Refurbished OLL school library opens for check-out
The library at Our Lady of Lourdes School in Tujunga underwent a transformation over the summer, as librarian Nellie Eustaquio and a team of volunteers implemented a new bar coding program and increased book inventory. After saving Book Fair profits for the last few years, Eustaquio was able to purchase the bar code system, which allows every patron to have their own client code for easier book check-out.

School parent volunteer Sonia Marquez assisted Eustaquio in barcoding almost 9,000 books during the summer. Benefactors Dennis and Marilou Eustaquio Wong donated library tables and other resource aids and helped organize and set up the room. New wooden shelves capable of displaying the growing book inventory were built by Glen Daugherty.

A number of financial donors helped to upgrade the resource room into "a real library," say proud parishioners. Donors wishing to contribute toward the ongoing library revitalization are encouraged to call the school, (818) 353-1106 or (818) 203-5586.

Medical Center 'IT' teams rebuild school computer lab
Students returning back to school at Guardian Angel School in Pacoima were greeted with a brand new computer lab thanks to efforts by information technology teams at Providence Health Services.

In response to an appeal by the school seeking assistance in upgrading their computer lab, Providence Medical Center administrators sent technical teams to the school to assess the situation. Discovering multiple problems with the networked equipment, the team concluded the entire computer lab had to be scrapped and upgraded.

More than 20 computers were acquired from PH&S' IT teams, new computer cables were donated by the medical center's cabling vendor, Vector Resources, and Providence Holy Cross chief executive officer Kerry Carmody financed new computer hard drives. Team volunteers spent a Saturday in August making sure the computer lab was fully operational before the start of the new school year.

St. Catherine of Siena School seeking alumni
St. Catherine of Siena School in Reseda recently announced the formation of an Alumni Association. Graduates of the school are encouraged to add their name and contact information to the alumni roster being compiled by Jean Brown at the parish. A future celebration is planned for those enrolling in the alumni association.

Interested alums can join the association by sending their name (maiden name for women), address, phone, graduation year, and email to the parish at 18115 Sherman Way, Reseda, CA 91335. The information can also be emailed to: secretarycatherineofsiena.org.

Paraclete students earn National Merit Scholarship honors
Five students of Paraclete High School in Lancaster --- including graduates of Sacred Heart (Lancaster) and St. Mary (Palmdale) elementary schools schools --- received recognition in the National Merit Scholarship Program for 2009.

Honorees include Brent Joseph Chapman, semifinalist (more than half of whom go on to receive scholarships sponsored by colleges or corporations); Kyle Powers Foss, commended student (recognized for exceptional academic promise); Cassily Jasmine Cobos, semifinalist in the National Achievement Scholarship Program (honoring 1,600 Black American high school seniors); and Victoria Ann Alvarado and Lauren Nicole Martinez, as National Hispanic Recognition Scholars.

The National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC). NMSC awards National Merit Scholarships based on a competition that includes taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. More than 1.5 million students nation wide last October took the 2007 PSAT/NMSQT test.