SAN JACINTO—Saint Hyacinth Academy hosted its first ever Fine Arts Night on January 28 as part of Catholic Schools Week. 

 The Fine Arts Night showcased art from every class. The school hall was transformed into an art gallery with the creation of strategically placed, movable walls. Each class had its own wall on which the student art was mounted for all to enjoy with a brief description of the lessons taught. The posters made by every student in the school for a Diocesan Poster Contest were hung on the walls of the hall, along with a special section displaying the winners of St. Hyacinth’s contest to determine whose posters were sent on to the Diocese. The Choir put on a wonderful performance, singing songs of praise to God from our Motion Makers group.

ONTARIO—The Office of Catholic schools presented awards at its 14th annual banquet, held February 1 in Ontario. Receiving awards were:

Good Shepherd Award

 Rev. Paul Schmidt, SVD, Chaplain, Notre Dame High School, Riverside. The Good Shepherd award acknowledges a leader of leaders, a spiritual leader who serves. The person is patient and receptive with a listening heart. One who speaks truth, models courage, and challenges our Catholic School leaders to live the diocesan vision within Catholic Education embracing hospitality, collaboration, faith sharing and reconciliation.

By Jeffrey Lethcoe
Language Arts Teacher

PALM DESERT—A Sacred Heart 12-year-old student stands with confidence before her junior high school peers as she presents a one-paragraph summary from published articles on eco-friendly building materials and the trend for commercial businesses to use them. 

 Her summary delineates her objective research and logically deduced insight on how this information will impact our society.

PERRIS—Catholic Schools Week ended with a new tradition at St. James Catholic School. Fathers and daughters gathered together in their best dress for the first annual Father-Daughter Dance. The evening began with a photo opportunity and continued with a tasty pasta dinner that was served by some of the moms. 

By Gina Roquet

SAN BERNARDINO—A vicar is a representative of a religious leader or community. Thus the Student Vicariates of Aquinas High School are amazing young women and men who are encouraged to be bold and secure in their faith, unafraid to share their stories, opinions and words of encouragement to their peers.  This gives support and healing to students who struggle to share their fears or problems. And when the light at the end of the tunnel is revealed, when their peers pull them into this place of love and acceptance and understanding, a new place of joy and peace is found.

ONTARIO—For the second consecutive year, St George Parish School has been selected for the 2013 Best of Ontario Award in the Private Schools category by the Ontario Award Program.

 Nationwide, only 1 in 70 (1.4%) 2013 Award recipients qualified as Two-Time Award Winners. Various sources of information were gathered and analyzed to choose the winners in each category. The 2013 Ontario Award Program focuses on quality, not quantity. Winners are determined based on the information gathered both internally by the Ontario Award Program and data provided by third parties.