Happenings around the archdiocese

Student earns second trip to national spelling bee

Sarah Fernandes has spelled her way to the Scripps National Spelling Bee – again.

On March 9 the sixth-grader at St. Stephen the Martyr School won the Omaha Sports Commission’s regional competition, her second consecutive win.

She will be headed to the Washington, D.C., area for the national competition in May.

Last year Sarah was one of 11 finalists in the country, and at age 11 was the youngest.

A knack for spelling runs in her family. Her older sister Hannah qualified for nationals twice.

Creighton Prep to build track and field facility

Creighton Preparatory School in Omaha will be breaking ground this spring on a new outdoor track and field facility.

The site will include an eight-lane, all-weather track and areas for long jump, triple jump, shot put and discus; bleachers that will seat 1,000 spectators; a press box; stadium lights; and a turf infield that will be used for football, soccer and lacrosse practices.

The new track and field will replace one that has been in use since the 1960s.

“We are excited to introduce the next generation of Creighton Prep athletics to our students and our community,” said Jesuit Father Matthew Spotts, president of Creighton Prep, in a press release.

In October the school received funding through the Nebraska Department of Economic Development’s Shovel-Ready Capital Recovery & Investment Act Grant Program, according to the press release.

The grant matches private donations pledged for the project.

The new space will be available to clubs and teams outside of Prep and gives the school the opportunity to host junior high school meets, club track teams and summer camps, the press release said.

COURTESY PHOTO

Open House offered at JPII Newman Center

The St. John Paul II Newman Center in Omaha will be holding its Spring Open House on Sunday, March 17.

From 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., guests will be able to tour the student center – located at 1221 S. 71st St. – meet students and learn about housing.

The Newman Center is waiving application fees for students applying for housing from March 17-29.

A hostess-themed table is decked out for a previous Strawberry Brunch fundraiser. COURTESY PHOTO

Mark your calendars

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul Omaha will be hosting its 15th Annual Strawberry Brunch on Saturday, June 1, at St. Wenceslaus Parish in Omaha.

The fundraiser will be 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the parish’s Cain Hall (the site of the former St. Wenceslaus Church) and will include a silent auction and raffle.

Tickets are $45 each or $360 for a table of eight.

See https://www.ssvpomaha.org/strawberry-brunch.html for more information.