After watching a video of how ashes will be distributed on the first Ash Wednesday of the pandemic, a parishioner told Rev. Ralph D’Elia it was upsetting.

Everything was changing, the person said.

But in an interview Tuesday, Rev. Ralph D’Elia reflected that embracing the past year’s changes may be the best way to capture the spirit of the Ash Wednesday, the first day of the Lenten season observed by Catholics and many other Christians.

“We can grow a bigger awareness of what’s essential in our lives in the midst of change, and cling to that,” he said.

It’s also an invitation, he said, for believers to look inward.

“Frankly I think this practice of sprinkling on the head, while it’s more discreet, I think maybe it’s a good reminder that the Lord is calling us to internalize this more,” D’Elia said. “So it’s not necessarily a matter of outward show, but more of a matter of internal disposition.”

Lent, the 40 days before Easter, is often marked by prayer, fasting and alms giving. It’s a season of repentance and reflection, said Monsignor Robert Gibbons of St. Paul’s Catholic Church in St. Petersburg. The events of this last year, he said, might lead people to take it more seriously.

“It’s a time for renewal and introspection, both as individuals and as a society,” he said.

Rev. Stephen Mimnaugh at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Tampa said the lack of a physical mark doesn’t take away from the ashes‘ meaning. Sacred Heart parishioners can be blessed in the parking lot outside of their cars or on the steps of the church. Ashes will be silently sprinkled over their heads and blessings verbalized at the beginning and end of a ceremony, instead of to each person.

Last year, Lent was interrupted by the onset of the pandemic. This year, after people have given up so many aspects of their normal lives, Mimnaugh encourages them to think of Lent in terms of taking up a new spiritual practice or doing good for others.

“Maybe this year is less about giving things up and more about taking on new things that may be more meaningful,” he said. “Even though we might have to be socially distant, it doesn’t mean we have to be socially unconnected.”

“There’s a whole lot of life in the midst of death,” Kayajan said. “I just think Lent helps us to understand, to repent, to change our lives and remind us that our lives are mortal. The key to the whole season of Lent is at the end is Holy Week and Easter, resurrection.”

Last year was described as “the Lent-iest Lent ever,” she said. But this year may call for a more hopeful message. Willets recommends taking on something new, whether a spiritual discipline or committing to help someone else.

“We’ve had a lot of deprivation,” she said. “We’ve had a lot of folks losing jobs, everyone’s time getting stretched, people having gotten more responsibilities within their families, relationships going through a lot of big transitions. What I’m trying to focus on is the idea of Lent as a season of preparation to celebrate, and Lent as a time to really prepare for that hope that is coming.” (Tampa Bay News)

Ash Wednesday

Yesterday, we celebrated Ash Wednesday as a school community with online Mass followed by the sprinkle of ashes over everyone’s head. The COVID new way to celebrate Ash Wednesday!!

WCEA Visit

In two weeks’ time we will be hosting the WCEA visiting committee at our school. They will be here from March 2nd to March 4th to review our school and to assign an accreditation status. A lot of work has gone into the preparation for the visit by all shareholders. We will receive a dual accreditation from WCEA and WASC. Thanks to all for your work with the preparation.

School Property Updates

Recently we had the basketball poll replaced due to damage. Three of our solar panels are being replaced due to high wind damage. With the use of solar for the school and the parish, we are certainly seeing a large savings in our utility bills.

STAR

Recently our students took the STAR tests and teachers have been analyzing results to further improve teaching and learning experiences for the children.

In-Person Student Intake

The next intake for Hybrid classes is on March 1st. Please email the principal (principal@ssfallsoulsschool.org) by Wednesday, February 24th if you plan to send your child/children to hybrid learning. In the event classes sizes go over 16 students (As per the Mitigation plan) we will revert to cohorts which means Cohort A will be in person Tuesday/Wednesday and Cohort B on Thursday/Friday, with alternating Mondays for A or B.

Leukemia Appeal

As you know, All Souls Catholic School launched the 2021 HeroSquad program last week to raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS). All Souls is very excited to be working with the program this year to help raise money for cancer research and the families of those suffering from cancer. The program runs from February 8-26, 2021 and our school goal to achieve is $3,000. At the moment we have raised $2,520. Because of the unprecedented times we are using an online fundraiser page, click here to donate. The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society will also be providing prizes for students, which are shown in the flyer below. The All Souls community decided to have a contest within the grades. The grade that raises the most money will receive a special prize. We are also excited to announce that one of our first-grade students, who was diagnosed with cancer, has finished her treatments for Leukemia and is our School Hero! We hope that if you are able to donate, you will help our All Souls Community's fundraising goal to help end childhood cancer. Thanks to all for your support.

Current Top Classes Are:

Grade 7 with $800

Grade 3 with $800

Afternoon Pick-Up - Changes Effective Monday

Over the past months the afternoon pick up has been working well. Of late we have families arriving before the allocated pick-up time. Thus this is causing a backup on Spruce Ave. Please enter the gate coming up from Miller and not heading towards Miller on Spruce as this causes problems for cars entering the upper yard.

Please note that 6th graders will now be picked up at 3:05pm on Miller Ave. near the Church. (effective Monday, February 22nd)

The pick-up times are:

2:50pm - Kindergarten

2:55pm - 1st Grade

3:00pm - 2nd Grade

3:05pm - 3rd, 4th,5th,

3:05pm - 6th,7th,8th Grades pick up on Miller Ave near Church.

Re-Enrollment

At the beginning of March, we will begin the Re-Registration process for the new school year of 2021-2022. You will need to complete the online re-registration form and pay the registration fee of $325 per child at this time. If you have any questions regarding the process, please contact Mrs. Cierra at info@ssfallsoulsschool.org

Kindergarten Admissions

Our numbers are low for this time of the year for Kindergarten. We are offering an incentive of $100 off re-registration for any referrals from current families. Since we are exiting 30 8th graders, we really need to get at least 30 Kindergarteners for this replacement. We have also lost families due to COVID as well and we hope we can attract these families back to the school. We need your assistance with increasing our numbers back to where we had them pre-covid times.

TADS Financial Aid

TADS financial application for the school year 2021-2022 has been released. Below please find instructions on how to submit your application. If you encounter any issues or have any questions feel free to contact Ms. Escobar. at cescobar@ssfallsoulsschool.org Please see instructions below.

Tuition For 2021-2022 School Year

At our recent Board meeting on Tuesday, we discussed the need to increase tuition by 4% for the next school year. While it pains us to do so, we are committed to paying the staff and manage the upkeep of the facilities. Please see attached the new tuition rates below.

COVID Testing

The next COVID testing is on March 1st between 10 am to 5pm. Click here for testing on March 1st (book by Feb 24th)

God Bless,

Vincent Riener

Principal

Dear families,

As you know, All Souls Catholic School has just launched the 2021 HeroSquad program to raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS). All Souls is very excited to be working with the program this year to help raise money for cancer research and the families of those suffering from cancer. The program runs from February 8-26, 2021 and our school goal to achieve is $3,000. Because of the unprecedented times we are going through right now, our school has decided to do an online fundraiser page, which is linked below. The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society will also be providing prizes for students, which are shown in the flyer below. The All Souls community has also decided to have a contest within the grades. The grade that raises the most money will receive a special prize. We are also excited to announce that one of our first-grade students, who was diagnosed with cancer, has finished her treatments for Leukemia and is our School Hero! We hope that if you are able to donate, you will help our All Souls Community's fundraising goal to help end childhood cancer.

Best Regards,

The All Souls School Community

All Souls Catholic School Online Fundraising Page: https://events.lls.org/pages/svmb/AllSoulsCatholicSchool-2021

Dear All Souls Families,

You can now pay and add credit to your child/children's cafeteria account through SchoolSpeak. Your payment will be processed through PayPal with a 3% convenience fee for all transactions.

Sign-in to your SchoolSpeak account and select "Lunch Order" in the quick links menu on the left. The "Pay" tab will direct you to your payment options. You may pay the cafeteria balance through your existing PayPal account or as a guest using your credit or debit card. You may also add credit to your child/children's cafeteria account. If you wish, you may still make cash or check payments to the school office.

Please note, for the families that have a credit card on file I will no longer be charging your credit card for lunch payments. You are responsible for paying and adding credit to your cafeteria account.

Feel free to contact me with any questions.

Regards,

Ms. Escobar

17-18 - Acre Testing (grades 5 and 8)

25 - First Communion Parent Mtg. - 7pm

1- Early Dismissal - 2:30pm - Faculty Meeting

1- Re-Enrollment Opens at 12:00pm

2-3-4- WCEA/WASC Visitation

5- Minimum Day - 12:20 Dismissal

7- School Family Mass - 9am

9- School Assembly - 2:30pm

11- Family Fun Night

12- Grade 8 Graduation Pictures - Friday Afternoon

15- Staff Dev. Mtg. - 12:20 Dismissal

16- School Board Mtg. - 6:30pm

20- First Reconciliation - 9am

24- Feast Day of St. Oscar Romero - Principal's Awards Ceremony - 9am

30- School Assembly - 2:30pm

31- Cesar Chavez Day

Please check with all providers regarding current summer program dates, times,

and other important information.