St. Monica School

• The School: St. Monica is a ministry of St. Monica parish. It is a co-educational Blue Ribbon School accredited by the Texas Education Association and the Texas Catholic Conference Education Department.
• Grades: PK3 to 8th Grade (including both Developmental Kindergarten and Kindergarten).
• Enrollment: 854 (90% Catholic)
• Faculty / Student Ratio: 1:11
• Mascot: Bearcats

• Preschool: 18 (with a teacher and an aide in each classroom)
• Developmental Kindergarten: 18 (with an aide)
• Kindergarten: 18 (with two aides for the grade)
• First Grade: 20 (with an aide for the grade)
• Second - Eighth Grade: 22
• Middle School Math Classes: 18

• Preschool Threes - 1 class
• Preschool Fours- 2 classes
• Developmental Kindergarten - 1 class
• Kindergarten - 8th grade - 4 classes per grade
• Middle School Math & Language Arts: 5 classes per grade

February Saint: Jane Valois, feast February 2nd

St. Jane Valois

St. Jane was the daughter of King Louis XI of France. She was born in 1464. Since the king wanted a son, he was very disappointed when Jane was born. He did not even want his little daughter to live at the palace because she was deformed. When the princess was just five years old, she was sent to live with other people. Despite the way she was treated by her own father, Jane was good and gentle with everyone. She was convinced that Jesus and Mary loved her. Jane also believed that the Lord would use her to do good in his name. And she was right.

When she grew up, Jane decided that she did not want to marry. She had given herself to Jesus and his Blessed Mother. But her father ignored her personal choice. He forced her to marry the duke of Orleans. Jane was a devoted wife for twenty-two years. After the duke became king, however, he sent Jane to live by herself in a far-off town-ship. The queen did not let herself become resentful. Instead, she exclaimed: "God be praised! He has permitted this that I may serve him better than I have up until now."

Jane lived a prayerful life. She practiced penances and acts of kindness. She gave all her money to the poor. She even started an order of sisters called the Sisters of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. She spent the rest of her life joyfully serving Jesus and his Mother. St. Jane died in 1505. She was proclaimed a saint by Pope Pius XII in 1950.

Joyfulness is the characteristic of feeling and expressing deep happiness and enthusiasm. As an attitude of the spirit, it can permeate even the most sorrowful situation. When we open ourselves to joy, we let in light and laughter, strength and grace.

Joy often grows out of the practice of generosity and compassion.

Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta, who won the Nobel Prize for Peace in 1979, said: "Joy is a net of love by which you can catch souls."