Welcome to the Saint Patrick Catholic School Chapel Reflections podcast. The Advent season is upon us and principal Steve Hammond shares his thoughts about preparing for the coming of Jesus Christ.

Many of you may already know that a member of one of our families, Mia Nguyen, is currently awaiting a heart transplant while being treated at UVA Med Center in Charlottesville. Mia was first admitted to CHKD in September and then was later transferred to the UVA Medical Center. Mia was born on July 15th to Dwight and Ngoan Nguyen. Mia’s big sister Nicole is in the 3rd grade at STPCS and she has also a brother Kobe (6) who attends school in Chesapeake.

As the Nguyen family has struggled with Mia’s situation, Nicole’s third grade classmates have taken it upon themselves to assist and support their friend Nicole through the offering of prayers and thoughtfulness but they have want to take a more active role to assist their friend. The latter part of this week both 3rd grade classes will be working on a project accepting donations and prayer notes from the school community through Friday, November 14th. They will have paper hearts upon which prayers can be written and placed in a prayer and donation box in the Dining Hall during lunch on Friday. This box will then be given to the Nguyen family as a physical sign connecting us to them through prayer during this very difficult time and we hope that we can be a source of strength for them. You can send your donation and/or prayer note into school in an envelope marked, “Hearts for Mia” and we will make sure it is placed in the box.

Nicole’s U9 advanced soccer teammates, many of whom are her classmates, have also been inspired to make every goal they score through December 7th be a goal for little Mia and a goal-a-thon fundraiser. Please email Susan Call (susancall3@verizon.net) for further donation information.

You can visit Mia’s page on Caringbridge by going to www.caringbridge.org/visit/mianguyen.

As spirit-filled students, our third grade class has risen to this difficult situation and recognized the need to help their friend.

Listen to a podcast of the presentation the students made at chapel:

Welcome to the Saint Patrick Catholic School chapel reflections podcast. Brought to you by principal Steve Hammond, this week’s reflection includes details about the history behind the Halloween holiday, connections with the Mexican tradition of Dia de los Muertos or ‘day of the dead’, and the idea that we are all in communion with the saints and can ask them to pray for us.

Principal Steve Hammond shares a special song as he reflects upon parenting and ‘letting go’ as our children grow older.

Saint Patrick Catholic School is excited to launch its Chapel Reflections Podcast project! In our first broadcast, principal Steve Hammond talks with the school community about the JOY principle and the power of forgiveness.

Looking for an update on the Wolfhound Winter sports season? You have found it here with 8th grader Chad Lynch’s “Wolfhound Wrap Up.” Chad’s work reflects his own time and commitment to developing his Life of Mind characteristics. Responding to the call he hears to be a Sports Broadcaster, listen to this future ESPN anchor’s first on-air effort. Use the link below to listen to the podcast and view some photos from the basketball season.