website  watertownhistory.org

    ebook  History of Watertown, Wisconsin

     Set of weekly School Newsletters

 

 

 

 

 

St. Henry School Newsletter

 

September 27, 2007

 

 

 

 

 

“Blessed is he who keeps faith forever,

secures justice for the oppressed,

gives food to the hungry.”

Psalm 146:7

 

We hope you enjoy the FREE DAY tomorrow.  It’s just for the Catholic schools in our diocese.  Is anybody out there SO OLD that you remember when Catholic schools would have off on holy days of obligation like All Saints on November 1st or the Feast of the Immaculate Conception on December 8th?

 

No?  Well, ask your grandparents if they do.  I sure do.  It was part of the coolness of being Catholic!

 

Of course, I didn’t get the real coolness of being Catholic then.  Now . . . better.  It’s such an undeserved blessing to be part of the one, holy, catholic, apostolic community that for twenty centuries now has passed on the faith in the living, resurrected Jesus, his teachings, and the precious sacramental life that is such a gift from Him. But I digress. We will be at meetings tomorrow.  Please pray a quick prayer that our gatherings be fruitful and worthwhile.  Thank you!

 

Our delightful guest teacher, Mrs. Misako Nimiya, -- addressed by the children as Misako Sensei (Teacher) – is offering an “Origami Club” to the students in grades 1-8 during lunch recess.  Originally she thought she would get by with having all the interested children on the first floor on one day, and those on the second floor another.  Not happening.  There are SO many children who want to participate that she will hold classes every noon recess and has divided the eight classes into five groups. 

 

Since the children are so enthusiastic, we wondered if some of you parents would like to experience what all the excitement is about.  Misako is offering an hour and a half class next month on Tuesday, October 16th here at school from 6:30 to 8:00 pm.  It will be an “Introduction to Japanese Calligraphy.” At this point, it’s just a one time experience, but -- who knows? – perhaps some of you will convince Misako to offer more classes.  She’s more than open to suggestions.  Knowing how many will attend on the 16th will be necessary for her to gather all her materials and decide on the best meeting place in the building.  So, please, either call, leave a message on the answering machine, or send back a note for Misako letting her know you plan to attend.  All responses should be in by Monday, October 8th please. And, yes, you certainly may bring along a friend who is not a St. Henry School parent.

 

Weather permitting, we will have our long-standing tradition of the “Blessing of Pets” in honor of St. Francis next week on Wednesday afternoon.  It will be held in the courtyard about 2:40 pm.  We ask that parents bring well-behaved pets and come into the center of the rectangle so Father can easily reach your animal “friends” when he blesses them.  Children may join their pets in that area; the rest of us will be lined up along the outside.  If your schedule (or pet) makes it too difficult to attend, feel free to let your child bring a picture along to the little service.  I’m sure God will honor the intention.  No, it’s not “magic.”  It’s actually more for us than our pets:  a reminder that they are truly gifts, and we have responsibilities as their caretakers.  St. Francis, by the way, was/is a fascinating person from the era of the Middle Ages. As an adult, you may be interested in learning more about him.  The facts of his life are even more interesting than some of the quaint legends that grew up around him.  He is our preschoolers “patron saint” by the way, and many of you are familiar with some of the poetry he wrote because it’s been translated into English and used in familiar hymns like “Make Me a Channel of Your Peace” and “The Canticle of the Sun.”  Good man.  An example of medieval Catholicism at its best.

 

NEWS FROM THE ART DEPARTMENT

 

Picasso for fifth, Dufy for seventh, and good ole Kandinsky for third grade.  These are some of the artists St. Henry children are learning about.  The fifth graders drew images of heads with profile lines through the center to create a front and side view similar to that of Picasso’s work.  As for the seventh graders, they “loved” drawing with the hand they are not accustomed to.  Raoul Dufy started to draw with the opposite hand when he felt his work was tired and ordinary.  Well this is one way to perk up a drawing!  After we drew with our opposite hand, they traced the lines with black marker and embellished with watercolor.  They really turned out great.  Look for these works of art in the stairway closest to their room.  Fifth through eighth grade also entered a contest called “Picture Hope”.  Picture Hope is an annual Diocesan youth arts event to promote awareness of the Catholic Multicultural Center.  The Catholic Multicultural Center provides hope and assistance to people every day.  It was a difficult task; however most students did a great job!  Lastly, the third graders studied Wassily Kandinsky’s “St. George and the Dragon.” With the spirit of fairy tales in mind we created our own dragon, castle, and of course the damsel in distress pictures.  The first and fourth graders have been working hard on mixing colors and learning the “art of a line.”  It’s great to be back at school!

 

Mrs. Kemp

 

GRADE FOUR IS ON THE MOVE

 

Greetings!  I am excited to come back to a new school year full of thrilling events.  The biggest change for me this year was remembering my new name, Mrs. Anderson.  Our fourth graders are being exposed to many new ideas and reviewing topics covered at the end of third grade.  One big task that they are appreciating is work time and learning how to wisely use theirs. 

 

We are currently working on our facts, multiplying, subtracting, and addition.  This week we have now rediscovered the connection of multiplication and division.  Keep working hard on your facts; remember just a couple a night. 

 

In social studies we are working on learning the East Coast states, capitals, and key landforms.  Keep practicing your states and capitals for your12 East Coast states for your test on Tuesday.  Reading has taken us into the past, and we just learned about sod houses.  Have you looked at the sky lately?  Ask a fourth grade science student what type clouds they see. 

 

Have a wonderful extended weekend.

 

Mrs. Anderson

 

Dates to Mark on Your Calendar

 

 

SEPTEMBER

Friday      28    NO SCHOOL for Catholic School Kids –Meetings for

Catholic School Teachers

 

OCTOBER

Wednesday   03    Eighth Grade fills liturgical roles at 8:15 Mass

                  Little Ones Play Group in PC, 9:30 – 11:00 am, PC

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

                  Blessing of Pets in honor of St. Francis of Assisi,

2:40 pm, weather –permitting, in courtyard

Thursday    04    Grade 7 field trip to Horicon Marsh

Friday      05    Preschool visits the Fire Station

First AR points due (grades 4-8)

                  Mid-quarter reports go home.

                  Market Day

Monday      08    Grade 1 field trip to Glacier Rock, etc.

                  ITBS testing begins; usually one to three tests a day

for 2-8 over next two weeks

                  Home and School Association meeting, 6:30 pm, rectory hall

Tuesday     09    Education Commission meeting, 6:30 pm, rectory hall

Wednesday   10    MANDATORY basketball coaches’ meeting, 6:30 pm, computer lab

Thursday    11    Preschool class to Fire Station

Friday      12    Preschool class to Kraemer’s for pumpkins

Saturday    13    Parish youth (grades 6-12) bonfire event

Monday      15    11:30 AM early dismissal

Friday      19    Grade Eight field trip to Milwaukee

Saturday    20    Home and School Assn. Blood Drive, PC, 8:00 am to 1:00 pm

                  St. Henry hosts volleyball league tournament at the high school

Wednesday   24    HASA Halloween Bash, 6:00 – 8:00 PM (P-grade 5); PC;

one parent must stay

Thur-Fri  25-26   NO SCHOOL

 

NOVEMBER 

Thur-Fri   1-2    Accreditation Visiting Team here.

 

Memory verse for week of October 1: 

 

“I remind you to stir into flame the gift of God you have . . . .

For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather of power and love and self-control.” 

               2 Timothy 1: 6-7