Spring Projects 2005

January
Tsunami Relief Drive Nets over $37, 600
Cistercian Community Service and the Committee Chairs of Prasanth Pattisapu '05 and Sam Bowler '06 wish to express a most profound thank you for all those who were able to contribute to the Tsunami Relief Drive. Students' collective efforts during the four days of Jan. 18-21 resulted in a combined total of over $18, 800!!! This money was in turn matched by Best Buy, Inc., allowing the school to provide $37,654.86 to the American Red Cross for tsunami relief. While participation was extremely strong in all the Forms, Form III and Form VI, having raised the most funds at almost $3,500 a piece, will each receive a congratulatory pizza party. Over and above the amounts collected, however, the sheer enthusiasm, concern, and solidarity with which both middle and upper school pulled together for the sake of those on the other side of the globe manifested clearly that all are winners. Thanks for the support!!

Austin Street Shelter - Over 37 Volunteer!!
In the largest Cistercian turn out ever, over 37 upper school students gave of their time and energy on Sat., Jan. 22, to help prepare several gallons of spicy taco salad and more than 1,300 sandwiches for Dallas area homeless. Students worked from 2:30 until 5:00 in the kitchen of St. Francis Episcopal Church off of Walnut Hill before going by caravan to distribute the food in the downtown shelter. On this particularly cold night, about 800 men, women and children were served, with Freshman Daniel Box offering the blessing for the meal. An unexpected adventure occurred on our way to the shelter, when our caravan of cars became separated from the one who actually knew the way. Special thanks to Dr. Pruit and Ms. Yung-Yu Wang for their assistance.

Buckner’s Shoes for Orphan Souls - 34 Help Sort Soles!!
Organized by the Junior Class Reps, 34 Upper School students came out from 10:00 to 5:00 to the Buckner Foundation Warehouse, 4520 S. Buckner Blvd. near I-30 in east Dallas, to help match, box, categorize and crate hundreds of shoes for orphaned children here and abroad. Cistercian was proud to assist Shoes for Orphan Souls, which has distributed more than 950,000 pairs of shoes to orphans in more than 30 countries since 1999. Recently, over 14,000 pairs of shoes were sent to the families of Kirkuk, Iraq. Certainly, the tsunami disaster has further increased the demand for these shoes.  For further information about the Buckner Foundation, contact their website at http://www.shoesfororphansouls.com/.

February
Used Winter Coat and Shoe Collection
From Jan. 31-Feb. 11, Cistercian Community Service collected about two car loads of used coats and shoes for the benefit of local families through the Christian Community  Action organization. 

Basketball/Soccer Canned Food Drive
At the Holland Hall home basketball and soccer games on Friday, Feb. 4, Community Service Representatives gathered donations of  about 200 can food, cereals, condiments, dressings, baby products, and other useful imperishables. 

Children's Hospital
8 students visited with patients in Dallas' Children's hospital from 2:00-3:00 on Feb. 12. Provided with a variety of arts and crafts by Mrs. Brenda Welch, volunteers made Valentine cards and decorated gift bags for a variety of children, as well as playing pool and video games. 

Cistercian Brave Art
On Feb. 19, several Upper School students helped with the setup and 
cleanup for the Brave Art Activities. 

March
30-hour Famine - $5,000 Earned with Record Participation!!!
After a year's hiatus, Cistercian once again participated in the World Vision's 30 Hour Famine with an amazing 80-85% participation among those in the Upper School.  Beginning after 10 minute break on Friday, Mar. 4, students abstained from eating until 4:00 PM on Saturday, while participating in a variety of Community service volunteer projects, both here at the school and out in the Dallas community.   Students sollicited sponsors for their fasting and collected almost $5,000 for the poor children of Sudan and Kenya.  Among the various services students provided over the 30 hours, include the following:

Cistercian Book Fair Set-Up
Following introductory remarks and an informative video about World Vision and the 30 Hour Famine, Freshman and Junior students assisted the eight grade in preparing the gymnasium for the 2005 Book Fair.  This include bringing in tables from the cafeteria, setting out chairs, and sorting over 7,000 books!!!

Downs Syndrome Guild Dance/Carnival
Working with Ursuline and Hockaday, Cistercian hosted our first Spring Down's Syndrome Guild Dance themed "Coney Island Carnival."  Spending the afternoon decorating, over 250 students created various games and activities to complement the dance itself, transforming the front porch of the school into a veritable carnival. Attendance was very strong with students from the Notre Dame School also participating.  In addition to board games, face painting and line dancing, students tied balloon animals, popped popcorn, distributed cotton candy and provided a fortune teller for all guests.

30 Hour Service Day 8:00-4:00
As part of the 30 hour famine, Cistercian Upper Schoolers awoke early on Saturday to continue their 30 hour community service. Juniors and Seniors helped build two homes with Habitat for Humanity in West Dallas and in Grand Prairie. Sophomores volunteered to work at the monastery and school, picking up litter, trimming trees/shrubs around the retreat house, landscaping behind the Abbey Church, and working in the Abbey Garden.  Freshmen gathered at the Catholic Marillac Center to assist with office re-organizations there.  The day ended with all participants from the various forms gathering in the school cafeteria for a "break fast" with Domino's Pizza.

Thanks to all the moms and dads who helped make this wonderful event possible!!!!!

Children's Hospital - Sat., Mar. 19 (Saturday of Spring Break) 
Students aged 16 and older were invited to visit with patients in Dallas' Children's hospital. Activities included playing pool and video games with the older children and making Easter arts and crafts with the younger ones.

We met in the lobby of Children's Hospital which is located at 1935 MOTOR ST, DALLAS.  Should you get disoriented call the lobby for directions at (214) 456-7000.
 (Remember to bring in your parking pass to validate for free parking.) 

April
Spring Fling!! - Sat., April 16
As part of the Big Brother Program, several juniors along with 35 members of the Fourth Form joined volunteers from Ursuline and Hockaday in hosting 35 refugee children from various parts of Africa for a day of tutoring and frolic on the Cistercian upper field.  From 10-12:00 students assisted the older guests in the computer lab in researching their native countries and the journey to America.  Following a tasty hotdog lunch (generously cooked to order by courtesy of Mr. Joe Graham), everyone played volleyball, basketball, and/or soccer until 2:00 in the afternoon.  A great time was had by all, and sincere interest was expressed in making this an annual Community Service Event.  Profound thanks to Mr. Taylor for proposing, organizing, and executing this novel project.  Thanks also to the Graham brothers for assisting him at every step of the way!!!.

May
Special Olympics Track and Field - Sat., May 7
Cistercian assisted again with this popular spring sporting event, with the guys as always having a great time. Radu assisted with the torch's entrance into the stadium to begin the games.  Several other volunteers help coordinate the various track events, as well as to cheer on all the competitors.  The meet was hosted again this year at Bishop Lynch High School and ran from 8:00 AM till 5:00 PM. For additional information about the meet, contact the Special Olympics Website.

Austin Street Shelter - Sat., May 28
Though technically school ended with closing ceremonies on May 27, over 30 Cistercian students from each rising form in the Upper School participated.  We were particularly blessed by a strong presence from the rising Freshmen class of Mr. Nied.   As in the past, students prepared countless sandwiches and taco salad from 2:30 until 5:00 in the kitchen of St. Francis Episcopal Church off of Walnut Hill before going by caravan in a downpour to distribute the food in the downtown shelter. Special thanks to Mr. Nied and Mr. Haaser for their presence and assistance, and to Mr. Zimmern for agreeing yet again to help caravan students.