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Hi-lites week of October 27, 2011
Dear Parents and Guardians,
There is a change in the air. November is now in view. During the month of November teachers will be helping our students become familiar with the new changes in the Roman missal. It will probably be much less of an adjustment for their young souls, than for this old dog. We will all learn it together! Students in
Grades 3-8 will be using Mass cards during our school liturgies beginning this Advent.
Blessings,
Jane Schmidt
Principal
Message from Mr. Petersen
All soccer and volleyball uniforms, newly laundered, should be returned to Mr. Petersen in the gym as soon as possible. There are hangers in the gym and a bin for shorts.
Students are invited to bring in a picture of the "Wild Things We Do" for a bulletin board outside of the gym. This bulletin board is meant to showcase activities and sports that may not be taught in P.E., but are worth mention. Please be sure that the pictures are copies that we can keep. Ideas range from hunting/fishing pictures, four- wheeling, water skiing, jet skiing, marathon running, rollerblading, etc.
Pull out Those Calendars-LCCC Sacramental Prep Dates
First Reconciliation learning centers take place on November 5th, from 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m. and Nov. 15th from 6:30-8:00 p.m. Also Confirmation meets on Sunday, November 6 from 11:45 a.m. - 2:15 p.m
Family Fun
This is something different. Head out to my old alma mater for a great Halloween activity on Sunday, October 30th from 4-7 p.m.! A safe trick-or treating option at Totino-Grace High School! Trick-or-treat from trunk to trunk in a line up of vehicles parked in the main parking lot of Totino-Grace High School at 1350 Gardena Ave NE Fridley, MN 55432 - organized by student leadership! (The vehicle trunks are festive with all sorts of spooky and creepy decorations!)
HOLIDAY SCRIP IS HERE!
(Orders taken until Dec. 14th for Dec. 21st delivery)
It is time to order Scrip for the Holidays. You can buy Scrip as a gift for others, or use it to do your own holiday and Christmas shopping. This year, we've got large department and general retail stores to meet all your shopping needs:
Bloomingdale's Macy's
Herberger's Sears
Kohls T.J. Maxx
Marshall's Wal-Mart
•We've also got great specialty retailers and restaurants for gifts and stocking
stuffers.
•If you're doing home improvement projects, we've got Home Depot, Lowes and
Menards available.
•Remember, with Holiday Scrip, you order and pay for your gift cards and they arrive
one week later.
•Call Julie Jandrich, 698-1352, with any questions.
Non-Holiday SCRIP News:
New Vendors added: Smashburger $10 cards at 10%
Current Vendors/New Amounts added: Holiday $100 at 2%
Buy Scrip every Wednesday morning from 8-9am at the Kitchen Window or send a bright green form and check in with your child.
Thank you for your support of HCS SCRIP!
Spic and Span
I would like to publicly thank my hard working crew of fifth graders, who cheerfully help me tidy up the church at the end of the school week. They can put that sanctuary to "right" in under 15 minutes! Thanks to Emily Peterson, Emily Wheeler, Olivia Kinne, Nina Pitera, Joey Pribyl, Sean Cobenais and Joey Sarakaitas. You can think of them when you reach for a hymnal on Sunday and even the binding on the books are facing the same direction!
No School on Friday, October 28th
Extra Innings is open for Halloween fun. Students may wear costumes, pack play clothes, too. They are hiking over to Dairy Queen for lunch, too.
Halloween
Students in all grades may be out of uniform for Halloween. We would love to see tons of orange and black. Some grades are having costume parties - check with teachers about those plans! Though we no longer celebrate birthdays with candy at school - Halloween and Valentine's Day are still pretty sweet!
Prizes! Prizes! Prizes!
Pumpkin carving contest! Bring your carved pumpkin to the cafeteria for display during the day on Monday. For extra fun, please name your creation! Creativity counts! Winners will be announced at the end of the day! Students may pick their fabulous gourds up at the end of the day on Monday! Yes, families may work together on their entry.
Turkey Bingo-Secure the Bird for the Big Day!
November 11th/School Cafeteria/6:00 p.m.
Hot dog dinner $3.00/person includes hot dog, chips, and pop. One BINGO card purchased is $3.00 with additional cards for $1.00 each. Black-Out game begins at 7:30 a.m. at $1.00 per card. Don't miss the fun!
Please R.S.V.P. to Ms. Jen Seger at j.seger@highlandcatholc.org or call the school office, 651.690.2477.
Bad Weather Ahead
Looking at my Almanac it appears that once again we will have winter. When bad weather happens you will find Highland Catholic School closings announced on WCCO. If you go to the WCCO website you can sign up for weather alerts on all of your gadgets. Though students love a snow day, we do everything we can to have classes. We never want anyone to travel to school under dangerous conditions. Your common sense should always guide you.
A Gift for Your Family-attached with a staple!
At this time, the "Making our Time Sacred: Rituals for Family and Home" sessions are postponed. But, the Tighe Family has provided a lovely script for creating a Memory Wall in your home during November. You will find it attached to this
Hi-lites.
Remember:
Monday, October 31st Halloween! Out of uniform day!
Tuesday, November 1st LATE START 9:00 a.m. Mass at Noon
Wednesday, November 2nd All Soul's Day! Picture retakes K-8 and Preschool 4/5
October 13th, 2011
Hi-lites week of October 13, 2011
Dear Parents and Guardians,
During the next two weeks, parents, guardians, teachers and even some older students will be meeting for fall conferences. This is a great time to set goals for students. Teachers will have observations and data to share and they are interested in hearing from you, too. Conferences should be an exchange of ideas and a strengthening of the partnership between home and school. We are hoping for 100% participation.
The new format we are trying (three sessions from 3-6 p.m.) seemed to make it easier for teachers to schedule parents/guardians for their preferred times on the conference form. If you need a special arrangement outside of these times, please contact your homeroom teacher. We will do our best to accommodate you.
Jane Schmidt
Principal
Flavor of the Month
Third graders are spending time each month studying different genres of Literature. Last month, they focused on Historical Fiction and this month it is the ever exciting, Mystery. They are reading machines and it is fun to see them devouring those books!
Who Could Resist?
One of our HCS Girl Scout Troops baked and sold some delicious treats after Masses last weekend. Their hard work and generosity raised over $600 for our sister parish in Chimbote, Peru!
Parent Support Group
An invitation for HCS Parents/Guardians with a child with learning differences: Please join our Parent Support group this Monday, October 17th at 7 p.m. in the school library. You will find it to be a wonderful group. The format usually includes a focused presentation or topic and then an opportunity to share ideas and resources.
A Note from the Admissions Director at Hill-Murray to our 8th Graders:
I would like to alert you to a significant change in our admissions timeline for this year. In the past, we have given a Placement Exam in January along with the other Catholic high schools. This year we will not be giving a placement exam at Hill-Murray in January nor will we require any of our prospective students to take the test. The decision was ultimately reached because the way we place students in classes at Hill-Murray has evolved. Instead of giving the test in January, we will now be inviting any incoming 9th grade student who is interested in testing into honors English or a higher level Math course to come to Hill-Murray on one of the two dates below and take a test on the specific content area they choose (Math and/or English).
Test Dates
Saturday, May 12 10:00-11:00 a.m. Math 11:00-12:00 p.m. English
Thursday, May 17 3:30-4:30 p.m. Math 4:30-5:30 p.m. English
The Circle of Life
Congratulations to Big Brother Thomas Fuschetto, HCS preschooler, on the arrival of sweet baby Clara Ann. According to Mom, "She is a peanut (5 lbs. 13 oz)." Thomas is understandably proud!
Please hold the family of 8th grader, Frank Kajer, in your prayers at the recent death of his uncle, Patrick Wheelock. Mr. Wheelock was a huge HCS sports fan and many of our students knew him. May he rest in peace.
Out and About
Fourth Grade Parents/ Guardians who were unable to attend first Reconciliation Meeting last week will find a make-up meeting on November 5th at 11:30 in the LCCC Bride's Room. Your child can complete the learning stations from 10:30-11:30 a.m. or 12:30-1:30 p.m. Nice and tidy. Please contact Phyllis Hamil-Little, 698.5581 to indicate your preference.
Seventh graders participated in a Youth Frontiers Retreat on Courage this past Tuesday. The group leaders were students from Cretin-Derham Hall, primarily our old kiddos, who are now Juniors! Thanks to Mr. Tim Teuber from C-DH for helping us every year with these super volunteers. The seventh graders reported a growth-filled and exciting day!
Today the first graders are spending a lovely day at a farm in Hugo. They will be returning with the biggest pumpkins they can carry! Our second graders went to the play, "Miss Nelson is Missing," It is a great show and must be even more fun when your teacher is Miss Nelson!
Thanks!
*HCS would like to thank Lynn Lucken, Mother to Ben, Nicholas, and Jamie, for her dedicated service in converting "Trash into Cash" for our school. Mrs. Lucken has led our efforts in Campbells' Soup Labels, Boxtops and Milkcap redemption programming. We owe her HUGE thanks for her hard work.
HCS is on the hunt for a parent, or even better a group of parents, who would follow in Mrs. Lucken's footsteps. Training would be provided. It could actually become a "little social" event. I can picture it now....clipping boxtops and sipping wine..... I will provide the first bottle. Please contact school if you are interested, 651.690.2477 or j.schmidt@highlandcatholic.org
Making our Time Sacred: Rituals for Family and Home
With Family Tighes
Thursday, October 27 6:30-8:00 p.m.
Saturday, October 29 9:00-10:30 a.m.
This 90 minute interactive presentation will offer ideas for families to make time sacred in their homes. Such rituals will include creating a "wall of memories," suggestions for Sunday sabbath time, observing the Seasons of Advent, Christmas, Lent and Easter, a children's compline, (nighttime prayer) and other ordinary time rituals.
Presented by Lou Ann, Yousah (fifth grader) and Louie Tighe (fourth grader). All are invited to come and have fun!
To help with planning for materials, please rsvp to ltighe@c-dh.org (including the ages of children, if they are coming) by Wednesday, October 26
Editor's Note (Jane Schmidt)
Do yourself a huge favor and go to this presentation. Lou Ann is a talented and entertaining speaker. Her children are priceless. This is a topic that speaks to all of us. Everyone is hungry for real and genuine rituals to strengthen family and sacred bonds. This is the stuff that matters. We all get busy with life, but this is the stuff that really matters. Our goal as parents is to get our children into Heaven. Why not learn to have some fun along the way?
Upcoming Dates;
Monday Oct. 17th New Parent Support Group 7 p.m.
Wreath orders are due! Please shop with us!
Tuesday, Oct. 18th Conferences from 3-6 p.m.
Wednesday, Oct. 19th Fifth Grade Family Mass at Noon
Thurs./Fri, Oct. 20th/21st No School MEA Lobby Entrance closed for resurfacing of landing
Thursday, Oct. 27th PRIDE for Grades K-5 8:30 a.m. Guests welcome!
Friday, Oct. 28th NO SCHOOL
Monday, Oct. 31st Halloween!!
Bring in those pumpkins for the Carving Contest!
Tuesday, Nov. 1st All Saints Day! Please join us for Noon mass on this Holy Day!
Reminder: We have a 9:00 Late Start today!
Wednesday, Nov. 2nd Picture Re-take Day/Picture Day for 4/5 year olds, too.
We are enjoying having preschoolers in the building. The three-year olds also went on a fieldtrip today...to our second floor! Exciting! I enjoy every encounter, especially the one this week when a young lass couldn't recall the title of "Principal," and named me "Princess." Finally.
October 7th, 2011
Hi-lites week of October 6, 2011
Dear Parents and Guardians,
What a bonus this nice weather has been! I would like to thank everyone for the tremendous support of Marathon 2011. The day was lovely and we enjoyed seeing so many parents, guardians, siblings and grandparents...even a few pooches! (Bruno rocks!)
A few Marathon reminders:
-Check with your employer for matching funds. You can check the list of known matches at wwww.marathon.org This "free" money can really help us reach our goal of $50,000.
-Marathon shirts may be worn every Friday. You do not have to wear your uniform pants with them, but you do have to wear pants. This year's shirt is green and it is the only marathon shirt.
Please do not alter or tie your shirt. This is not a fashionable place.
-Money can come in forever. We will accept marathon money throughout the year. You can receive your shirt and jean passes at any time. However, to qualify for the water park or high classroom prizes, those funds have to be submitted by October 14th. Thanks.
-Thanks to the Home and School for the nice hospitality and to Ms. Romportl for her high-energy, perfect pitch, engaging sing-a-long for the Mini-Marathon.
Jane Schmidt
Principal
Bring Home a Prize! Turkey Bingo!
Hot Dog Dinner $3.00/person (includes hotdog, chips & pop)
One BINGO Card purchased = $3.00
additional cards $1.00
Black-Out game begins at 7:30 p.m. $1.00/card
Please r.s.v.p. at j.seger@highlandcatholic.org
Out and About
Our kindergarten class enjoyed an apple and pumpkin picking fieldtrip on Wednesday. What a perfect combination. As classes participate in fieldtrips, we will find time to review bus safety with them throughout the school year.
Got Wreathes?
Don't forget to order your holiday greenery! Beautiful products from our friends at Gerten's!
Pumpkin Carving Contest
Start sketching out your plans and enter your carved pumpkin in the HCS Pumpkin Carving Contest on Halloween. Please bring your gourds to the cafeteria before school. You may use a non-flammable light source to add to your display. Individual or group entries allowed. Prizes and Fun!
Are you a Newbie?
Parents and guardians new to HCS this year are invited to a dessert party on Nov. 3rd in our school library at 7 p.m. It will be a good time to visit and answer any questions you may have about this place. We will give you a taste of some of the parent offerings we have in our community, too.
Babysitting will be provided. Please r.s.v.p. to the school office at 690.2477 or send me a note to j.schmidt@highlandcatholic.org
Used Book Sale
Wow! Did I find some great books! Thanks to the hard working crew of this year's Used Book Sale. We are still tabulating the profits, which will support our school library, the church library and scholarship fund. Thanks for the many donations and for shopping the sale.
Next year's sale will be Nov. 9th and 10th in the LCCC Community Room. Much easier access!
School Safety
HCS has held two practice fire drills so far this fall. Our goal is to clear the building in less than two minutes in an orderly fashion in silence. During the month of October, the St. Paul Fire Department will conduct its annual review of our drill.
During October we will also practice our lockdown procedures with students. There are two types of building lock downs. A "soft" lockdown involves moving all students into locked classrooms and continuing instruction. A "hard" lockdown involves moving all students (who are silent) out of sight lines in locked classrooms.
Your emergency contact card is the most important piece of paper in the school. If any of the contact numbers change, please let us know immediately. Thanks.
Don't forget:
-To mention Highland Catholic School when you drop off your fall dry cleaning at Red Robin.
-To send in your grocery receipts from Cooper's
-To bring your 6th-8th grader to conferences
Upcoming Dates:
Wednesday, October 12th All School Mass at Noon at LCCC Please come!
Tuesday, October 18 Conferences from 3-6 p.m.
Oct. 20th-21st MEA No School The regular school entrance will be closed on these 2 days as the landing is being recoated and sealed.
Oct. 25th and 26th Conferences from 3-6 p.m.
Oct. 28th No School
Oct. 31st Halloween
Nov. 1st Late Start 9 a.m.
Nov. 3rd Dessert Party
Nov. 11th Turkey Bingo.... Win your Thanksgiving Bird!