MONSIGNOR HALLER CATHOLIC SCHOOL Principal s Message Dear Haller Families, This newsletter comes to you at the start of the 2016 Advent season. Our students will be busy preparing for the celebration of the birth of Christ during the month of December. Throughout the month we will be participating in Advent Celebrations. Our spiritual celebration is on Thursday, December 6th at 10:15 at Blessed Sacrament Church where we will gather as a school community for an Advent Liturgy. Our thanks to Father Larry, the school staff and students for their assistance in the preparation and celebration of this special Eucharist. Few times are more sacred for families or households than Christmas. Along with Advent, the Christmas Season is rich in traditions that despite modern commercialism, still stir our hearts and imaginations. The Christmas tree, the manger scene, the music and carols, the lights shining in the winter snowy darkness are just a few of the symbols that heighten our joyful proclamation of the birth of Jesus and call us to come and adore him. Please take this opportunity with your family during this sacred time of year to celebrate and connect with your living Christmas traditions. The Angel Tree is once again alive and well. Thank you for your contribution of toys for a needy child. Your donations speak volumes for our community and our Christmas spirit. The Staff here at Monsignor Haller would like to wish all of you a very happy and safe Christmas holiday. God Bless, Tanya Hunter Mark Your Calendars: Family Movie Night - Monday, December 12 Doors open at 6:00 p.m. Movie at 6:30 p.m. Dr. Seuss Double Feature Horton Hears a Who and How the Grinch Stole Christmas
THE ANGEL TREE 2016 This is a great program supporting families of the Blessed Sacrament Parish schools. Students who return a permission form are able to pick an angel from the tree and buy a gift for the child s age and gender indicated on the angel. The angel is then attached to the unwrapped gift and returned to the school. Please supply batteries if toys require them. Older children appreciate receiving gift cards. If you purchase a gift card, please write the amount on the card. Please do not purchase clothes or computer electronics as the sizes or what electronics are in the home are not know. Monsignor Haller School has participated in this program and has been a vital part of the overall success of this project run by the St. Vincent de Paul Society of Blessed Sacrament Parish. Thank you for your consideration in participating in the program. Gifts will be accepted up to Wednesday, December 7th. The Advent Mass for Monsignor Haller School will take place at Blessed Sacrament Church on Tuesday, December 6th at 10:15 Please Join Us! Christmas concert The students of Monsignor Haller will be performing our Christmas Concert this year on Tuesday, December 20th at 1:00 pm. We would like to invite parents/relatives to attend and enjoy our festive concerts. Each class will be presenting a Christmas Show. Our request is that you remain with us until the entire pageant is over. This keeps the disturbances to a minimum and assists us with timing. We trust that you will enjoy our endeavours and hope to see many of you. Page 2
Girls Intermediate Basketball Congratulations to the Haller Hawks Girls' Basketball team. On Monday, November 21st our team participated in the Celtic Invitational basketball tournament. The team showcased a variety of talents, determination, skill, and teamwork throughout the games. It was a very successful afternoon with our team going undefeated on route to capturing the championship. Thanks again to all the fan support throughout the day. Great Job Hawks! Arianell A. Leah B. Bella D. Asia D. Aden G. Ciera H. Emma M. Megan M. Abby M. Ocean M. Mya N. Alice R. Boys Intermediate Volleyball On, Tuesday, November 15th, the boys volleyball team competed in the Phoenix Invitational Tournament. The team competed against other small-school teams. The boys displayed great team spirit, displayed very good volleyball skills and were very competitive in all their games. They represented Monsignor Haller proudly. This year's team members included: Tylrell A. Jacob B. Kalen B. Ethan B. Skyler D. Juan Miguel F. Wiktor L. Dustin M. Caleb M. Kaleb M. Bruno R. Brayden S. December Spirit Days! Monday December 19th Wear Green, White, Red Tuesday, December 20 Christmas Sweater Day Wednesday, December 21 Christmas Hat/Headband Day Thursday, December 22 Scarf & Mitten Day Friday, December 23 Lost and Found Articles If your child/children are missing any articles of clothing, please feel free to come to the school to check the lost and found box. Items remain on display from the interview night up to the last day before the Christmas Break. Any items not claimed will be donated after students leave for Christmas Break. Christmas PJ/Slipper Day Page 3
Thank You School Council Thanks to the School Council for organizing the Family Portrait Fundraiser. Approximately 11 families took this opportunity to have a family Christmas portrait taken. All proceeds of the sitting fee are returned to the school to go towards school programs. Thank you to all who participated in this event! REMINDER NO Snowballs! The cold weather is here! Please make sure your children are dressed accordingly. Students are outdoors for up to 40 minutes over the lunch period. If weather deteriorates with windchill at 19 or greater students will come inside. COMING SOON As December is here we expect some snow. This is a reminder that the Snowball Policy is in effect. Snow stays on the ground. Please remind your child about the dangers of throwing snowballs. School News & Forms via School Cash Online As we move to communication and form submission through this service we ask all families to register as a means of keeping up to date on school happenings. Even if you do not wish to pay for items online, please register to assist us in reducing paper costs of sending notices home. Once registered you will receive a notice directly to your e-mail of upcoming class trips and school events. You will also be able to submit a variety of forms directly from home to the school. Stay informed and register today- https://wcdsb.schoolcashonline.com/ Congratulations to Mackenzie K. who won a lunch bag and free pizza for the month of December for registering with School Cash Online! Each month we will draw a name from registered students to win an incentive prize. CHRISTMAS BREAK DECEMBER 24th to JANUARY 8th Enjoy your holiday time! Page 4
Look ahead to January 9 School Resumes 19 Eucharistic Adoration at Blessed Sacrament Church (weather permitting) 26 Reconciliation for Grades 3-8 at school Mrs. Mikuljan s Grade 5/6 class visit to Kitchener Hydro - afternoon 27 P.A. Day No school for students 31 Graduation Photos for Senior Kindergarten & Grade 8 Students Healthy Holiday Celebrations! Shift the focus from food to fun! Have a tasting party where kids can vote which healthy food they would like to have at a Christmas celebration. Including kids in the decision making may enhance their acceptance of healthy foods at celebrations Food Ideas Use nature s colours to your advantage! There are a ton of vegetables to match the colours of the season. Create a Christmas tree out of broccoli and various veggies as tree ornaments Make fruit kabobs, alternating green and red grapes, or green and red apple pieces Decorate mini bagel holiday ornaments with colourful veggies cut in a variety of shapes Cut fruit into the shape of snowflakes with cookie cutters Page 5
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 Family Christmas Photo Fundraiser St. Mary s Parent Night 6:30-8:30 pm 2 Gr. 6/7 class trip to The Museum 3 4 5 Public Health Dental Screening 6 Advent Mass at Church 10:15 am 7 Gr. 8 students at St. Mary s Orientation Day 8 9 PD Day No School for Students 10 11 12Advent Link #3 at school Gr. 5/6 & 6/7 to Registry Theatre 13 14 Gr. 2 & 2/3 to The Museum 15 16 17 Family Movie 6:oo p.m. 18 Christmas Spirit Week 19 Advent Link #4 at school Wear Green, White, Red Today 20 Christmas Sweater Day Christmas Concert 1:00 pm Please join us! 21 Christmas Hat / Headband Day 22 Christmas Activity Day Scarf & Mitten Day 23 Celebrating Christmas at Haller Wear your Christmas PJs/Slippers 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 We Wish you a Merry Christmas! FIRST DAY BACK is JANUARY 9th, 2017