Student writes about what makes her educational experience
special
Dear Editor,
When the last week in January arrives, our school celebrates
Catholic Schools Week. Everyone looks forward to this time of the
month, because there are always exciting clothing themes, and
enjoyable activities to do.
Student writes about what makes her educational experience special
Dear Editor,
When the last week in January arrives, our school celebrates Catholic Schools Week. Everyone looks forward to this time of the month, because there are always exciting clothing themes, and enjoyable activities to do.
Catholic Schools Week is also a week full of meaning. The theme this year is “Lighting the Way”, and we show how we light the way with daily themes, such as lighting the way for our community, our parents, our parish, and our nation.
On Monday, we held a collection drive for the armory, and on Wednesday, we had a Peace Walk and wrote Valentine cards to the soldiers.
We also have a service project each year during the Lenten season, which will be coming up in February and March. This year, we are going to help a cause called Nothing But Nets. This organization buys nets for people in Africa. One of the leading causes of death in children there is malaria, and the nets help prevent mosquitoes from coming into their shelter.
By doing all these projects, the St. Mary Community helps to make the world a better place. If you want to help with our service project, you can go to nothingbutnets.net/.
During Catholic Schools Week, many people ask the students what they like about St. Mary’s School. My favorite part about attending a Catholic school is that I am able to enrich my faith as a Catholic, and I learn things about my faith that I can teach other people. The most important lesson that I have learned about my religion is to live out the word, because this is the real way to follow in the footsteps and callings of Catholicism, and it teaches people the values of life. I am thankful for the opportunity to be a student here, and I would like to thank all the parents of St. Mary students for making the choice of sending their child to a Catholic School, and also the community of Gilroy for supporting our school.
Rachael Gipson, Gilroy
Layoffs at South County Housing difficult but necessary for future
Dear Editor,
On Jan.16, an article was published in the Gilroy Dispatch, describing an 8 percent reduction in staff at South County Housing. The action was taken in response to the declining housing market and credit crisis that’s occurring throughout the country.
While this was a very difficult and painful experience, the decision was made only after comprehensive and painstaking analysis by the board and management team of the company, in order to ensure that South County Housing remains positioned to successfully pursue our mission of providing affordable housing and neighborhood services.
This is not a phased reduction in force and no further layoffs are planned.
Since our organization was founded in 1979, we have built more than 900 units of affordable housing in Gilroy alone. Our recent actions were taken to ensure that we can continue to provide the affordable housing that is so needed in this community.
We are grateful to the Gilroy community, as well as our current and former professional staff for their dedication and commitment to fulfilling the mission of our organization.
Dennis Lalor, CEO, South County Housing
