February 1, 2010

Dear Parents and Guardians,

            What a great way to begin a new month with the celebration of Catholic Schools Week!  CSW is always celebrated nationally during the last week of January.  We have many special events planned for the week.  Some of the events celebrate our faith—yesterday’s Mass at the cathedral, Wednesday’s Mass here at school (1:00) with Bishop Morin and some of  our priests; some of the events celebrate our sense of community – our outreach to Haiti, our valentine project for our military at the VA Hospital and some celebrate “us” like our family picnic on Friday and our Nativity Saints/New Orleans Saints special events on Friday!  We hope that you will be able to join us for any or all of these times.  Finally, thank you for the sacrifices that you make to have your child attend our school.  We believe that by focusing on mind, body and soul we are truly preparing each child for the future that lies ahead.

            I am very pleased to tell you that we have completed the largest portion of the accreditation visit by the Mississippi Department of Education.  Auditors visited our school this past Tuesday and Wednesday and reviewed general school information, school records, curriculum, textbooks and cafeteria.  Yet to come are the auditors for the Special Education Program and for our school facility.  The auditors who met with us were very complimentary about our school faculty and staff, students and programs.  Thank you to our faculty and staff for their hard work and to parent volunteers who assisted us in many ways.

            Children of Nativity BVM School have participated in several outside events these past few weeks.  Our Nativity Robotics Team (The Tsunami) participated in the First Lego League Competition this past Saturday.  It was wonderful to see the way in which these ten children interacted, solved problems and worked as a team to accomplish a goal.  It was a great learning experience for them and for the adults present.  Special thanks to Ann Bruffey, their moderator, and Erica Busby for a job very well done!  Ten students in grades 1 through 3 were involved in Junior Legos in the first half of the year.  Under the direction of Mrs. Debbie Worrel, assisted by Mrs. Dawn Lyons, these children began to lay the foundation for future work in robotics.  Our Nativity Choir, under the direction of Mrs. Nanette Burke, performed during Biloxi’s Christmas in the City and also led the singing for the Sunday Mass at Nativity this past Sunday.  The Nativity Band, under the direction of Mr. Hudson Wolfe, performed at our recent Saints/Vikings Pep Rally and will lead our Nativity School Mardi Gras parade on Friday, February 12th and march in the Biloxi Children’s Walking Parade on Saturday, February 13th.
          

            As you read in our January newsletter, our school was awarded a $25,000 grant from the Gulf Coast Community Foundation in order to reconstruct and develop our preschool/kindergarten playground.  We will hold our first “dream meeting” on Monday, February 8th at 5:30 p.m.  All are welcome to participate in this planning meeting and in future planning meetings for the playground.

            Mark your calendars!  On Sunday, March 7th, Nativity School will host its annual Open House from 11:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.  We see this day as an opportunity to showcase our school for our current families, for former students and for future families and students.  We will have tours of the school, demonstrations by various classes and groups and displays, several drawings for money off of tuition as well as gift cards.  Did I mention the great refreshments that we will have?  Please plan to attend and please plan to invite someone to join you! 

            With the celebration of Catholic Schools Week followed quickly by Mardi Gras, the observance of Lent will soon be here.  Here, at school, we will have a weekly prayer service following recess each Friday.  At that service, we will reflect on the Stations of the Cross…those events that happened near the end of Jesus’ life.  In whatever we can, we will try to help the children to understand that Lent is a time for personal growth and development in faith.  You may want to consider taking part in some practices as well during Lent.  Daily Mass will be celebrated at Nativity Church at 6:30 a.m., 8:00 a.m. and Noon.  Stations will be celebrated in the Cathedral each Friday of Lent at 6:00 p.m. and a priest will be available for confessions.  Whatever we choose to do this Lent, let us make it a time of personal growth, prayer and service to others.

            As always, know that we are here to work with you and your child to accomplish great things!  These are busy days but we are never too busy to meet with you about your child.  Know that we consider it a privilege to minister here in our school.

/s Sister Mary Jo