October 1, 2001
Dear Parents and Guardians,
We are the body of Christ.. called to holiness...called to ministry.
As we think back over the events of the past weeks, we certainly have been united in our prayer and support of those who have suffered so greatly. Since September 11th, we have joined in prayer several times around our flag pole here at school. We will continue this custom each Tuesday morning at 8:10 a.m. as we ask God to bless our world with peace. During this past Tuesday's prayer, we were treated to a beautiful saxophone rendition of the "Star Spangled Banner" by one of our fifth graders, Nicolas Cummings.
The response to the request for items for the relief workers in New York was terrific. Our school collected over 150 lbs. of practical things for the workers. Several people also made donations toward the cost of shipping the items. The boxes have been sent to New York City in care of our former student.
Be sure to ask your child about the Kids Challenge Course which the Biloxi Fire Department set up for us this past Monday. What a wonderful opportunity to have fun, learn fire safety and er4oy some beautiful weather... after the initial rains! Fire Inspector Mark Dronet and his crew can be so proud of a job well done.
Thank you, one and all, for your terrific response to our recent p4rticipation in the Biloxi Seafood Festival. Your efforts earned our school over $2200.00! Special thanks to Mrs. Josie Gee for organizing the work schedule, Chef Dean Shankland for the delicious jambalaya, the artistic crew headed by Mrs. Dawn Lyons and the many, many people who set-up the booths, baked (or bought) the cakes, transported the cakes, worked the booths and assisted in the take-down. What a wonderful sign of community effort!
As we go into the month of October, our Nativity Parent Association has two major projects -- the Golf tournament which will be held on October 6th and the Halloween Carnival which will be held on October 20th. Both events are going well already but certainly need your support! Our thanks to Mr. Mike Bruffey and his committee for their hard work on the Golf Tournament and our Carnival Chairmen, Mr. John Welter and Mr. John Pat Skrmetti for coordinating all the details for our Carnival. If you would like to assist in any way with either of these events and have not been contacted, please send a note to the school office and we will pass it along to the right people. All proceeds from the NPA functions benefit our school and its programs.
Please note a calendar change during the month of October. In order to make up for the extra day that we have taken off in September due to construction, school will be in session on Thursday, October 18th. We will hold our parent conferences on October 17th and 18th and provide time for conferences by dismissing school at 1:00 on both days. Afterschool care will be provided on October 17th and 18th but will not be provided on Friday, October 19th due to the set-up of the Halloween Carnival.
Information about the upcoming Parent/Teacher conferences will be sent out in early October. Please complete the form indicating times that are best for you. The teachers, in turn, will do their best to honor those times as they work out a master schedule. You will receive your child's report card at the conference and have an opportunity to discuss progress or areas needed for improvement. Because time for each conference is scheduled and limited, it is important that the appointment times are kept.
As you have heard from your child, the ENRICH program for Kindergarten through Grade 6 has begun. I know that staff members have thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to provide a different sort of teaming experience for the children. I also am sure that the children have enjoyed it as well. We are grateful to those who have donated items that we can use for the ENRICH program and to one of our great-grandparents who donated money toward extra expenses for the program.
I am getting nervous! The children have really taken the FROG (Fun Reaching Our Goal) challenge to heart and have earned over 2200 points as of the end of September. The agreement is that when the children have reached 7000 points, I will kiss a frog! How wonderful to see the children reading and enjoying it in the process. Please continue to encourage your child's participation and involvement in the program. Our Kindergarten and first grade students participate in a modified form of the program while all children in Grade 2 through 6 should be able to tell their reading zone and test scores on recent Accelerated Reading (AR) tests.
With the change of weather please remember that students will go out for recess and PE class when at all possible. Nativity sweatshirts or plain navy or white sweaters or sweatshirts may be worn in the classroom on chilly days. other colored sweaters and sweatshirts may be worn only outside. please help us make sure that students follow our school's dress code. Your child's name or initials should be printed somewhere in the sweatshirt/sweater/jacket as well as lunch kit. This helps match lost items with the owner more quickly. Finally, Nativity sweatshirts may be purchased through the school office.
The children are growing so quickly! Please remember that we have a great selection of used school uniforms on the stage. just for the taking! Come any time during the school day and shop 'til your hearts content!
If you haven't peeked at our construction site recently, you are in for a surprise. have walls, we have bricks ready to be placed and things are moving right along. The building has taken shape and we &e eagerly awaiting our move sometime early in 2002.
Don't forget about school's website...www.nativitybvm.org. Mr. Robbie Schmidt, who has assumed the role of webmaster, has done a great job of updating the website and making it a real source of information.
During this month of October, we celebrate the feast of St. Francis. Although we often associate Francis of Assisi with animals and gardens, he is perhaps best known as one who respected all creation and sought peace for everyone and everything. I would like to close with the words of the Peace Prayer, which we have also used during our special time of prayer around the flagpole:
Lord, make me an instrument of Your Peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light:
and where there is sadness, joyO Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled, as to console; to be understood, as to understand, To be loved, as to love; For it is in giving that we receive; It is in pardoning that we are pardoned; And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
/s Sister Mary Jo