March 1, 2007
Dear Parents and Guardians,
Our celebration of Lent has already begun. I choose to use the word "celebration" because I feel that Lent can be a very positive time of growth, of change and of renewal. Many times, we associate the season with penance and "giving up" things that we ma enjoy. Perhaps this Lent you could join me in "celebrating" the season...deciding to do an act of kindness for someone, spending a little more time in prayer each day, taking a walk and enjoying the quiet beauty around us or putting others first, just to name a few things to consider. Lent can be a time of celebration...if we just give it a chance!
Our annual Open House is such a wonderful time to see the school, visit the classrooms, shop at the Book Fair and enjoy conversations with new and old friends. Please do not hesitate to invite friends, neighbors and relatives to join you! Information about registration and about the coming school year will also be available at our Open House on Sunday, March 4th from 11am-2pm. I hope to see you there!
Members of the Nativity School Advisory Council and Nativity Parent Association will once again host two Lenten dinners. The first, on March 9th will feature "Nativity famous" Shrimp Spaghetti and the second, on March 23rd, will be a Fried Fish Dinner. Dinners will be reasonably priced with all proceeds benefiting the school. Enjoy a great meal....dine in or take out!
Students in Grades 1 through 6 will participate in Standardized Testing during the week of March 12th. Preparation for these tests has taken place every day of each student's life, however, there are some things that can be done to ensure that each child does the best possible job. It is critical that your child is well rested, arrives on time and has had something to eat for breakfast during these days of testing. These tings are helpful to make each school day a success but really make a difference during "test week." Results of the testing should arrive before the end of the school year.
Early next week (March 5th) each family will receive a registration packet for the 2007-2008 school year. I hope that your experience with our school has been a positive one and that your child will be returning to Nativity School for the new school year. Please complete the registration forms and return them to school as soon as possible. As you will see on the March Calendar, March 20th and 21st are days when "open registration" begins. In order to ensure a place for your child, the registration packet must be completed and returned to the school with the registration fee enclosed. If for some reason your child will not be returning to Nativity School, please contact me. I would like to help in whatever way possible to make the transition as smooth as possible.
Report cards will be going home soon and will give you an indication of how your child is performing on a regular basis. Although we do not have formal conferences scheduled, please do not hesitate to contact your child's teacher if you would like to meet to discuss progress or lack of progress.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS! A Birthday Event is coming! Last year, we were privileged to take part in the national kick off of the "Keep America Beautiful" program. If you remember, we spent a gloriously beautiful day celebrating life and nature and planted beautiful gardens throughout our property. We would like to invite your entire school family to join on SATURDAY, March 31st, in a similar event..."Keep Nativity Beautiful." We will have an opportunity to work together that day to plant, clean and beautify our school inside and out and then join in a picnic lunch. PLEASE PLAN TO ATTEND from 9am - Noon on Saturday, March 31st..
Please do not hesitate to contact me if I can be of help in any way. Although we have come so far over these last months, there are still so many needs around us. Sometimes I am aware of some of these needs and other times, I am not. People around the country continue to ask how they can help. Please le me know if there is something we can do to help you and your family or neighbors.
May God continue to bless you and the members of your family. May you experience those blessings in a real way and may you be willing to share those blessings with others!
/s Sister Mary Jo