December 1, 2006

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Isn’t it amazing that we find ourselves ready for the seasons of Advent and Christmas? These next weeks will be filled with so many special events. What is even more amazing is that we are nearing the halfway mark of our school year! I am sure that I speak for most of us when I say, “Where has the time gone?”

The time has gone… remembering, celebrating and looking to the future!” Our special events to celebrate the 50th birthday of our school have been great times to remember and celebrate. If you haven’t had the chance to do so, please stop by the gym and enjoy “Nativity through the Decades”, a display of pictures and items from the past. Also available in the gym are pictures for you to take. For the most part these are photos that were used or considered for use in our yearbooks. We know that these will help many to replace photos that were lost to the storm.

The time has gone… studying and working hard on our academics. Our students and teachers have been doing a terrific job in staying focused on academic work. Displays, projects and class activities really show growth and learning in all grade levels. You may have noticed that your child’s teacher is really trying to focus a bit more on writing activities. This is part of our goal for this school year as well as part of an overall plan developed following our Southern Association of Schools (SACS) visit two years ago.
These days between Thanksgiving and Christmas can be challenging ones for our teachers as they try to continue class work and homework along with the special activities. Please help us by making sure that your child is prepared for the day.

The time has gone… enjoying special events! The Guinness Book of World Records event, Children’s Book Week and mini-book fair, Thanksgiving crafts and projects and feasts, prayer services and so much more have been part of our days. Several fifth and sixth grade students have been actively preparing for an academic competition (ACE) at St. Stanislaus on December 2nd and our band, strings and choir students have been hard at work preparing for their upcoming performances.

The time has gone… helping others. Did you know that we raised over $1500.00 for the Heart Association? Did you know that we collected boxes and boxes of non perishable food items for those in need? Did you know that many of our classes prepared decorations for a Thanksgiving feast for the elderly sponsored by Nativity Parish?

We know that the time will continue to go quickly this month! Most days have at least one special event… those are the things that we know about right now! Please watch backpacks for special notes and check the sign board for reminders as we go through these next weeks.

Our Christmas Buck Store will be held on December 14th. Although we have sent a “help wanted” note to those who said that they wanted to be involved in the Bucks Program, we could use extra help on that day (or on the 13th during set-up). Also needed will be small items for children to “buy” with their Nativity Bucks as well as wrapping paper and gift bags. Items may be brought to school any time on or before December 14th.

During this Advent season, while we take time to help the children prepare spiritually for the feast of Christmas, I hope that you will be able to do the same in your home. Maybe a special effort to pray a meal prayer together, a night time prayer together, a morning prayer together could be part of your schedule these next weeks. Perhaps a few minutes of quietly driving in the car (!) could be part of our Advent prayer this year. Whatever you decide to do will make such a difference in your life and in the life of your family.

Several of our families are experiencing difficult times as they face military deployments, serious illnesses, family struggles and the stresses of hurricane recovery. Let us, as an Advent practice, hold one another in prayer each day. May God be close to you and to the members of your family during the days and weeks ahead.