Middle and High School Faith Formation - February Newsletter

CALENDAR HIGHLIGHTS
February 8 - No Thursday classes
(except for 2nd Year 8th grade make-up class)
February 14 - Ash Wednesday
February 16 - 1st Soup and Stations - Continuing every Friday in Lent (except Good Friday)
February 17 - High School Lock-In
February 18 - No Sunday classes 
February 24 - Reconciliation Retreat for 2nd Year First Communion students
March 10 - High School Confirmation Retreat (2nd Year)
March 12 - Pizza and Penance
March 17 - Middle School Confirmation Retreat (2nd Year)
April 22 - Middle School Bash

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​LENT 2018

​Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, February 14. We encourage you to help your teens grow in faith by participating together in liturgies, sacraments, prayer, service, and fellowship.  The complete schedule of parish liturgies and events is forthcoming this weekend in the parish bulletin and website. Highlights include:

Ash Wednesday
Mass times with distribution of ashes:

• In English: 6:30am, 9am, 12pm, 6pm
• In Spanish: 6am (in Creedon Hall) and 7:30pm 

 
Soup and Stations of the Cross 
Each Friday during Lent from February 16 - March 23
6:00pm Stations in English; 6:30pm Soup Supper; 7:00pm Stations in Spanish
Each week there will be a different family-friendly presentation of the Stations of the Cross and a soup supper served in Creedon Hall.

• Presentations include Shadow Stations by High School Youth Group on Friday, March 16. 
• See service opportunities for teens below.

Pizza and Penance
Monday, March 12
Sacrament of Reconciliation from 4:30 - 5:30pm and 6:30 - 8:00pm. Pizza served from 4 - 8pm. 
​Priests available for Reconciliation in English and Spanish. 

Lenten Teen Service Opportunities
Upcoming highlights include:

• Mardi Gras Celebration. Tuesday, February 13. Teens are needed to set up and decorate, run a craft or activity station, and/or serve at the ice cream bar. Sign up HERE.
• Soup and Stations. Fridays in Lent (except for Good Friday), beginning on February 16.  Teens are needed to serve soup and set up/clean up the dining area. Sign up HERE. ​

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Drop-Off and Pick-Up Policy

​All Middle School students must be walked directly to their classroom and picked up directly at their classroom by a parent or designated adult.  Please review the complete Drop-Off and Pick-Up Policy. Thank you for your consistent cooperation.

​​Attendance Policy

Students may miss a maximum of 4 non-consecutive classes each year. Missing more than 4 classes may result in a delay in receiving the sacrament of Confirmation. Please review the complete Attendance Policy. NOTE:

• Students may not make up a missed class by attending a class at a different session.
• Any make-up work potentially provided by the catechist does not make up for the absence.

​​​Class Calendar Reminder

Thursday, February 8: 
In accordance with the original MSHS Calendar, the following classes DO NOT MEET:

• First Year Middle School, First Year High School, Second Year High School.

As a make-up class for the cancellation due to the West Potomac HS Curriculum Night in January, the following classes WILL MEET:

• 5:00pm: 2nd Year Middle School (meets in Creedon Hall with lead catechist Mrs. Dobson and small group leaders: Mrs. Powell, Mrs. Bryant, Mrs. Todd, Angel, Cibely, and Estrella).
• 7:15pm: 2nd Year Middle School (meets in Creedon Hall with lead catechist Mr. Lynch and small group leaders: Ms. Yesenia, Gabriela, Jasmin, Cynthia, Kathryn).

Sunday, February 18: No class meetings (President's Day Weekend)

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FIRST YEAR STUDENTS
​Middle School Bash! 
Saturday, April 21, 3:30 - 9:00pm
Bishop O'Connell High School 
All First Year Middle School students are expected to attend. Transportation from Good Shepherd provided. Cost and and additional details TBD. 

• We will need Safe Environment compliant parent volunteers to chaperone. Contact Rosie  to volunteer.

Service to Parish Project
First Year students complete a service project of a minimum of 6 hours of service at Good Shepherd, or with a Good Shepherd ministry,

• The project assignment is available HERE
• Visit the Teen Volunteer Opportunities Page for ways to serve.

SECOND YEAR STUDENTS
​​High School Confirmation Retreat
Saturday, March 10, 12:30 - 7:30pm
at Good Shepherd
The retreat will be facilitated by Ingrid-Sanchez-Seymour, Youth Minister from Nativity Parish. 

• $20 due at retreat check-in
• ​Includes Vigil Mass
• Potluck with parents of retreatants from 6:30 - 7:30pm

​Middle School Confirmation Retreat
Saturday, March 17, 11am - 6pm at Good Shepherd
​The retreat will be facilitated by a team of 12 young adult missionaries from NET Ministries. (Check out their video to the right).
We'll be asking MSHS families to house and feed 2+ team members during their stay. This is a wonderful opportunity for your teens to have closer contact with young adults who are passionate about our Catholic faith. Stay tuned for details, but in the meantime please prayerfully consider whether you can welcome any of these wonderful young adults into your home for one or two nights. ​

• $20 due at retreat check-in
• Includes Vigil Mass​​

​​Calendar of Required Events for Confirmation
Please see the complete Calendar of required Confirmation events and paper work deadlines HERE.

YOUTH MINISTRY EVENTS 
Visit the Youth Ministry Pages for details on upcoming events for Middle and High Schoolers!
​Contact Miguel, m.deangel@gs-cc.org