Sacred Heart School Report

By Tracey Arnone, principal

"We are called to serve." This is a basic belief of our Catholic faith and it is a foundation that we try very hard to instill in our children at Sacred Heart School. As summer approaches, it is a good time to reflect on the good we have tried to do for others during the past year.

Every month, our Student Council sponsors a "dress-down" day for a particular charity. Students pay a quarter to dress out of uniform and the money goes to the charity. Each charity we sponsor has a particular meaning for our school. We may have children afflicted with a particular condition, or family members who are battling a disease who ask us to help them with the cause they are championing. Some of the charities we have sponsored are: Juvenile Diabetes, LifeBanc Organ Donor program, Multiple Sclerosis, Akron Children’s Hospital, The Leukemia/Lymphoma Society, and The Barberton Community Pregnancy Center. With the latter two charities, we did month-long drives and raised almost $4,000 for the Leukemia Foundation and Pregnancy Center.

Our children show their empathy for others less fortunate than themselves in so many ways. Every other week, several of our students go to Altercare to say the rosary with the residents. They also visited Sterling Oaks and Magnolia Health Care Center to sing and entertain the residents and staff. One of the best gifts we give others, however, are our prayers. Daily, it seems, there is a class writing letters of support to a myriad of people who need prayers. We believe, as Pope John Paul II has stated many times, that the prayers of children are very powerful. We invite any parishioner with a prayer intention to call the school and we will pray or write letters to anyone who needs support.

Our 8th grade class of 29 students who graduated on June 1 was a beautiful example of giving to others. They showed a great deal of leadership with the way they constantly offered to help the younger students in our school. I wish our parishioners had the chance to meet each one of them. They definitely give a person hope for the future of our country and of our church. Over half of the class chose to continue their Catholic education at a Catholic high school. The students choosing public school are excited to remain active in our parish youth group.

Last, but definitely not least, Mrs. Madonna DiPietro, who was called to serve our school for 38 years is retiring. As a second grade teacher, she prepared many generations of students for First Reconciliation and First Communion. She is a pillar of our school, and will be greatly missed. If any of you had Mrs. DiPietro for a teacher, I know she would enjoy a note of appreciation for the service she has so unselfishly given to our school.

Photo above:  Father Joe takes part in BMX Bike Day demonstration.