PALM DESERT—Each trimester the students and teachers of Sacred Heart School in Palm Desert are challenged by their principal, Alan Bruzzio, to set aside one day to “stop and smell the roses.” 

 They are to log off their computers, turn off their iPads, put their textbooks away, and focus on their relationship with Jesus. 

On October 20 Sacred Heart Parish School in Rancho Cucamonga hosted their third annual “HERO DAY,” part of the school’s anti-bullying campaign where students dress up as heroes, and sign pledges saying that they will be someone’s hero. The students watched as the Fontana Police Department’s 40 King helicopter landed on the field to start the event.  Other visiting heroes included the Riverside County Bomb Squad, San Bernardino County Bomb Squad, Fontana Police Department’s “Bear Cat” (SWAT) hummer and K-9 unit, Rancho Cucamonga Police blood hounds, Rancho Cucamonga Fire Department and a CHP motorcycle officer.

By Andres Rivera
Staff Writer

RANCHO CUCAMONGA—Faculty at Sacred Heart School in Rancho Cucamonga got a little cold and wet for a good cause during their Back to School Picnic on Sept. 12. Sacred Heart is the latest Catholic school in the diocese to accept the Ice Bucket Challenge. St. Francis de Sales School and Notre Dame High School, both in Riverside, have also participated. 

INDIO—Our Lady of Perpetual Help School in Indio is the recipient of the grant “Rethink Your Drink” from Regional Access Project (RAP) Foundation. The RAP Foundation provides funding to nonprofit community based organizations or collaborative groups, and other tax exempt agencies which serve the populations of eastern Riverside County in the areas of health, mental health, and juvenile interventions.

RIVERSIDE—St. Francis de Sales students kicked off Red Ribbon Week festivities with a visit from the California Highway Patrol, Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).  Red Ribbon Week is a national campaign focused on raising awareness of drug and alcohol abuse.  The students of St. Francis were educated about the consequences of drug abuse and the effects on our community by the DEA and Sheriff’s Dept.  The California Highway Patrol K-9 unit conducted a demonstration of “Lucky,” the police dog, in action.  St. Francis de Sales would like to thank all the agencies that came together to make this presentation a remarkable learning experience for our students. 

By Shelly Renison
Eighth Grade Teacher
Holy Rosary Academy

SAN BERNARDINO—Every single time someone asks me what grade I teach, my response draws the same reaction. It starts with a huge GASP! Followed by a look of absolute horror. Then the famous words, “better you than me!!” or “WHY??????” Yes ladies and gentlemen, I teach eighth grade.