James L. Collins Catholic School - Faith Involvement Integrity Respect

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!

Our 8th grade students had an unforgettable adventure at Camp of the Pines! From conquering the high ropes course and soaring through the trees on the zip line, to strengthening friendships through team-building activities, this trip was full of excitement and growth. Beyond the fun, students also spent meaningful time growing in their faith, reflecting, and connecting with one another on a deeper level. Of course, no camp experience would be complete without s’mores by the fire and plenty of laughter along the way! We are so proud of our students for stepping outside their comfort zones, supporting one another, and making memories that will last a lifetime. Thank you The Pines Catholic Camp!

Our 4-H students had an outstanding weekend of competition! On Friday, Madeleine represented us in the District 4-H Intermediate Vocal Competition and earned a fifth-place finish. The excitement continued on Saturday as Loretta and Georgia competed in the Battle of the Brazos Food Challenge. Both teams performed exceptionally well, with Georgia’s team (Cooking Cowgirls) taking first place and Loretta’s team (Taste Buds) earning a strong second-place finish. We are so proud of their hard work, talent, and dedication!

Friday night’s Mother-Son Soccer Game delivered excitement, laughter, and a little friendly rivalry. The Littles came out strong and claimed a big victory over the moms, showing great hustle and teamwork. The Bigs kept everyone on the edge of their seats in a hard-fought match that remained tied through regulation. The game moved into overtime penalty shots, where the Bigs secured the win in dramatic fashion. An evening full of energy, smiles, and unforgettable moments reflected the joy and connection within our school community. Thank you to everyone who made the night such a memorable success.

Our first grade class took an exciting step in their math journey this week as they logged into Reflex Math for the very first time! Reflex is an interactive, game-based program designed to help students quickly and confidently master basic math facts like addition and subtraction. It adapts to each child’s individual learning pace, giving them practice exactly where they need it most while keeping them engaged through fun challenges and activities. With lots of enthusiasm and curiosity, our young learners jumped right in and began building a strong foundation in math. We’re so proud of their effort and can’t wait to watch their confidence and fluency grow!

Our seventh grade girls put their faith into action this week as they volunteered with a food truck sponsored by Catholic Charities. With joyful hearts and helping hands, they assisted in distributing food to families in need, offering not just nourishment, but kindness and compassion to everyone they encountered. Opportunities like this remind us that serving others is a powerful way to live out our faith. We are so proud of these young ladies for stepping up, giving back, and being the hands and feet of Christ in our community.

Our students have been hard at work in their raised garden beds, planting a variety of vegetables and learning the basics of gardening along the way. From preparing the soil to carefully placing each seed, they are gaining hands-on experience that teaches patience, responsibility, and the joy of watching something grow. It’s been a wonderful opportunity for our kids to connect with nature, learn where their food comes from, and take pride in their work. We can’t wait to see all the fruits (and veggies!) of their labor in the weeks ahead!

Our Little Flowers Girls’ Club had a beautiful and faith-filled day in Athens for their annual field trip!
The girls began by visiting St. Edward Catholic Church—the original church that began as a humble mission. They then explored the new St. Edward’s Church and Academy, where they learned about the rich history and growth of the parish community. It was such a meaningful experience to see how faith has flourished over time!

The day continued with prayer, laughter, and adventure at the East Texas Arboretum, where the girls enjoyed a scripture scavenger hunt along the beautiful wooded trails. It was a wonderful way to connect God’s Word with the beauty of His creation.
A heartfelt thank you to the St. Edward’s staff for so warmly welcoming and hosting our group. We are so grateful for your hospitality and for helping make this day so special!

As we guide our girls to bloom in faith and virtue, we are reminded:
"Let no one despise your youth, but set the believers an example in speech and conduct, in love, in faith, in purity." — 1 Timothy 4:12

We are so proud of these young ladies as they continue to grow into strong, virtuous women rooted in Christ!

We are so proud of our amazing 4-H Food Challenge teams who competed at the Navarro County Youth Expo a couple of weeks ago! In this exciting contest, teams are given a mystery ingredient and a limited amount of time to plan, prepare, and cook a dish—all while working together. They also create a presentation for the judges, explaining their recipe, nutrition, food safety, and the skills they used along the way. It’s a true test of creativity, teamwork, and quick thinking! A huge congratulations to the InstaCooks for earning 2nd place, and to the Cooking Cowgirls for bringing home 3rd place! Your hard work and dedication truly paid off. Thank you for representing our community so well—we can’t wait to see what you accomplish next!

Our students had a wonderful time celebrating at their Easter classroom parties! From festive treats and fun games to laughter shared with friends, the joy of the season was truly alive in every classroom. We are so grateful for these special moments that bring our school family together and fill our hearts with Easter happiness.