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St. Henry School Newsletter

October 24, 2008

“You are seated at the right hand of the Father: receive our prayer.”

(from the “Gloria” of the Mass)

Today is the 175th anniversary of the School Sisters of Notre Dame, a congregation who served our school from the 1850’s well into the 1980’s. We owe them much for their wonderful service to generation upon generation of parish children. May God bless their community many times over.

Next week is a short week so there won’t be one of these to read, but there will be things going home in the envelope. Please check them. For example, we expect to have ready the first papers regarding the Parent-Teacher Conferences we have every November. We do set up appointments for each child so you really do have a special time set aside for you with each teacher. People are generally wonderful about being on time and sticking with their appointed time (fifteen minutes per child!) so most parents can count on not wasting a lot of time waiting around. So look for that paper next week please.

We are also going to be inviting anyone in your family who is an active member of the Armed Forces or a retired veteran to be a guest of ours at hot lunch during the November 10-14 week of Veterans Day. If you do have a family member who might accept that invitation, please watch for that paperwork next week too.

BLOOD DRIVE TOMORROW in Parish Center. Lots of openings available between 10:30 and 12:15. A representative from the Blood Center of Wisconsin mentioned at our recent Home and School meeting that 60% of the population COULD give blood but only about 5% of the community does. Yet when he asked for a show of hands at the meeting of how many of us had ever received blood or knew someone who did, it was a surprising majority. So please consider giving this gift. It’s relatively painless (honest) and usually takes about an hour of your time total. Three cheers to all those who give in this life-giving way.

Volleyball season just wound up with a league tournament at which our B team girls came out on top and our A team girls were second in their division. Congratulations! And super THANKS to their coaches and adult helpers. What a wonderful gift you shared with the girls these months. God bless you.

BASKETBALL is on the horizon. Some of the Athletic Association Board members – especially Mr. Breunig, the Basketball Coordinator, – have put in many, many hours of work trying to get everything lined up and ready to go. Coaches seem eager to start. Practices start next week so if you haven’t already heard from your coach you should this weekend. I noticed one of the coaches had something for today’s envelope. As I mentioned a couple of weeks ago, the updated Athletic Handbook is available online (sainthenryparish.org and then go to school homepage). I hope you have downloaded it. Please read through it carefully, especially the parts referring to parent and student athlete responsibilities. You will also see that at St. Henry (and St. Bernard) we have an expectation of coaches that if athletes are fulfilling their part by coming to practices on time and participating fully and well, they should make every effort to see that fourth through sixth graders play at least half a game – if at all possible. Seventh and eighth grade coaches are guided by the diocesan rule which sets a minimum of a quarter of a game as their goal for playing time for youngsters in good standing. Please refer to the guidelines in the Handbook that refer to suggested procedures to follow if you notice what looks like a problem in this regard. We all want participation in sports to be a FUN and COMMUNITY BUILDING experience for the children so please contact me or a member of the Board if you feel there’s a situation we should address. The earlier the better! Please be wonderful fans, and let those volunteer adults know often how much you appreciate the time they are giving to provide these opportunities for your child. They deserve medals really!

Dates to Mark on Your Calendar

OCTOBER

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

Second set of AR points due

Grades 7 and 8 have no school–make up day for previous Saturday’s Youth Rally

HASA Halloween Carnival, 6–8 pm, PC, children must be accompanied by parent

Thursday 30 NO School

Friday 31 NO School

Parish Youth (grades 6-12) have opportunity to

attend FrightFest at Great America

Home and School refunds $10.00 for students who attend

and whose parents have dues paid.

NOVEMBER

Week of 3-7 Safe Environment Week; teachers will all have a diocesan mandated lesson

on protective behaviors – diocesan curriculum

Tuesday 04 Election Day – Student Council “Wear Red, White, and Blue D

Wednesday 05 Grade Eight fills many liturgical roles at the 8:15 All School Mass

St. Henry/St. Bernard’s Play Group, 9:30 – 11:00 am in PC

Fourth Graders to State Capitol and the Wisconsin Museum in Madison

Athletic Association Board meeting, Computer Lab, 6:30 pm

Friday 07 All Accelerated Reader points must be earned for first quarter

Maranatha Educational Concert in the afternoon for Grades 1-5

Last day for any first quarter AR (Accelerated Reader) points

Market Day

Monday 10 Home and School Association Board meeting, 6:30 pm, rectory hall

Tuesday 11 Veterans Day

Diocesan Regional meeting re: Catholic Education,

St. Joseph School, Fort Atkinson, 6:30 pm

Wednesday 12 Grade Six fills many liturgical roles at the 8:15 All School Mass

Thursday 13 St. Henry Day – blue and gold clothes and/or St. Henry insignia

Friday 14 St. Henry Student Council “Blaze Orange/Camouflage Day”

First quarter report cards go home

Sat.-Sun 15-16 Holly Berry Fair Weekend

Tuesday 18 Education Commission meeting, rectory hall, 6:30 pm

Thursday 20 First set of parent-teacher conferences in the late afternoon and evening

Monday 24 Last set of parent-teacher conferences in the late afternoon and evening

Memory verse for October 27-29

“For you alone are the Holy One. You alone are the Lord.

You alone are the most High, Jesus Christ . . .”

(from the “Gloria” of the Mass)