Immaculate Conception School 409 Palmer Rd.

Columbia, Illinois 62236 Michael L. Kish, Principal

(618) 281-5353 mkish@icsmail.org Tammy Hoeflinger, School Board President

Celebrating 167 years of Mission, Community, Service. The mission of Immaculate Conception School is to provide experiences to inspire, challenge, and nurture

the mind, body, and spirit of our students within the framework of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the tradition of the Catholic Church.

March 12, 2021 Bienvenido el parochia! V. 46 #30

8 Beatitudes--ICTHUS 175 years strong USCCB Pastoral

Dear Parents, Guardians, and Friends, Principal Search:

Process for Selection of ICS New Principal (Process = Product)

I. Search Committee Members

Fr. Carl Scherrer (Pastor) Fr. Nick Fleming (Associate Pastor)

Tammy Hoeflinger (School Board Pres.) Chris Schorb (School Board)

Jason Moore (School Board) Teresa Dorshorst (Pastoral Council Chair)

Cyra Herrmann (ICS Faculty) Karen Weiler (ICS Faculty)

Lizanne Young (Director of Faith Formation) Bev Epplin (ICS School Secretary)

Keith Huels (Parish Business Manager) *Mike Kish (ex-officio for Phase II & III only)

II. Post Opening with Job Description/Qualifications with Input from Diocesan Faith

Formation Office (Mike Kish & Committee)

III. Review Applicants & Resumes, Compose Interview Questions & Select Those to be

Interviewed (Mike & Committee)

IV. Conduct Interviews/Check References/Background Checks (Committee only)

V. Determine 2 or 3 Finalists (Committee only)

VI. Second Interviews & Final Selection (Committee & Entire Board)

VII. Finalist interviews with Diocesan Office of Education, Jonathan Birdsong

VIII. Announce & Introduce New Principal to Parish, School & Community

Colleagues and Friends, Please post and help us spread the word about a unique opportunity to lead one of the best schools in the country. We trust the Holy Spirit will sit with us on the selection bench and Mission...Community...Service will continue for generations to come in even better ways!

Principal opening:

Immaculate Conception School, in Columbia, Illinois, provides a Catholic and

academically rigorous education to parish families of Immaculate Conception, Sacred

Heart of Jesus parish in Dupo, Illinois and other families who desire such an education.

Steeped in Mission---Community---Service, the spiritual, mental, physical, and social

development of each child is the core of Immaculate Conception School. The school

encourages students towards a deeper understanding of Church tenets, the Gospels

and social justice, and their relationship with God, nature, and all humanity while

becoming lifelong learners who own their education.

Immaculate Conception School is seeking qualified candidates for the position of

elementary school principal. ICS serves 394 students and their families in pre-school

through 8th grade by providing an internship in the faith.

The position is available July 1, 2021.

The principal is responsible for the overall operation and management of the school with

focus on spiritual and curriculum development. The principal must be a dedicated,

visionary leader who can unite faculty, staff, school and parish communities in

collaborating for the greater good of the Catholic Church; create an environment that

promotes the Catholic faith and moral teachings; develop strategic initiatives to promote

growth; manage the stewardship of the school; and cultivate the spiritual and

professional growth of the faculty and staff.

Applicants should hold a Master’s Degree in Education with Illinois Licensure,

experience in classroom teaching and administration; management and budgetary

experience; and passion for Catholic education. Applicant is required to be a faithful,

committed Catholic who understands and accepts the teachings and disciplines of the

Catholic Church.

To apply: submit a cover letter, resumé, transcripts, three current letters of

recommendation, proof of Illinois Professional Educator’s License with General

Administrative Endorsement, to Fr. Carl Scherrer, Immaculate Conception Parish, 411

Palmer Road, Columbia, IL 62236 or email to frcarl@iccmail.org.

Applications will be accepted through April 15, 2021.

REGISTRATION for new students for 2021-2022 will be on-line next weekend. A

YouTube Nickle Tour and all the forms you ever wanted to fill out will be on our school

website at www.icscolumbia.org via Option C. We have had many inquiries. This past

summer was the first time we ever had to turn applicants away due to safe distance.

Our prayer is that we can accommodate everyone who wants a Catholic education.

Covid update: 9 on remote, 0 on quarantine! Please continue to follow all protocols.

They are working! Vigilance please. Selfish capitalism says you pay a price now for a

much larger benefit later. Follow the rules! We cannot let our guard down. Remember

the Hare and the Toad!

PARENTS AND FRIENDS The balance of the $500,000 pledge($25,000) was paid off to our Catholic Education and Activity Center! Parents and Friends will put up a $10,000 challenge match for GiveStL on May 6. We also have a $3,000 challenge match. Our target will be Arts and Science with technology and finishing off the stage wiring and lighting as targets. Donna Frederick is chairing for us. We are seeking a VP and Secretary for the coming year. Contact Kim Siegel please. ---Thursday, May 6th: Give STL Day ---The Spring Fair & 5K Run is May 7. Jen LoPorto & Pricilla Wilkerson are chairing. Please check out our Spring Spirit Wear 2021 store! Some exciting new items! Get

your orders in! Show your school pride outside. (These are not in-house uniform items.

Bling for outside!) Thank you for your continued support! Thanks to Laura Oberkfell!

https://icss2021.wswebstore.com/store

CONGRATULATIONS TO ELOISE VOELKER(dad Nathan and mom Tiffany) on being

a big sister. Elizabeth Pearl was born on 3/8/21. I told Eloise she gets to learn how to

change diapers! You know the grin I got!

CONGRATULATIONS SPRING YOUNG

AUTHORS: Proud of you!

Winners:

K: Sylvia Doerr and Freddy Doerr

1: Luke Thieret and Nathan Georger

2: Lev Neace and Vivienne Goldschmidt

3: AJ Heinen and Audrey Schilling

4: Wiley Sasser and Megan Hornacek

5: Addison Koppeis and Lily Neace

6: Jack Siegel

7: Adrian DeClue and Hope Schwartz

8: Owen Dill and Ava Hrdlicka

Runners-Up:

K: Ruth Dohle, Declan Heinen, James Heutel, and Katelyn Klunk

1: Kathryn Hoeflinger, Sumner Mestdagh, Harper Gilbreth, and Piper Schuette

2: Eleanor Rinella, Peyton Weiler, Knox Kennedy, and Isaiah Smith

3: Emmalyn Sander, Joey Stuart, Sienna Gianino, and Cole Lewandowski

4: Morgan Conrad, Brynn Moore, Emelia Doerr, Nathan Gregozeski

5: Julia Drury, Isabel Roche, Sam Bollone, and Nicholas Holdener

6: Easton Dill and Shawn Michael Stuart

7: Charlie Hake, Elliot Unwin, Avery Herrmann, and Karina Jerkatis

8: Claire Barbour, Lauren Thorne, Kate Adams, and Ava Langhans

Terrific Kids – March 2021

Mrs. Diewald: Carmen Meyer is a Terrific Kid. Carmen is always prepared for class and never hesitates to participate. She is a great friend to her classmates. When someone needs a helping hand you can guarantee Carmen will be there to help. Carmen is a great all-around student. Keep up the good work!

Mrs. Meyer: Sydney House is a Terrific Kid because she is a great role model for her classmates! She participates well during class lessons and always does her best when completing assignments.

Ms. Wright: Stella Hart - Stella is a hard worker and rule follower, she’s always looking out for others best interests. She’s very self aware and is consistent in putting forth her best efforts in the classroom. She shows she’s working hard by staying on task and participating in class discussions. I’m proud to have such a dependable student and a caring friend to others such as Stella in my class! Keep setting good examples and leading in the footsteps of Jesus, Stella!

Ms. Kennedy: Jackson Pechacek is a Terrific Kid! He has been working really hard in class and shown improvement in controlling his voice. I am proud of how he has learned to walk away from conflicts instead of making them worse. Keep up the great work Jackson!

Mrs. Donjon: Wiley Sasser - Wiley adds terrific insight on so many topics in the classroom. He watches out for the well-being of his classmates - making sure everyone is respectful and being treated fairly. We are so glad that he is in the classroom with us. He is working hard at being his best self.

Mrs. Ettling: Maxine Conner - Maxine is a Terrific Kid because she comes to school each day with a positive attitude. No matter what challenge she is faced with, she doesn’t let anything get in her way of trying her best and accomplishing a task or assignment.

Mrs. Schauster: Maria Hake is a Terrific Kid. Maria has made such progress this year. She is determined and never gives up. Maria has a playful spirit and the gift of imagination. She includes everyone in her fun.

Ms. Dillon: Sophie Conrad is a Terrific Kid! Sophie always tries her best on all of her

schoolwork. She is a great friend to all in our classroom! In addition, she is also a great

helper and a great team player. Keep up the good work Sophie!

From Dan Nickerson, Principal of Sr. Thea Bowman School: AUCTION WELCOME

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJyQxUpaSx0

Sr. Thea Bowman Catholic School Virtual Auction March 10-13. The Mega Raffle

for $10,000---Tickets: $100 Buy 1, Get 1 / Buy 2, Get 3 / Buy 3, Get 5

email Karen Waide at kwaide@srthea.org

SPRING PICTURES Keeven Photography will be taking Spring pictures on Monday

March 22, 24 and 25, 2021 There will be no sibling family pictures taken this year. As

in the past, all students will be photographed individually and their pictures will be

uploaded to www.keevenevents.com for viewing and purchasing. The password will be:

spring . Dress up only on the day of your cohort pictures.

Schedule for your child’s home room day.

Mon. March 22: Borgmeyer, Neff, Donjon, Diewald, Meyer, Wright, Kennedy

Wed. 24th : Velnosky, Ettling, Dillion, Schauster, Walker, Scheibe, Taylor, Kassebaum

Thursday 25th : Whitworth, Helfrich, Herrmann, Murphy, Weiler, Tolan

STATIONS OF THE CROSS FOR LENT. Stations will be at 2:15 pm SHARP. It will be live streamed to watch in the classroom. 7:00 in the evening too. Friday 3/12 - 8th & 6th grade Friday 3/19 evening only, early release day Friday 3/26 - 8th & 7th grade (Living stations by the 8th grade) IT'S MUSICAL-IN-A-WEEK REGISTRATION TIME! MaryBeth Babcock is looking forward to

bringing The Actors' Attic Musical-in-a-Week Camps to the IC Activity Center! The fun begins

June 11-18 with Frog & Toad KIDS for those going into Gr. 1-4. Middle school camp for Gr. 5-8

features Mathilda Jr., June 18-25. High school campers (Gr. 9-13) will put on Willy Wonka

Jr. June 25-July 2. Thanks to ICS for letting us "take the stage" this summer!

Click here for all the details.

Contact MaryBeth with questions at actorsattic@gmail.com or 618-719-1264.

March

3/14 Confirmation Retreat with OddWalk Ministries---their Psalm 103 Bless the Lord My

Soul is one of my favorites.

3/17 St. Patrick’s Day---wear Green in honor of this missionary and make a

donation to St. Raymond’s---Everybody is Irish on St. Patrick’s Day!

3/17 Reconciliation at 1:00 and 1:45

3/19 Feast of St. Joseph---Early Release at 11:30

3/21 Registration begins on-line

3/26 Living Stations

3/28 Palm Sunday

3/31 Holy Week---Easter break begins

4/1 Holy Thursday 4/2 Good Friday 4/3 Easter Vigil 4/4 Easter Sunday

4/5 Easter Monday for rest

LUNCH COUNT hit a record high today of 358! That is 95.7 % of those who would be here for lunch! Must be Pizza Day from Pizza Hut!

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, JR. (GRADES 4-8):

The Musical dates are May 13-14-15 (no Sunday Matinee) NEW CULVERT FOR PALMER CREEK--- Careful! It’s coming! Soon!

THE SPORTING NEWS… Zac Epplin Golf Tournament: SOLD OUT. But you can still help us

by being a sponsor or come for dinner. See the link below.

Please join us for a day of fun, friends, and fellowship and as we celebrate and

remember Zac Epplin. As Zac inspired everyone around him we hope this event

inspires you to help us build and name the Zac Epplin Soccer and Athletic Fields at

Immaculate Conception School. We greatly appreciate your continued support of this

wonderful event. https://icsfathers.square.site/

KC FREE THROW CONTEST We will try to hold this in-house during split screen in the next few weeks. Days to support DC funding.

4/9 Hat day to promote “Thinking cap” & Father Carl’s favorite homily aid 5/7 Hawaiian Day to promote Goodwill, proceeds going to 8th grade DC Trip.

Fr. Nick gave a great homily on the rules this week. Best analogy is a picture frame.

A painting starts with a frame to contain the beauty. Expression. Beauty. Or else it

spills over. But if obsessed with rules you only see the frame. We make rules about the

things we love. The rules set us free. Jesus took Ten Commandments and simplified

them to TWO Commandments. Age quod agis---Latin for ‘Do what you are doing’.

Have passion. Follow the rules. In Church. Out of Church. Break the rules and you

are less. Saints weren’t bored. Ones who had the most fun followed the rules. Rules

give us meaning and purpose. God did not put us on earth to be miserable. The rules

set us free!

THANK YOU to the Dorothy Weinel Eppinger Foundation for $1,000 towards our

Fall Arts Festival. Dorothy’s good work continues on and we are grateful! Arts

integration has done more to advance the growth of our students than any other subject

matter except Religion!

175th Anniversary Artifacts of the Week:

The balsa wood carvings that graced our Church on Main Street would be considered

folk art to many but they were an inspiration to us. In 1976-1977 Fr. Augusto Ferreira of

Sao Paulo, Brazil, attended St. Louis University. He served our parish as a free agent

in residence during those years and lived in our rectory. He carved a Pentecost(upper

left), Last Supper(upper right), the Seven Sacraments, a Blessed Mother, and St.

Joseph for us. He also carved a Last Supper for King’s House in Belleville which we

reacquired after a change in directorship there. My Dad bought the wood at Liese

Lumber in Belleville. The carvings were done in the rectory basement. I was lucky

enough to visit the barefoot soccer playing, left handed guitar player while he was

creating. A few pencil marks on the boards that were glued together and he “let the

people out”! The gold leafing came from a 4” by 4“ box. He would pound it on to his

work with a wooden hammer, brush off the tailings and pound them into another leaf,

and then seal it down. We paid him $2500 for all of his creations---a real steal! We

brought them all along after selling the Church and the beauty remains!

A GREAT WAY TO STUDY THE PRESIDENTS---BE ONE!

From NPR via former ICS Spanish Teacher Adriana Colindres:

Adriana Colindres caught Jon Batiste on NPR yesterday. Intriguing. A history of music

and reaffirmation of our humanity. The Black National Anthem “Lift Every Voice” is also

featured. But listen closely to our National Anthem played with “Lift Every Voice” at the

same time. A melody in 3 and a melody in 4. Appropriate dissonance. Jon Batiste

plays an inclusive version the National Anthem in six different musical styles:

1. Classical and jazz – Duke Ellington 2. Contemporary gospel 3. Celestial 4. Jimi Hendrix – creative distortion 5. Southern church – Sunday morning 6. Scott Joplin – jubilation

https://www.npr.org/programs/fresh-air/2021/03/11/975655029/fresh-air-for-

march-11-2021-jon-batiste

GIBAULT CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL NEWS

2021 Art Awards Celebrating our talented artists with our 2021 Art Awards! Drawing 1: 1st - Kyra Newton (Immaculate Conception Parish) Advanced Drawing: 1st- Sydney Wahle (Immaculate Conception Parish), 3rd- Jacob Whitworth (Immaculate Conception Parish) Canvas Painting: 4th-Jacob Whitworth (Immaculate Conception Parish) Ceramics 1: 3rd -Maria Biske (Immaculate Conception Parish)

SUMMER GOLF CLASSIC Save the date for the 2021 Gibault Summer Classic on

Friday, June 11, at Annbriar Golf Course. We missed seeing you last year and hope

you will join us for this year’s event!

Live-Streamed Sports Join the Hawks’ virtual fan

club! Visit http://bit.ly/GCHSYouTube for live game feed and videos of past live-

streams. Keep checking our website for updated

schedules: https://gibaulthawks.com/events/category/sports/.

Applications Applications for our Class of 2025 and transfer students are still being

accepted. Visit https://gibaulthawks.com/apply/.

Registration for the Class of 2025 is scheduled for Monday, March 22, and

Wednesday, March 24, from 5 p.m.- 8 p.m. in the Gibault cafeteria. Sign up for your

appointment at http://bit.ly/GCHSRegistration.

GRADS IN THE NEWS… Optimist Award Winners Congratulations to the Gibault

Catholic High School Optimist Award recipients! Each year, the Waterloo Optimist Club

honors youth from the community on the basis of good moral character and involvement

in school and civic activities. ICS Grads Allison Stark and Emma Schmidt were

honored!

FEAST OF ST. JOSEPH, MARCH 19: While Fridays in Lent normally are a day of abstinence from meat for Catholics, canon law provides an exception for solemnities that fall on a Friday. The Solemnity of St. Joseph (March 19) will be on a Friday this year; therefore, Catholics are not obligated to maintain the usual Lenten abstinence on Friday, March 19, 2021.

Please remember Angela Roepke, Ms. Taylor’s Grandmother, in your prayers. She is

in the hospital.

Mrs. Savahna Scheibe’s Uncle Gene Bickl has found out he has stage 2 prostate cancer. They think they should be able to remove it all, but won’t know till the surgery. Prayers please!

Fr. Dale Maxfield will be having very serious surgery today. Emma Blaskiewicz is suffering again from a vascular problem in her leg. This mystery has been plaguing her for a while now and she needs some relief. Please pray hard for her so they can figure out what is causing this condition. Thanks!

PRAYERS: Special Intention Emma Blaskiewicz, Fr. Dale Maxfield, Angela Roepke, Gene Bickl, John Stonis, Gladys Williamson, John Stoffel, Randy Royer, Dan Schneider, Kathy Neal, Ruth Ann Mitchell, Grace Bartz, Donna Hoggard, Steve Patton,

Elaine Schorb, Fr. Gary Gummersheimer, Harley Greer, Pat Whelan, Pete Riederer, Velma Taylor, Steve Killy, Joan Prigge, Joanna Prigge Ellner, George Perry, Gladys Williamson, Danielle Dorlac, Arlin Stechmesser, Karen Hornacek, Seth Watters, Glyn Raeber, Mike Drone, Geraldine McCoy, Logan Eichenseer, Ed Schaefer, Libby LoPorto, Donna Kania, Owen Jordan, Anthony Hendricks, Shawn Eichoff, Charlie Stockes, Jan Hoffmann, Bill West, Jennifer Nesser, Tom Kish, Patti Rottler, Mike Taylor

The signs are up for local elections!

A prayer for our local leaders

Jesus, you were born in a little town. You grew up under the authority of local leaders and officials who managed the majority of your daily life. We lift up our local leaders today. We pray for our mayors, city councils, county commissioners, police chiefs, judges, and all who serve our local communities. Strengthen them with wisdom and grace for the heavy burdens they carry. May they manage their teams and projects with love. Keep their hearts pure and their eyes turned toward your face as they work in the best interests of the people they are called to serve. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

THE YEAR OF ST. JOSEPH Here is the link for the St. Joseph in Art presentation done by

Monsignor John T. Myler, Rector of the Cathedral of St. Peter in the Diocese of

Belleville https://youtu.be/ArcGdYDKQg8.

FOURTH SUNDAY IN LENT Awake O Sleeper, Arise from the dead, and Christ will

give you light! David, the ruddy one, gets anointed this week, Paul encourages us to

live as children of the light, and we have the issue of blindness debated in John’s

Gospel. Whose fault is the blindness? Sometimes, spiritual blindness is our fault. We

create our own god, and keep praying that “my will be done” instead of “thy will be

done”. Admitting you are blind reminds me of my cognitive incompetence. Sometimes

it is good to know that you don’t know, otherwise your opinionated arrogance makes

you really blind to the world around you. Keep an open mind. Cut people some slack.

Be children of the light. Come and hear Fr. Carl and Fr. Nick break open the Word this

weekend!

Mike Kish

Principal PS KC fish fry TODAY March 12 and April 2---Two fish frys left Come see the new and improved traffic plan----the Knights can give “In and Out Burger” a run for their money! Click here for menu and dates PS HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARCHERS! March 8 Mrs. Fetcho 3-9 Kim Diesel3-12 Sarah Diewald, Dan Kassebaum 3-14 Sheryl Oglesby 3-23 Ashley Wright 3-25 Shari Murphy March 28 Audrey Sullivan

PS Regrets. “I have a few. But then again, too few to mention.” “And there ain’t nothin’ I can do about it now.” (Old Blue Eyes and Willie) I wish I had named my weekly letter home “KISHSPEAK” or something clever like Fr. Carl’s”Little Reservoir”. Or had a parent contest for a name like “Read At Your Own Risk or “Get Out Your Calendar” or “Are You Kidding Me?”. The “letter home” is drab. “At Your Service” was taken by Jack Buck and KMOX.

A scientific work of art by Kaitlyn Smith and Mariska Lyle!