Heartbeat
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FROM THE PRINCIPAL'S DESK... |
By Principal Bob Hamm
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To continue where we left off last month... Parents who wish to give their children a head start toward developing a strong moral code can observe these commonsense guidelines: 1. Create a home environment of justice and fairness. Justice and fair play are the core values of most ethical principles. Probably the single most eloquent statement of morality in human history is the Golden Rule&emdash;Do unto others, as you would have them do unto you. One of the most important things an adult can do to help a child develop morally is to provide him with the kind of atmosphere that facilitates moral development. Characteristics essential to a healthy environment include mutual respect, a sense of belonging, justice, and openness. 2. Set a parental example that exhibits a high ethical standard. This is probably the single most powerful teaching tool of a parent. A parent who consistently breaks the rules but lectures his child to do otherwise is teaching with his example much more powerfully than with his lectures. 3. Discuss the ethical implications of everyday decisions with your children. Children need to learn to ask WHY in regard to rules and ethical decisions. Sometimes the most conscientious parents, or the strictest parents, fail to take time to explain to their children WHY certain behaviors are acceptable or unacceptable. Why do we pay for items in the store instead of stealing them? Not to avoid getting caught, not merely because it is against the law; but because to steal would be an abuse of another person who rightly owns the items and must sell them to get a fair return on their work. This type of explanation about ethical decisions helps children make the connective link between principles and behavior. According to research, 85 percent of success in life derives from attitudes rather than from intelligence or innate ability. It is also true that one's initial attitudes are formed no later than age nine or ten, and most of them even earlier. It is far easier to formulate the correct attitudes early in life than to change them in adulthood. This simple fact alone make the responsibility of parenthood looms even larger. Positive parenting&emdash;the teaching of positive attitudes&emdash;is the greatest gift one can give to a child. Next month we will take a look at some things you as parents can do to help your children acquire a positive attitude. |
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Ferol Henkels
On November 2, 3 and 4, Bob Hamm, principal at Sacred Heart Academy attended and spoke at the National Forum for Catholic School Principals. The forum, sponsored by the National Catholic Education Association was held here in San Diego and was a conference for Catholic School administrators from throughout the country. The focus of this year's conference was "21st Century Curriculum: Faith, Values, Excellence." Mr. Hamm's presentation was on "The Core Knowledge Curriculum in a Catholic School Setting." The Core Knowledge Sequence, taught at Sacred Heart Academy is a solid, coherent foundation of learning for our children. The planned progression of specific knowledge in all areas, including history, math, science, language arts, and fine arts is an excellent forum for teaching religion. Coherent content from grade to grade encourages a steady academic progress while our children build their knowledge, skills, and faith, one year at a time. Core Knowledge promotes excellence; Sacred Heart Academy adds to that and promotes faith and values. Thank you, Mr. Hamm, for your commitment to Core Knowledge and the children at Sacred Heart Academy. |
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DO I HAVE RESPONSIBILITIES AS AN SHA PARENT? Bob Hamm As parents at Sacred Heart Academy, we know exactly what is expected of our children, what their responsibilities are as students at the Academy, but what about our responsibilities as parents? What are they? What should you, as a parent, be doing? Think about this: 1. What do I do to make the school a safe and orderly environment in which my child and his/her classmates improve their educational achievement? 2. Do I make sure that my child arrives at school on time and is prepared for class? 3. Do I take an active role in my child's education by helping with his/her homework and ensuring that it is completed thoroughly and on time? 4. Do I maintain high standards of academic excellence and expectations for my child and communicate them to my child on a regular basis? 5. Do I keep the lines of communication between myself and my child's teacher open at all times? 6. Am I an active partner with the school in my child's education by participating in school activities? 7. Do I instill in my child a lifelong understanding of the importance of education? 8. Do I read, sign, and abide by the guidelines and regulations of the school? 9. Do I recognize that it is my work and actions that will make this school a success now and in the future? 10. Do I accept being held accountable as a parent at the school by accepting responsibility for my actions? |
BIBLE BEINGS
Deacon Giles
I was a Jewish girl, very beautiful, who was very dedicated to God and to my people. My family was exiled to the Persian Empire. The Persian King liked me and allowed me to live in his palace. One day I learned that the Persian King, Xerxes, was planning to kill all the Jewish people in the Empire because they refused to worship a foreign god. My father asked me to intercede and prevent this from happening. After asking my father to pray for me and covering myself with sackcloth and ashes, I, myself, prayed for guidance and help. There was a good chance I might be killed while trying to save my people. I did approach the King, found favor with him and was received with honor and understanding. He made me his queen. As a result of the prayers and sacrifices, the King punished a traitorous attendant who instigated the persecution and took the Jewish people into his favor negating the persecution. A book of the Bible was named after me. WHO AM I?
Clue: The answer is found in the Old Testament
(Ed note: Deacon Giles will regularly print Bible Beings in our Heartbeat.)
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Joan Irvine
Please remember to check our library wish list for some good ideas when choosing a book for the Birthday Book Club. Thank you to all of our members who have donated so many wonderful and interesting additions to our Sacred Heart library! Our Birthday Book Club loves new members, so join today!
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Bob Hamm
Thank you to all the students and their families who made a contribution to Stand Up For Kids at our October All School Mass. Because of your generosity we were able to send Stand Up For Kids a check for $100.00. Please remember that we will always be taking up a collection for Stand Up For Kids at all of our all school Masses. Please continue to be generous in your contributions.
Also, I want to thank the families who continue to support Stand Up For Kids with their weekly donations of food and/or hygiene items for the children on the streets. Please do not forget to send in items every Wednesday. If you have forgotten what items to send in, you may find the listing on our website at www.s-h-a.org.
RACE FOR THE CURE Patty DiMasi What a beautiful day to celebrate! Sacred Heart Academy families joined more than 14,000 other San Diegans in support of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation with a 5K run/walk through Balboa Park on Sunday, November 5. Sacred Heart participants included Kelly Andrade, Patti Boone, Julie Davidson and her daughter Brooke, Patty, Tim and Timmy DiMasi, Holli Ewell and Collins, and the entire Ganem family, Chris, Margie, Ryan and Sydney. Matt Hervey was there with his three children, John, Michael and Sarah. Also joining in were Kaci Lorts and her mom Lorna Thiel, Colleen Morse, Kelly Robinson and her mom Kathryn Snyder, Laurie Robinson, Linda Small, Monique Teixeira, Van Thaxton, Stacy Turner, and Kathy Valenti. In addition, Marla and John Turskey were there with John's brother and his wife, Marla's sister from Iowa and Morgan, Madeline and Joe Thaxton. We were even joined by Sensei/Officer Yu from USA Freestyle Karate and the San Diego Police Department. Everyone had a wonderful time supporting this worthwhile event. A special thanks to Tim DiMasi and EAX Worldwide, Inc., for the terrific banner! And as a personal note, I'd like to thank everyone who participated, as well as the Kretz family, the Merrill family, the Wise family, Annette Edwards and Christina Smith for their donations We hope to see everyone back again next year for another great turn out. |
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THANK YOU FROM THE TURSKEYS Dear Sacred Heart Academy Family, John and I would like to thank you for all of your love, support, concern, and prayers. I have now come to the end of medical treatments and am getting stronger each day. This has been an emotional roller coaster ride, which I think I handled fairly well. I would like to invite you all to really live each day to its fullest&emdash;however that looks and feels to each one of you. By far, the most precious gift I received during my illness was the true unconditional love from Our Lord, and my dear family and friends. I had been searching for that for a long time. Little did I know that it was there all along and that all I had to do was be willing to receive. Thank you again, Marla, John, Morgan and Madeleine P.S. Thank you to all who supported the Race for the Cure. I was deeply moved by this event. It was a wonderful turnout and I soon hope to have a few pictures to share with you. A special thanks goes to Patti DiMasi for all her time and thoughtfulness in organizing the gathering of supporters.
THANK YOU Sister Anne Machtemes The Thanksgiving Senior Luncheon on November 3 was another of the PTG'S successes. All the seniors were pleased with the tasty dinner served to them. One Senior phoned later in the day to tell me that this was the "most delicious" Thanksgiving dinner that she had ever eaten. Thank you to Kathy Garrett, Linda Small, Carmie Armstrong, Van Thaxton, Lori Kretz, Janice Teixeira, Patty DiMasi, and Marla Moore who worked all morning and early afternoon in the kitchen or driving here and there for supplies and food. You did a superb job. Thank you to the Girl Scouts and those they recruited to help serve the plates, desserts and pour coffee. Some of the women said that these young people who were serving them were very friendly. They liked having the young ones around. I noticed that they were very responsible and tended to their appointed tasks. Thank you to the second graders and their teachers who made our centerpieces, the plumpest turkeys we have ever had on our tables. Some of them were lucky enough to go into the homes of our seniors. The seniors like seeing your creative ideas displayed before them. Thank you!
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SHA Alums in the news |
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Charlene Ables On November 17, the San Diego Union Tribune's sports section featured five of our SHA alumnae. Ashley Magellan, Tina Mesquita, Lauren Ognibene, and Megan Pratt, (all SHA class of 1997) and Kristina Hoban (SHA class of 1998) are now stars of the University of San Diego High School varsity girls' volleyball team. According to the Union Tribune, "Six years ago, five young girls who didn't know much about volleyball came together for the first time on the asphalt court of Sacred Heart Academy in Ocean Beach. There, the girls … not only learned how to play volleyball, but how playing with friends makes success that much sweeter." Since the article, the USDHS girls have won the CIF Division III championship and are set to play in the CIF Southern California Division III Regional Final on November 28. Good luck, Dons! |
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Congratulations to the 4th grade, the winners of the Box Tops 4 Education program for October 2000. They turned in total of 123 box tops, totaling $12.50. The entire fourth grade class will enjoy a free dress day in November. The total amount of money earned through the program in October is $46.15. Thanks to all of the students and families that clipped box tops last month. We had a $13 increase in earnings over the previous month. Let's keep clipping and increase our earnings each month. |
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EARNING FOR LEARNING PROGRAM 
Janice Teixeira When you shop at Horton Plaza and turn in your receipts, the school earns money. Following are some ways in which you can help our school earn points and therefore money by doing your regular shopping: Shop for Christmas at Horton Plaza. Use the travel agent at Horton Plaza. Go to the movies at Horton Plaza. Eat at the restaurants at Horton Plaza. Go to the Lyceum Theater at Horton Plaza. Buy See's Candy at Horton Plaza. Enjoy all the above things and turn in your receipts to the school office. The school uses the money to purchase books for the library. Look for an exciting way you can make your purchases count even more at a special shopping day at Horton Plaza. Call Janice Teixeira if you have any questions (225-8595). |
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SHARK SPORTS REPORT Both boys' football teams recently completed successful seasons. They participated in the playoffs on the weekend of November 17th and 18th. A very special thanks to the coaches who volunteered their time and worked so diligently to help make "The Sharks" winners. The varsity coaches were Jim Arthur and Ed Arthur. Robert Ferguson, Jim Veltmann, Greg Roper, Manny Coito and Dave Sheppard coached the junior varsity team. Thanks, coaches! You did a great job! Basketball and pee wee soccer seasons are beginning this month. If you are interested in helping out with one of these teams, it's not too late! Call Tracy and Dave Sheppard to volunteer. A very special thanks to the parents who have already volunteered to help with the winter sports teams. |
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HOW DO YOU SPELL RELIEF? Do you need a break from the little rug rats this holiday season? Call Jamie Davidson for babysitting. I'd love to help. 619 224-0525. Happy holidays! |
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Van Thaxton This month's PTG profile includes not one but two couples who have "teamed" up to support our school's competitive sports programs. You'll hear about them in a minute, but first up to bat is... Sue Wise, Bereavement Director Hailing from Kettering Ohio, just outside of Dayton, is our PTG bereavement director, Sue Wise. As bereavement director, Sue coordinates consolation efforts between the Academy and the Parish. Sue is a product of Catholic education beginning with elementary school and continuing on through high school. After graduating high school, Sue attended Miami University (Ohio) where she obtained her degree in microbiology. Sue has been married for 14 years to Dr. Phil Wise, who is a prominent San Diego urologist. They met in Houston when Sue was selling drugs, rather pharmaceuticals, for Merck and Phil was in residency. Shortly thereafter, Sue left Houston to pursue her career in sales with a home infusion therapy company. As manager of sales training, Sue was able to travel the country and was soon promoted to regional sales manager of the West Coast. In the interim, Sue and Phil found the time to court, marry and start a family. After becoming too familiar with the train rails, skyways and highways between Arizona and California, Sue jumped off the corporate ladder and retired to be a full-time mom when their first child was almost two. The Wises, who now live in Point Loma, have three children, Nic, age 11 and in the sixth grade, Tory, age nine and in the third grade and Greg, age seven and in the first grade. They also have a two-year-old dog named Evy and two fish. As of this writing, Sue has successfully warded off any (domesticated) reptilian invasion in her home. She says she is adamant to remain "reptile-free" for many years to come. Sue's current full-time occupation (with a considerable amount of overtime) is being the mother of their three children. In addition, she has been room mom for six or seven years, taught music for Nic's and Tory's classes and done what ever volunteer work has been asked of her, including being a lector at mass for several years. What Sue likes best about Sacred Heart Academy is the family/community environment. For fun, Sue likes to ski, scuba dive, read, swim and get together with friends. When she sees movies, they are usually limited to the "G" or "PG" variety. She says, "When the kids get older, I'll see tons of movies." Sue likes all food, though you'd never know it by looking at her. When she thinks of her favorite travel destination, this is what she has to say, "I look back on our trip to Greece with a longing to return." The book that has made the greatest impact on her life is Nearer, My God, by William F. Buckley. When asked about her greatest achievement she says that her kids (still in progress) are the source of her greatest pride. She goes on to say, "My prayer and my job is to maximize the potential of my kids and to help them achieve. Since Greg's diagnosis, I have learned more than I ever wanted to know about autism. But what I have learned can help him, and perhaps others with disabilities, find some happiness in life." 
David and Tracy Sheppard, Boys' Athletic Directors This dynamic duo has taken on the grand task of coordinating boys' athletics for Sacred Heart Academy. Like any other team, the Sheppards have decided to divide and conquer when it comes to the tasks at hand. Tracy handles the paper work and David organizes the coaches and attends the necessary meetings. In addition, David has coached athletics; Tracy has been the game chair for festival and has even been an occasional substitute teacher at SHA. Both Dave and Tracy have also served on the Principal's Advisory Committee. David and Tracy met as students at SDSU and both studied to be and actually became educators. David is a special education teacher and Tracy currently is teaching third grade, sharing a contract so that she may spend more time with her children. The Sheppards have been married for 12 years. During that time, they have formed a small team of their own; David Patrick is 10 and in the fifth grade, Zachary Thomas is seven and in the second grade and Nathan Lee is one. Whitney, who is 13 years old, was rescued from the Human Society. The Sheppards have been at SHA for six years and what they like most about it is the strong value system set in place for the children. Tracy adds, "What I like most are the friends that we have made, the traditional Catholic education and the high academic standards." David and Tracy were both raised in Southern California, he in Long Beach and she in Los Angeles, though Tracy was born in Indiana. The Sheppard family enjoys camping and going to the beach. Tracy also enjoys working in the garden. Tracy loves anything chocolate and David could go for Mexican food at a moment's notice. Like many busy moms, Tracy cannot remember the last movie she saw. David on the other hand, fondly remembers his favorite movie, Happy Gilmore. Both David and Tracy had similar views when it comes to their achievements. David said, "I love to work with kids, both in the classroom and on the playing field." Tracy sums it up well too; "My greatest achievements are my kids." 
Gary and Beth Lee, Girls' Athletic Directors The fact that our second dynamic duo even met is probably a miracle in itself, given the fact that they grew up thousands of miles and one ocean apart. Gary grew up in Honolulu, Hawaii and Beth grew up on the East Coast in an area she says is very much like Ocean Beach/Point Loma, except she adds, "In the winter we had snow on our beaches." Gary and Beth meet in 1978 while working at Tom Ham's Lighthouse restaurant. When they realized that their birthdays were just one day apart, they knew that it was fate. Little did they know that eight years later, they would have another December birthday in the house when Kelsey was born. Beth says, "The whole month of December is usually a busy blur for us." The Lees are still in the restaurant business and Gary does paralegal work as well. Beth says, "Even with one child, it's amazing how busy we can stay. Kelsey is in the eighth grade and I am sure the high school years will keep us just as busy if not more." The Lees are proud of Kelsey saying that she is a good student academically and is also involved with two club sports along with playing for the SHA Sharks! This year, Gary and Beth Lee are coordinating the girls' athletics for SHA. Like the Sheppards, they have found that by dividing the job responsibilities, it can more easily be tackled. Beth handles the paperwork, collects fees and coordinates the uniforms. Gary handles the coaching and schedules. With flexible work schedules the Lees have always helped around the school, in the classroom, driving on field trips and coaching sports. When time permits, the Lees enjoy being out doors, whether in the yard, at the beach or visiting some of their favorite spots here in San Diego, Julian is another favorite destination, especially this time of year. As far as travel, the Lees always look forward to visiting family either on the East Coast or in Hawaii. They have many dear family and friends that they do not get to see often enough. Beth says, "That's how Sacred Heart Academy fills our gaps!" Gary's favorite travel destination is the Far East. As far as favorites, the Lees have seen too many movies to call just one a favorite. Gary's favorite food is sushi and seafood and his favorite book is the Book of Five Rings, "Because it is an ever changing philosophy of life." He admits that he reads too many books, sometime as many as three or four a week! He also enjoys watching Kelsey and her friends play sports. When asked what their greatest talent or achievement is to date, Beth summed it up nicely when she said, "When raising children in today's world, I do think it takes a special kind of talent along with many other ingredients. So far, our greatest achievement is raising our daughter." Well put. |
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BOX TOPS 4 EDUCATION Van Thaxton Guess what I found in my kitchen pantry today? I found seventy-five cents. Not impressed? Well, if each family in our school found this in their cabinets each month, our school could benefit greatly. How, you ask? On the top of many General Mills food boxes is a pink or green tab, worth $ .15 and $ .10, respectively. It is this simple: clip the box tops, write your child's name and grade on the back, save the box tops in a zip lock bag, and turn them in to the office at the end of each month. Each month, we will report on the class that brings in the greatest value of box tops. The winning class gets a free dress day in the next school month. The winning class for the year gets an ice cream party. Congratulations to the second grade class for bringing in the most box tops in September. They turned in a total of 150 box tops equaling $15.15. Way to go 2nd grade! |
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NEXT HEARTBEAT The January Heartbeat will be published on the last Tuesday of the school year in 2000, which is December 12, 2000. Articles are due to the Editor by noon on Friday, December 1, 2000. Due to the short month and abbreviated timeframe, we regret we cannot accept late articles. |
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Lessons in Carols-7pm Sacred Heart Church |
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Sacred Heart Parish Caroling |
 Christmas Vacation. |
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5:30 Mass Presented by Sacred Heart Academy Students |
 Christmas Day |
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Sacred Heart Academy
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