mrs.Dolan does so much for HCA One fun fact that most people don’t to draw and I like the idea of just sitting but in this interview, we will get to know about Mrs. Dolan is that she loves down and drawing a story.” She know Mrs.Dolan in her personal life. entertainment such as reading, movies, mentioned she was part of the She has previously taught at St. Peter in theater, television, and playing games. cartooning elective. She was chosen as Kirkwood, Visitation - Kewanee Illinois She also told us that she lived in a small our drawing of the month for our - Braymer C-4 Public School. town in Illinois for 5 years. Finally, we November edition. She chose to draw We also asked her what subjects she asked Mrs. Dolan what she loves about chicken nuggets. “Chicken nuggets are taught and she told us that she taught HCA and she said, “I love that we have not really interesting and I thought it mainly literature and social studies 6th- a middle school model. I have believed would be fun to give them a personality 8th grades. She also said, “I grew up in it was greatly needed in St. Louis and make it fun and unsettling at the Kirkwood so I attended John Pitman Catholic Education for a long time. I same time” Elementary School, North Middle also love working with middle school Outside of school, she enjoys School, and Kirkwood High School.” faculty and adolescent students.” drawing and water coloring. She has 2 Then we asked her if she had any rabbits and she is an author in a book children. She told us that she has two Student of the Month called the Grannie Annie. Her story daughters named Jennifer and Kelly. by Natalie Loida & Anna Manzella about one of her ancestors and was She also told us that she has three Elizabeth Merrill is a sixth grade grandchildren: Dennis, age 5, Wesley, student this year at HCA. Before coming published in volume 14. Grannie Annie age 3 and a girl named Charlie, who is 3 here, she attended the College School. invites students to discover and share years old. She told us she chose to attend HCA stories from their family's history, Next, we asked her if she had any because of the teachers and stories from before they were born. pets and she answered that she doesn't environment. Her favorite class is have any at the moment but she has had English, and she told us her favorite You can read her story at many dogs. After that, she told us where teachers are Miss Hasten and Miss she went to college. She said she got her Bourne, because they both make http://www.thegrannieannie.org/HisNa Undergraduate at the University of learning fun and have fun personalities. meWasAlfie.htm Missouri - Columbia, and she got her One thing she mentioned is how HCA Favorite Christmas Movie Survey Results .