HALO NOTES

In the spring of 2023, two alumni played with the idea of starting a business, but never thought of it becoming a reality. With the help of our community partner, Mr. Shadi Abrusley, class of ‘01, the entrepreneurship class of the ‘23-’24 school year established the SLCHS Coffee Co. in 2023.

The class came up with a name, design, mission statement, and multiple product types. Additionally, both Warehouse Roasters of Sulphur, LA and Black Bayou Coffee of Shreveport, LA became our roasting partners. The class also surveyed teachers on campus and held product sampling to help identify the initial product of offering coffee roasts. Our product launch was on April 17, 2024, during the Grandparents Day ceremony. This year the ‘24-’25 entrepreneurship class has three goals: to increase marketing, boost sales, and to pursue and execute contracts with small businesses within our community.

If you’re interested in purchasing our product, click here. For business inquiries, please email us at fbla.coffee@slchs.org. All proceeds benefit the Saint Louis Catholic High School's Future Business Leaders of America chapter.

Mission statement: Our mission is to expand the St. Louis Catholic brand by creating a product and a legacy that will generate a great form of exposure and opportunity. Welcoming an environment for coffee will certainly allow Saint Louis Catholic High School to reach an exceptional level in the community.

It's never too early to start planning ahead for next year! Please see our Admissions Timeline in preparation for the 2025-2026 school year. Detailed information will be announced for each item as we get closer to date. For questions please contact Fara McKinley '90, Director of Admissions, at 337-436-7275

Save the date! Our annual Open House will be on Tuesday, November 19. Step inside and discover the "Saints Life"!

Our annual Open House is Tuesday, November 19, from 5:30pm-7:30pm in the Pavilion. We are asking our Saints families to let us know if you would like to have a sign at your local business promoting our Open House. Please complete the information HERE to request a sign for your business. Deadline to respond is noon on Tuesday, October 8. Thank you for helping us promote St. Louis Catholic High School to our Future Saints!

Please help your student remember that when they go to the restroom here on campus, they should use the restroom, wash their hands, and then go back to class. Any student that has their cell phone out and using it in the restroom will receive an automatic ISI. Cellphones have no place in the restroom, and regardless of why they are using the cellphone in the restroom, it will be treated as a major disciplinary incident.

Additionally, at any point that there are more than one student in a bathroom stall together, all students in that stall will be given ISI as well. Please help remind your student of these precautions, so they can use the restroom appropriately, and get back to class. Thank you!

If a student needs to check out, please complete the attendance portal on our website. Once you arrive to pick up your student, park in a visitor spot and call the school's office. We will call the student down ad send them out to meet you. No need to come in to sign them in/out in the front office.

Please click HERE to review detailed information regarding the back gate entrance on Bank Street.

Any questions regarding the use of the gate, please reach out to Mr. Wyninger.

Dr. George Delgado will be the keynote speaker at this year’s New Life Counseling banquet on October 8th, and has agreed to come and speak to our students during lunch that same day! Dr. Delgado is board certified in family medicine and in hospice and palliative medicine, and is the founder of the Abortion Pill Reversal (APR), a process that aims to reverse the effects of the abortion pill. Abortion pill reversal allows women a second chance to continue their pregnancy and save the life of their unborn baby.

Dr. Delgado will be speaking to our students at lunch for those who are interested. If you would like your student to be able to attend Dr. Delgado’s talk on abortion and what the APR can do for those in need, please sign the waiver giving your consent for your student to attend.

Report cards will be emailed on Friday, October 18.

Congratulations SAINTS for being named to the 2024 AP School Honor Roll. SLCHS is a

SILVER member of the Honor Roll!

The AP School Honor Roll recognizes schools whose AP program are delivering results and broadening access for students. Schools can earn the Honor Roll recognition annually based on criteria that reflect a commitment to increasing their school’s college-going culture, providing opportunities for students to earn college credit, and maximizing college readiness. Click HERE to see how we did!

End of Quarter 1 on October 11th.

Report cards emailed October 18th.

Click HERE for more information on academic assistance.

For the week of October 7-11, the Counseling Department is celebrating College Application Week. Each day, the counselors will share helpful tips and tricks for completing applications with seniors. Special events this week include:

• Application Frenzy, Tuesday G period & Wednesday H period: Seniors (and parents!) are welcome to bring their laptops and complete applications with counselors and classmates in the Pavilion.
• Newman Guide Virtual College Fair, Wednesday: Learn about the value of a faithful Catholic college education. Click here to register: https://cardinalnewmansociety.org/the-newman-guide/college-fair/
• SLCHS College & Career Fair, Friday: All seniors are invited to wear a shirt for the college they plan to attend with uniform bottoms. Both juniors and seniors will be called down during house time to the Pavilion to visit with professionals and admission counselors.

CLICK HERE for details about three different ACT Boot Camps available to students prior to the October 26th ACT test date.

Math Intensive Boot Camp (Sat. Sept 28th) is the one most requested and provides a comprehensive review of math topics covered on the ACT. For many students, math is the toughest score to improve.

Original All-4-Subjects Boot Camp (Sat. Oct 5th) covers content review, test-taking strategies, and time management skills with practice. This class will fill up first.

Timed Practice Boot Camp (Sat. Oct 19th) is the new class added this year to provide the much-needed timed practice-and-answer analysis in all four subject areas. In my opinion, this class is the most important one for students to take.

SLCHS is offering a workshop for the school day PSAT on Friday, October 18. This engaging learning experience is open to Sophomores & Juniors, regardless of their current test scores and grades.

Our teachers will implement high-quality lessons which will help students improve their PSAT score, work to achieve mastery in core subjects, provide acceleration, maintenance, or extension of academic skills in order to support a stronger academic performance for the future.

Sessions will be from 3:15 - 4:45 on the following Tuesdays: October 1, 8, 15

If your student is interested in participating in this free workshop, please sign up here.

What is it and why should I care about it?

Cosponsored by the College Board and National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC), the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (NMSQT)—often shortened to PSAT—is a standardized test targeting 10th and 11th graders in the US. Every year, approximately 3.5 million students take the PSAT test at various high schools.

As it stands, the PSAT is heavily connected to the SAT. One of the test's primary purposes is to act as a precursor to the SAT, and for many students, it is also their first exposure to any college admissions exam. Students will get practice on what to expect of a real college admissions exam testing experience.

The PSAT is a qualifying test for the National Merit Scholarship Program. PSAT scores determine students' eligibility for National Merit scholarships, and each year the top 1% of 11th-grade PSAT takers become Semifinalists. Semifinalists receive national recognition which often lead to scholarship opportunities from various universities.

How can my student prepare?

Through our English & Math classes, our students have been completing test practice questions. There is also an official PSAT Student Guide that offers students insights and practice questions.

The Counseling Department is hosting St. Louis's first College & Career Fair for our students on October 11. We need volunteers to attend and share information with students from the following professions: doctors, chemist, radiologist, accountant, real estate agent, interior design, graphic design, psychiatrist, dental hygienist, plant operator, contractor, pharmacist. If you would like to sign up, please email Mrs. Fournet. Thank you!

Saints Cheerleading is hosting their annual mini-cheer clinic this Saturday, October 6! Email cheerleaders@slchs.org for more information.

The Saints return to the court tonight when they travel to take on Sam Houston. Varsity action is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. The team will also compete Saturday at the LaGrange tournament. The Saints picked up a pair of wins this week, knocking off LaGrange 3-0 on Tuesday and Barbe 3-1 on Monday.

Football returns to the gridiron Friday when they travel to take on the Iowa Yellowjackets in the final game before district play begins. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m., but the location of the game is still TBA at the time of this writing. The game will be held either at Iowa or Sam Houston, depending on the status of new lights at Iowa’s Jesse Cady Stadium.

The girls and boys cross country teams will compete Saturday in the Run for a Cure at Acadiana Park in Lafayette. The boys race begins at 8 a.m., followed by the girls at 8:40 a.m.

Those of you interested in attending this next year's March for Life: Please CLICK HERE for the information packet.

March for Life is a wonderful opportunity to witness community at its best, and for many, this is a life changing experience. Fundraising opportunities will be available leading up to the trip, so please don't let financial concerns keep you for registering! Here is a link from the March for Life website that can help give you a glimpse as to what its like. Let us know if you have any questions.

God bless,

Blaine Wyninger

Assistant Principal

Dean of Student Life

PARENTS: Please forward this invitation to your SLCHS student’s grandparents. Grandparents wanting to receive email notices about GrandSaints activities: please send name, mailing address, email, cell phone number and student’s name to Tonia.

TO HELP: If you can donate finger appetizers or other refreshments for the GrandSaints Meet & Greet, please contact Joan Nixon (contact information on invitation).

What can you look forward to as a GrandSaint?

• Assist the staff, current parents, and students in any way we can.
• Be a volunteer resource for the school. Participate in volunteer opportunities that match grandparents’ talents to the school’s needs.
• Participate in school activities with our grandchildren, supporting them and our school.
• Be ambassadors in our community for St Louis Catholic High School.

Do you have your membership secured with the Alumni Association? CLICK HERE to join us and make sure you have access to the VIP upstairs area at Crying Eagle this weekend. See membership details above.

Juniors and Seniors interested in working OLQH after school care should contact Aimee Lemoine.

Can't find the most recent email with the current edition of Halo Notes? Halo Notes can be accessed anytime on our website!

On the home page, click on "News" at the top of the page and you will see the link to Halo Notes. We also keep previous editions on file for your convenience. This way you can always access everything St. Louis Catholic!

OUR FOUR PILLARS:

Wonder - Identity - Community - Service

Email: saintsmail@slchs.org
Website: www.slchs.org
Location: 1620 Bank Street, Lake Charles, LA, USA
Phone: 337-436-7275
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/slchssaints
Twitter: @slchs_saints