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Set of weekly School Newsletters

St. Henry School Newsletter

January 11, 2008

“The Lord is my light and my salvation;

whom should I fear.”

Psalm 27: 1(A)

Our eighth grade homeroom teacher, Mrs. Sherry Harms, recently received a “Christmas present” from the Educational Foundation of Watertown. And I quote:

Congratulations, you are one of thirteen grant requests that are being honored by the Educational Foundation of Watertown, Inc. The committee was impressed by your proposal to impact your students. Enclosed is a check from the foundation in the amount of $300 for Six Traits of Writing. Hopefully, this monetary amount will allow you to accomplish your objective. Thank you for participating in our Grant Program. Your enthusiasm and creativity benefit many.

Sincerely,

The Grant Committee

Results of the school level National Geographic Bee are in: John Tesensky, grade seven, emerged as the winner and Ben Uecker, also of grade seven, as the runner-up. Many tough questions. Congratulations! And good luck, John, on the written qualifying test for the next level. Speaking of wishing someone good luck . . . the same to you, John Wagner (grade seven), for being one of the twenty winners to advance from the first written round of the Daily Times-sponsored spelling bee. He will participate in the orals on January 21st.

Parents, you will find in this Friday’s weekly envelope a sheet to be returned on Monday, if at all possible. We need the data from them in order to work on budgets for next school year. Please be sure to mark the space for needing a registration for a child in your family whose first year at St. Henry will begin next September. Having siblings in school already places a child in the top priority of acceptance if their registration is received in the office on or before the first Sunday of February. Best to get it filled out and back with days to spare to prevent any unnecessary distress. THANK YOU, All, for filling out the re-registration form and getting it back right away.

The Education Commission is wondering if you know (or ARE!) a somewhat talented graphic artist who would be willing to offer some volunteer time to design a one sheet bulletin insert on our school for our bulletin and possibly some other parishes in the vicinity without the blessing of a parish school. It would be a real gift. Please call. Also, to ALL parents, THE best marketing tool for our school is YOU.

Please share with others the many wonderful advantages our children have here: the spiritual climate and education, the excellent academics, the safe and nurturing environment, the terrific teacher to student ratios. This community is such a SPECIAL gift. Please be an enthusiastic ambassador for it.

Do we have a wonderful volunteer opportunity for you! Mrs. Sharon Jahnke, our Market Day chairperson for a number of years, will not be able to take on that responsibility for 2008-09 school year. Although we have been doing Market Day pickup on Fridays (once a month), that day is not cut in stone, and could be changed to accommodate the schedule of a new chairperson (or co-chairs). Sharon would be happy to “show her successor(s) the ropes.” If you are at all interested or even just have questions, please call her at 261-0437. Another great way to serve.

SEVENTH GRADE NEWS

A new year brings new and exciting areas of study to the seventh grade. As the students returned from break they began their study of animals in science. Incorporated into these studies is the always exciting experience of dissecting preserved specimens. The first “critter” was a worm. Students were introduced to the simple techniques of opening a specimen and trying to locate anatomical features which can be difficult. As the class continues on through more complex phyla they will have the opportunity to dissect sea stars, crayfish, fish, frogs, and cow eyes.

The seventh grade is matched up with the first grade for the school wide study buddy program. Last month the students worked together to make graham cracker houses and read each other stories based on the Christmas theme. This month we will be working together on sharing our favorite outdoor winter activities and learning some basic football terminology, scoring and teams for the upcoming Super Bowl.

Mrs. Smedema

MANY CHANGES FOR THE NEW YEAR

2008 has brought new and exciting activities to kindergarten. First, we are starting to copy sentences off the board and filling in missing words. We are using our flash cards in the sentences so, Mom and Dad, please make sure you are reviewing the words with them every night. Another change is that the children are filling in missing numbers in a sequence. This will help them write from 1 to 100 on their own. The goal is for all children to write from 1 to 100 in ten minutes.

Each child has also started to read in the kindergarten reading books. They do this on an individual basis. When your child brings home a book, please give your child all of your attention while he/she reads to you. It is such an exciting time for a little one. Knowing their flash card words will help the children have success in reading.

These are just a few changes with the new year. I am sure the children will tell you all about them. Thank you for choosing to send your child to St. Henry. They are gifts from above.

Mrs. Lapp

Dates to Mark on Your Calendar

JANUARY

Saturday 12 St. Henry School Cantor Choir leads singing at

the 4:30 pm Mass.

Monday 14 Home and School Association mtg., 6:30 pm, rectory hall

Wednesday 16 Grade TWO fills liturgical roles during 8:15 Mass

Thursday 17 NET “retreat” for Middle School youngsters;

5:00 – 9:15 pm; supper served!

Friday 18 Student Council “Crazy Day”

Second set of Accelerated Reader (AR) points

due today (Grades 4-8)

Market Day

Saturday 19 St. Henry Parish HeritageFest Celebration

Wednesday 23 Grade SEVEN fills liturgical roles during 8:15 Mass

Thursday 24 Grade EIGHT to Marquardt Manor in the morning

Friday 25 NO SCHOOL – In-service Day

Sunday 27 Official start of Catholic Schools Week –

“Catholic Schools Light the Way!”

School children fill some of liturgical roles

at all three weekend Masses.

St. Henry/St. Bernard Joint Mission begins today

and ends Thursday. No evening activities scheduled,

sports included to allow adults and older

children to attend as many night sessions as

possible. Give this week to the Lord; He won’t disappoint.

Monday 28 HASA-sponsored special assembly at 9:00 am

in Parish Center:

Tuesday 29 Blue and Gold Day – special fun activity in each

classroom in the afternoon.

Wednesday 30 Special Catholic Schools Week Mass with St. Bernard

School at 9:00 am in

St. Henry Church; Grade FIVE fills liturgical roles.

Short visit in classrooms and then back to church for

talk to both schools by Mission Priest.

Thursday 31 Bowling Fun with St. Bernard’s (grades K-6);

afternoon dance for grades 7 and 8

Six Flags Great America “Read to Succeed” parent-

signed form due in school today!

FEBRUARY

Friday 01 Student Council VARIETY SHOW in Parish Center in

afternoon; visitors welcome!

Second Quarter report cards go home.

Sunday 03 Registrations for NEW children to St. Henry School

for 2008-2009 should be completed.

Wednesday 06 ASH Wednesday! Lent begins.

Thursday 14 St. Henry/St.Bernard Choir and Band Concert; here

at St. Henry; 6:30 pm

Memory verse for week of January 14-18

“The Lord is my life’s refuge: of whom should I be afraid?”

Psalm 27: 1 (B)

Reminder: Have you made your reservations for Mt. Olympus (Treasure Island) for St. Henry School Families Dells Weekend of May 16-18? Call 800-800-4997 and ask for Beth at extension 601. See October 5 newsletter. Available in school section of parish website: sainthenryparish.org