ST. MARY S NEWSLETTER. by James P. Campbell, D.Min.

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1 ST. MARY S NEWSLETTER December 7, 2016 Upcoming EVENTS Wednesday, December 7 6:30pm - 8th Girls Sectionals - McNabb, Il 7:00pm - Jr. High Band Concert at Central Thursday, December 8 Feast Day: Immaculate Conception 8:00am - All School Mass (3rd) Friday, December 9 Field Trip: 6/7/8 - CCHS Geography Fair 6:00pm - 6/8 Boys BB vs Calvary Christian Saturday, December 10 10:30am - 7/8 Boys BB vs Lincoln JH TBD 8th Girls State Basketball - Lewistown Sunday, December 11 Fundraiser - Barnes & Noble Tuesday, December 13 6:00pm - 6/8 Boys BB vs Good Shepherd Wednesday, December 14 8:00am - All School Mass (2nd) 7:00pm - K-5 & Choir Concert CCHS Friday, December 16 12:45pm - Field Trip: 4th & 5th Grade Christmas Caroling at OSF 6:00pm - 6/8 Boys BB vs Cornerstone Tuesday, December 20 6:00pm- 6/8 Boys BB vs Trinity Lutheran HOME Wednesday, December 21 8:00am - All School Mass (1st) Thursday, Dec 22 - Jan 3 Christmas Break Wednesday, January 4, :00am - All School Mass (Home & School) Celebrating Advent with Your Family by James P. Campbell, D.Min. As Christians, we celebrate the arrival of a new liturgical year differently. The new year that begins on the first Sunday of Advent is a quiet one. In the readings for the four Sundays of Advent, we remember the time when people waited in anticipation for the coming of the Messiah. And while we know that the Messiah has come in Jesus Christ, and we have remembered his life, Death, Resurrection and Ascension many times, we can still reflect on and celebrate the newness of his coming once again. What is great about celebrating the coming of Jesus with children is that they help us approach the season with fresh eyes and insight. They present us with a challenge and an opportunity. The challenge they present is the way they soak up the values of the culture that has had them anticipating Christmas since the beginning of November. The opportunity they present is that we can introduce them to the timeless rituals celebrating the coming of the Messiah that will add depth to their spiritual lives. There is a long tradition in Christian art of depicting the Jesse tree, a symbolic tree or vine with spreading branches on which there are images depicting the genealogy of Jesus. There are several variations of the Jesse tree. In one variation, each ornament has a picture on one side and a Scripture passage on the other. An ornament is hung on the tree every day during Advent. With the celebration of Advent each year, everything old can be new again. Each year gives ourselves and our family an opportunity to remember and anticipate the celebration of the birth of Jesus on Christmas morning. Brought together by faith, St. Mary s School is a Franciscan family welcoming and inspiring all to love, live, learn and serve as Christ taught us! Issue 19 12/7/2016 Kulia I Ka Nu u ~ Strive to the highest summit 1

2 Kindness Activity for December This year for our annual Advent preparation, the school will be offering the participants of the Loaves and Fishes Soup Kitchen with fresh fruit. Classes have been divided up into groups to bring in fresh fruit. Please look for your child's class or just bring in fresh fruit, we will make sure it gets over to the Soup Kitchen. Our goal is to be able to give the participants a piece of fruit every Soup Kitchen day until we leave for Christmas Break. PreK, Kindergarten, 1st & 2nd Grade - Week 1: December 5th - 9th 3rd, 4th, 5th Grade - Week 2: December 12th - 16th 6th, 7th, & 8th Grade - Week 3: December 19th - 22nd Please bring in your fresh fruit to your child's teacher and help make a difference this Advent Season. I just wanted to let you know how grateful the participants at the Loaves and Fishes Soup Kitchen were on Tuesday when they saw and ate the fresh fruit. Many wanted to express their appreciation!! One said that it was a blessing to have fresh fruit and they were so grateful for the thoughtfulness. Way to go families -- keep these acts of kindness up! Referral Program Last week, we gave $1,000 credit to THREE families who brought other families to St. Mary s School. Congratulations to them and THANK YOU! The holidays are a GREAT time to talk with family and friends about why you send your children to St. Mary s. We plan to continue the Referral Program into next year, so if you can bring a family here, you could receive $1,000 off your tuition for Here are some great points to share with friends and neighbors: In May, 2016, St. Mary s graduates proved that we send our students to high school ready to compete and prepared to succeed. Two UHigh valedictorians and the CCHS salutatorian were St. Mary s grads. Standardized tests this year showed significant growth in our 3 rd through 8 th grade students some classes even exceeded grade level. A guest from another local school told us that our Technology education curriculum looks to be the best and strongest of any other private school in the Bloomington-Normal area. Class sizes are small our largest is 17 which allows our teachers to know and work with students individually. You have to come inside St. Mary s School to experience the JOY of loving, living, learning and serving as Christ taught us! COATS, GLOVES, HATS...Oh my! The weather is turning cold and kids need to come prepared to go outside for recess. They need coats, hats, gloves and possibly even scarves. Kids will go outside on days that are above 20 o F with wind chill. If they are bundled they are comfortable and have fun playing. Issue 19 12/7/2016 Kulia I Ka Nu u ~ Strive to the highest summit 2

3 CCHS National Honor Society Inductees Congratulations to 4 of our St. Mary's graduates who were inducted into the National Honor Society at Central Catholic High School on Monday. These students are an excellent example of our mission to love, live, learn, and serve as Christ taught us! Morgan Albertin Ethan Arndt Alyssa Ely Claire Swanson Double your Donation! Are you a State Farm employee or retiree? Did you donate to the SMS Annual appeal in 2016? Did you donate to the Fund-A-Need at the Gala in 2016? If so, you have until March, 2017 to submit those donations to the State Farm Companies Foundation Matching Gift program. State Farm matches individual donations to St. Mary's up to $1,500 per year. Your generous donation could be DOUBLED! You can call State Farm at or statefarmsupport@cybergrants.com. Use Lynda.Rettick@stmarysschool.net as the confirming . Help our kids reach the highest summit! Double your donation with State Farm Matching Gift program. Contact Lynda Rettick in the school office if you have any questions. If you re NOT with State Farm, please check with your company to see if they have a Matching Gift program. Unwrap the Joy of Christmas Winter Christmas Concert Wednesday, Dec. 14, :00 p.m. at Central Catholic High School Auditorium Pre K through 5 th Grade Music Class & Middle School Chorus All students should arrive to the CCHS cafeteria by 6:40 to meet their classroom teachers and get in concert order. Pre K 5 TH Grade students should dress up ( GIRLS: nice dresses or slacks outfits. BOYS: dress slacks, nice shirts or sweaters. Ties are a nice touch, but are optional.) Middle School Chorus should wear black slacks or skirts and a white long sleeve shirt, and black shoes. We hope you ll plan to join us for our Christmas musical celebrations! Issue 19 12/7/2016 Kulia I Ka Nu u ~ Strive to the highest summit 3

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5 Notes from Athletics Basketball News Girls Basketball won REGIONALS on Friday, December 2. They are off to Sectionals on Wednesday, December 7th at 6:30 at Putnam County Junior High School in McNabb, Illinois. Good Luck Ladies and bring home another trophy! Boys Basketball is on their way to victories...great job gentlemen! Come out to a home game and see the boys play, girls cheer and enjoy items in the concession stand. FYI you are able to purchase in advance Concession cards for $ This card remains in the concession cash box and when a purchase is made your card is marked and you don t have to carry cash around. 8th grade recognition night for cheerleaders and basketball players will be Tuesday, December 20th. Please try to come and pack the place! Recognition will take place right before the 8th grade boys basketball game! Beats Headphones Do you like Beats Headphones? You could be the proud owner of the Beats (Value $300) headphones for $5.00. All you need to do is add your name to the board by paying $5.00 and then our Athletic Director will pull a number out of a hat and if your name is on that number --- YOU are the WINNER!! The Beats board will be present at the Boys Basketball HOME games. Come to the concession stand to add your name! A number will be drawn during halftime of the 8th Grade Boys HOME Basketball game against Trinity Lutheran, December 20th! Issue 19 12/7/2016 Kulia I Ka Nu u ~ Strive to the highest summit 5

6 Notes from Home & School Association Thankful for you! In this season of thanksgiving and blessings the St. Mary s Home & School Association are very thankful for the volunteers that answer each request with enthusiasm and abundance. We are thankful for the families that believe in St. Mary s; a place to Love, Live, Learn and Serve as Christ taught us! We are thankful for our principal who leads us to the highest summit; Kulia I Ka Nu u! We are most thankful for the teachers & aides that mentor, care and make a difference in our child s world every day! If you are interested in contributing to a collective gift to show your appreciation to our teachers & aides please send your contribution in an envelope labeled Teacher Gift with your child to school or drop it off in the St. Mary s school office with Miss J by Dec 8 th. Thank you very much for your support, we wish you a Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas! Home & School Association Technology Position Open Due to circumstances beyond our immediate control, Mrs. Angie Eagleton will not be returning to St. Mary s after Christmas Break. We are sad to hear this news, but wish her the best on her next adventure. Mrs. Hartrich will be accepting resumes and filling this position ASAP. Please contact Mrs. Hartrich if you or someone you know is interested in teaching K-8 Technology. Issue 19 12/7/2016 Kulia I Ka Nu u ~ Strive to the highest summit 6