April 1, 2006

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Lent is nearly over and we are anticipating the holiest of weeks n the Christian tradition. The signs of growth and new life all around us are a special reminder of God's love for us this year. As we conclude this special season of prayer and reflection, please consider joining us for our different prayer experiences in the days ahead.

Thank you for your wonderful help with the Keep America Beautiful Project! What a terrific gathering of parents, grandparents and friends of the school! The gardens look wonderful and it seems that most plants are doing well. If you have a chance, check PreK 4's vegetable garden near the office. Peppers and strawberries look like they will be the first to ripen!

We continue to be so blessed by the generosity of people and businesses around the country. We have received several monetary donations from schools and parishes around the country. These donations, placed into our Katrina Relief Fund, are used for tuition assistance and for direct aid to our families. In the days prior to Spring Break, we know of three schools/parishes who are sending us household items. In fact we anticipate that a semi trailer of items will arrive on April 12th, Field Day. MUCH help will be needed to unload and sort the items! Please consider lending us a helping hand! Finally, our Resource Room continues to be blessed with "new stock" periodically. Don't forget to stop in and "shop" and encourage others to do so as well!

We will have our annual Nativity BVM School Field Day on Wednesday, April 12th! This is the 25th year that Coach Loretta Bon has organized this day for our children! If at all possible, please plan to be here to help with the events and to cheer the children on. It is always a fun time for all but we need many adults to supervise and score the events. Anyone able to help is asked to meet at school on April 12th at 9am.

For over twenty years, our school has sponsored a Track Meet for students of the Catholic elementary schools. The meet has been held in late April/ early May and has always been very exciting for all involved. Because of the devastation and relocation of several of our Catholic schools, Coach is working on a slightly different format for the meet. However, we are having difficulty in finding a "good date" for the event due to high school track meets, soccer tournaments and baseball/softball schedules. Watch for news about this and other upcoming "end of the year" events.

The registration Packets for the 2006-2007 school year were sent home at the beginning of March with your child. Open Registration will continue and students will be accepted until all vacancies have been filled. If you have not already re-registered please do so as soon as possible so that we can be sure to reserve a space for your child.

You can be so proud of your children and how they have worked together to make this a successful school year. You can be so proud of our staff members who have given their best during these trying times. And, you can be so proud of yourselves for doing all that you can to provide for the needs of your family. Know that each and every day you are remembered in prayer during our morning prayer. May God continue to help each of us to recognize our blessings and cope with our challenges!

/s Sister Mary Jo