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Set of weekly School Newsletters

St. Henry School Newsletter

January 30, 2009

“Catholic Schools Celebrate Service”

Such a busy, “neat” week. And today we have so many very strange, very weird, very ridiculous looking children and teachers in the building. Good thing it’s Student Council “Crazy Day!”

People really enjoyed our speaker last night. I’m so glad a number of you could make it. We have a large number of materials here in the office that can expand on the advice and techniques Dr. Gasser shared last night: tapes (I know they are getting old-fashioned, but they still work), books, videos, and even a few DVD’s. Like him, they always contain much humor and some real nuggets of practical parenting advice. Call or stop; we’d be happy to loan them out. And thanks again to the kitchen ladies and HASA for making the “Soup and Speaker Parents Night Out” possible.

Don’t forget! Tonight all our school families are invited to St. Bernard School for their “Under the Sea @ St.B’s” sock hop. It’s geared to PK to grade 5 children and their parents. At only $3.00 per family, that’s quite a bargain1. They promise “good food, dancing, spectacular entertainment, games, and raffle prizes too!” I hope a number of you can go – and make some new friends in the process. It’s from 6-8 pm. Have fun!

Finally, the outcome of our school’s National Geography Bee. Our twice re-scheduled assembly took place last week with our classroom victors. Representing grade four were Erin Haeger and Karli Kohls; grade five, Natalie Lemminger and Trey Jahnke; grade six, Caleb Walter and Katie Vandersommen; grade seven, Jessica Mallow and Nikki Williams; and grade eight, Ben Uecker and John Wagner. Emerging as the school champion and runner up were Trey Jahnke and Caleb Walters, respectively. Congratulations, all! Trey took a qualifying test to see if he would eligible for the state competition later in the school year. Good luck on that – and anyone with a dream of going to Washington, D.C. for the national contest, keep watching all those travel shows, reading the newspaper and National Geographic magazines, listening to the news, and becoming familiar with the grandeur, beauty, and history of this great Earth. Students who decide to really compete for the big prizes must learn a huge amount of interesting and useful facts. A pretty worthwhile endeavor for the committed!

Have you taken your Catholic Schools Planning Survey yet? I just did and it truly only takes about five minutes. Just go to www.madisondiocese.org . In the left hand margin there is a green box entitled “Catholic Schools Planning.” Click on it and then choose “Take the Catholic Schools Survey.” You can choose to do it in English or Spanish and it is very easy to do. We do have a paper version in both languages available in the office. All need to be done on or before Monday, February 9. Please take those few minutes. Thank you! Also, the Committee is looking for all kinds of people to serve in various capacities. There are four main concentrations in this endeavor: Catholic Leadership, Academic Curriculum, Enrollment Management, and Fiscal Stewardship. If the Spirit is nudging you at all, you can check out a little about those categories at that Catholic Schools Planning site. How much time would be involved varies greatly from fairly small to a medium amount. Just contact the Office of Schools in Madison with any questions you might have. Their number is 608-821-3180. Any of the people working in that office will be able to help you.

I assume you noticed the full page ad in the Daily Times on Monday celebrating both St. Henry and St. Bernard Schools. There were twenty-two sponsors of that ad, and Mr. Allen and I shared the writing of well-deserved thank you notes to them. If you get a chance to express your gratitude to them as well, that would be wonderful.

Speaking of wonderful people, that Auction Committee has put in a scary amount of hours getting things ready for the big event that’s looming on the horizon – just a week away. Here’s hoping their efforts bear much fruit – and everyone in our school family community is supporting them in whatever way they possibly can. Hope to see many of you at the Country Club next Saturday night, February 7th. The good time rating has always been very high in the past; no doubt, that tradition will continue. If you haven’t been able to buy raffle tickets yet or tickets to the event itself, please contact us at school. We can help with that!

Here’s some possibly important information for people in our school who do not live in the Watertown School District. There is a period of open enrollment in Wisconsin that allows parents to apply for their children to attend school districts other than the one in which they live. This would be especially pertinent for those who want their children in our 4K Partnership program. The time period for enrollment is very strict – from February 2-20. It’s preferable this be done on-line at www2.dpi.state.us/OpenEnrollApp.. Otherwise, parents may stop at the District Office at 111 Dodge Street, phone 262-1460. This is also vital information for any parents of an eighth grader who lives outside the district but for whom Watertown High School might be the best option. My understanding is that applying for the permission does not obligate one. Failing to do so on time will remove that option entirely! There is no cost to do this. Again, best to call the district if you have any questions at all.

BIG weekend of home basketball games coming up. Tomorrow’s games begin at 9:30 and are with St. John’s, Jefferson. The last one is scheduled at 12:30. On Sunday, they are also versus St. John’s but those games begin at 12:30 and the last one is scheduled at 2:30. Go, Hawks!

Please support the eighth graders’ fund-raising efforts this weekend by buying Emil’s Frozen Pizzas from them. They’ll be in the parking lot after all Masses.

REMEMBER: SIX FLAGS Reading Forms for K-grade 6 participants MUST be turned in Monday!

Dates to Mark on Your Calendar

JANUARY

Friday 30 Report cards go home.

Dance at St. Bernard School; families with children 4K-grade five invited, 6-8 pm

FEBRUARY

Sunday 01 New registrations for 2009-2010 should be in to get “privileged status” according to Education

Commission policy

Monday 02 Six Flags Six Hour Reading forms (K-6) must be turned in today.

Wednesday 04 Grade Four fills liturgical roles at 8:15 All School Mass; will be a St. Blaise throat blessing after.

St. Henry/St. Bernard Play Group meets in PC, 9:30 am to 11:00.

Friday 06 Student Council Tie-Dye Day

Eighth grade trip to Princeton – St. John’s older students there will be their companions on May trip!

Saturday 07 Bi-annual St. Henry Dinner Auction today. Set the evening aside!

Monday 09 HASA Board meeting, 6:30 pm, rectory hall. Please call president or principal if on board and can’t make

meeting.

Wednesday 11 Grade Two fills liturgical roles at 8:15 All School Mass

Friday 13 Student Council “Wear Pink or Red Day”

EARLY DISMISSAL at 11:30 AM

Tuesday 17 Education Commission mtg. (Usually second Tuesday but some members at important meeting of the

Diocesan School Planning Committee so re-scheduled to this evening.) 6:30 pm, rectory hall.

Friday 20 First set of third quarter Accelerated Reader (AR) points due for students in grades 4-8.