2314 Third Avenue, Scottsbluff, Nebraska 69361 (308)632-2541

Mailing address: PO Box 349, Scottsbluff, NE 69363-0349 Fax: 308-632-2146 Website: www.st-agnes-church.com

Parish Office Hours: Tuesday-Friday, 9am - Noon & 1pm - 4pm

Rev. Vincent L. Parsons

Pastor

Sr. Vera Meis, C.S.J. Pastoral Minister

Mass Schedule:

(October - May) Saturday: 4:00 pm

Sunday: 8:00 & 10:30 am (June - September) Saturday 6:00 pm

Sunday: 8:00 & 10:00 am Mon, Tues, Wed, Friday 7 am

Sacrament of Reconciliation Saturdays one hour prior to evening Mass or by appointment (632-2541)

Sacrament of Baptism Please call the Parish Office

September 29, 2019

Page 2 Year C September 29, 2019

The Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

T he gospel story today tells us about two contrasting personalities and lifestyles: a rich man who dressed in fine linens and dined extravagantly and a poor man named Lazarus - who was lying at the door of the rich man, covered with sores and happily eating the scraps that fell from the rich man’s table. This situation prolonged until both died. However, the scenario in heaven changed: the rich man was tormented in hell, while Lazarus was enjoying eternal life. This gospel story conveys to us that our relationship with each other does not depend on what status we have in society, on how many possessions we have; it depends on how we value the dignity of every human person and our capacity to love. This is the reason the reversal of their lifestyles in heaven happened. Although, everyday he had seen Lazarus lying on his doorstep and eating the scraps of food that fell from his table, he did not lift a finger to better the life of the poor, hungry and homeless Lazarus. Was the rich man condemned because he was rich? NO! He was judged because he failed to recognize the needs of the poor man Lazarus. His blindness allowed evil to triumph. Remember, “For evil to triumph is for a good man not to do anything.” Non-involvement in the goodness of God is a form of cooperation with evil; it is a sin of omission. Christianity is not founded on what we have materially, but on the LOVE and goodness we hold in our hearts. Read this story and let the lesson become your lifestyle: The son asked the Father, “Why are you giving sanctuary to criminals?” The father said, “Our value is to help people in need no matter who they are. We exist to help people, not to deny them of the goodness of our hearts.” The son insisted, “But they are criminals, they will never change.” The father answered, “Yes, but with the goodness we show them they might experience change in their hearts. And they might do the same to others; and the others might do it to their neighbors. Then you will build a chain of goodness in the hearts of many people who want to change, to be good and to be converted. That is how contagious the goodness is that we have in our hearts.” How about you? Is your goodness ready to bring out the love in your heart and step up to help the needy, the poor and the homeless? Are you willing to share some of your wealth today? Today, beginning from the table of the Eucharist, please let the love in your heart become the foundation of your generosity in building human relationships…

Monday, September 30, 2019 Daily Mass (7:00am) Intention: †David and †Jeremy Young by Eileen Young Communal Rosary (4:45pm) Liturgy of the Hours (5:10 pm) Tuesday, October 1, 2019 Daily Mass (7:00am) Intention: †Ellen Gion by Larry Gion Tuesday Discussion Group (8-9 am) Liturgy of the Hours (5:30 pm) Wednesday, October 2, 2019 Daily Mass (8:15am) Intention: †Eleanor Wolf by Robert Wolf Liturgy of the Hours (5:30pm) Contemplative Prayer Group (6:00pm)

Thursday, October 3, 2019 Daily Mass (10:00am) @ The Residency Liturgy of the Hours (5:30pm) Friday, October 4, 2019 Daily Mass (7:00am) Intention: †Darryll Eskam by the Peck Family Liturgy of the Hours (5:30pm) Saturday, October 5, 2019 Weekend Mass (4:00pm) Intention: For the Parish Sunday, October 6, 2019 Weekend Mass (8:00am) Intention: †Don Overman by Gene & Mari Schwarzkopf Weekend Mass (10:30am) Intention: †Mary Cook by Eileen Young

This Week’s Schedule

S a i n t A g n e s

C a t h o l i c C h u r c h

Today’s Readings Amos 6:1a, 4-7

Psalm 146 1 Timothy 6:11-16 Luke 16:19-31

Parish Administration (308) 632-2541 / (308) 632-2146 (Fax)

office@st-agnes-church.com www.st-agnes-church.com

Pastor

Rev. Vincent L. Parsons (ext. 2) pastor@st-agnes-church.com

Church Office Manager Theresa Trevino (ext. 3)

office@st-agnes-church.com Pastoral Minister

Sr. Vera Meis (ext. 4) srvera@st-agnes-church.com

Director of Religious Education Mrs. Terri Calvert (ext.5) dre@st-agnes-church.com

School Head Teacher Mrs. Julie Brown (632-6918) office@st-agnes-school.com

School Office Manager Teresa Johnson (632-6918)

office@st-agnes-school.com

Page 3 September 29, 2019

Important Dates To Remember In 2018

Oct 6 Rel Ed begins for grades K-5 Oct 13 Fall Dinner Oct 31 Vigil Mass for All Saints Day Nov 1 All Saints Day Nov 22 Premiere Dec 1 First Sunday of Advent

Finance Corner Sunday Collections

& ATW Giving

September 15, 2019 Actual $3995.28 Budget $9000.00 Surplus (Deficit) $4304.60 VCNIN $2648.00

September Totals Actual $19475.54 ATW $8616.00 Budget $36000.00 Surplus (Deficit) $7908.46

There is no 2nd collection next

weekend

Thank you for your continued giving!

EXTRAORDINARY MINISTERS

Saturday, 4pm Ciborium: Linda Elley; Chalice : Kathleen Roehl; Susan Flohr, Deb Hilzer, Doris Holloway, Melissa Schaub, Shelley Thomas Sunday 8am Ciborium: Nancy Kerr; Chalice: Margaret Rood; Shannon Hafner, Dan Marshall, Julie Marshall, JoAnn Nash, David Skiles 10:30am Ciborium: M.C. Schaff; Chalice: Bridget Palmer; Terry Bailey, Linda Gonzales, Ruth Kozal, Joanne Krieg

GREETERS Sat 4pm Jeffrey & Michelle Johnston- (E) Rick & Denise Forsstrom - (N) Krystal Rodriguez - (S) Sun 8am Nancy Kerr- (E) Gene & Mari Schwarzkopf- (N) Mary Skiles- (S) 10:30am Rodney & Delores Brooks - (E) Mark & Robin Loose- (N) Mary & Tom Thompson - (S)

SACRISTANS

Sat 4pm: Vince & Vicki Bjorling Sun 8am: David & JoAnn Nash

10:30am: Brad & Brandi McCaslin

USHERS Sat 4pm: William King (Captain), Phillip Kelly Sun 8am: Logan Moravec (Captain), Thomas Braddock 10:30am: Kamden McGrew (Captain), Gale McGrew

LECTORS Oct 5 4pm Nellene Mailander Oct 6 8am Jordan Colwell 10:30 am Cindy Nelson Oct 12 & 19 4pm Carmen Trevino Oct 14 & 21 8am David Nash 10:30 am Jacque Neu

Oct 26 4pm Kathleen Roehl Oct 27 8am Nichole Hoesing 10:30 am Michael Schaff

SERVERS Oct 5, 4pm Katie Forsstrom, Clancee Ott Oct 6, 8am Elena Blanco, Bernadette Pieper

10:30am Ammie & Gavin Mikoloyck Oct 12, 4pm Gregg Hartman, Ethan Gion Oct 13, 8am Henry Blanco, Matthew Hafner

10:30am Emma Casillas, Julian Palmer Oct 19, 4pm Osiris Saucedo, Gianna Gonzales Oct 20, 8am Jacob Mark, Abrahm Hafner

10:30am Lilllian Golden, Jesse McCaslin Oct 26, 4pm Adryana Rodriguez, Laetner Malm Oct 27, 8am Mitch Moravec, Anna Hafner

10:30am Logan & Adam Polk

October 2018 Ministers

First-Friday Eucharistic Adoration, will be on October 4th following the 7 am Mass. Copies of

the schedule of people sitting for adoration can be found in the front seats by the basket of books. Please take a copy of you need one! Please take time and pray for our priests, our Church, and our country. All are invited to attend.

A change in Mass mes happens next weekend!

The Mass schedule

changes to 4pm Saturday, 8am & 10:30am

Sunday until next June. Make sure

to mark your

Page 4 The Twenty-Sixth Sunday in ordinary time

As Abraham says in today’s parable if brothers of the rich man will not listen to the prophets of the Old Testament, they would not listen to the one who is raised from the dead. Those who are focused on this world do not seek the greater wealth offered in the world to come. The prophets of the Lord repeatedly tell the Jews to repent of their worldly ways and seek the salvation offered by God. However, very few ever respond to the prophets’ messages especially when it meant to give up the possessions and power they could see, hear, and taste, for the promises of God that depended solely on faith.

Abraham is correct in his evaluation of the brothers in rejecting the words of one raised from the dead if they are of the same mindset as the rich man. The question we should ask of ourselves is, does he describe us also? Do we listen to the words of Jesus who rose from the dead? Maybe we are still waiting for a personal invitation from Jesus like the rich man wanted for his brothers before we make an effort to reconfigure our lives. If Jesus’ Death and Resurrection are not enough, what then will be sufficient? Does Jesus need to tell us, as he did to Thomas, to place our hand in his side and fingers into the nail marks of his hands? Will that be an adequate reason to seek to reconcile our attitude and actions?

Human nature is inconsistent in responding to the graces that the Lord offers. Something as startling and miraculous as producing enough food to feed five thousand from a few pieces of bread and fish, driving out demons of possessed people, and even causing people awaking from death was not enough to impress the crowds following Jesus for very long. Their response distinguishes the difference between something that appears magical and a change of heart that allows Jesus to enter into us found in faith.

Faith, like when an acorn is planted, needs regular attention from faith-building experiences to grow into a sturdy oak that weathers the even most extreme storms that try one’s beliefs in the saving power of God. Often we may encounter a person who claims, “to see the light” and vows make a dramatic change in life practices, only to see those promises dissipate over time. The allure of offerings of this world can poison and stunt the growth of faith. The oak never matures because the development of faith becomes stalled from a lack of regular prayer, inattention to the Scriptures, and the absence of graces received in the Sacraments. The rich man from the parable demonstrates the fate of those who fail to tend to the sapling of faith.

As the parable tells us, there are two possible fates for us after our death, heaven or hell. If we live like the rich man striving to live out paradise here on earth with little concern with our relationship with God and those we encounter, then we are tumbling down the path the leads to hell. It is evident the rich man failed to consider his destiny after his death; he was wealthy; he had everything the man could desire, and therefore he never experienced suffering. Thus he became inattentive to the meaning of “the pains of hell.”

Hell is the inverse of heaven. If in hell, we would be across an enormous chasm looking at those in heaven who enjoy the continued glory of God while we, on the other hand, would be permanently separated from the Lord. The pain would be unbearable because there is no hope of relief. In hell, we would not find eternal peace because our pleas of release from this atrocious fire pit would go unheard. There would be a permanent void in our soul where Jesus would no longer reside. No experience could ever be worse than to suffer the fires of hell. If we find ourselves in hell, who can be we blame but ourselves?

If we design our lives to grab whatever we can see, touch or hear to fulfill our desires, then we need to acknowledge our fate might well be hell. When we seek to fulfill our wants, we allow our animal instincts to rule our actions. We wolf down everything that we can obtain much like a dog that eats a piece of meat in two gulps, satisfying our current desires and then begging for more. God gave humans an intellect to envision a future instead of only focusing on the present as occurs with the animals. In reasoning, we can then set goals such as seeking salvation and working towards that achievement.

This parable should frighten us. The parable implies that each person suffers whether here on earth or in hell. Lazarus may have never felt any relief on the doorstep of the rich man. At his death, God took Lazarus to heaven, where the Lord eliminates every pain and care. Suffering on earth does have a conclusion; however, the suffering in hell will be endless. We can be like the rich man, disillusion about his fate, going through life thinking everything is right with the world only to discover the horrors of hell at the moment of death. Only then did the rich man realize that his sins outweighed his goodness to experience the fires of hell.

God, in His merciful love, sent his only son to us to die on the cross and to be resurrected so that we strive to experience the peace of heaven instead of knowing the agony of hell. Let us, therefore, use the reasoning God gave us to seek the promise of the beauty of paradise and not become enthralled with the inadequate offerings of this world. God desire is for us to be in heaven, but unless we are willing to walk through this life with faith in his salvation, he will not be able to save us from ourselves.

Page 5 September 29, 2019

Monday: Zec 8:1-8; Ps 102:16-21, 29, 22-23; Lk 9:46-50 Tuesday: Zec 8:20-23; Ps 87:1b-7; Lk 9:51-56 Wednesday: Neh 2:1-8; Ps 137:1-6, 10 -11; Mt 18:1-5, 10 Thursday: Neh 8:1-4a, 5-6, 7b-12; Ps 19:8-11; Lk 10:1-12 Friday: Bar 1:15-22; Ps 79:1b-5, 8-9; Lk 10:13-16 Saturday: Bar 4:5-12, 27-29; Ps 69:33-37; Lk 10:17-24 Sunday: Hb 1:2-3; 2:2-4; Ps 95:1- 2, 6-9; 2 Tm 1:6-8, 13- 14; Lk 17:5-10

Are you or someone you know interested in becoming Catholic?

Are you an adult Catholic who has never been confirmed or received the Eucharist? Do you just want to

learn more about the Catholic faith? If you or someone you know would like more information about the RCIA program, please call the Religious Education Office at 308-

635-1362 or Email : office@st-agnes-church.com

***see the parish website for more information & registration

forms***

The first St. Agnes Knights Breakfast of the season will be Sunday October 6th from 8:00 am to 12:00 pm at the Knights Hall. Please come and enjoy fellowship and some great food.

This Week’s Readings Alliance Deanery Fall Meeting Saturday, October 12

Chadron - St. Patrick’s Assumption Arena

304 Cedar St. Joyful in Pink

9:00 Registration $5.00 Gr. 5 thru College $10.00 Adults 9:30 Meeting 10:00 Speakers Gr. 5 – 8 Shauna Beguin Be kind and resilient Gr. 9 – College Dr. Cate Jones-Hazledine Making life’s important decisions Adult Janet Castle In a busy world: women helping women 11:00 Dignity of Women Rosary 11:30 Lunch

Please pre-register for baby-sitting and young ladies to help plan for needed sitters and facilitators. Thank you.

Young at Heart Seniors 50+ are cordially invited to

lunch as we start up our new year of Young at Heart at noon on Tuesday,

October 8th in the Garden Room. Please bring a salad, dessert, or main dish to share with the group. Hope to

see you there!

Rest In Peace Juan “John” Zamora, father of Nita Cantril. John was a longtime parishioner, and former groundskeeper of St. Agnes Church.

Reflecting on God’s Word

We celebrate the feast of St. Francis of Assisi on the anniversary of his death, which occurred on October 4, 1226. Perhaps the most beloved of all saints, Francis is quoted as saying, “Preach the gospel at all times. When necessary, use words.” Signs of faith were evident throughout his life. Faith empowered him to give away his possessions, to embrace lepers, and to endure deep suffering. Faith gave him a joyful spirit and a love for all of creation. His faith drew others to Christ in the Franciscan order. And Francis received the ultimate sign of faith—the stigmata. In today’s scriptures we see many signs of faith that preach louder than words. Habakkuk shows his faith by his urgent plea to God. God tells him that “the just one, because of his faith, shall live” (Habakkuk 2:4). In the second reading we hear that faith shows forth in love, self-control, and the strength to bear hardship. In the Gospel Jesus tells the disciples that faith can work miracles, but the most reliable sign of faith is a life lived in steadfast service to the Lord. Virginia Stillwell Copyright © 2012, World Library Publications. All rights reserved.

Celebrating Sunday for Catholic Families

Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Gospel: Luke 16:19-25

On the Way to Mass: Think about times in your life when you have failed to act and help someone. How have you turned inward as the expense of others? On the Way Home From Mass: How can you share your gifts with others? To whom in your life can you reach out? Living the Word: This week, reflect as a family on how you can share your wealth and your gifts with others in need. Discuss how you may have failed to act on behalf of others. Make an action plan and follow it. Pray that all of you might turn outward toward God and the people of God.

Celebrating Sunday for Catholic Families 2019-2020

Find Us On

Facebook

Twitter: st_agnes_church Instagram:

st.agnescatholicchurch Parish Website

www.st-agnes-church.com myParish App

In the App Store on your phone or tablet

Page 6 Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

R_ligious E^u][tion Progr[m Email—dre@st-agnes-church.com Religious Education Office—308-635-1362

October Wednesday Formation Sessions

7 p.m. - 8:15 p.m. 2nd - (6th-10th grades) Formation Sessions (11th grade) Confirmation Formation 9th - (6th-8th grades) Formation Sessions (9th-12th grades) LT Ignite - Garden Room 16th - (6th-10th grades) Formation Sessions (11th grade) Confirmation Formation

23rd - Halloween Carnival 5:30-7 p.m. in the school gym 30th - (6th-8th grades) Formation Sessions (9th-12th grades) LT Ignite - Garden Room

Sunday Formation Sessions 9:15-10:15 a.m.

6th - (Pre-K-5th grades) 13th - (Pre-K-5th grades) 20th - (Pre-K-5th grades) 27th - (Pre-K-5th grades)

Children's Liturgy of the Word is a program that invites school-aged children (kindergarten through grade 5) to leave the larger parish assembly during Mass to celebrate a concurrent Liturgy of the Word. The children return to the main parish assembly for the Liturgy of the Eucharist. The children experience the same readings and rituals as the larger parish assembly, but use a special children's lectionary with a reflection experience geared for their age group. If you are interested in sharing your time and talents once a month with the children, please contact: Terri at 635-1362 or Email - dre@st-agnes-church.com MyParish App! If you haven't download the MyParish App please do so today. This app is for iPhone and Android smartphones and tablets. This app allows a means for communication. Other features on the app are the daily Mass readings, Catholic news and prayers, convenient prayer and confession reminders, the weekly bulletins and more. Parents and youth are encouraged to join the group(s) that they are involved in under the “Groups tab” Example groups are: Confirmation 2020, First Communion 2020, Sunday RE, Middle School RE, and Ignite Youth Ministry. This year all Communication and updates will be received via the group your child(ren) are involved in. If you have any questions, please contact the RE Office.

Page 7 September 29, 2019

Scripture Lessons: Luke 16:19-31, Faith formed by love

In this passage, Jesus told the story of Lazarus, a beggar who lay suffering, miserable and ignored outside the home of a rich man. By contrast, the rich man had a wonderful and comfortable life on earth, clueless to what was happening outside his very door. Yet in the afterlife, it’s the rich man who suffers torment and begs for relief.

The rich man wasn’t a bad man. The parable didn’t say he got his wealth through dishonest means or had done anything evil. He was blind to the suffering of others. He knew what God expected of him, didn’t do it, and didn’t care. Jesus portrays his suffering in the afterlife as just punishment.

What can a parent do? The Bible makes it plain that Jesus wants us

to love each other as he loves us. Love is more than warm feelings. When we live our faith, we transform our prayers into acts of love as Jesus asked. It isn’t always easy or pleasant doing the right thing, but the reward for doing what Jesus asked will be eternal joy. Parent Talk: A girl named Rylie is new to Tessa’s class this year. She must have missed

her old school and friends because she cried the first few days of school. Tessa got upset when the other girls made fun of Rylie during recess. She asked how she could help. I explained how Ryan must feel coming to a new city, a new home, and a new school. I remembered that I had moved when I was Tessa’s age and told her how it felt.

Then I asked Tessa for ideas for how she could help Ryan feel welcome. She resolved to sit next to her at lunch and play with her at recess. She also had a notebook and matching pen she decided to give to Ryan as a welcome gift. It must have worked because Tessa said Ryan didn’t cry at recess. Instead, she smiled and my girl learned compassion. Feast and Celebrations September 29 – Saints Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael. Members of the third hierarchy of angels around the throne of God, archangels are entrusted with important missions to mankind such as St. Gabriel's visit to the Blessed Mother to tell her she had been chosen as the Mother of God.

Prayer to St. Michael the Archangel

St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the Devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray, and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly hosts, by the power of God, thrust into hell Satan, and all the evil spirits, who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls.

Amen.

Partners in Faith - September 2019

Thoughtful Moments: St. Vincent de Paul Though he was born to peasant farmers, St. Vincent rubbed shoulders with nobility in the course of his career. He was born in France, educated and ordained a priest. He served as chaplain to the Countess of Gondi, King Louis XIV, and Queen Anne of Austria. Seeing the spiritual suffering of the poor, he cared for them and worked to reform the priesthood. He founded the Sisters of Charity and a hospital in Marseilles.

Cardinal Virtues The Church suggests acquiring four good habits necessary for us to get to Heaven. They are prudence (the ability to choose and do good), justice (the will to give what is due God and neighbor), fortitude (ensures firmness in difficulties), and temperance (moderates the pursuit of pleasure).

“Mother Teresa of Calcutta was once asked what needed to change in the Church. Her answer was: You and I!” Pope Francis

Partners in Faith-September 2019

Please take time during the week to review what your child(ren) learned this week in the religious

formation sessions. Also, spend time this week helping prepare your child(ren) for upcoming weeks lesson. A syllabus is being provided to each student so parents can stay apprised as to the lesson that will be covered on a specific date.

Page 8 September 29, 2019

Connecting Students and Families through Faith September 29, 2019

School Newsletter

St. Agnes Catholic School 205 E 23rd, Scottsbluff, NE

Ph: 308-632-6918

Monday, September 30th

Golden Rule Ceremony Thursday, October 3rd

5th grade to Midwest Theater-1:00 Friday, October 4th

Blessing of Pets 2:45 - school playground **Families are welcome to bring their pets for a special blessing. We ask that animals be appropriately leashed

or kenneled for the safety of all. **

Beautifying St. Agnes Grounds After receiving a number of great applications, the Trash Crew has been established to help Mr. Orlando keep the St.

Agnes Church and School grounds looking amazing.

Every Wednesday, a crew of Pre-K and K students,

supervised by students from the student council /

lighthouse team, will be perusing the block and

cleaning up all the unwanted trash. These little people are quite excited to play a leadership role in their

school.

What’s Happening at St. Agnes School………...

New Basketball Hoops Our thanks to Dave Schaff and Adam Vath for their efforts in hanging the new glass

backboards in the gym. What a great addition and upgrade to our gym facility!

We are very excited by all the new upgrades and are anxious to share our wonderful facility

with the outside community.

Monday, Sept 30 Cheese Quesadilla Corn Potato Circles Grapes Helpers: John Songco HELPER NEEDED

Tuesday, Oct 1 Corn Dogs Tater Barrels Steamed Carrots Pears Helpers: John Schmall Sheree Verbeck

Wednesday, Oct 2 Spaghetti w/meat sauce Fresh Green Salad Peas Grapes Helpers: Mary Lou Ditter HELPER NEEDED

Thursday, Oct 3 Hamburger on a bun French Fries Broccoli w/ranch Mandarin Oranges Helpers: Bridget Peck HELPER NEEDED

Friday, Oct 4 Super Nachos Potato Circles Peaches Oranges Helpers: Andrew Dendinger Heather Weitzel

Hot Lunch Menu for September 30th - October 4th, 2019

Repertory Dance St. Agnes 3rd, 4th and 5th graders enjoyed

their first outing of the year to the Midwest Theater for the Repertory Dance performance. The students

thoroughly enjoyed watching the group perform various forms of dance from ballet to bollywood and hip-hop. We

look forward to a number of more great art and theater performances this year.

Priesthood Appreciation In honor of Priesthood Sunday, St. Agnes School students and staff hosted a priest appreciation Mass and reception on Wednesday, September 25. Priests from the area were invited to participate in the weekly children’s Mass where they were recognized and honored for their years of service to the priesthood. Following the Mass, the students enjoyed

sharing doughnuts with the priests as they were interviewed about priestly life. We thank each of these men for their commitment to the vocation of the priesthood and appreciate the support each has shown to the school.

Classroom News………... Library Room News

By Lana Payne Summer is officially over and Fall has arrived with cooler temperatures, the sweet smells of autumn, and the beginnings of the tree leaves turning red, orange and yellow. September is almost over! It has brought tales of Johnny Appleseed and wonderous apples along with a story about a little red house with no door or windows but with a star inside. Ask any first grader about the little red house and they will tell you the answer to the riddle!

September also brought the remembrance of the tragedies of 9/11. A time and event before any of our current St. Agnes students were born. I have been reading the fifth graders Towers Falling by Jewell Parker Rhodes. Rhodes purposely wrote this book for children born after the attacks. In her book, the main character, fifth grader Deja (born after the attacks) lives in Brooklyn and can see, from her classroom, the site where the Twin Towers once stood. Through the story, Deja and her classmates realize how much those events still shape their world and ours.

The Library celebrated Constitution Day on September 17th with the 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders. We were able to read some of Shh! We’re Writing the Constitution by Jean Fritz. An oldie but goodie, but then, so is the Constitution!

Looking forward: Mark your calendars! The St. Agnes Book Fair is scheduled for October 21-24. Hope to see you all there to find wonderful books and to help support the St. Agnes Library.

Today A Reader, Tomorrow a Leader

Music Room News By Andrea Tritt

In music, we’ve had a lot of instrument time in the past month. Pre-K is learning how to use rhythm sticks and the music instrument playing positions. K-2nd grade students are learning how to play the handbells. With a few of the larger classes, we

have been taking turns and clapping the rhythms as well! Kindergarten is off to a great start learning about quarter notes and eighth notes. 1st grade has begun learning about half notes, whole notes, and ties. 2nd grade has reviewed quarter notes, eighth notes, whole notes, half

notes and ties. 3rd-5th grade students have been reviewing note values and have begun learning about time signatures and tempos. We have had two student-led masses so far with 5th grade leading one and 4th grade leading one. 3rd grade will lead this week! 3rd-5th grade students have also been learning how to play the hand bells as well as other percussion instruments. We have had a few “band” style days where we trade instruments and get a chance to work with as many percussion instruments as possible! Singspirations is off to a great start!! We are gearing up and preparing for Old West Choir Fest on November 2nd. Mark your calendar if you want to hear and see these kids in action! We usually sing early in the day, around 9am. Thank you for your continued support!!

Second Grade Class By Lori Svitak

The second graders have been as busy as squirrels in fall. We have learned the classroom routine and now have to buckle down in our studies In science, we are learning the properties of matter. Our project for this unit is to design a nut cracker. It will be fun to see how creative the students are. Our topic quest for this unit is to decide what materials would be best to make toys. In social studies, we are learning about being a good citizen and what that looks like. Included in this unit are studying the differences between rights, laws, and rules. It is the perfect topic to teach at the beginning of the school year. Our class has finished our Map testing and want to thank our fifth grade reading buddies for all their help learning how to get signed into the test on the Chrome books. On Fridays, during reading, our class reads quietly with headlamps. This is a fun and peaceful time to relax and enjoy a good book. Happy Birthday to Sakina Kader!