PRINCIPAL’S NEWSLETTER                                         DECEMBER 3, 2008

Dear Families of Academy of Our Lady ,

OPEN HOUSE for KINDERGARTEN and PRE-KINDERGARTEN 2008-09 will be Thursday, Dec.4  from 9 to 10:30AM and 7 to 8 PM. Re-registration forms for 2009-2010 Kindergarten and Pre-K are due Dec. 4 and are accepted on a first come, first serve basis. Please share these dates with other Preschool and Kindergarten age neighbors and friends. Thank you for spreading the “Good News” about Academy of Our Lady !

CONGRATULATIONS! OUR STUDENTS READ AND READ AND READ! The Accelerated Reader goal of 5,000 points for the first trimester was met and exceded by almost one thousand points. Mrs. Rogan gave more lights glitter on the hallway tree and announced the students earned 5,948 points! The students reward will be no school on Monday, Dec. 22. Keep reading and enjoy the adventure!

Thank  you for your outstanding support for the bountiful dinners collected. The van from the Center for Food Action quickly filled up! A check for $187 was also sent. God bless you for your generosity!

December’s theme is to “Clothe the naked”. We can fulfill this through the Girl Scout collection: new pajamas, slippers for women and men (large sizes) and for children and babies (small sizes), new blankets, pillows and moshi pillows. These items will be donated to Eva’s Village. Troop 278 is sponsoring “Bear Hugs for the Holidays” collecting new Teddy Bears. These cute cuddly items will be donated to patients in Valley Hospital for the holidays. All these items can be dropped off in the main school lobby. We also have a Christmas Giving Tree with tags for children who attend Abraham House in the South Bronx . Sr. Simone appreciated our gifts last year. All you have to do is select an angel and take the photocopied request, leaving the angel on the tree. All presents should be unwrapped, labeled and place under the tree by Friday, Dec. 19.

Our service learning activities take our students many places and develop many skills. Grade 3 wrote letters to homebound parishioners. On Nov. 21 the 8^th grade Princess Club hosted “An Enchanted Evening of Talent and Treasures” to benefit the Help Emily fund. The variety of acts and real talent was so impressive! Grade 8 baked apple pies for the Thanksgiving dinner held annually at Community church for the homeless. Grade 4 participated in the Big Sweep on Monday, Nov. 24. Thanks you!

Congratulations to Olivia who   sent in the correct entry in the Man Brett School and Library Free Book contest. A copy of Gingerbread Friends was sent for the school library. Thank you Olivia!

We will celebrate First Friday liturgy at 8:40 AM. Father Tom Wisniewski, pastor of St. Catharine will be the celebrant and Class 6 M will assist. The Student Council will have the annual tree lighting following the Mass. Students will be guided by their homeroom teacher to make ornaments for our tree which will be inn the lobby.

Please join us for the Christmas Band concert, Thursday, Dec.11 at 7:30 PM in Community Hall and for the Christmas Pageant, Dec. 17 at 7:30 PM in St. Catharine Church. All students in grades Kindergarten through grade 5 are expected to participate. Students wear Christmas dress up clothes and shoes. Homeroom teachers will provide any specific grade guidelines for their class.

With the list of the “to do” items growing, pause this Advent, reflect and do less. We know the three R’s of recycling: reduce, reuse, recycle; maybe we can have 3 R’s for Advent: reduce, relax, reflect. Simplify may seem impossible at times, but how would Jesus want us to prepare for His birth? Recent events should encourage us to do less. The Advent season is a holy time of prayer to quiet ourselves in simple and holy waiting. Our students are encouraged each morning to “make room for Jesus in your heart” and give Him some quiet time to pray. Try to gather and pray as a family either at the Advent wreath or nighttime prayers.

Live simply – and have a wonderful Advent,

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