Bluejay Bulletin ST. CECILIA SCHOOL

Our MissioN:

Centered in Christ and rooted in historical Catholic tradition, St. Cecilia strives to form missionary disciples and foster academic excellence in a culture of family.

April 13, 2025

LOOKING AHEAD

April 14th

• 6th & 7th Beta Elections

April 15th

• 4th & 5th Beta Elections

April 16th

• Q4 Progress Report
• 8:30 am School Mass
• 2:45 pm Holy Thursday Dress Rehearsal

April 17th

• Holy Last Supper / Living Way of the Cross
• 11:30 am Early Dismissal

April 18th

• Good Friday - No School

Dear Bluejay Family,

As we enter into Holy Week—the most sacred time of our liturgical year—we are reminded of the beauty of sacrifice, renewal, and hope. These final days of Lent invite us to pause, reflect, and prepare our hearts for the joy of Easter. At St. Cecilia, we walk this journey together—rooted in faith and united in purpose.

This sacred season also marks the beginning of a new chapter in the life of our school: the start of construction to expand and improve our cafeteria space. At Wednesday’s Groundbreaking Ceremony, we celebrated this long-awaited milestone and the promise it holds for the future of our campus. And this is just the beginning—more exciting improvements are on the horizon for our Bluejays!

Our cafeteria, built in 1978 for 100 students, now serves up to 150 students at a time across four lunch periods, starting as early as 10:45. When this project is completed, we can look forward to seating for 248 students and two serving lines, offering more efficiency and choice for students. Students will also benefit from an improved queue with new hand wash stations. Additionally, we can expect improved air flow (no more window units!) and acoustics. Last, but not least, we will be improving our courtyard by relocating the grease trap, repaving, and installing brick archways along all 3 buildings.

On April 2, we held a pre-construction meeting with our contractor and subcontractors to review campus policies and procedures. I was highly impressed with ARL’s professionalism and their clear commitment to maintaining a safe, secure, and learning-focused environment throughout the project.

Of course, no progress is possible without a little change—and, at times, some discomfort. We know parents have questions, and we want to assure you that administration has been thoughtfully preparing for this transition, with input from faculty leadership. Safety, security, and student well-being are always at the forefront. Below, you’ll find a brief Q&A to address anticipated and frequently asked questions.

Thank you, as always, for your support, patience, and flexibility as we move through this exciting season of growth together. With thoughtful planning and a shared commitment to our mission, we’re ready to finish this school year strong—and set the stage for an even brighter future at St. Cecilia.

Grace & Peace,

Erin B. Henry

Principal

“He is not here; He has risen, just as He said.” – Matthew 28:6

2025 CAFETERIA CONSTRUCTION Q&A FOR PARENTS

1) Is the construction area secure?

Yes. Privacy fencing was installed during the demolition of the Jefferson House and music building to secure the construction area. Now that the playground has emergency exits, the wooden gates leading into the site will remain locked during the school day for added safety.

2) Where is the construction entrance?

To maintain campus operations with as little disruption as possible, the construction entrance is on the Jefferson Street side of campus. Our lot at 114 N. Jefferson will be the materials delivery and staging location, with worker parking across the street at 111 N. Jefferson.

3) When is construction starting?

To complete major improvements by August, demolition of the courtyard to prepare for grease trap relocation must begin over the Easter break. This timeline ensures that we are ready for a fresh start next school year. Additional fencing will be installed in this area to prevent student access for the remainder of the year.

4) Where will the picnic tables go?

Our picnic tables will be moved from the courtyard to the playground. Students will be able to enjoy them there. However, we will not offer outdoor dining due to supervision needs.

5) Where will the cafeteria be located during construction?

A deep clean of the gym kitchen is scheduled this week. The cafeteria will temporarily move to the gym during Easter break. Tables and food service operations will shift to this new location.

6) Will students still have access to hot lunch?

Yes! While early planning focused on limited bag lunch options, the extra time before the move has allowed us to prepare for better variety in service. Our Cafeteria Manager, Mrs. Dorothy Trahan, is working closely with the Director of Food & Nutrition Services to offer a variety of hot meals.

7) How will this affect P.E. classes?

With the gym now serving as our cafeteria, we’ve been working with Mrs. Capritto to make adjustments. Students will continue to have P.E. using outdoor spaces, a half-court gym setup, and the stage.

8) What about parent lunch visits?

Adjusting to new procedures takes time, focus, and consistency—especially for our students. To support a smooth transition, we are suspending parent lunch visits for the remainder of the school year. With the cafeteria moving to the gym and several new routines in place, limiting additional traffic and distractions is essential. This temporary change allows our staff to focus fully on student supervision, safety, and the day-to-day logistics of the new setup.

9) How long will these changes last?

We expect the temporary changes to remain in place through the summer. The goal is to complete the courtyard improvements by the start of school in August. Our anticipated completion date for the entire project is late Fall.

10) How will this affect end of year activities?

We will hold all our end of year activities (Pre-K and K Closing Ceremonies, 8th Grade Dance, Awards Ceremony, etc.) in our gym as we normally do. The layout may just look slightly different.

11) How will this affect summer activities?

Vacation Bible School and any camps or practices which need to take place in the gym will go on as planned. However, once school ends on May 23rd, it will be full steam ahead in our courtyard! This means that gym entry will be at the rear gate and car line will be reduced to one lane during the summer.

12) What about parking?

Parking will remain available during school events along the cemetery wall, at the One Heart Building behind Sacred Heart Church, and at the lot at 400 W Main Street (corner of N. Jefferson).

13) How can I stay informed?

These plans are, of course, subject to change. We will continue to provide updates through the Bluejay Bulletin and other school communications. If you have additional questions not addressed here, please reach out to Mrs. Henry directly via email (ehenry@scsbluejays.org).

ENVISION BROUSSARD - ROAD CLOSURE UPDATE

The city has shared that Main Street at S. Polk Street will be closed starting Tuesday, April 15. Contractors will be installing new drainage under the road as part of the Envision Broussard downtown redevelopment project. Please plan accordingly if this is part of your route to and from school.

Personnel Update

Our Facilities Manager, Mr. Tommy Dean, has made the decision to begin exploring other professional opportunities. After thoughtful discernment, Tommy feels called to pursue a role that aligns more closely with his passions and family needs.

EVENT PICS

SCS Mass

Mass is on Wednesday at 8:30 and will be hosted by Mrs. Williamson's 3rd grade class. Guests may join us for limited seating in church, in the Narthex or PLC, or online at shbroussard.org/live.

Mass Music

• Processional: “Graves Into Gardens”
• Offertory: “Worthy of It All”
• Communion: "What a Beautiful Name", "God So Loved"
• Recessional: St. Michael the Archangel prayer

holy thursday

We invite all parents and guests to our annual Last Supper, Washing of the Feet, and Way of the Cross. This is led by our 8th graders and is a beautiful experience for all. We ask that this not be seen as a "skip day" or a good day to miss. Our students work hard to prepare for this morning and it truly is powerful!

• Last Supper at 8:30 in the gym
• Short break to follow
• Living Way of the Cross at 9:30 in the gym

8th Grade Dress REhearsal

• Wednesday, dismissal-4:30 in the gym

Holy week

We would love for you to join us for our Holy Week services at Sacred Heart! Each day is a unique opportunity to journey through our Lord's Passion.

LENT

We are in the solemn season of Lent. This is a time of preparation and repentance, of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.

Story of Fr. Ryan

A new film titled “Love God’s Will” tells the inspiring story of Fr. Ryan Stawaisz, a young priest in Houston (with Lafayette ties) who touched the hearts of many and embraced God’s will after receiving a life-altering diagnosis which led to his death shortly into his priesthood.

It is playing at the Grand 16 April 25-30. Click HERE for details!

Progress reports

Grades 1-8 will be receiving progress reports on Wednesday, April 16 at 3:00pm-3:30pm. Please print what you may need for your records.

Finishing the year

With 4 weeks left after Easter, please reach out to your teachers if you have questions concerning your child grade or curriculum now. Contacting the teacher sooner, rather than waiting until the week of, sets everyone up for best success!

Summer AR Requirements

Summer AR requirements will be added to the Bluejay Bulletin upon return from Easter break. Please do not purchase any books yet, as some novels may be changing.

UNIFORMs

HIS HOUSE

STUDENT FEATHER OF THE WEEK

RESPECT OUR CAMPUS- Be good stewards by taking care of supplies and keeping our campus clean.

STUDENT FEATHER OF THE WEEK CHALLENGE

Make it a point to pick up at least 2 pieces of trash this week that you see on the ground and place it in a trash can.

St. Cecilia Fund

The St. Cecilia Fund is an annual fund and is open through the current fiscal year. If you have not had the opportunity to give for the 2024-2025 school year, it's not too late! Please consider an end of year gift to support our school.

2025-2026 Tuition Payment plans - finalization to begin soon

We will begin finalizing payment plans for the 25-26 school year on Monday, April 14th. Please note that once a payment plan is finalized, changes made to the plan will incur a $50 processing fee. Please log into family portal to view your plan information for the upcoming school year to ensure you have selected the correct payment plan for 25-26. Please do NOT add another payment plan to your FACTS account without communicating with Marsha Granger (mgranger@scsbluejays.org or call 337-837-1864, ext. 222) as this could result in two payment plans being finalizing for your child(ren) next year.

Dear Bluejay Family,

Our Bluejay track, tennis and swimming teams were competing this week. The week started off with the kids taking their final team pictures. While quite an undertaking with 18 teams, the afternoon went very smoothly. This is attributed to the cooperation of the kids, parents, and coaches. Our swimming Bluejays hit the pool on Wednesday, and our track team co-hosted the meet at Breaux Bridge High. The rosters are almost done for the championship track and tennis teams.

• The SCS swimming team's results are below.
• Piper Scott
• 1st place 7/8 100 IM
• 1st place 7/8 50 fly
• Addison Dugas
• 1st place 7/8 100 free
• 1st place 7/8 50 breast
• Harper Montz
• 5th place 7/8 50 free
• 6th place 7/8 50 back
• Haiden Boudreaux
• 2nd place 5/6 100 free
• 3rd place 5/6 50 back

I know this is early to be thinking about football for next year, but the opportunity to participate in Coach Chris Klock's Football Camp is available to our rising 5th through 8th graders. It will be held at STM on June 25th, 26th, and 27th. I have attached the link for the jotform below for you to register and for more information. Thanks so much for your support of SCS Football.

St. Cecilia prides itself in having strong athletic teams year in and year out. Our achievements are rooted in hard work, dedication by our athletes and coaching staff, and fantastic parental support. St. Cecilia Athletics is excited to announce that this summer, all of our athletes, (MALE AND FEMALE ENTERING INTO 5TH THROUGH 8TH GRADE) will have the opportunity to participate in Coach David LeBlanc’s Speed, Power, and Agility camp at St. Thomas More High School. Because the Bluejays are a major feeder to STM athletics, Coach LeBlanc has reserved a spot for all St. Cecilia athletes. While not mandatory, it is highly recommended.

ABOUT THE TRAINING PROGRAM: David LeBlanc is a nationally certified strength and conditioning specialist by the National Strength and Conditioning Association (CSCS; NSCA). He is an attendee and invited guest speaker at annual National Strength and Conditioning conferences throughout the country. David has over 20 years of personal training experience. He is head of the strength and conditioning program at STM, the most successful sports program in the state of Louisiana, Kinesiology and Exercise Science instructor, and Recreational Fitness instructor. Former and current clients include Javon Walker and Luke Lawton of the NFL, current Division 1 collegiate athletes, and many others desiring personal and recreational fitness results. For 24 years, David has been making the best athletes in Acadiana better! Our athletes’ performance is our number one goal. We use cutting edge training modalities and equipment to ensure our athletes are functioning at their athletic potential. Speed, power, agility, and injury resistance is our ultimate goal. We believe variety in training is crucial to constant improvement; therefore, you will NEVER repeat a workout during your time with us. Athletes will also receive counseling on diet and nutrition in order to help achieve their goals.

There are numerous other options in the area to try to meet your training needs; however, none of them have the experience, expertise or facilities we offer. For over 20 years we have trained the best athletes in Acadiana. Our facilities offer a brand new state of the art 6000 sq ft weight room, all weather turf track, a 120 yard all weather turf field, a large stadium for plyometrics and endurance training, and 2 full sized basketball gyms. No other facilities offer the space, variety, or equipment of the St. Thomas More Strength and Conditioning department. For those athletes who will eventually attend STM, it is a great opportunity to get noticed by their future coaches and learn our program before even stepping on campus!!

REGISTRATION PAYMENT AND MORE INFORMATION IS NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE AT: WWW.ATHLETICADVANCEMENTS.COM. Pease don’t hesitate to text or call Coach LeBlanc with ANY questions or concerns (337) 230-3349.

Schedules are available on our athletics page, where you can find all the information you need for Bluejay sports. Our 7/8th Grade Football Team’s championship gear is available to purchase. Our 5th Grade Girls Basketball Team's championship gear is now available for purchase. Softball championship gear is in production.

Have a blessed day,

Scott Boudreaux

Athletic Director

sboudreaux@scsbluejays.org