The students, staff, parents, and stakeholders of Our Lady of Perpetual Help School OLPH Glendale continue to delightfully amaze me with their commitment and dedication to our school. The October Parish/ School Festival brought the community together. Our Lady Knights and Knights show amazing sportsmanship and exemplify the Student Learning Expectations: being responsible citizens and faithful Roman Catholics on the sports field and in the school. Our Christmas concert and dinner will be a treat to all on 12/14/2011.

Each morning in our daily school routine an assigned student gives a speech to the entire school body during the morning assembly. This exercise develops and increases our public speaking skills and another Student Learning Expectation of being an effective Communicator is exemplified. A speech I wish to share with you was presented on 12/05/2011 by Giovanni Treto from Fifth Grade:

The Twelve Days of Christmas

Did you ever wonder about the unusual presents? They were unusual because it was a secret code. Today in the United States we have religious freedom. It was not always this way.

Catholicism was banned in England in the 1500’s. English Jesuits composed the song “The Twelve Days of Christmas” as a secret way to help Catholics remember the basic tenets of the Faith:

• A partridge in a pear tree stands for Jesus on the Cross
• Two turtledoves represents the Old testament and the New testament
• Three French hens means the Holy Trinity; the three gifts of the Magi; and the three theological virtues
• Four calling birds mean the four gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
• Five gold rings means the Torah, the first five books of the Old Testament
• Six geese a laying means the six days of creation; and the six precepts of the church
• Seven swans a swimming means the seven sacraments.
• Eight maids a milking means the eight Beatitudes
• Nine ladies dancing means the nine choirs of angels
• Ten lords a leaping means the Ten Commandments
• Eleven pipers piping means the eleven faithful disciples
• Twelve drummers drumming mean the twelve points of belief in the Apostles’ Creed.

Through the years in many different countries it has not always been easy to be Catholic. We should be thankful for people who worked hard to preserve the faith for the future generations. Also we should be thankful for the religious freedom we enjoy in the United States of America.

You can support OLPH to provide affordable, accessible, and quality Catholic education to many more students and families by redirecting your tax credit through Catholic Education Arizona to OLPH Glendale or school number is 123. Thank you for your continued support.

Remain Blest,
Sr. Mary Doris Anne Okere, IHM