This week is one of my favorite weeks of the year for many reasons:

1. Valentine's Day is one of my favorite holidays because I love me some chocolate.
2. Mardi Gras/Fat Tuesday/Shrove Tuesday falls on 2/13.
3. My son was born on 2/13 - Happy 28th Birthday, Andrew!
4. We celebrate Ash Wednesday.

Of course, this year, since Ash Wednesday falls on Valentine's Day, the chocolate will have to wait until Thursday, but that will just make Tuesday even more fun.

For those of you who may not come from a family steeped in Lenten celebrations, let me explain a little about this week and the upcoming Lenten season.

Lent is the 40 day season that begins on Ash Wednesday and ends at sundown on Holy Thursday (the Thursday before Easter). During this period, we remember Christ's 40 days in the desert, and it is a time to prepare to celebrate the resurrection of the Lord on Easter. To prepare, many faiths, Catholics included, focus on prayer, fasting, and almsgiving during this time in an attempt to draw closer to God. Catholics refrain from eating meat on Fridays (Hello fish fry season!) and fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. In addition, you may hear a lot of people talk about "giving up" something for Lent. That is a common practice that many engage in to focus on some type of self-sacrifice in preparation for celebration of Jesus's ultimate sacrifice. Basically, we are looking for ways that each one of us can grow closer to God during this time.

On Ash Wednesday, we receive ashes on our foreheads. This tradition goes back to the Old Testament where the wearing of ashes was a common sign of repentance for sins and a sign of humility. The ashes are usually made by burning the palms from the previous year's Palm Sunday palms, symbolically connecting us with Christ's passion, death, and resurrection. All are welcome to receive ashes on Ash Wednesday.

While Lent would seem to be a season of sadness, I believe that it is a reminder of the hope that came to us in our savior, Jesus Christ. During Lent, we are reminded of the difference that we can make in the lives of others by taking time to think about our own actions and give to others in any way that we can. We are reminded that we are all sinners, but we also all have the chance of salvation through Jesus Christ. We travel together through the dreariness of Lent to come to the light of God's love in the resurrection on Jesus on Easter Sunday and the beginning of spring - a chance at new life and new beginnings.

Bishop Flaget High School Class of 1972 graduation Joan D'Antoni was recognized after the Catholic Schools Week Mass as our Distinguished Alumni Award Winner for 2024. Congratulations!

Thank you to Holly Daily, our fundraising chair, and all the volunteers who came together to help us create a fun, successful evening. We made more than $10,000 on the event, which featured the reverse raffle drawing, cash bar, silent auction, and DJ Ray Martin. Special shout out to Jami Snider and her solicitors who gathered the silent auction items!

The window for EdChoice enrollment begins on February 1st for the 2024-2025 school year. Please make sure that you complete the process as soon as possible so that your scholarship will be awarded prior to the start of the school year. To reapply, you need the renewal application for each student and proof of address (utility bill). Please contact Mrs. Fahnestock if you have any questions.

Return the application form and proof of address to the school office. You can also scan and send them to tfahnestock@cdeducation.org. You do not need to complete the income verification this year unless you would like it to be re-evaluated.

Please make sure that you apply for tuition assistance through FACTS to help pay for tuition which may not be covered by EdChoice or Jon Peterson scholarships. This year, the deadline is firm, and you must apply by 3/15/2024 in order to be eligible for any assistance.

You can apply directly through the Family Portal through FACTS.

If you are the parent of a new student who does not yet have a FACTS account, you can apply through www.factstuitionaid.com.

Preschool and PreK students are not eligible for Emmaus Road Scholarship Funds. However, we do have the Early Childhood Education grant available to families whose incomes fall below 200% of the poverty level. Please contact Mrs. Corcoran to apply (lcorcora@cdeducation.org).

These students have qualified to attend the District 12 Science Fair in Athens in March: Rory Dehoff, Eleanor Mortimer, Sami Elliott, Cameron Neal, Kristin Fleck, Gabby Maranzana, Jonathan Crawford, Heleena Gunnel, Julia McNeill, Lucy Thompson, Elison Ward, Lura Crawford, Will Thompson, Ellie Corcoran, Maggie Bunstine, Brian Maranzana, Julia Corcoran, Max Millard. Not pictured: Lilliana Neal