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INSIDE THIS ISSUE 3 4 PRESIDENT’S LETTER PRINCIPAL’S LETTER FAMILY PICNIC . . . Page 11 SSA ALUMNAE CAJUN CHRISTMAS PARTY . . . Page 30 5 SSA ADMINISTRATION ATHLETIC PROGRAM 6 SENIOR RING MASS AND RING DAY 7 8 11 RONNIE KOLE CONCERT SSA HONORS VETERANS MEMORIES FROM THE PAST FATHER-DAUGHTER DINNER/DANCE . . . Page 39 13 14 17 19 25 ESTATE PLANNING FOR WOMEN ATHLETIC AWARDS CLASS NOTES BABY DOVES / WEDDING BELLS ALUMNA LUNCHEON FORM SENIOR RING MASS . . . Page 6 30 31 32 CAJUN CHRISTMAS PRAYING IN COLORS MARGUERITE S. CELESTIN Pillar of Strength RONNIE KOLE CONCERT . . . Page 7 37 PICK-A-LIVE FORM 39 42 FATHER~DAUGHTER Western Dance ANNUAL REPORT 2005-2006 MARGUERITE S. CELESTIN . . . Page 32 MEMORIES FROM THE PAST . . . Page 11 43 52 60 62 63 LETTER FROM SCHOOL BOARD CHAIRMAN FALAYA FLING ~ REPORT DOVE GOLF CLASSIC ~ REPORT LEGACY SOCIETY ~ CHARTER MEMBERS A GIFT THAT GIVES BACK Dove WINGS is a St. Scholastica Academy publication of the Advancement Department designed for the school’s many constituents including parents, alumnae, grandparents, alumnae parents, and friends in the business community. Designated a Blue Ribbon School of Excellence by the U.S. Department of Education, SSA is an all-girls Catholic school with 752 students in grades 8-12. Marguerite S. Celestin, President • Mary Kathryn Villere, Principal Elaine Simmons, Advancement Director • Cindy Williamson, Marketing and PR Director Yvette Cardinale and Tara Huguet, Advancement Assistants 985-892-2540 ext. 132 P.O. Box 1210 Covington, LA 70434-1210 esimmons@ssacad.com 2 D O V E W I N G S
S o much has happened since I wrote my last article for Wings. (It seems I started my last one off in the same way after Katrina). As many of you know, in September I was diagnosed with a skull-based tumor. After a very risky but successful surgery in early October at the University of Arkansas Medical Sciences Hospital in Little Rock, the tumor was determined to be a malignant chordoma. Without radiation it had a 95% probability of re-growing. Therefore, I am currently at the Loma Linda (California) University Medical Center undergoing Proton Beam Radiation Therapy which carries with it an 85% success rate. I will be here for two months, returning to Covington in mid to late March. I have learned so much from the past few months and I am sure this is just the beginning. First of all, I think this shows us that we are truly not in charge of our lives. I remember Father Beau Charbonnet saying in one of his homilies around the time of Katrina: “God is in charge!” So much happens in our lives over which we have no control, and yet we can control how we respond to the situations in which we find ourselves. I know that prayer and faith are so powerful. When coupled with the force of the SSA community, that power is strengthened a hundredfold. I have been overwhelmed and humbled by the incredible support of prayer and offers of assistance I have received from the SSA community, friends and family. During these last months I have been immersed in a different world than I normally live in. I have been exposed to the world of sickness and life-threatening situations, where people, in far more dire straights than I, are confronted with the stark realization that time is at a premium. It is out of this setting that I am deeply grateful for how far medicine and treatment have come and yet am also aware that each of us has only a finite amount of time. I know that not all prayers are answered by successful surgeries and successful treatments. God answers some prayers in ways we humans may not understand, but in ways that may be “best” for us in His eyes and in ways that bring us closer to Him in the long run. I have become aware Letter FROM THE PRESIDENT’S PEN Marguerite S. Celestin of how many lonely people there are who are suffering alone, without the companionship of friends and family. I met people in Arkansas and here in California who must go through treatment by themselves and who do not have anyone to share their pain, to listen to them, attend to their needs, and to pray for them on a daily basis like I have. We emphasize to our students all the time how valuable the aspect of Sisterhood is in their lives. This bond that ties us to each other, to all those we meet in our lives, to our families and extended families receives its “glue” from the love and presence of God who calls us into His care. Through this bond we are able to be the extension of God’s hands to each other. I strongly encourage each of you to reach out to one another. We never know when someone may need a helping hand, a supportive, encouraging hug. I pray that each of you can strengthen your own prayer life and your relationship with God, that prayer will be a daily, hourly conversation with the Lord. And I ask you to join me in praying not only for those on your personal prayer list, but for those who most need our prayers, those who do not have anyone else to pray for them, those who have not even experienced the power of prayer. When we move out of the “me” world into the “other” world we can answer the question “Am I my sister’s/brother’s keeper?” with a strong YES! We then receive our strength and our meaning in life from the fact that we are all one in the Body of Christ. During these last few months many people have made it possible for me to take care of my health. I am deeply grateful for the support and prayers of so many. I have been gratified by the many notes of concern and compassion from so many students, alumnae, parents of alumnae and friends in the community. Each of you is very important to me. I am also deeply grateful for the SSA administration, faculty, and staff who have picked up many pieces that were left hanging in my absence. I also want to recognize members of the School Board who have doubled their efforts to complete the projects at hand. We are so blessed to have such talented, generous, people who work so well together and who do not count the cost to get the job done. Groundbreaking for our chapel will take place in the next few months. We are grateful to Michael Holly of the architectural firm of Holly and Smith of Hammond who has designed a chapel fitting for God’s presence and the tradition and future of our school. This chapel will put our faith and prayer life as the centerpiece of our school’s campus. You can be a part of helping us realize this dream by giving to the Chapel Fund. Contact Elaine Simmons for details. Our Strategic Planning process is continuing to evolve. Numerous members of our community are giving generously of their time and efforts to craft strategies and initiatives that will take us to another level of education at SSA. It may seem that this is taking longer than expected; perhaps, but it is because this is not just an effort that “skims the surface” but one that is looking at a wide and deep set of proposed action plans. I ask that you keep this process in your prayers that we devise a plan that is meaningful and “futureoriented”, providing the best for our students. Many of the strategies call for additional funding if they are to be accomplished. This funding is not currently available in our operating budget nor in our current Centennial Fund. We will look to the generosity of the entire SSA community, present, past, and future to realize our goals. My years at SSA have taught me that many people believe strongly in the mission and vision of SSA. We have always seen people step up to the platform of leadership, to “rise to the occasion” to help SSA go places where it had not yet been. Where we are today is because of the generosity of those who have gone before. For us to implement our future plans we need more and more individuals to become involved in a meaningful way. Your talents and efforts will be rewarded by a spirit of accomplishment and the fact that you have made a difference in the lives of many young women. I have always believed that my work in education is not just a job, but a ministry. In these last few months I have been given a new lease on life, which also comes with great responsibility. I believe that God has a lot more work for me to accomplish and I pray that I will be open to wherever He leads me. Great things are on the horizon for SSA. Let’s go there together!! May God bless you and may He hold you in the palm of His hand. Sincerely, Marguerite S. Celestin President D O V E W I N G S 3
Page 1: WINGS Dove T H E M A G A Z I N E F
Page 5 and 6: St. Scholastica AcademyAdministrati
Page 7 and 8: RONNIE KOLE Concert On September 16
Page 9 and 10: KATRINA Prayer Service St. Scholast
Page 11 and 12: SSA FAMILY PICNIC St. Scholastica A
Page 13 and 14: ESTATE PANNING Seminar For Women St
Page 15 and 16: St. Scholastica Academy DOVE GOLF C
Page 17 and 18: Paul Jay Scott passed away on Augus
Page 19 and 20: Baby DOVES 1985 Wendy Wilson Keller
Page 21 and 22: St. Scholastica Academy announces T
Page 23 and 24: SSA Centennial Order Form ...wonder
Page 25 and 26: St. Scholastica Academy Alumnae Ass
Page 27 and 28: GET CONNECTED!! Keeping in touch wi
Page 29 and 30: SSA CHOIRS Handbell Choir ~ Fall 20
Page 31 and 32: Praying IN COLORS Praying In Pink!
Page 33 and 34: WOMAN OF COURAGE By: Mary Kathryn V
Page 35 and 36: SSA’s Dance Teams and Cheerleader
Page 37 and 38: Pick-A-Live Pick any item from the
Page 39 and 40: SSA Father-Daughter Western Dance F
Page 41 and 42: M I S S I N GAlumnae 1938 . . . . .
Page 43 and 44: Letter From the School Board Chairm
Page 45 and 46: CENTENNIAL FUND DONORS YEAR ENDING
Page 47 and 48: ALUM SCHOLARSHIP DONORS YEAR ENDING
Page 49 and 50: ALUM CLASS CHALLENGE DONORS YEAR EN
Page 51 and 52: CHAPEL DONORS 2005-2006 YEAR ENDING
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RESTAURANT & BEVERAGE PURVEYORS (CO
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DONATIONS Loretta Boswell Conrad an
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Dixie Office Products DNA Film & Vi
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DONORS The Royal Sonesta Hotel SSA
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DOVE CLASSIC SPONSORS / DONORS SSA
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A Gift that Gives Back How would yo
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