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     Set of weekly School Newsletters

 

 

 

 

 

St. Henry School Newsletter

 

March 14, 2008

 

 

 

 

 

“Cast me not out from your presence

and your Holy Spirit take not from me.”

             Psalm 51: 13

 

 

Please, please keep storming heaven for Joshua O’Brien, one of our beloved kindergartners, who has been at UW Childen’s Hospital in Madison approaching two weeks now.  At school, we’ve been saying special prayers for days now but more is better!  What follows is a note from the O’Brien family that they asked be included in today’s newsletter:

 

We just wanted to take a minute to say how grateful we are to everyone for the outpouring of love, support, and prayers we are being offered for our son Joshua.  At this time he is still very sick.  There has been no change in his condition and his team of Doctors are doing everything possible to help him.

 

As of Wednesday March 11th the Doctors have ordered NO VISITORS until further notice, and they want as little stimulation as they can get to see if the new medication and quiet might help stop his seizures.  We appreciate all your prayers, and hope they will be answered soon.  We will make sure any updates are given to Mrs. Butzine.  Thank you.

 

Holy Week, which begins with this weekend’s memorial of Palm Sunday, will offer many opportunities for all of us to fill John and Christine’s request.  May Josh be given full health soon.  That would make for a wonderful Easter.

 

Misako Sensei will be flying home to Japan from Madison on Holy Thursday.  We will be praying for her safe return during our Wednesday morning Mass. She loved the celebration this week in her honor and so appreciated the cards and gifts given to her on behalf of the children and their families:  the lovely homemade lap quilt with US and St. Henry colors, the beautiful gold chain with its special hippo charm, and the hippo stamps.  She’ll treasure them for decades, we’re sure.  It’s hard to THANK HER adequately for her gifts of culture, time, and expertise. But mostly for sharing herself so unselfishly and graciously.  How openhearted and brave (!) she has been in her willingness to learn and experience our world. I will never forget how sincerely grateful she always was for every kindness, no matter how small.  Her talk to the children on Wednesday ended with a plea from her for them to make a difference for the world.  She noted that only sixty some years ago her country and ours were at war!  How important that we all live lives that help make peace possible throughout the world.  For all people everywhere are truly our brothers and sisters.

 

Mrs. Olejniczak has a note too.  By the way, because she hadn’t been aware of the early dismissal on March 12 when she did the lunch menu, she will subtract that cost from April’s menu.

 

Thank you!!!  Through the generosity of a long time parish member, the hot lunch program and St. Henry School has received a new and shiny commercial Hobart mixer.  Our old mixer was on its “last mix” and it was so old that Hobart no longer made parts for it.  The Hot Lunch Program is very, very thankful for this wonderful gift!

 

Lastly, I’m sure most of you know that there are several “bugs” about.  There has been strep in school, and I’m sure you know you should take your child to be tested if you have any inkling of that.  Another is Fifth’s Disease.  Fifth’s is not serious but if a child with it has been around a pregnant woman, she should be sure to inform her doctor.  One of the common signs of “fifth” is a bright red or rosy rash on cheeks and/or a lacelike rash on the arms and legs.  Just check with your doctor if you see such signs.  Can’t hurt! 

 

THOUGHTS OF SPRING INSPIRE US

 

The melting snow brings warm thoughts of spring and the upcoming all-school spring musical. Scheduled for Thursday, April 10, at 6:30pm in the Parish Center, “The Granny Awards” should be a treat for all. After 80 years playing ‘Grandma’ in Little Red Riding Hood, Granny has retired from show biz and is now giving out awards to fairytale characters who demonstrate superior performance. Upper grade students auditioned this week for the main speaking and singing parts with some parts yet to be assigned, and lower floor students began learning the chorus songs. All students are expected to participate in the performance of this show. Students in the chorus may dress as any fairytale or storybook character, so start thinking of a character and costume now. We’re all looking forward to a great show!

 

The band and choir students had quite the first concert on February 14. Despite the weather’s attempts to cut our spirits and preparation time, the students performed magnificently! The band students home practice time was appreciated and showed. Teamwork is starting to truly display itself in choir. What a joy it is to watch these students grow and develop as musicians!

If your child has come home singing in another language recently, fear not! We were preparing to bid Misako Sensei a fond farewell, so we learned a few songs in Japanese. The children sang and the band played traditional Japanese folk, school, and game songs. Misako loved them all! We are so blessed to have her with us this past year and will miss her dearly. Thank you Misako!

 

Mrs. Oestreicher

 

Dates to Mark on Your Calendar

 

MARCH 

Friday      14    Market Day

Wednesday   19    Grade Seven fills liturgical roles at 8:15 Mass

                  Play Group in PC, 9:30 – 11:00

Thursday    20    Holy Thursday

                  Misako Sensei begins her flight back to Japan! 

(Please pray for a safe trip.)

Friday      21    Good Friday, NO SCHOOL, Spring break begins.

Monday      31    School resumes.

 

APRIL

Wednesday   02    Grade Five fills liturgical roles at 8:15 Mass

                  Play Group in PC, 9:30 – 11:00

                  Athletic Assn. Board mtg., 6:00 pm, computer lab

Friday      04    HASA Family Dance, PC.

Saturday    05    Early Bird Summer School Registration at Lincoln School, 8-12.

Monday      07    Early 11:30 dismissal

Tuesday     08    Education Commission mtg., 6:30 pm, rectory hall.

Wednesday   09    Grade Three fills liturgical roles at 9:00 am Mass, St. Bernard Children

                  here for Mass, visit, and to view dress rehearsal for spring program; 

St. B’s Grade Five staying for lunch and intro to our grade six-eight program.

Thursday    10    Spring Program, 6:30 pm, PC.  All students required to attend.

Friday      11    Last date for making reservations for the Dells St. Henry SCHOOL Families weekend.

                  Third quarter report cards go home.

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

Tuesday     15    SERVICE HOURS and/or tuition in place of them due today.  Taxes too!

 

Memory verse for week of March 17-20

“Give me back the joy of your salvation, and a willing spirit sustain in me.”  (cont. from last six weeks)   Ps   51: 17

 

Reminder:  Have you made your reservations for Mt. Olympus (Treasure Island) for St. Henry School Families Dells Weekend of May 16-18? LAST CHANCE, April 11th.  Call 800-800-4997 and ask for Beth at extension 601.  See October 5 newsletter for more information.  Available in school section of parish website:  sainthenryparish.org