Dear Parents,
This month we are focusing on the character trait of citizenship, and this week our students have had several examples of what it means to serve your community, whether the community is school, city, country, or world.
Yesterday we celebrated Veterans’ Day with an all-school assembly in church at the end of the day to pray the rosary for the intention of veterans and those currently serving in the armed forces. We postponed our students’ tribute to veterans and the military, which was to include students’ reflections and songs, due to Mrs. Blevins’ absence as the director of the program. We will reschedule that event for later this month as it will still be a fitting reminder to our students of the sacrifices that many citizens make to protect our freedoms.
Thanks to all of our students who are bringing in food items for the kindergarten food drive. The table filled with the donations in our main hallway is a reminder to the students of the importance to help those in need in our community. Our newsletter today contains other requests for donations to help the less fortunate. I know it must seem overwhelming at this time of year and with our current economy, but with the many blessings the majority of our children have, we feel it also important for them to learn the value of helping others as good citizens and good Christians. We certainly understand that each family’s situation is different, but we truly appreciate any help you are able to provide for these worthwhile efforts.
We have an early dismissal today for our monthly faculty meeting, but tomorrow is a regular dismissal day. Please remember that Lifetouch picture retake day is tomorrow, Friday, Nov. 13. Photo order forms were sent home today with any students requesting them, and we have extras available in the school office if you need one
Have a good weekend and join us in continuing to pray for our military and in thanking God for our blessings as citizens of the United States of America!
Sincerely,
Mrs. Kathy Wear
Congratulations to our seventh and eighth graders who competed in the Springfield Catholic grade schools’ speech meet hosted at Blessed Sacrament last Saturday! Five 7th graders and eighteen 8th graders competed, all in the duet category, and each duet received a first place ranking! Those students included seventh graders Luke Reiser, Cody Prosperini, Nic Farris, Eric Ketchum, and Ben Eck and eighth graders Hayley Reed, Kerby Ingram, Skie Piatchek, Allyson Padget, Ashley Dunn, Kaysay Johnson, Sean Wesp, Joel Henderson, Lilly Park, Emma Farley, Abigail Perrero, Taylor Little, Cody Rutherford, Michael Davis, Sarah Wheeler, Emily Willard, Abby Mizeur, and Caroline Schmidt. Thanks to all the volunteers who helped with coaching the students, judging at the event, and/or running the concession stand at the meet. Special thanks to Mrs. Bucklin and Mrs. Davis who coordinated our speech students as well as the speech meet!
Crossing Guards
We extend special thanks to Mark Mahoney and Mike Stannard for their weeks of acting as crossing guards in the morning and in the afternoon, respectively, at the corner of Glenwood and Ash. Also, thanks to the efforts of Aldermen Mark Mahoney and Debbie Cimarossa, a four-way stop has been installed at that corner. However, due to the newness of the signs, we still ask that walkers be extremely cautious at that corner. Also, one of our crossing guards noted that many of our own parents drive on Ash and Glenwood at a higher speed than is safe for streets near lots of children, and many are often on their cell phones. We ask you to continue to help us in keeping our students safe by slowing down and being alert as you drop off and pick up your children.
We are in need of additional volunteers to help us at the corner of Ash and Glenwood after school. If you are available to help any day, please call the school office.
Capital Campaign Update
All families will be receiving an update on our Building on Tradition campaign today. We are excited about the plans and are thankful for all those who have supported this effort. We still have a way to go to meet our goal, so if you haven’t had the opportunity to make a gift to the campaign, we hope you will consider one now. We truly mean that no gift is too small to make a difference. All of our students will benefit from this campaign, and we need everyone’s help to make this a success. Thanks for your support as we strive to provide the best for your children!
Eighth Grade Drive
The eighth graders are collecting gently used towels, sheets, blankets, and coats to be donated to St. Martin de Porres Center. Through their volunteer service there, under the guidance of Mrs. Mosley, they have learned that the center is completely out of many of these items. They will be collecting your donations until Friday, December 11. Thanks to all of you who are able to help the less fortunate in this way!
Thanks to many of you who completed a survey about snacks and birthday/holiday treats when you attended your parent-teacher conferences. With the main focus of the conference being the progress of your children, some of you may have missed the opportunity to complete a survey. (The surveys were one per family and were distributed in the homeroom of the youngest child.) If you did not fill one out and would like to complete one, please contact your youngest child’s homeroom teacher or the school office for another copy. Please return the forms by Tuesday, Nov. 24. We will give you a summary of the survey results in an upcoming newsletter. Thanks for your input!
The kindergartners are collecting food for Catholic Charities Holy Family Food Pantry. The food drive will run through Wednesday, Nov. 19. Thanks for your generosity to their mission project!
Darfur Fundraiser
Don’t forget to purchase tickets for our joint raffle among the Springfield Catholic schools to benefit Catholic Relief Services in their humanitarian efforts in Darfur. Flyers with the tickets are available outside our school office. Thanks for any support that you are able to give!
Next Thursday, Nov. 19, SHG is hosting a Preview Night for interested seventh and eighth graders and their parents. The doors open at 6:30 p.m. A short presentation will be given at 7:00 p.m., and then families are welcome to tour the school. We appreciated Mrs. Egizii and SHG student ambassadors, including BSS graduate Elizabeth Farris, sharing their experiences with our seventh and eighth graders yesterday.
We also extend our thanks to SHG for the generous check of $1,000 that they shared with each Catholic grade school as part of the profits of their Mega Raffle. We appreciate their continued support of our work in the Catholic grade schools.
Permission slips for the first dance this year for seventh and eighth graders in our Springfield Catholic schools were sent home this week. The first dance will be held tomorrow, Friday, Nov. 13, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at St. Joseph’s School. New student identification cards will be passed out to the students tomorrow. (Please have your children keep the ID cards in a safe place as they will be needed for each junior high dance.)
It’s not too late to purchase tickets for this fun evening. The "La Dolce Vino" Wine Tasting Event will be held this Saturday, November 14, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the school gymnasium. Wine glasses will be available for purchase. Tickets are $15 per person. For ticket information contact the school office at 522-7534. (Tickets will be also be available at the door.) If you are unable to attend but would still like to purchase wine, please contact Kim Hoffmann at 522-7534, ext. 206.
Athletic Reminders
Permission slips for 5th and 6th grade boys interested in playing basketball are due tomorrow, Friday, Nov. 13.
Barnes and Noble Event
The library is hosting a fundraiser at Barnes and Noble on Monday, Nov. 23, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Purchases of books and other items made that evening will benefit our school library. In addition, the evening will include a celebration of the fine arts with a display of our students’ artwork of favorite book characters as well as a singing performance by some of our students. It will be a perfect opportunity to shop for Christmas gifts for everyone on your list and benefit our school library at the same time! Don’t forget to pick up any cheesecakes that you pre-ordered for this event! Also, please remember that you can buy School Scrip gift cards for Barnes and Noble to use at this event. See the Scrip flyer being sent home today for more information!
Father Hoefler invites our parents (adults only, please) to attend the Pastor’s Annual Party to be held on Sunday, Nov. 22, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the school gym. Get your holiday season off to a festive start! Visit with other parents and parishioners while enjoying cocktails and hors d’oeuvres by Jimmy Oh and live piano music by Dr. Bob Mocharnuk.
Friday, Nov. 13 –
Lifetouch yearbook photo retakes
Tuesday, Nov. 17 –
Kindergarten food drive ends
Parent meeting for 6th grade students interested in volleyball at 6:30 p.m. in the art room
Wednesday, Nov. 18 –
5th grade field trip to Funk’s Prairie Rock Museum
MWF preschool field trip to Festival of Trees
Thursday, Nov. 19 –
SHG Preview Night for interested parents & students
Monday, Nov. 23 –
Midquarter
Wednesday, Nov. 25 – Friday, Nov. 27 –
Thanksgiving Vacation Break
Before School Patrols for the Week of Nov. 16 - 20:
Alex Mandeville Tessie McDermott
Tim Oh Albert Perlman
After School Patrols for the Week of Nov. 16 - 20:
Riley Murphy Ethan O’Connor
Wilson Reyhan Reed Roesch
Mass Servers for Nov. 14 & 15:
(only BSS students listed)
4:30 p.m. Saturday (no current BSS students)
7:00 a.m. Sunday Emily Schuefele
8:30 a.m. Sunday Sean Wesp & Elaine Reyne
10:30 a.m. Sunday Vinny Vespa, Taylor Pohlman & Abigail Perrero
Daily Servers for Nov. 16 - 20:
8:00 a.m. M & W Isabel Cross &
& 8:20 a.m. Tu Nic Farris
8:20 a.m. Th, & Averi Gamble &
8:00 a.m. Fri. 
Kate
Healy