st. pius x catholic high school • atlanta, georgia

Dear Parents and Friends of St. Pius X,

Our Mission... St. Pius X, an archdiocesan high school, provides a college preparatory education for the formation of the mind, body and spirit of each student in accordance with the teachings of the Catholic Church.

Some of the most powerful memories I have of growing up are the celebrations of birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, and of course, the major holidays where the most salient memory is focused on the dining room table or more appropriately, the “kids table.” Our family traditions consisted of wonderful meals and great conversations in which family stories, which were likely embellished, were shared with everyone. At that table, we learned about our Irish, Catholic heritage and the various players that contributed to our family history. It didn’t matter which part of the family I was visiting, the format was always the same. It was also an additional characteristic that attracted me to my wife’s family in that they shared the same sentiments and traditions. Some of our happiest times occurred while we sat at the table, especially when the children were home and we were all together. Believe it or not, schools share those same characteristics. Although I do admit that at the end of each school year I yearn for a break and the ability to decompress, about two weeks into summer, I am ready for everyone to come back. I believe I am happiest when the school is full of people and we are invigorated with the energy of the 1,114 young people that fill our halls and classrooms. Each student and faculty member brings their own stories to our table and in telling them, they enrich the quality of the education for all. As one of our value beliefs states, “We seek to maintain teamwork/collaboration among administrators, faculty, and parents for the school’s common good; interaction of students and teachers which is a dialogue and not a monologue; and a physical environment that has amenities that creates a pleasant family atmosphere.” As with any family, you always want the best for the people whom you care for most. During the faculty pre-planning sessions, I shared with the faculty that over the summer I had gone back to re-read Jim Collins book, Good to Great, and his accompanying monologue, Good to Great and the Social Sectors. I did so with the belief that we have a very fine school and in fact, in many areas, a great school, but we can and must get better. I shared a telling quote from the book that particularly caught my attention, “Greatness is an inherently dynamic process, not an end point. The moment you think of yourself as great, your slide toward mediocrity will have already begun.” I followed that quote by sharing my belief that St. Pius X is the heritage of future generations. Each of us are its stewards, entrusted to care for the school and an obligation to pass it on to the next generation in as good, if not better condition than we found it. It is an honor to be entrusted with this responsibility. As we enthusiastically begin a new year, I hope the entire St. Pius X family will gather around the school’s table to enrich the lives of our students and help us reach new levels of excellence as a Catholic, collegepreparatory school. Let’s have a year of creating some great memories for our family. Warmest regards,

Steve Spellman

September 2012

ENROLLMENT FACTS

FEEDER SCHOOL ENROLLMENT:

Class Sizes 2012-2013:

Immaculate Heart of Mary: 187 St. John Neumann: 143 St. Thomas More: 130 Christ the King: 114 St. Jude the Apostle: 99 Public Schools: 98 Our Lady of the Assumption: 90

Freshmen: 290 Sophomores: 291 Juniors: 289 Seniors: 244

Academic Honors Principal’s List, Dean’s List, and Honor Roll Second Semester 2011–2012 School Year Principal’s List students have an average of 95 percent or higher. Students named to the Dean’s List have an average between 90 percent and 94 percent and received straight A’s. Honor Roll students have an average between 90 percent and 94 percent. Congratulations to all of these current students for their outstanding achievement. Junior Principal’s List Phineas Andrews Matthew Angulo Jessica Aponte John Barbe Alexandra Barton Michael Braswell Elizabeth Brown Mark deGive Anna Democko Qiuyue Goodwin Kevin Gross Cavan Hayes Gabriel Hesketh Claire Homrich Meagan Huff Calvin Jackson Aneek James Barbara Kozee Stephen Landry Kathryn MacDonald JoAnn Mallory Michael Marshall Annette McDermott Allison Meinert Catherine O’Neill Caroline Owen Matthew Pearson Danielle Penk Brian Peragine Elizabeth Pettit Hannah Provost Michelle Rinow Valeria Rossi Mackenzie Smith Margaret Smith Kassandra Solsrud David Spratte Emilia Suarez Clara Suarez-Nugent Moira Sweeney Calvin Tirrell Andrew Tran John Weber Junior Dean’s List Amanda Cameron

Sarah Fristoe Elizabeth Littlefield Victoria Mulford Julia Norton Smith Sheehy Michael Sweeley Luke Taylor Alexandra Young

Rachel Nega Kaleb Parks Amalia Pedersen Davis Price Patrick Pruckler Kelly Raines Edward Reece Rachel Rieder Meredith Riski Alexandra Rives Christopher Roberts Bianca Schemankewitz Marah Schiavinato Natasha Sherrod Candace Siegworth Anika Snyder Elissa Stanton Amanda Stitt Tsoler Terzian Blaise Tschirhart Benjamin Twiner Gretchen Van Keuren Demetria Walker Erin Whitlark Kathleen Wildman

Junior Honor Roll Ryan Beck Timothy Becker Suzanne Brady Mary Brunner Rose Cahill Lindsay Cameron Julia Cartwright Abigail Castro Anna Cavagnaro Michelle Cobb Thais Diaz Julia Dolgetta Elizabeth Eidson Alejandro Espinosa Kevin Ferri Ryan Foster Abigail Fraschilla Mary Goldman Kaitlyn Gornowicz John Green Alicia Guyton Ryan Heard Margaret Hehir Jordan Hennick Mary Hildreth Andrew Hinds Grayson Holt William Jackson Courtney Koenig Caroline LaFreniere Michael Lambros Jonathan Leiner Jessica Mall Karina Mandock Lauren Massey Sean McAleer Grace Mendzef Isabella Nang

Sophomore Principal’s List Abigail Banks Rafael Caraballo Joshua Chatfield Margaret Crawford David DeLany Christina DeLurgio Emily Eanes Martinique Edwards Paul Espinosa Anna Gardner Mary Gray Katelyn Hambrick Alexis Harrell Kevin Jones Emily Krause Brian Lentini David Logan Isabel Mann Stefania Monti Carolyn Nasser -2-

Isioma Obiofuma Kaitlyn Orman Cecilia Probst Claire Smith Helen Woodland Sophomore Dean’s List Andrew Anastasiades Boone Besci Elizabeth Bonnie Christopher Cardillo Jillian Coheley Robert Glenn Kathleen Milewski Meredith Mohr Kevin Quigley Maureen Sheeran Carson Travers Nicholas Twiner Paige Vega Paloma Young Fiona Zoeller Sophomore Honor Roll Miguel Alfonso Jordan Allums Madison Allums Joseph Amoroso Abigale Barnett Mary Elizabeth Bender Stephanie Benzur Rachel Berg Consuelo Bills Sarah Boden Laura Brower William Brown Allison Bucher Mikayla Burg Austin Causey Megen Chey Catherine Coakley Olivia Collier Kayla Cooper Gabriella Copello-Hall Kathleen Cordone Daniel Crochet Carin Cushenberry

Academic Honors Ian Davis Gianna Dellapina Thomas Democko John Demos Graycen Dominy Patrick Doyle Stuart Ewing Joseph Ferrugia Brittany Frederick Meredith French Anna Fusia Rafael Garcia Corley Graves Alexander Gray Patricia Greer Zachary Halbig Christopher Harris Caroline Harvey Matthew Houghton Tania Jajeh Erin Jones Emily Jovert Sean Kelly Stephen Koenig Mark Krause Frank Lentini Michelle Li Halley Mallory Megan Malvosin Grace May Haley McDaniel Madison Mischik Sarah Mount Andrew Neiner Madelin Nelson Shannon O’Reilly Paul Oshinski Laura Ouderkirk Victoria Patronis Anna Peddle Kathryn Pelli Patrick Perrin Natalie Pittman Janet Ploussard Maritsa Restrepo Jordan Reticker Hania Rios Steven Rochefort Jonathan Rust Simone Savoie David Schnelle Jonathon Sheffield Emily Stephens Janet Tanzy Courtney Tuttle Joseph Twiner Matthew Upton

Amanda Vocelka Katherine Vocelka Ian Watt Margaret Weissinger Emily Werner Robert Wyatt Henry Young Peter Zyla

Stephen Martinez Claire Monsour Mary O’Donoghue Carson Piansky Emanuel Ricker Rachel Skidmore Emily Thurston Sally Varner Jamison Williams Camila Zimmerman

Freshman Principal’s List Ryan Boykin Nikolaus Calia Anna Cameron Olivia Cote Lauren Dinges Julia Durmer Rebecca Entrekin Taylor Fazzone Amanda Galvez Catherine Gross Mack Hathaway Michael Hennick Alec House Connor Huddleston Anna Kelly Joe Kilpatrick Adam Kinsel Kaitlyn Krill Lindsay Leiner Kevin Lieu Jack Luwick Audrey Mendzef Madeline Neu Tristan Otto Nina Patronis William Portr Alexander Pradhan Brian Rainwater Craig Schwartz Claire Smith Haley Solomon Kathryn Stauduhar Katelyn Turner

Freshman Honor Roll Sarah Alaniz Nieya Amezquita Ryan Aubuchon Andrew Barnhardt Paul Benoit Colm Boyer Emily Brade Christophe Braswell Andrew Brinson Erin Bruce Caroline Buckel Nicole Calderon Callie Cardenas John Cardosa Mary Conboy Catherine Corwin Samuel Czabala Jacques Davignon Alana Davis AnneMarie Dolgetta Matilde Fabris Collin Fitzpatrick Erynn Flanagan Sophia Fleri Connor Foarde Maura Forsyth Sara Francis Sara Gilbert Mary Gornowicz Carter Grabbe Madeleine Grace Molly Gunn Andrew Hall Latisha Hamilton Margo Hays Catherine Howard Jessica Hull Andrew Jacon Kristina Jespersen Richard Jezak Vivienne Johnson Dominic Karr Ryan Kelly John-Robert Kenndey

Freshman Dean’s List Kelly Batzel Charles Carson Brady Gwynn Rachel Heard Helena Hoffman Parker Jones Amanda Kramer Griffin Kunkler Julia Leahey -3-

Caren Kinahan Connor Kolodziej Elizabeth Kozee Cierra Lacour Daileen Landestoy Adrianna Lavine Kyle Lewis Robert Lorys Maxwell Male Kathryn Maloof Madeline Marburger Victoria Massaro Michael Matthews John Maxson Sarah Melvin Marian Metzger Elizabeth Metzger Rachael Meyer Joseph Mohr Patrick Monroe Allen Morgan Emi Muto Alexandria Okafor Nicholas Owings Melissa Pagoaga Hannah Paproski Joseph Petroni Laura Poole Caroline Porter Jordyn Portis Darby Reddaway Joseph Reichard McKenna Rodgers Ramon Rodriguez Derek Rufolo Kyle Ryker Samantha Schnoenl Mischa Schultz Bradley Schwaner Tessa Schwarze Katrina Schweitzer Annabelle Selph Anna Sketel Terrence Slaughter David Spear Madeline Summers Brittany Tarnowski Noelle Tolliver Eve Tschirdart Ryan Tuemler Karla Valdez Miranda Vega Giselle Villalta Julia Vitti Daniel Walton Francesca Wicklin

Campus News and Events St. Pius X Welcomes New Faculty and Staff Members St. Pius X is pleased to announce that the following individuals have joined our faculty and staff for the 2012 - 2013 school year. We are excited to welcome Mr. John Griffith as our new Dean of Academics. In addition to being a graduate of John Carroll University with a B.S. in Chemistry and Urseline Academy with a M.A. in Educational Administration, Mr. Griffith did post-graduate work at Xavier University in Educational Leadership and Administration. Along with his wife Kathleen of 29 years, he has have three children. Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, he brings much experience to St. Pius X. Prior to his career here, Mr. Griffith taught at St. Ignatius High School, Cleveland Benedictine High School, and St. Urseline Academy. He served as Vice Principal at Bishop Fenwick High School and administrative support for Warren County School District before moving to Atlanta this past summer. He is excited to join the St. Pius X family and feels blessed to be working with such an outstanding faculty and principal. He looks forward to taking this school to the next level of excellence in Catholic education.

graduate of Southern Catholic College with a degree in Sacred Theology, Mr. Clements went on to earn his master’s degree from Franciscan University of Steubenville. Prior to joining the St. Pius X community, he taught Theology at Benedictine Military School in Savannah. Mr. Clements, his wife, and their eight month old daughter Annamarie look forward to getting to know the St. Pius X community better. He hopes that he will be able to help guide the students to understand the value they have in being children of God. He hopes to help them grow in their relationship with Christ and discover more profoundly what He has done for us. A 2006 St. Pius X graduate, Mr. Joseph Grone returns to the school in the Theology Department. Mr. Grone received his B.A. in Theology from the University of Notre Dame and later participated in the Echo leadership program. The program works academically towards a master’s degree while at the same time, guides in a professional, ministerial apprenticeship at a Catholic parish. Mr. Grone will teach freshmen Theology, the Basics of Catholicism, and will work closely with Music Ministry. He looks forward to giving back to the school that helped form him. He believes that the educational environment at St. Pius X is a uniquely nurturing atmosphere, which calls each person to be precisely who God created him or her to be. He hopes to spark thought, reflection, and passion for faith and theology in his students.

Mrs. Conway Brackett joins our Foreign Language Department, where she will teach Latin I, II, III Honors, and will moderate the Latin Club. Mrs. Brackett earned her bachelor’s degree in Classics from the University of Virginia and went on to earn her master’s degree in Latin from the University of Georgia. She previously taught Latin, Greek, and World Languages at The Lovett School, Latin poetry at Agnes Scott College, and founded her own professional tutoring business in addition to numerous other accomplishments. She enjoys incorporating technology into her lesson plans. Mrs. Brackett looks forward to working with her students and learning from fellow teachers in order to maintain and grow St. Pius’ excellent Latin program. She hopes to foster an appreciation for Roman culture in her students as they learn the workings of Latin language, grammar, and vocabulary.

A familiar face on campus, Mr. Matthew McIntyre returns this year after joining the faculty in January 2012. Mr. McIntyre is teaching sophomore World Literature and senior British Literature, and he will also coach the softball team. He attended the College of the Holy Cross outside of Boston and went on to graduate school at Georgia State University. While finishing his dissertation, Mr. McIntyre worked as a student advisor and registrar at Georgia Tech. He has also taught English on the campuses of Georgia State and Georgia Tech. He hopes to foster in students an excitement and enthusiasm for literature and encourage them to take active roles in their education.

A 2008 St. Pius X graduate, Ms. Morgan Carney joins our English Department. Ms. Carney graduated cum laude from the University of Georgia with a degree in English Education. She earned much of her experience at Grayson High School, where she student-taught the gifted freshman language arts classes. Ms. Carney will be teaching AP English Language for the juniors and sophomore English II Language and Composition. She will also help coach the competition cheerleading team. Ms. Carney looks forward to working alongside the teachers who inspired her and led her to this career path. She hopes to be able to strengthen her students in mind, body, and spirit, while helping them grow as better writers, confident individuals, and conscientious citizens.

We would also like to welcome Mrs. Brenda Eiland and Mrs. Dorothy Fischer to our staff, they join as Lunch Room Monitors. Welcome to the St. Pius X family and we look forward to getting to know each of you! Pictured (standing, left-right): Mr. Grone, Mr. McIntyre, Mr. Clements, (seated, left-right) Ms. Carney, Mrs. Brackett. Not pictured: Mr. Griffith, Mrs. Eiland, Mrs. Fischer

Mr. Thomas Clements joins us as Assistant Campus Minster. A -4-

Campus News and Events Christmas in September?

SAT Preparation Class September 8, 15, 22, and 29, 2012

For the past five years, as a part of the annual Marathon of Mercy, St. Pius X students have helped stuff stockings for the troops who are spending Christmas away from friends and family. The stockings are stuffed with items donated by our community and it’s time to start collecting these items now! We hope to ship them out at the end of October so that they reach the troops in time for Christmas. We are looking for the following items: crew socks, lotion, mechanical pencils, calling cards, pocket sized calendars, sunglasses, eye drops, travel sized games, sun screen, bug spray, travel sized shampoos, conditioners, liquid soaps, candy, gum, fruit roll-ups, cracker jacks, beef jerky, pretzels, lemonade/flavored drink mixes, individual flavored teas, hot drink mixes, commercially packaged trail mix, nuts, chips, cookies (sorry, no home-baked items), ramen soup, snack-sized prepackaged foods, pocket games, puzzles, DVD movies, music CD's, current magazines, beanie babies, paperback books (no romance novels please), disposable cameras, lip balm, foot powder, travel sized toiletries, hand and foot warmers, and fly swatters. Additionally, troops in Afghanistan are in need of electric blankets. While this is a larger gift, we hope to be able to send these overseas as well. Please be sure to include a holiday greeting card with your messages of support and friendship. It is important to note that all items should be new and in their original packaging. We will accept all donations through Friday, October 19. If you would like to drop off donations Friday morning when you drop off your students, we will gladly accept donations at that time as well. Again, many thanks for your kindness, generosity, and support! We look forward to another great year!

9 a.m. to 1 p.m. SAT Prep is a class offered outside of the regular school day for SPX juniors and seniors who would like extra preparation for the SAT test. At St. Pius X, our students are continually preparing for this test in the regular school curriculum. However, most students will benefit from some intentional tutoring and practice before taking the SAT test in order to understand the structure and specific requirements of this kind of testing, as well as to discover helpful testing tips to ensure higher scores. It is not uncommon for students to raise their scores by 200 points after taking the SAT Prep class. The course consists of four hours of class for four consecutive Saturdays. Each Saturday the students will work two hours on the verbal sections of the test with Mrs. Jan Collier and two hours on the mathematics sections of the test with Mrs. Dena Peck. Instruction highlights strategies for taking the test as well as the actual content of the tests. Students will take practice tests every week and have the opportunity to discuss the questions they answered incorrectly. All materials are provided except for calculators, which are needed for the math sections of the test. The cost is $200 if you register on or before August 31, 2012. If you register September 1, 2012 or after, the cost of the course is raised to $225. The online registration form and details regarding the class are available on the “Academics” tab of the school’s Web site under SAT Prep Class, or you can e-mail Mrs. Peck at [email protected] for the direct link. We look forward to working with your student!

Want to Leave YOUR Legacy on the SPX Campus? In an effort to renew progress in the Expanding Our Legacy Capital Campaign, the school has created the Legacy Brick program. Through this program, members of the St. Pius X community have the opportunity to engrave their own personal message or name into a brick which will be installed in the Senior Courtyard. These bricks offer the perfect way to commemorate your family's legacy of faith, family, and futures in a permanent place at the school. Purchase a brick for yourself, your club, or your children. Please know that this is a limited opportunity, as only 1,000 bricks will be sold in total. The cost of a Legacy Brick is $100 with all proceeds funding the capital campaign. For more information about the Legacy Brick program, please visit the St. Pius X Web site at www.spx.org/LegacyBrick. -5-

Campus News and Events Welcome Class of 2016! This year is already off to a great start! The counselors: Mrs. Kapp, Mrs. Navin, Dr. Miller and Mr. Byrd are so excited to have all the new students on campus. I want to let you know the Guidance and Counseling Office is here as a support in many ways. We work with all grades and help students with academics, emotional concerns, organization, and much more. Each freshman is assigned a counselor who will begin meeting with his or her students at the beginning of September. It is important to note that students and parents do not have to wait until then to contact anyone in the office. Counselors are available for appointments in person, on the phone, or via e-mail at any time. If you would like to find out who your student’s specific mentor is, please contact us. Students are free to come see their counselor whenever they want, but if it is possible, it would be best to set an appointment. Any student has the following options: 1. A student can come by the office when it is convenient and see if his/her counselor is available. 2. A student can come into the office during his or her lunch period or before or after school and set an appointment. Each counselor has his or her own colored clipboard containing their schedules. Mrs. Udell, the secretary, can help students make appointments. 3. A student can e-mail his/her counselor to request an appointment at any time. In the email, they should include dates when they would like to meet. The office tries to be as available as possible for all students. If there is an emergency situation, no appointment is necessary and students should feel free to come in at any time. At the end of August, all parents will receive an e-mail requesting that they register on the Guidance and Counseling Office's computer program Naviance. This program is used for a few purposes, including but not limited to all communication sent out, posting information pertinent to your student, and for college information; it is especially helpful to students in their junior year. Please register when you receive the e-mail and feel free to begin using the program. If there is anything we can ever do to help, please do not hesitate to let us know. Jenniffer Kapp Director of Guidance and Counseling

Attention Parents of Seniors: Important Information Regarding Yearbook Ads All senior parent ads for the 2013 yearbook were due August 30, 2012. Materials for these ads were posted on the St. Pius X website in May. If you have yet to turn in your ad, please do so as soon as possible. The amount you owe will be billed to your FACTS account, and a $50 late fee will be added to any ads received after August 30. If you have questions regarding the senior yearbook ads, please contact Mrs. Curlette at [email protected].

-6-

Attention! All Male Graduates Ages 18 through 25 It is very important that all men ages 18 through 25 register with the Selective Service System. Men who fail to register at the age of 18 can be denied student financial aid, job training benefits, federal employment, and citizenship. Also, failure to register is a felony and can result in up to $250,000 in fines and five years imprisonment or both. Ideally, the student should register within 30 days of his 18th birthday. For more detailed information regarding registration or to obtain registration forms or to register with the Selective Service please contact: “Information for Registrants” or “Selective Service and You” at Consumer Information Center, Pueblo, Colorado 81009 or visit the web site www.sss.gov.

Campus News and Events

Normal Hours of Operation: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday: 7:45 a.m. - 3:45 p.m. Wednesday: 8:30 a.m. - 3:45 p.m.

Roar Store Manager: Sally King • (404) 636-3023 x242 • [email protected] Winter Uniform: Please note that all students should be wearing the proper winter uniform beginning November 5. Winter uniforms are worn through March 11. Roar Store Open During Home Football Games: This season, stop by the Roar Store for St. Pius X spirit wear and items during all home football games. Regular store hours will be extended through kick-off at 7:30 p.m. The next home games are September 7, 21, 28, October 19, and November 2. We look forward to seeing you and helping you look your best while supporting our Golden Lions!

Used Uniforms Used uniforms are available for sale all year long outside the Roar Store. If you have already started your spring cleaning or are planning to purge your closets in the next few weeks, please consider bringing in used uniforms that are in good condition. There is a collection bin located near the used clothing racks outside the Roar Store. A representative from the Mothers’ Club will tag items and hang them on the appropriate rack for resale.

Student E-mail Accounts Parents, please be aware that e-mail accounts have been set up for all new St. Pius X students. St. Pius X provides each student with an e-mail address in order to improve communication between teachers, students, and parents. Your student can access his/her account at http://spxstudent.org. This free service will allow each student to have a similarly formatted e-mail address. For example, a student’s e-mail address would look like this: [email protected] (first initial, last name, and the last two digits of their graduation year). All student e-mail passwords consist of their four digit network password typed twice (i.e.: if four digit password is 1234, then e-mail password is 12341234). Please note, this password format is for new students only. We understand that some families might not want their student to have an individual account. If you do not want your student to participate in this program, the process is a simple one. We ask you to notify Mr. Kyle Johnson in writing, or via e-mail at: kjohnson@ spx.org to take your student’s name off of the program list.

Save the Date! Mark your calendars and prepare your Christmas shopping list! The St. Pius X Mothers’ Club proudly presents...

The 19th Annual Holiday Marketplace November 17, 2012 9-3 p.m.

2012-2013 Varsity Dance Team Tryouts

Over 150 vendors will be present, offering artisan crafts perfect for Christmas gift-giving or a little self-indulgence! Be sure to check back for details!

Varsity Dance Team (VDT) tryouts for current students will be held September 10-14 from 3:15-4:45 p.m. in the Dance Studio unless otherwise noted. All current SPX female dancers are encouraged to tryout, even if you did not make the spring audition cut. Please see the VDT Web site or Ms. Dent ([email protected]) for additional information, and listen for announcements in the coming weeks. We hope to see you there!

w w w. s p x . o r g / m a r k e t p l a c e -7-

Campus News and Events Home & School Welcomes Parents We are off to a great start! On behalf of the Home and School Board, we would like to welcome all of our members to a brand new year at St. Pius X. We are ALL members of Home and School. One of the fees paid on your student’s book bill was your membership dues to our organization. The Home and School Association is a vehicle for communication and community building between parents, administration, faculty, and staff. We strive to maintain parental involvement in school by promoting activities that are not only beneficial to St. Pius X, but more importantly, beneficial to our students.

These first couple months of school were a busy time for both the students and their parents. To start off the year, parents were invited to an informal drop-in coffee during Freshman Orientation on August 8. On August 18, the freshmen and their parents attended a special welcoming event at St. Pius X. While the parents enjoyed dinner and a presentation, the freshmen “cubs” joined their Lion Leaders for their own Camp Golden Lion. The entire school celebrated the feast of St. Pius X with a special Mass and Field Day, where lunch was provided to each class and served by parent volunteers on August 24.

In your summer mailing packet, there was a salmon colored information flyer that directed you the St. Pius X Web site to volunteer for the numerous events that the Home and School Association sponsors. The information can be found at www.spx.org/parents, and under the Home and School Association tab. Look for the link to our online volunteer registration.

Mini Class Night for fall semester was held on August 30. Parents had the opportunity to follow their students' schedule, meet the teachers, and review class expectations. All parent organizations had representatives available at Mini Class Night to answer questions. By the time this issue of Spiritus reaches your mailbox, senior parents will be looking forward to discussing their students' college application process at their Senior Potluck: Parent University 401 on September 16.

Home and School Association

Whether you are new to St. Pius X or a veteran parent, please continue to encourage your child to find a place to compete, to minister, to show their talents, or just to have fun outside the classroom. We also want to encourage all parents to get involved at the school. You and St. Pius X will be better for it!

Upcoming Events Senior Potluck: Parent University 401 Sunday, September 16 Fall Blood Drive for Students and Parents Tuesday, October 9

Again, welcome back and please let us know if you have any questions or ideas for the St. Pius X community. We look forward to seeing you.

Senior Superlative Breakfast Friday, October 12

Stephanie Graves & Maria Demos Home & School Association Co-Presidents

Sophomore Potluck: Parent University 201 Sunday, October 21

Don’t forget to use your

Publix Card!

Open House Sunday, November 4 Freshman Potluck: Parent University 101 Sunday, November 11 Junior/Senior Career Forum Friday, November 16 -8-

Campus News and Events 2012-2013 SCHOOL CALENDAR MAJOR DATES September 3 Labor Day – No School 4 Archdiocesan In-Service – No School for Students 28 Homecoming

Attention All St. Pius X Parents: St. Pius X sends out a weekly e-mail newsletter, eSPX, which contains pertinent, up-to-date information regarding changes to the school calendar, SPX hosted events, out-of-uniform days, information from the Deans of Students and other important items. This e-newsletter is sent out every Monday, and all current parents for whom we have valid e-mail addresses are automatically set up to receive it. Each eSPX edition also includes direct links to Web pages as well as many other helpful features which should help our parents easily gain access to much needed information.

October 8 Faculty Retreat – No School for Students 17 PSAT / Noon Dismissal – No School for Seniors November 4 Open House 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. 4 Daylight Savings Time Ends 5 Winter Uniform Begins 7 Morning of the Arts, 9:30 a.m. 17 Holiday Marketplace 21-23 Thanksgiving Holidays 26 In-Service/Work Day – No School for Students

If you are not receiving eSPX or would like to make a change to your current e-mail address...

December 13-21 First Semester Final Exams 24-Jan.4 Christmas Holidays

1. Contact Mr. Kyle Snipes at [email protected] with your information. Please include your full name, your child’s name and class year, and your preferred e-mail address.

January 7 Teacher Workday – No School for Students 8 Classes Resume – 8 a.m. 21 Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday – No School 24 Mini Class Night, 7 p.m.

2. Add Mr. Snipes' e-mail address to your safe senders list. We occasionally experience problems with e-mail providers blocking eSPX, and adding his e-mail address as a safe contact negates this issue. If you are receiving eSPX, but wish to unsubscribe, contact Mr. Snipes at [email protected].

February 1 New Student Applications Due 13 Ash Wednesday

The St. Pius X Marching Golden Lions Present...

March 10 Daylight Savings Time Begins 11 Summer Uniform Begins 28 Holy Thursday – No School 29 Good Friday – No School 31 Easter Sunday

Influence from BEYOND! Featuring music from the Tron Legacy and Inception movie soundtracks!

April 1-5 Spring Break 29-30 Registration for Incoming Freshmen, Class of 2017 May 1 Registration for Incoming Freshmen, Class of 2017 6-16 AP Exams 8-10 Senior Exams 16 Baccalaureate Mass 7:30 p.m. 17 Honors Assembly 8 a.m. 18 Graduation 9:30 a.m. 20-22 Final Exams 22 Last Day of School – 12:45 p.m. Dismissal 23-24 Post Planning 27 Memorial Day

Home Games: 9/7, 9/21, 9/28, 10/19, 11/2 Competitions: 10/6, 10/20, 10/27 -9-

DEVELOPING EXCELLENCE St. Pius X Catholic High School Volume 7, Number 2

Dear St. Pius X Parents and Friends, As a school community we enjoy success because we set goals and then work hard to accomplish them. This is true in the classrooms, on the fields, and on the stage. It is also true in our advancement efforts. St. Pius X Catholic High School continues to thrive because of the support of our entire family. Parents, alumni, faculty, past parents and grandparents, along with numerous others, are all focused on achievement. This support inspires our students to reach for their dreams. Providing the facilities and the resources for them to succeed is our responsibility. 2013 Annual Fund Are you are aware that there is a gap between tuition and the actual cost to educate each student every year? The Annual Fund is the largest contributor to funding that deficit and allows for efficient support of the school through tax deductible donations. For the Annual Fund, we have two goals: one is to enlist the support of each and every family’s participation, and another is to reach $400,000 in donations from our parent community. Every gift to the Annual Fund is important and helps the school meet its goals in so many ways. Please consider becoming part of our Monsignor Maloney Society with a gift of $1,000 or higher. Joining this prestigious group entitles you to admission to non-playoff home games, fine arts performances, and an invitation to the yearly Donor Recognition Dinner with Archbishop Gregory. While we would appreciate your support at this level, the most important goal for the Annual Fund is 100 percent parent participation. Please consider making a pledge or donation today. All Annual Fund contributions are due May 31, 2013. Expanding Our Legacy Capital Campaign – Help Us Get Home! Thanks to your generosity, St. Pius X has excellent facilities in which to accomplish its educational mission. Since 1998, over $21 million dollars of improvements have been made to the campus. This means that approximately $1,500 has been invested for every student every year during that time span. The practice gym, arts wing, stadium, cafeteria, softball, baseball fields and practice fields, as well as countless other renovations have slowly and steadily transformed the St. Pius X campus into what it is today. Our students today benefit from the improvements made by those who have gone before them. At this point, we need only $2.2 million in order to retire the debt on this campaign. If you have not yet donated to this campaign or if you would like to add to or extend your previous commitment please contact the Development Office. New pledges for the Expanding Our Legacy Capital Campaign can be spread across the next three tax years (2012, 2013, and 2014). Current parents may also process their gifts through their FACTS accounts. We hope you will consider additional support of our programs. Our mission as a Catholic school to educate our students in mind, body and spirit is advanced by your generosity. We are able to move forward because of you. Gratefully,

David L. Buechner ’73 Director of Development

After years of planning, what began as a vision in the St. Pius X community became an incredible reality with the creation of the Fields of Dreams... THE GAME PLAN As St. Pius X improved the stadium and cafeteria in 2004, we felt a pressing need to expand in other directions and determined that practice fields, a baseball field and parking facilities would have the most positive impact on our campus. In 2006 friends of St. Pius X signed a purchase option on the land adjacent to the school, and in 2008 the school closed on the land. In 2009, in an effort to raise money for the property and new facility construction, St. Pius X launched the Expanding Our Legacy Capital Campaign that has since grown into the 2010 Fields of Dreams initiative. Today, through the overwhelming generosity of parents and alumni, the campaign is nearing its goal of raising $8 million, with only $2.2 million remaining. Our fund raising efforts have triumphed in the face of one of the worst economic downturns of the school’s history. Now, thanks to our work together, our athletes can enjoy training and playing, and our parents and fans can cheer the Golden Lions to victory on beautiful, state-of-theart fields.

The construction of the fields is complete; the balance remains due.

ALMOST HOME Just as Monsignor Maloney helped create the St. Pius X community we all know and love today, we can further his mission for the future by giving to the Fields of Dreams. We can help make a significant impact on the 80 percent of our student body that participates in athletics today, and for years to come. We can pay it forward, just as others have done for over 50 years. We have almost reached our goal. Be a part of the future success of all Golden Lions as we continue making the Fields of Dreams a reality.

www.spx.org/expandingourlegacy St. Pius X Catholic High School Development Office 2674 Johnson Road, NE Atlanta, GA 30345-1720 404-633-4290 Steve Spellman Principal

David Buechner ’73 Development Director

Victoria Dorsey ’81 Alumni Director

Mary Vallés Jones

Kyle Snipes

Deanna Jones ’01

Kathie Lyons

Associate Communications Coordinator

Associate Director of Development Records and Special Events Communications Coordinator

-12-

Administrative Assistant

Mothers' Club Corner The St. Pius X Mothers’ Club is looking forward to an exciting 2012-2013 school year. We hope that all St. Pius X moms will join us! The Mothers’ Club serves the school community in many ways. We have spiritual committees (such as the Mothers’ Prayer Group and Adoration), fund raising committees (such as Holiday Marketplace and Used Uniforms), service committees (such as Campus Beautification and Project Snuggle Bug), and faculty appreciation committees (such as Faculty Appreciation Luncheon and Faculty Birthday Cakes). These aforementioned groups are merely a few of our committees. We have many more! Depending on your interests, we feel there is something for every St. Pius X mom. While the St. Pius X Mothers’ Club certainly does allow time for the moms to mingle and socialize, it is not solely a social club. Through the numerous committees, the group enriches the school community through service projects, prayers, and financial support through scholarships. Last year, we were happy to donate $25,000 to St. Pius X for scholarships. We invite you to join us this year. Your level of involvement can be whatever your schedule allows. You can find a membership form on the school’s Web site at www.spx.org/StPiusXMothersClub. We hope to see you soon! Maryann Cote & Donna Parillo Mothers' Club Co-Presidents Each month, we take time to reflect on a single virtue. The virtues for this year are as follows:

Volunteers Needed! Mothers' Club is happy to sponsor the Faculty Appreciation Luncheon on October 17 at noon in the cafeteria. Our wonderful faculty members certainly deserve a special day. We need parent volunteers to send in items, set up, and clean up. If you would like to help, please e-mail Katherine Fristoe at [email protected]. Thank you!

September – Responsibility October – Courage November – Integrity December – Perseverance January – Dignity

February – Fidelity March – Justice April – Wisdom May – Hope

We hope you will join us!

Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament At St. Pius X we are very fortunate to have Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament every Friday from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. in the chapel. This year, Friday Adoration began on August 31. The Mothers' Club arranges for guardians to be present. We are in need of guardians to complete the 2012-2013 school calendar. Please prayerfully consider signing up to be a guardian for an hour weekly, bi-weekly or once a month. You can call or e-mail Theresa Lewis at 770-664-4695 or [email protected] for an hour of silent prayer time as a gift for your soul. “God is the friend of silence. If we really want to pray we must first learn to listen, for in the silence of the heart God speaks.” - Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta

-12-

Campus News and Events Students Travel to Austria and Germany On June 17, a group of 15 students from St. Pius X embarked on a journey of a lifetime with teachers Mr. Brion Kennedy and Mr. Dennis Ruggiero. Joining them was chaperone Mrs. Julie Skelton, mother of Ashley '12. On that day, the group left Atlanta to travel to Germany and Austria, stopping in Munich, Salzburg, Nuremberg, and finally, Berlin.

Following the game, the group went on their longest drive to Berlin, where they learned about the history of East and West Berlin. They visited Check Point Charlie, the Wansee House (where the Final Solution was determined), and one of the railway stations where Jews from Berlin were transported to the death camps in the east.

For the past 13 years, Mr. Ruggiero has taught a History and the Holocaust class. The class seeks to examine the history of genocide and racial purity of the 20th century as it relates to human behavior. The course emphasizes the events leading to the rise of Adolf Hitler and it examines the Church’s response to the events of the Holocaust. “It has always been my dream to bring students from the class to see the places we study throughout the year,” says Mr. Ruggiero.

According to Elizabeth Eidson ’13, “Having never traveled out of the United States, I did not know what to expect from the much anticipated trip to Germany and Austria. Of course I had high expectations, but my experience exceeded those expectations beyond words. The shocking experience at Dachau Concentration camp and tracing Hitler's footsteps in Nuremberg certainly were highlights to me from an educational standpoint. As far as recreation is concerned, creating lifelong friendships with people I didn't even know before the trip and soaking up all the Bavarian culture was a memory I will always cherish. I will never forget the things I learned, the places I saw and the people I met. All I can think about is going back. Special thanks to Mr. Ruggiero and Mr. Kennedy, you really helped to broaden my horizons and set a tone for travel for the rest of my life."

The group began their trip a few miles north of Munich at the Dachau Concentration Camp. It was a sobering experience for all as students were able to view firsthand the ovens that were used in the Dark Period. Following their stay in Munich, the group drove to southern Bavaria where they were able to see the salt mines and Hitler’s Eagle’s Nest. To lighten the trip, the group traveled across the border to the beautiful city of Salzburg in Austria, where The Sound of Music was filmed. The group enjoyed some shopping and chocolate! Following their time in Salzburg, they headed north to Nuremberg, the home of the Nazi Party Rallies. It is a city full of history with cobblestone streets and beautiful churches. It was once considered by the Nazi’s as the “most German city,” hence the reason it was selected for the rallies. The group toured the Documentation Center and Zepplen Field. One of the most memorable parts of the trip was taking in the Euro Cup soccer games alongside 3000 screaming Deutchland fans.

SPX Alumni Answer God’s Call to Religious Life The goal of St. Pius X Catholic High School is to graduate men and women who serve actively in the life of the Church. This summer two St. Pius X graduates responded to this goal by answering the Lord’s call to serve Christ and the Church through vocations as religious sisters. Kristi Mickwee, St. Pius X Class of 1998, took her final vows with the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia in Nashville, Tennessee on Wednesday, July 25, 2012. She is now known as Sr. Christiana. The Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia, also commonly known as the Nashville Dominicans serve the Church by teaching in Catholic schools in the United States, Canada, and Australia. The community was founded in 1860 and is one of the largest and fastest growing communities of religious sisters in the United States. Sr. Katie Press is a 2001 graduate of St. Pius X and professed her vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience for the first time during Mass in the Sacred Heart Chapel at Mount Sacred Heart in Hamden, Connecticut August 4, 2012. Founded in 1894 in Italy, the Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, serve the Church on five continents. Their ministry includes work in education, healthcare, and social services. We congratulate these women on hearing and answering their call to serve. -13-

Beyond the Classroom BYOD Technology Comes to St. Pius X! St. Pius X is stepping up to the plate by incorporating new technologies into the curriculum. Business and Computer Science teacher Mrs. Elizabeth Schupp, IT Director Mr. Kyle Johnson, and Media Specialist Mrs. Marian Rosenberg, attended the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) conference in San Diego this summer. They participated in workshops and researched how students can utilize their own technilogical devices in the classroom. The BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) program began at St. Pius X on the first day of school. Students were allowed to bring wireless devices such as iPads, smart phones, Droids, or laptops to use during class upon the request of their teacher. As we are in the first year of the program, devices are not mandatory for class and not all teachers will be asking students to bring them to the classroom. The devices will be used as learning tools for numerous reasons. Students will be able to research, to take online polls or quizzes in class, type papers, take notes, and connect and collaborate with fellow students through their laptaps, tablets, or phones. Our students currently have a variety of devices. If you are planning on purchasing a new device, please be aware that it should be able to connect to our wireless service. It would also be helpful for the device to have a camera (like the iPad2, Android tablet or smart phone) so that they have the capability to scan Quick Response (QR) codes or take pictures for projects. Aside from those suggestions, it would be personal preference as to screen size, speed, brand, etc. At the start of the year in the Computer Applications classes, Mrs. Schupp and Mrs. Wright posted QR codes throughout the school containing information about computer hardware and software as well as directions to the next location. Students traveled the school in pairs with their device, scanned the code, took notes, saved the history on their device, and then returned to the classroom to create their own QR code and send it to the teacher. It was a great way for the freshmen to learn their way around the school, use new technologies, and gain information needed for class. We look forward to what BYOD will bring to the classroom and the various ways that it will help incorporate new styles of learning at St. Pius X.

Photo 1 (left): Nicolette Buzonas and Savannah Cerniglia, Photo 2 (center): Davis Schultz and Carlos Zayas, Photo 3 (right): Mauricio Alvarez-Tabio and Jacob Beyer

2012 Career Forum On the morning of Friday, November 16, juniors and seniors will have the opportunity to explore their future career options at the St. Pius X Career Forum. They will meet with St. Pius X alumni and various members of the school community to learn what career opportunities are available and how they might pursue them. Based on their expressed preferences at the start of the school year, each senior and junior will be assigned two career sessions, where they will learn more about the specifics of various jobs. In years past, this has been a very popular and successful event offered to students, and one which they truly enjoy. Are you a parent or an alumnus interested in participating as a guest speaker for this event? Are you working in an interesting field that you would like to share with current students? Do you have insight into ways students can involve themselves and get their foot in the door with your industry? We would love to hear from you! For more information or to volunteer for the 2012 Career Forum, please contact Jennifer Flanagan ([email protected]) or Joanie Raines ([email protected]). -14-

Beyond the Classroom Theology Teacher Completes Bearing Witness Program Ms. Theresa Johnson, teacher of Hebrew Scripture and Christian Testament at St. Pius X Catholic High School, and Ms. Brenda Chee Wah, Religion Coordinator for St. Peter Claver Regional Catholic School, recently returned from Israel after participating in the Bearing Witness™ Advanced Program this summer. The program, which is sponsored by the Anti-Defamation League as well as the May and Samuel Rudin Family Foundation, is a professional development opportunity for Catholic school educators in the United States. Ms. Johnson & Ms. Chee Wah joined seventeen other participants from the United States to complete the two-year program which culminated in the trip to Israel. Both ladies visited sites sacred to Jews and Christians such as the Old City of Jerusalem, Nazareth, the Dead Sea, and the Sea of Galilee. The group also visited the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, the Western (or Wailing) Wall, the Mount of the Beatitudes, Capernaum, Tabgha and the Golan Heights. “This journey to Israel truly was a pilgrimage. We shared laughter and tears. It’s hard to say what moved me the most: the Arab and Jewish children playing together at the Community Center in Jaffa or the Children’s Holocaust Memorial at Yad Vashem, prayer at the Western Wall or Mass at the Mount of Beatitudes. It was a transformational journey,” Johnson said, “I look forward to sharing these many experiences with my students and colleagues.” St. Pius X has now had three educators make the trip to Israel, with Mr. Dennis Ruggiero and Ms. Carrie Stockard participating in 2005 and 2009, respectively. Ms. Chee Wah is the first member of the faculty at St. Peter Claver to make the trip. Ms. Chee Wah said, “Israel will be ever embedded in my memory, to read the Scriptures about - the wall of the temple in Jerusalem and to really walk and see the walls; to walk along the Sea of Galilee knowing that Jesus walked along this same shore is a humbling experience.” The program is offered through application to teachers in Catholic schools throughout the region. The Bearing Witness™ Program seeks to provide educators with the opportunity to gain firsthand knowledge of Israel against the backdrop of Jewish History, the Holocaust, Jewish-Catholic Relations, modern Israeli politics and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. According to the Anti-Defamation League Web site, Bearing Witness™ Advanced is a unique professional development opportunity for Catholic school educators from across the nation. Due to the overwhelming success of the original Bearing Witness™ Program, an advanced course of study was instituted in 2005. This extension of Bearing Witness™, which allows educators the opportunity to extend their learning, includes a trip to Israel where participants hear from resident scholars and are afforded the chance to visit sites sacred to Jews and Christians. Participants are graduates of regional Bearing Witness™ Programs held across the nation. Photo (left-right): Ms. Theresa Johnson, Bishop Peter A. Rosazza of the Archdiocese of Hartford, CT, Ms. Brenda Chee Wah at Masada

-15-

Athletics Water Polo Athletes Named All-American

The National Interscholastic Swim Coaches Association (NISCA) has announced its All-American selections for the 2011-2012 water polo season. Current senior Sam Beckwith and Christopher Travers were recognized for their accomplishments in the most recent season. Sam, goalie for the team, was named to the All-American fifth team and was honored with the title of Goalie of the Year for his performance last fall by the Georgia High School Water Polo Association. This is the second year he has been named an All-American. He will serve alongside Josh Chatfield as team captain for the 2012 season. Recent graduate Christopher Travers ’12 was named an Honorable Mention All-American. Christopher was team captain for the 2011 season and was one of the top scorers on the team. He and Sam were named to the All-State tournament team for their performance in the State Water Polo Championship last season. Christopher is continuing his playing career at Villanova University. The Golden Lion water polo team began its season with a win over Norcross High School on August 11, 2012. The current schedule for the team can be found at www. gapolo.com.

2012 St. Pius X Fall Athletics Preview Although classes began on August 10 at St. Pius X Catholic High School, the fall athletic teams were already in full swing with pre-season practice. All six Golden Lion fall programs captured region titles and advanced to the state playoffs last season. The 2012-13 campaign sees the Golden Lions enter Region 6-AAA, after the last round of re-classification in which the Georgia High School Association moved to a six-classification system. St. Pius X also finished second in the overall standings of the Regions Directors' Cup for 2011-12. On the gridiron, Paul Standard (96-34) enters his 12th season as the second in all-time victories in St. Pius X history behind the legendary George B. Maloof. The Golden Lions return five offensive and five defensive starters from the 2011 team which finished 12-1, advanced to the quarterfinals of the state playoffs, and was ranked eighth in the final polls. St. Pius X has advanced to the playoffs six straight seasons, and opened the 2012 slate at Westminster on August 31. Key returnees for the team include juniors Nick Glass and Nick Ruffin as well as seniors Jack Spear and Ryan Braswell. Glass, the team leader in interceptions last season, and Ruffin lead an experienced secondary that helped the Golden Lions hold opponents to just 103 total points on the year. Braswell is the leading returning rusher from 2011 with 570 yards and nine touchdowns, as St. Pius X lost four of its top five leading rushers from last season. Spear will be the signal-caller this season, and junior placekicker Thomas O'Leary returns after converting three field goals and 55 point after touchdowns in 2011. Coach John Frederick (414-200) also begins his 12th campaign and continues to add to his school record win total as volleyball coach. The Golden Lions won a school record 49 wins en route to a state runner-up finish while taking home the area title for -16-

the fourth consecutive year. The Golden Lions opened as the No. 1-ranked school in the pre-season Georgia Athletic Coaches Association (GACA) AAA poll and lifted the lid on the regular season August 14 by defeating Roswell and dropping a match to Chattahoochee. The Golden Lions return senior Emily Morrison, the team leader in kills and an All-State selection along with All-State junior Leah Hardeman. Hardeman, also voted Area 5-AAA Player of the Year, was second on the team in kills. Assist-leader, senior Amanda Stitt returns and will be joined by fellow seniors Kallan Arvidson, Bianca Borough, and Erin Villella. Boys’ Cross Country will look to win its third consecutive AAA State Championship, as the Golden Lion harriers return three of the top four runners in the school history by time. Ryan McClay begins his fourth season with two runners, junior Austin Sprague and senior Calvin Tirrell, who finished 3rd and 7th, respectively, at the state meet last season. Andrew Anastasiades returns after his 18th place in the state meet and will be joined by Joey Ferrugia and Sergei Templeton. The Golden Lions are the top ranked school in AAA in the preseason

Athletics rankings and compete for the first time in 2012 in the Stage Races at the River Green Complex in Duluth on August 25. Debbie Guilbeau enters her 18th season as head coach of the Girls’ Cross Country program. The 2011 Golden Lions won the region championship and placed second in the state meet. The Golden Lions return several key runners this season including seniors Devon Dabney and Elizabeth Pettit along with sophomores Tessa Schwarze and Emily Thurston. Dabney finished 11th at the state meet, while Schwarze and Thurston completed the race in 18th and 25th places, respectively. The lady harriers will race at the Mercy Invitational at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic High School to begin the 2012 campaign on August 25. The Golden Lion softball team enters the 2012 season under first-year head coach Matthew McIntyre. St. Pius X returns a first-team all-Region selection in junior Natasha Sherrod who also owns the school record for doubles in a season, and was a former region offensive player of the year. The Golden Lions also return two other starters from last year's team in seniors Natalie Corso and Sarah Rawls, who both will be looked to for offense this season.

St. Pius X softball won the region championship for the fourth consecutive season and advanced to the state playoffs for the fifth straight year but lost six starters, and eight players overall, to graduation. The Golden Lions finished the season 20-13. St. Pius X opened the regular season on August 15, dropping a pair of games to Buford and Wesleyan. Competition Cheerleading captured its seventh region title, and third in a row, in 2011. The Golden Lions also had its best showing in the state meet in school history finishing in eleventh place. Under the direction of Alison Bruckert, the competition cheerleading squad is coached by Jennifer Moats and Morgan Carney. The team will look to the leadership of seniors Morgan Agnew, Alison Buchanan, Mackenzie Garrison, Niara Hayes and Stephanie Magri to blend with the younger members of the team for another solid year. The first meet for the ladies is September 22 at the Bulldog Cheer Classic at North Gwinnett High School.

2012 Athletic Association Fall Golf Outing Parents, alumni, friends, scratch golfers, average golfers, even duffers... Come support your St. Pius X athletics program by joining us for the 27th Annual Fall Golf Outing at the Rivermont Country Club on October 23, 2012. The outing will follow a Ft. Lauderdale format with a 10 a.m. shotgun start. Even if your golf skill is lacking, we will have something for everyone! You can at least come out to enjoy the day with friends and great food (Chick-fil-A biscuits, Woody's famous hot dogs, Pig-n-Chik and much more!) all for a great cause in support of St. Pius X. To register, please visit our Web site: http://www.spx.org/AthleticAssociationGolfTournament For additional information, please contact Stacy Bean at [email protected] or 404-579-0029. If you cannot play, but still would love to support the cause, please consider becoming a sponsor or donating an item for the auction. You may contact Rhonda Brum at [email protected] or 678-570-9516. We look forward to seeing you there! A special thank you to our presenting sponsors:

-17-

Arts

Pius Players News... Places, everyone! The Pius Players are preparing for a sensational season for all of our theatre lovers. Mark your calendars and save the date today. Our drama summer workshop hosted 42 excited tweens. We saw 22 girls return for the second, third, or fourth year! Drama assistants were: Emily Stephens, Henry Young, Christy Couture, and “H” Buot. They were fabulous! Summer study was done by: Christina Bleacher (Camp Broadway at the Fox Theatre), Emily Brady (Broadway Dreams Foundation), Eleni Demos (Musical Theatre Intensive at the Alliance Theatre), Sarah Kuipers (Atlanta Workshop Players), Craig Schwartz (Broadway Dreams Foundation), and Maggie Weir (Atlanta Workshop Players). Our upcoming fall production is Neil Simon’s hilarious comic fable, Fools. We’ll visit a small town in Europe under a curse of “stupidity.” There will be laughter galore! Performances will be held October 3, 4, 5, and 6 at 7 p.m. in the Young Center. On Saturday, November 10 a heart-warming Charlie Brown will return to our theatre with the entire gang for Charlie Brown’s Special Christmas. Performances will be held at 1 and 4 p.m. for the cost of only $5. It will be a wonderful treat for everyone. Pius Players alums, bring those children (and grandparents, too!). Spring brings the Disney classic Beauty and the Beast, March 6-10 with the lovely Belle and all of the colorful characters that warm your heart. What a special treat for the young and old. Plan way ahead. The show will feature musical direction by Maestro Clay Causey and choreography by our own Mr. Clay McCloud. We promise a glorious trip to an enchanted land. See you all in the theatre!

Pictured above (l-r): "H" Buot, Emily Stephens, Christy Couture, and Henry Young.

SAVE THE DATE! October 3-6 The Pius Players Present Fools November 10 The Pius Players Present Charlie Brown's Special Christmas December 6 Christmas Music Concert February 22 Visual Arts Exhibition March 6-10 The Pius Players Present Beauty and the Beast

Theatrically, Bonnie E. Spark Director of Theatre

March 21-23 Spring Dance Concert April 18 Spring Band Concert April 26 Spring Guitar and Choir Concert May 7 NOVO Dance Choreography & Benefit Performance

-18-

Arts

St. Pius X Dance Program

The SPX dance program has 84 enthusiastic and talented dancers this year! We are excited to brush up on our technique and begin work for the spring performances.

The St. Pius X Dance Company and Dance III (7th period) had the great fortune of working with Pumkin Harris in August. For the Dance Company, Pumkin choreographed a dynamic contemporary piece to "Sail by Awolnation." This piece will debut at the Morning of the Arts in November. The Dance III students enjoyed learning a contemporary piece to music by Florence and the Machine. Both pieces will be featured in the annual Spring Dance Concert (March 21-23). Both of these groups will also work with Becki Chernoff (Dan & Company Studio) during the month of September. She will be setting two lyrical pieces to feature the talents of each group.

St. Pius X Dance Company members in rehearsal with Pumkin Harris. Pictured left: Emma Duke Pictured below: Tsoler Terzian and Mara Weissinger

Pictured at right, St. Pius X Dance Company members in rehearsal with Pumkin Harris Lisa O'Connor Director of Dance

A Message From The St. Pius X Arts Society... On behalf of all of us at SPAS (St. Pius X Arts Society), welcome to the wonderful world of fine arts! The 20122013 school year promises to be an exciting time for all of us with performances, productions, and exhibits that will showcase the incredible talents of our students. We hope that everyone in the SPX community joins us by promoting and supporting our fine arts program. In return, we will continue to provide our families and friends with our very own special brand of artistic nourishment. While our commitment to artistic excellence in a Catholic and spiritual environment remains our top priority, we ask that each SPX family become a part of this phenomenal program. In the 2011-2012 season we made a philosophical change in our fund raising efforts. We no longer sell Sally Foster or Entertainment Books. Instead, we have asked that each family, not only those participating in the fine arts, but every family at SPX become a member of SPAS. This supports the continued growth of the fine arts and benefits every student. Each family is able to participate and see the talent that exists at SPX by attending exciting musical and dance performances, professional level productions and art exhibits that will leave you amazed. Through your support of SPAS, the Arts Society was able to fund an upgrade of the lighting and acoustics systems in the Young Center and purchase electric guitars for the successful guitar curricu-

lum: only a few examples of how your membership makes a difference. We are excited that the legacy of SPAS continues to provide necessary upgrades to our beautiful auditorium and that your contributions benefit the entire St. Pius X community. It is important to note that SPAS receives the benefit of all membership funds which ensures 100 percent of all donations are reinvested in the fine arts. How can you participate? All you need to do is submit a membership form...we will do the rest for you! You have the option of choosing whether you prefer a one-time payment or a four period installment method via FACTS. The same FACTS Management System that we use for all other SPX expenditures is used for the SPAS Membership. I wish all of you a healthy, academically successful, and spiritually enriching school year. I hope you will join us in celebrating our gifted and talented students in the fine arts by joining SPAS and attending our programs. I promise you will be amazed! Sincerely, Meg Stitt SPAS President

-19-

PRE-SORTED FIRST CLASS U.S. POSTAGE PAID Permit No. 104 Atlanta, GA

St. Pius X Catholic High School 2674 Johnson Road, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30345-1720 404/633-4290 www.spx.org

Return Service Requested

September

3 4 7-12 10 11 12 16 17 19 24-30 29 30

Labor Day - No School Archdiocesan In-Service - No School for Students Marine Biology Trip College Application Deadline #1 Mothers' Club General Meeting at 7 p.m. College Night for Juniors at 7 p.m. Senior Pot Luck Dinner at 5 p.m. Freshmen Pilgrimage Mothers' Prayer Group at 9 a.m. Homecoming Week Homecoming Dance Alumni Mass

October 1 2 3-6 8 9 11-12 15 17 20 21 24 29

College Application Deadline #2 Fall Parent/Teacher Conferences 6-8:30 p.m. Fall Play Faculty & Staff Retreat - No School for Students Blood Drive Marching Band - Disney Trip Sophomore Pilgrimage PSAT Testing for Grades 9,10,11 (Noon Dismissal) 8:40 a.m. Start No School for Seniors Marathon of Mercy Sophomore Pot Luck at 5:30 p.m. Mothers' Prayer Group at 9 a.m. Junior Pilgrimage

November

4 5

Open House 1-4 p.m. Winter Uniform Begins

St. Pius X Publications Available Online Current issues of all St. Pius X publications including Spiritus, Alumni News, Golden Lines newspaper, and eSPX, are all available on the St. Pius X Web site, www.spx.org. Spiritus and Alumni News are available on the Web site as soon as they are sent to press. Spiritus is a publication of the Development Office of St. Pius X Catholic High School and is published eight times per year. St. Pius X is a unit of the Archdiocese of Atlanta. Submissions: Mail or e-mail [email protected] or fax 404-320-0308.

Communications Coordinator: Deanna Jones-Puig '01 Associate Communications Coordinator: Kyle Snipes Copyright 2012