• Junior Beta Club inducted its newest members on February 8, 2018. This honor is bestowed upon students in grades 6-8 who meet the following eligibility requirements: 3.75 GPA with a conduct grade average of a G or better; high recommendations from all classroom teachers; and demonstrated leadership ability. The National Junior Beta Club promotes character and social responsibility, encourages involvement to school and community, fosters leadership skills, and provides settings for children to develop interpersonal relationship skills. We are so proud of these students!
• Congratulations to our 2018 Geography Bee winner, Nate Brownlee, and runner up, Auden Brummer! We are proud of these students and all of the students who qualified represent their classes!
• Beta Club members celebrated National Beta Club week February 26– March 3. They celebrated Mass, helped teachers, passed out treats to students and informed our school community about the mission of beta club!
• The winners of Jump Rope for Heart were Andrew Denegri (in the 4-6 grade division) and Claire Wetick (in the 1-3 grade division.) Griffin Herring was the winner of the Hoops for Heart contest. Together, we raised $ for the American Heart Association. Thanks so much to Mrs. Schauwecker for organizing this fun event every year!
• Our 2018 4th grade State Fair was held in the new gym on March 8. Students did a wonderful job researching their states and presenting their projects to the entire school.
• Our 2018 6th grade Science Fair was held February 21- 23 in the new gym. Congratulations to our winners, overall: 1st- Nicholas Pesce, 2nd- Thomas Cassat, 3rdRobert Senter and class winners: (6A) 1st- Nicholas Pesce, 2nd- Thomas Cassat, 3rd- Robert Senter, (6B) 1st- Russell Hossenlopp, 2nd- Cullen Brummer, 3rdCash Johnson. Nicholas Pesce went on to win 4th place at the Shelby County Science Fair! We are so proud of all of our 6th graders for their hard work.
• Our Spring Play, Rockin’ Around the Block, was a fantastic musical featuring 50’s-style songs and dances. The student actors did an amazing job and parent volunteers helped build a phenomenal set. This year’s production was fun, hilarious, and wellrehearsed. All who attended the day and evening performances were impressed by Director Ray Mullins and his cast!!

Helen Stearnes:
Hello! My name is Helen Stearnes. I am very excited about joining the St. Louis community. For the past nine years, I have been teaching high school science at Immaculate Conception Cathedral School. During my time at ICCS, I taught Advanced Placement Environmental Science, Environmental Science, Biology, Physical Science, and Sociology. Before beginning my career as a teacher, I earned a Bachelor in Science in Geology from Millsaps College, and a Masters of Arts in Teaching from the University of Memphis. Along with being a teacher, I serve on the board of the Tennessee Environmental Education Association.

I am very passionate about science and the outdoors. My two children, Addie and Stephen, and I like to spend our free time in the woods, creeks, and rivers. We love to go camping, hiking, and kayaking. Stephen(10) and Addie(7) both attend the University of Memphis Campus School.

After teaching high school girls for almost ten years, I am very excited to transition into middle school. Seventh and eighth grade are crucial years for science education. I look forward to working with your children, and getting them prepared for science in high school and beyond.

Esthela Rojas:
Hello! My name is Esthela Rojas. I am very happy and honored to be part of the St. Louis community. I have been teaching lower school Spanish since 2011 at St. Ann on Highland. For the past five years, during my time at ICCS, I have been concentrating in Middle School (grades 6-8). I am Spanish native speaking. I was born in the boarded with Texas, Rio Bravo, Tamaulipas, Mexico. Before beginning my career as a teacher, I earned a bachelor in Management in Torreon, Coahuila Mexico at La Universidad Autonoma de la Laguna.

I really enjoy sharing my passion for the Latin culture with my students through interactive classes. My husband (Alex Rojas) and I have four children, Sofia (11), Cesar (9), Alex (8) and Miranda (5). As a Catholic, I believe that family and values are the root of our society. We own a Mexican Restaurant called Agavos Cocina & Tequila, located at 2924 Walnut Grove. Agavos has (by People’s choice)

Our Pastor, Fr. Jolly Sebastian, has released three videos, part of a series he is creating and sharing with St. Louis parishioners so that we can get to know him better. You can go to the church website to watch his latest video. We encourage you to watch all of the videos– they are a testament to the power of a Catholic education and a loving family. If you would like to co-host a “get to know the pastor” parent party this fall, please contact Kim Pesce at 901-255-1914 or kpesce@stlouismemphis.org. The JPII Youth Ministry Center can be booked for these parties and will be a fun way for parents in each grade to get to know each other and our priests. In the past, parent parties have proven to be a wonderful opportunity for parents, especially early in their children’s school careers, to form a community (the kind of community that attracts amazing families like you!)

We want to welcome several new families into our Cardinal Community for the 2018-19 school year. If you would like to volunteer to be a Cardinal Connect committee member, please contact Finy Shirley (finyk@hotmail.com) or Ashley Coleman (ashleyhcoleman@yahoo.com), our 2018-19 coordinators. Cardinal Connect is the Home & School committee that connects new families with existing families. Even if you are not an official member of this committee, please join us in welcoming:

PK
Baker Cruzen
Charolotte Lawrenz
Natalie Martin
Jace Smith
Ann Towler
Lyla Valle
David Collie
Madison Person
Peyton Person
Gino Viglietti

JK
Mary Collie

K
Ethan Begonia
David Bengert
Rose Bunyard
Jackson Capocaccia
Abby Melancon
Celia Mize
Robert Sharpley
Luca Trimboli
Hunter Vincent
Houston Wenzler
Henry Whitehead