website watertownhistory.org
ebook History of Watertown, Wisconsin
Set of weekly School Newsletters
St. Henry
School Newsletter
“Dying you destroyed our death; rising you
restored our life.
Lord Jesus, come in glory!”
Eucharistic
Memorial Acclamation
Welcome, December. Welcome, winter in Wisconsin! Welcome, Advent Season!
I probably should have done this
last week, but for those who are new to school or have forgotten, this is our
procedure regarding school closures due to weather related issues. St. Henry does whatever the Watertown
Public Schools decide. The decision
to close or close early is done by people at the public school central office
in consult with the transportation company.
They try to make that decision around
As far as unexpected earlier than
normal release times, the decision makers are the same and the same media
contacted. You indicated on the
emergency contact slip at the beginning of the year as to your instructions
regarding what your children should do in those circumstances. We’ll follow those unless you give us
different instructions. Again, if the
weather makes YOU nervous and you want to pick your children up early, please
do what makes you feel comfortable and safe.
______________________________________________________________
The wonderful season of Advent is
upon us this Sunday. May we not get so
snowed under with the commercialism of Christmas preparations that our
spiritual preparations get ignored. No
wonder some people complain of an empty, dissatisfied feeling on
Christmas. Isn’t it interesting too –
sad even – that our centuries old custom in “Christian” countries of building
up to Christmas over the four weeks of Advent and then celebrating for twelve
days after up through the feast of the Epiphany (originally celebrated on
January 6th) has been replaced by our retailers with a holiday season that
begins with the Friday after Thanksgiving and ends with the big return/exchange
of gifts on the day after Christmas.
Something is wrong with that emphasis, don’t you think? Stay strong, Moms and Dads. Give your children a much deeper, truer
experience. The Lord be with you!
FOCUS IS ON FIRST RECONCILIATION
We continue to prepare for our First Reconciliation with our daily
prayers, discussions at school and at home, frequent self-examinations, lessons
and projects. All have recited the “Act
of Contrition.” Four children have
recited the “Ten Commandments” already.
Congratulations. See our
classroom door where we have posted our accomplishments. Who will be next? We will finish with the unit tests before the
big day arrives on December 16.th.
I hope you enjoyed counting your blessings during Thanksgiving
break. The second graders spent time before
the Blessed Sacrament tallying their many blessings. I’m sure families enjoyed the Pilgrim hats
and bonnets, as well as our turkey recipes.
Advent will soon be upon us.
Jesus’ coming to us will be the true reason for our Christmas joy! Watch for our special Christmas
projects. Don’t miss our letters to
Santa Claus in the December 13th issue of the Watertown Daily Times.
Parents, you should be proud each time you see or hear that your
child has taken on a liturgical role at our school Masses. Our children are the foundation of our future
church. Their example of ministry at
Mass might prod some adults to serve in these liturgical roles at the weekend
Masses. Wouldn’t that be great?
Mrs. Menzia
PHYSICAL EDUCATION UPDATE
The volleyball unit has come and gone! We will be trading in the bumps and sets for
dribbling and passing. With the cold and
snow blowing in, it’s a sign that basketball season is here.
The younger students will concentrate on developing their passing,
dribbling, and shooting skills. They
will be playing some fun basketball activities like lightning, relays, and
horse just to name a few. The upper grades will review the basic skills and
then put them all together in some five on five team games. The basketball unit will take us up to
Christmas break.
Mr. Messmann
Dates to Put on Your Calendar
DECEMBER
Sunday 03 Parish “Town Hall” type meeting between the two Sunday
Masses in cafeteria (
Tuesday 05 Grade
Seven going to Madison for “The Christmas Carol”
St.
Bernard/St. Henry Sub-committee meeting, computer lab,
Wednesday 06 Play
Group, PC,
HASA
sponsors a St. Nicholas visit
Athletic
Association mtg.,
Friday 08 Grade 7 fills liturgical roles at 8:15 am Mass – Holy Day
of Obligation
Market Day
Saturday 09 Children’s
Cantor Choir sings at
Tuesday 12 Grade
5 fills liturgical roles at 8:15 am Mass – Our Lady of Guadalupe
Education
Commission mtg.,
Wednesday 13 Grades
1-8 leaving for Bethlehem Marketplace at
Thursday 14 School Christmas Program,
Friday 15 Home and School sponsored Christmas Store
First
set of Accelerated Reader points due for second quarter (grades 4-8)
Saturday 16 First
Reconciliation for Grade 2 at
Wednesday 20 Grade
3 fills liturgical roles at 8:15 am Mass
Thursday 21 Seventh grade presentation of Jesse Tree to grades 1-8 in
church at
Friday 22 Amazing Al (magician with a message) for Preschool – Grade
3 in PC at
Mid-quarter reports go home
JANUARY
Wednesday 03 School
resumes
Friday 05 Athletic Assn. Parents’ Night
Thursday 25 St. Henry/St. Bernard Winter Band Concert at St.
Bernard’s,
Friday 26 NO SCHOOL
Memory verse for December 4-8 Luke 2:4 (from
“Joseph too went up from Galilee from the
town of Nazareth to Judea to the city of David that is called Bethlehem (some teachers stopping here) because
he was of the house and family of David, to be enrolled with Mary, his
betrothed, who was with child.”