2016 was so last year. After all the ups and downs, it’s safe to say that everyone’s ready for a fresh start. There’s a lot to look forward to each month of the new year in both the St. Dominic community and the world around us.

January

January is typically the month where everything dies down after the holidays. However, students who are a part of the St. Dominic community have the Pro Life Trip later in the month to look forward to. Also, for all the dog lovers out there, the movie A Dog’s Purpose comes to theaters on the 27th and is guaranteed to bring a lot of emotions and tears.

February

Ah, the month of love. For all you lovebirds out there, the 14th is definitely something to be excited for. All the cheesy, but sweet gestures, gifts and dates are traditional and only to be expected around this time of year. For all the single people, such as myself, it’s a great time to load up on rocky road ice cream and enjoy your favorite TV show or movie on Netflix. Catholic Schools week is also carried from the last week of January into the first week of February. It’s a great time to participate in the community and show your SDHS spirit.

March

March is the best time to buy overpriced popcorn at the movie theaters for big releases of The Beauty and The Beast (the 17th) and The Power Rangers (the 24th). Also, for all students planning to partake, the French Trip Abroad at St. Dominic will take off for France on the 9th and return on the 22nd.

April

The first month of spring only means one thing for the students here at St. Dominic: Spring Break. The extended and combined Easter and Spring Break will give us much needed downtime from the 13th all the way to the 23rd. Around the country, the Masters, a major championship in professional golf, is scheduled to be on the 10th through 13th. Also, it’s time to break out those flower headbands and cat eyed glasses. The Coachella music festival is between the 11th and 20th of April at Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in California.

May

May is one of the best months of the year. Why? School ends and summer begins. The senior class of St. Dominic is scheduled to have their last day on the 10th and graduate on the 17th. However, the rest of the school isn’t as lucky because their last day of school falls on June 2nd, which of course has built in snow days. Prom is also around this time of the year and is scheduled on Friday the 5th. The Red Hot Chili Peppers also plan to make an appearance at Bankers Life Field House on May 18th.

June

June is obviously a time to enjoy relaxing at home and have fun spending time in the sun. However, it could also be nice to take a break from the sun and spend some time in the shade at the movies. The new flick Wonder Woman premieres on the 2nd.

July
The hot summer sun, fireworks and family barbecues all make up the month of July. The St. Dominic community lies pretty low during this month to give the students and faculty a chance to spend time with their families, especially on the 4th.

August

Summer unfortunately doesn’t last forever. However, with the start of school, there is the opportunity to see all the faces you might not have seen over the summer. Also, there will be a total solar eclipse on the 21st, which has not been visible across the entire United States since 1918.

September

As summer comes to a close, there is one thing to look forward to in this month. Once again, for all you dog lovers, the Waplehorst Pool holds an end-of-summer fundraiser called The Pool Paws for Humane Laws Dog Swim. This allows dogs to swim in the pool before they are drained. So come on down and bring your furry friend for one last swim.

October

October is a time for those Friday Night Lights. Although the school year will be well underway, there’s always time for you to plan your costume and imagine all the candy you’ll get on the 31st.

November

Many can argue that the months of October, November and December are the best. With the leaves changing and the weather getting cooler, November is perfect for spending time with the family, watching football and eating lots of turkey, especially on the holiday of Thanksgiving.

December

Christmas is obviously one of the most looked forward to events of the year. However, the release of the Star Wars Series: Episode VIII will be the event that has everyone talking. Scheduled to be released on the 14th, it’s never too early to start buying your tickets.

The year of 2017 holds many new opportunities and memories. Make the most and treasure every moment you have to make it the best year yet!