Welcome to the second issue of the E-Sader for the 2008-2009 school year. We hope that the articles below and links at the right keep you up-to-date with Helias news.

Please also visit the Foundation website for the lastest news and updates. 

Farewell Brother D!
Brandon Martin '98

What do you do for a man who has dedicated 50 years to teaching and 12 years to coaching boys' soccer? You name him "2008 Honorary Boys Soccer Coach!"

On Saturday, October 25, 2008, Brother Denis Sutter arrived at the Highway 179 Helias soccer field for the boys' soccer game, something he religiously does. But to his surprise, there were bleachers full of people eager to see him. Gold and blue balloons lined the fences surrounding the field, banners thanking him for his eleven years of helping Helias soccer were held up by students, and alumni and parents gathered around Sutter to give him a hug or to thank him.

Sutter (Brother D as he's known around Helias' hallways) has devoted 50 years of service to teaching and to the religious life. Sutter has taught at three Catholic high schools: Christian Brothers High School in Memphis; Christian Brothers High School in St. Joseph, Missouri; and Helias High School. And he is known for having a knack for knowing what a soccer team needs to succeed.

Sutter would love to remain at Helias; however, his health is in decline and he will soon leave Jefferson City and move to his hometown of St. Joseph, Missouri.

After the junior varsity's 8-0 rout of St. Francis Borgia on Saturday, the varsity and junior varsity teams made parallel rows stretching from one side of the field to the other. Seniors and their parents were applauded for senior night as they walked between the rows. After them, Sutter was then chauffeured by Helias President Didier Aur through the rows, stopping at the end.

Before the crowd, Coach Chuck Register gave a heartfelt speech, thanking Sutter for helping him over the last eleven years and wishing him well as Sutter leaves Helias. Aur then spoke thanking him for teaching him Latin I and II and coaching him soccer, and at the end he thanked him for being a good friend before admitting he'd miss him.

The Helias Boys Booster Club not only set up and orchestrated the surprise tribute well but gave Sutter gifts that will serve as remembrances of his life-long service to education. A memory book signed by the soccer team and the alumni was presented to him along with other mementos.

After the gifts were given, balloons were released and then the varsity game started. The varsity boys won 3-0, improving their record to 19-1-1. After the game the first annual alumni soccer game started.

Reflecting on the day, Sutter said, "I was very surprised. It was nice to see the alumni...and to see how fat and long-haired they've gotten! And I loved seeing the parents and the kids too. It was great!"

Marching Crusaders
Eric Veile '97 Helias Music Director

The Helias Marching Crusaders recently completed another successful marching season.  The Marching Crusaders competed in five competitions, and placed in the top-3 in their class at all but one.  Highlights include Outstanding Marching  and Outstanding Color Guard, in addition to 2nd place in class 4A, at the Parade Competition at the Bi-State Invitational in Potosi, MO and 2nd place in both field show and parade competitions at the Central Methodist University Band Day.  The Marching Crusaders show this year was comprised of music from video games - Halo, Kingdom Hearts, and Civilization IV.  The band was led by Senior Drum Major Katie Arnold and Junior Drum Majors Justin Balk and Mackenzie Schlotz, as well as 7 outstanding seniors.  If you haven't yet seen the show, the fruits of 5 months of incredible effort by the band, you have at least one more opportunity:   the home football playoff game November 5th. 

Updates on the band and choir can be found on the Music Department's web page

(reprinted from Athletic Booster Newsletter)
SEEKING:  HELIAS GRADUATES PLAYING COLLEGE SPORTS

If you have been in the lobby of the fieldhouse in the last couple of years you have probably noticed the big display near the entrance to the gymnasium.  We are looking for 8" x 10" pictures of Helias graduates who are participating in college athletics to show off in that very visible location.  Frankly, we aren't having much luck (and are even considering discontinuing this effort).

We would like to have the pictures taken in uniform for us to display along with the athlete's name, year he/she graduated from Helias, sport in which he/she participates, and the name of the college or university.

If you know a Helias graduate who is playing at the next level and does not have his/her picture posted, please have them contact coach Phil Pitts '00 at Helias to email picture or make other arrangements to get the picture posted.

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STATE CROSS COUNTRY SPAGHETTI DINNER

The Helias Cross Country teams and Booster Committee will be hosting a spaghetti dinner on Friday, November 7.  It is open to the public.  The all-you-care-to-eat dinner cost is $7.50 for adults and $4.00 for children 6-11.  Children 5 and under are free.  Serving is from 4:30-7:00 p.m. in the Crusader Commons. 

2009 Helias Hall of Fame Nominations now being accepted

The 2009 Helias Hall of Fame event will be held at Helias on April 19, 2009.  Watch your fall Foundation newsletter (mailed later in November) for nomination forms for the 2009 Helias Hall of Fame. Nominations can also be submitted online. 

Pictured is the 2008 Hall of Fame Inaugural Group

Teacher Spotlight: Coach Phil Pitts

By
Maryssa Rehagen ‘12, Rachel Britton ‘12, and Erin Masek ‘12

As freshmen starting high school, we all were nervous about which teachers we would get. One teacher who has quite a reputation is Coach Phil Pitts. With Pitts, though, all the stories passed around are positive.

Pitts is a varsity football coach as well and Algebra 1A and 1B teacher. In the past he has also taught Keyboarding and Consumer Economics. Pitts began teaching after he graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia and is now in his fourth year at Helias. When asked the hardest part of the day he replied, "The amount of time it takes to be prepared is the hardest." However, his favorite part is that the day is never boring.

Like every teacher, he starts class with a prayer, but afterward he takes the time to see how students' nights went. He tries to make everyone feel welcome by joking around and getting to know them. The environment in the classroom is happy and relaxed. Though he likes to have fun and kid around, he never fails to teach students what they need to know to succeed.

From what we have seen, heard, and experienced so far, Coach Pitts is a great teacher, a great coach, and a great person.