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    ebook  History of Watertown, Wisconsin

 

St. Henry School Newsletter

 

November 10, 2006

 

  “Before he was given up to death, a death he freely accepted,

            he took bread and gave you thanks.”            From Eucharistic Prayer II

 

Prayers and gratitude for all the sacrifices of the men and women who have served and are serving our country.  May Veterans’ Day tomorrow bring them some special blessings.  In your envelopes today you will find information and order blanks for the Home and School Kraemer Cheese fundraiser.  Although the car raffle is the main fundraising source for both the Athletic Association and HASA, board members have not wanted to give up the Kraemer fundraiser because they felt that many people really liked the opportunity to purchase these items for holiday gifts!  And, of course, no one is ever obliged to participate.  But it is definitely appreciated when they do. 

 

I just noticed on the HASA Playground Clean Up schedule that we owe thanks to the fifth and sixth grade families for November help.  Thank you!  Seventh and second grade families are on deck for December.  You should be receiving information from your HASA Board representatives on details of the date and time.  Again, God bless you for your effort and time in benefiting all of us. 

 

Speaking of HASA, here’s a note to share from Mrs. Dawn Keller regarding St. Henry’s participation in a fun, holiday event.

 

The Watertown Christmas parade is almost upon us.  It is scheduled for Saturday, November 25th at 5:30 pm.  Greg & Dawn Keller are chairing the float committee this year and have most of the details ironed out.  They are asking for students/children from St. Henry’s to participate in the parade.  There will be room for approximately 15-20 children on the float.  And “overflow” would walk behind the float.  They would ask children to dress for the weather.  Each child would be holding a “safe” flickering candle.  If your child is interested in participating in the parade, please contact Greg or Dawn no later than 11/17/06.  (Sooner or later they have to order the candles.)   As soon as a time and exact place (somewhere on Water Street we assume) for all to assemble is known, they will contact parents.  Greg & Dawn can be contacted at 262/593-8368 or emailed at ripsnort@gdinet.com.

 

Mrs. Smedema (seventh grade homeroom teacher) and I attended an excellent seminar last week on Gang Identification and Prevention.   We are including a fact sheet about the “Warning Signs of Gang Activity” with this envelope.  Please be aware of what an awful web a child can find himself or herself in as a result of being pulled into this lifestyle.  Illegal activity is always involved; violence is common and often severe, even deadly.  Trying to be part of something that initially looks “cool” can have horrible consequences for the young people and be a source of unbelievable stress for their families.  So some straight talk about gangs and parental awareness and alertness is definitely in order.  By the way, it is potentially dangerous for children to even imitate gang signs or wear “gang clothing.”  They can find themselves in pretty uncomfortable, scary situations if confronted by actual gang members for what was fairly innocent behavior on the part of the imitators.  None of our children are immune to gang influence but alert, loving, sensible parents who see that children are involved in esteem-building positive experiences can certainly lessen the odds that their youngsters get involved.  God be with you!

 

ART NEWS

 

As the famous artist Arman Pierre Fernandez has quoted, "I don't like to say I have given my life to art.  I prefer to say art has given me my life."  What a great quote.  Children and adults don't have to be great in art or even be extremely knowledgeable about art to receive benefits from it.  The projects I give to students often seem unimportant to them, but these experiences can bring them into a world all their own, with just paper, a tool to work with, and their own thoughts and feelings. Slowing down, thinking about the task, using imagination and, of course, having a little fun is a great way to express oneself in this crazy world of ours.  That's truly what art class is all about!

 

Mrs. Kemp

 

HAPPY END OF THE FIRST QUARTER

 

What a month we have had!  Can you name all the states that touch Canada?  If you can't, ask a fourth grader; they are awesome at identifying states.  We are also looking into finding fun facts about different regions of the U.S.  Soon we will be taking our big test on all the fifty states and capitals.  Keep studying, boys and girls!

 

We are also working hard on memorizing our multiplication facts so we can advance to division.  Keep working on your flashcards, fourth graders.

 

In English, students picked an event that had meaning in their life and writing about it for their personal narrative topic.  This is turning out to be a great experience in expanding their writing abilities.

 

Besides working hard on our studies, we were blessed to have a group of ladies from Madison come into our classroom to help us make our own rosaries.  What a treat that was!  It was also nice because Father Bernie came into our classroom to bless our rosaries.  The ladies had a very special gift for us as well.  They gave us medallions that have Mary on them.  These are very special because Pope John Paul II blessed them before he was taken ill.

 

Have a great weekend   /   Miss Haberkorn

 

Dates to Put on Your Calendar                  

 

NOVEMBER

Friday        10     HASA’s annual Kraemer Cheese fundraiser forms go home today.

                     Market Day

Sunday        12     Second Grade Parents’ mtg., cafeteria, 9:30 am

Monday        13     Home and School Assn. mtg., rectory hall, 6:30 pm

Tuesday       14     Governor’s Physical Activity Challenge Sheets due in today

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

Wednesday    15     Grade 4 fills liturgical roles at 8:15 am Mass

HASA playground sub-cmte mgt., computer lab, 7 pm

Thursday     16     Parent-teacher conferences in late afternoon and evening

Friday        17     End of Student Council St. Vincent DePaul drive

Sat-Sun   18-19      Parish Holly Berry Fair

Monday        20     Parent-teacher conferences in late afternoon and evening

Tuesday       21     11:30 dismissal   Thanksgiving break begins

Saturday     25     St. Henry HASA has entry in Christmas parade which begins at 5:30 pm

Wednesday    29     Grade 2 fills liturgical roles at 8:15 am Mass

 

DECEMBER

Friday        08     Kraemer Cheese Drive Pick-up Day

Thursday     14     School Christmas Program, 6:30 pm, Parish Center

Friday        15     Home and School Christmas Store Day

Saturday     16     First Reconciliation for Grade 2 at 7 pm

Friday        22     11:30 dismissal    Christmas break begins

 

JANUARY

Wednesday    03     School resumes

 

 

Memory verse for November 13– November 17                                                 Psalm 16: 8

 

  “I set the Lord ever before me; with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed.”