Saint Charles Borromeo Catholic School is a faith community committed to sharing the responsibility of life long faith formation and preparing students for the future with relevant and authentic experiences in a nurturing, Christian environment.
We Love Math with Mrs. Bentley!
By Michelle Salem
Mrs.Bentley, is our wonderful junior high math teacher! She's been working at Saint Charles for eight years. Mrs.Bentley teaches our seventh and eighth grade math and algebra classes. She teaches us what we need to know and she makes it fun with all kinds of math games.
She has two daughters, one a junior in high school, and one a junior in college. She spends lots of time with her family, enjoys watching her husband’s band perform, likes to hang out with her friends, and loves to bake!
Mrs. Bentley went to Saint Charles for elementary school and junior high! She played basketball and track at Padua High School. She then graduated from Bowling Green and Cleveland State. Mrs.Bentley always has been doing math-her first job was as a mortgage broker, helping people when they buy a house.
She loves the atmosphere at Saint Charles; the kids and community are so kind and supportive. Mrs. Bentley loves this school because of the students, teachers, staff, community, and spirit. She loves that every day here is different and new. She loves passing on knowledge, seeing things from kids’ perspectives, and facing the challenges of teaching a difficult concept or topic.
Mrs. Bentley is an important part of Saint Charles! If you see her in the hallway make sure you say hello!
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Ready to Rock!
By Michelle Salem
Ready to Rock is the brainchild of our Pastoral Minister Mr. Pelcin. Mr. Pelcin is an important part of our school family, helping us all to strengthen our faith and become closer to God. He was born and raised Catholic. He attended Saint Bridget Elementary School in Parma, and he graduated from Saint Ignatius High School. After that, Mr. Pelcin went to Loyola University in New Orleans. Graduate school took him to Saint Francis Xavier University in Bogata, Colombia, in South America. Did you know that for three years he lived in Peru, where he taught high school English and psychology? And that he is fluent in Spanish! Wow! We are very lucky that Mr. Pelcin’s journey has led him to our Saint Charles Parish community.
For many years, Saint Charles Borromeo has had a summer Bible camp for kids in grades one through five. Mr. Pelcin thought that grades six, seven and eight should have a Bible camp, too! After much thought and prayer, he created the spirit camp Ready to Rock. This year’s Ready to Rock 2.0 is a week-long day camp where students explore nature, learn about the sacraments, make meals together, perform service, and pray.
I have personally participated in the Ready to Rock 2021 camp and the Arctic Adventure at Stearns Homestead Farm on Ridge Road. We spent time at the farm this past February helping out with the daily chores, playing games, praying, focusing on our faith, and having fun. In the 2021 Ready to Rock last June we fed animals, had amazing breakfasts and snacks, played games, talked about our faith, and of course we got to hang out with friends.
Along with the founder Mr. Pelcin, we wouldn’t have Ready to Rock without the generous support of Father Carlin and Mrs. Updegrove, along with our amazing teachers, eighth grade students and recent St. Charles' graduates who happily serve as Ready to Rock leaders. Their hard work helped me enjoy all of the Ready to Rock retreats, and I’m planning on continuing being a part of them. I strongly recommend joining Ready to Rock 2.0 this June. It will help us grow together in life and with Jesus in faith. So if you plan on taking part in the next Ready to Rock adventure, I’ll see you there!
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Confirmation Saints: Joan of Arc
by Madelyn Hyland
The eighth grade celebrated the sacrament of confirmation earlier this month. We each chose a confirmation name of a saint with whom we identify. The saint I chose was Joan of Arc. Let me tell you why!
Joan of Arc is known for her bravery and courage for leading the French army to the Battle of Orleans in the Hundred Years’ War between France and Britain. Joan was born in 1412 to a peasant family. Her mother, Isabelle Romée, taught her about the Catholic Church. When she was thirteen, Joan began to hear divine voices and see visions of Saint Catherine and the archangel Saint Michael, who told her to help Charles VII become king. She soon believed that God had chosen her to lead France to victory in the ongoing war against Britain.
Joan took action by the age of sixteen. She traveled to distant Vaucouleurs, a city where there were many French allies. She told people that she had been sent by God, but most authorities rejected her claims. She was persistent, though, and soon gained a small following of members who did believe she was sent by God to save France.
After Joan told Charles that he would be crowned king, she was granted an army to take back to Orleans, a French city occupied by British forces. She had no military experience, but was able to win back Orleans. After this victory for the French, word spread throughout France about Joan. She became a high military leader, but was soon captured by the English and charged with seventy crimes, including witchcraft, hearing voices, and dressing in men’s clothing! On May 30, 1431, Joan was put to death by burning. She was nineteen years old.
Saint Joan of Arc was canonized in 1920 by Pope Benedict XV. She is the patron saint of soldiers and the country of France, where she is deeply loved. Her feast day is May 30th. I admire her strength and courage, and I am proud to have Joan of Arc as my confirmation name!
Source: "Joan Of Arc". HISTORY, 2009, https://www.history.com/topics/middle-ages/saint-joan-of-arc#:~:text=Born%20around%201412%2C%20Jeanne%20d,Catholic%20Church%20and%20its%20teachings
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