website watertownhistory.org
ebook History of Watertown, Wisconsin
Set of weekly School Newsletters
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St. Henry School Newsletter
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“Let the sea and what fills it resound, the world and those who
dwell in it.
Let the rivers
clap their hands; the mountains shout with them for joy.”
Psalm 98: 7-8
Have you checked the school
pictures within the sainthenryparish.org
website recently? You might recognize
someone! The website is a great resource
too if you misplaced a newsletter or need to check a date.
A word from Mrs. O’Connor: “Many thanks to everyone who donated blood,
food, or time to ‘Our Make a Difference’
Looking ahead to another annual
Home and School event, the Santa’s Secret Shop on Friday, December 7th, Mrs.
Kathy VanDuser asks that we remind you that donations
for the store are more than welcome. Please contact her at 262-1841 if you have
questions. I’m sure she will be sending
home more information about the “Shop” in the near future.
Because of the very short week –
Speaking of Masses, our children’s
cantor choir will be leading the congregation in singing at this Sunday’s 8:30
am Mass. I think the vast majority of
parishioners love it when they do that.
Thank you, parents, for making the adjustments necessary to get them
here a little early (
You may be aware there is some
controversy surrounding the new children’s movie The Golden Compass. You will
have to decide, of course, but may I ask that you consider the reasons for the
uproar. I am guessing that many of you
are familiar with a website called “Snopes.com.” It is supposedly a reliable
place for checking out the validity of rumors.
It reports that the claim “The 2007 film The Golden Compass is based on
a series of books with anti-religious themes.
Status: True.” According to
Snopes, the movie really dumbs down that message, and people who read the
entire trilogy don’t always get the underlying anti-religion messages. The
books themselves must be well written since they won a number of awards. However, the author Philip Pullman is quoted
in a 2003 interview with The Sydney
Morning Herald as saying that “My books are about killing God.” And a British columnist labels him as the
writer “atheists would have been praying for, if atheists prayed.” (Great line!)
The Catholic League actually has out a long pamphlet condemning the
books – and the movie for creating a desire to read the books. Will seeing the
movie and/or reading the books destroy your children’s faith? Probably not.
They might not even “get” the symbolism involved. And yet, do we want to help this man and the
people who want his message propagated, no matter how subtly it’s done? I, for one, who really love good movies and
great books, think I won’t contribute my dollars. Wonder what HIS story
is? Sad – a life without adult faith and
worship. Speaking of which, see you at
Mass! God bless.
CHRISTMASTIME IS HERE!
At least in the music room it is!
Grades PK-5 started working on music for their upcoming Christmas program on
Thursday, December 13 at
The third graders are off to a
great start with their recorders. Most students have already earned their white
belts and are working on yellow. Fourth graders are making great progress in
their recorder studies as well. In addition, the fourth and third graders are
preparing to play recorders at the Christmas show.
Fifth grade just started the World
Music Drumming curriculum. We discussed proper technique for the drums and
added the cow bell part for Ensemble One. The fifth graders will accompany the
choir with the drums on a song at the Christmas show, and hopefully, perform
one on their own.
Speaking of choir, we are
practicing music for the Christmas show as well as for the band/choir concert
rescheduled for Thursday, February 14. With a record eight boys in the group
this year, we’ll need to pick some fun songs to feature them. One skill we are
working on is singing in harmony on a number of our songs.
Our first full band rehearsal was
last week and what a great group! The experienced students are really a great
example for the new students and are so helpful. The beginners are moving
quickly through the lesson book material. Again I need to stress the importance
of home practice time. Each student needs to practice at least 100 minutes a
week to be prepared for each Wednesday lesson and to continue to grow as a
musician.
The upper grades 6-8 are working
hard to master Ensemble Three in the World Music Drumming curriculum. It is a
very challenging ensemble moving away from the traditional four-beat feel to
the idea of a “timeline”. In order for the ensemble to work the pattern needs
to be felt and not counted -- a difficult skill to master. This week we added
the last part and will try putting it all together a few more times before
holiday break.
During this time of giving thanks,
I wanted to take a second to thank all students and parents for their support
of the music program. We have a record high number of students in band this
year, and I am thankful. We have great drums and equipment to use, and I am
thankful. We have open-minded students who are willing to try new things in
music class, and I am thankful. What a
magnificent opportunity I have to work and play here!
Thank you all.
Wishing you God’s blessings this
Thanksgiving,
Mrs. Oestreicher
Dates to Mark on Your
Calendar
NOVEMBER
Sat-Sun 17-18 Parish
Holly Berry Fair after the weekend Masses
Sunday 18 School
Children’s Cantor Choir leads singing at 8:30 am Mass
Monday 19 Parent-Teacher
Conferences – late afternoon and early evening
Tuesday 20
Break until Monday, the 26th.
Monday 26 Office
of Catholic Schools Superintendent, Mr. Michael
Lancaster, here in morning.
Orders for HASA Kringle and
Kraemer Cheese due in office.
Tuesday 27 Origami
Class for adults with Mrs. Misako Nimiya,
Wednesday 28 Third
grade fills many liturgical roles at
DECEMBER
Wednesday 05 St.
Henry/St. Bernard Play Group,
Athletic Association Board meeting,
Thursday 06 St.
Nicholas Day – Happy Feast day, Kindergarten Class!
Friday 07 Student
Council Stuffed Animal and/or PJ’s and/or Slipper Day!
Grades 1 and 2 go to Hartford for “Twas the Night
before Christmas.”
First set of AR points due for
second quarter (grades 4-8)
Home and School Christmas Store for
Students’ Shopping
(optional, of course)
Market Day pick up
Thursday 13 Dress
up in honor of St. Henry Day
MUSIC program,
Friday 14 Mid-quarter
reports go home.
Kringle and Kraemer Cheese
Pick Up in PC
Friday 21
JANUARY
Thursday 03 School
resumes.
Memory verse for week of November 19-20
“In all circumstances, give
thanks,
for this is the will
of God for you in Christ Jesus.”
I Thessalonians 5:18