February 1, 2008
Dear Parents and Guardians,
January was such a fast month with our after Christmas events, our celebration of Catholic Schools Week and now, our anticipated enjoyment of Mardi Gras. How fortunate we are to be people of faith and joy and people who love to celebrate with our friends and family! Our celebration of Catholic Schools Week has been terrific! Thank you to Loretta Bond (Coach) and Dottie Warner for their planning of our many Catholic Schools Week events. The focus on our military through prayer and the donation of small items to let them know we are thinking of them was so meaningful. We were so happy that so many of you were able to join us throughout the week. Thank you to Mr. Hudson Wolfe and our band and flag corps members who helped us to get into that “Mardi Gras mood.” The weather wasn’t the best for our planned parades but our band/flag corps members were certainly “beacons of light” as they participated in the Biloxi Children’s Parade. What enthusiasm they shared with all they encountered on that parade through downtown Biloxi. They certainly had a big band sound (and look!) for being an elementary band.
Although we have been in the celebratory mode for quite a few weeks, be assured that our focus continues to be the education of your child. Most teachers assign homework for most of the school days – Monday through Thursday. If your child is consistently not bringing work home (written or to be studied), you may want to contact the teacher. Also, the majority of our teachers send home weekly paper packets or notes. If you are not receiving such information, again, you may want to ask a few questions. Communication is so very critical to a child’s success in school.
Although our new computers and desks/classroom furniture have yet to arrive, we are hopeful that it will be s-o-o-n! Please watch for the help-wanted sign…believe me, we will need your help in assembling and moving things to their proper places. Although we are quite impatient with the waiting, we are grateful for these new items purchased with Federal funds through the Restart program.
Some of you have expressed concern about “Lake Nativity.” Let me explain. Most of you have had your own experiences through the rebuilding process and know that re-construction has to be done “exactly” in order to fulfill requirements for reimbursement. Sometimes that is no longer a workable way and that is the problem with the flooding. The situation is being reviewed and work will begin soon to provide a solution for the problem. But, despite the problems, we are most grateful for these upgrades made possible through Federal funds.
If you were unable to attend the State of the School potluck last week, there are print copies available of our school’s annual report. It is amazing to see all that has been accomplished these last twelve months. You are also invited to name your “favorite three things about Nativity School” and to make three suggestions for making our school better.
Although this school year is halfway over, we are quickly preparing for the upcoming school year. Junior High information has been distributed to our sixth grade students and our School Advisory Council is hard at work on our school budget for the 2008-2009 school year. Please hold us in prayer as we try to strike that delicate balance of providing a quality Catholic education for our students that remains affordable for our families.
Our annual Open House will be held on Sunday, March 2nd from 11:00-2:00 p.m. You are our best means of communication and so I urge you to invite a friend, neighbor, co-worker or relative to visit our school with you. Our Book Fair will be open for shopping and student displays, demonstrations and tours will help you and our visitors see what our school offers for our students. We are proud of our students and proud of our school and would like to share it with others!
Registration packets will be sent home on Monday, March 3rd. Because our Easter break takes place at the end of March, we would like to complete the registration of current students as well as students from families new to the school before our Spring Break. Because (for now) we have one class of each grade, it is very important that you return your registration packet as soon as you can and definitely before Open Registration begins. Although there is a strong possibility that we will be able to open a second section of Kindergarten for the new school year, we will really not be able to make a definite decision about that until we see that we have a large enough group of students to support a second class.
Our School Advisory Council will again be sponsoring Friday Lenten Dinners. Dinners will be available in our school cafeteria (dine in/take out) from 5:30 – 7:00 p.m. on Friday, February 8th; Friday, February 22nd and Friday, March 7th. All proceeds from the dinners will go to the support of our school. Our thanks to our Cafeteria staff who is assisting with this project!
The Lenten season begins in just a few days. Each Friday of Lent, our students and staff will join to reflect on the last moments in the life of Jesus (Stations of the Cross.) You are more than welcome to join us at 10:15 each Friday morning.
A week or so ago, one of the Sisters in my community emailed the following prayer. I shared it with the faculty/staff and one suggested that I share it with you as well.
St. Theresa’s Prayer
May today there be peace within. May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be. May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith. May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you. May you be content knowing you are a child of God. Let this presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love. It is there for each and every one of us. Amen.
May you be blessed this Lenten Season!