OUR LADY OF FATIMA PARISH SCHOOL

A L U M N I N E W S L E T T E R

W E L C O M E B A C K !

As alumni of Our Lady of Fatima Catholic School, the memories of Fatima remain with us throughout our lives. However, it is more than just the memories. It is the education that provided the foundation for our careers. It is the faith that has enabled us to endure difficult times. It is the love and care provided by the teachers and principals each and every day. It is family. We hope this newsletter will reconnect you to your Fatima family and bring back a host of treasured memories.

FALL 2011 VOL. 1 ISSUE 1

A MESSAGE FROM THE PASTOR

Greetings Alumni and Alumnae of Our Lady of Fatima Parish School! As we prepare to celebrate the great national feast of Thanksgiving, it is with a grateful heart that I send you this first edition of our parish school's newsletter. Having worked for 31 years in the field of Catholic education, I recall with fondness the many wonderful experiences I have had from my beginnings in the inner city of Baltimore to the present here in Huntington. As you read through the pages of this newsletter, I hope that you are able to recall fond memories of your time here at Our Lady of Fatima Parish School. The education that you received here has served as the foundation for all that you have been able to accomplish in your life.

Today, 187 students in grades pre-school through 8 are receiving the best that Catholic education has to offer from a well-trained, experienced, and devoted faculty. Most important, they learn daily about our God and the need to serve others with humility. Faith and service are at the center of all that we do here. Please pray for Our Lady of Fatima Parish School. I promise that we will be praying for you!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Fr. Jim Sobus, Pastor

ME M O R I E S

CL A S S NO T E S

Sid Barton, Huntington, West Virginia, counsels children

Edita Battista Landers, Oveido, Florida, works for Johnson & Johnson

Joseph Beter, Huntington, West Virginia, owner, Jewel City Seafood

Nancy Booton (Hensley), Circleville, Ohio, special education teacher

Carol Borkowski, X-ray technologist with mammography specialist, works as traveling x-ray technician

Ellen Britz (Mink), PhD, psychologist specializing in post traumatic stress disorder

William Joseph Bronosky, Huntington, West Virginia, attorney

Ann Brookins (Rivera), Marlton, New Jersey, fashion merchandiser

Colleen Burrows (Harker), Huntington, West Virginia, elementary school teacher

Thomas Cade, Captain, United States Navy Dental Corp

Michael Cade, Huntington, West Virginia, works at MC Dolan Supply

Megan Carney (Adkins), Huntington, West Virginia, teacher, Our Lady of Fatima

Cindy Constantino (Dugan), Parkersburg, West Virginia, psychiatrist

Mary Ann Crickard (Russell), Charleston, West Virginia, owner, Contemporary Galleries,

Barbara Corkrean, completing her Masters Degree

Kathleen David, Washington, D.C., attorney

Angela Davidson, St. Cloud, Florida, accountant for Cattle Association

Claudia Davidson, Pasa Grande, Arizona, counselor

Tawna Bolt (Dozier), San Jose, California, physician

Kimberley Dean (Salem), Proctorville, Ohio, nurse, Holzer Clinic

Natalie D’Egidio (Marra), Wallingford, Pennsylvania, interior designer

Craig D’Egidio, Atlanta, Georgia, owner, Schaklod Chocolate Factory franchise

Tim DeEulis, Huntington, West Virginia, physician

Sandy Deppner (Wright), Huntington, West Virginia, V.P. & Senior Wealth Advisor, United Bank

Tim DiPiero, Charleston, West Virginia, attorney

CL A S S NO T E S

Jeannie DiPiero (Kalonick), Huntington, West Virginia, special education teacher

Daniel Doherty, Sallie Mae school loans

Mike Eschelman, Huntington, West Virginia, owner, lawn care business

Kathleen Erdliz (Butcher), Cincinnati, Ohio, medical assistant

Mike Farrell, Huntington, West Virginia, attorney

Paul Farrell, Sr., Huntington, West Virginia, Cabell County Circuit Court Judge

Paul Farrell, Jr., Huntington, West Virginia, attorney

Joe Farrell, Huntington, West Virginia, attorney

Sean Farrell, Huntington, West Virginia, engineer

David Fleckenstein, Lt. Col., Army pilot

John Fleckenstein, Lexington, Kentucky, geologist

Charles “Chuck” Fleckenstein, Portland, Oregon, Intel

David Geswein, Greeenfield, Indiana, heavy equipment mover

Cindy Geswein (Phillips), Greenfield, Indiana, teacher

Amanda Gill (Day), Huntington, West Virginia, physical education teacher/coach

Anthony Gill, St. Albans, West Virginia, computer electronics and engineering specialist, Department of Education

Angela Gill, Huntington, West Virginia, DNA analyst, West Virginia State Police

Kevin Giompala, semi-truck driver

Mary Goff, Ormond Beach, Florida, occupational therapy assistant, Easter Seals

Jill Goheen (Kelley), Huntington, West Virginia, rehab counselor

Becki Goheen (Harless), nurse, Hospice

Daniel Goheen, Fed-Ex courier

Kelli Goheen (Mankin), nurse, labor & delivery, Cabell Huntington Hospital

Steve Golder, Huntington, West Virginia, attorney

Andrew Goodall, Manager, Oakwood Homes

IN MEMORIAM Our Lady of Fatima pays tribute to those graduates who have passed away and extends heartfelt condolences to their family and friends.

ME M O R I E S

ME M O R I E S

ME M O R I E S

ME M O R I E S

FATIMA MIDDLE

SCHOOL STUDENTS

EXPLORE

VOCATIONS

Article by Jeff Jackson

iddle school is a crossroads for most young people. They are faced with leaving the innocence of childhood behind and beginning to deal with more grown-up issues -- changes in their bodies, more responsibilities and

beginning to think about what they want to do with their lives. At Our Lady of Fatima Parish School, middle school students are offered a break from the normal routine of school and given a chance to explore the vocation which God may be calling them to. Each quarter of the year, the school offers students a choice of four vocationally oriented electives to choose from. These electives meet once a week and are graded on a credit/no credit basis to alleviate the pressure that grades put on the average student. The goal of these electives is to give the student a taste of vocations or skills that they are interested in exploring. The electives offered include an eclectic group of subjects. The choice of classes offered depends on whom in the school or parish community volunteers to host the event for a quarter. To date, these classes have included an Introduction to Modern Medicine, Culinary Arts, Public Speaking, Introduction to Law, Beginning Guitar and Rapid Response Medicine.

Unlike many classroom settings, these electives do not ask students to sit and listen to a lecture; they are about hands-on experience. Most of the electives include several field trips and have a different guest facilitator most weeks. In the Introduction to Modern Medicine class, students visited various medical facilities in the Tri-State. Their final class consisted of performing a mock joint

M

replacement under the direction of a renowned local joint replacement surgeon and his entire staff. The church's parish hall was transformed into an operating theater, and the students were able to experience the feel of the instruments used and the procedures followed during an actual surgery. This class also held a parish wide health fair, where members of the church could obtain free health screenings provided by various local health providers. If you own a food establishment of any sort in the Tri-State, chances are that the Culinary class has been to see you. Many of the area's chefs have taught the students how to prepare dishes of restaurant quality and of many different cuisines. At the end of each quarter, the students prepare and host two special meals. The first is designed to incorporate the school's year-long theme of "First you, then me." Recently, this class prepared and served a meal to 16 veterans living in the Barboursville Veterans Home. The class prepared elaborate casseroles and desserts and invited a piano player to entertain during the meal. It provided a chance for the students to spend a couple of hours talking to our nation's heroes and learning about what their lives have been like. The second special meal prepared by the Culinary Arts staff is for their families. Each student has to prepare a three-course meal for their families and then serve it to them. The facilitators of the class also judge and provide commentary on each meal. After dinner, the students wash dishes and clean the parish hall. Our Lady of Fatima Parish School has just scratched the surface of possibilities of providing middle school students with enhanced learning opportunities. Upcoming classes will focus on journalism, physics and other exciting career options. The Rapid Response Medicine elective is hosting a CPR training day, where the entire middle school will have a chance to become certified in this important skill. The response from parents and students to this new program has been overwhelmingly positive and is part of the school's mission to continue to be the "Neighborhood School that Can!" Jeff Jackson is principal of Our Lady of Fatima Parish School

SC H O O L NE W S

2011 Lumen Christi Awards

Eighth grade students Meg Barber, Sarah Bryan, Taranee Karimpour, and Rachele Subik were each presented with the Lumen Christi Award during graduation ceremonies held in May 2011.

The award (Latin for “Light of Christ”) was presented by Fr. Sobus to recognize those students who have opened their hearts to God through their spiritual, service, and academic behavior. The 2010 - 2011 school year marked the 1st annual Lumen Christi Award given by Our Lady of Fatima Parish School.

Cabell County Reading Council Creative Writing Contest

Our Lady of Fatima Parish School students in grades 4 through 8 participated in the 2011 Cabell County Reading Council Creative Writing Contest. Fatima students won first place in two individual grade level competitions in the Poetry Division and three individual grade level competitions in the Prose Division. Overall, 15 students from the school captured 22 total awards

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We would like to know what is happening in your life. Please complete the form below and mail to Our Lady of Fatima Parish School, Attn: Alumni Association, 535 Norway Ave., Huntington, WV 25705 or e-mail alumni@olofatima.org.

School Reunion

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Note to Parents: If your son or daughter has moved from your home address, please help us update our alumni records by completing the above form and mailing it to the school address listed above.

Here at Our Lady of Fatima Parish, we pray a great deal and daily for our U.S. Military personnel, especially those who are serving in combat in Afghanistan. As you know, the ability to be able to worship free from worry about a terrorist attack is one of the blessings that none of us takes for granted. However, this freedom comes at a great cost to our soldiers and their families who are left behind. Isn’t it ironic that we give so little to our soldiers for their dangerous work, while at the same time we reward generously professional athletes, actors/actresses, etc., for their work? After having sent off several former students to serve as marines and soldiers in dangerous areas of the world, I was shocked to discover that some of them did not have the proper equipment to carry out their jobs. One soldier who was a gunner in the lead vehicle of a patrol convoy did not have the proper vision goggles to protect his eyes while on mission! His family “passed the hat.” When I signed my quarterly tax payment check to Uncle Sam, I just presumed that our military personnel’s needs were being met. I have learned this is not true. I have also learned of the emotional, mental and financial hardship that the soldier’s family experiences during their father/husband’s combat deployment. Would you like to help in a concrete way that will make a significant difference? Recently, a family from our area has come home to Cabell County after spending time at Fort Hood, Texas while the father was carrying out his third combat deployment (he has had two deployments in Iraq with the most recent in Afghanistan). I informed the Mom and Dad that I want their children in our Parish School. Their children are 13, 10, 9, 2 and 6 months of age. They are disciplined and very bright. The school-aged children would benefit greatly from the high quality, Catholic education offered at our Parish School. A loving and caring “Spiritual Family” would surround them throughout the day while their Daddy is on his next combat deployment to Afghanistan. The cost to our Parish to educate these children is $9,306. I am making a “leadership gift” of $500.00 towards their education. Would you be willing to follow me? If so, you may forward your gift to the Parish Office as follows:

Our Lady of Fatima Attn: Thank you, Soldier!

545 Norway Avenue Huntington, WV 25705

A S O L D I E R ’ S S T O R Y From Fr. Jim

SUPPORT CATHOLIC EDUCATION Our Lady of Fatima Parish School made a difference in our lives and we are grateful for the education and care we received. Fatima alumni continue to make a positive impact in communities and we need your support to help provide a faith-filled learning experience for students who are unable to afford a Catholic education. Please consider making a donation to Our Lady of Fatima Parish School. Your donation can make a true difference in the lives of disadvantaged children by giving them the opportunities that Our Lady of Fatima Parish School provides. You may forward your gift payable to Our Lady of Fatima Parish School to:

Our Lady of Fatima Parish School 535 Norway Avenue

Huntington, West Virginia 25705

Kroger Gift Card Program A portion of every dollar spent for food, pharmacy, gasoline and other merchandise at Kroger and their affiliate stores (City Market, Dillons, Jay C, Food 4 Less, Fred Meyer, Fry’s, King Soopers, QFC, Ralphs and Smith’s) can be used to support the education of Our Lady of Fatima Parish School students! E-mail scrip@olofatima.org to request a reloadable Kroger Gift Card that is preloaded with $5.00. Our Lady of Fatima Parish School receives 5% of amounts loaded onto the cards.

Shop with Scrip The Scrip program is a great opportunity for Our Lady of Fatima Alumni to support

their former school financially without spending extra money. Scrip is simply gift cards, which you purchase from our school, to pay for your normal purchases. Our Lady of Fatima receives a rebate of up to 16% on every gift card. To order online and take advantage of e-cards (ScripNow), visit www.shopwithscrip.com and register using enrollment code D2996LL96832. After registering, you can enroll in PrestoPay, a safe, reliable online payment system using your checking account information. You can also purchase popular scrip from our inventory at the following days and times: Parish office: Monday 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.; Tuesday through Friday 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. After weekend Masses: Saturday 5:30 p.m. and Sunday 8:00 a.m. and 11:15 a.m.

For more information, contact us at scrip@olofatima.org.

OUR LADY OF FATIMA PARISH SCHOOL

A L U M N I N E W S L E T T E R

FALL 2011

VOL. 1 ISSUE 1

OUR LADY OF FATIMA

PARISH SCHOOL

Where faith, learning and

service have no limits.

www.olofatima.org

alumni@olofatima.org