Thursday Newsletter
November 17, 2011FROM THE DESK OF MS. HESED
What a great day we had Wednesday as we celebrated our patron saint’s feast day and the very important people in our lives. Our Seventh graders were in charge of planning Mass, choosing and cantoring music, preparing readers, writing and leading the Prayers of the Faithful. They are a marvelous class: talented, responsible and dear – it just does not get any better than that. We had a packed church – 300 school children and about that number in VIPs. The singing filled the church; with so many extra voices the sound was even fuller than usual. The music choices, the cantoring and our instrumentalists were our standard Friday fare: our children are very fortunate church goers.
By 9:30 we had two school buildings packed with VIPs. I am afraid the crowd in the cafeteria was so huge that some did not get their morning coffee. My apologies. We intend to try to reorganize for next year. Our “good problem” – you know, that enrollment growth issue – keeps taking us by surprise. Two years ago we accommodated by splitting the preschool VIPs and the K – 8 VIPs; already another adjustment is called for. Fortunately our amazing PTA will think of something – next year coffee for all! Even if the cafeteria was uncomfortably crowded the classrooms were a wonderful experience for our VIPs and the student performance was fabulous from start to finish. The kids were great under the leadership of their music teacher, Ms. Boczek. She chose an animal theme with lots and lots of variety from 8th grade’s vocal acapela to Kindergarten’s If I Were A Butterfly (do you remember that one? Some of our parents may have sung it.), from 7th grade’s percussion accompaniment to 1st grade to 3rd grade’s story telling, from 4th grade’s recorder accompaniment to The Tiger Rag to 2nd grade’s buzzing bees in rounds on their kazoos. It was great fun for everyone – audience and performers alike.
Many, many thanks to each of our VIPs for joining us today. They clearly love the children and clearly love our school.
A Few VIP Day Notes of Thanks
- Ms. Boczek has been working on VIP Day music choices and planning since the summer. She demonstrated great expertise as a musician and music teacher today. Despite the stress of such a big event, she has remained calm and cheerful throughout. I must add a shout-out to Ms. Boczek’s family for all the work they have done to improve the music room!
- Super thanks to my husband, Peter Hesed, for sharing his gifts as a pianist both in performance and in practice. Live music is such a gift to our children.
- Many thanks to our teachers, who support our music program as they encourage the students and assist Ms. Bozcek.
- And PTA – there is never enough thanks or good words to be said about our amazing, ever patient, always active PTA. Thanks for taking responsibility for all the food prep for VIP Day.
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Without a maintenance person on staff setting up and taking down the gym presented a greater problem than usual. (Mr. Melsheimer remains on sick leave – his knee is healing well and he will return sooner than planned – thank God!).
- Ryan Jenson (not even a school parent) and the 7th grade basketball team set up 200 chairs on Tuesday night after practice in preparation for Wednesday. I could not have managed without them.
- The 8th and 7th graders, carefully and systematically, took down all those chairs after the performance. They made sure that all the chairs were returned to their right “homes” – I could not have managed accomplishing this chore without their willing attitudes and helpful hands.
- Finally and most importantly, my eternal gratitude goes to Mrs. Stephens whose work in the office, phone calls, staying late, reminders, and grocery store run for 16 feast day cookie cakes makes all that we do for events like VIP Day a success. Her untiring efforts make up the glue that holds us all together.
What’s that line about it takes a village? I am grateful beyond words for our village! Our children are very blessed, as am I.
Please Remember
- Thanksgiving holiday is next week and with our incredible success in the Walk-A-Thon, the holiday includes Wednesday. I hope your Thanksgiving will afford you some time for giving thanks, some time for being with family and friends, some time for pleasurable cooking and scrumptious eating.
- Let us help you with your Christmas shopping – no need to fight the crowds on Black Friday. Shop our Partners for Just Trade at school on Dec. 2 or on-line from today through December 4. (www.PartnersforJustTrade.org.) Be sure to enter the SMOS code at the on-line checkout. Although we receive 15% for each sale, the other 85% goes directly back into the hands of the artisan in Peru.
- If you love the excitement of the crowded shop, don’t forget to take your SHOPS cards with you. Order them through the school office and you will be set for all your Christmas shopping.
- For parents with children in 4th through 8th grade, we are holding a workshop on How to Do SMART on November 29 at school at 7:00. If you are feeling confused with how to guide your child, join us Tuesday, the 29th.
There will be no Thursday Newsletter next week – Enjoy your Thanksgiving!
Other information and announcements…
Christmas Musical – If you have not already turned in your child’s order for the Christmas musical t-shirt – it was due today, please look for the order form that was sent home again today. Please understand these shirts need to be ordered BEFORE Thanksgiving to get here in time for the performance night. Thank you in advance.
Advent - Welcome the season of Advent with your School and Parish Family! Please join the St. Margaret's St Vincent de Paul Society and the PTA at a Spaghetti Dinner in the Church Hall on Monday, Nov. 28 at 5:30. RSVPs are needed by Tuesday, Nov 22. Please see the flyer that went home today for more information.
Athletic Association News
With the fall sports season coming to a close we wanted to take a moment to congratulate all of the children that participated in soccer and volleyball. Our sports programs continue to grow as we filled out 4 volleyball teams, 14 Judge Dowd Soccer teams, and 13 CYC Soccer teams. Our athletes and parents are great ambassadors of our parish and school when they compete in league and area tournaments. Thanks for a great season!
We would like to give special recognition to our 5th grade girls and 6th grade boys soccer teams. They both won their leagues and will participate in the upcoming City/County playoffs. Please be sure to congratulate them for their hard work when you see them at school and church. We will let everyone know when they will be playing their games so you can come out and support them. GO DRAGONS!
Basketball season is around the corner. Teams have started practicing and our SMOS Boys Tournament starts at the beginning of December. We hope to see many of you there to cheer on our Dragons. Thanks for all you do to make our athletic program successful!
- 7th Grade Volleyball District Champions!
Congratulations to the 7th grade girls’ volleyball team for being District champions! They defeated St. Gabriel to take home the championship trophy. They now play for the city/county championship in early December. The Athletic Association will make you aware of the exact dates when we receive them so you can cheer them on!
- Movie Night
The Athletic Association is pleased to bring the return of movie night at the gym on Saturday, November 19th. A $5 bag of popcorn will get you in the door, $0.50 refills and other concessions available, for 2 feature length movies. Presented on a huge 220" screen brought to you by Frontyard Features: 6:00pm Zookeeper (G) and 8:00pm Captain America (PG-13). Hang with your friends and bring a pillow, sleeping bag, or bean bag to lounge on.
SHOPS - Please, remember to buy your grocery / shopping certificates through our “SHOPS” program. Below are the certificates we always have in stock.
Name:__________________________________
Child’s grade:____________(to send home)
Shop and Save ________$25.00 Walgreens ______$25.00
Shop and Save _______$100.00 Panera – Bread Co. ______$10.00
Dierbergs ________$25.00 Target ______$25.00
Dierbergs _______$100.00 Target _____$100.00
Home Depot ________$25.00 BP Gasoline ______$50.00
Lowe’s ________$25.00 Shell Gasoline ______$25.00
Starbucks ________$10.00 Papa John’s Pizza ______$10.00
No Attachments!