St. Cecilia School

December 2007

Thanksgiving Collection

Thank you for your donations for St. Anneπs Home for the Aged. Your generosity was certainly appreciated by the residents and staff.

Advent

We begin the season of Advent on Sunday, December 2. During Advent we learn how to wait and pray, and we try to live according to the teachings of the prophets. Then we can be ready to receive the Messiah with joy. We want to share with you the various ways that we, as a school family, will be preparing for Christmas during this Advent season:

Ä Grades 3-6 and 8 celebrated the Sacrament of Reconciliation on Tuesday, November 27. Grade 7 will have the opportunity to receive this sacrament during their Confirmation retreat.

Ä In the quiet waiting of Advent, we pray to the Lord. As a school

community we will take quiet time each morning as we reflect on Jesusπ ancestry by using the Jesse Tree. The bulletin board by the office will reflect our Advent prayer. If you are in the school building at morning announcements, we ask that you join us in prayer.

Ä Each family will receive ≥A Calendar of Activities for Advent 2007≤. We hope this will help to make Advent more meaningful for you and your families.

Ä The Student Council will sponsor the annual Toys for Tots collection from Monday, December 3 through Friday,

December 7. The toys must be new and sent to school unwrapped. Thanks for your generosity!

Ä On Thursday, December 6, we will celebrate the Feast of

St. Nicholas. Each child (and teacher) will put a shoe outside

the classroom door. We hope that there will be a ≥sweet≤ for each of us!

Ä The Primary Grades are planning their Advent Pageant for the

student body on Friday, December 14, at our 11:00 Mass, and for the parish on Sunday, December 16, at the 9:30 Family Mass. The Men of St. Cecilia will sponsor the Pancake Breakfast following this Mass.

In keeping with the spirit of Advent, we will not have Christmas parties before vacation. Classes will have Epiphany parties on Friday, January 4.

May the Advent season bring you deep blessings, and may the light of Christ fill your days with peace.

Applications 2008-2009

Parents, if you have a child ready for kindergarten (5 years old as of

September 1, 2008), or if you plan to enroll an older child in our school, there will be a letter going home today with important Sibling Application information. Watch for it!

Christmas Celebrations

On Tuesday, December 11 some of our music students will present a Christmas Concert in the auditorium:

10:40 Grades KAM, 2, 4, 6, 8

1:30 Grades KPM, 1, 3, 5, 7

The childrenπs Christmas Boutique will be on Thursday, December 13, in the Lower Church. A BIG thank you to the chairpersons: Celine Calalang, Suanne Bouvier, and Mariwil Wong.

On Tuesday, December 18, at 11:30, we will have a prayer service in Church entitled ≥The Spirit of Christmas≤. You are welcome to join us!

Confirmation

We just received the Confirmation date for seventh graders. Mark your calendars—

Saturday, May 3, 10:30 A.M.

Homework Policy

A few years ago, at momsπ requests, we initiated a policy of no homework on Mothersπ Club meeting nights and no tests the next day. This was an effort to encourage attendance at the meetings. I have monitored attendance at Mothersπ Club meetings during the 2006-2007 school year and also for the October 2007 meeting. This policy seems to have little effect on attendance by junior high parents. Therefore, homework will be given to Grs. 7-8 students on Mothersπ Club nights while Grs. K-6 will continue with the no homework/tests policy. We will continue to monitor attendance by grade level.

Parkside Branch Library News

The Parkside Branch Library is scheduled to close for construction in early 2009 and reopen in 2010. Renovation plans include a small addition, a new separate teen area, accessible restrooms, furniture and bookshelves, more functional staff areas, additional computers, and much more. Meet the architects and comment on designs for the branch on Saturday, December 15,

2:00 P.M. at the Parkside Branch Library (1200 Taraval St. at 22^nd Avenue).

Reminder

Christmas vacation begins on Tuesday, December 18, at 12:30. School will resume on Thursday, January 3, 2008.

Graduates of St. Cecilia School are responsible citizens who:

Demonstrate civic responsibility

Express awareness of global, national, and local situations

Share their abundance with those who are less fortunate

Respect the environment and their role as stewards of the planet

Exhibit an understanding of what contributes to good physical and mental health