Giving Thanks

We find ourselves at Thanksgiving, a wonderful holiday that celebrates all we have to be thankful for in our lives. It is a sign of our overcrowded lifestyle that we set aside one day for this and inadvertently overlook the thankfulness we should be expressing on a regular basis throughout the year. So while you gather around the table and consciously think of what you are thankful for, make a point to commit yourself to being more aware of those things throughout the year. And make a commitment to express your gratitude more consistently. I have to restate that commitment every year for myself, because I do drift away from being consciously thankful. And I do have so much to be thankful for...wonderful family and friends, a vibrant parish that is so fulfilling, a growing relationship with Jesus, a job at a wonderful school, and a great many good 'things' in my life. And here I am just listing in general terms. However, in simple terms, give thanks this week and always. The gifts you have should be shared with others by the way you live, the way you speak to others, how you serve, and how you make others' lives better.

US I: our group presentations begin this week on U.S. Government and the Constitution. Please make sure your group has all parts of the project ready on time. Especially be proactive on your PowerPoint work and try a test run with me to make sure you can run it on the computer in our classroom.

You also have a research assignment individually on a Supreme Court case (and unique research for Betsy O'Brien, Nada Eldenhi, Chelsea Murphy, and Shannon Porter) and you need to have those assignments into me Tuesday as well (everyone but the aforementioned lawyers! they have until Dec. 2).

US II: urbanization and immigration...we will review on Monday, have a test on Tuesday and then right after the break, begin America's entry onto the World Stage. That's Chapter 11 for the US II sections and Chapter 20 for the Honors section. Please have that chapter work done by Dec. 2.

Prayer: we will keep the same prayer leaders for this week. Thank you for your thoughtful and faith filled leadership...Caitlin Doherty, Katie Kropas, Jenna Sinnott, Samantha Curley, and Kate Janis.