St.

Augustine Academy
130 South Wells Road Ventura California 93004 805-672-0411 Fax 805-672-2365 e-mail StAugAcad@juno.com www.SaintAugustineAcademy.com
Board of Governors President Thomas Q. Ellis Secretary Robert R. Orellana, Esq. Treasurer Michael C. Collins Members Abel Montiel Jeff Schuberg Michael F. McLean, Ph.D. Louise Warnert

August 29, 2012 Martyrdom of St. John the Baptist Dear Students, Faculty, Parents and Families:

Opening Day

Once again we gather to renew old friendships and forge new ones. We enter together, as a community of learners students, teachers and parents to fulfill the task, outlined in our mission, of forming our theological, intellectual and moral virtues as we pursue Heaven, the Truth and the Good. As we pursue these noble goals, let us walk together with the guidance of our Holy Patron, St. Augustine. Each year we remind ourselves that we, individually and collectively, must strive to more fully understand and live according to St. Augustines most famous quotation: Our hearts are restless, Lord, until they rest in Thee. This year we celebrate our successful achievement of accreditation with the Western Catholic Education Association. Each year we pick a particular theme to meditate on, and grow in. This year, as we continue to educate and form our students in Catholic identity, we follow our Holy Father and his call to Faith. Pope Benedict XVI has proclaimed this year as The Year of Faith, celebrating the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican. The starting of the year of faith also commemorates the 20th anniversary of the publication of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Pope Benedict calls the Catechism itself "a precious and indispensable tool" for knowledge of the faith, and "one of the most important fruits" of Vatican II. He echoes Blessed John Paul II who called the Catechism a "sure norm" for passing on the Faith. He says, We want this Year to arouse in every believer the aspiration to profess the faith in fullness and with renewed conviction, with confidence and hope. It will also be a good opportunity to intensify the celebration of the faith in the liturgy, especially in the Eucharist, which is"the summit towards which the activity of the Church is directed; ... and also the source from which all its power flows."[14] At the same time, we make it our prayer that believers witness of life may grow in credibility. To rediscover the content of the faith that is professed, celebrated, lived and prayed,[15] and to reflect on the act of faith, is a task that every believer must make his own, especially in the course of this Year. T his renewed effort to rediscover the content of our Faith (The Catechism!) and celebrate the Faith (The Eucharist!) in order to gain confidence in it, and hence, WITNESS, will be our commitment this year. In the wake of so many events in our country and the world, it is no accident that the Year of Faith is offered to us now let us live it largely! God bless,

Headmaster Michael J. Van Hecke, M.Ed.

Board of Advisors Mr. John W. Blewett Wanderer Forum Foundation Hon. Jeremiah Denton Former U.S. Senator Mr. Nicholas J. Healy, Jr. President Ave Maria University Dr. Ronald P. McArthur Co-founder Thomas Aquinas College Mr. Roy S. Rohter, S.F.O. Founder St. Augustine Academy Fr. Michael Scanlan, T.O.R. Chancellor Franciscan University Mr. James Stenson Educator and Author

ANNOUNCEMENTS Sept. 3rd Monday: NO SCHOOL Labor Day Sept. 5th Back to School Night for Parents/Faculty 7:15 PM (Mandatory attendance please, at least one parent per family) Sept. 6th Jog-A-Thon Kick Off! Sept. 7th First Friday Mass EARLY DISMISSAL Lower School students will come to upper campus for 11:30 Mass and then dismiss directly from the upper campus following Mass. REC DAY Park Day! After early dismissal, families are invited to converge upon Arroyo Verde Park (where the school picnic was on Sunday) for an afternoon of being and playing together. See flyer for info. Sept. 18th School Pictures PLEASE CHECK ENVELOPE to see if there are any forms or notes. If you are missing forms or payments, we have put these into your envelope. If there are none enclosed, you are all up to date thank you! CONFIRMATION CLASSES STARTING Attn. 8th Graders parents. Sign up for Confirmation at St. Sebastian will be September 9th at 3:00 PM on the Church Patio, followed by the first class. Many SAA students attend this program even if from other parishes because it is run by one of our parents. Additionally, this program is backed by great priests, and is known for substantive teaching and great speakers. Fee $100. Bring a copy of their baptismal certificate. Questions Call Mary Orellana 525-4551 All classes are held on the second Sunday of the month at 3:00 PM. WEBSITE Please make sure to visit our website and sign up for the automatic notifier so that you get notice of all new postings as they happen.

SUPER OPPORTUNITY Hear Dennis Prager speak in Thousand Oaks! Fr. Dave Heney at St. Paschal Baylon Catholic Church in Thousand Oaks wants to extend an invitation to you and anyone interested to attend Dennis Prager's talk on Religious Freedom and American Values at the Church on Tuesday, September 11, 7:30 pm. If you are interested, see the facebook page and link to purchase tickets tinyurl.com/prageronfreedom
SISTERS SERVANTS OF MARY DAY FOR GIRLS See flyer for more details. We will also send this out in early October. LIBRARY BOOKS MISSING Please see the enclosed flyer about Little Bo Peep to see a list of missing books. Please take a look around the house to see if you can find them and return them. BOOK SALE Mrs. Ferrier is preparing for our bi-annual book sale October 13th and 14th Bring books to donate for this sale to the school or to Mrs. Kathy Ferrier. [Qs to Mrs. Ferrier 805-525-1439.] Ora Pro Nobis: This weekly section provides us with a list of prayer intentions which gives us the important opportunity to help members of our school family in their need. Let us remember to pray for one another. Let us pray for the souls of Miss Borchards brother and aunt, Thomas Borchard and Angel Lipari, and Mr. Van Heckes aunt, Theresa, who all died recently. Let us pray for the health of Rosie Grimm, Angel Castillo and Paul Warnert. We also pray for the soul of Fr. Steve Ochoa, OSA, who died on Friday. Finally, remember to pray for our country, our soldiers, and, for all priests and religious, especially our Archbishop Jose Gomez and Holy Father, Benedict.

Post Office Box 4506 Ventura California 93007 805-672-0411 Fax 805-672-2365 e-mail staugacad@juno.com