St. Joseph Catholic School Weekly Newsletter November 25, 2018 From the Principal s Desk MISSION STATEMENT Rooted in Catholic faith, and committed to academic excellence, St. Joseph Catholic School develops personal responsibility, character, service, and leadership Courage in Red Churches across the United States have been invited to remember those who have been persecuted and martyred for their faith, and to stand in solidarity with our fellow Christians around the world as they continue to fight for religious freedom today. St. Joseph Catholic School will be observing Courage in Red with several special activities on Wednesday, November 28th. Students may wear red shirts, blouses, sweaters, or sweatshirts with their uniform pants, shorts, skorts, or jumpers. (Uniform shoes please). Red is the color of the martyrs, and we will be recognizing all those who have stood up for their faith and continue to do so each day. At 8:15 am, our students will join together for a prayer service in the main courtyard. During religion classes, students will be sharing grade appropriate lessons related to the martyrs, saints, and those who have lived and continue to live their faith as an example for others. 5:30 pm at the Cathedral in Venice Families are invited to attend a prayer vigil to raise awareness regarding persecuted Christians. From the Franciscans: Courage is a virtue that stands out in today s world, every day we encounter a seemingly endless list of reasons to deny our faith, stop practicing our traditions handed down from the Apostles and instead enjoy the pleasures the world has to offer us. We have the choice to allow ourselves to be lead further away from God into the mess and hurtfulness of the world, or we as Christians, with our hope in Christ, we can make a firm resolution to be courageous and go against the tide. When we experience the love of Christ, our response is to share that love with others, and to do that, we must Put on Courage.
Ident-a-kid is an optional Program provided to SJCS families. Envelopes will be sent home with students. If you wish to order an ID card, please return the envelope on Thursday, Nov. 29th Visit www.identakid.com for more information. Safe Environment Training Mandatory for all Parent and Guardian Volunteers November 29 th at 8:15 am Thank you! Let s work together to keep our children safe! Our next Safe Environment Training will be on Thursday, November 29 th, at 8:15 am. Please go online to register at http://bit.ly/2qllppb and choose St. Joseph Catholic School. We ask that you do not bring children due to content. Just a reminder, anyone wishing to volunteer, assist with parties, chaperone field trips, or join children for school events during the school day, must complete this training, as well as be fingerprinted through the Diocese of Venice.
Cookies with Santa & Mrs. Claus Monday, Dec. 3rd - It's Christmas in the Courtyard! Decorating will immediately following the 8:15 am PTO Meeting (or the Advent Prayer Reflection). You many count this time as volunteer hours! Wednesday, Dec. 5th - 3:15 pm to 4:30 pm. Come and chat with Santa & Mrs. Claus. Receive some yummy Christmas cookies/treats. Learn about where our Christmas traditions come from. Make special reindeer food! Christmas face painting will be available for $1 per print. All proceeds will be donated to the school library for the purchase of new books! Remember to browse through the BOOK FAIR while you're here. They make great Christmas gifts! ***Please note the location change to the Aftercare Room for this meeting.*** PLANING TO ATTEND THE ADVENT REFLECTION? DON T WORRY, JOIN US AFTER THE ADVENT MEETING TO HELP WITH DECORATING THE COURTYARD! SJCS PTO Board November Birthday Celebration Friday, November 30th During Lunch for All Students with Birthdays in November (Each student will receive a cupcake and a small gift) If you are planning to join us, please use the sign up link at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/novbirthday We need an accurate count for set up.
ST. JOSEPH BOOK FAIR - Dec. 3 to Dec. 7 Our Scholastic Book Fair is a reading event that provides the books kids want to read. It's a wonderful selection of engaging and affordable books for every reading level. Reading for pleasure inside and outside of school has real and long-lasting benefits. It unlocks the power of information and imagination and helps children discover who they are. Please make plans to come to our Book Fair and be involved in shaping your child's reading habits. Remember, all purchases benefit our school. See you at the Book Fair! Join us on Wednesday, December 5 th, from 3:00 4:30 pm Enjoy cookies with Santa and Mrs. Claus! Beginning on November 28 th, shop our Book Fair online at: http://bit.ly/2bw7gen (Share the link with family and friends!) We're still looking for a few volunteers! https://sugeni.us/3lwe Carnival Survey This Week Once again, thank you to EVERYONE who volunteered and supported our recent Carnival. This was a great community event that would not have been possible without the dedication and hard work of Jennifer Ierulli, who chaired this year s carnival, the committee members who each coordinated a major area through many months of planning, and, of course, all of our volunteers. As you may have heard rumored, this was the last year on our carnival contract. The carnival company has approached us to renew our contract and negotiate for next year. Before we agree to another year, we need input from all of our families to determine the level of commitment we have for the future. Please check your oldest child s folder or backpack on Monday evening. Your child will be bringing home an important survey. Please take a few minutes to complete the survey and return it to your child s homeroom teacher by Friday, November 30 th. We need the help and support of everyone!
Giving Tuesday Giving Tuesday is a global day of giving fueled by the power of social media and collaboration. Celebrated on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving, and the widely recognized shopping events Black Friday and Cyber Monday, Giving Tuesday kicks off the charitable season, when many focus on their holiday and end-of-year giving. On Giving Tuesday, we invite you to remember St. Joseph Catholic School and our Guardian Angel Scholarship Fund. WEEKLY ACTIVITIES Monday, November 26 DAR Essays Due for students competing in Grades 5 to 8 3:00 pm Jr. Legion of Mary 3:00 5:00 pm Odyssey of the Mind 3:00 4:00 pm Choir Practice 3:00 4:00 pm Cross Country Practice 3:15 4:30 pm Little Pro Soccer Tuesday, November 27 3:00 pm Intermediate Guitar 4:00 pm Tennis Pro Academy at G.T. Bray Courts Wednesday, November 28 Courage in Red Diocesan Observance (Red shirts, blouses, etc. (see article) 8:15 am Prayer Service 3:00 4:00 pm Beginning Guitar Thursday, November 29 8:15 am Safe Environment Training 3:00-4:00 pm Irish Dance (Class is filled) 3:00 4:15 pm Intermediate Guitar 4:00 5:00 pm Tennis Pro Academy at G.T. Bray Courts 3:15 5:00 pm Basketball Friday: 11:00 am November Birthday Celebration Grades 5 to 8 11:45 am November Birthday Celebration Grades K to 4 2:00 pm Student Council
Student: Homeroom: Grade: St. Joseph Catholic School Hot Lunch Order November 26 November 30 (One order per student) Monday 11/26 Orange Chicken $3.50 Rice Green Beans Steamed Carrots Mandarin Oranges Milk and Juice Tuesday, 11/27 Baked Ziti $3.50 Seasoned Broccoli Carrots with Dip Diced Peaches Milk and Juice Wed., 11/28 Chicken Tenders $3.50 Garlic Breadsticks Baked Curly Fries Cherry Tomatoes with Dip Sliced Pears Milk and Juice Thursday, 11/29 Beef and Cheese Nachos $3.50 Black Beans Lettuce and Tomato Cup Strawberries and Bananas Milk and Juice Friday, 11/30 Pizza $3.50 Corn Spinach and Mushroom Mini Salad Fresh Sliced Apples Milk and Juice TOTAL (Charge to FACTS) Parent Signature:
Planning Ahead December 1 First Sunday of Advent December 3 8:15 am Advent Prayer for Parents - St. Joseph Room December 3 8:15 am PTO Board Meeting After Care Room 9:00 am Decorating the Courtyard December 3 7 Book Fair December 4 7 th Grade Retreat December 4 7:00 pm St. Joseph Parish Penance Service December 5 8:00 am School Mass December 5 3:00 4:30 pm Cookies with Santa and Mrs.Claus December 6 Spunkmeyer Prize Day December 7 Spirit Day December 7 6:00 9:00 am McDonald s Breakfast December 10 8:15 am Advent Prayer for Parents - St. Joseph Room December 11 6:00 pm Christmas Program Parish Center December 12 9:00 am Penance Service (Grades 3 8) December 13 8:30 11:00 am Jesse Tree Gifts Delivered December 13 10:00 11:00 am Kindergarten Sings at Summerfield December 14 December Birthday Celebration During Lunch December 15 A Night Before Christmas Celebration at G.T. Bray December 17 8:15 am Advent Prayer for Parents - St. Joseph Room December 20 Christmas Around the World Grades K to 3 Preparing for Advent (From Creighton University s Online Ministry) As we end the liturgical year today with the Feast of Christ the King, we begin to think about Advent and our preparations for Christmas. Preparing Children for Advent Preparing Ourselves First The first, and most important thing we can do to prepare our children for Advent is to prepare ourselves first. After all, if we are impatient and crabby - pressured by all the busyness of this season - we won't be very good at teaching our children anything about quiet, expectant waiting. If they never hear us talk about what we long for from the Lord, how will they learn about this kind of longing? And, if they hear "the coming of Jesus" talked about at church, and perhaps at school, but never hear us talk about the meaning of the coming of Jesus for us, what kind of message will we be giving them? Of course, our children will be watching us and listening to us - what we say and do, and what we fail to say and do. So, the first thing we can give our children is our own commitment to enter Advent as deeply as we can. We want to clear our own spirits so that we can be present to theirs. The graces we receive can be the graces we share with them.
Talking with Our Children To talk with our chidren about our own religious experience doesn't mean we have to know all kinds of "theology" to "teach them," nor does it mean we have to "dumb it down" to ridiculously simple terms. We don't have to "burden" children with the burdens we have to bear in our adult relationship with God, and we don't have to make their world more unsettling and scary than it already is. We just have to find the right time and place to talk with them about our faith. We don't have to criticize everything in our contemporary culture's preparation for and celebration of Christmas. But, what we tell them about Advent, will help temper the materialism and consumerism involved in the marketing of Christmas to children. The Message We can tell our children about Isaiah, the prophet. We can tell them that God has wanted to be the one who would lead and take care of his people. But they rebelled against God, and demanded kings, just like all the peoples around them had. So, God let them have kings. As it turned out, there was one bad king after another. And God sent prophets to the people and the kings to remind them of the agreement - the "covenant" - God made with them: I'll be your God and you be my people. Now the way the people made someone a king was to pour a bit of oil on their head. The one who was "anointed" this way with oil became the king. Well, the prophets began to tell the people that God would send them "an anointed one" (the word they use to say "anointed one" in Hebrew is "Messiah.") In fact, they said that this Messiah would be called "Emmanuel", which in Hebrew means, "God is with us." So, the message of the prophets was about a promise - that God would save his people from all that they were suffering. The prophets use such wonderful images to tell the people that they could expect and hope for a day when "every tear would be wiped away." It would be a day of great peace - "the lion would lie down with the lamb" and the people will beat their spears into hooks to prune trees with. And, the most unbelievable promise of all: "death will be no more." We all know now that what God was preparing his people for was the coming of Jesus, the Christ (Christos in Greek means "the anointed one.") Then, of course, we can tell them about Zachary and Elizabeth and about Joseph and Mary. We can tell them the story from Luke's gospel first. What is so surprising about the story is that he comes, not like a king, but in great simplicity and poverty. Our God is truly with us, as a little baby. He knows what is like to be a child - everything. We can tell this story to our children in so many ways. We can let them tell us what it means to them. Through all this conversation, the message will come through. During these weeks of Advent, we want to look forward to celebrating his coming to live our life and to set us free - free from our sins and free from death itself. We want to open up Advent for them, so that they can get ready for - look forward to - Christmas in a different way. We want to introduce them to faith-filled meanings for light/darkness, hunger/thirsts, and all the other images of Isaiah. We want them to really know the meaning of "the Christmas story." Advent Activities It would be great to create a Nativity "place" in our home. Before we just put a nativity scene there, we can let it be an empty space for a while. We can prepare for setting it up, by putting things in that place which represent the longing, the desire, the emptiness. Perhaps that place can begin with a
basket. Children can place notes in the basket that express what they hope for, for each member in the family, for their friends, for people in the world. They can write special prayers for loved ones who are sick, for children in their school who are difficult. We can keep telling the children that it is into this special place of our longing and faith that Jesus comes. Then, when we set up the Nativity scene in that place, it can become a special place for the children. We can involve children in preparing food for others. If there is a pre-christmas party with friends or family, or even a "pot-luck" event we have to go to, we can involve the children in preparing something for the party. And, for Christmas dinner itself, we can tutor the children in making food for others to be happy and full and grateful. We can show them recipes they can make, and let them "in" on the big plans for the whole thing. We can make plans to visit someone who is homebound or in a nursing home at this time. We can prepare our children for how to go there, how to be there, how to be grateful for the experience. We can take an Advent or Christmas song, and copy it for our family reading - perhaps a prayer to be read, over and over. We can talk about what the words mean. With older children, we might find a time to prepare food for a meal program for the homeless or go there to help serve and meet the families there. We may even be able to get them to tell the younger children about the experience, and why it fits so well with preparing for Christmas. And, as we make these special family traditions during Advent, we will come up with others, that fit our family well.
Advent Calendar 2018 DECEMBER SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY Prepare the Advent Wreath: 3 purple candles, 1 pink candle, and some greens. Place all on a tray or large plate; light 1st Candle and pray, Come, Lord Jesus. Together, as a class or as a family, compose an Advent Prayer. Say a prayer for someone in your family, a classmate, or a friend. THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY Feast of Saint Nicholas Listen to a story about Saint Nicholas, one read by a teacher, catechist, or parent. How does it feel to wait for something special? Talk as a family about waiting during Advent. Feast of the Immaculate Conception Honor Our Lady by being obedient in all you are asked to do. Family Activities Construct a small manger from a cardboard box or other materials. From a sheet of yellow construction paper, cut small strips each time you do a kind act during Advent. Place these strips inside the manger to represent the straw that will become the bed for the baby Jesus. 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 and Sadlier are registered trademarks of William H. Sadlier, Inc. Copyright by William H. Sadlier, Inc. All rights reserved. May be reproduced for educational use (not commercial use). www.sadlierreligion.com Toll Free 800-221-5175
Advent Calendar 2018 DECEMBER SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY Light the 2nd Advent Candle and pray the prayer you wrote on December 3. Feast of Saint Juan Diego Listen to a story of Saint Juan Diego, one read by a teacher, catechist, or parent. Pay extra attention today in class and at home. Remember to say grace before meals. THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY Feast of Saint Lucy Listen to a story of Saint Lucy, one read by a teacher, catechist, or parent. As a family, perform a kind act for a friend or a stranger. Help a parent or sibling to prepare a snack or meal to enjoy together. 13 14 15 Family Activities Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe Listen to a story about this feast read by a teacher, catechist, or parent. 9 10 11 12 and Sadlier are registered trademarks of William H. Sadlier, Inc. Copyright by William H. Sadlier, Inc. All rights reserved. May be reproduced for educational use (not commercial use). www.sadlierreligion.com Toll Free 800-221-5175
Advent Calendar 2018 DECEMBER SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY Light the 3rd Advent Candle, which is pink because this is Gaudete Sunday. Today begins the O Antiphons. These are special prayers as the birth of Jesus draws closer. Think about these questions with your class or family. O Wisdom of our God Most High! Jesus, you are our wise teacher. What does this mean to you? O Leader of the House of Israel! Jesus you are our leader. Do you turn to Jesus as your leader? THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY O Key of David! Jesus opened the gates of Heaven for us. Say a prayer of thanks as Christmas draws near. O Radiant Dawn! Jesus is our light! Who sees us as light? How can you be light for someone today? O King of All Nations! Jesus is the king who unites us all. Pray today as a family or a class. 20 21 22 Family Activities O Root of Jesse s Stem! Jesse and King David were Jesus ancestors. Who are your relatives? How do they impact your life? 16 17 18 19 and Sadlier are registered trademarks of William H. Sadlier, Inc. Copyright by William H. Sadlier, Inc. All rights reserved. May be reproduced for educational use (not commercial use). www.sadlierreligion.com Toll Free 800-221-5175
Advent Calendar 2018 DECEMBER SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY Light the 4th Advent Candle and pray the family Advent prayer you wrote. O Emmanuel! We believe that Jesus is with us always. Who could use your company today with a phone call or a visit? Come Lord Jesus Come! Pray for one another and put the manger and straw under the Christmas tree. Christmas Christ is Born! Let us Rejoice! Thank God for the greatest gift, the gift of his only Son! 23 24 25 Family Activities and Sadlier are registered trademarks of William H. Sadlier, Inc. Copyright by William H. Sadlier, Inc. All rights reserved. May be reproduced for educational use (not commercial use). www.sadlierreligion.com Toll Free 800-221-5175