September, 2003

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Hand in hand with God....how important it is for each of us to believe and live this truth!

As we begin this very busy month of September, I would like to remind you that we do try to put as much information as possible on our monthly calendar. Please keep your copy in a safe place so that you can refer to it often! You are always welcome to attend any of our prayer services or celebrations. Congratulations to our PK4 teacher, Mrs. Renee, and her husband Burt on the birth of their first child, August Robert who was born on Friday, August 22nd. We are looking forward to getting to know Ms. Cherie who will be working for Ms. Renee in her absence.

By now, we have received most of the books and materials that had been ordered for our school year. Our math materials, however, are still a little slow in getting here due to printing challenges. Our representative has assured me that the books/materials are on their way! The children and teachers have been wonderful in the ways that they have worked together to share resources. Some classes have doubled up for their Math Meetings and math lessons. (Talk about hand in hand!) I think, in all, the children and teachers have made a smooth transition into the math series.

Two of our school's fundraisers take place this month. Our Golf Tournament is scheduled for this Saturday, September 6th at Sunkist Country Club. It is not too late to sign up a team, make a donation for a hole sponsorship or to offer a helping hand! Just send a note or call school to let us know! The following weekend is the Biloxi Seafood Festival, sponsored by the Biloxi Chamber of Commerce.

We have participated in this event for the past seven years by staffing a cakewalk and, within the last few years, a jambalaya booth. This has become a wonderful fund raiser for our school as well as a way to meet many people in our local area. Cakes/sweets are needed for the cakewalk and can be brought to school on Friday, September 12th or right to the festival site at Point Cadet on Saturday or Sunday. We generally need 200 or more cakes! Workers are also needed for an hour or more in each of our booths. Josie Gee has graciously agreed (again!) to organize the workers. If you would like to volunteer ( and did not sign up at final registration), it is not too late! Please keep in mind that the Chamber has made a change in the admission policy to the festival...passes will not be available for workers.

You are invited to a very special meeting on Thursday, September 18th at 7:00 p.m. in the gym. The purpose of the evening is to share with you parts of the Diocesan Plan for the Protection and Safety of Children and Young Adults that directly impact us. We will give a brief overview of the plan and follow this with a sharing of the lessons that will be given to the students during the first week of October. We hope that you will make attendance at this meeting a priority. (Babysitting will not be provided and we would prefer that children not be brought to this meeting.)

A meeting of a different type will be held the following Thursday on September 25th at 6:00 p.m. This will be a Nativity Parent Association meeting for ALL parents. The main purpose of the meeting is to introduce our officers, outline our projects and make plans for our Halloween Carnival.

Most children will have homework each evening. We really try (as you do) to make children responsible for copying their assignments and for bringing home the right items in their backpacks. If a child forgets an item, the school building is generally open until 5:30 p.m. However, the child must receive permission to return to their classroom from Sr. Mary Jo or one of the staff members. Although we want to allow children to get forgotten items, we also don't want to encourage absentmindedness!

As you may have heard, we have had several staff members or their family members experience serious illnesses recently. We thank you for your understanding and support as we have shifted personnel, called in substitutes and made changes quickly. We also have several families of students experiencing serious illnesses or difficulties as well as the deployment of loved ones. As we walk hand in hand with

God this school year, we certainly join hands in prayer for our entire Nativity family!