NewsletterSchool 02 20 2009

ebook History of Watertown, Wisconsin

St. Henry School Newsletter

February 20, 2009

“To act justly, love tenderly, and walk humbly with our God.”

I’m sure you are all aware of this, but NO SCHOOL next Friday the 27th or Monday, March 2nd. This has been a public school tradition for at least a couple of decades. Teachers are present and working both days – but there are staff development sessions they are attending, school meetings, and working in their classrooms. It does give us time for getting some important curriculum study and professional education accomplished.

Lent begins next week. We, of course, will attend the Ash Wednesday Mass. Teachers will be doing special Lenten activities in their classrooms. Children in grades 2-8 will have the opportunity to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation during school time in March, and we will have Stations of the Cross in church with grades 1-8 about 2:30 every Friday during this special time of the church year. This is also the time of the year, in keeping with the Lent encouragements to increased prayer, penance (sacrifice), and alms, that we hold our two week long Penny “War.” Our special cause this year will be Watertown’s own Hometown Mission. You might have read a little about it recently in the paper. The Clergy Roundtable of Watertown, of which we are a part, felt it would be a good thing to have a central place for those in tough times to go for help from the churches. Hence, Hometown Mission. A trained social worker, Mr. Mark Petersen, runs the program out of Immanuel Church. He will be coming to speak to the children on Wednesday morning on March 4th to give them some idea of the scope of the problem of meeting basic needs for some folks in the Watertown area. He’ll share how this joint venture of a number of the Christian parishes helps these people God so passionately cares about. The very next day, we go to battle to see which room can win the Penny War, waged on their behalf. The goal is to have the highest penny total. Sounds simple enough but students from other rooms can sabotage a grade’s efforts by dropping in non-pennies in their collection container, whether it be coins or paper. A few minutes each day are set aside for these brief, non-bloody, fun encounters. The outcome will be determined by Thursday, March 19th. This year’s “alms” will go for another excellent cause, the struggling poor in our own area.

Have a great weekend. For “God’s sake” – and yours! – please be sure active participation at Mass is part of it.

Dates to Mark on Your Calendar

FEBRUARY

Saturday 21 4K Family Get-Together cancelled. Will be re-scheduled.

Note sent home last Thursday.

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

Wednesday 04 Grade Three fills liturgical roles at 8:15 All School Mass

Athletic Association Board mtg., 6:30 pm, computer lab

Thursday 05 Student Council Hawaiian Day; Penny War begins.

Friday 06 Mid-quarter reports go home