As previously announced, the Christmas in the City Concert will take place on December 15, 2003 at 7:00 p.m. at Edward W. Powers Auditorium. The concert, which will benefit all the Catholic elementary and high schools in the city, will feature the Youngstown Symphony Orchestra with The Joe Augustine Trio. In addition, forty of our students will be joining students from Ursuline High School to perform with the Symphony.

This promises to be a festive evening sure to put all in the Christmas spirit! Won't you join us? Tickets can be purchased through our school office (330-788-5007). The deadline for placing an ad in the program booklet is Friday, December 6 at 3:00 p.m.

SCRIP ORDERS
As you do your Christmas shopping, consider giving the gift cards that can be purchased through our Scrip program. Order forms can be obtained in our school office. Remember that the deadline to order from the special form you received in the mail (white form) is December 6 to ensure delivery before Christmas. You can order off of our regular form at any time!

CARDINAL MOONEY AUCTION

We are continuing to plan for the first Cardinal Mooney Auction. The event will be held on Friday, April 23, 2004 here at school. If you would like to help with this event, please contact Sister Jane Marie at 330-788-5007.

PARENT WORKSHOP

In the near future, all parents will be receiving information about a parent information meeting being sponsored by the "224 Connection" (Boardman, Canfield, and Poland Public and Parochial Schools and Mahoning County Career and Technical Center along with community police departments and local PTA's and PTO's). Representatives from the State of Ohio Attorney General's Office will speak on drug prevention and Internet safety. The program is intended for parents of all grade levels and will be held on Monday, January 26 from 6:00 to 9:30 p.m. at the Boardman High School Performing Arts Center. Mark your calendars now as this promises to be a valuable opportunity.

CHRISTMAS VACATION

As indicated on our school calendar, Christmas vacation will begin at the conclusion of regular classes on Friday, December 19. School will resume on Monday, January 5 at our regular starting time.

OFFICE HOURS DURING VACATION

For your convenience, the school office will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Monday, December 22, Tuesday, December 23, Monday, December 29, Tuesday, December 30, and Friday, January 2.

REPORT CARDS

Our second term ends on Friday, January 23, 2004. Report cards will be mailed for all students on January 30. Please note that all tuition must be current before a report card will be mailed.

THEOLOGY NEWS

. . . Vocation Panel

On Thursday, November 20 a panel of priests, sisters, and vowed religious spoke to students in our Theology classes. Members of the panel were:

Sister Samia Abou-Shakra, AS
Local Superior, Antonine Sisters

Bro.Thomas Aquinas Dolan, OP
Director of the Office of Foreign Missions

Sister Hasna Fenyanos, AS
Registered nurse within the Antonine Sisters community

Sister Agnes Knapik, OSB
Teacher, SS. Peter and Paul Byzantine School, Warren

Sr. Kathleen McCarragher, OSU
DRE - Immaculate Conception and Sacred Heart Parishes

Father Leo Wehrlin
Pastor, St. Ann Parish, Sebring
Director, Office of Vocations

Miss Wendy Wheeler
Novice, Oblate Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Sister Mary Ann Spangler, HM
Vocation Director, Humility of Mary

Father Martin Celuch
Associate Pastor, St. Nicholas Parish, Struthers

. . . Thanksgiving Morning Prayer

Our Thanksgiving liturgy was celebrated by Father Benson Claret Okpara from Holy Family Parish in Poland. During the liturgy we commissioned our Eucharistic Ministers, Ministers of the Word, and Music Ministers. A special blessing was given to our junior and senior drivers before they left to deliver the Thanksgiving food baskets.

. . . Advent in the Halls

"Prepare ye the way of the Lord . . ."As you look around the school you will see signs and symbols of the Advent Sea-son. The Jesse Tree and Advent wreaths figure prominently in our halls and religion classrooms. Daily we pray the rich prayers of this Holy Season.

. . . Sacrament of Reconciliation

On December 15 and 16 the Sacrament of Reconciliation will be celebrated. Each grade will gather for a prayer service and be invited to share in the healing power of Jesus Christ.

. . . Advent Prayer Service

On December 19 we will gather in prayer to celebrate the season of Advent. You are most welcome to join us. "Steadfast Lord, keep our eyes and ears open to your coming!"

CHRISTIAN SERVICE CLUB

. . . Thanksgiving Food Drive

This year's Thanksgiving Food Drive was a huge success. Not only did we provide Thanksgiving dinner for 20 area families, we were also able to supply turkeys and other food items to several community agencies.

On Tuesday, November 25, junior and senior Service Club members delivered boxes of groceries and turkeys to the Gleaner's Food Bank, Salvation Army, Daybreak Host House, and the St. Columba Cathedral Food Pantry, along with the baskets for our families including turkey, milk, apples, salad ingredients, potatoes, and pumpkin pie to the Catholic Charities on Rayen Avenue.

Many Service Club members stayed Monday, November 24 after school to sort and pack all the food items. A big "thank you" to all the members of the Mooney Family who in anyway contributed to this annual event.

. . . "Decking the Halls"

On Saturday, November 29, forty members of the Christian Service Club "decked the halls" and trimmed the trees at Beeghly Oaks Nursing Home. The students helped to make the holiday season more festive for the nursing home residents. The "elves" worked from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

. . . Socks for Samaritan House

The Mooney Family is collecting warm socks for the needy in our area. We are placing them in the boxes by the Sharing Tree in the main lobby. Our goal is at least one pair of children's socks. The deadline is December 16. Our Gospel challenge is to make a warmer Christmas for those in need. We are hoping to collect over a thousand pairs of socks this year.

. . . Presents for the Poor

As we approach the Season of Advent, the Mooney Family has dedicated themselves to praying for the poor and shar-ing our many blessings with those in need. From Catholic Community Services, we have taken 101 children to help during this holiday season. The enthusiasm for this project has been incredible. Every first period class has taken a family. EVERYONE in the school has rallied around this project in a true spirit of Christmas and Christian outreach. The deadline for gifts is December 16.

MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY

As noted in our school calendar, school will not be in session on January 19, 2004 in honor of Martin Luther King Day.

SCHOOL CLOSING BECAUSE OF WEATHER

If it becomes necessary to cancel school due to inclement weather, we will have the cancellation announced on the local radio and television stations. Whenever the announcement is made that all Youngstown Parochial Schools are closed, Car-dinal Mooney will not be in session. If circumstances warrant that our school should close even if the Youngstown schools remain open, the school will be announced by name as closed.

FALL SPORTS BANQUET

The Fall Sports' Banquet will be held on Wednesday, December 17 at 6:00 p.m. at Mr. Anthony's. Students who partici-pated in a fall sport have received specific information regarding the banquet.

ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME

On Sunday, February 15, 2004 Cardinal Mooney will hold its twelfth Ron Stoops Scholarship Athletic Hall of Fame dinner at Mr. Anthony's. Dinner and open bar are from 6:00-8:00 with the program to follow. Tickets are $60 per person or $480 for a table of 8. Tickets can be obtained by calling school (330-788-5007). Proceeds from this dinner go to the Ron Stoops Scholarship Fund.

OPEN HOUSE

Mark your calendars now and plan to join us on Sunday afternoon, February 1, 2004 for our annual Open House. Please invite anyone who may be considering Cardinal Mooney as a school for their sons or daughters to attend as well. The Home and School Association will be serving a Spaghetti Dinner in the school cafeteria that afternoon. More information will follow at a later date.

IMPORTANT REMINDER

Parents are reminded that it is important to call the school to notify us whenever a student will be late. Students who are late for school will be excused from detention only if a parent calls or writes a note within 24 hours excusing them.

ALUMNI PHON-A-THON

Special thanks to the Cardinal Mooney Alumni Association for another successful Alumni Phon-A-Thon. Nearly 150 alumni of Cardinal Mooney donated their time and talents from November 9 thru November 23 to solicit pledges to this year's effort. A record of $67,000 in pledges were recorded. Funds will be used to support Alumni Scholarships and to make financial aid grants. Additional revenue is used to underwrite the operation of the alumni office and to fund Alumni Association sponsored projects.

CHRISTMAS GIFT IDEA

Tired of giving ties and boxes of candy? Cardinal Mooney Lottery Calendars are still available. They make a perfect Christ-mas gift for that "hard to buy for" person on your Christmas list. You can give someone a gift that "keeps on giving" and as a bonus they receive over $150 in coupons values for area merchants. Lottery calendars can be picked up in Room 214 or ordered on the Internet at paul21045@hotmail.com.

LOTTERY RETURNS CONTINUE

While November 18 was the last day for students to qualify for sales prizes in this year's calendar lottery, students can still earn free day passes and bonus money. Students will be able to make returns to the Development Office (Room 214) through Christmas vacation. Students selling their quota receive a free day pass, good any day throughout the school year. After reaching their quota, a student earns a $10.00 bonus for the next sale and $5.00 for each additional sale.

CARDINAL'S NEST

The CMHS Cardinal's Nest offers a great selection of Cardinal Mooney items that are perfect as Christmas gifts for the Mooney student, alumni or friend. Remember that many items with a Mooney logo such as sweatshirts, fleece jackets, and golf shirts are acceptable for wear at school under our dress code.

Regular store hours are:

Tuesdays and Thursdays
7:30 a.m. and 2:45 p.m.

Fridays - 7:30 a.m.

The Nest will also be open during Parent-Teacher Conferences on December 10 between 3:15 and 6:15 p.m. and on Friday, December 12 from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m.

NOTES FROM THE MUSIC ROOM

The Ohio Music Educators Association District V Solo & Ensemble event will be held at Liberty Guy Middle School on January 31, 2004. All high school contestants must choose a song from the OMEA Solo/Ensemble List to be able to participate. Our copy of the list is in the library. Please see Mrs. Joan Ruffing for access. The fee for solos is $15.00 ($7.50 from the student, $7.50 from Music Boosters) while Ensembles are $12.00 paid by all members of the group. There are three classes to choose from: A, B, C. Class A is the most difficult. You will be judged and then rated I-V with I representing a superior rating and V representing a poor rating. Anyone who is interested should choose a song by December 19. All money is due to Mrs. April Wood by Wednesday, January 7, 2004. The last day to withdraw from the contest is January 20, 2004.

. . . Alumni

Any Band alumni who would like to receive the Music Department Newsletter should contact Mrs. April Wood with their addresses to keep up to date with concert information and find out information about students' music careers at Mooney. You are also invited to send stories to be published.

. . . Auxiliary

On February 5, 2004, there will be a mandatory Parent/Student Information Meeting for all students interested in flag or dance line and feature twirler positions for the 2004 line.

Audition Date
Tuesday, March 23
4:30 to 7:00 p.m.

Rehearsal Dates
Twirler
Friday, March 5
3:30 to 5:00 p.m.

Dance Line
Friday, March 12
3:30 to 5:00 p.m.
Friday, March 19
3:30 to 5:00 p.m.

Flag Line Rehearsals
TBA

Auxiliary members are also able to receive a band scholarship. The amounts are:
Auxiliary
1st year $250
2nd year $300
3rd year $350
4th year $400

Any interested grade 8-11 student should contact Mrs. Wood for more information.

. . . Band

Concert Band is starting soon. Any student who has not signed up for band class should see Mrs. Joanne Carney Smith to change their schedules and become part of this exciting team. All students already signed up should come to see Mrs. Wood for equipment information.

The time to think about the 2004 Cardinal Pride Band Marching Drum Line is now! Positions are available for students to join as part of the band class or during the mentoring period. Scholar-ships offered are as followed:

Band Class
1st year $250
2nd year $300
3rd year $350
4th year $400

Mentoring Period
1st year $125
2nd year $150
3rd year $175
4th year $200

. . . Choir

On December 11, 2003, the Department of Fine & Applied Arts presents the CMHS Choir performing with the St. Charles Choir and Chime Choir and a CMHS art show. Admission is free. The Christmas Chinese Auction will take place at this concert. Refreshments will also be available.

. . . Music Boosters

Choir parents are needed for the Christmas Concert preparation.

PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES

Parent-Teacher Conferences will again be held on Wednesday, December 10 from 3:15 to 6:15 p.m. All parents are invited to meet with the teachers in their respective classrooms. No appointments are necessary. If you are not able to come to school during these hours and need to meet with a teacher, please call the school and the teacher will contact you to set up an appointment.

PLACEMENT TEST

Any 8th grade student interested in attending Mooney for the 2004-2005 school year should register to take our high school placement test. The test will be given for a second time on Saturday, December 6 from 9:00 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. There is no charge for the test. Students are asked to bring two sharpened No. 2 pencils, a calculator, and their social security number. Please call the school office (330-788-5007) to register for the test.
BASKETBALL SEASON PASSES

This year we are again offering season passes to our home basketball games. The cost of the passes are:

Boys' Basketball $40
(10 home games)

Girls' Basketball $45
(11 home games)

Combined Boys' & Girls' $65

These passes can be purchased at the games or in the school office.

Boys' Basketball
Dec. 5 vs. Orange away
Dec. 9 vs. Chaney away
Dec. 12 vs. Struthers at Mooney
Dec. 16 vs. Fitch away
Dec. 19 vs. Girard at Mooney
Dec. 29 vs. Cleveland Benedictine at
Mooney
Dec. 30 vs. Wilson at Mooney
Jan. 6 vs. Campbell away
Jan. 9 vs. St. Thomas Aquinas at
Mooney
Jan. 16 vs. JFK away
Jan. 20 vs. Akron St. Vincent/St.
Mary away
Jan. 23 vs. Ursuline away
Jan. 27 vs. Akron Hoban at Mooney
Jan. 30 vs. Beaver Local at Mooney
Feb. 3 vs. Western Reserve
Academy away
Feb. 6 vs. Warren Harding away
Feb. 13 vs. Wilson away
Feb. 17 vs. Canfield at Mooney
Feb. 20 vs. Ursuline at Mooney
Feb. 27 vs. Warren Harding at
Mooney

Girls' Basketball
Dec. 1 vs. St. Thomas Aquinas at
Mooney
Dec. 6 vs. Walsh Jesuit at Mooney
Dec. 8 vs. Struthers at Mooney
Dec. 11 vs. Warren Harding away
Dec. 18 vs. Springfield at Mooney
Dec. 22 vs. Oak Glenn, W. VA at
Mooney
Dec. 27 vs. Boardman at Mooney
Jan. 3 vs. Akron St. Vincent (1:00-
2:30) at Mooney
Jan. 8 vs. East Liverpool away
Jan. 12 vs. New Castle, PA (6:30)
away
Jan. 15 vs. Wilson away
Jan. 17 vs. Ursuline at Mooney
Jan. 22 vs. Warren Harding at
Mooney
Jan. 26 vs. JFK (JV 5:00, V. 6:30)
away
Jan. 31 vs. Beaumont at Mooney
Feb. 4 vs. Ursuline away
Feb. 7 vs. Akron Central Hower
(1:00-2:30) away
Feb. 11 vs. Salem at Mooney
Feb. 14 vs. Jefferson away
Feb. 19 vs. Sharon Kennedy
Catholic away

CROSS COUNTRY

The Mooney Boys' Cross Country Team captured the Runner-up trophy at the State Meet on November 1 at Scioto Downs in Columbus. Sophomore Colin Durina earned All-State honors with senior Dan Finnerty, junior Noah Brak, and sophomores Brian Brenner and Durina receiving Academic All-Ohio certificates. Senior Ben Garchar, junior Brian Stevens, and sopho-more Sean Finnerty completed the outstanding team effort.

GIANT EAGLE

The holiday season always brings large grocery bills. If you shop at Giant Eagle, please take the time to register your Advantage Card so that our school may benefit from your holiday shopping.

This year's program has been simplified. Instead of collecting receipts, you simply donate your spending electronically through the Giant Eagle Advantage Card®.

How the New Program Works -It's Easy!

Please take the time to register your Giant Eagle Advantage Card by calling Giant Eagle at
1-800-474-4777 to register by phone. Give the twelve-digit number from the back of your Advantage card and our school number -- 0145. The campaign is for a longer period of time this year. It will last 20 weeks from November 2, 2003 to March 20, 2004.

SPARKLE CASH REGISTER TAPES

If you shop at Sparkle Markets during the busy holiday season, be sure to save your gold/yellow cash register tapes and send them into school. The tape program sponsored by our local Sparkle Markets started September 28 and will continue to February 14.

Remind your families, neighbors and friends to save their Sparkle Tapes for you and send them into the office or the Informa-tion Center. Help us to continue to update our audio-visual equipment as well as adding additional computers and software for student use.

GUIDANCE DEPARTMENT

. . . Testing Dates

ACT
February 7, 2004
Registration deadline
January 2, 2004
Late registration Jan.16, 2004

SAT I & II
January 24, 2004
Registration deadline
December 22, 2003
Late registration Dec. 31, 2003

. . . Scholarships

Bank of America Financial Aid Sweepstakes - apply at www.bankofamerica.com

National Italian American Foundation Scholarship - some requirements are a 3.25 GPA and one ancestor from Italy. This is an online application available in January.

Michelle Kwan R.E.W.A.R.D.S. Scholarship - requirements are: female student, 3.2 average, demonstrates both academic and athletic excellence through school teams, intramural activities, organized athletic clubs or their community-based sports organ-izations, leadership, community volunteerism, and continued involvement in athletics in college.

These scholarships and many, many more are available in the Guidance Office. Stop in to pick up more information and applications.

. . . Essay Contest

All Ink. Com Essay Contest - select one person in your life that has had the greatest impact; 200 words.

. . . Senior Parents

Please encourage your student to complete his/her section of the college application and return it to the Guidance Office five working days prior to the deadline. This allows us time to assemble the pertinent information, tran-scripts, and recommendations before mailing.

Don't forget -- we will be off the last two weeks of December. Any applications due the first week of January must be in by December 15th in order to assure a timely mailing.

The Guidance Office has given out two sets of scholarship information to students. They just need to review and check off the scholarships for which they qualify. They sign the form and return it to the Guidance Office. We assemble all the applications and return them to the students for completion. We felt this new procedure gave each senior student a better opportunity to peruse all avail-able scholarships that we were able to locate. We will continue this process as the scholarships become avail-able. The Guidance Office is attempting to enhance this program to assist both you the parents and your students locate available scholarships. We realize how difficult it is to assemble all of this informa-tion in a timely manner. We strongly encourage students to continue looking on the Internet for additional scholarships that may become available.

Is it worth the process of writing the extra essays and completing the paperwork involved in some of these scholarships? There is no guarantee of receiving scholar-ships, but if the student qualifies and there are no application fees involved, then we encourage them to try.

If you as a parent or a student have any further suggestions on ways to enhance this program please feel free to call us in the Guidance Office.

. . . Juniors

Spring of the junior year is an opportune time to take the ACT test. This allows the students to measure their success and rid themselves of test anxiety. The next test is being given in February with a sign up deadline in January. Students can stop in the Guidance Office for the application. We strongly urge you to start this process. With the college process becoming more competitive, testing early allows students more time to retest to increase their scores.

. . . Freshmen Parents

The Guidance Office is in the process of interviewing your student. This enables us to provide them information and to ensure their adjustment to the academic program at Cardinal Mooney. We encourage them to become actively in-volved in school activities, which may include a sport, and to also volunteer 25 hours a year. This involvement over the next four years in addition to maintaining a solid grade point average (GPA) will definitely enhance their ability to re-ceive scholarships and to enter the college of their choice. In addition, involvement in activ-ities and volunteerism pro-vides students the opportunity for new experiences and networking with people that may later assist them in determin-ing career choices.

We also share the message with the freshman student that the Guidance Office is a place for them to come if they need help with a class or a problem that they may be experiencing.

. . . Summer School for the Gifted

The Martin W. Essex School for the Gifted offers Ohio's top students a unique opportunity to broaden their vision of the future. Founded in 1976, this one-week residential program emphasizes leadership and social responsibility for stu-dents of exceptional abilities. The school will be held August 1-7, 2004 in Columbus at The Ohio State University. The activities for the week include classes, seminars, workshops, and independent studies in a variety of subjects. In addition, there are field trips, recreational activities, and opportunities to create and explore academic and artistic pur-suits at a level beyond the typical high school classroom. For further information and application procedures, contact the Guidance Office.

. . . NCAA Clearinghouse

Junior and senior athletes who are interested in playing sports in college at a Division I or Division II college or univer-sity must register with the NCAA Clearinghouse. The academic requirements set by this organization determine a student athlete's eligibility to play at any Division I or II college in the United States of America. Payment of a $30.00 fee must accompany the registration. Students should register on-line as follows:

1. www.ncaaclearinghouse.net
2. click on Prospective Student-
Athlete
3. click on Registered Student
Login
4. enter Social Security Number
and PIN number