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     Set of weekly School Newsletters

 

 

 

 

 

St. Henry School Newsletter

 

October 10, 2008

 

 

 

 

 

 “Lord God, heavenly king, almighty God and Father,

             we worship you, we give you thanks, we praise you for your glory.”       

                              from the Gloria of the Mass

 

Three cheers to that “almighty God and Father” -- and Creator -- for making a world that can have days like the ones we have been blessed with this week.  Well done, God.  We are impressed – and grateful.

 

One of the teachers asked me to share a word about Halloween costumes.  It’s been a long-standing tradition here at St. Henry School to be fine with Halloween celebrations, assuming people are keeping their Christian sensibilities in tune.  As many of you know, Halloween has some Catholic roots based on the “holy – hallowed”  “evening –een” pre-celebration of the next day’s liturgical feast of All Saints.  All Saints Day, of course, is the Church’s honoring of all those people who have gone before us in faith and are united with us in the “communion of saints.”  But back to Halloween.  There are many cute and harmless traditions that have grown up around that day – and some not so cute and not so harmless. (Adult Catholics, please remember you represent the Church to your non-Catholic friends.  Adult “party” behavior should mirror that, don’t you think?) 

 

Please also be a little cautious in the kinds of costumes you buy or allow your youngsters to wear.  Our younger children (4K – grade 5) have been permitted to put on costumes the last school day before Halloween for decades now.  But we don’t allow ugly monster masks – we do have little ones here!  Creepy mass murderer type disguises:  NOPE.  (Duh).   Also please don’t dress them up as devils and witches and the like too.  While those costumes often seem harmless enough, there truly are Satan worshippers and folks like that in our world, and we certainly don’t want to appear in any way to be in support of their agendas!  Because there are enough other options that are more in the spirit of fun, and in the spirit of gratitude for fall harvest time, and in anticipation of All Saints Day, I’m sure you will all be able to send your children with totally appropriate costumes. 

 

By the way, they will not be able to come to school dressed in them that day.  We will be having Mass that morning since October 29th is a Wednesday.  Teachers will set aside some time in the school day for them to do that – most after noon recess so they will be able to play hard without restrictions.  (4K will be an exception to this because they won’t be attending Mass and many are here for the morning alone.)  All parents, please be sure your children’s costumes allow them to do school work as well as to get around safely.  They will be able to wear them again that same evening as all the younger ones are invited back for the Home and School Association carnival – always an entertaining night for families.

 

Parents, could we ask you to be a little careful of your election talk in front of your children.  Obviously, the teachers will be sharing some information about them as part of their social studies curriculum.  They will be very careful not to interject their own personal preferences and biases, of course.  But occasionally children are making very demeaning (and totally inappropriate) comments that they obviously overheard from somewhere! (Not necessarily from you, we understand that.)  So we have to remind them to be respectful of everyone – candidates and classmates! – and to try to truly discuss the pros and cons of the issues.  Please help reinforce that message.  St. Henry Parish has been including some very useful inserts in bulletins relating to the upcoming elections.  They are entitled “Faithful Citizenship 2008.”  I recommend them heartily.  They will help you clarify some of the many complicated and difficult topics related to making good choices in your role as a responsible citizen of this imperfect but in so many ways great country.  Any guidance from above will be appreciated, Lord!

 

Dates to Mark on Your Calendar

OCTOBER

Friday      10    Mid-quarter reports go home.

                  Market Day

                  Open gym for Parish Youth in grades 6-12, 6:30 – 9:00

Sunday      12    Second Grade PARENT meeting, 9:30am, Cafeteria

                  Central Catholic League meeting for basketball at St. Bernard School, 6:30 pm

Monday      13    St. Henry Day – blue and gold colors;

St. Henry logo clothing encouraged but NOT obligatory!

11:30 am early dismissal for all public and Catholic schools in the city.

                  Home and School Association meeting, BEGINS in cafeteria at 6:30 pm

for SMART BOARD presentation and then moves to rectory hall at

approximately 7:00 pm for rest of meeting.

Tuesday     14    Education Commission meeting, rectory hall, 6:30 pm

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

Friday      17    Grades Seven and Eight to Camp Gray for a retreat.

                  Kindergarten to Ebert’s for field trip.

                  Grade 5 to Golden Living in the afternoon.

Saturday    18    Grade 8 Washington DC Fundraiser Badger Car Wash and Lunch 10 am-2 pm –next to

                      Kwik Trip on West Main.  Please support.

Bonfire and Hayride for Parish Youth (grades 6-12)

Monday      20    Red Ribbon Week (Healthy Choices/Say NO to illegal drugs, alcohol, smoking themes.)

HASA Book Fair Preview Day

Mandatory meeting for Basketball Coaches in computer lab, 6:30 pm. 

Tuesday     21    HASA Book Fair Purchase Day for those who wish in grades 4K, K, 1, 2, 4, 5, and 8

Wednesday   22    Student Council “Wear RED Day”

                  HASA Book Fair Purchase Day for those who wish in grades   3, 7, and 6

Grade Five fills many liturgical roles at the 8:15 All School Mass

Superintendent of Diocesan Schools, Michael Lancaster, here for annual visit.

Saturday    25    Home and School (HASA) Blood Bank Drive, PC, 8:00 am – 1:00 pm

                  Grades 6-8 to Diocesan Youth Rally in Madison

Wednesday   29    Grade Three fills many liturgical roles at the 8:15 All School Mass

                  Second set of AR points due

                  HASA Halloween Carnival

Thursday    30    NO School

Friday      31    NO School       Parish Youth (grades 6-12) have opportunity

to attend FrightFest at Great America

 

Memory verse for October 13-17

“Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, Lamb of God, 

                you take away the sins of the world: 

                         have mercy on us.”

                              (from the “Gloria” of the Mass)

 

 

The Athletic Association is looking for a volunteer assistant coach to help work with a combined seventh and eighth grade boys’ basketball team.  Diocesan requirements for all volunteers would need to be met, of course.  Please call Mr. Bob Breunig, board member in charge of the basketball program, as soon as possible.  He’d be happy to answer any questions you may have.   His number is 261-8321.

 

This may be a good time to again THANK all those volunteers who make up our boards and commissions that serve so many of us in ways that help our children and the whole parish.  God bless all of you who give your time and talents so generously in service whether it be on the Education Commission, the Athletic Association, or the Home and School.  Only God knows how much you give, but that’s probably OK since He will be the one to see you receive your reward in heaven!  And do some of you deserve some mighty nice rewards.  Bless you.

 

Have a lovely weekend, All.  Masses here at St. Henry are at 4:30 on Saturday and 8:30 and 10:30 on Sunday.  Second grade COMMUNION parents, don’t forget your meeting Sunday morning!