March 25, 2004

Holy Spirit students reach out to those in need

Holy Spirit second grade teacher Sheila Flanagan is a good example of a teacher who is committed to her profession with her whole mind, heart and soul transmitting the doctrine and teachings of Jesus and the Catholic Church. Mrs. Flanagan states, “The mission of a Catholic school is to spark the motivation of the student personally to come to faith, to integrate faith with life, and to assimilate the values of his or her faith.”

Since 2001, Sheila has had the responsibility of directing Holy Spirit School's Community Outreach Program (COPS) in which students are provided with opportunities for positive character development. Since the school's mascot is a coyote, students refer to themselves as Holy Spirit Coyotes. Examples of school projects that benefited the needy in our community are:

In January, third and fourth graders organized “Sweet Dreams” in which they collected brand new sheets and pillow cases for the San Jose Emergency Housing Consortium. The students made posters to promote the project, and spoke at the school's morning assembly to appeal to fellow students. They collected 100 bedding items for this San Jose nonprofit organization that assists the homeless women, men and children.

In February, kindergarten teacher Shannon Rossi sent flyers to the entire school announcing Holy Spirit School's second annual penny drive to benefit the San Jose Children's Shelter. Three classes collectively brought in 1,500 pennies, but the dynamite eighth grade, with only 29 students, brought in over 17,000 pennies by themselves. The school's total contribution to the shelter was $700.

In March, the local Saint Vincent de Pal Society, which works diligently all year to meet the needs of the needy and marginalized in our community, sponsors a special Easter drive called “Baskets and Bows.” To support their effort to give an Easter basket and new clothing item(s) to every needy child ages birth to 12, the Holy Spirit Coyotes are collecting baskets, candy and new clothing. Mrs. Flanagan added, “The school theme of “Our Journey with Jesus” is manifested in our families' sacrifice of time and treasure to provide for those less fortunate.”

Also this month, Holy Spirit School students will work collaboratively with Saint Joseph School in Mountain View, a K-8 diocesan school, to raise funds to relieve the pain and suffering of the orphans of Aids victims in Zimbabwe. The Saint Joseph's Monarchs are having a run on March 28. The Holy Spirit Coyotes will provide balloons at the start and finishing lines of the race. To raise consciousness about the social justice issue of showing compassion to the ill and adopting in some way those whom society abandons, seventh and eighth grade students will learn about a Zimbabwe orphanage and will write notes of encouragement to the seventh and eighth graders of Saint Joseph School.

In April, classes will make small Way of the Cross booklets for the homebound of Holy Spirit Parish who will not be able to physically join the church community for the devotion of the Stations of the Cross. Lastly, Sheila Flanagan commented, “I believe in letting our students lead by serving others.”

If the community wishes to donate baskets, new clothing items for children, or monetary donations to the Saint Vincent de Paul Society's “Baskets and Bows” project, contact Dave Gonzales, services director, at (408) 298-7290, Ext. 20.