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Set of weekly School Newsletters

St. Henry School Newsletter

March 2, 2007

He broke the bread, gave it to his disciples, and said:

“Take this, all of you, and eat it.

This is my body which will be given up for you.”

We have some winners to announce! Our January-February first school-wide (grades 3-8) Checkers tournament ended last week. In the first round fifty students played during their lunch hours and those who won two games out of a possible three went on to the next round. By our fourth round three students from each lunch hours vied with each other to determine the two semi-finalists. The first lunch “survivors” were Tony Loppnow (grade four), Jeffrey Schultz (grade four) and Patrick Roche (grade six). Second lunch winners were Alex Denault (grade 3), Justin Drebenstedt (grade five), and Andrew Jonas (grade seven). Jeffrey and Andrew triumphed and then went head-to-head in our final fifth round. And the grand champion is . . . Jeffrey Schultz with Andrew Jonas being the runner-up. Congratulations, all. The tournament was fun and relatively easy to run. ALL the participants showed excellent sportsmanship. Chances are very high this will become an annual winter event.

Four students emerged as Knights of Columbus winners in the two categories for which they test in grades seven and eight. Eligible to compete at the diocesan level are Jared Keller, first place in seventh grade math; Catherine O’Connor, first place in eighth grade math; Elizabeth Christian, first place in seventh grade spelling, and Megan Feilbach, first place in eighth grade spelling. Well done – and good luck!

Very proud are we to announce that we have two St. Henry students qualify for the State Championship level of the Reader’s Digest National Word Power Challenge competition. Wow! And three cheers and best wishes to Patrick Roche in grade six and Megan Feilbach in grade eight.

Just in case someone doesn’t catch it in the calendar, the Athletic Commission meeting scheduled for Monday has been moved to Wednesday, March 7^th. Same time, same station.

I noticed in the paper a nice opportunity for students in grades five to eight to attend a Winter Dance Clinic tomorrow at Riverside Middle School, Saturday, March 3. Let me quote: “During the course of the afternoon dancers will learn some basic skills, such as spins and leaps, and then incorporate those skills into short pom, jazz and hip-hop routines.” Sure sounds like fun to me! It starts at 1:00 pm; a parent will need to come in and sign a liability form. There is a $6.00 cost that will cover expenses, including a snack. Ending at 4 pm, “the clinic will be taught by a former college dancer who also has experience with the Milwaukee Brewer Dance Team.”

Adults, I was able to attend last Monday night’s first Lenten Bible series held here in our rectory basement. It was very worthwhile. Definitely for adults because it stretches you intellectually as well as spiritually but that felt good to be challenged and enlightened. For a layperson who doesn’t have a degree in religious studies, I have a fairly good background in Scripture compared to most people. Nonetheless, I learned quite a bit and was definitely enriched. I invite you to come. It begins at 7 pm. I think we left around 8:30. Nice people there, of course. This is a joint St. Bernard/St. Henry adult education effort. God bless those whose efforts are bringing these wonderful opportunities to us.

ACQUIRING KNOWLEDGE AND PERSPECTIVE BY OPENING DOORS

Why would students be playing with a Hot Wheels racetrack, matchbox cars, and balloons? Well, they weren’t “playing,” they were performing scientific investigations to understand many physics concepts. The principles concerning inertia, friction, force, centrifugal force, and potential and kinetic energy were applied then understood as students sent matchbox cars down an inclined track to perform three loops. After a few failed attempts, some future engineers solved the problem by making modifications to the track’s construction. Centrifugal force was demonstrated with a bucket of water swung in a circle with no one getting wet! Inflated balloons attached to a string raced down the hallway as the balloons’ air was expelled. The rate at which air was expelled determined the distance the balloon traveled. Sir Isaac Newton would have been proud to see so many physics applications.

Providing students with many different genres of literature opens the doors to a multitude of experiences. It also provides the cornerstone for writing. After reading and noting the structure of haikus and cinquains, students wrote their own. The reading of short, nonfiction books served as the launching pad for the development of KWL charts. The reading strategy was used in combination with learning the computer skill of making their own chart using Word tools. Inspiration was used to utilize the Traits of Writing, predominately word choice and organization of ideas in the prewriting process of developing a descriptive paragraph. Fifth graders are currently enveloped in the ambitious project of writing their own books using a book template. Soon all will be published authors sharing their profound one-sentence-on-a-page coloring book with a first grader for some buddy reading.

As a culminating activity to Global Solidarity Week, students received a guided tour to Nicaragua via a slide show presentation. Paula Loepfe shared her experiences and knowledge gained from a mission trip to expose what life is like outside the confines of a relatively privileged lifestyle in the United States. Being reminded that we are brothers and sisters in Christ in a global context was an inspirational way to begin Lent.

Mrs. Lemminger

MARCH IS MUSIC IN OUR SCHOOLS MONTH

The band and choir students are working hard preparing for the next concert on Thursday, May 31, 2007 at 6:30pm here at St. Henry’s. Please mark your calendar now! Before then, we do have a few other activities to keep us busy. A band field trip is in the works with details coming home soon if not today, and the choir is planning on singing in church during this season of Lent.

Other band related happenings are numerous during March, as it is Music in Our Schools Month. A big thank you to the Zelinski family for sharing their musical talents with us on Friday. More string-playing visitors are planning on coming to our school next Wednesday before younger grade students attend a concert presented by Maranatha College. What a busy and musical March!

Mrs. Oestreicher

Dates to Put on Your Calendar

MARCH

Friday 02 Mid-quarter reports go home.

Wednesday 07 Play Group, P.C. 9:30 –11:00 am

Children from grade eight fill liturgical roles during 8:15 am Mass

Athletic Assn. mtg., 6:00 pm, computer lab (A CHANGE from Mon the 5^th)

Friday 09 Parish Youth Underground Church experience in the evening.

Sunday 11 Daylight Savings Time begins

Monday 12 Lenten Penny War begins.

11:30 Dismissal

HASA mtg., 6:30 pm, rectory hall

Tuesday 13 Education Commission mtg., 6:30 pm, rectory hall

Wednesday 14 Children from grade six fill liturgical roles during 8:15 am Mass

Thursday 15 Grades 1-4 to Calvary Baptist for a Maranatha College Concert, 1:30 pm

Friday 16 Student Council “Wearing of the Green” Day

Younger children attend St. Bernard’s Parade in the morning.

Market Day

Sunday 18 First Communion Parents mtg. in cafeteria at 9:30 am

Saturday 24 School Children’s Cantor Choir sings at 4:30 pm Mass

APRIL

Monday 02 Spring Break begins. Students return to school on Tuesday, April 10^th.

Last day to make reservation for St. Henry School Families

Fun Weekend in the Dells at Treasure Island Waterpark and Resort

for May 18 and 19^th. Call 1-800-800-4997. Pick “Reservations.”

Share “lead off number” 468507.

Wednesday 18 NO SCHOOL! Only St. Henry off so faculty can attend a

seminar on 6-Trait Writing.

Memory verse for March 5-March 9 from Eucharistic Prayer II

“When supper was ended, he took the cup.

Again, he gave you thanks and praise, gave the cup to his disciples, and said...”