Holy Spirit Catholic School

NAN-O-GRAM

Next Monday we are excited and privileged to have the Reach Youth Ministry coming to share our faith with the kids. Reach is an evangelistic traveling retreat ministry, “committed to serving God by proclaiming the gospel to young people in North America…compelled by Christ to witness and teach the Truth as found in our Catholic Faith.”

Located in Yakima, WA, these young adult retreat teams travel across the United States and Canada from October to July leading youth retreats and evangelizing the young Catholic Church. Fr. Justin helped coordinate this for our school, actually Fr. Justin and Fr. Robb Cook were both members of Reach, and speak highly of this ministry and the positive impact on children. Do check out their impressive website, reachym.com, with our guests the Our Lady of Lourdes Team.

Keep reading to your kids!

Mrs. Corgiat

SALLY FOSTER/COOKIE DOUGH FUNDRAISER

The cookie dough will be arriving MONDAY, Dec. 3, instead of today. Sorry for any inconvenience this may cause.

HOLIDAY CENTERPIECE

We still have 10 holiday greenery centerpieces for sale. These would make great gifts for those hard to buy for people, your neighbor, someone living in a nursing home, etc. Please check in the office if you are interested in purchasing one. Cost is $22.20.

KEEP CHRIST IN CHRISTMAS

The Knights of Columbus “Keep Christ In Christmas” car magnets are now available for $5.00 each. This is a wonderful way to silently remind all of us to focus on the true meaning of Christmas and not get caught up in the craziness. The magnets come in white with a black outline and are easily colored with permanent markers if you want to personalize.

ADVENT

This Sunday, Dec. 2, we celebrate the First Sunday of Advent as we joyously wait for Jesus’ coming at Christmas. There are so many wonderful Advent traditions that you can share with your family this year! We light the first candle on our Advent Wreath, which is violet in color. The Advent Wreath, which began as a custom in the country of Germany, holds four candles. The green wreath is a never ending circle – just like God’s love for you and I! The four candles (three violet and one pink) represent Jesus’ light in the world. Also, we begin to count the days until the birth of Baby Jesus. During this season of Advent, let’s shine our light for all to see as we grow in love for Jesus and for one another!

Auction Anyone?

It takes an army to put on an auction and now is the time to volunteer. The auction needs you! On the PTC board is a yellow volunteer sign-up sheet. Please indicate whether you have a trailer or truck. Live and silent auction items as well as tables, chairs and decorations need to be transported to Courtesy Ford.

The auction committee critically needs a creative person to help design the decorations for the big event. The theme is “Just Me and My Shadow” for Ground Hog’s Day so think winter/spring. If you are that person, please contact me at 232-1196 X18 or let Ms. Polly know you are interested.

Also, we need to make sure the generous businesses and individuals who donate items to the auction are thanked. If you have internet accessible computer at home with Microsoft Word and would like to do a little typing, please contact me at 232-1196 X18.

Remember those solicitations! Thank you for your continued support of this big event.

Dawn Fitzpatrick

Auction Chair

HOT LUNCH IOU’S

Yes, they’re back! Hot lunch IOU’s that is! Sorry, they weren’t done over the past couple of weeks so they may have built up more than usual! And of course a big thank you to those who are so great about paying ahead of time! Hot lunch is $2.00 per meal with milk and .25 cents for milk only. December’s hot lunch menu is included with today’s newsletter.

FIRST LEGO LEGAUE COMPETITION

Saturday, Dec. 1, the 6^th grade students will be participating in the FIRST Lego League Competition being held at ISU Reed Gym. This is a whole day event, so if you would like to come give some moral support anytime between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. the kids would love it! The students, teachers and an assortment of parents and other helpers have put so much time and energy into this program, it has been amazing!

Good luck to all of them – we know you’ll make us proud!

WINTER WEATHER

Remember our school policy for school closure due to inclement weather is to follow the guidance of School District #25. If they’re closed, so are we (school and CHILD CARE!). Most radio stations report school closures as well as KPVI Channel 6. So on those stormy mornings, check in with either of these sources.

HAIR, HAIR, HAIR

If your child has hair that is shoulder length or longer it MUST be tied back, in a bun or braided.

This is a precaution due to the head lice that has been present in the building. This policy is in effect until November 30, 2007. Thank you for your continued support.

BOX TOPS 4 EDUCATION

Christmas shopping is just around the corner. If you are doing on-line shopping, then be sure to check out the Box Tops site. It is simple to do and HSCS will receive a percentage of every purchase.

Just log on to www.boxtops4education and click on Sign up now. Type in Holy Spirit Catholic School and Idaho, our school will come up and then choose our school. Create your profile and then click next. Once that is done you are registered at Box Tops for Education. Now you can click on Marketplace, choose your vendor, such as Lands End and go shopping. Each vendor shows the percentage that Holy Spirit will receive from your purchase.

Often there are coupons available when you click on a vendor for either free shipping or a percentage off of your purchase. This is a win, win situation!

SAFE ENVIRONMENT TRAINING

We have had several parents interested in another Safe Environment training session. These training sessions are done on a volunteer basis, so we hate to have this volunteer take time out of their busy lives only for three or four parents to attend. In an attempt to avoid this, we will be making a list of those who still need to attend the class and when we have at least 15 names we will get another class set up. Hopefully, we can get another session set up before Christmas break. Please contact the school office if you would like to be added to the list.

DATES TO REMEMBER:

Nov. 30 – Christmas Program @ 7:00 p.m. in the Stephen Arts Performing Center on the ISU campus

Dec. 1 – FIRST Lego League Competition @ ISU in Reed Gym

Dec. 9 – School Coffee Hour @ St. Joseph’s Chapel following the 11:00 a.m. Mass

Dec. 17 – 4^th, 5^th, & 6^th grade students attend a performance of The Nutcracker

Dec. 21 – Jan. 1 – Christmas Break