website  watertownhistory.org

    ebook  History of Watertown, Wisconsin

     Set of weekly School Newsletters

 

 

 

 

 

St. Henry School Newsletter

 

December 21, 2007

 

 

 

 

 

 “They name him

Wonder-Counselor,

God-Hero,

Father-Forever,

Prince of Peace.”        Isaiah 9: 5 (B)

 

What an awesome God we have!  How amazing Christmas actually is!  To think the Lord of Lords and King of Kings was born in a stable.  Yet, in many ways, a stable (if kept fairly clean) can be a lovely place at night.  The sounds of contented animals munching on hay and the smell of fresh straw can be very soothing and comforting.  So maybe God the Father WAS looking out for his son and his son’s mother. 

 

Heard a very interesting CD by a philosophy professor from Boston College entitled “Seven Reasons to Be Catholic.”  He made the comment that C.S. Lewis (of The Chronicles of Narnia  fame) re-framed an old argument of the early Church Fathers regarding the Divinity of Jesus.  Jesus certainly claimed a special relationship with the Father and, in St. John’s Gospel, almost got Himself stoned to death for using the sacred (and forbidden to say) term for God:  “I AM.”  Being equal to God and God’s Son is an astounding claim to make. Lewis argues that Jesus was not just a wonderful man, great teacher, someone we should all listen to and attempt to emulate.  THAT could be said of a number of admirable human beings.  Instead He was either what He said – GOD made Man, Second Person of the (Revealed by Him) Trinity – OR He was a lunatic OR He was a very evil person.  Choices two and three don’t fit the evidence, and choice one demands an overwhelming commitment to Mary’s one-time baby boy.

 

Have you spied all the press St. Henry School has made recently?  (Good press, I’m happy to say!)  Fourth grader Grace O’Connor received a third place honor for a writing contest sponsored by the Daily Times and eighth grader Isabel Vazquez was featured in this week’s Catholic Herald for an Advent activity.  The second graders are people of fame for two reasons:  all their letters to Santa were printed in the Times and their wonderful Christmas project on behalf of the Watertown Humane Society earned a well deserved large picture in the paper on December 19th.  The quarter honor roll was published, and the article announcing our Accreditation Renewal by the Wisconsin Council of Religious and Independent Schools was also in the Times recently.  Three cheers for us.  Have a lovely, lovely Christmas, and may 2008 be chockful of God’s best blessings for you and all your loved ones.

 

SPELLING BEE IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY

 

Just wanted to remind you about the Watertown Daily Times sponsored spelling bee that will be held on Monday, January 7, 2008 at Riverside Middle School.  Students in grades six through eight need to be there by 3:35 p.m.  The written test begins at 3:45 p.m.  The top 40 spellers advance to the oral Spelling Bee on Monday, January 21, 2008 at the Watertown High School Auditorium.  This is a great opportunity for students and we truly feel that many of our students are capable of doing well on this spelling bee.  Students must pre-register by January 4th, 2008 to this email: spellingbee@wdtimes.com for the qualifying written test. 

 

Students in sixth through eighth grade have been focusing on the six traits of writing.  I was fortunate to attend an advanced six traits of writing class last Wednesday.  I am very excited to apply some of the exercises and information I learned that day to my writing classes.  Students are busy adding their work to their writing binders. 

 

Have a great Christmas!  Enjoy the break!

 

Mrs. Harms

 

STUDENTS EXPERIENCE RECONCILLIATION

 

Congratulations to the second graders on their First Reconciliation.  What a blessed gift that we can keep on receiving throughout our lives. 

 

We have been busy little elves.  Our gifts for our family are made and wrapped.  We also made a Christmas card with our eighth grade study buddies. 

 

One of our greatest gifts is not for us but for the animals awaiting adoption at the Watertown Humane Society.  The children each contributed the money that would have been used in our class gift exchange.  With some donations from our families, friends and parish members we collected over $150. We shopped for toys and treats at the All for Paws pet store.  We want to thank them for a 50% discount!  We were able to buy a lot of gifts and food.  The children brought old towels and blankets from home also.  On Tuesday we took all of it and a bag donated by some fifth graders to the Humane Society.  Our Christmas gift from them was a tour and the chance to see and pet many cats, kittens, dogs, and five week old puppies.  (Priceless!)

 

Our Christmas will be complete with the celebration of Mass on Christmas Eve or Day.  Enjoy the holiday with family and friends.  Remember to “Keep Christ in Christmas”. 

 

Merry Christmas.

 

Mrs. Menzia 

 

Dates to Mark on Your Calendar

 

JANUARY

Thursday    03    School resumes.

Friday      04    National Geography Bee for grades 4-8 in PC,

1:00 pm; visitors welcome.

                  PARENTS’ Night for St. Henry Basketball Teams

Tuesday     08    Education Commission mtg., 6:30 pm, rectory hall

Wednesday   09    Grade FOUR fills liturgical roles during 8:15 Mass

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

St. Henry Parish Center

Meeting for Second Grade FIRST COMMUNION parents, 7:00 pm

                  Athletic Association meeting, 6:00 pm, computer lab

Friday      11    Grades 1-8 attend 9:00 am “Once Upon a

Mattress” performance in Watertown.

Monday      14    Home and School Association mtg., 6:30 pm, rectory hall

Wednesday   16    Grade TWO fills liturgical roles during 8:15 Mass

Thursday    17    NET “retreat” for Middle School youngsters;

5:00 – 9:15 pm; supper served!

Friday      18    Second set of Accelerated Reader (AR) points

due today  (Grades 4-8)

                  Market Day

Saturday    19    St. Henry Parish HeritageFest Celebration

Wednesday   23    Grade SEVEN fills liturgical roles during 8:15 Mass

Friday      25    NO SCHOOL – In-service Day

Sunday      27    Official start of Catholic Schools Week –

“Catholic Schools Light the Way!”

Monday      28    HASA-sponsored special assembly at 9:00 am in Parish Center

Wednesday   30    Special Catholic Schools Week Mass with St.

Bernard School at 9:00 am in

                  St. Henry Church; Grade FIVE fills liturgical roles

Thursday    31    Six Flags Great America “Read to Succeed” parent-

signed form due in school today!

Bowling Fun with St. Bernard’s (grades K-6);

afternoon dance for grades 7 and 8

FEBRUARY

Friday      01    Student Council VARIETY SHOW in Parish Center

in afternoon; visitors welcome!

Sunday      03    Registrations for NEW children to St. Henry School

for 2008-2009 should be completed. 

 

Reminder:  Have you made your reservations for Mt. Olympus (Treasure Island) for St. Henry School Families Dells Weekend of May 16-18?  Call 800-800-4997 and ask for Beth at extension 601.  See October 5 newsletter.  Available in school section of parish website:  sainthenryparish.org                

 

 

Memory verse for week of January 7-11

        “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom should I fear?”          Psalm 27: 1 (A)