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Set of weekly School Newsletters

St. Henry School Newsletter

February 6, 2009

St. Henry Students –“Soaring with the Lord!”

DINNER AUCTION tomorrow evening at Watertown Country Club. The silent auction and cocktails are open at 5:30. The dinner is served at 7 pm, followed by the live auction. May it be a smashing success! (Should be based on all the efforts to get it organized! God bless and thank you many times over, all of you who have worked on this and all who will or are participating in any way.)

An important reminder, right off the bat. Have you gone on line and done the diocese-requested Catholic Schools Planning Survey? If you have, move right on down to the second paragraph. (And thank you!) If not, please take the time to 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.

I do have a little more information about those four different groups the diocese is looking for volunteers to contribute their expertise. Catholic Leadership including: “Identifying, training, and retaining quality Catholic school teachers and principals for the future; Catholic school identity and mission; Catholic school connection to faith life of families, Catholic school support of parish life; Catholic school spiritual and faith life connecting to the curricular, co-curricular, and extra-curricular aspects of student experience. Fiscal Stewardship including: Balanced school budgets; human resources related to just wage and benefits to all staff; establishment of formal development plan for each school; annual fund; capital campaigns; endowments; affordability of tuition; perceived and real value of tuition; financial assistance; volunteerism; fundraising. Academic Curriculum including: Measuring student success – intellectually, morally, spiritually, and physically; integration of faith into all curricular areas; addressing special needs intervention for both the gifted and academically challenged students; teacher credentialing and continuing education; breadth, depth, rigor, and relevance of curriculum outside of the traditional academic disciplines; student to teacher ratio; integration of technology into curriculum; pre-school and early childhood emphasis. Enrollment Management including: Statistical enrollment trend data in the diocese; satisfaction and self-promotion; strategic use of financial assistance; use of technology in marketing and recruitment; human resources needed to support enrollment; faculty, staff, parent, and volunteer support in managing enrollment; customer relationship building; retention; benchmarking and forecasting enrollment; marketing tactics; changing target market.”

A bit ambitious, wouldn’t you say? If there is any area to which you know you could contribute or in which you have an interest, I really do urge you to call the Office of Catholic Schools for more information at 608-821-3180. I’m sure the Spirit is calling some at St. Henry! Please say “Yes” or at least “I’ll check it out!

11:30 dismissal this coming Friday, February 13th!

Mrs. Lynn Miller and Mrs. Michele Uecker were the chairpersons for the Home and School fundraisers that were part of our November-December lives. A word from them: “HASA wants to thank all of those who sold Kringles and Kraemer’s cheese. We were able to raise $2500! Also, a thank you goes out to all the volunteers who helped out on delivery day: Julie Krahn, Heidi Jakubiak, Katie Schroeder, and Jan Brebeck.” (And we are all so grateful to Lynn and Michele for all their work on this project.)

Another great opportunity for helping with that most important “job” you will ever have – being a parent. On Sunday, March 1 Dr. Ray Guarendi is presenting “Standing Strong as a Parent” at 2 pm in the auditorium at the Bishop O’Connor Center in Madison. Tickets for the approximately 3 hour session can be purchased online at www.relevantradio1240.com or by calling them at 608-576-4008 or 608-833-7888. There is even child care service available – call them for details and “reservations.” Tickets are $10.00 for one person; $15.00 for two. The deadline for ordering is Sunday, February 22. I have heard him on the radio a few times traveling to or from Madison meetings and thought he made a lot of sense. I’d be happy to give you really good directions.

Just in case someone missed this. If you have a child who will be four on or before this September 1, of course our 4K program would be “perfect” for him or her. (Humbly said.) Now that we are part of the Watertown 4K Partnership Program, it is virtually free. However, if you haven’t already, you need to immediately ask for a pre-registration form and get it filled out immediately. (They actually wanted them all in by today, the 6th but I’m sure if you – or we – brought them over next Monday or Tuesday, that would be fine.) We have that form or you can stop by the ESC (Educational Service Center) at 111 Dodge Street to get it. From information you supply on that form, they will send you official registration materials. Then on Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday of February 23-25 between the hours of 10 am and 6 pm, a parent needs to stop by there with all the forms filled out and proof of the child’s age by bringing in a birth certificate or hospital record. When there, our suggestion is that you make it very clear that you really want your little one at the St. Henry School. (We’re even kinda hoping that we will have so many people requesting us that we will have to open an afternoon session! Wouldn’t that be great? I’ll leave a reminder about this in the calendar below the next few weeks.

Next week: Honor Roll! Ran out of room. I hate that when that happens. Two boys’ basketball games tonight starting at 6:00 pm. They’re always fun. Have a nice weekend. Give God His time; it’s not a burden!

Dates to Mark on Your Calendar

FEBRUARY

Saturday 07 Bi-annual St. Henry Dinner Auction today!

Begins at 5:30, dinner at 7:00 pm at WTTN Country Club

Monday 09 HASA Board meeting, 6:30 pm, rectory hall.

Please call president 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”

(This will take precedence over a St. Henry clothes day – our

usual custom for the 13th dates.)

EARLY DISMISSAL at 11:30 AM and Market Day pick up at regular time.

Sunday 15 First Communion families at 8:30 Mass followed by

breakfast hosted by Knights of Columbus

Monday 16 A large diocesan meeting here at St. Henry beginning in afternoon;

after school pickup will need extra care.

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.

Wednesday 18 Grade Seven fills liturgical roles at 8:15 All School Mass

Weather show presented by WTMJ’s Craig Koplien at 10:00 am in PC. Join us.

Friday 20 Last day for open enrollment in Watertown School District;

potentially important for out-of-district parents of 09-10 4K

children wanting to be at our site next year and for eighth graders here who

want to attend Watertown High School.

First set of third quarter Accelerated Reader (AR) points due

for students in grades 4-8.

Deliveries of Emil’s Pizzas for those who ordered.

Saturday 21 4K Sledding Party at Washington Park 10 – Noon, weather permitting.

GIFT Family Lenten workshop and Chili Cook off

Mon-Wed 23-25 4K registration at Educational Service Center from 10:00 am – 6:00 pm.

Be sure to specifically (and emphatically) request the St. Henry site.)

Should have filled out pre-registration form and sent in.

Go with forms you should have obtained earlier filled out, along with child’s birth

certificate or hospital record to verify that child is 4 on or before September 1, 2009.

Tuesday 24 Student Council Mardi Gras Day – wear yellow, green, and purple.

Music education presentation by Wisconsin Chamber members, 12:45-1:15 in PC

Wednesday 25 ASH WEDNESDAY! Grade Five fills liturgical roles at 8:15 All School Mass

Thursday 26 Dentist Dr. Sommers visits kindergarten and grade 1 classrooms.

Friday 27 NO SCHOOL – Teacher meeting and workday

MARCH

Sunday 01 Dr. Ray Guarendi talk “ Standing Tall as a Parent,” 2 pm,

Bishop O’Connor Center, Madison

Monday 02 NO SCHOOL – Staff Development Day