Ss. Robert & William

The students of Ss. Robert and William Catholic School committed themselves to preparing their hearts for the coming of Jesus throughout the season of Advent. Each week the school community gathered for an Advent Prayer Service. They made and sent Christmas cards to the homebound of our parish. A traditional service project at this time of year is to donate hats and mittens for children in need. So many were collected that they did not all fit on the Christmas tree!  The culmination of the Advent preparation was an all school Advent retreat. The students spent the day with their faith families completing a craft project for area nursing homes, making kindness bracelets, singing Christmas carols, and attending Mass. It was a beautiful day of prayer and reflection.

For a truly joyous Christmas, and to capture the true meaning of the season we cordially invite you to worship with us.  Our Mass schedule is listed below.  Call the Parish Office at 216.731.1515 for additional information.

Christmas Eve, December 24:  4:00 pm, 7:00 pm & 10:00 pm (Carols begin at 9:30 pm)

Christmas Day, December 25:  7:00 am, 9:00 am, & 11:00 am

New Year’s Eve, December 31, 4:00 pm Vigil Mass

New Year’s Day, January 1, 2016, 9:00 am & 11:00 am

During the week of December 7-13, every SRW student from Kindergarten through grade 8 will join millions of students from all over the world to try an Hour of Code, in celebration of Computer Science Education Week. The Hour of Code is a one-hour introduction to computer science, designed to expose students to code and show that anybody can learn the basics. It helps nurture problem-solving skills, logic, and creativity.

The Hour of Code is organized by Code.org, a public 501c3 non-profit organization dedicated to expanding participation in computer science by making it available in more schools. An impressive coalition of partners have come together to support the Hour of Code, including Microsoft, Apple, Amazon, Boys and Girls Clubs of America, and the College Board.

Mrs. Tracy Davis, the Enrichment teacher at SRW, has been formally trained in code. She has taught her students the basics of coding and many of them have embraced the skill and have logged many hours already. Many of the tutorials and coding challenges are engaging for students using characters from Disney, Hot Wheels, and even Star Wars. Mrs. Davis has also trained the classroom teachers in code. Ss. Robert and William Catholic School is a registered participant in this unprecedented endeavor, and is excited and ready to take on the challenge!

SRW Parish held a Parish Expo the weekend of October 24 and 25, 2015. Over 50 ministry groups were represented at the event which was held in the school gym.  

The addition of 165 Chromebooks to our fleet of technology has allowed us to move closer to our goal of 1:1 devices for our students. All students in grades 4-5-6 have been assigned a new Chromebook to utilize in the classroom and at home. There are also 2 carts of iPads and 2 carts of laptops available for student use in the classrooms.  An E-rate grant worth $14,000 provided the funding to have access points added in every classroom, allowing faster and more efficient Internet access.

God blessed us with a beautiful day on Friday, September 25th, as the SRW students took to the sidewalks for the 2nd Annual Walk-a-Thon. Friends and family members donated over $23,500 to sponsor students on their walk.  This was well above and beyond our goals and expectations. The SRW community really stepped up to support the Walk-a-Thon with 60% participation and 65 volunteers to make this fundraiser a huge success! The funds collected have been ear-marked for the school’s technology fund. The students are proud that their hard work will result in an increase of technological devices and tools for their use in their studies.

On October 18, 2015, Officer Ed Bonchak came to Ss. Robert and William to speak to the youth about bullying.

Join us on Saturday, November 7, 2015 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., as we fill our gym with a myriad of gifts for the holiday season.

At our annual Induction Ceremony, over 60 current and newly inducted students from grades 5 through 8 pledged to uphold the five pillars of the National Honor Society: scholarship, leadership, service, citizenship, and character.  This solemn ceremony provided an opportunity for all present to reflect on the qualities of good leaders and to acknowledge the accomplishments of so many students.

Merici Center Resource Room: 

On September 15th, SRW welcomed Grandparents, Great-grandparents, and special friends for its annual Grandparents’ Day Celebration.  After praying together at the weekly liturgy, students in kindergarten through grade 3 entertained their special guests with their rendition of their favorite “love” songs including: “A” You’re Adorable, Skidamarinkadinkadoo, You are My Sunshine, and Top of the World.  A reception was held in the school where students shared cookies and an activity with their special friends.  This inter-generational activity helped grandparents know how much they are appreciated and gave students an opportunity to spend quality time with these treasured adults.

According to the American Dietetic Association, children who eat breakfast perform better in the classroom and on the playground, with better concentration, problem-solving skills, and hand-eye coordination.  Knowing the importance of starting the day with a healthy breakfast, SRW now offers this daily meal.  This is in addition to the Federal Hot Lunch Program. 

In August Ss. Robert and William School opened their doors to the largest enrollment in recent years - 540 students in Preschool through grade 8! This is a direct reflection of the positive reputation the school has in the greater Euclid community. Great things are happening at SRW for the 2015-2016 school year. Here are some of the highlights so far: 

What do you do with over a half ton of plastic caps? You recycle them into an eight-foot long picnic table!

The students at Ss. Robert and William School did just that - they collected caps last September through December. Plastic caps from pop bottles, milk jugs, butter tubs, shampoo bottles were collected and sorted. The school and parish community saved and donated as well as several Cleveland Clinic Facilities around Northeast Ohio, with the help of their on-site Green Teams.

Spearheaded by the Girl Scout Troops of Ss. Robert and William, the school collected a whopping 1,451 POUNDS of plastic caps! All this plastic was taken to Green Tree Plastics in Evansville, Indiana and recycled into an 8 foot picnic table to be placed at the new playground at the school. The Cadette Troops purchased a matching trash receptacle for the playground as well.

For more information about how you can recylce plastic caps into benches with the ABC program at Greentree Plastics, please visit their website: http://www.greentreeplastics.com/abc-promise-partnership/

Ss. Robert and William celebrated its fifth successful International Family Festival August 13-16 in Euclid.

Crowds swelled the parish grounds all four nights, enjoying homemade Eastern European and Italian cuisine, games, live bands, prizes and the company of good friends, neighbors and family.

“We are so thankful to report that this was our most successful festival,” said Father John Betters, “We could not have done it without our dedicated, hard-working volunteers. We are so blessed to have so many incredible people in our parish!”

Father Betters also thanked the visitors who chose to attend the festival.

“People have many choices as to where they can spend a summer evening. We’re thankful they chose our festival,” he added. “Our volunteer team works all year to create a festival where people can enjoy great food and good times with their families and friends.”

The festival serves as the main fundraiser for the school and parish.

Join neighbors and friends at the fifth annual International Family Festival at Ss. Robert & William Catholic Church, 367 E. 260th St., Euclid, August 13-16.  

Local Artists Wanted for our Annual Holly Berry Bazaar.  Join local artisans on Saturday, November 7, 2015 from 9:00 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. at Ss. Robert and William Parish.  Do you have a unique craft or homemade food item that you would like to sell?  Kick off the holiday season with this festive event.  Contact Ellen Ivory at eivory@srweuclidcc or call (216)731-1515 if you are interested.  Ss. Robert and William Catholic Parish is located at 367 East 260th Street, Euclid, Ohio 44132.

July 20-24, 2015 SRW Vacation Bible School – Reservations required, please contact the Parish Office at 216.731.1515.

July 27 and August 24, 2015 Produce to People – Free fresh produce distribution from 4-6pm.  Bring your own bags to carry your produce home!

July 28 and August 25, 2015 - The “Banquet,” free Community Meal – dinner is served at 5:15 pm in the Upper Hall of the school.

Save the date for the Fifth Annual International Family Festival, August 13-16, 2015 at Ss. Robert and William, 367 East 260th Street. We are offering a number of  unique ethnic foods, including homemade pierogi, and new this year,  we have added homemade stuffed cabbages.  Old favorites of clams and Italian sausage will be served, too.  Try your skill at games of chance at our midway games (for children, teens, and our enhanced adult area with casino games).  Children will enjoy our  pony rides and “Inflatable” area.

Register your children for Vacation Bible School at Ss. Robert and William which will be held on July 20- 24, 2015 from 9:00 a.m. until noon for grades K-6.  Join in the fun as we learn about our faith through scripture in a creative way. The cost is $25 per child with a maximum of $40 per family. Registration forms are required, and due by July 13, 2015.  Forms are available online at www.srwschool.cc or at the Parish Office, call 216.731.1515 for more information!

The City of Euclid recently delivered to SRW Parish the two concrete crosses that sat atop St. Robert Church on Lakeshore Blvd.  We have installed them in the landscape in front of the Church (Forestview & East 260th Street corner).  They are a tribute to the almost sixty years that the building stood as a place of Catholic worship.  Visit our parish to view our garden areas and see the historic crosses.

SRW Annual Summer Rummage Sale will be held on Friday, July 10 and 11, 2015.  Why not come early? There are treasures galore and an extensive selection.  Doors open at 9:00 a.m. on Friday until 4:30 p.m., and again on Saturday 9:00 a.m. until noon.  You can’t beat our good prices, most items begin at $1.  New this year, is $5 fill a bag for books, CD’s and DVD’s.  Other items are as marked and priced to sell! 

Come back on Saturday for our $3 Fill-a-Bag special!  Bring a friend and join the fun, there are enough “treasures” for everyone!

Ss. Robert and William Catholic Parish will be hosting a variety of summer-time events in the months of June, July, and August.

In partnership with the Euclid Hunger Center, Euclid Hospitals and the Boy Scouts, SRW is offering free monthly produce distribution 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. June 29, 2015, with subsequent distributions on July 27 and August 24, in the parish parking lot.

The “Banquet” Free Community Meal will be held on June 30, July 28, and August 25, 2015.  Come for fellowship, fun, and great food!  All are welcome!

June 27, 2015 is the 4th Annual Warrior Open Golf Outing.  All proceeds benefit Euclid Lifeteen.  For registration forms, please call the Parish Office at 216.731.1515.

Don’t forget SRW’s Annual Summer Rummage Sale is the weekend of July 10 (9:00 am - 5:00 pm) & 11 (9:00 am – Noon, Fill a Bag), 2015.  Dust out those closets, basements and attics!  It’s time to start gathering your items for his huge, summertime community event.  Donations for the rummage sale can be dropped off at the school after June 6, 2015.

Sonrise Vacation Bible School will be held the week of July 20-24, 2015.  Join in the fun as we combine learning about our faith through scripture in a creative way.  The cost is $25 per child with a maximum of $40 per family.  Registration forms are required, pick one up at the Parish Office or call 216-731-1515.

The SRW Summer Family Festival will be held August 13-16, 2015.  Save the date to hear local bands, taste a variety of festival foods, and take a chance on raffles and auctions, and so much more!  If you would like to be a sponsor or donate prizes for the event, please contact Ellen Ivory at 216.731.1515 X230 or eivory@srweuclid.cc.

SRW Summer Calendar of Events

• East 200th Street Stroll, Saturday, May 30, 2015, come join us!

• SRW Warrior Open, Saturday, June 27, 2015 at Briardale Golf Course

• SRW Rummage Sale, Friday and Saturday, July 10 & 11, 2015

• Vacation Bible School, the week of July 20-24, 2015

• Annual Parish Festival, Thursday thru Sunday, August 13-16, 2015

Free Produce Giveaway:

• Produce to People, June TBD

• Produce to People, Monday July 27, 2015

• Produce to People, Monday, August 24, 2015

Community Meals:

• The “Banquet” Free Community Meal, Tuesday, June 30, 2015

• The “Banquet” Free Community Meal, Tuesday, July 28, 2015

• The “Banquet” Free Community Meal, Tuesday, August 25, 2015

The SRW community and its friends have teamed together to raise enough money ($140,000) to help build a playground at Ss. Robert and William Catholic Parish.  The project was made possible by funds donated from the SRW Endowment, students (through a Walk-a-thon and a Read-a-thon), Jane Monreal, The Cooke Family, Elin Cooke Family and Friends, The Michael Talty and Helen Talty Charitable Trust, and several anonymous donors. 

The effort is centered on the story of Elin Cooke.  Elin was an extraordinary woman with much love for the parish, school, the city of Euclid and most importantly children.  She was one of the first supporters of the playground project when it was announced last spring.  In August, 2014, Elin lost her battle with cancer.  “Since the parish and school community will be forever blessed by her presence, and with full support of her family, it seemed only fitting that the playground be named in her honor.  The bright red and green playground is a tribute to her memory,” states Fr. John D. Betters, Pastor.

The playground will feature 23 activities and a special rubber surface for enhanced safety and enjoyment, and will improve recess for the school students, as currently the schoolyard only has blacktop surface to play on.  It will accommodate over 50 children and will provide physical activity for the children.  Additionally, it will enhance the recreation area in the community, as the play area will be open to the hundreds of children who live in the neighborhood. 

The playground dedication and opening will be held on Friday, May 8, 2015 at 1:30 p.m.  Fr. John Betters, Fr. Sal Ruggeri, Mayor Cervenik, Council President, Kirsten Holzheimer Gail, and the Cooke Family will be present.  The public is invited to attend.  Ss. Robert and William Parish is located at 367 East 260th St., Euclid.  Please call 216.731.1515 for additional information.

Registration for the 2015-2016 school year is now open for children in Preschool through Grade 6. In partnership, St. John of the Cross and Ss. Robert and William Catholic School are accepting applications for enrollment.  Euclid residents with school age children that would be assigned to Bluestone, Arbor, or Shoreview Elementary as well as Forest Park or Central Middle School may be eligible for the EdChoice Scholarship.  For more information or to set up a screening, please call Maureen Frydl at 216.731.1515 X229 or mfrydl@srwschool.cc. Visit our website at www.srwschool.cc to download an application.  Hurry, spaces are limited and filling up fast!

Ss. Robert and William Catholic School was well represented in the Euclid Community last month.  Pictures from the Earth Day Library Program and the Euclid City Council Meeting show the fun and excitement our school can generate. Our preschool and kindergarten teachers offered stories, games, crafts, and songs to celebrate the gift of God’s creation and how we should take of this great gift at the free, library program held in April at the Euclid Public Library. Also recognized were four of our 7th and 8th grade students who were honored with proclamations from Mayor Cervenik for their achievements at the NEOSE Fair.

Evening of Learning, “Titanic,” was hosted by the Ss. Robert and William Catholic School Upper School teachers and students.  In teaching with our STREAM (Science, Technology, Religion, Engineering, Art and Math) tradition, presentations on the unit of “Titanic” included the 7th grade reading class completing Titanic:  Voice from the Disaster and presented information on a passenger or crew member whom they researched.  Many teachers and students joined in the fun complete with costumes!  8th graders completed a unit of study on the topic, “Immigration” and composed oral presentations with slides and posters which were presented to the audience.  All curriculum areas were incorporated, math students presented statistical information in graphs, forms, and comparison charts and even religion class discussed the morality of the “Women and Children in Lifeboats First” policies.  Parents enjoyed the hydrodynamic science experiments in which students made boats is different shapes and sizes to see the affects carrying too much weight relates to the density of water.

Ss. Robert & William School kicked off the spring season and drew 250 guests to the “Taste of Nation’s Gala,” which was held in the school’s ballroom (a.k.a. gym).  Proceeds from the annual event benefitted SRW School.

Registration for the 2015-2016 school year is now open for children in preschool through Grade 8. In partnership, St. John of the Cross and Ss. Robert and William Catholic School are accepting applications for enrollment.  Euclid residents with school age children that would be assigned to Bluestone, Arbor or Shoreveiw Elementary as well as Forest Park or Central Middle School may be eligible for the EdChoice Scholarship.  For more information or to set up a Kindergarten screening, please call Maureen Frydl at 216-731-1515, ext. 229 or mfrydl@srwschool.cc.  Visit our website at www.srwschool.cc to download and application.

Ss. Robert and William Catholic School is performing Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs on Friday, April 24, 2015 at 6:30 p.m. and Saturday, April 25, 2015 at 5:30 p.m.  This retelling of a classical fairytale features students in 4th through 8th grade.  The performances will take place in the Ss. Robert and William gym, is free, and open to the public with doors opening a half-hour before curtain.

Fr. John Betters and Fr. Scott Goodfellow want to open the door for Catholics wishing to return to their faith.  So on Wednesday, April 15, 2015 at 6:30 p.m. they will welcome anyone seeking a way back and try to remove the stumbling block that might be preventing it.  The meeting will take place in the Upper Hall of Ss. Robert and William Catholic School, 351 East 260th Street. There is no agenda.  The evening will belong to those who are seeking answers, clarification or simply someone to listen, in an effort to help them know that the Catholic Church wants them to come home. 

Please help us spread the word.  If you know someone you think would appreciate such an opportunity, tell them to join us.  No reservations are necessary nor do you need to be from the Euclid area to attend.   Call 216-731-1515 for more information.

Ss. Robert and William Catholic School in Euclid took home 10 awards and 2 honorable mentions at the 2015 edition of the Northeastern Ohio Science and Engineering Fair (NEOSEF)  held at The Cleveland State University March 9-12, 2015. 79 area schools participated in the regional science fair.

Honored with a special award from the U.S. Navy and Marine Corp – Office of Naval Research was 7th grader, Grace Delaney, for her project, How Water Floats on Water. Eighth grader, Patrick Sweet, was honored by the Parker Hannifin Corporation for his project, Solar Energy: Financial Savior. Patrick will be attending St. Ignatius High School in the fall.