James L. Collins Catholic School - Faith Involvement Integrity Respect

Last night we celebrated our incredible 8th grade students as they graduated from James L. Collins Catholic School! As they take this exciting next step, we are filled with pride, gratitude, and joy for all they have accomplished during their time with us. We pray that God continues to guide their hearts, strengthen their faith, and bless them with courage, wisdom, and success in the journey ahead. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight.” — Proverbs 3:5 Congratulations, Class of 2026! You will always be a part of the James L. Collins Catholic School family. May the Lord bless and watch over each of you as you begin this new chapter!

Our hallways were filled with cheers, smiles, happy tears, and so much love as we celebrated our 8th grade students during their final clap out through the halls of JLCCS. As they walked these halls for the last time as students, our school family lined the hallways to celebrate them, pray for them, and honor the memories they have made throughout the years. From classrooms filled with learning to friendships built along the way, these students have left a lasting mark on our school community. “As for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded.” — 2 Chronicles 15:7 We ask the Lord to bless each of our graduates as they begin this next chapter of their journey. May He guide their steps, strengthen their faith, and surround them with His grace in all that lies ahead. We are so proud of you and look forward to celebrating your graduation ceremony tonight!

Our National Junior Honor Society students spent time volunteering at the Salvation Army, giving back to the community through meaningful service. Students worked in the food pantry, sorted clothing donations, and helped organize the store—showing what it means to lead with compassion, responsibility, and a heart for others. We are so proud of these students for living out the values of service and making a positive impact in our community. Thank you to the Salvation Army for welcoming our students and providing this opportunity to serve!

Yesterday, our 4th–8th grade students enjoyed a special trip to Schulman’s Movie Bowl Grille for their Accelerated Reader (AR) Party to celebrate all of their hard work and achievements in reading this school year! The Accelerated Reader program encourages students to grow as readers by challenging them to read books, take comprehension quizzes, and earn points as they strengthen their reading skills and understanding. Through dedication, perseverance, and a love of learning, our students reached incredible milestones this year—and today was all about celebrating their success! A very special thank you to JAAY Concrete for generously providing lunch for our students and helping make this celebration extra special. Your support of our school and students is greatly appreciated! We are so proud of our young readers and all they accomplished this year. Keep turning those pages! We also want to thank PTC for hosting this event annually for our kids. 

What an incredible evening celebrating our student-athletes at the JLCCS Athletic Banquet! On Friday, we recognized the hard work, dedication, teamwork, and perseverance shown by our athletes throughout an outstanding year of sports. A special congratulations to Jolie, our Athlete of the Year! Your commitment, leadership, and determination have made us so proud! We also want to extend a heartfelt thank you to our amazing coaches for investing their time, encouragement, and passion into our students all season long. To our Booster Club members—thank you for your unwavering support behind the scenes and for helping make our athletic programs so successful. And a very special thank you to Rachel Franks, our Athletic Director, for leading a phenomenal year of sports and creating opportunities for our students to grow both on and off the field. We are blessed with an amazing athletic community and cannot wait to see what next season brings.

A very special visitor stopped by the school. Mrs. Guzman brought her beautiful new baby girl to visit her first grade class, and our students were beyond excited to meet the newest little member of the JLCCS family. There were lots of smiles, sweet moments, and plenty of love shared during the visit. Congratulations again to Mrs. Guzman and her family on their precious blessing!

So proud of our JV Track Team for their hard work and determination at this week’s meet! Our student-athletes continue to grow stronger with each competition, showing perseverance, teamwork, and great sportsmanship every step of the way. From running events to field events, they represented JLCCS with heart and dedication. Keep up the great work, JV Track — we are cheering you on all season long!

In just two short weeks, we will celebrate the graduation of our incredible eighth grade class! As they prepare to take their next steps, we are so proud of the faith, leadership, friendships, and memories they have built during their time at JLCCS. From classroom achievements to service projects, retreats, athletics, and special traditions, this class has left a lasting mark on our school community. Please join us in praying for our soon-to-be graduates as they finish their final days at JLCCS and prepare for the exciting journey ahead. We can’t wait to celebrate all they have accomplished! “For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope.” — Jeremiah 29:11

The Prodigal Clown musical - Part I Our talented students took the stage at JLCCS for a wonderful performance of The Prodigal Clown musical! Through laughter, music, and heartfelt storytelling, our students shared an important message of God’s love, mercy, and forgiveness. A special thank you to Miss Hernandez for directing this incredible production and for all the time, creativity, and dedication she poured into helping our students shine. We are so proud of every performer and everyone who helped make today such a success! “And he arose and came to his father. But while he was yet at a distance, his father saw him and had compassion.” — Luke 15:20

Moms & Muffins was such a sweet celebration at James L. Collins Catholic School! We loved welcoming all of the wonderful mothers, grandmothers, and special guests who joined us. Thank you for the love, encouragement, and support you pour into our students each and every day. As we celebrate Mother’s Day this weekend, we pray God blesses all mothers with joy, peace, and abundant love. Happy Mother’s Day from all of us at JLCCS!

Today our school community gathered in a beautiful tradition of faith and devotion for our annual May Crowning Ceremony honoring the Blessed Virgin Mary. Students participated prayerfully as we crowned Mary with flowers, lifted our voices in song, and reflected on her example of love, humility, and faithfulness to God. 🌸👑 May Crowning reminds us to turn to Mary as our spiritual mother and to follow her example in saying “yes” to God each day. “And Mary said, ‘Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.’” — Luke 1:38

Surrounded by family, friends, and our school community, these young disciples received Jesus in the Eucharist for the very first time. We are so proud of their preparation, reverence, and joyful hearts on this special day. May they continue to grow in faith, love, and friendship with Christ. “Jesus said to them, ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.’” — John 6:35 Congratulations to our First Communicants! Please keep them in your prayers as they continue their walk with the Lord.

Today our 4th and 5th grade students took learning beyond the classroom on an exciting field trip to the John Bunker Sands Wetland Center! Students had the opportunity to explore one of Texas’ most impactful conservation efforts, where science, sustainability, and stewardship come to life. The wetlands play a vital role in naturally filtering up to 95 million gallons of water each day through the East Fork Wetland Project—an incredible example of how nature supports our community. Beyond water conservation, students observed firsthand how this ecosystem provides a safe habitat for migratory birds and diverse wildlife. Through hands-on learning and exploration, they gained a deeper appreciation for environmental responsibility and God’s beautiful creation. What a meaningful day of discovery, curiosity, and connection with the world around us!

Join the JLCCS team as we seek passionate and dedicated educators to serve as our 2nd and 3rd Grade teachers for the upcoming school year. If you are interested in becoming part of our mission-driven community for the 2025–2026 school year, we invite you to apply online today!

https://www.collinscatholicschool.org/page/employment-opportunities

On Friday, we celebrated by honoring our incredible principal, Laura Whiteside! Mrs. Whiteside is the heart of our school—guiding, encouraging, and supporting both students and staff each and every day. Our students showed their appreciation by showering her with thoughtful notes and sweet treats as a small thank-you for the big impact she makes. We are so grateful for her dedication, leadership, and the love she pours into our school community. Thank you, Mrs. Whiteside, for all you do!

Congratulations to all of our students who competed at the Regional PSIA Academic Meet earlier this spring! Your hard work, dedication, and commitment to academic excellence truly shine. We are so proud of each of you for representing our school so well. Congratulations to these students who placed at Regionals:

Caroline - 1st Place Art Memory
Emilia - 2nd Place Art Memory
Benjamin - 2nd Place Art Memory
Symone - 2nd Place Music Memory
Will - 2nd Place Maps, Graphs, and Charts
Madeleine - 3rd Place Art Memory
Hudson - 3rd Place Spelling
Jesus - 5th Place Maps, Graphs, and Charts
Landon - 5th Place Mathematics
Camilla - 5th Place Music Memory
Santiago - 5th Place Number Sense
Eli - 5th Place Number Sense
Marcos - 5th Place Number Sense
Emmalin - 5th Place Spelling
Matthew - 5th Place Storytelling

Best of luck to our students competing at the State Meet in San Marcos this weekend—go show them what you can do! We are cheering you on every step of the way. Good Luck - Caroline, Emilia, Benjamin, Symone, Will, and Hudson!

We could not be more proud of how our students represented JLCCS for the Navarro Council of the Arts Youth Art Show! Your creativity, talent, and hard work truly shined this year. Congratulations to our students: Elementary Division 1st: Alan Lopez 3rd: Emilia Thapa Honorable Mention: Leo Gilburt Intermediate Division 2nd: Laila Campbell 3rd: Angelia Thai We are so proud of each and every student who participated!

Our Spring Dance, hosted by Student Council, was a night full of energy, laughter, and unforgettable moves! From the classic Twist to the always-fun Macarena, the dance floor stayed packed all evening. Students showed off their skills with the Electric Slide, two-step, and even the crowd-favorite Church Clap—plus so many more! It was such a joy to see everyone coming together, making memories, and celebrating the season with friends. A huge thank you to our Student Council for putting together such a fun and lively event!

This week we celebrate the heart of our front office—our incredible administrative assistants: Mrs. Gloria (Business Manager), Mrs. Garcia (Receptionist), and Mrs. Mirafuentes (Health Coordinator). These amazing women wear countless hats each day—welcoming visitors, supporting teachers, comforting students, organizing the details that keep everything running smoothly, and so much more. No matter the task, they serve with joyful hearts and a spirit rooted in God’s love. Their kindness, patience, and dedication make a difference in the lives of everyone who walks through our doors. We are so grateful for the many ways they bless our school community each and every day.

We’re excited to share some incredible news for our students and school community! Thanks to a generous STEM Grant from Burns & McDonnell, we are growing something special—literally. This grant will help fund the construction of a new greenhouse, the addition of raised garden beds, and expanded hands-on learning opportunities for our students. From science classes to Garden Club, our students will have even more opportunities to explore, experiment, and discover through real-world experiences. They’ll learn about plant life cycles, sustainability, and the importance of caring for God’s creation—all while getting their hands in the soil. We are so grateful for this investment in our students’ education and future. We can’t wait to watch this project—and our students—grow!