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On December 17, High School students and young adults are invited to serve the homeless of Atlanta.
This year, the Saint Vincent de Paul Club is partnering with Mercy Missions Atlanta to facilitate participation for HSP students. Schedule includes training on how to mission, Mission block, and Chik-Fil-A lunch. Please register here!
https://www.mercymissionsatlanta.com/december
For any questions, please contact Sophia Napier snapier@holyspiritprep.org
Please see the below information regarding our Annual Christmas Eve Mass for Holy Spirit Preparatory families.
If you are interested in being an usher, extraordinary minister of Holy Communion, or altar server, please reach out to Kelly Angelo at kangelo@hsccatl.com.
We are praying for a fruitful and joyful Christmas season for all!
Holy Spirit Preparatory School • 4449 Northside Drive, Atlanta, Georgia 30327 • 678.904.2811
Hi HSP families:
It's that time for us to begin planning of spring sports. Please take the time to fill out this form if your student in grades 6-12th grade is planning on playing a spring sport at HSP in soccer, baseball, golf, track & field or tennis.
Ready to register for spring sports - please do so using this registration link.
For our K-5th grade students, we will be playing soccer in the spring with the CMLA. Please use this registration link. For any questions about spring soccer, please contract Sam Walker at swalker@holyspiritprep.org
Saturday, December 17th
CMLA Basketball Games - Week #6
Varsity Swimming - MJB Time TBD • Marist School
Thank you to all who attended this year’s Christmas Spectacular. It was a wonderful celebration of the birth of our Savior. The audience was treated to a wonderful art show and had the opportunity to purchase a bowl through the Empty Bowls program to support feeding the hungry in Atlanta. We also featured performances by our 1st-3rd grade music classes, 4th grade Beginning Band, 5th grade Concert Band, Middle School Symphonic Band, Symphonic Winds, Jazz Band, and Choir, and the High School Jazz Combo, and Wind Symphony. The concert concluded with a Sing-A-Long led by the Wind Symphony and Middle School Choir.
Thank you to the Arts Alliance and all of the volunteers who made this event a success!
Merry Christmas!
The High School Art Show and Winners of the People's Choice award
Thank you who came up to the Upper Library Rotunda and the hallways to view the High School student masterpieces and voted on your favorite works of art.
Click here Video Christmas Spectacular High School Art Show 12/9/22
Click here Photos Christmas Spectacular High School Art Show 12/9/22
Congratulations to the following winners of the people's choice awards.
Best of Show & Best Acrylic Portrait
People’s Choice: Mary Anna Cumbie
Best Acrylic Portrait
Guest Artist Choice: Michelle Sande
Faith Inspired Artwork & Cyanotype
People’s Choice Award: 1st Beau Donner
Guest artist Choice: Mary Anna Cumbie
Pastel Portrait
People’s Choice Award: Mackenzie Manning
Guest Artist Choice: Mackenzie Manning
Best Whistle
Peoples choice: Lilliana Haller
Guest Artist Choice: Claire Napier
Best Clay Work of Art
People’s Choice Award: Esther Gonsalves
Guest Artist Choice Award: Sophia Napier
Best Portrait Intro to Studio Art
People’s Choice: Robin Omolon
Best Portrait Studio Art II
People’s Choice: Maddie Van Oss
Best Digital Imaging
Peoples choice: Sarah Pineda
Artist Choice: Betsy Trenado-Bautista
Empty Bowls
A special thanks to all who participated in the Empty Bowls NAHS Service Project who helped us raise over $400 in proceeds for the St. Francis Table Soup Kitchen at the Shrine of the Immaculate conception!
Congratulations to our Varsity Cheer team for placing 5th in the State!
So proud of all of your hard work!
Ana Maria Alessandrini Garcia Abby Casillo Caroline Castellaw Riordan Gatwood Mary Meyer Martin Mariana Munoz Sophia Napier Brooke Nguyen Alondra Olguin Alexa Padilla Laci Rubio Bella Sanchez Michelle Sande Lilah Sell Savannah Tate Samantha Vazquez Layelin Zamora Coach Gallagher & Coach Bailey
This morning, our high school students competed in the annual Christmas door decorating competition. Each House had an upperclassmen and an underclassmen team who decorated the doors of teachers in their house.
For the underclassmen, second place went to the House of Chalcedon, earning 25 house points, and first place went to the House of Lyons, earning 50 house points. For the upperclassmen, second place went to the House of Lyons and first place went to the House of Chalcedon! Congratulations to all teams on beautiful doors!
Secret Santa Store
Thank you to all volunteers for the Secret Santa store. It was an amazing success! It could not have been done without parent volunteers. Thank you to Maria Kichler for leading this wonderful event.
Feast of Saint Nick
Thank you to all who helped with the feast of St. Nick. The kids were overjoyed to see St. Nick visited!
Dear Holy Spirit Prep Family, It is hard to believe we are already one month into the new academic year. During the challenging circumstances of the pandemic that we continue to face, our Holy Spirit Prep community has continued to thrive, remaining faithful to the original mission of Holy Spirit Preparatory School - developing a communion of joyful souls dedicated to Catholic discipleship in holistic, classically-inspired education. As of today, Holy Spirit Prep’s 2022-2023 Annual Fund campaign is officially underway! The Annual Fund is our primary annual fundraising effort. If you have not already done so, please watch this beautiful message from Amanda and Rick Kuhlman, our 2022 - 2023 Annual Fund Chairs. Help us continue to improve, grow, and thrive. The Catholic Church has historically emphasized the critical role of parents, and the family in the process of educating the faithful. HSP strives to provide financial aid opportunities to qualified Catholic students who do not have the means to attend. This need-based approach is an effort to provide the highest quality Catholic education to entire families and to recognize the Church’s twin missions of teaching and evangelization. The economic realities relating to the cost of providing this type of education mandate a robust fundraising program and a commitment to proper stewardship of all the resources of the school. Without a community commitment to fundraising, it would be difficult for Holy Spirit Prep to survive as an institution supporting the family. Contributions to the Annual Fund demonstrate the community’s commitment to the proper formation of our children—and allow Holy Spirit Prep to maintain the highest quality Catholic education. We respectfully request every HSP family to participate in the 2022-23 Annual Fund to the best of their ability. Jesus taught us how. “A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed” Proverbs 11:2 Over the next few weeks, you will receive regular updates and reminders about the Annual Fund. We encourage you to read these messages and reach out to our Director of Advancement, Edward Festa efesta@holyspiritprep.org with any questions. Many employers sponsor matching gift programs for charitable contributions made by their employees. Check if your company has a matching gift policy. The impact of your gift to Holy Spirit Prep could be doubled. Please support the 2022-23 Annual Fund at any one of the following Giving Levels by October 7, 2022. We are all called to make our best gift.
You may notice we added a new giving level, St. Joseph Calasanz. St. Joseph Calasanz dedicated his life to the education of poor and neglected children, including numerous schools where poor children could attend for free. I offer you my sincerest thanks for your support. God bless you and your wonderful families!
In Christ, Michelle Bertany
The Poor Widow’s Contribution. He sat down opposite the treasury and observed how the crowd put money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. A poor widow also came and put in two small coins worth a few cents. Calling his disciples to himself, he said to them, “Amen, I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the other contributors to the treasury. For they have all contributed from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has contributed all she had, her whole livelihood.” Mark 12: 41-44
Make your 2023 GOAL Pledge today in support of Holy Spirit Preparatory School!
Applications are still open, and credits are being consumed at a higher rate this year! Secure your credits before they are gone! Apply HERE.
Contact Ed Festa at efesta@holyspiritprep.org or call 678.904.2811 should you have any questions.
Please find our Cougar Hour offerings here for the second semester of the 22-23 school year. Included are registration info, contact info, start dates, and prices where applicable.
In addition, please read the request for assistance with supervision of ESP (this is a paid position) and reach out to us should that be of interest to you or someone you might know.
Thank you for everything you do to support our community!
8th grade attends A Christmas Carol
On Wednesday morning, the 8th grade class visited the Shakespeare Tavern in Atlanta for a matineé production of A Christmas Carol. They recently finished reading Charles Dickens’ classic novel, A Christmas Carol, in English class, and the Shakespeare troop brought the novel to life on stage for our students. Merry Christmas and God bless us, everyone!
The House of Nicaea’s Upper School leadership visited the Middle School this week to have lunch with their Middle School counterparts. Nicaea members were able to attend recess together with the Upper Schoolers for some fun activities, and also broke bread together at lunch.
The House of Chalcedon is working on their apostolate, which will be Christmas Caroling and gift giving to residents in a senior citizen community sponsored by Catholic Charities. The event will be on Thursday, December 15th. All Middle Schoolers will be invited to participate by bringing donations and/or coming to carol as a group. Be on the lookout for more details!
HSP is partnering with Mission Youth and Family (https://missionyouth.com/home) for our yearly mission trip to the developing towns around Cancún, Mexico.
This year, for the first time, the mission trip includes concurrent sites for boys and girls. Though the mission sites are gender specific, travel to and from Mexico and the final day of recreation and cultural tourism in Cancún will be together. This mission trip is open to high school students from other schools. June 25 – July 2.
Price and more information to come! For any questions, please reach out to Fr Juan Pablo at jpd@holyspiritprep.org.
Congratulations to three HSP band students who have successfully auditioned for the Georgia Music Educators Association District V Honor Bands. The audition process consisted of memorized major scales and arpeggios and chromatic scale, a prepared lyrical etude, and a short sight-reading exercise. This process is highly competitive because our students compete against students from every other middle and high school in Fulton county regardless of school size. The following students will be representing HSP in their respective honor bands in February:
Luke Sacco, trumpet (7th grade) - Middle School Artistry Band
Suzy Gregory, alto saxophone (10th grade) - 9th & 10th grade Concert Band
Adam Young, tenor saxophone (10th grade) - 9th & 10th grade Concert Band
Adam scored high enough to qualify for the final round to audition into the Georgia All-State Band. He will audition in January on both a prepared lyrical and technical etude, and two difficult sight reading exercises. We wish him many blessings as he competes against the best tenor saxophonists in the state for a coveted chair in the state’s top concert band.
Luke, Suzy and Adam (pictured with baritone saxophone)
Last week the high school Wind Symphony hosted guest conductor Josh Tyree. Mr. Tyree is the Director of Bands at West Forsyth HS and is the author of the method book Superior Sight-Reading. Bringing in guest conductors is a great way for the band to experience making music in a different manner. The same concepts are taught in different ways and it helps students to become more creative in their musical interpretations. Thank you Mr. Tyree for helping us prepare for our Christmas Spectacular and beyond!
A Carol Symphony - by Victor Hely-Hutchinson
Victor Hely-Hutchinson
Born December 26, 1901 Cape Town, Cape Colony (now in South Africa)
Died March 11, 1947 London, United Kingdom
Victor Hely-Hutchinson (1901-1947) was born in Cape Town, son of the last British Governor of South Africa. He was largely educated in England, and displayed phenomenal musical talent at an early age. While at Eton and Oxford, he studied with two of the leading teachers in England, Donald Francis Tovey and Charles Villers Stanford. Hely-Hutchinson left Oxford at age 21 to teach at the South African College of Music, but returned to England permanently in 1926, taking a position with the BBC. (He would eventually serve as the BBC’s overall Director of Music.) Hely-Hutchinson was successful and multitalented: at various points in his career, he worked with equal facility as a conductor, pianist, arranger, critic, and composition teacher. As a composer, he was perhaps best known for his charming children’s songs and nursery rhymes, though he composed several larger works as well.
A Carol Symphony of 1927, written shortly after he began working for the BBC, remains his best-known work today. Despite its name, it is not really a “symphony” but a set of four imaginatively-orchestrated chorale preludes on familiar Christmas carols.
The first movement, O Come, All Ye Faithful, is set in a style that pays tribute to Bach, with the tune laid out solemnly by the brass above energetic figuration from the strings and woodwinds.
God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen is much more like a scherzo, with high woodwinds adapting the tune as a quick-footed dance that changes suddenly to a distinctly Russian-sounding interpretation of the carol.
The First Noel opens with quiet atmospheric music, before horns play a quasi-medieval version of the Coventry Carol. When The First Noel first appears, it is also in a strange modal version before it emerges in its more familiar form for a set of variations. The movement ends with more of the unsettled Coventry Carol music, and last reference to The First Noel.
The finale, Here We Come A-wassailing, begins with a lively introduction before the carol enters in the jolliest style. Hely-Hutchinson includes a long reminiscence of the first movement, before a fine fugal development of Here We Come A-wassailing, and a grandiose brass version of O Come, All Ye Faithful.
(program notes ©2017 by J. Michael Allsen)
Recommended Recording: Hely-Hutchinson: A Carol Symphony - City of Prague Philharmonic, Gavin Sutherland (Naxos) (Tracks 6-9)
Listen on Apple Music Listen on Spotify
Further Listening: The rest of the great symphonic Christmas music on the same album
Wishing you and yours a very blessed and joyful Merry Christmas!
Dear Families,
The month of November is quickly approaching, and with it comes the holiday season. 2022 is also coming to a close. We are at the final sprint, and it seems to be a very steep uphill. So much going on and so much to prepare for. Each year it seems like we have more to do. We also have new challenges that we have had to face this past year, which create a little bit of baggage as we have family coming into town or we have to go visit. Maybe we have a lot of mixed feelings towards these coming days, from feeling happy to a sense of feeling overwhelmed with all we have to do. At the Lower School, we will be working on gratitude this next month. This virtue can help us live these coming days in the correct disposition.
John Paul II said we should look at the past with gratitude, the present with enthusiasm, and the future with confidence. As anxiety could creep in looking forward in these months, only when we take a moment to look back on this year and take a moment to say thank you for all we have accomplished, can this give us peace to look forward with confidence?
Maybe we hear the word thank you often, but to live this virtue is more than a habit of saying thank you. To be grateful is to have a disposition of heart that when we look back on any object, situation, event, or even person, we can recognize the love that was offered to us in the form of a gift.
Gratitude is considered the most exotic flower in the garden of virtues by Henry Ward Beecher. Seeing our soul as a garden full of flowers helps us envision the beauty of our life. Gratitude as the most exotic, or rare, can help us understand how special it is. When we meet a grateful person, we feel good and recognize something special in that person.
Gratitude requires us to stop and reflect. The flower can only bud when the roots have been grounded in a time of reflection. Rather than just a quick thank you, a person who lives the virtue of gratitude ponders the gift received. The gift given fills them with wonder and awe. Taking time to write a thank you note or saying what we like about the gift can be helpful ways to take more time in our thank you’s.
The flower buds colorfully when the right nutrients are there. Humility is the most important of those nutrients. When our gratitude is nourished with humility, we can acknowledge the good someone else offers to us. When I was a little boy I would go pick clover flowers and bring them to my mom. She was so grateful for those weeds, although I had thought I was offering flowers. She saw in the weed an attempt to show affection. A humble heart recognizes that everything is a gift.
One of the reasons gifts are special is because they reveal the relationship of love that exists between two people. The gift is important because it unites two people in love and when received in wonder and admiration, the beautiful fruit produced is one of gratitude. When we are not grateful we are blind to the love offered.
May the end of this year be a time to remember the love that has been present and may these memories carry us through to 2023.
God bless!
Fr Andrew, LC
Video on Virtue of the Month: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFviY6_C9_M&ab_channel=AndrewGronotte
This Week at Holy Spirit
Weekly Bulletin
Volume 22, Issue 16 | December 13, 2022
Becoming a Great Sports Parent
Sometimes it is a challenge to be a parent on the sideline. It can be difficult to either see your child struggle in a particular sport or watch him/her play on a team where others are not as talented. Regardless of the circumstances - whether things are going well or poorly - it is always important to remember that sports need to be an encouraging and positive environment for all athletes. Below are a few tips to help you take your own game to the next level and become a great sports parent:
Click here for a full list of "Guidelines for Sidelines" from our Parent Like a Champion program. By taking the time to consider your behavior and committing to be a positive sports parent, you can help provide a great experience for your child and aid in their development as an athlete and person!
"Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it." ~ Proverbs 22:6
'Tis the Season!
Looking for a unique Christmas gift for a child or family on your list? Here's a couple of books that speak to the spirit of Christmas and Game Day!
Little Netta’s Gift
Based on an inspiring true story, Little Netta’s Gift is children’s book about the joy of giving and kindness. Little Netta’s birthday is two days after Christmas, and at her sixth birthday party she showed tremendous compassion for others by giving her gifts to children attending her party after learning they did not receive Christmas gifts. This rhythmic read-aloud is a perfect Christmas gift for children, families, and friends everywhere. Written by Mike Brown ‘01, Illustrated by Selim Nurudeen ‘05. www.LittleNetta.com
The Leprechaun’s Game at Notre Dame
Vividly told through the Leprechaun’s eyes, The Leprechaun’s Game Day at Notre Dame is a children’s book filled with delightful illustrations that bring the magic of Notre Dame’s campus and Game Day experience to life. This charming read-aloud is an officially licenced product of the University of Notre Dame and a perfect Christmas gift for all youth! Written by Mike Brown ‘01 and Cara Krenn ‘04, Illustrated by Maryn Arreguín ‘03.
www.LepGameDay.com
A Prayer for Parents
"Your children are not your children. They are sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself. They come through you but not from you. And though they are with you yet they belong not to you. You may give them your love but not your thoughts, For they have their own thoughts. You may house their bodies but not their souls, For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow, which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams. You may strive to be like them, but seek not to make them like you. For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday. You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth. The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite, and He bends you with His might that His arrows may go swift and far. Let your bending in the archer's hand be for gladness. For even as He loves the arrow that flies, so He also loves the bow that is stable." ~ Kahlil Gibran P
Play Like a Champion Today Educational Series
PO Box 72, Notre Dame, IN 46556 | information@playlikeachampion.org
www.playlikeachampion.org
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Calling all Cougar Fans! It's time to the 2022-23 Athletic Booster Club!
Support our student athletes through joining the Holy Spirit Prep Athletic Booster Club!
The Holy Spirit Prep Athletic Booster Club has one goal - to enhance the experience of our student athletes on all three campuses. The HSP Athletic Booster Club funds will enhance our budget, allowing us to provide supplemental equipment, coaching, and programs to improve the athletics experience for all our students. These funds will be obtained through HSP Athletic Booster Club membership, restricted athletics donations, spirit gear sales, and event ticket and concession sales.
The HSP Athletic Booster Club recognizes that participation in school athletics benefits everyone. In addition to financial support, the HSPABC promotes opportunities to build and strengthen relationships among all constituencies through enthusiastic participation of volunteers, students, coaches, parents, school faculty and staff, sponsors, community members, alumni and grandparents.
Depending on the level of membership, personalized admission passes will be issued to you for a select number or all regular season home games!
For additional information on levels, please click here. On behalf of all students, coaches and fans here at HSP, thank you for your support!
Please contact Kristina Wilhelm, Director of Athletics, for additional information, at kwilhelm@holyspiritprep.org.
Thank you to our current Booster Club Members! Click here for more information on how to join.
Gold Members ($1,000+) David & Stephanie Cusimano The De Santolo Family Chris & Megan Durham The Grubbs Family Nicholas & Tricia Mulcare Ashok & Kim Reddy The Slinkard Family Harold & Lisa Wyatt
Silver Members ($500+) Chris & Alexandra Burris Kelly & Collen Craig Mike & Carolyn Ecker Albert & Sallie Forrester The Hossain-Aguilar Family Kendall Kerew Scott Kerew Peter & Jennifer Manning Erik & Holly Richmond Kevin & Ellen Twomey Charles & Yun Washington Ryan & Kristina Wilhelm
Green Members ($250+) Anonymous (1) Mark & Rebecca Bernier The Cabrara Family Brooks & Kate Castellaw The Hutchins Family Joe & Maria Kichler Rick & Amanda Kuhlman Kathleen, Kelly and Bradley Magnusson Chris & Margaret Martin Summer Martin Juan & Mary Martinez Mike & Kathy Prieto Chris & Christian Riley Whitney & Ashley Wolf
Members ($100+) Anonymous (1) Cesar & Clara Olguin Javier & Alanna Oliver The Santillan Family Stacey Weiss The Zelaya Family
The Athletic Booster Club is seeking Corporate Sponsorships!
As we prepare for the 2022-2023 school year, we are seeking corporate sponsorships to support the Athletics budget. Please click here for additional information.
Sponsorship Visual Benefits:
Limited 4x6ft vinyl outdoor banner on the baseball fence on the High School campus, the soccer/football field on the High School campus, and the soccer field fence on the Lower School campus.
Additional Benefits for all Corporate Sponsors
All the benefits included for the highest level of Athletic Booster Club Membership
To learn more about the opportunity to become a Corporate Sponsor, please contact Director of Athletics Kristina Wilhelm at kwilhelm@holyspiritprep.org.
Magnanimity: "opening your heart to help everyone"
It is a moral virtue gained through human effort which builds on the theological and cardinal virtues.
"Cheerfulness consists in not regarding things as our own, but as entrusted to us by God for the benefit of our fellow-servants. It consists in scattering them abroad generously with joy and magnanimity, not reluctantly or under compulsion." Symeon The New Theologian
"We can not communicate with the Lord if we do not communicate with each other. If we want to present ourselves to him, we must take a step towards meeting one another. To do this we must learn the great lesson of forgiveness: we must not let the gnawings of resentment work in our soul but must open our hearts to the magnanimity of listening to others, open our hearts to understanding them, eventually to accepting their apologies, to generously offering our own." - Pope Benedict XVI
Please take your time and read the following article by Fr. Brian Cavanaugh. It is worth reading to your student athlete as well.
"Pope Benedict XVI in his Encyclical Letter, “Spe Salvi – on Christian Hope” wrote, “Man was created for greatness — for God himself; he was created to be filled by God. But his heart is too small for the greatness to which it is destined. It must be stretched.”[15]
Magnanimity challenges each individual to grow into the fullness God created him/her to be, with one’s own unique set of gifts and talents. It means to believe in yourself because it is God who created you with a lofty vision for your life, to have noble ambitions, to dream great dreams; simply, to believe you are worthy as a child of God and that you are created to do great things. This is a virtue that will stretch a person to become uncommon, significant, and magnanimous." - Fr. Brian Cavanaugh