John J. Mitchell BISHOP S VISIT December 4, 2017 Bishop Malooly will visit IHM on Thursday, December 7, at 10:00. He will meet with Classes in the gymnasium and discuss student goals, concerns, and accomplishments. UPCOMING DATES TO REMEMBER December 3 First Sunday of Advent Diocesan High School Placement Test December 7 Bishop s Visit December 8 Immaculate Conception Mass December 9 Breakfast with Santa Claus December 11 Advent Prayer Service Report Cards Distributed this Week December 12 Barnes and Noble Night December 14 Team Spirit Day IHM ANNUAL CHRISTMAS CONCERT FRIDAY DECEMBER 22 1:00 THREE MONTHS AND COUNTING! Sunday, December 3, marks the beginning of the three-month countdown to the start of the year-long celebration of the Sesquicentennial of the Diocese of Wilmington. CONGRATULATIONS To the students in Emily Szaroleta s and Aimee Lacey s Pre-K 4 class for being named Class/School of the Week, by Achieve 3000 for their work in the Smarty Antz Reading program. LUNCH MENU POSTING The website has been modified to display the upcomingmonths lunch menu on the right side bar. This is in efforts to decrease the lunch menu problems that we have had in the past three weeks. January Lunch menus are due December 12. ADVENT PRAYER SERVICES DECEMBER 4, 11, 18, 21 IN THE GYMNASIUM/AUDITORIUM REPORT CARDS Report Cards will be distributed the week of December 11. 1
TO JESUS THROUGH MARY The Diocesan theme for 2017-18 is To Jesus through Mary. December Focus Luminous Mysteries December Virtue of the Month Joy Each of us has experienced a defining moment in life a moment by which we divided our life into what was before the moment and what followed the moment. Perhaps it was a wedding day or a day of profession or ordination. Perhaps it was the death of someone whom we loved. Perhaps it was graduation from college or the first day of a career. In whatever circumstance, we could characterize the timeline as BE (before event) and AE (after event). The first Luminous Mystery the Baptism of the Lord was such an event in the life of Jesus. This mystery marks the close of his private life and the beginning of his public ministry. This significant occurrence is recorded in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. Following his baptism, Jesus moves from BE to AE in his work and relationships. The beginning of Advent this Sunday marks the start of a new liturgical year. It can be, if we choose, a defining moment to turn from where we are to where we wish to be. A simple resolution can make all the difference in our personal BE and AE. Let us pause this first week of Advent and ponder how we wish to begin the new year. The Diocese of Wilmington Principal Notes VISION FOR THE FUTURE FACTS will open the application process on December 11 for Vision for the Future for 2018-2019. The deadline to apply is March 5, 2018. Recipients will be notified in early May 2018 of an award. BLESSING OF THE ADVENT WREATH FOR YOUR HOME Taken from Catholic Household Blessings and Prayers, the Advent wreath may be blessed. All make the sign of the cross as the leader says: Leader: Our help is in the name of the Lord. Response: Who made heaven and earth. Then the Scripture, Isaiah 9: (lines 1-2 and 5-6) or Isaiah 63 (lines 16-17 & 19) or Isaiah 64 (lines 2-7) is read: Reader: The Word of the Lord. Response: Thanks be to God. With hands joined, the leader says: Leader: Lord our God, we praise you for your Son, Jesus Christ: he is Emmanuel, the hope of the peoples, he is the wisdom that teaches and guides us, he is the Savior of every nation. Lord God, let your blessing come upon us as we light the candles of this wreath. May the wreath and its light be a sign of Christ s promise to bring us salvation. May he come quickly and not delay. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Response: Amen. The blessing may conclude with a verse from O Come, O Come, Emmanuel. 2
SAVE THE DATE Breakfast with Santa on Saturday, December 9th from 8:30 to 11:30 am. TEAM SPIRIT WEAR DAY Our next Team Spirit Wear Day is on Thursday, December 14th. Students may wear spirit tops, IHM athletic jerseys, gym shirts, professional and NCAA gear with gym or uniform bottoms. HSA FUNDRAISING It is time for our annual Answer to a Prayer fundraiser. The first drawing will be held on 12/22. 3
CHILDREN S LITURGY COMMITTEE Members of the Liturgy Committee got together after school to prepare the scapulars Pre-K through second grade will wear for the first Advent Service. Mrs. DeLorbe, LePera, McKinstry, Reilly, and Stamegna (behind camera) combined pictures of Mary and an angel with a purple ribbon. Each week throughout Advent members of the committee will assemble a new set of pictures for other grade levels to wear. 4
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MISSION STATEMENT Immaculate Heart of Mary School, founded by the Sisters of St. Joseph in 1957, serves the community, providing a Christ-centered Catholic education that strives for academic excellence by challenging students to learn and teachers to innovate within a comprehensive program that fosters Faith formation, social growth, and service to others. ALL CATHOLIC CHRISTMAS CONCERT The annual Christmas Concert sponsored by the secondary schools of the Diocese of Wilmington is scheduled for Tuesday, December 12, 7:00 pm, at Salesianum School. This event is a wonderful opportunity to enjoy the sounds of the season as performed by the students in our Catholic schools. The presence of elementary administrators is always appreciated, especially by students who have graduated from your schools. During Advent we are called to enlarge the horizons of our hearts, to be surprised by the life that is presented each day with its newness. Pope Francis Immaculate Heart of Mary School is fully accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Commissions on Elementary and Secondary Schools, Philadelphia, Pa. 6